to be completed in three years. The appointments under this act were made, and a competent geologist was selected in June. The work of the survey began in September and extended before the close of the year to an examination of the iron-ores and slate-quarries of York, Adams, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties, the fossil iron-ores of the Juniata Valley, the bituminous coal-basins of Clearfield and Jefferson Counties, and the oil-regions of Vanango County. A museum of minerals is to be collected at Harrisburg, as one of the results of the survey.

The State Convention of the Republican party was held at Harrisburg on the 19th of August, and the following nominations were made: for Judge of the Supreme Court, Edward M. Paxon, of Philadelphia; for Lieutenant-Governor, A. G. Olmsted, of Potter County; for Auditor-General, Harrison Allen, of Warren County; for Secretary of Internal Affairs, Robert B. Beath, of Schuylkill County. The platform, which was unanimously adopted, opened with approval of the State and national administrations under Republican control, and condemnation of the conduct of the Democratic party. Then followed these resolutions relating to State affairs:

2. The Republicans of Pennsylvania having been the first to demand a change in the constitution that would abolish special legislation and all its attendant evils, and the necessary legislation for the call of a constitutional convention for that purpose having emanated from them, we are justified in rejoicing to-day over the accomplishment of that great reform and over the delivery of the State from the evil consequences of the old system.

3. The movement for the formation of the new constitution having been made by the Republican party, and carried to completion under its auspices, the task of putting into operation the machinery of the new fundamental law belongs to it of right, and the duty it involves will be, as it has been, faithfully performed by it.

4. Inasmuch as great abuses have grown up in this State under our present system of fees as a compensation for county officers, we demand such legislation as will substitute adequate salaries for fees, and such as will allow no more than a fair and just compensation for services rendered.

5. We look with pride and satisfaction upon our common-school system, which has grown up under the fostering care of the State, and as it is now munificently endowed by the annual appropriation from the State, secured to it by the constitution, the State is bound to see that all her children are duly educated under it in the duties of citizenship, that they may thereby become better able to enjoy and perpetuate our popular institutions.

The following resolutions relate to matters of national policy:

6. We recognize that as the true policy of government which shall harmonize all the diversified interests and pursuits necessarily existing in a country of such vast extent as ours, and this can be done only by directing legislation so as to secure just protection and reward to every branch of industry. We are in favor of giving precedence to those measures which shall recognize agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and mechanical pursuits as entitled to the amplest protection and fullest development; of putting a stop to large grants of the public domain to railroad corporations and reserving it for set

tlement and cultivation; of improving the navigation of our great inland rivers, and securing cheap transportation and profitable markets for the products of agricultural and manufacturing labor; of encouraging such manufactures as shall bring the producer and consumer in the neighborhood of each other, and thus establish mutual relations between them and those engaged in commerce and transportation: and labor in order that they may receive a just and of properly adjusting the relations between capital equitable share of the profits, and of holding those in the possession of corporate wealth and privileges in strict conformity to the law, so that through combined influences people of varied pursuits may be united together in the common purpose of preserv ing the honor of the nation and developing the immense resources of every section of the Union and of advancing the social and mutual prosperity of all its industrial and laboring classes. facturing industry of the country within the past 7. The paralysis which has fallen upon the manuyear is a fresh evidence of the necessity of that protection to our manufacturing interests for which the Republicans of Pennsylvania have always fought. The reduction of the tariff, accompanied as it was by largely-increased importations, not only helped to bring on the panic, but has rendered recovery from it more difficult, as well as lamentably slow.

8. The attempt made just prior to the adjournment of Congress to establish free-trade through the agency of the reciprocity treaty with Canada, demands the severest condemnation. It was an effort to accomplish through the treaty-making power alone that which belongs properly and of right to the popular branch of the Government, and to put redress out of the people's reach for twenty-one The control over the subject of the years to come. national revenue was placed by the Constitution in the hands of the immediate representatives of the people, and we protest against any scheme to take it out of their hands by means of a treaty which the people cannot abrogate or repeal.

9. The frantic efforts now being made by the Democratic party to bring on a war of races in the South, with the design of depriving a portion of its citizens of the rights which belong to them, show that the mission of the Republican party has not ended, and that its further continuance is necessary to secure equally to every citizen the rights which belong to all.

10. Emancipation and enfranchisement having been secured by the adoption of the thirteenth and fifteenth amendments to the Constitution of the United States, and by the necessary legislation for their enforcement, and equality of civil rights having been guaranteed by the fourteenth amendment, it is the imperative duty of Congress to see that such guarantee is enforced by appropriate statutes.

11. The establishment of the national-bank system having secured to the people of the entire nation the best system of bank currency ever before offered to them, the privileges of that system should be no longer confined to a privileged class, but should be free to all under general and equal laws, the aggregate volume of the currency to be regulated by the necessities of the people and the recognized laws of trade.

12. We reaffirm the declaration of the National Republican Convention of 1872 in favor of a return to specie payments at the earliest practicable day, ber with gratitude the soldiers and sailors of the 13. That the Republican party continue to rememrepublic for the patriotism, courage, and self-sacrifice with which they gave themselves to the preservation of the country in the late civil war.

Other resolutions presented Governor John F. Hartranft as a candidate for nomination to the presidency in 1876; directed that the candidates and the president of the convention

appoint the chairman of the State Committee; and called for a hearty support of the Centennial Exposition. A resolution pledging support to President Grant "in the event of his being a candidate for a third term" was voted down.

The Democratic Convention took place at Pittsburg, on the 26th of August. The nominations were as follows: for Judge of the Supreme Court, Warren J. Woodward, of Berks County; for Lieutenant-Governor, John Latta, of Westmoreland County; for AuditorGeneral, Justus F. Temple, of Greene County; for Secretary of Internal Affairs, General Wm. McCandless, of Philadelphia. The following platform was adopted:

The Democracy of Pennsylvania, in convention assembled, do declare: That the Republican party, since its accession to power, has violated the Federal Constitution and degraded the judiciary; prostrated industry; plundered the people; usurped power; loaned the Government credit to corporations without constitutional sanction; fostered corporations to the detriment of the agricultural interests of the country; introduced frauds and corruption into the departments of the Government and among its office-holders, and failed to dismiss them when exposed and convicted; appointed spies and informers to oppress the business interests of the country; increased its taxation till labor can hardly live, business prosper, trade and commerce earn their fair rewards, or manufacturers continue their operations; overawed and ignored the civil power and set the military up as the exponent of the laws; invaded and subverted the sovereign rights of States; revived the sedition laws, and by Federal legislation attempted to destroy the liberty of the press; dominated the white by the negro race in some States, and by its proposed civil-rights bill made a war of races imminent. Therefore, charging these offenses to the Republican party, we call on all honest and upright citizens to redress them by so voting in November as to produce a change and expel their authors and abettors from all places of public trust and confidence.

Resolved, That the following are among the leading principles of our political belief:

1. That the present prostration of the industrial and commercial interests of the country has been brought about by the unwise legislation of the Republican party, and that prosperity can only be restored by a change in the administration of govern2. That we are opposed to governmental grants of public lands to corporations, as tending to general corruption and demoralization of the public service.

ment.

3. That we favor an honest and economical gov ernment, lopping off every needless expense, a reduction of the number of office-holders, the abolition of the fee system, local and national, and the return to the moderate living and plain customs of former days.

4. That we cherish a grateful remembrance of our brave soldiers and sailors, and will give a prompt recognition of every just claim in their behalf, or that of their widows and orphans.

5. That a steady effort should be made to bring Government notes to par with gold, and to secure a return to specie payment at the earliest possible period that resumption can be effected with safety.

6. That we denounce the civil-rights bill of the last Congress, believing its passage to be a gross invasion of the right of the States to control their domestic concerns in their own way, and that it would result in incalculable evil to both the white and the negro races.

7. That while we recognize to the fullest and broadest extent that it is the duty of the State to secure to all the blessings of education, and hence. that our public-school system should be generously sustained, we emphatically declare against the establishment of mixed schools by law, in which white and black children shall be compulsorily associated, believing as we do that the interests of the two races will be best served by training the children in separate schools.

8. That the leaders of the Republican party, having opposed the present constitution of this State, inviting the Supreme Court to proclaim in advance of the vote for its ratification partisan objections to its provisions, selecting to preside over its late State Convention one who refused to sign the constitution as adopted, and nominating for State officers avowed opponents of the instrument, cannot deny the hostile attitude on their part to constitutional reform, and deceive people with false pretenses in regard to their future policy.

The State election, in accordance with the provision of the new constitution, occurred on the 3d of November instead of the second Tuesday of October, as in former years. The Democratic candidates were elected. The total vote for Lieutenant-Governor was 549,711, of which Latta received 277,195 and Olmsted 272,516, making the majority of the former 4,679. Benjamin Rush Bradford, Temperance candidate, received 4,632 votes. Both Woodward and Paxson were elected Judges of the Supreme Court under the new constitution. Twenty-seven members of Congress were chosen at the same election, of whom 17 were Democrats and 10 Republicans. The new Legislature consists of 20 Democrats and 10 Republicans in the Senate, and 110 Democrats, 89 Republicans, and two Independents in the House; giving the Republicans 10 majority in the Senate, and the Democrats 19 in the House.

An occasion arose on the 28th of March for the use of the military in enforcing the laws at Susquehanna Depot. The employés in the shops of the Erie Railway at that place struck for their pay, which was two months in arrears, and took possession of the road, refusing to permit the trains to run until they were paid. The sheriff was unable to subdue the rioters, and called on the Governor for assistance. Troops were sent, under General E. S. Osborn, to assist the sheriff in preserving the peace and securing to the railroad company the control of its property. This action promptly brought the strikers to terms, and the difficulty was amicably settled. To a protest of some of the citizens of Susquehanna Depot against military interference, Governor Hartranft made this reply:

HARRISBURG, March 29, 1874. W. J. FALKENBURG, Burgess, Susquehanna Depot: As an individual I may sympathize with your people in their misfortune in not receiving prompt payment of their dues; but, as the chief Executive of this State, I cannot allow creditors, however meritorious their claims may be, to forcibly seize property of their debtors and hold it without due process of law. Much less can I allow them to take and hold illegal possession of a great highway and punish the innocent public, either as passengers or transport

J. F. HARTRANFT.

A prolonged conflict between Italian and native miners, at the Armstrong mines in Westmoreland County, occurred in the latter part of the year, in which violence and lawlessness were displayed on both sides. Four Italians were killed and several wounded, but no action was taken by the local authorities to prevent or punish these riotous outbreaks. The Governor called the attention of the Legislature to the matter at the opening of the session of 1875. PERSIA, a country of Asia. Reigning sovereign, Nassr-ed-Din, Shah of Persia, born September 4, 1829, eldest son of Shah Mohammed; succeeded to the throne at the death of his father, September 10, 1848. Children of the Shah: Muzaffer-ed-Din, heir-apparent, born in 1850; Djilal-ed-Dauleh, born in 1853. The present sovereign is the fourth of the dynasty of the Khadjars, which fully secured the rule over the country in 1794. It is within the power of the Persian monarchs to leave the crown, with disregard to the national heir, to any member of the family.

The area of Persia is estimated at 636,000 square miles. The population is about 5,000,000. The vast majority of the inhabitants of Persia are Mohammedans. The Armenian population is estimated at 4,660 families, or 26,035 souls; the Nestorians, including both Protestants and persons who have joined the Roman Catholic Church (Chaldees about 3,500 souls, and 600 families), respectively at 4,100 families, or 25,000 souls; the Jews at 16,000 souls; the Guebers or Parsees at 1,200 families, or 7,190 souls. The new sect of the Babis, which was founded about forty years ago, is believed to have a very large number of adherents, notwithstanding the cruel persecution to which it has been subjected. The Gregorian Armenians have an archbishop at Ispahan, who resides in the suburb Djulfah; and another archbishop at Tabreez; the United Armenians have an episcopal see in Ispahan, which was established by Pius IX. The Nestorians have two metropolitans and two bishops. The Chaldees, or United Nestorians, have an archbishop at Kerkuk, and a bishop

at Salmas. The aggregate number of United Armenians and Nestorians is from 7,000 to 8,000.

The Protestant missions among the Nestorians of Persia were begun by the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions in 1834, at Oroomiah. In 1871 they were

transferred to the Presbyterian Board. According to the annual report of the board for 1874, there were in Persia three stations, 70 out-stations and places where there was regalar preaching; 54 native pastors and preachers; 95 teachers, and 70 village schools, with 1,124 scholars. There are 17 organized churches, with a membership of 767, and their contributions exceed $800 a year. The press has issued 110,000 volumes and 21,250,000 pages. The female seminary had 32 pupils. The male seminary, which has been closed for some time, will be reopened. A school for Mohammedan girls was reported to be in a flourishing condition.

The country is divided into twenty prov inces, each of which is administered by a beg lerbeg, or civil and military governor. The governors of the large provinces mostly reside in the capital. The provinces are subdivided into districts, superintended by a hakem, or lieutenant-governor, whose chief duty is the collection of revenue. The towns are gov erned by an elective ketkhodah, or magistrate; the villages by a muhuleh, who administers justice, and serves as an organ of intercommunication between the people and the Government.

The standing army of Persia comprises 18,000 infantry, 10,000 irregular cavalry, 1,500 artillery, and 500 regular cavalry: total, 30,000 men.

The imports of Persia are estimated at $12,240,000; the exports at $7,200,000. The chief articles of import are cotton-goods from England; the chief exports, silk, opium, and cotton. The Shah of Persia has a larger wealth of precious stones than any other monarch of the globe. His strong-box consists of a small room, twenty feet by fourteen, reached by a steep stair, and entered through a very small door. Here, spread upon carpets, lie jewels valued at £7,000,000 sterling. Chief among them is the Kaianian crown, shaped like a flower-pot, and topped by an uncut ruby as large as a hen's-egg, and supposed to have come from Siam. Near the crown are two lamb-skin caps, adorned with splendid aigrettes of diamonds, and before them lie trays of pearl, ruby, and emerald necklaces, and hundreds of rings. Mr. Eastwick, who examined the whole, states that in addition to these are gauntlets and belts covered with pearls and diamonds, and conspicuous among them the Kaianian belt, about a foot deep, weighing perhaps eighteen pounds, and one complete mass of pearls, diamonds, emeralds, and rubies. One or two scabbards of swords are said to be worth a quarter of a million each. There is also the finest turquoise in the world, three or

states, and now ranking among the most prosperous, since the beginning of President Pardo's administration-no more perfect idea, we say, is to be obtained from any other source than from the message delivered by that statesman at the inauguration of Congress, on August 28, 1874, and of which we here transcribe the more important portions:

In young countries like ours, where we are accustomed to accomplish in a few years what elsewhere has been the labor of centuries, a period of peace is equivalent to a term of advances realized; and a new legislature offers every hope of the satisfaction of new wants, and of renewed strength for the achievement of new conquests in our onward march toward perfection.

It is my pleasing duty to inform you that Peru is at peace with all nations; that she has carefully cultivated and extended her relations with them by new treaties, and especially by consular, postal, and extradition treaties with some of them.

Our envoys to the East are at present in Peking; and it is to be hoped that they will obtain the sanetion of the emigration of Chinese colonists to our shores, upon the reasonable and liberal basis so justly demanded by public opinion, as well within as without the republic of Peru.

The boundary commission appointed in 1871 to carry out the terms of the treaty of 1851 with Brazil, in reference to a part of the boundary-line with that empire, have terminated their important labors; hence the only portion now remaining to be fixed is that to the north and east of the head-waters of the Javari, for which no provision was made in the treaty alluded to.

The Government does not abandon the idea of an American Congress, nor the hope that it may meet to unite still more closely the bonds of union between the nations of this continent.

Peace has been maintained within our borders, spite of unremitting efforts to disturb it; and that, too, at a time when, by the establishment of absolute liberty, various pernicious elements have been unfettered, and when new popular institutions, whose efficacy became apparent from the first, have been the only safeguard of constitutional order. The history of this period demonstrates that the really solid and durable basis of pure peace lies in the citizens themselves, and shows the government that the surest method to preserve tranquillity is not to lose the people's confidence. Thus, under the new order of things, the opposition has been gradually brought to see the beneficent effects of free institutions, and, renouncing with shame the weapons of rebellion, have learned to appeal to the legal mode of attack. This triumph is also apparent in the public press.

The various municipal councils throughout the republic are performing their functions, save in a very few provinces. That the inauguration thereof should be attended with difficulty is but natural. A new

municipal decree has bestowed upon those councils the necessary powers and faculties for self-administration; and in most cases the efforts have been in this first year very satisfactory. The provincial bodies, made up from the ranks of the provincial councils, though more numerously constituted and vested with higher powers, work with great regularity. The district and department councils are entirely new corps; nor is it a matter of wonder that their organization should be somewhat slow. I am happy to be able to inform you that the department councils Piura and Huancavélica have particularly distinguished themselves by zeal and intelligence displayed in the branches of administration confided to their charge. Experience has shown the municipal laws to be defective in many respects; but any premature attempt at reform might prove unadvisable. Time will doubtless lead to the discovery of still greater defects; but in the mean time we shall have learned to draw a line of distinction between the actual imperfection of the laws and ministerial incompetency.

The police department has been entirely reorganized, and a much better system adopted, without any additional expenditure. Experience, the gradual im