The New York herald. [volume], March 19, 1868, Page 6, Image 6

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NEW YORK HERALD
BBOADWAY AND ANN STREET.
JAMES GORDON BENNETT,
PROPRIETOR.
Volaine XXXIII No. T9
AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING.
FRENCH THEATRE.?Thb Gband Docukbs.
OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway.-HUMPTT DPMFTT.
NIBLO'S OARDEN, Broadway.?Whitb flWB.
WALLACE'S THEATRE, Bruadwaj ud LHh street.
RoaBDAl.B.
PIKE'S OPERA HOVSE, ?d etreet, corner of E!?htb
areaue.?Pbt or ths Pittiooatb? Family Ja.bc.
BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery?MAtBPPA-ToUI Fin
Men or N*w York-Honest Job.
BBOADWAY THEATRE, Broadway.?8am.
NEW YORK THEATRE, opposite New Tork Hotel.
Liuht at Last.
BANVARD'S OPERA HOUSE AND MUSEUM.Broad
way and Thirtieth ?treet.-TEN Nigiits in a Bab BOOM.
8TEINWAY HALL.-Grand Obatobio?Elijah.
NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fourteenth.slree*.?GYMIIA8TI0S,
EgURBTRiANI&ll, Ac.
THEATRE COMIQI'B, 514 Broadway.?BOSTON Comiqcb
Ballct and Pantomimb Tbocpb.
KELLY A LEON'S MINSTRELS. WO Broadway.?Bonos,
EOCBNTRIOITIEB, AC.?GRAND DllTOU "8."
SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 681 Broadway?Ethio
pian En TEBTAINMBWTB, SlNUlNO, DaNOINO, Ac.
TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, JOl Bowery.-COMIO
Yooalibm, Negro Minbtbelbt, Ac.
BUTLER'S AMERICAN THEATRE, CI Broadway.?
Ballet, Fabob, Pantomimb, Jkc.
BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC.?Roberto il
Diavolo.
MRS. F. B. CONWAY'S PARK THEATRE, Brooklyn.?
Tub Three Gl'abdbmbn.
HOOLEY'fl OPERA HOUSE, Brooklyn.?ETHIOPIAN
Minstrblsb*?Burlbsqcb op thb Wild Fawn.
NEW VOBK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, <U Broadway.?
Bo:knob and Art.
TRIPLE SHEET.
New York, Thorada?t March 19> 1868.
IBS SfSWS.
CONGRESS.
In the senate yesterday the bill to regulate the
presentation of bills to the President was called ap,
but laid aside again to admit of the reading of a
telegram from General Meade, which stated that the
bill directing military commanders to fill offices with
persons qualified to take the test oath would if passed
be entirely Impracticable In execution. The bill to
exempt certain manufactures from tax was then
taken up as a special order, and after a prolonged de
bate was passed In Committee of the Whole and re
ported to the Senate, Mr. Sherman giving notice that
he would press it to a vote to-day.
In the House Mr. Broomall moved to reconsider the
vote referring to the Judiciary Committee a bill intro
duced by him in July to guarantee to the several
States a republican form of government. It provides
for negro sum-age in all the States. A lengthy
debate ensued on the proposition, in the course
of which Mr. Spalding, of Ohio, said that
the bill cut directly across the constitution, and its
passage might be regarded as the deathknell of the
party in the coming Presidential campaign. Mr.
Broomall finally withdrew his motion. Mr. Farns
worth Introduced a new bill for the admission of
Alabama, and gave notice that be would aHk to have
U passed to-day.
THE LEGISLATURE.
In the Senate yesterday a bill relative to the Hell
Gate pilots was ordered to a third reading. Bills
were reported for the extension of railroad tracks
from Atlantic avenue to Prospect Park, Brooklyn,
and for numerous other purposes of a private charac
ter. Bills were Introduced to repeal the act for the
registration of births, marriages and deaths, and
amending the statutes relative to the custody of
children. Bills were passed authorizing a railway In
125th and other streets in New York and for other
purposes.
In the Assembly a bill was passed for the better
regulation of firemen In Brooklyn. Bills were Intro
duced In relation to the election of directors on the
Harlem, Hudson River, New York Central and Erie
railroad oompanles; in relation to the publication
of legal notices*In New York city, and in relation
to the consolidation of railroad companies. Bills
were reported to oomplete the Wallabout Im
provement; to amend the New York city charter In
relation to paving certain street*; relative to frauds
in assessments for local improvements, and to pro
tect the rights of passenger* on railroads, a resolu
tion directing the Committee on Ways and Means to
report a bill to reduce the military exprnses was
The news report by the Atlantic cable Is dated yes
terday evening, March IS.
The DUniell Cabinet adjourn* the wbole plan of
Irish reform to the next Parliament. Lieutenant
John D. Clarke, United Srutes Xavy. died at Olvlts
Vecchla. Peace envoys from Chile and Peru are ex
pected lo Madrid.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Our special despatches from Ilayti are dated
February 22. Sal nave and hla army were defeated
near Cape Haytlen and put to night. The French
admiral bad demanded payment of the arrears of the
government to France. Conscriptions were active.
Our special despatches from Kingston, Jamaica,
are dated March l. The American steamer Estrella
had been condemned. Mr. Eyre la reported to have
been offered the Governorship of St. Kltta.
Oar special correspondence from Mazatlan. Mexico,
gives the particulars of the arrest of General Placldo
Vega, and the quarrel between General Daralos and
and Governor Martinez. U was probable that Vega
would be declared Governor of the State, and that
the affair would end in the secession of all the North
western states and an appeal on their part to the
United States.
The proceedings In the Canadian Parliament yes
terday were of more than usual Importance. Mr.
McKenzte offered a resolution, which was adopted,
calling for the correspondence relative to the abduc
lion of Allen McDonal, by United states officials, and
Inquiring into the truth of the statement that the
British Minister at Washington had declined to accept
the release of the prisoner on hearing the statement
of his ease from the United States authorities. Sir
John A. McDonald replied that the report of the action
of tbe British Minister was true. A bill amending
the United states Extradition treaty, so as to provide
for Including Not* Scotia In its provisions, was
ordered to a second reading.
The suit of Belden vs. Cornelius Vanderbllt, George
G. Barnard and others, a branch of the great Erie
Railway litigation, rame before Judge Gilbert yester
day, In the Kings rounty Supreme Court, on the mo
tion to render the Injunction perpetual. This Is the
suit In which Judge Barnard Is charged with con
splrlng with Vanderbllt, Work and others to Injure
tbe Interests of the Erie Railway Company. Affidavits
of all the parties charged were read denying
emphatically the charges made. The temporary in
junction waa vacated and the motion to continue de
nied. The case of J. C. Bancroft Davis, one of the
directors against whom an attachment had been
Issued, came before Judge Barnard at Supreme
Court, Chambers. Mr. Davis stated that he bad been
absent at Albany before the Investigating committee,
but would obey the order of the court. TbeWew
Jersey refugees have commenced taking the offensive,
and have reduced the fare to Buffalo on the Erie
Hallway as the first gun against the Central.
The New Jersey republicans held their State Con
vention at Trenton yesterday and elected delegates
to the National Conveution at Ohlcago. Reoolutlons
were adopted favoring Grant for the first choice, but
mentioning no one for Vice President.
Tbe Michigan RepuUicua State Convention alio
Held its session yesterday. Grant and Schuyler Col
fox, of Indiana, were recommended as the favorites
of Michigan for President and Vice President.
Sixteen ex-offlcers of the United states army,
residing In Tennessee, hare published a card la a
Nashville pap&i denying the tenor of General
Thomas' offlcill despatches to General Grant In
reference to existing organizations for the over
throw of the State government.
The Cincinnati and Maysvllle steamboat Magnolia
exploded her boilers twelve miles above Cincinnati
yesterday, and out of one hundred passengers forty
were killed, some of them being burned to death.
A negro Alderman In New Orleans has brought
suit against an educational convent, tn $10,000, for
refusing a member of his family admission to It as k
scholar.
The trial of Governor Baker, of Louisiana, who la
accused of perjury by a negro, was commenced la
the United States Commissioner's Court at New Or
leans yesterday.
The North German Lloyd's steamship Hermann,
Captain Wenke, will sail from Hoboken to-day
(Thursday) for Southampton and Bremen. The malls
will close at the Post Office at twelve M.
The stock market opened weak, but closed strong
yesterday. Government securities were dull and
heavy, but closed steady. Gold closed at 188H*
The Age of Speculation, Financial and
Political?The Impeach meat and Kepadla*
tlon Movements.
The ancient Romans bad their iron age, their
age of bronze and their golden age; and we,
under the most wonderful modifications and
additions, to be sure, have been and are going
through the same experience. Our golden age
was ushered in with the acquisition of Califor
nia ; our iron age with the great railroad enter
prises with which the different sections and
States of the Union have been bound together
in bonds of iron; but the age whioh is now
upon us is a conglomerate of gold, brass, iron,
paper and speculation and stockjobbing, finan
cial and political The financial speculations
of these times extend from corner lots in
Spuyten Duyvil to the great Erie Rail
road litigation, and the millions of stocks in
volved therein, with all their fluctuations from
day to day?from the variations in gold and
government securities and foreign exchanges to
the latest bogus petroleum companies?from
five-twenties and ten-forties, and State stocks
and Southern cotton plantations, to the newest
Wall street bubbles, great and small. The
great overshadowing movement in all these
purely financial speculations, however, is for
something tangible and substantial in exchange
for paper equivalents, which, though good to
day for anything, may be good for nothing
to-morrow.
But great, multitudinous and comprehen
sive as are the purely financial speculations
and stock gambling operations which rule the
hour in Wall street, they sink into utter insig
nificance compared with the stupendous politi
cal speculations and stockjobbing movements
of the day. First, there is the impeachment
of Andrew Johnson. This is a political specu
lation, involving the possession and distribu
tion of all the offices, spoils and plunder of the
federal government, on a peace establishment
of six hundred millions of annual taxations,
several hundred millions of whiskey, tobacco
and other spoliations, and national bank per
quisites and pickings. Under Andrew John
son as President all these enormous resources
of patronage and corruption are, to a great ex
tent, neutralized between him and Congress;
but with " Old Ben Wade" in Johnson's place
all these ''movables" will be added to the
radical electioneering stock in trade for the
next Presidency and the next Congress. The
impeachment of Andrew Johnson, therefore,
from the offices and emoluments, jobs and con
tracts, spoils and plunder involved, though they
are all a delusion and a snare, is without
a precedent in its magnitude as a political
speculation, looking only at the things we have
enumerated. But it becomes incalculably
larger, and defies all conjectures as a political
adventure, when the political reconstruction
and restoration and the political balance of
power to be secured from the ten outside
Southern States are taken into the general esti
mate. Here is the main question and the main
pressure upon this radical Senate for the re
moval of Andrew Johnson. We may truly say,
then, that upon this impeachment there are
insues and consequences to the dominant party
depending greater in their magnitude than
those against which Charles the First of Eng
land or Louis the Sixteenth of France so vainly
struggled.
But stupendous in its length and breadth and
height and depth as in this political party enter
prise of Johnson's impeachment, it is eclipsed
by the overshadowing political stockjobbing
Presidential movement of the great Western
democracy under the banner of Pendleton.
What is this Pendleton movement, then, when
such are its imposing dimensions that it dwarfs
the impeachment of Johnson ? It is simply a
movement to wipe out from the books of the
Treasury our twenty-flve hundred millions of
national debt, with all Its appendages of the
internal revenue tax laws. Nor is it confined
to the democracy in the West; for the republi
can party in that quarter are on the same tack.
The government bonds are mainly held in the
East, and the men of the West of both parties
soy, we will pay you off in greenbacks. As to
the redemption of the greenbacks, Jesse 0.
Bright, who has beoome a shining luminary of
the Kentucky democracy, frankly says:?"We
propose to settle your little bills In paper, and
let the paper take care of Itself." From Wheel
ing to Omaha the democracy have run up the
banner of Pendleton, and the legend which It
bears is, "Greenbacks for the bondholders and
an issue of twenty-flve hundred millions to
pay them off. beginning with an instalment of
Ave hundred millions." The republicans also
s?y "Greenbacks; bat let us pay them only
when the bonds call for the money." They beg
the question which they dare not boldly meet.
But does any one suppose that this load of
national debt, with its burden of taxations, will
be borne for ten years ? No. The ways and
means for a complete liquidation In the interval
must be provided by the party in power or it
will be displaced by the opposition, and if not
in the elections for the Forty-first Congress it
will be done for the Forty-second.
The head centres of the Eastern democracy
are resolved to head off Pendleton with bis pro
gramme. They, too, ask for delay; but the
issue between Belmont and Pendleton is so
sharply drawn that the result may be even this
year the breaking ground for a Western party,
which will toon absorb both parties in the
West against the East Thus upon the great
money question and all ita Accessories?banks,
bonds, Internal taxes and tarilft?this Western
movoment in behalf of Pendleton may bring
about a new sectional division of parties on the
geogrnphica] barrier* which divide the Atlantic
count from the Mlataiasippi valley We am, la
truth, la the midst of all those financial and
political speculations* irtT?iiirin and agita
tioDM, entering upon a m political epoch,
the culminatioa of which la a MbataatiJ re
organisation of partis* i* beyond the reach of
prophecy or calculation. For the present
there appear* to be ao alternative but the
adoption of Admiral Farragot a* their Presi
dential candidate, that will **rv*. East and
West, to fane the opposition element* sgainat
the radicals la t homogeneous sad powerful
P*r*7
IV War et ike lalmi H?i
The passion for power b Inherent in human
nature. In all time* and la all eountrie* men
are found to be moved by the name appetite for
conquest and the name desire fbr mastery and
control. In the earlier ages of the world the
men of the greatest intellect and the strongest
will rone above their fellows, put themselves
at the head of armlen and oarved out empire*
with the sword. The ambition to oubdne and
to rule oauned Cyrus to build up the Permian
empire and induced Alexander to destroy it
and to sigh for more world* to conquer, and
it ha* been the Incentive of military despotism
since the creation. Cnder oiy modem forma
of government and In the advancing strength
and intelligence of the people men no longer
attempt to rul* by the aword, but they find in
money a weapon a* sharp and more effective;
and having loat none of the old lu*t for power
they seek to establish over their fellows the des
potism of dollars.
The eye* of our modem Alexander* turn
eagerly to the great railroads of the different
nations a* offering, through their magnitude and
importance, a fine field for ambition. In Eng
land the railroad king, Hudson, nought to grasp
all the roads in the country in his hands,
and actually succeeded in obtaining control of
a majority of the leading lines; but it was not
long before there was a general revolt against
his rule, and his downfall was as rapid and
signal as his rise. In France the Rothschilds
are in fact the monarohs of the rail. They
hold them, It is true, nominally under govern
ment ownership; but as the Rothschilds them
selves control the government their real power
is little Bhort of supreme. On this side of
the Atlantio our republicanism has not sufficed
to protect us against railroad autocracy, and
we have our Caesars and Alexanders here,
whose ambition is little inclined to stop short
of absolute despotism. Some of them take
broader views and attempt more magnificent i
conquests than others ; but the inciting passion
is the same in all, from Stockton, the Czar of
the little State of Jersey, up to Vanderbilt,
the autocrat of the great State of New York.
The concentration of railroad power or any
other power In the hands of one individual is
adverse to the spirit of our institutions and in
conflict with our notions of public interest.
While the people of the United States acknow
ledge the advantages derived from combinations
of capital to carry out great undertakings, and
while they will do all in their power to foster
and encourage private enterprise, they have a
natural repugnance to monopolies, which they
regard with jealousy and suspicion. The railroad
power has heretofore been the most aggressive
of any in the country. For years the late
Dean Richmond controlled the democratic
party through the influence of the Central
Railroad, which he ran as a tender to it.
Elections in different districts were carried in
accordance with the dictation of the Central
road; along the line of the road, in most
districts, its enmity was fatal to a candidate,
and Legislatures elected in opposition to the
road were bought up wholesale by the cor
poration year after year and used for Its pur
poses.
The great fight now going* on between the
Erie and Central roads has at its foundation
the desire to unite the two great trunk lines,
from the West to the seaboard, under one
management, so that the carrying trade may
be monopolised by a single interest. The Erie
road has for many years been struggling on
with difficulty, mainly on account of the deter
mined opposition of the Central, whose enor
mous wealth has enabled it to embarrass its
weaker rival in a variety of ways. The present
great effort of the Erie is to secure the com
pletion of a six feet track from Akron, Ohio,
where the broad gauge now terminates, to
Chicago; and the friendliness of the Western
connecting lines has recently given to the
undertaking a fair prospect of speedy success.
The Central is interested in preventing Its
rival from running through to the West with a
gauge that will largely increase its tonnage
capacity; but the shrewdness and intelligence
of Vanderbilt enable him to understand that
this great addition to the carrying facilities of
the Erie road must eventually be secured
despite opposition, and hence hs yearns to add
Erie to the conquests he has already made,
and to reign supreme at once over Central,
Hudson, Harlem and Erie?to say nothing of
fature designs upon the principality of the
Pennsylvania Central or the little Panhandle
and Ail en town duohles.
The people care very Uttle whether Vander
bilt or Drew maj be at the head of the Erie
direction; but they do not wish to see all the
trunk lines in New York under a single man
agement If Vanderbilt were not the owner
of three other roads his immense power and
capacity might be usefal to the Erie road and
beneficial to its slodKbolders. But while be Is
the autocrat of Central, Hudson and Harlem, 1
it is not desirable that ft jihould also seise
upon Erie. In the contest tha{ Jim Arisen be
tween the two roads the conrts seen) to accom
plish little except to get into a muddle and fight
among themselves. There should be power
somewhere, however, to oontrol these matters
and to prevent the creation of a grand mo
nopoly in the hands of any one man. If the
State Legislature has this power, let it exer
cise it. If not, let Congress interfere and take
into the hands of the general government a
controlling authority over all the roads in the
oountry. Probably in the experience of recent
events that would be the wisest policy that
could be pursued.
Tin Opmiso of Navioatio*.?Navigation
Is openiog this year like the windows of
heaven, and the result Is that the whole country
at the tipper part of the Hudson river Is made
very wet. It seems that the ice gets gorged
somewhere; but being gorged does not appear
to put it out of the way or make it any scarcer.
The only effeot that the sorting of ice has Is to
make the water rise it Albany. It takes a
philosopher to Me the connection apropos to the
valor rising at Albany; however, it has not yet
risen so high as to be within roach of the mem
bers of the Legislature, nor is there a proba
bility that H will wash any of them away. It
will wash some of the streets of Albany, which
will be good for the contractors. If somebody
would gorge ioe down here with the same result
It would be a happy arrangement for Whiting.
It is said thst this opening of navigation will
start business with a tremendous rush, because
all the rivers open when the Hudson does; but
If aaybod/ believes that business waits for the
ice be has not looked at the advertising columns
of the Biuio.
MesWe nibmm ta Havana ? Santa
Aaaa PlesUac Acala.
Wo have information from Havana from
which It would appear that a somewhat for
midable nest of Mexican filibusters had been dis
covered there and unearthed, very much to the
disgust of the Iklthfbl subjects of Queen Isa
bella, inasmuch as several Spanish officers
lately in the Mexican service wore found to be
implioated la the conspiracy. Their plan,
it is reported, was oonnected with Santa
Anna, Marques, Zuloaga and other Mexican
exiles and reftigees, and had for its objects a
filibustering descent opon Vera Cms, and, on
landing, a revolutionary pronundaminUo In
favor of Ortega, who some time ago claimed
by the Mexican constitution that he and not
Juarec was the President of Mexioo. Some of
the Spanish officers involved In this conspiracy,
it is supposed, will bo shot Meantime, the
government of Jnares had been apprised of
the plot of Santa Anna, Marques and Company
to run in and got possession of Vera Cruz, and
it was expected that Juares would despatoh a
commission to Havana to inquire into all the
facts in the matter, and to urge upon the
Captain General, Lersunii, a strict enforce
ment of neutrality as between Spain and the
fighting factions of Mexico.
Old Santa Anna Is doubtless the head and
front of this revolutionary enterprise. He has
evidently resolved to wind up his career as
master of Mexico or to perish In the attempt.
He has money and he has his emissaries in
Mexioo and his active confederates in Havana,
of whom the ablest and most desperate is
Marques. Of all the enemies of Juarea, too,
this man, perhaps, is the most dangerous.
While holding the city of Mexico for Maximilian,
against the overwhelming forces of Dlas,
a price was set upon the head of " the atrocious
traitor Marques," because his capture, after
the execution of Maximilian, was the special
object of the liberals. But he managed not
only to get out of the city, but safely out of
the country. His little body guard of horse
men, whose lives depended upon their escape
with him, were faithful; and with some dis
bursements of the money In his possession,
drawn by forced contributions from the mer
chants and clergy of the capital, he got through
without a fight and without a scratch. 8uch a
man, then, at large is to be feared by Juarex;
but when plotting in conjunction with Santa
Anna, the old ex-dictator must be looked after.
We shall not, therefore, be surprised If soon
we hear that Santa Anna has been politely
requested to evacuate the island of Cuba and
establish his headquarters again In St Thomas
or New York. In any event, considering the
present distracted and utterly demoralised
condition of the'Mexican States and people,
it is not at all improbable that this veteran
revolutionist, Santa Anna, may before the end
of the summer be again on the soil of Mexico,
and under the banner of " God and Liberty "
heading for his old headquarters in the national
capital. The normal condition of anarchy and
revolutionary plots and fighting factions has
been restored to Meilco with the republic,
and will continue, at least until we shall have
finished our own work of reconstruction and
the important business of our approaching
Presidential election.
Probing Fnidf and ('?mprtaa la tW
Tremwry Departaieal.
Tbe indomitable Logan seems determined not
to be bluffed off in hia purpose of probing the
frauds, corruption and irregularities la the
Treasury Department. He la as earnest in this
as he is in his ultra-radical politics. In this
matter he deserves commendation, though his
radicalism of tbe thorough Jacobin order must
be condemned. Such ?n ultra, determined
man may be useful when on the right track.
He has prepared a resolution, which he will
introduce in the House of Representatives ?e
soon as he can get an opportunity?that is, m
soon as the whitewashing friends of Mr. McCvJ
loch in that body will allow bin?of a sweeping
character, calling for a thorough overhauling of
the Treasury Department. Tbe following Is
reported to be the resolution
Resolved, That the Hnoretarv of the Treasury he di
rected to report without delay to tut* House the
amount of commissions he has paid for Uie sals or
disposal of United States bonds or ssrartUss; te
whom paid, and If roiaralftstons are ami paid for
similar purpose* to ths sarar p*rti?* . If not. to whom
commissions, tf*ny, are paid. Also what amount of
gold has been sold b* the Treasury l>ep?rtiBrat, and
what amount of oommiasioiu Us* tw n pstd >? ihs
Hale of gold and te whom paid; wtiether tmek torn
mtsstons were paid In rsla er rurrmrr; ia?i hs mm
*epsratelv the acxref str amount of commissive paid
on tue sales of goverumeol securities and U? sales sf
fold. . ? ? ) i *y
This is just the information wanted. We
shall see when It Is obtained bow mack aosey
has been lost to the Treasury by the aanipula
tion of gnvsrnment securities and gold. Mi
how Jay Cooke and others knee beooae enor
mously rfca By foine tk^ wkfcfc *ke depart
ment itself should Uvi <k>ne, er wkick ought
not to have been done at all. It is a rasl aad
interesting leld of inquiry. But we advise
General Logan not to slop here. He skouM
make his resolution lndodr m Inveetlgatlou
into Mr. Clarke's note print!ry bureau, and
into the duties, salaries and perqa'sitee of Ike
Ave hundred beautiful young woais*, more or
less, employed in that bureau aad other depart
ments of the Treasury. Ws call upon
Logan to push his resolution through as vlgaf
ously as he pushed the rebels in the war. A
searching Investigation is needed, aad be will
earn the gratitude of the oountry for causing it
to be made. __ __
Wiut's tit thi Wiwd??The telegraph In
forms us that Secretary Seward, on his way from
Auburn to Washington, was detained at Utica
by the storm. Utica being the reeidenoe ef
Governor Seymour it Is a lltUe singular that A
storm should be made an excuse fbr two such
old political stagers meeting and having a
private chat about the Fourth of July Con
ventiou. What's la tfc? wind?
Negr* 8aflfra?e?Opposition by Radical
Ooacmuiei)
The proceedings in Congress on yesterday
were made unusually Interesting by the debate
on Mr. Bfoomall's bill to guarantee to each
State a " republican form of government,"
or, in plainer language, to force negro suffrage
upon the loyal States, whether they desire it or
not. The bill, it will be remembered, was
Introduced into the House of Representatives
last year, and was brought up yesterday morn
ing by a motion to reconsider the vote which re
ferred it to the Judiciary Committee. Opposition
from the domocratio members was to be ex
pected, but it was scarcely to be supposed
that, In the faoe ol their policy towards the
Southern States, radicals would be found in a
position of antagonism to this fundamental
principle of their party. And yet such was the
case. Passing by the remarks made in support
of the bill, and against it by the democrats, as
being neither surprising nor unexpected, we
will call attention to the position assumed by
two of the most prominent representatives on
the radical side of the House. Mr. Lawrence,
of Pennsylvania, declared that "nine out of
every ten republicans" In his district sustained
the recent decision of Judge Agnew, of his
State, against the right of negroes to seats
in railroad oars provided for white persons.
But his opposition was not so decided as that
of Mr. Spalding, of Ohio, who?after Mr. Ste
vena had made a rather long speech in support
of the measure, and had offered a substitute for
the bill, providing that all males, regardless of
color, shall "vote upon all national ques
tions"?came out In strong and emphatic
language against It. Mr. Spalding declared
that although he had voted in favor of univer- i
sal suffrage his State had, by forty thousand
majority, refbsed to give the negro the vote, and
bo long as the constitution of Ohio limited the
elective franchise to the whites he would
suffer his "right arm to drop from Its socket
sooner than vote for any such bill as that now
before the House." The honorable gentleman
declared that it "cuts directly across the con
stitution of the United States," and wound up by
expressing his belief that the passage of the
bill at this hour would be 4tthe death knell of
our hopes as a political party in the Presi
dential oontest." The motion to reconsider was
finally withdrawn and the bill referred to the
Judiciary Committee.
Dlaimell on Ireland.
The debate which took place in the House of
Commons on Tuesday night on the present
condition of Ireland furnished Mr. Disraeli
with a fresh opportunity for the display of that
pluck and daring which have, more, perhaps,
than any other cause or causes, raised him to
his present proud position. The wrongs of
Ireland were set forth by the member for Gal
way. Mr. Gladstone enlarged on the gravity
of the crisis and urged a thorough and imme
diate reform. The opportunity was one which
Disraeli was not the man to lose. The crisis
might be grave; but It was a crisis of seven
hundred years' standing, and had been
strangely negleoted by the ministry whloh had
preceded that of Lord Derby, and of which
Mr. Gladstone himself was a prominent mem
ber. The House must have been tickled and
Gladstone must have winced when the Premier
expressed the hope that "members were not
alarmed by the speeches of men who when in
power did nothing but make speeches." What
ever was to be done for Ireland was not to be
done rashly, in haste and under the influence
of a panic. Mr. Disraeli's threat to appeal to
the country, if pressed to an issue on the ques
tion, had the desired effect, and Mr. Maguire
wisely withdrew his resolution. In the first
tug of war since his accession to power the
new Premier thus came off victorious.
It would be a mistake, however, to Imagine
that Ireland has nothing to expect from the
new Prime Minister. Nothing, in fkct, would
be farther from the truth. Aa we said some
daya afro, Disraeli la thoroughly con
versant with the wants of Ireland, has
deeper sympathy with the democracy all
over the throe kingdoms than haa jet
appeared, la more "detached," to tfMa word
of his own. from party entanglements than any
prominent man of hi* day in either House of
Parliament; and if breadth of imagination,
keenness of insight and intellectual boldneaa
are of any avail, be la not the man to fall in the
"supernatural emergency," as ho oalla It, In
which he has been called to act aa the chief
adviser of the Crown. The wanta of Ireland,
after all, are not ao essentially different from
the WAnU of Scotland and England. The prin
cipal grievance of Ireland la the eiistonce In
the midst of them of an Established Church
which U not the Church of the people. The
same grievance, though la a leaa aggravated
form, exists la both Scotland and England.
One h*lf of the population of Sootlaad and at
least one third of the population of England
are attached la other denominations than thoae
established by law. The Church establishment
la Ireland, oa which Mr. Gladstone lays ao
auch stress, Diaraali clearly aees la not a local,
but a general question, and In so far aa It la a
grievance require* to be looked at and dealt
with, aot with Ireland only la view, but with
Sootlaad and England In Haw aa welL An
Established Chtfrok ao ioagsr exists In the
Oaaadaa. an longer exists la Australia, and If
it were aradltad or abolished la Ireland clamor
would Immediately be raked by both the Scotch
and the KagUeh Disraeli, therefor*, wisely
conclndea not la deal with so grave a question
rashly aad aa if under Ik* putaurs of Fenian
exrttsmsnt.
At the snaae time It la to b* bora* In mind
that no Church or aristocratic influence, no
party ti**. win prevent the Jew Premier from
laaitguratiag sweeping aad dariag reforms If
theoa are loudly demsaded nnd found to be
compatible with hi* opportunities. Disraeli nt
heart I* far morn a (Head of the people than of
th* domiaaat Church ? the aristocracy.
It wfll surprie* many If he do aot yet work
both th* privileged Charoh nnd the privileged
class** a world of trenMs. Though th* l*nd*r
of th* lory f?a*ry of England, he I* yet the
one hpry mlalsfr la " Dsbretn Hon** of Coaa
mona' who reftanto a son! of ana*. Th* man
who haa spoken a# the *on* of th* Ouenders
an "muddy blooded barWW by Ike rid*
of the ann* of Levi, who hen told thorn tha
Jews survived the Pharaohs aad might aarviv*
even "thai excellent in?tiUiU<m, parilamentory
government;" who haa asked, with aa suds city
which almost reaches the subUuae, "why.
sine* one half Europe worship* a Jew end Ue
other half a Jewea*. tha worshlpgera at* to ha
acoounted nobler than the woral i i pt**5 " ?
a man la not ashamed of hU lineage; but it i*
a lineage inured to sorrow and worked in'o
sympathy with suffering. Although, tliere
fore, Disraeli has with characteristic and
praiseworthy boldness refused to allow Itia
self to be coerced into precipitate action on
great and difficult questions in a truly < ritical
emergency, we have yet to be taught to believe
that he will fail the people in their hour of
need. He has stamped his impress on on*
class of reforms. For greater reforms than
even these the democracy of the throe king
doms may yet have cause to thank him.
. Alabama?Mr. Steven** Withdrawal.
Radicalism gives up Alabama. Mr. Stevens
relinquishes his project to restore Alabama in
the Union by bill, and professes to have beea
moved to his course by a "full examination of
the returns." Either, then, the not was drawn
without knowledge of the facts in the oase it
proposed to settle?either it was drawn fai
ignorance and with extravagant precipitanoy,
or the reason rendered by Mr. Stevens is not
the one that really influences his action. Ws
are inclined to believe that this pretended
giving way to justioe and reason, and abiding
by the fkw as made, is a piece of humbuggery?
a cover for the radicals to retire from the Po
tion they had taken in regard to Alabama and
which they found dangerous. Restoration af
a State to the Union is not their game, whether
restored rightly or wrongly ;? for the moment
the State is restored they lose all power over
it. They wish to hold on to that power soma
time longer yet,- and thus they keep the State
out, though they have so stoutly argued of lata
that it ought to come in. The Presidential
eleotion is still too far in the future, The
hundred thousand votes not cast in Alabama
against the seventy thousand cast show that
with any time for organization the State would
go against radicalism on the Presidency. That
is the reason why it is kept out; that is the
reason why Mr. Stevens suddenly finds time ta
listen to reason, is inclined to do justioe, think*
Congress ought to consider what the country
expects. In spite of all that has been done,
though radicalism has gone to such lengths as
to alarm and disgust the whole country, its
niggerism falls at last, and it cannot rely upoa
the military districts for a Presidential vote. It
has thrown away the North and finds that it
cannot safely lean upon the South. Truly, this
is not a happy position for a great party.
Bistort at Havana?Conflict Between the
Bishop and the Captain General.
Theatrical and operatic performances are
subject at Havana to more direot control on
the part of both the ecclesiastical and the civil
authorities than anywhere else except at Roma.
It appears by a special telegram which wa
published yesterday that the interference of
the Bishop of Havana, who denounced and
sought to prevent Madame Ristori's represen
tation of one of her r6les, was overruled by tha
counter commands of the Captain General. Ia
consequence of this the Bishop ordered tha
curates in all the districts through which Gen
eral Lersundi was to pass on his tour in the in
terior not to ring the church bells in his honor.
Lersundi returned and telegraphed to Madrid,
whence he received a reply instructing him ta
exaot the customary tributes of respeot. Tha
directors of the administration are unanimous
on the subject. The Bishop has been put under
arrest in his own palace, but will probably be
sent to Porto Rico to await orders from Madrid.
General Lersundi detained the Cadis mail
steamer one day to take aboard two of the re
fractory curates.
That the Captain General should have bees
sustained by the 9panish government in his
resistance to the Bishop's decrees 1b a remark
able sign of the times. It shows that even
Spain, the land of Philip II. and the Inquisi
tion, is at length accessible to the influences of
the nineteenth contury. How much shocked
Philip II. would have been to receive such a
message as General Lersundi sent to Madrid,
and how different would have been his reply!
The bigoted monarch oould not possibly have
approved such scandalous resistance to ecclesi
astical authority any more than he could have
conceived of %n ocean telegraph. Both the*
idea of the ocean telegraph and that of
restraining and limiting ecclesiastical author
ity on the one hand, and enlarging the sphere
of civil authority on the other, are essentially
modern. The old days when a royal neck waa
but a papal footstool, and when an interdict by
the Pope spread consternation throughout an
empire have passed away. It is presumptuous
enough for the Bishop of Havana to defy the
Captain General, now that the great Bishop of
Rome, the Pope himself, is indebted chiefly te
the protection of the Emperor of the French
for the temporal jurisdiction which he retains
over a few square miles of territory.
A Secular Know Nothing.
The legislative committee of wiseheads frosi
Albany on "Commerce and Navigation," who
are taking their ease at the Metropolitan Hotel,
and collecting testimony at the same time
about the ferries between New York and
Brooklyn, have had several witnesses be
fore them. Among them was George Lew,
who is ''interested" in three of the
Brooklyn ferries, or, in other words, is
the principal owner of the said ferries. His
tsstlmony is an admirable specimen of the
non mi rieordo style of evidence. He literally
knew nothing about the management of the'
ferries. As to the number of boats running,
or the condition of the boats, or the means of
saving the lives of passengers, and ail the
other important fkcts connected with the fer
ries, he declared himself totally ignorant.
Some yean ago "Live Oak George" was the!
heed sad front of the Know Nothing party; be
was their candidate for President. But, al
though George Lew did not go to the White'
Doom, and that party was utterly demolished:
by the good sense of the American people, it 1st
evident that one plank of the platform still
remains, and the "live oak" is that plank, J
He has evidently not entirely rid himself of his
old proclivities. Hs knows nothing about hls>
own ferries except the dividends, so that the |
committee have to seek elsewhere for Informs- j
tioa as to the reason why the Williamsburg
Usee, running from Grand street, Bridge street, |
Rooeevelt street and Sonth Seventh street are
eossplslned of as having Blthy boats, not (It ft*
human beings to travel in, and withal so un
safe that life is not worth an hour's purchase
to those who are compelled to journey by suoh.