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& 4 TILE CIIICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1872 TERMS OF THE TRIBUNE. TER)IS OF EUBSCRIFTION (PATALLE IN ADVANCE). Weck iy, 2.5/ 2% it Parts of a year at tho samo rato. ‘To provent deiay and mistakes, be sure and give Post 1 Offico address in full, including State and County. Remittanzes may bo made either by draft, oxpross, Post Offico order, or In registered lotters, ot our risk. Dallr, delivered, Sunday ezcepted, 25 cents per week. Deily, delivered, Sunday Included, ccuts per week. Address THE TRIBUNE COMPANY, Corner Madison and Dearborn-ste., Chicago, 11l TRIBTSE Branch Ofico, No. 4 Wabash-ar., {1 tho Bookstere of Messrs, Cobb, Androws & Co., wher adsertisements and subscriptions will bo recetred, and will havo tho samo attention as if left at tho Main Ogice. CONTENTS OF TO-DAY'S TRIBUNE. FIRST PAGE-Washiagton, New York, and Forelgn Naws by Telegraph—Miscellaneous Telegrzms. SECOND PAGE-Saturday Night's Tolegrams—Tho Farm and Gurden. THIRD PAGE-The Pulpit: Halidss Sormons by City Clergymen—Railrozd Timo Tablo—Tribune Pros- poctus—Advertiscments. FOURTH PAGE—Editorials: Railway Freight Charges; Sunday Lawe and Sunday Observances; Tho Opera Beason: The Russian War—Current News Itoms— Notes and Opinion. FIFTH PAGE-Tho Law Courts—Fire Undorvriting: Something About Its Naturo end Origin—Hyde Park Matters—Personal—Adrertisemer.ts: SIXTI PAGE-Local, Financial, and Commercial Mot~ ters—Markets by Telegraph. SEVENTH PAGE—Tho Apiary—An Erangeliczl Alli- aace~The Vendomo Column~The Suppression of the New Orleans Times—Shipwreek fn tho Pacifio— il Advertiscments: Real Estate, ForSale, 7o Etc. ansas Letter—Indiana Lotter—Mis- MTICRTRS THIATRE-Madicon streot, hetweon =ad Daarborn. Engagement of Miss Charlotte Cushman, **Macbeth." LIOOLEY'S OPLRA HO Randolph street, be- Now Comedy Compaay. Wahach avonuz, comner of Con 1Y OF MUSIC— Haltted sirect, south of Eagagement of Robort McWade, *‘Rip Van MYERS' OPERA TIOUSE-3onroe street, botween Etate and Dearborn. Arlington, Cotton & Kemble's Mizetral aad Burlesque Troupe. GLOEE TAEATRE-D toaaud Washizzion. Tuo Leon Brothers, pin.” ¢ ptront, botween Madi ** Dick Tur- ATRE~Clintonstrect, between W Randolph. Engagoment of Zoo. saad,” BUSINESS NOTICES. NIXOX'S AMPHITH AROMATIC LIQUID PEPSIN, UNLIKE ELIXIRS rines of vepein, contain o aleokul, which is incom- a weak nr disordered stomach. atie Liquid Pepsin. i time being six seconds in_the N, of HoB. Claflin & Co,, New tal variatiza from m gatice time. W. S, D! ks Che Chcags Teibumne, Monday Morning, December 30, 1872. Disasters on Western rivers have destroved £8,225,200 worth of property during the current year. Fifty-eight lives were lost by explosions, and 365 by falling overboard. Among the ten Ku-Klux prisoners who arrived at the Albany Penitentiary on Saturdsy, isa Baptist clergyman of South Carolina. A Heasian convict was pardoned, not long ago, on condition that he would emigrate to this country. Our Minister at Berlin was informed of this proceeding, and he exseted from the Grand Duke of Hegse & promise that nothing of the kind eball cecur again. Tho Louisiena Committes have issued their address, which will be presented to Congress when it reassembles. They make & full presen- tation of their case, snd the legal precedents that sustain it, and request that a committee bo sont to New Orleans with authority to take evi- dence, and to report on the merits of the dis- pate. The Chandlor faction in Michigan ero sp- parently organizing & Postmasters’ raid against tho Detroit Tribune. The sccusation is thatthe Tribune, although ostensibly supporting the regular party nominations in the re- cent election, did 60 with a bad grace was not of oll cheesful, ete. This ie -er- tainly & good reason for tnbooing tho Tribune. That reluctant paper will learn in due time that it muet not only eat erow, but must hanker after it—under penalty of being supplanted by Captain Wazd's newepapor in the confidence and esteom of all Michigan Portmasters. Tho victims of tho Centro street fire, in New York, Lava been Iying under the ruins for & week without auy effort for their exbumation by the polico or tho owners of the building. eans wers got, yesterday, by private subsorip- tion, to pay laborers for digging them out. With tho aid of & horse loaued by & poor working- man, the worlk has boen begun. Only ono body was recovered yestorday. Tho Firo Marshal reports that the loss of life wasduo to interested parsimony; tho elevator-well ho describes 2a no Leifer than a flue for the fames; the etaircaso was an infernal machine, snd the firc-escapes simply man-traps. The same ofticial reporis that Barnum's Museur was fired by the escape from the boiler of super- Lentedsteam, wisick is s8id to bo as dangerous as burning gas. The Firo Marshal eayn Lo twico wamed tho menagers of the circus of their peril, but nothing was done to avert it. The circumstanco thet Mr. Froudo eailed from Neir York for England on Saturday last will al- wost necessarily bo construed as a confession that the discuseion which Lis lecturea created L:ad becomo uncomfortebly warm for him. Itis well known {hat 3Ir. Froudo came over to this country with the intention of makinga much longer stay, and that he proposed to makos lecture tour {lrough the prominment cities. He certainly cannot complain that he Las Leen discourteously ircated. He was heart- ily welcomsd on bis arrival; be has been handsomely entertained in tho Jiterary circles of New York and Boston; Lis lectures have becn largely attended everywhero. The subject of 1 = discouraes was such a3 Lo bring out criticism and controversy in a land of free discussion. Mr. Melino (who isentitled to the credit of meeting Mr. Froude on purely historical grounds), Fathor Burke, and Mr. endell Phillips weve cerfainly formidable opponenta; aud it is hard to reétrain tho thought that Mr. Froude's sudden 2nd unexpected departure is an acknowlodgment that tho victory hss boen thoirs. The Chicsgo produce markets wero more sctive on Saturdsy; and gonerally firmer on breadstufls, Hess povk was quict and steady at 61150 cash, and $i1.20@11.85 scller March. cash, and $7.30@7.95 seller March. Meats wero in better demand, and firm at 33c for shoulders, 63 for short ribs, 53{c for short clear, and 7@ Tig for green hams, Dressed hogs woro firm 2nd o shade higher, closing at $4.35@4.37}4 per 100 1bs. Highwines wero quict and steady af 90c per gallon. Flour was more active and firm, Wheat was activo and 1};@2c higher, and closed 2t §1.203 cash; §1.21% ecller Jenuary, aud $1.93}¢ seller Pobruary. Corn was nctive and 3 @}4c higher, closing steady at Sle cash ; S1i0 eeller February, and 37c scller May. Oats wero more stive, and firm at 24{c cash, and 25}4@ 254c sellor Fobruarg, Rye was a shado casier, at 652 Barloy was moro activo, and stoady at 66c for No. 2, and 53@53}<c for No. 3. Tho live hog market was fairly active, and prices wero stoady at $3.50@3.80, which wero substantially tho prices currcut on Friday. Cattle and sheep ‘mot with only s limited inquiry, snd values wero nominally unchanged. Tho procecding in baakruptey instituted against tho Now Orleans Times was begun in the ‘morning at the opening of Durell's court, and in tho afternoon tho office was in the possession of ‘e Marshal, and the further issuo of tho paper stopped. Tho proprictors tenderad the amount claimed, with & large additional sum to cover costs ; but the offer was refused, and the Court, wihout giving the defendants a hearing, ordered the seizure of tho ofiice and the suspension of iho papor. The proprictors, Lowever, leaving thet cstablishment in the Lands of tho Marshal, .2 able by tho mext day to obtain the machinery and facilities for publishing a psper; and on tho 21st, Laving missed but one publication, they issucd snother paper Ye g tho samo mame. Wo sco no reason, o ever, why the Judge shouldnot, upon the ap- tion of any person, order the seizare of the w evi.blishment, and closing up of tho second paper. It is tobe Loped, however, that ihe pub- lic sentiment of the country will havo tho offect in restreining this recklcss judicial tyrant from any further oxhibitions of his rage. As soon &3 thc Legislature shall have elected the Tnited States Senator, theso extraordinary operations 1l cease. Meanwhile, it is tho duty of Con- gress Lo impeach Durell and removo him from oftice. The proposed repeal of the resorve ™ clause in the National Bauking act scems to meet with considerable favor in the Eastern press. Tho Tequirement that each lauk shell keep legal tenders in rezerve to the amount of 13 per cent of their deposits and 25 per cent of their circula- tion (and in redemption citics to the amount of 25 per cent of their deposits), defeats the object for wkich the practice of keeping a reserve was originally introduced, independently of law. This object was to furnish o fund that might bo drawn upon in emergencies. But the law does not allow this fund toLe touchod in any emer- gency, howover great. The cosequenco is, that sbout one-fifth of all the morey in the country is kopt arbitrarily out of use at the present time, when it is so much ficeded. The theory of tho reserve fund, so far os it has any theory to rcst on, is, that in case of a panic, the whole amount of circulation and deposits could bo paid out of the reserve—that is, that an indebtedness of five dollars could be paid with one dollar. This is, of course, absurd. In case of 2 panic, the circulation must be redecmed by the bonds held in the United States Treasury 28 security therefor, and tho doposits must be paid out of the property and assets of tho bank. If the other provisions of the National Bank act are properly enforced—especially those which require & bona fide eubscription and pay- ment of capital stock—tho reserve may safely bo left to the ordinary prudence of bankers thom- selves. On March 15, 1869, Mr. Bingham, of Ohio, in- troduced a joint resolution in Congress for the protection of the interests of the United States in the Union Pacific Railroad Company,” as ho 8aid, **and for otter purpos~s.” This resolution enabled the Union Pacific Railroad Company to enjoy tho benefit of trislin the United States Court, whenever snd wherever suit might be brought against them, by providing that no other Court should have jurisdiction in certain cases. The objective point of this resolution was the suit which Fisk bad brought against the road in one of the New York Courts. Thoe resolution further provided that the Union Pacific Reilroad Company might removo its gonoral office to Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, Cincinnati, Chicago, Omahs, or St. Louis, os it plonsed. This resolution was introduced after Mr. Ozkes Ames had written the colebrated letters to Colonel M'Comb. In the discussion of this resolution, Scnator Stewart, of Nevads, made a epeech, in which he intimated that thero had been Congressional bribery, such as now comes before Judge Poland's Investigating Committee. Aftor recounting in some messure the history of the Credit Mobilier, Mr. Stewart said: “I have heard it stated that leading members of Congrcss, members of tho Com- mitteo on the Pacific Railrond in the House, wore notoaly in the Union Pacific, butin this identical Credit Mobilier, and ware the reci ents of enormous dividends;and I bave not heard it denied. Itis furthor stated that for that very reason the thing would never bo inves-~ tigated; and it is said ‘you want to take it out of the courts,—you want to stiflo investigation overywhere.” " Wecalled attention some time ago to tho many evidences of the careless or ignorant man- ner in which ballots wero examined and counted by the Election Judges. .\ rocount of the voto for Sheriff in St. Louis County showed that out of tho fifis-four clection precincts in tnat couniy tho vote as returned by tho Judges did not correspond with that in tho boxes in moro ti:2n v instances. Wo instanced soveral dis- tricte in this city whero tho vote for Representa- tives was not correctly counted, and nearly 1,700 votes in ouo Senatorial District Lad ovidently been overlooked. In neither of these instances errors were thp result of ignoranco and care- lessness on tho part of tho Inspectors. Now wo have the case of tho Boston municipal election. Tho officers to bo chosen wera Mayor, Btreet Commissioner, and twelvo Aldermen, all elected on genoral ticket. Tho vote, as returned in Ward 2, was so preposterous that a general recount was ordored. ‘When this took place it was found thatinnotone of the precincts in thesistocr wards was tho voto for any one of the twenty-eight candidates cor- rectly reported ; in not a single instance did the count of the Inspectors agreo with the ballots in the box. There was no suspicion of fraud here, but there was ovorwhelming ovidenco of univor- sal carclessnoss and inaccuraey in the counting, and, consequently, in the statement of tho vote. The recount shows that, of the candidates for Lard was uctive and cicady st $7.00 per 100 s Mayor, Mr. Gaston was crodited with 536 votes waa there any ground for suspecting frand; tha | ho did not receive, and denied 36 votes that he did get; while Mr. Pierce was credited with 70 votes he did not get, and denied 14 he actually received. In the cases of other candidates, the recount reduced tho vote all the way from 54 in ouo caso to 756 in another; while, by the recount, other candidates made & net gain over losses on votes from 5in one case to 436 in another. The voto of every candidate, as re- Yorted, was found wrong in every ward and in tho aggregate. Even & candidate who was voted for on both tickets had his voto wrongly counted in overy ward. This matter is an ovil of the greatest magnitude. It these gross errors, amounting in the Boston case to the defeat of candidates who were actually elected, oxist in cases where there is no fraud, how utterly im- potont in cases whero fraud is actually perpo- tratod must the Inspectors bo to detect and pre- vontit. These disclosuros, following 8o closaly upon one another, show that there must be some remedy applied, or clections will become a more matter of guess-work. RAILWAY FREIGHT CHARGES. The Hon. Samuel Shellabarger, member of Congross from Ohio, has introduced a bill which prohibits any railway carrying passengers, freight, etc., on their way from one State to another State, making any discrimination in rates bocauso of distance; the said rates to be uniform as to mileage. Ar. Shellabarger makes tho introduc- tion of his bill the oceasion of a very long letter to o Boston paper, in which ho discusses o grost many matters, and makes many learned refer- ences to legal decisions, but fails, so far as wo can discover, to touch the question whether Congress has suthority to prescribe to railroads or other common carricrs the rate of compen- sation they may chargo for transportation. M. Shellabarger makes the following points : 1. That tho rato charged by railroads for the transportation of freight amounts, in many cases, to extortion, and that, whila food is rotting at one end of 2 railrond, there are persons very hungry at tho other end. 2 That, under the power to rogulato com- merce, Cougrees has enacted various regula- tions a8 to the construction of yessels; thenum- ber of passengers each may carry ; where the froight and baggage must be stowed ; the quan- tity end kinds of food to be given passengers and crew, and how it ehall be cooked ; rules as to cleanliness, and to protect passengers from outrage and wrong ; and that Congress has, in like manner, provided similar regulations fo commerce on steem and other vessels engaged i the inland trade. 2. That tho power of Congrees to regulate commerce smong the soveral States is precisely the same es it is to regulate foreign commerce. 4. That railroads, though unknown at the time of the adoption of the Constitution, stand in tho respect of commerce as do vessels upon tho rivers, lokes, and ocean. 5. That all State laws and charters of railrosd and othor corporations, which operate as regu- Iations of commerce among the several States, aro subject to the paramount power of Congress tozlter them whenover Congress shall decide to do g0 in aid and regulation of commerce. 6. That the only cases where a State has power to regulate commerco not subordinate to the power of Congress is in that commerce which is conducted wholly within the limits of such State, and is, thereforo, neither foreign com- meree nor commerce among the States. 7. That in tho abscnce of any egercise of its constitutional authority by Congress, the regu- Iations of the sovoral States would be valid, but all such regulations by States would lapse when Congress ghould act in the matter. These several propositions, so claborately dis- cusged by Mr. Shellabarger, may bo all admitted a8 sclf-evident, and yot they leave tho question 28 to the power of Congress to regulate tho rates of transportation precisely where it is now. We can all understand that railroads, though char- tered by States, hold their charters subject to 2l tho powers given to Congress by the Consti~ tution; and, while it is clear thatCongress can rogulato commercs among the States just as well 28 it can upon the ocean, that does mnob sottle tho question whether Congress can fix the rates of transportation in either case- Mr. Shellabarger leaves the country as much in tho dark upon this point as it was before, and yot that is the vital point in the whola subject metter. This question is one which has provoked ac- tion on the part of soveral State Legislatures. ‘These States have undertaken to enact a tariff of rates for the transportation of pessengers and freights, and to probibit any discrimination in {ho rates npon through and way freights. This hos been attompted under the general polico power of the State, or undor somo assumed au- thority to regulato commerce within tho Stato. 8o far 18 it applies o through freights it is inop- erative, becauso of tho easy means of evading it, and therefore tho State regulation, at best, is vory feoblo, or altogether nugatory. Thisis 80 generally admitted, that the country now turns to Coogress for the exercise of this suthority, if it exist at all. The failure of Mr. Shellabarger to give eny information on tho vital point of the whole discussion will be & disappointment to those who have faith that an act of Congress can curo any trouble, from high treason to the rheumatism. Wo donot undorestimate the calamity of high rates of transportation. They are to 8omo ox- tent a result of that vicious system of taxation under which the whole country labors. There is not & rail, a spike, & casting of any kind, & tool, or pieco of machinery, & locomotiva, or & wheel, or s tire, or any other article composed wholly or in part of iron and steel, which has not been taxed during the last ton years from 50 to 90 por cont. During that time every mile of railroad in tho United Statcs has been laid or relaid; the cost of comstruction and of maintenance hss been substantially doubled, and the samo tax has followed its rolling stock from the lumber of its platform cars to the paint, varnish, and glass of its passcngercoaches. Tho growers of corn and of wheat have been and are now paying that tax; they are paying it, as Ar. Shellabarger states, by sending five bushels of cornto pay the freight of one from Iowa to New York. The railroads have not been taxed one dollar that they havo not and do not collect with compound interest from the men who raise corn to send to market. The crop of 1872 wasa 1argo one in tho aggregate; it wasin excess of tho capacity of tho railroads to move. The rail- ronds, therefore, have advanced thoir rates, so s to obtain for tho transportation of one-third of the crop tho enme revenue that ought to have paid formoving the whole. Had they offaredto moveitfor one-third thoirpresent charges, they could not havo taken more than one-third the crop, and the other two-thirds would have been left to rot, or be burned precisely as itisnow. The same ccmplaint existed before the cloae of lake navigation, To limit the rates of freight i will not increase the means of transportation, and, 50 long as tho latter are far behind the amount of freight offering, thoro must be waste; the excess which cannot be moved to market nor esten must bo burned. While wo state these facts for the benefit of the railway companies, we do not overlook the fact that thoy have been guilty of glaring offences, prominent among which is the practice of issning watered stock and piling up fictitious indebtedness. They are all alike, grasping and *goulless.” The elemont of charity does not enter into their construction or composition. It wasnot granted to them in their chartors, and they have not obtained it from the missionary societies. Wo have no idea that, even if the power to regulate the rates of freights wore vested in Congress, the ownors of the 60,000 miles of rail- way in the United States would submit to its exercise without @ strugglo; and we have no question that in that struggle the superior in- telligence, sagacity, and roady means of the railroad managers would securs s controlling majority of both Houses as subservient as any other equally numerous body of emplosed men in their service. The better plan for Congress is to give relief in providing incressed facilities for transportation. The St. Lawrence River now ig offered us a8 an easy and cheap oxit to market. But if we must have railroads, then, as an ex- tremo measure, of doubtful propriety, but far better than an attempt to fix railroad charges by law, let Congress comstruct a double track trunk railway for the transportation of freight from the Atlantic to the Mississippi or Missouri, ond make it free to any person or corporation to run trains thereon, under suitable regulations, tho charges for freight not to excoed s certain rate. Congress can do what it pleases with its own; but when it undertakes to regulate the price of moving a bushel of corn, it psserts an authority to fix the prico at which corn shall be sold, the prico at which aman shall labor per day, andatonce, under the guise of parental caro, becomes an intolerable despotism and nuisance. We bave not enough railways to the seaboard. Let us encourage their increase by a repeal of overy tax that swells the cost of their construction; let us even buwild new railways; but let Congress be caraful that, in attompting to curo the patient, it does not administer poison. —e SUNDAY LAWS AND SUNDAY OBSERVANCE. Bishop Armitage, of Wisconsin, a distin- guished prelate of the Protestant Episcopal Church, recently read an essay befors the Wis- consin Acsdemy of Sciences, giving & general review of the origin and existing status of the various modes of observing Sundsy provailing among different Christian countries. It was & notable concession for a churchman to maintain that the Sabbath day and Sunday are two die- tinct and separate institutions,—the one of Jew- ish origin imposing roligious cbligations, and the other a day voluntarily set apart for rest and worship, imposing no obligations upon non- worshipers except that of sobriety and good neighborhood. The essay is timely, and the author's effort to conciliate the opposing ele- ments of our population in regard to observing Sunday, and to cause them to exercise patience and toleration, is worthy of all praiso. There are threo distinctive customs in obsery- ing Sundsy,—the Continental, the English, and the American or Puritan. The European cus- tom is that which prevails, with modifications according to the tastes of the various peoples, all over the Continent of Europe, and which re- gards Sunday as a day of recreation and =ocial amusement, with or without religious worship. The American custom, in its purity, is to devote the dayto church-going and prayer, and not simply to refrain from doing any work, but also from enjoying pastimes which are regarded as harmless on other days of the week. The English custom is a sort of compromise between tho license of the day as it is construed in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, and the Puritan rigor of observing it 2s a religions day, to bo devoted to holy uses oxclusively. The origin cf these different Sundsy customs, 28 traced by Bishop Armitage, is curious and in- teresting. It will surprise many gaod people to learn that the European custom, which they ara in the habit of regarding as licentious and eacri- logious, is o dircct outgrowth of the Reforma- tion, as organized and led by Luther snd Calvin. These old Reformers, disgusted with the oxcess of form and pomp in the Roman Church, main- tained that it was sbsurd to hold that oneday could be holier than another. It was Luther's ides that if a Papist insisted upon this fallacy his followers should make the day particularly merry, and thus show their contempt for the old superstition. (Bishop Armitage, it should be re- marled, does not concur with Luther as tothis.) Cavin &id not go =0 far s this, but still maintained the general principle that Sunday could not bo holier than Monday or Wednesday. Thus it was that the Reformers became responsible for the Europesn ides of Sunday. Tho people camo to regard tho day 2s their holiday, on which they might indulge themsolves in hearing music, visiting each other; drinking wine and beor, and genorally giving themselves up to amusements for which they could not spare tho time during tho week. The popular belief among Americans, thet these Bunday habits come from the infidelity of Ger- many, is, therefore, entirely incorrect. The Lutherans of Northern Germany and the Catho- lics of Southern Germany spend Sunday in pre- cisely the same way that the infidels obssrve it, with the difference that they go to church in the morning. The beer-gardens of Berlin, with their symphony ormilitary concerts, are visited by the best Protestant German fami- lies, who see 1.0 wrong in passing their Sunday afternoon in this way. Sunday night is the gala mght at the royal opera and theatre, and the day has the characteristics of a holiday among all classes of people. The pravalence of the Puri- tan Sunday in America was, Bishop Armitage thinks, o resalt of tho English victories over the French in the early provincial wars before the American Revolution. He thinks that, if the French has been victorious in these struggles, their ideas would have got the mastery, snd they would have been hand- ed down through succeeding generations, 80 that [the American Bundsy to-dsy would not have been materially different from that which is observed by the French of Lowsr Cansda. But the English having been victc- rious, and the Puritan eloment having beon in the ascendant among them, their notions of Sunday prevailed and spread over the continent. The extreme rigor of theso Pruitan ideas, ex- tonding even to the domestic comforts, natar- ally brought almost & reaction (which Bishop Armitage regards unfortunate); but the charac- teristio devotion of the day to religious purposes 28 & Divine command bas been rotained. The English view of Sunday is the most conservative of all. While recog- nizing & certain holiness as the spirit of the day. tho English do uot think that worehip should complotely bar out the featuroof recreation. Church-going is strictly observed, but, having gone to church, the Londoner believes in & par- ticularly goed dinner or a refreshing excursion to the country. The theatres and all public places of amusement aro closed, but the ‘Thames River is alive with pleasure-boats, and Kew Gardons and Cromorne are crowded with gayly- dressed pleasure-scokers. Thero is moro of that spirit about tho English Sunday which wo would call orderly and decorous than can be found on tho Continent ; but there is nothing in it, on tho other hand, that corresponds to the Amorican notion of devoting tho day exclusive- 1y to the worship of the Lord, and to mortifsing the flesh as much as possibio. The lesson of thoso distinctions between the customs of koeping Sunday is obvious. It is not for the Puritan nor for the German to say that ho alone ig right in his construction. Both of them receive their notions from those who went before them ; and as Monday might have been- selocted as the one dayin soven, instead of Sun- ‘day, there is no intrinsic holiness belonging to Sunday any more than to other days. Itis only right that the customs and traditions of a coun- try should be respected; but no other duty is necessarily attached to the day. Intolerance on both sides is the cause of the incessant agitation of the Sunday question in this country, where the population includes the three elements that have been described. If those who believe in the American custom could once make up their ‘minds thatthe European custom wasnot positively wicked, all they would askwould bethe privilega of pursning their own customs without inter- ruption or annoyance. This much, on the other hend, must be conceded by the Europeans. They come to this country and should be care- ful not to array themselves against its customs, especially 8o long a6 they are usually permittedto enjoy their own preferences and continue their old habits in a quiet and inoffensive manner. It may be that America is not yot old enough to hove had its custom of observing Sundsy finally od firmly established, but the chango can ouly be very gradual, In the meantime, mutual tol- eration on tho part of those who differ in regard to the observance of the day will enable us all to spend Sunday pretty much according to our own inclinations, without annoying anybody else. THE OPERA SEASON. For the first time since the Great Fire, Chi- cago is to have an opers season worthy of the name. Neither the Wachtel season of last spring, which was & miserable fiasco, nor the Aimeo opera-bouffo immedistely following it, which was almost ss bad, can bo classod in the regular seascns of opera. Both these troupes wero heterogeneously thrown together, and were brought to Chicago because it was supposed that a good business could be done here, Chicago having been without music for nearly six months. Tho managers, however, discovered that the fire had not consumed the good taste of opera-goers. Now, after waiting over & yesr, we may congratulato our- selves that the opora once more resumos its place in the world of local amusements, although we have no Opera House, and cannot mako the opers at homo with the samo dogreo of elogance and completeness as formerly. For- tupately, the opera does not necd thia to make it presentable, Wo may miss some of the gor- goous surroundings, but the dramatic and mu- sical ensemble will not suffer. Perhaps it will ‘be improved, for the stago of Crosby's Opera House very often interfered with the perform- anco of opera. Thero aro many who will ro- member the first season of Italian and the first of German opers in Chicago, and they will alsore- member that, sinca that time, no performances of opera have ever been given here in any way comparable'to them. They were given in Mc- Vicker's Theatre, which at that time was not only vastly inferior to the Opera House, but elso to the present handsome theatre. The only advantage which the Opera House possessed over the theatrs was in favor of tho audionce. It was more ele- gant, more sumptuous, more fashionable and aristocratic, but it did not add one iota to the dramatic or musical character of the perform- ances. Tho forthcoming season will be given in tho theatres ; and in one instance at least Mc- Vicker's Theatre. The only disadvantage under which it labors in comparicon with the Opera Houso, as it was, is in seating capacity. Tho audience, however, will gain by this, proximityto tho stago, and 8 cosy degreo of sociality, which was unknown in the cold distances of the Opera House, and this will furnish increased entertainment in tho enfr'actes and better op- portunities for the inspection of toilettes. ‘The first season will be of English opera, and will commence at the Academy of Music, Jan. 8. The troupe was organized, by Mr. Edward Seguin, out of & portion of the remnants of the Parepa and Richings troupes which were left after disbandment. Mad. Paropa, Messrs. Camp- bell, Castle, and Nordblom are in Europe. Mr. Peples is in Philadelphia. Mrs. Richings-Ber- nard has o part of the old singers, giving opera inNew Eagland, whilo Mr. Seguin has by far the best part, including Miss Rose Herseo, Mrs. Zeldn-Seguin, Mad. Jenny Van Zandt, Mr. Brook- house-Bowler, Mr. Gustavus Hall, and others, &1l of whom are well known to opera-goers, ex- cept Mad. Van Zandt. She has not sung in this country for many years, and her reputation is, therefors, purely European. In Europe, especially in Ttaly and England, she ranked vory high, both as sctross and cantratrice, and has always reflected credit npon American vocalism. The troupe is newly organized, and sings here for the first time, we believe. Its repertoire is not announced, but we presume will embrace the standard English operas, like #The Bohemian Girl,” *‘Maritana,” and ‘‘Rose of Castile,” the calibre of the troupe evidently not allowing the performance of the Leavier operas, or those of the Italian school which have bean Anglicized, like “Normsa” and “Tro- vatoro.” We may ressonable expect from this troupe s fair performance of theso lighter op- eras, especially as far as the Iadies are concerned —the feminine branch being much stronger than the masculino. The English season will be an appetizer for theItalian, which commences at McVicker's, Feb. 2, instead of in May, as at first announced, and will last two weeks. As this is the only Italian troupo in the country, we must take this or nothing. The troupe is under the management of the veteran Max Marctzek and of Henry Jar- rot, the London manager, who was Mad Nilsson-Rouzaud's sgent during her recent ses- gon in this country. The bright particalar star of this troupe is Pauline Luccs, the Berlin prima donns, whose reputation both as actress snd singer is o well known, the world over, that sho will need no introduc- tion in Chicago. Weo may natimally expect that Americans will grow enthusiastic over the fair diva, and that the Germans will go into ecstasies gver their * Kleino Pauline.’ Clara. Louise Eellogg, the favorite American prima donns, is also in the troupe, and the same war which has broken out in New York, over the respective merits and vocal position of the two singors, will probably Lo transferred here for ultimate settlement, as each artist recognizes Chicago as the musical arbiter, when it ¢ mes to o matter of critical decision. Vizzaui is the leading tenor, Abrugnedo the leading baritono, and Jamet, the French singer, tho leading basso. Thero are many other artists in tho troupo of grester or less merit, who help to make the ensemble. The Toper- toire embraces principally * Faust,” L'Afri- caine,” Ambroise Thomas' * Mignon,” “The Huguenots,” “Lucia,” “Traviata,” *Fra Diavolo,” * Crispino,” * Trovatore,”—the last four or five being set for Kellogg. ‘While these two seasons do not promise as lavishly as some past seasons, yet, all things considered, thero are very strong and attractive points in each, and, after the long operstio famine, we can hardly doubt that they will prove remunerative. The public had begun to settle down to the conviction that it would not have opers agesin until an Opera House was built. Wo have already shown that an Opera House is not a sine qua non, and, on the other band, that it is possible to have better opera in a theatre, Should the two sea- gons by any chance prove to be failures, there- fore, it will not be the fault of Chicago, but of the managers themselves. The public will have to pay opers prices, and will do it without growl- ing, provided it gets its money’s worth. The musical ontlook is encouraging. Between now and the April showers it includes the Segumin troups for January, the Lucca troupe and Theodore Thomas' Orchestra for February, aud, possibly, the Rubinstein troupe for March, After that, the Deluge. — THE RUSSIAN WAR. The present hostile movement of the Russian Government against Khiva is but & repetition of the old-time determination of Russia to geta foothold in Central Asia. In the early part of the sixteenth century, Poter the Great contome plated the idea of reviving the old commercial route from India through Central Asia es it was | in tho days of the Roman Empire, and sent out two expeditions, both of which were foiled by the Ehivans. A centrry later, another attempt was made, which had to be relinguished. Three years later, another expedition set out, which succeoded in establishing the military post of Fort Alexandrovsk on the esstern shore of the Cospian Sea, and established commercial rela- tions with the Toorkomans, which were eventually discontinued by tho latter, ss they threatened to involve their independence. In 1839, the Russians sent out another expedition towards Khiva, which failed, and thoy then set their faces in another direction. The Kirghis Steppe, between Asiatic Russia and Toorkistan, was invaded and captured. In 1853, they cap- tured a fort at Akmusjid, and, in1864, the towns of Toorkistan, Aulieats, Chumkund, and Tash- kund, the largest town in Central Asis, and the whole conquered district was incorporated into the Russian dominions, under the name of Toorkistan. The mext Russian war was with Bokhara, which resulted in the capture of Eokund, vwhich wis slso incorpo- rated with Toorkistan. Samarkund and Bokhara were the next districts to yield, and in their capture Russia became the virtual ruler of Central Asia. The immediate cause of the attack on Khiva is alleged to bo a freebooting attack upon Fort Alexandrovsk, snd the the refusal of the Khan of Khiva to surrender some Russian subjects held in slavery by them. Meanwhile, a new complication has arigen in this attempt of Russia to oxtend its Asiatic dominion, the Pritish Ambassador st St. Petersburg having notified Prince Gorischakoff that if the Russisn troops penetrate the countries between Khiva and Afghanisten, England will be compelled to interfere in support of Afghan independence. As it is impossible for Russia to advance without doing this, the movement bogins to assume a gerious aspect,—all the more sorious that the re- monstrance of Englend is not 8o much to main- tain Afghsn neutrality as to protect her own Central Asiatic trade. It touches John Bull in his most sensitive spot—his pocket. The Nation gives an explanation of what is Lknown as the ‘November Atmosperic Wave,” or the sudden annual change which we call the ““cold enap.” The change itself isthe transfer of cold descending air from the oceans to the continents ; its cause is tho change in the posi- tion of the greatest relative heat. Tho sudden- ness of the change is explained as follows: Descending 2ir is constantly increasing in capacity for moisture, which causes s steady disappearance of the clouds, renders haze im- posaible, and thus uncovers the surface to unre- strained radistion into space and night, and the reverse is truo of ascending air. Tho proximate cause of every sudden fall of temperature is said tobe tho advent ofj a group of spots upon the eun's diec. Tho direction of this “‘atmospheric wave ¥ is explained as follows : Tho cause of tho eastward motion of theso somi- snnual phenomens, 13 of all other elements of weather in the temperato zones, and of the westward movement within the tropics, will be clear only to those who un— derstand_ why the water opposite_our moon masses it self into o tide. Just s (his water s left behind by the more rapid movement of the aolid part of the carth toward the moon (because tho &o!id part, averaged st tho centre, is nearer the moon), 8o the &ir above the torrid zone is left behind Ly the mgre rapid westerly motion of the golid earth beneath 1% and thus always appears to be itself moving from the cast (trade wind). For the atmosphere rotates (vy force which is known, but need not_hero be stated) independently of the carth snd indcpendently one po:(ion of anotler; while tho earth must move altogether; and thus the surface of tke torrid zome moves faster, and the temperate zones sloser, than cither would move it liquid or independent of fs meighbors. The avorage velocity of rotation {a near latitude 30, where air and earth moveat equal pace. North of this latitude we may regard our prevailing westerly winds a8 (approxi- mately) illustrating a_moro natiral rate of rotation, while we ate retarded by being 50 near the axis—ap-. proximately merely, for the cnormously superior fric~ tion of solid over gas compels tho atmosplere to conform almost entirely to the veloeity of the surface, All extensive atmospheric phenomens, then, roust in tho temperato zoncs movo from west to cast (unless ‘propagated backward, as froquently happens, butnot in relation to this topic) along with fhe alr in which they ate involved, Henco 3 movement, from an ocesn to & continent will always o directed toward the continent next east of the ocean. Other causes conspire with ihe one ubovo stated, but this is the most comprelien- sive cause, e ST R Foreign papers by the last mail report the deaths of soveral prominent persons, which have occurrod recently, among them Robert Mac- pherson, who was the father of photography in tho Italian capital, and produced the first large pictures of Romen ruirs, and who slso enjoyed a wide-spread reputation as an art-oritic; John Do Haga, & well-known basso, who was for- merly connected with opera companies in Amer- ica and the British-Australasian Company, and committed suicide, growing out of financisl em- barrassments; M. Janet-Lange, the Fronch his- torical painter, who was a pupil of Ingres and Horaco Vernet; and James Capel, the oldest momber of the London Stack Exchango, and formerly Chairman of the Board of Macagers,— one of the most prosporous merchants of Lon- don, i —_— Tho Oneids Community, in New York State, hea set ono example to the American poople. Tboy have abandonad the custom of three meals aday, and find It both convenient and comfort able to take the necessary food at two sittin ga. 1t is & curious result of the montl’s trial of fng new custom that the averago weight of the Com. manity has been inoreased, instead of bringiag ahout any lean and hungry look. Thig would almost confirm the common beliet that many people eat g0 much that it keeps them poor tg carry it around. Saving of time aud better di- gestion aro also among the re. rejime. The castom coutd be imitated to advau- tago outside of the Orvita Community. Ons exccllent feature of its general adption would be some regularity in meal hours, which are now 80 various in this country tha: it is impossible to know when to call on people ot their houses w.ithuut finding them at their breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea, supper, or some other meal. 1507 the new R g Paris is making an effort to revive what is known in this country as tho musical drams. The Italian Theatro bas just produced a pieca entitled Les Deuz Reines, which is a sort of epio poem, written by * M. Legouve, ilustrated With music by 3. Gounod. Ths entertain- ment is of a kind that was in voguo during tha earlier career of the theatroin Tranco, ‘There have been several efforts at Jifferent times ta re-establish it in public favor, but withont snce cess. Tho combined labors of to such men af Legouvo in poctry and Gounod in music ought to determine whether the two Tnses of verse and harmony can be successfully courted at one and the same time. The dramatic theme is tak- en from tho domestic experionces of Philip Augustus, aad it has considerabls interest. [, Gounod has furnished an introductory overtare, solog,and choruses, stage music, and music to be performed between the acts. One of his songa is said to bo a great success, and the experiment of this kind of entertainment, new to tho pres- ent generation of Paris thentre-goers, is regards ed with a good desl of interest, e NOTES AND OPINION. Frank C. Bannell, Republican, has beon etecte ed to fill out tho unespired term of Utyeses Mere car, of Pennsylvanis, in the present Congress. —Senator Harlan caused o “vindication” of himself to appear in an obscare Democratia weckly paper, and copied it approvingly in his own Washington Chronicle. But the Dubugue Herald saya: As was tobo expected, the Allison publish the Sndiomon ot Secretary xfl-‘lfi%fl’ifi.‘;’.’ . W. Wright in the matter of the pensiozers and backe. pay of the Indian voluntcers. They will neither prb- lish i, nor will they believe it when others publish it, Secretary Harlan has frauked tho paper contuining tha vindication to all parts of Tows, and ia of coorse anxious to be set right. But his enemies will do nothe ing of thekind. Tao Dubuque Ziumey says frankly 1t does not belicve Harlan hus vindicated himself, —A Bt. Louis special correspondent of tka Cincinnati Gazefte says : It having gained circulation that Sevator Schurz is Taboring 1o prevent the re-ciection of Frank Blsir, Colonel Grosvenor, who is presamed to be in the cone fAdenco of Semator Schurz, statea editorially in the Erening Digpatch, to-day, that General Schurz has not been doing anything of the kind ; that 80 careful had e becn not to interfero with the Senatorial contest, ‘which he regards a8 nono of his business, that even hik most intimote friends have received frow him not the least information in regurd to his preference betwecn the different candidates, -—Now that the management of the New York Tribune is sottled, it is hard to tell what new sensation will be created out of which Vice Pres- 1dent Colfax can make 3 littl capital, and enjoy hisusual amount of smiling. Good, dearman, itis most likely that he will be retired to the nur~ sery, with his baby, after the 4th of March, 1873.— Cameron's Home Organ. —Colonel Forney, in his Philadelpkia Press, says the question as to the next United S:ated Senator from Pennsylvania, is not **in regardto the qualifications of tho candidates, but solely in regard to their purses. It is mot & quea- tion of brains, but of dollars. It is not whether the next Senator is able to speakcr to write, or to add to the honor of his State, bu§ whether he is able to pay money for votes, to gat offices for his adherents, and to fulfll prem= ses to the local politicians.” —Thomas H. Speakman, one of the founders of the Union League of Philadelphiz, and o 1)~ porter of President Grant in the late campa.yn, recontly submitted at the annual meoting of tuat body, resolutions denouncing * oflicial corrup= tion and frauds pon the elective franchise,™ and disclaiming the action of the Campaign Committee, which proseribed all mombers' wha did not support the Republican Stato ticket. The resolutions, however, were deemed inj cious, and wero tabled, déspite ** o strong and earnest minority vote.” —As the Secors suceeeded, with the aid of the Secretary of the Navy, in getting 291,000 oxtrs compensation, Mr. Miles Greenwood, who also built vessols of tho same kind for a like sum, now appenrs before Congress aud asks to be placed on the same footing with tho Sccors. As the Becretary indorsed tho former, ho cannot well Tefuse the latter. —Thero i8 no reasonablo doubt as to the im- plication of some S:nators and_Hepresentatives in_what, in plin_ language, is Congressional bribery and corruption. _We Liope the investiga- tion nOW in progress will be searching, and that the guily men, no matter to which party they bes Jong, will be exposed and punished. ~We infer from certain disclosnres already mado, thas & Qistinguished Iowa politician is implicated.— Muscatine Journal. —Itis sufiiciently plain that a party in the country, we know 1ot how strong, are resolved toronéw the discussiow of the Naa Domingo question. Apparently there is monay in it,—8 pecuniary interest 80 great as to pay for and justify almost any measure of patience and persistence, and involving 8o mauy individaals 88 to render an extensive movement in support of the enterprise comparatively easy of procure- ment. Itislikely enough that the Presiden® still favors, & ho certainly favored formerly, tho scquisition of tho island. But, having failed to convince tho_ peopla of tho sourdness of the view, and heving for- mally renounced the schemo a3 impractic.lle, it is ot for . momet tobe supposed that ha would 80 800D renew tho agitaton cf the sab- ject, especially in an underhand manner. And, B0 far was hisTe-election fzom being or impls.2g the national indorsement of the San Dominga scheme, that perbaps few considerations did ‘more to confirm confidence in the Prosident and intensify his populanty during the lato canvass than his decided and chearful surrender of the scheme on becoming assured of iis rojoction by the people.—~Pittsburgh Commercial. tanford & Co. are now mo Goat Islaud, preparatory to maki compel San I'rancisco to give Basin and market-places 1 Mission Bay, and probably some miliions of dollars in bonds. Theso pec-~le have not yet gotencugh. Will they over Lievo enough ? This is called s free country, where men may enjoy the rights of property which has been earncd by the swess of the brow. There is probubly not tyrant im Europe who would dare do what Staniord end his satallites are doing to oppress the peoplo Does auy man suppose that Stanford, Gorham. and Billy Carr will not take the baif of evers man’s home in this city if they can obtain iti Ts it not about time tho inhabitants of Sun Fran: cisco took measures to protect themselves against a tyranny that is paralszing all businest a this city ?—San Francisco Call. —We read of the arbitrary suppression of news: papers in Rusein ond Austria, and other coun. tries with a deepotic form of government, and we havo been in tho habit of congratulating our. selves that this was o country whore freedom of speech was tolerated. Even dunng the war the popular excitement was so intense that Presi. dent Lincoln promptly revoked the order sup reessing tho New York World and Chicaga 'imes, and the vile Brick Pomeroy (now a sup- porter of the Administration) was allowed to publish the most treasonablo eentiments withe out molesiation. Now, s great newspaper is squelched under the pretended color of the law. Federal bayonets stand ready to enforco the mandate, and the peoglo find tliemselves power- less to resist.—St. Paul Dispatch. —PrycaBACE’S TBOUBLES.—Qur Senegambisn “ Governor,” by the graco of Durell, is at pres- ent & man of many 8orrows and vexations. In trymgitu gellout to each, ho he3 protiy muck lost his hold on_all the various aspirants and factions of his party. First, he cannot manage the Senate in the impeacLment of Warmoth. 16 his infinite disgust, ho found. that even hia col- ored brothers were racalcitrant on that subject. Secondly, he has made appointments, or rather ed his ever uncertain and mysteriousinitiala to certain cormiseions, which tho Senate re- fuses to confirm, and Lis supporters to apyove. ‘Thirdly, Lo has not kopt his word with Billing? or Norton, to sapport them for tko Serato, but insists on trying his own clances for thet high office. Finally, ho i3 dsmned on all sides 88 8 most faithless, traitorous Sencgambian, who i8 obliged to take his meals and bhis straw-bed at the State House, for fear sowe person, of course of his own party, might ~ put s head on him,” en route to his divelling-place.—Tiie Times (New Orleans). —The Register supposes that the resl secret of ugposition from enc};: of thesa geatlemen (Snapp, Logan, and Weed) is this. “Tho pas. 18826 by whioh they and such 8 they contral BRI ) i T aiszny