Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 8, 1875, Page 4

L] e S ———— TIIE CHICAGO 'WRIBUNE: WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 8, 1875.~TWELVE PAGES, TERMS OF THE TRIBUNE. BATHR OF ATISCRIPTION (FATANLE TN ADYAXCE), Paatnae I'repnld nt this Omoe, Deily Rdition, poet-sald. 1 so i 813,00 Patts of ‘sour atsame mta, Mailed 1o asr address FOUR WERER for..., 00, 1,00 Bunday Fifon: 1itesary sid Rellgloiis daiihis T e povi-pi Parta o 5 5 WERKLY EDITLO Sy sy Club ol twenty, por cop: The postags is 1 conts To present delsy and_ mistakes, bo aure nod glve Test-0fice sddren In full, fucluding Statosnd County. Lemittances may be mado either by draft, esprest, Yont-Oflice order, or in regiatornd letters, at our risk, TERNA TO CITT BURSCRIBERA, Daily, delivered, Sunday escapted, 23 cants por week, Duily, delivered, Sunday ficluded, B3 rents per week, Addrens THE TRIBUSE COMPAN' Corner Mudison and Dearhorn-stt., Chics THE WEEKLY TRIBUNE. , Tar Crtoano Wernry Trmuse for Dec, 8 (now ready) contafns the Prostiont's Mersage, Report of tho Recretary of the Treasry, Secrotary of War, Sec- retary of the Navy, of ths Postmaster-General, Come miesloner of the Land-Otiice, Secrot-Sorvica Report, Army Fagincers, civ. The proceadings of {ho Demo- cratic Caucun, and of the apeniug seeslon of the Forty- fourth Congress, aTo given in full, with descriytion of scencanni fuckdents, All tula fuad ditlontothe general news, literary, and miccsliancous reading, Included in the fullowing lst: Particulsrs of ho Eacape aud Flight of Tweed; Thn Resurrection lforror hicago; Jtecord of (ho Whirky-Ring Trials at onia aud Othor Yoite ; A Becret Caapter in Oue History ; A Startling Blory ss to Jobu C. Colt, the Murderer of Adams; Tho Sleeping Ivesclier { Many Times Marrled ; Romantie Tucidents in tho Liven of Twina; The Lourbon Frogramme as to Seutli- ern Claima ; Tho Coal-Mine Dinaster in England ; Tho Lows of the Emigrant ship Dentachland ; Criminal Ganns in tho DifTerent States ; Forelgn and Home Nows and the Speclal Depurtments : Literature, The Fino Atls, Sparks of Sclenoc, Famillar Talk, Story * Bluo Hatin Doots,” Fantifon, Forelgn Gosstp, ber and 43fc for Janunry. Oats wers moro nactive and jo higher, closing at 303e cash and 3040 for January. Rye was quict, at 673@68c. Darloy was in botter demand and 122 higher, closing at 87¢ for December mxt #6e for January. Hogs opened dull, Dut roon liecnme active, and closed firm at @100 advance, Snles principolly at £6,70@ 6.90. Cattlo wero dull and easy. Thero was an active demand for slicep, avd prices wore On Saturday evening last bu 2500 higher, there was in stare in this cily 1,651,5! wheat, 21,570 bu corn, 263,150 bu onts, 790 bu rye, and 921,099 bu barley, hundred dollam in gold would buy $118,37} in greenbncks nt the close, ‘The forthcoming report of Mr. Crranrovan, City Engineer, shonld have the effect of an aodyne upon the disquioted nerves of the National Board of Underwriters and the New York Wordd. 'Tho report will compare the araounts of water-pipo Inid in various cities of the United States, and will show that € eago hny but 4 miles less of atreet maing than New York., It will eventually be nccepted ns nn evident fact that Ghicnge's facilities for dealing with and preventing extensive con- flagrations nre nmot surpassed in auy city in the Union, . They have heard the news at Madrid, and tho cable tells of the intense oxcitement which was oecasioned by that portion of President Guant’s Messnge relating to the Cuban question, & full summary of which Liad Been telegraphed to Senor CoLrLaNTes, thie Spanish Minister of Toreign Affairs. An informal meeting of the Ministry was nt onco conyoked, and the cscitement in Madrid is Ladies, Humor, I'ersonal, Biogeaphical 8 5 and Garden, Ficld and Slable, Financlal and Commer~ eial, Subseribera should make an effart t2 have thatr sub- scriptious begin with this number (specimen kent froe), ®0 that they nay have the anuual reports and Congres. #onel zecord complete, NEW CHICAGO TIIF, Tiandslph apd Lako, Lngaw Miuntrelr, Alternoon and even Cinrly droot, Lolwarn tof Kcly's Leon's LPHI THEATRE—Dzerborn Varioty enterialacnt, sirect, cornar Afwraorn snd avouing, adison stry ot betwean pement of Y.ay Howard, MCVICKER'S THEAT eardorn and Riate, “'Ile Now Magdalou, WOOD'S JCSCUM—Mourve street, between Dear- born uud Btate, ** 5ix Degroes of U ue,” Altornvon ud escuing. 'SOCIETY MEETV 4as. GARDEN CITY LODGE, No. A Regular Communteation’ wilt eventiag, Dec, 8, at Orfental 11 41, Work on t] Mcgrea, Visiting lrsthren {1 aternally invited, Y. F, HOLCOMS, . L. L WADSWOITI, Hec, HESPERLA LODGE, *No, Iar comnmpieation at Muvnto Temy: 0. dolph aud Ualded-abu,, s (Wodnesdsy) eveuing, Dec, 8, Thted degroz. Vmitiug brethren cordially ine wited. A BEENAN, W. AL 'OLKSTEL, Sve. 1, T, and A, M, i wliy eventig, &e, Al ape 8 J. D, €, WHLTN] 411, A, Wednerdlay Mormng, Decomber 8, 1875, WITH SUPPLEMENT. _— . QColder northwest winds and clearing @eather are predicted for this region to-dny, Af the Now Yor]; G;l?l 'I'fx?hn;sn yosterday groenbacks ranged frow 87] to 87}, all the sales 92 the day being at thoss Sgures, — In the drawing for sents yesborday in the Democratic House, bliud Fortuno dispensed her favors without regard to politienl predi- lections, race, color, or previous condition of scrvitude. One of the queor results of tho drawing was the location of Franaxoo Woop within three seats of a colared 3. O., and yot it does not appear that the colored M, O. has made any fuss about it. It is the era of rec. wnciliation, At o joint conferenco yesterdsy of the Central Republican Committees of tha coun. ties comprising the Boventh Judicial Distriet of Illinois it was decided to hold a Conven- tion in this city on Monday moxt for the nomination of o Republican candidate for Judge of the Supremo Court to bo voted for at tho special election ealled to fill the va- cancy occasiongd by the resignation of Judgo McAvLsteR. Congress hns adjourned until Friday, and it is thought that it will then adjourn over until the following Tuesday, as Speaker Krnn declures his inability to make up the Com- mittees whilo tho Jlouse is in sossion, The various Btate delegations will separately unite wpon thoir respective recommendations for Chairmanships, but theso, it is understood, will bo accepted sa suggestions only by Mr, Kexnr, who will be mainly guided by his own Audgment in the matter, A rample of Bourbon boorishness was fur- nished yesterday by the discourleous treat. wont accorded by the Iouse of Representa- tived to the President. The Becretary bear. ing the Messsgo arrived while the drawing for seats was in progress, and according to luvariable usngo the document should have, been allowed the precedence over all otk op business, But the Democratio member,y ye. fused to suspend the seat-lotlery, o';d the \easage had to wait. % teh gives an a0’ sount of the toss of the German PaS80" ygor uteamer Deutschland near the mouth ¢f tho Thawmes, by which ity or more per¥ ,ng out of the 170 »n board, perished. A st cong gale, blinding wnow, and a hoavy 8en § rovailed at tho timo 3t tho disaster. M ; tives were lost by the rapaizing of boata yhile trying to lsunch thews, and others perighed from cold before ahelter could be reachod. A partial list of tho passengery | all of whom wers Germaus, ™ given, % The Cvlcago produca markets were gon. aslly o0 opger yesterduy. Mess pork was quict ar gdvanced 200 per brl, closing at $19.10 ©19,17) cash and $10.874@19.40 for ¥ebit sury, Lard was in fair demand and 100 Per’io0 Ibs higher, closing at $12.25 cash ~dl $1242}@12.45 for February. Meats were quiet and firm, at 70 for shoulders, 100 for sbort ribs, and 1p4@10}0 for short clowrs, ulf boxed, Highwines wero in fair demand‘end steady, at §1.11 per gallon, Flour waa dull aud stesdier. Wheat waus active and 2o higher, closing at $1.00§ cash, wnd §1.01} far January, Corn was quiot wnd 1@1jo higher, elosing ab 17J¢ for Decam- equal to that which was crented by tho Vir- ginins affair. And, the question arites, What is Spnin going to do aboutit? Nobody in America will lie awake o' nights waiting for ananswer, oY ‘Tho Mexicrm Minister at Washington is at £0me pains fo wet forth in strong colors tho Greesier sido of the border question, making it uppear thak Conrtsa and his enttle-stenling Landits are mild-mnannered murderers com- pared vith the people of ‘Texns, ngninst whom he all sges n long list of atrocities committed upon Mexican residents, Making duo allow- ance for Mamnscan's exaggeration of the case, it % probahly truo that bloody reprisals have heen made by tho exsspernted Texans, lyat 4ho Mexiean Minister will have difficulty in couvineing anyhody that the nccounts nwe so evonly balanced as he assorta. Alr. Arnent Keer, President of the Chiengo & Northwestern Reilroad Company, unequiv- ocally denies tho reporta circulnted from New Yok that that the finances of the Northwest- crn wero in such n precarious condition as {6 threaten seviously the interests of the stock- holders. Mr. Keep pronounces the reporty s utterly uufounded. nud states that the: fiunncinl condition of the rond hns greatly im . proved within the past year, there being no'w it tho trensury a larger amount of ready cosh than at ony time for several yoars past. Ho dectares that the New York canard way in- vented solely for the purpose of rdfecting, the stock market. In his search for somabody ta take chargo of tho Indisn Burcau, Secrotary Cuawpirn has been obliged to fall back: on the Ssrn family. It amounts simply to o chaogo in initials, dropping E. 1. and inscrting J. Qy thongh it is altogether likely that Mr, Crraxp- Len has weightier reasons for his preference in the matter. His latest {ender of tho heavy responsibilitics and sl;abby compensation pertaining to the positicn of Commissioner of Indinn Affairs is to the. Hon. Joun Q. Sxri, of Oalland, 0., who “#as a membor of the Forty-third Congress from the Third Diatrict of Ohio. Whether %o will nceopt the ap- poiutment hns not ‘get boen wade known. THE PREGIDENT'S MESSAGE. The public bave Leen led to expect that President GpaNT's messago this year would bo tho ablest Executive document of all that Lo hes prepared during his two terms, A careful reading of tho messago seems to jus- tify the oxpectation that has been made, and a pretense of serivus disappointment in any quarter will ba captious, partisan, and un- reasonable. 1t may bo said in goneral tertas that it takes o broad, comprohensive, nation- al, and statesmuntike view of tho subjocts it trents, and nowhcre degenerates into tha spirit of iwero portyism., Its tono is ese sentially patriotio, without once abaudorsng that moderstion which should charnclurize self-governmont, and the swelling prida of o roviow of a century’s progress unparalleled in tho history of natious is tempered by a timely warning ngaiust the duagers that threaten the Republie. There has perhsps never been an epitome of our growih, and commercial, industrial, mining, and, manu- fncturing progress, which comprek,ended so muchin & fow words ns the ¢rutennial reo- view with which tho Presidont has appro- priataly introduced his soveath snnual mes- sage, First among the dangem ngainst. which he wiwng the people is that of thecxc essive pow- or that may bo nssumed ina popralar govern- ment by tho oducated fuw over tho uncdu- cated musses, aud he balioves that the time bas cowe whun thare should bo nutional measures prr,viding for a sterdy and uysto- natio oradi,cation of that ignorance which bo- {1038 by musses into the wil oa of tho demn- Rogur, or thy oppression of tha despot. In P ronching this subjeot “he hns carcfully ¥ voided the expression of noy idens that can rensounbly give offense to any class or scet, and thero is nol the slight eut suggestion of an anti-Catholic moveisent, which lad beon foreshadowed by sorae of the Dem- ocralic nowspapers. 1o commends to Cougross tho wubmission of a con. stitutionul amendment to tho Btates for ratification, which is an improvament upon that suggested in Mr. Brave's recent lottor, in that it requires the soveral Stutes to catab. lish ‘“and maivtin forever” free publio schools adequnte to the education of all. His suggestion further includes n probibition of any Limitation in these edueational facilities a8 to sex, color, birthplace, or weligion ; for. bids the tonching of religious, atheistic, or Pagan ideas (which evidently raeuns the ex. clusion of Biblo-rending and dugmatio teach- ingu); and, finally, prohibits tho grauting of auy school-fund or school-taxes by logislativo, municipal; or other authorlty, for the benefit of any other object whatever than that for which the fund is raised. Thore scows to bo nothing lacking in this suggestion, and it will bo a boou to the country if the Democratla Congrese whall develop sufiiclent patriotism 1o act upou it in the same splrit ln which it is offered. Another suggestion in the monsngo—of Which thers Las beon no previous hiut—is thut relative to the exemption of church property from tazation. ‘Lhe statistics at the President’s command enablo him to say tha .t thero i3 now §1,000,000,000 (one billion) of property that oseapes; taxation on this ne- count; and the ratics of inercnso in the past warrants the concl’ ision that, in 1900, it will axount to the cnormous sum of $:1,000,- 00,000 (three billiona), The President is right when ho gays that tho tax-payers will not acquioscts in the oxemption of this mmount of “wectarinn” property from all tho buardens whils enjoying all the protection and Leneft of Government. He suggests the toxation of all property equally, whether chureh or corpe sration, exeept perhaps cente- teries and chur ch-editices ; but, as the former aro oflen privuto enterprires and the lattor sometimes hive rents asido from their uses for chaiches, the expediency of theso rostrictions is vory doubtful. Cho only way, of conme, in which Congress ean tako action in the matter it fo spubmit an amendment to the Constitutic m, to bo ratitied by tha Riates, o4 in tho mratter of freo and non.sectarian sehools. The Presi dent nssures tho country of tho penceful ar 41 satisfactory footing of our for- cign rolations in general, Several minor complicatlons have been settled peacefully during thie past year. The Court of Alabama Claims ‘s making good progress in the equita- ble distribution of England's poyment of £15,000,000, Spain paid the indemnity of SE,U00 on necount of tho Virginius ¢lnimg botore it became gdue, and this sum will by distributed for the relief of the famiilies of the unfortunate men who met their denth. 'The reciprocity treaty with tho Haws.iian Islands needs legislation to carry it into praatienl working. ‘The troubles on the Mexican, border nro still tho subject of con- sideration of tho Joint Commission, and tho Prosid snt simply reminds Congress that the Freo Zone, still in existence, is a source of loss 1,0 the customs and American trade, Tae Cubnn question s treated at grent Ten: gth nud with studious care. Its conelu- &0 ag aro that the United States eannot now recrognize the Cubnns os bolligerents with re psonuble conformity to the genernl laws P overning sach a recognition, beeanso the f@nbans are not a political entity, ablo to maintain foreign rolations and protect its own contracts agaiust the interference of ‘tho power which elnims the right of dominion. Snch a recognition nt this timo, tho President thinks, would inspire & dolu- sive hope in the minds of the Cubnns, and bring upon tho United States compli- cations of the most serious nature, without affording any material chango in the situn- tion. At the samo timo, ho depreeates in tho strongest terms the continued desolation, pillage, and cruolties, which call for tho con- demnation of the whole civilized sorld, and deplores tho inronds {hat have been mado upon commeree by reason of this con- tinued warfare, in which tho United Slates has been tho principal sufferer, He sues only the single alternative of medin- tion or inlervention as likely to bo of any n:ssistanco in bringing the struggle to an end, but is not yet prepared to recommend oither, Ilo scems partly to oxpeet that Spain will soon nceept the United States’ proffer of niediation which was made aud rejected in the enrlier stages of the rebellion, and pertly that proposals may come from other mnations for a common interven. tion, The President ovidemtly awnits the full text of Spnin's reply to bis recent diplomatic note ns a means to help Dim dotermino what courso he shall definitely born in 1823 to the day Mr, Laar delivered himaelf of this jingling picco «f rhetorie in 1675, has been tho oppressor of the people of Afriean descent in overy seetion of this conn- try. It reduced tho bhlack man fo slavery, and dogeaded him to tho level of tho Lenst of burden. 1t kept him in that position until in arms. It encournged tho slave trade, It huntod im, seourged him, plandered, rob- bed, and murdered him with jmpunity, be- cause it pnssed laws, and interproted laws, so that no abatacle stoad in the way of its in- Jjustico and inhnmanity. It stripped him of every vestiffo of human right, It took the yroceeds of his lahor from him by forco, It bought and sold his body like n chattel, It recommiend, and he promises another com- .munication on the subject when this shall ‘havo come. It is ovident that ha will abide cither by the present policy of helding aloof, or recommend such an {utervention as will be swilt and summary in its results, The Presidont's utterances upon the cur. roney havo tho samo clear and bold ring ns those of tho past. Ho exhorts Congress to stand: stondfast by the promiso to resume in 1572, and begy it to bogin its proparations at oucp to that ond. Ilo recommonds that the Le gal-Tender act shall be ropealed as to all de bts contracied after a certain date to bo m entioned in the repeal not, but not later t! 1an Jan, 1, 1877. Ilo also suggests that tho ¥ jecretary of tho Trensury be authorized to re- « leem §2,000,000 of legnl-tender notes monthly with a long-term gold bond bearing 8.65 per + ent interest, and the denominations ranging £i'om $50 {0 21,000, His third recommendn- ti on is that nrrangementa be mado for the ¢, reater accumulation of goll for resumption ‘purposes by incronsing the revenue and car- tiiiling the expenses. Tho forwer can best ba n itained, ns ho suggests, by the restoration of t11o duty on tea and coffoe, which woald prob- aj bly bring inn rovenuo of $18,000,000 annual- ly: Such n restoration, too,—wo are glad to no tiea ithns oceurred to the Presidont,~would eriablo the ropeal of duties that sro now main. tai nod simply to give home manufacturers n priemium at the cost of tho consumers, but wi thout contributing anything to the Govorn. ment. Sound money and rovenno reform are tho salicut fenturos of the messago. Thero ara many other mattors of ‘intorest which cannot bo recapitulated hors, and are aocond in importanco only as compared with thoso wo havo noted. Wo shall havo occasion to refer to them in the future; but, mean- while, wo commend tho faithful perusal of the messaga to all onr renders, with tho ns- suranco that they will be ropaid by its dignily, of tono, intelligence in expreusion, broadng gs of vicw, and thorongh appreciation of ¢ho live quostions of the da) e ——— LAMAR ON CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIQN, From the prominence whichtho Hon, I, Q. O. Lawan, of Misslsaippi, has assumrd g~ ready In tho House, baving been wlocted Chairman of the Demoeratie cauous aad taken the load in tho first flurry of debate, it s clear that ho is to Lo looked upon as tb ¢ leador of the Bouthern Dewocrats in the Honse, As such his words are not ta be “lightly passed over, He speaks, or should 7.peak, with au- thority, and, beneath his gli}, ynd ratherhend- long rhetorio, we are warr anted in laoking for the real import of Iy Janguage as affects ing Democratic policles For this reason we return once more to th o speech which ho de- livered in the Demov satfo cuucus on'Satur- day last. - We are w urranted in assuming that that speech forer nndowad tho platform of the Democrats ir , (he House, nnd as such his enunciations sl ould have beon cloar and un- mistakablo. “Ihero in one part of his speech, howaver, wh [oh ja not altogethar intelligiblo. Worefer te his declaration ¢ that i will bo the grandr 4y inspiration and crowning glory” of the I smacratio party to make the Consti- tution (Lo protector of cvery section and of ever y ftats in the Unfon, and of every huww hoing, of every race, color, and con- ditior , jn (lo laud.” "This declaration is &0 U/ ten, o sweeping, 50 unvxpacted, 60 utter- 1y opposed to Democratio traditioss, policies, W .d practices, that we are warranted in asking vvhat it wucans. Wo fear thess Democratio Grocks beariug their constitutionsl gifta. The passage is obscure, and Mr, Lawan should be catechised until he explains, cate- gorically, what ho means, i ‘The Democratie pasty, from the day it was denied him all education. It did not even recognizo him s 8 man. It plunged the country into tho bhorrora of an awful civil war, and sought to destroy tha National Government in order that it might perpetunto this infamous, and unholy, and cruel system of human bondnge. Ha efforts did not censo with the defent of the South and the emancipntion of the black man fram Democratic bondage. It has stead- ily oppesod overy mensuro instituted by tho Republicars to secure the negro in his sim- plo rights, It lias attempted, in tho South, to tako away his right of suffrago, to prevent his cduention, and to strip him of all rights in proporty. It lins organized its followers into banditti, and White Leagues, and Kn-Klux Kinns, which have hunted and murdered him, .and established a reign of terror in many of the Southern States, The Repube lienn Administration has had to pass new and moroe siringent mensures to protect tho lifo and liborties of the colored rnce. The army hns hiad to be called on more than onco to save, and the Excentivo arm has been fro- quently interposed in their behalf, In view of theso relations of tho Demo- cratic party to the colored race, which are not ouly traditions of the past but facts of to-day, peaple will look upon this pretty sen. timent a3 very obscure and wnsntisfactory. Does Mre, Laman speak for the Democratio porty, or ouly for himself? Is his constitu- tional proposition only otie of thoso glitter- iug goneralities which are apt to be evolved by such rendy and rapid talliers as ho, or 18 it n declaration of & new policy just coined for curroncy among the Democrats? Tf Mr, Laxan waa speaking for tho Democratio par- ty, them ha was speaking ngainst its policy and its precedents. If ho was speaking for himself, then how nre wo to understand his offort, two dnys after his speech wns de- livered, to reopen the Louisiana question in the interests of the very banditti and ‘White-Lenguers who have been, aud are now, bent upon stripping the negro of his nowly- ncquired rights? Iis action on Monday throws doubt upon tho sincerity of his wordy on Suturday. Heisinafog. Thereisnced of catechising by some astute questioner, that we mny know what he really menns, snd find out whéther it bo really true that the Demo- cratic party has experionced o radieal changa of heart, and will hereafter protect the negro in his rights. — THE REPORT OF THE HECRETARY OF WAR. Tho annual roport of tho Seeretary of ‘War, which was printed in the lost issue of Toe Trvost, contnins some matters of moro | than ordinnry interest, and, as the report is almost ns largo a3 the army itself, n bricf summary will bo moro likely to ontertrin tho reader than the original document. Tho army is now reduced to 25,000 mon, which is be. lioved to bo amplo socurity in time of pence. As tho number of re.cnlistments hns in- creased threefold, and the desertions have been very matorinlly reduced, the standard of tho army is botter kept up than «aver befora. During tho past year 102 signal siations have been maintained, snd over 87 pem cont of the predictions of metooric changes have beon verified. The Secretary in this connection an nounces that in compliancowit's a recommend- ation of Old Probabilities, he shall presont n plan for tho cstablisiment of. the Signal Ser- vico a8 ona of tho Daresus of tho ‘War Department. Ho alsy gpenks enthusi- astically of the uso of tcrpedoes for harbor defenses, and urgoes that -the battalion of En- gineers, which was redu ced to 200 men under tho law of 1874, should, bo increased to 500 men, with spocial refercanco to the effective. ness of tho torpedo rervico. Tho construe- tion of permanent jot'ties at the mouth of the Misslssippl River s muling sntisfactory progress. The surveys have been made, and tho provisional works for the construction of tho enst jotty havo alrendy been extondoed 1,000 feot. Thea estimates of the Chief of En- gineors for fortificntions, surveys, and rivor ond barbor inyprovements, foot up 17,208, 874, and an incroase of appropriations for anming and oguipping the militia is asked for, the organizeil militia now numbering 84,724, nud the unorgenized, 3,701,077, The entire army has; been supplied with now rifles and carbiney, and therv is in store n reserved sup- ply of theso arms of 26,000, which at theend of tb o flucal yenr may reach 40,000, or enough to gupply ono mmy corps, which ho thinks ¢j0uld be still furlher incrensed, as woll as the heavy armamont for sea.cosst defenso. The roports of tho Commanding Generals of departments are Liricfly touched upon, but no suggestions aro made boyond those which Jave already sppeared in Tur Trinone, Progress {8 reported in the collection of the offlcial records of the War of tho Rebellion and their printing, and nssistanco is asked of Congress in tho devising of means for obtain- ity important oficial records now in the pos- s :usion of privato indfviduals. West Point is itavested with a somewhat rosy tint., The n ow academia regulations have proved to be v ery effective, and tho discipline of the corps ¢t cadets hng stendily improved, but the corps 8 mot up to its maximum s trongth, owing to tho large number of candidates who fail to pass examination,— & howing dofects in tho elementary instruction ©f thoso sppointed, Tho remaining recom. 1mendations are for an appropriation for sur- ‘voys and opening of roads through the Yel. lowstone Park and an increase of the appro- :printion for tho representation of the War Departmont in tho Contennial Exhibition. The chiof feuture of interest in the report *is the exponso account, which is ropresented by the following figures: Expenditures of the Departnent for the year ending Juno,, 1874, $42,820,314 ; for tho year,ending June, 1875, 41,277,076 ; decrense, $1,048,039, ‘Estimates for the military estublishment for -the year ending June, 1877, $33,452,896 ; for the year ending Junv, 1876, 32,488,009, be- ‘ing an incresso of #963,427, ‘The actual estimates of the Department for the year eunding June, 1877, including not ouly’ the military establishment, but also fortifications, river aud harbor im. proveucents, surveys, eto,, reach the large sum of §60,751,270, in which are included the following items : §750,000 for ordnance and ordnanco stores—an incronse of about $400,000 ; for the manufacture of arms and national armories, $500,000—an increase of ho was releaged by tho force of Republicans | $330,000 ; armnment of foftifications, R1,- 230,000—an ncrento of 1,176,000 ; for tho bemetit of Rock Tsland Arsoual, 659,200 ; HBonecin Amienal, $138,018. When to this is udded the naval estimato of $22,702,426, people will bo wurprised to find that, with an army of 25,000 men ood o navy of 147 ves- sels, tho most of which araof no valuo for cither cruising or fighting purposes, theso departments will require in a time of abaolnte penco the immenso sum of $73,648,690, The avmy iteelf, whicli averngos only about halt tho strength of an army corps, and which has no other work on hand than o keep n few straggling bands of Indians unader subjection, will cost, according to thio crtimates, over 233,000,000, while the German standing nrmy of 400,000 men, which is mnch bettor clothed, equippad, armed, and muintnined than onrs, costs but $100,000,000, ineluding the very long nnd expensive annual penaco eampaigning. Our army, thercfore, nilthough but o sleleton, is a very expensive one, nnd it adds to tha hopelessness of the vituntion that in every branch of the military fervice, and in overy branch of the servico of the War Depnrtment, the Secretary bas asked for nn Increnso of appropriations, nswoll as for nn increass of men, munitions, arsennls, fortifientions, ote., whilo the Becretary of tho Nnvy bns, it Ina been stated, alrendy spent more than his estimato in putting tho navy upon a war fooling for some purposo not yet publicly developed. e BECRETARY BRISTOW'S REPORT. Wo publish this roport elsowhero {n full, aind givo a summary of its salient pointa hera, During the fiscal year ending Juno 30, 1874, the tolal receipts of tho Government of the Vinited States were $288,000,051, and tho total cypendituren $274,623,392, "Theso figuren .o an cloquent teatimonial to the foresight nud economy of Mr. Binistow, for the incomo ia moro than 33,500,000 above and the outgo taore than $(00,000 below his estimates. For tho fisenl year onding June 80, 1876, ho esti- inntes a deficit of $8,285,000, which will have to bo provided for. 'The appropriations are tess by $49,000,000 than tho estimated revenne, but the legal provision of the sinking fund will nbsorb 42,293,602, The Socretary oxplains that the law in relation to the sinking fund requires him, in his opinion, to considor the annunl payment of 1 per cend of tho nationn) debt, with the aceumulation of compound in- tercst, na nlien ontho whole rovenus from cus- toms, socond only to the payment of interest, ‘Wa havg not been able to go as far as this. Mr. Bristow refers with becoming plensura to the fact that $500,000,000 of G per cent Londs have been funded in &s, and 5,000,000 of annual intorest thus saved to the people. Inorder to moke tho negotintion of 4} per cents easy, he recommends that they should be issucd in thirty-year bonds, instesd of being payablo as the law now dircots,—any timo after the cxpiration of fifteen years, 1l s right in this viow of the matter, The nub of tho documont is, of course, the Doart relating to the resumption of spocie-pay- 1nents. This rings as truo and clear a8 tho s:0ld and silvor which tho Sccretary rightly calls ““the only actual monoy of the world tnd of the Constitution.” In order to insure resumption by tho'day fixed by law,—Jan, 1, 1870,—>Lr, Brisrow aska Congress togive him the power to fund the legal-tenders into 4 por cont bonds, running a long time, at the rate of $2,000,000 per month. This is states- manlike and sagacious, Tae Trmoxs has ndvocated such o course in general torms. ‘The moro important topics touched npon in the romainder of the roport are tho Na- tional Banks, the colnnge, tho tariff, internal revenue, exports and imports, cto, While the Secretary cautiously absteins from an explicit docleration of froe-trade principles, ho stnien that tho revenuo can bo incrensed by lowering some of the present duties, which are now so high that thoy invite smug- gling and undorvaluation. Ha urges tho in- Hiction of tho full penaltics of the law upon all perdons canvicted of the criminal avasion of the whisky.tax, and so reitorates Granr’s wiso order,—** Lot no guilty man escapo.” The roport deserves o be read complote. The success of a civilized Government is mainly dependent upon the success of its Nnanciat policy, nnd this docnment shows that Bexsasay H. Brisrow is the right man in the right plnce. TRANSPORTATION AND COMMERCE. The American Board of Trausportation and Commerce—formerly the Chenp Trausporta- tion Association—is to moet in this city on the 16th, Tho venerable Josun Quinor is Prosident, The Board is to continuo in sos- sion threo days. It is to be composed of gontlemen appointed by the Governors of Htatos, and delegatos from Boards of Trade and other commercinl bodies, and will doubt. lcss contain many men of ripe experience and extonsive knowledge in regard to the subjeots that will como before it. From tho deliborations of suck a body the public have a right to oxpect a great deal of most valuablo information, and, though whatover conclusions may be rencliod can have no binding offect upon any- body, they will tend to inform and educate public opinfon, and in dae timo thoy will doubtlesa bo etnbodiod in wholesome laws for the bonefit of the cntiro country, 'Tho questions connected with the intornal commerce of the country nre so complicated ; the competition Letween the rallway lines, aud now the combination they have formed to forco exorbitant ratea upon the publiog the discriminations they often make againat orin favor of particular citles and distriota; the means to remedy the gross injustice they often practice; and a thousand othor matters, all involve principlos aud call for the onactment of laws which may well tax tho best abilities of the wisest economists and the ablest statesmen of tha age. It has been asserted and widely helioved that competition would secure to tho peoplo a rensonable froight and passonger taritf ; but it has sinca transpired that a combination of oven four great railway lines, each & thousand miles long, can be made and all cowpatition In freights to the seaboard is thereforo nt at an end. But it has also trans. pired “that tho pooling of the earnings of theso railwaya is to hold only on business derived from Chicago, Wheat is hauled 80 wiles from Milwaukeo and thence taken to tho seaboard ab precisely the same froights that are charged from Chicago, and it is under- stoad that thers are no pooling arrangements on the produce shipped from moat, it not all, tho other citica of the West. It fa plain that some means must ba devised to force the railwaya to treat all cities and sections of the country alike and justly. Can this Board of Transportation sud Commerce tell us what ramedies Chicago has for this wrongful dis crimination against her business and pros- rity ? w'l‘h’;t sometbing can and must be doue is plain to the common sense of all men. It has been suggested thot the merchants and business mon of the city moet and form a combination to give one of these roads all thoir businees, provided they will do it at ronsonable ratos, and not in their trafflo do. rived from the country north and west of ug «iscriminato agninst Chicago, Of course, there are substantinl objections to such ro. taliatory mensures ; and will tho Convention toll ns exactly what it is best to do in the premises ? 5 Tho Constitution exprossly confers upon Congrosa tho power to regulate commerco bo- twoen the States, Can this powor be so ex- ercised as to remedy such gross Injustico as we hnve nbove referred to, and soores of other cases that might be nated ? As o practical matter, how is tho thing to ho done 50 ns not to interfere with the froe- dom of commercinl transactions? Are Inwe to be onneted, and n commission appointed, or a spocial court {o bo estoblished, to execulo them? or can the ordinnry legal machinery of the country be trusted to enforco them? If the meeting could be induced o confino itself to a thorongh and exhaustive discussion of one or two of tho grent practical questions that might bo introduced, its Inbors would prove of inestimable value to tho business and the prosperity of the country. The Richmond Uonvention Inst yoar, after passing some excellont rosolutions offored by the Hon, R.DI T, Huwten, wnsted its time mainly in disoussing the fensibility and tho importance of sundry canals to bo built over the Alleghony Mountains, and other internal improvements, all to be built by the Genoral Govornment bt an expenso of a hundred and fifty millions of money. Tho volue of some of them, except to tho contractors who built them, would bo told in ciphers, It inhoped that all jobbing schemes wilt find no favor at tho mecting in the busy ond intengely practical City ot Chi- cago. In this comnection, we ara requested to invite those nppointed by Gov. BEVENMmOE to attend n preliminary meoting at tho Grand Pacific on Thursday (to-morrow) evening at 8 o'clock to mnke srrangements to give tho Board aright cordial Western wolcome, THE FIRST ROUND IN CORCRESS, The Bonrbon element in the House of TRepresentatives took the very first oppor- tunity of asserting itself in the most offensivo maonner, 'Tho appenrance of an applicant for Morex's gent from Louisiann with a cer- tificato from MoExery, who has nover been even tho de fucto Governor of the State, and has never had the recognition of tho Conrts or the General Government, wad of itself o piece of Bonrbon impertinence, But that such sn application shoyld have received the serious considoration of the House, the in- dorsomont of the Democratio lendors North and Bonth, like Feananvo Woon and LAz, in n striking evidenco of tha purpose on the part of a large proportion of tho Democratio majority to reopen all tho old issues and to undo what has been dono to the extont that they onn provail. This is a violation of the pledgos upor which the Democrats securod o mnjority in the Iouse, and a reassertion of all the objactionablo doctrines that have kept the Democratic party ont of power for six- taon yoars. If thoy could avail themsolves of so flimsy s pretoxt 08 the presentation of o cortificate from McExeny, of Louisiana, after KeLroaa has been tho actual Governor of the State for throo yoars, in order to opon tho way for a general discussion of the whole subject, and oventuslly to violate the ‘Waerses compromise, thero is littlo liope of a congervativo treatmont of issues moro sub- stnntial ond important. It is true that this effort to reopen tho Louisiana question was tomporarily defeated, but that result wag due in part to tho comparatively insignifiennt pretext, andin part to the quick and vigorons manner in which the programme "was exposed by Messrs, Buamve and WueeLen, There wad enough in the firat day’s dobate in tho House to show that thero is o formida- blo eloment in tho Democratio mnjority, with which its recognized leadors aro in sym- pathy, that intends to bresk down wherover it can tho sottlement of the most serious dis- putes growing out of rcconstruction in the South, Tho attempt to reopen the Louisiana question was in tho nature of n violation of contracts or the brenking of tresties,—the most serions offenses that can bo committed by Government. These Louisiana troubles, ofter two yoora of bitter wrangling, which included local robellion and bloodshed, wero settlod by n compromise which gave the Republicans the Govornor and tho Detno- crata the Logislature. This Lasis of wettle. mont was reached oftor Congress had de- voted months to tho consideration of the matter; nfter sevoral Congressional Committees lad visited Louisinna; nfter grent volumes of evidenco Ind been talen; .aftor thousands of dollars of tho public money had been oxponded. Tho fact that tho advantages tho Domocrats gained in the comproraise wera fully accopted by tho Re- publicans was proved whon Mr., Wneeres indorsed"it and abided by it after tho Domo- erats hod seourod the Louisinna Legislature by their interpratation of the sgreement. ‘There wad not the slightost provocation nor tho slightest oxcuse for tho Demacratio effort at this late day to rip opon the compromise, and thore is no other construction to be put upon this offort than that of an intention on the part of tho Domocrats to conduot their debates and frame their legislation with ref- orence to the old partisan issues, and with no consideration for past logislation or past agroements, 1t seems that even Mr. Luaaan, who was pointod at 53 the shining light of the Southern conservative feoling, lont himself to this scheme, and he has thercby doprived the country gonerally of any hope that he is thoroughly in sympathy with prog- ress and a roprosentativo man of tho Soutb. Nelthor is Lauax so liberal and progroasive 0ahe would have the country believe, nor are the other Southerners go liboral and pro- gressive as Lasan, It will bo woll for all these Bourbans to recall that tho elactions of this last fall did not result in a mauner ap- proving of Bonrboniswm, nor any Domacratio soheme for overturning the legislation that grow out of the War and the roconstruction of the Bouthern States. They aro eadly in need of & warning. Monday night Mayor CoLvix neglected to gend to the Common Council his valedictory or farewoll mossage. His term of offlco— the timefor which ho was elcotod—expired on Mondsy last. It is now the dutyof the Council to declare the existence of the vacanoy, sud fixa timo for flling it. The maunioipal election-dsy next April would an- swer the purpose, and during the intervening time Mr. Couviv may be permitted to go through the motions of playing Mayar until his successor is clooted and.qualiied. There is a larger majority of people euxious to got him to step down and out than there wasa couple of years ago who desired to pat him into the office of Mayor. e has fulflled the worst expectations of his opponants, and dis- appointed the hopes of all the batter elass of his trieuds, and is by them now prompunced — e —— ———————————————— —————______———_"\ aand failore, But whother ho has dischargsg hin duties woll or badly is not the question in this connection ; hia time is out, and he cxy hold only ad interim until tho Council ordey an cloction ta fill the vacaney. THE FREL-TRADE MOVEKENT, Tho Intoruational Frae-Trads Alllance of Nyg York City holda fta sccond publia moeting o tho 13th inet. 'The firat, as we mentlonsd at the time, was woll attended, and gave the Alllancs 4 g00d sond-off. 0o of tho foatures of tha wany proposed ia tho occnaional Issue of & nowspapsy. The firat uumbor will bo out by tho 13th, ayg will contain, amang other things, & tronchen( articlo by Prof. Busxen. of Yale, Tho creed of tho Allinnco is abroluto froo trade; no farig whatevor. It rocornizes, however, the value of A roventio tari(f a5 a groat step fu the right dires, tion, nud so invites the vo-operation of ail be. lievors fu this, whethor or not thoy indorss iy ullimate sim. 1t {8 plosoant to learn, a8 wy dt from u privato lotter, (hat tho Alliance has hag *‘moro and more emphatic offors of actipe co-operstion from llinois than from almost g othor Btatos bemdes,” There I8 & fully-orgen. ized subordinnto Loaguant Ponting, In this Hiaje of which Me. B, T. K. Proe, woll kuawn tg readers of Tre TRIDUNE, I8 & prominent mem. ber. Tho head of tho Allianco s A. L. E Dopaty-Comptrollor of New York Clty, Persong who pat thomsolvon into communication wity him can recoivo tho publications of the Bociety, It now has on hand for distribution & number of copies of Davip A. Werrs’ admirable froo-trage casay, recontly publishod in the Aflantic, Reye. nno reform can bo best brought about, Pprobably, by a strict imitation of Coppx'a matchloas tae. tics in fighting the corn-lawa of Eogland, The tarifl-robbers are all organized, and bave rep. resontatives - at Washinglon doring ove seasion of Conpross, Tho tstiff-robbod have no organization, no unity of purposo, and cop. soquently no succoss, Tho Froo-Trade Alllaney offers tho nuclens of tho needed organization, A congories of olubs, extending ina network over tho ‘whole country, and orgauized under one common managoment, 18 by no means an impossibility, Take a man of oducstion, ar. dently imbued with & botief in the paramouny imrortanco of tho cause, with aready pen, fluonoy in specch, nod some taot in moeting mon,—take such o man, settle $40,000 on him, #0 thal ho can be guarantcod support for hime solf and his, and lo can dosomo marvelony worl, The combination of qualities i by ng monne uncommon, but the men who possess thom nro apt to have them dendened by tho necessary pursuit of maney, if they are born poor, and by tho enorvating influonco of wealth, if they ary born rich and roared in luxury, The time iy ripo for auch a man, and many oyes are looking for bim. If tho Preatdentisl electlon of 187 aettlos tho curroncy question, the conntry wil Lo all ready for s great struggle on free trade, . Homo such plan as tho following would be found a good one for the orgaanization of fros. tiade clubs, It doos not requird a great smount of money, but doea necessltato tho exponditure of a good denl of timo and tronble by somebody, Tho ciub should havo n room in some central locality, opon day and evening, warmed and bgltod, ond etocked with a library. Dooks could oithor bo lont to bo taken away or read only in the room. Tho loans and contribution of the founders could be relied upon to form the nuclons of the collee fon, Publia mostings should bo heid about once » month, By charging an admission fes of 10 cents, well- known men could rrofitably be secured sa epesls era, and an occanional debato botwoen protec. tioniuts and revenuo rcformers woald bo of sor vico, Ovo of the functions of the club wonld ‘bo to organizo othors fo ita victoity and to anpe ply lecturers to any nolghboring town in which {ree traders wero williog to defray the bara exe pentos of rrilway-fure, hotel-bill, ete. Good could be dane~=as CondpEN's oxample shows— by catochising candidntes for Congrass and for Loglslaturos which were to olect Sooatorson (hele viows of revonue roform. Tbis, faitbfaily carried out, would render imporsible much of tho pleitul quibbliog with which politicisus now succeed ju ovading any action on thia burning quostion. Buch o clup would ba o coutra of agitation, and agitation fs what I8 nceded. The Bpringfleld Repudlican was about right when it sald that tho chiof featuroabout the new Constitution of 8amoa was the prominence of God and Srervpenaen. Tho latter, despite this lattoring coupling, does not sasm to havassmuch powor ag hin alleged compeer, Heda at prosent epgaged in an attempt to persaade the ustutored Ssmoan to wear pantaloons, bat withoat over- much success, Indecd, there are symptoms of rovolt. Tho mubjecta are said to be discussing the proprioty of making a hoarly mesl off thele aovereigu, Diacontent ia especialiy rile in the balls of the now-favgled Parliament, sloce & member who appears o a state of nakedness ia fived 9100, BTEINIEROER chaiges such a high prica for bhis old pantaicone that fow statesmon cau afford to buy 8 pair, and it s thoreforo necessmy for an bonorablo momberto retiro to an ante-room after sposking and denudo himself of the garb of clvilizatlon In ordor that another honorable membor may put on the Lreeches and make hie apooch, This inconvenience ina subjeot of seris ous complsint. BreivpEnoen is now about to mako a atill mora eerioua sttompt. Lle annouacer that ho is to eatablish on **organ " at the Caple tal, nog that Le hopes to uncnru' Titinois ournalist " to edit it. The recent sppearsuce iil an Illinols fournsket in the Indlaw Torritory put twa tribos by tho ears, and hos led to suits snd counter. suits inpumerablo, The mischief snother sy do iu famon may be faintly conjectured 'Ho will be uncnterprising. indoed, It ho does Dot get up o ravolation, have hia prioting-press worshiped a8 & god, ita productions revered as firat-claas fotishes, aod bimsalt held in honor aa its high priest snd thw rulor of the Kingdom. It bo celobrated hia victory by fuwiting bis sub- joctu ta a barboouo on 8reiNnERaLE, the oause of aivilization would probably not ba grestly (n- Jured. Wo loarn by a private Jeiter from & labor-agh tator in Lngland that tho late reverses of the Toriea have encouraged the Livorals to iry to rounite thelr soattered forces, To do so, they need s platform oo which the Radicals ss well as the Liberals proper can stand, Bringing Buspravon aod Grapstoxe together witl bo by no menna 0 oasy task, but the connecting link Lotween tho two fu to be found, men Lopa ln s schome for energotlo reform in municipal gov- ernment. “Our Isto muulcipal olections.” esys the writer, *1ndicsto clearly enough thst the current of popular feeling is turniog once mors. in the direction of Liberalism. lo other words tho Tories bave pean well thrashied. I fanoy +Dizzy’ alresdy feels dizzy on his toftering thions, which is built on s rotten Chburoh sud beer-barrels,” T rogramms veems s trifle. doubtful, inssmuch as municipal Rovernment in England 18 spparontly not in striking need of roform. Ono of the last London raviews t rench this country contalns an article praising {he Englivh musicipality, sad giving good prima-facie veasons for the prsise. Eoglish Radicala are aot to bunt ou‘- ‘A:s n‘ocnt. 'T::; attack the Crown inatend of the arlstocraat, the Eatablished Church wstesd of tho satablish= od land-lawa. ———————— Thera is a0 unfounded impression that some body is,making large profits out of the Sundsy: Lecture Boclety in this city. In justice to the managers, it should be said that this s nos krus. ‘Fhe Bocloty 18 incorporated uoder the Biate law jo soch & way that it is logally fore bidden to divide sny profts . ;D::l ite bers. Th managers, Wl :ll::u:mrk of correspondence, tickat-aslling, tickete takiog, eto., have never drawn s pean from tho funds o retura for theso or sy othel Iabors, ‘They have mever bean repald even :‘ swall sums contribnted two years agoto start ; Bociety, and never will bo. And the |':mfll:..b divided, would be by 2o means Largs. The w