Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 19, 1875, Page 4

TERMS OF THE TRIBUNE. RATES OF SUBSCEIPTION (PAYAELE IX ADVANCE). Tostage Prepnid at this Cfice. Daily Kdition, po:t-paid, 1 vear.......... - -$13.00 1.00 Parts of year st szme raf Mafled tn any address FOUR WRESS for. sunday 6.00 The postage is 15 cents £ year, Wl Specimen copies sent frec. To prevent delsy snd mistakes, bo sure and give Pow-Office address in fall, including Statennd County. Itemittances may be made cither by draft, express, Pout-Office onder, or in registered letters, at ourrisk. TERMS TO CITY SUBSCAIIZRS. Dafly, delivered, Sundsy excepted, 23 cents per week. Datly, delivered, Sunday included, 30 cents per week, Address THE TRIBUNE COMPANY, Oorner Madison and Dearborn-sis.. Chicago, Ill, AMUS-EMENTS. TO-DAY. McCORMICE HALL—Nortn Clark street, corner Kinzie. Lecture by Miss Phoebe Couzins, Hubject: * Portia ut the Bar.” To-MoREOW. ACADEMY OF MUSIC—Halsted street, betwsen Madison and Monroe. ** The Twe Orphans® ADELPHI THEATRE—Dearborn street, corner “Forty Taievea,” HOOLLY'S THEATRE—Randolph street, betwesn Clerk and LeSalle. Catifornia Minstrels. NEW CHICAGO EATRE—Clark street, between Randolph 2nd Lake, Kelly & Leon's Minstrels, McVICEER'S THEATRE—Madison street, between Dearborn and State. Euvagement of Bsker and Far oo “ Haiurich snd Heitdd” ‘WOOD'S MUSEUM—)Monroa stract, berwoen Dear- born and Biste. Afternoon, * The Lord and the Valet " and “ Jack Hazkaway’s Adventures.” Eved- g, “ Red Biding-Hood.” NATIONAL LODGE, No. 566, A. F. & A, M.—The annual commnpication will be held at their Hall, cor- oer of Ialstod and Bandoiphests., Tucsdsy erening, Dec. 21, 1.t half-pest 7 o'clock, for the elaction of of- Geers, payment of dues, ana such other bisiness as muy raguiarly eome before ths meeling. 4. G. LUNDBUEG, Sec. A.C.TWOOD, W. 24 EEYSTONC LODGE, No. 639, A, F. & A, AL—Spe- Eil ron:munication will b held at their Hall, Noa, 62 Ri:cr business of importance Mem! wattend. Visitors mvited. BIN. F. PRINCE, Sec. MUERIS PFLAT, W, M Fro Tem. D, A CASIIMAN LODGE, No.6%3, A. F.and A. 3, ~The rnvusl commenication for etection of officers and poyaeat of dues will be heid in their Hall, corner Wes Madison and Bobey-st&, Tuesday cvening, Dec. 21, Every member 16 expected to be prescat. Visiting Urethren conlially invitd. ‘The guvel souuds at 7:30, sasrp. R. J. DAUPHINEY, W. M. KILWINNING LODGE. No. 11, A. F. & A. M.—The snruzl communication of this Lodge for the election »f oflicera and payment of dues wili he heid at Corin- ‘ian Hall, 157 Eust Kmrle-st,, Thursdsy evening, 235d mst. A iull sttendinco of membvers is urgently re- twsited. By arder of the W. AL L. 8. CHARLETTE, Sec. D. C. CREGIER LODGE, No. 63, A F. & A, M.— Ko. 290 Miwinkoszy.—The snnual communication for ele-tion of oticers snd paymentof daea will b beld Wedneedsy evening, Dec. 22, at %:sd o'clock. Every member 18 requesied to be provent, 1. MUNSTERMAN, W. M, ATTENTION, SIR ENIGHTS !—Aunual Conclsve of Chicago Commandery, No. 19, K. T., Mondsy evening, Dec. 20, 1875, for election of ofiicers and pavment of dued. JOHN MCLAREN, Lm, Com. G. A. WILLIAMS, Becorder. WAUBANSIA LODGE, No. 160, A. F, & A, M.—A Bpecisl mecting will be Leld at Oricntal Hall Thursday evecing, Doc. 23, for work, Visiting brethren oordial- 1y tnvied. T. J. TUSTIN, W. M. E. ST. JOHX, Sec, ELATE LODGE, No, 333, A F. & A. AL.—The rega- 122 annual communication will bo beld Monday cven- 2ng, Doz, 20, for the election of officers and payment of cdues, By order of the W, M, C. W. ODONXNELL, Sec. HOME LODGE, XNo. 503, A ¥.& A. M.—Special communicstion Londay evening at 7:30 o'clock at Eall, 144 Twentresecord-at., for installation of officers- <lect. By arder of the W. 3. B. B. W. LOCKE, Soc. LADY WASHINGTON CHAPTER, No. 158, O, E. 8. —liegular 32034 communication Tuesdsy evening, Dec. 21, for the elaction of officers and the psyment of duse, By ardar of he W, M. 'RILLIE FLOURNOY, Sec. The Ehieago Tribune, Sundsy Morming, December 19, 1875. At the New York Gold Exchange on Satur- dsy your greenback dollar represented 87§ to S cents cf healthy money. The steamship L'Amerique, disabled in mid- ocean, and concerning the safety of which much anxiety has prevailed for the last few days, arrived at Queenstown yesterday, in tow of the Ville de Brest. Congress sat in Philadelphia yesterdsy, in and around the Centennial buildings and the hotels. If it were as fine a body as the first Congreas that sat at Philadelphia, the coun- try might well congratulate itself. The Washington correspondent of the Journal has said the hardest thing yet of the Tlinois Democrats in Congress. He writes that our CARTER is congidered *““the strongest an " in the Democratio delegation from this State. Hs must surelybave forgotten Bridge- port BARNEY. The collapse of the Turkish finances has begun to be felt on this side of the water. The Sultan's inability to payfor a large quan- tity of arms sold hima by the Providence (R. 1.) Tool Company has resulted in the failure of that concern and the conseguent suspen- sion of a Providence private bank. The manegers of the Direat Cable Com- pouy believe that their wire was willfolly broken a few days ago. They offer a reward of 5,000, gold, for information leading to the *“‘discovery of the vessel” which did the deed. If their suspicions are correct, 8 new and very grave crime is ndded to the large stock already on hand. The rumor of such & thing must be rather unpleasant for the man- egers of the other cables, inasmuch as there could be only one reason for the deed, and that—their wish to momopolize business. Justice to them demands that the csuse of the break should be rigorously investigated. Mzermvox, of North Carolina, seems to be very much afraid that the people of the Tnited States are not taxed emongh. The telegraph has not done full justice to his exertions in behalf of Southern claimants. On the same day that he introduced the bill to bleed the Treasury for their benefit, npon which we have slready commented, the Con- yressional Record shows that he filed & lot of papers in support of another indrviduel Southern claim, and that he also presented a bill to repesl one of the safeguards against pension frauds provided by the Revised Stat- utes. Mr. Meomncox seems to appear only on mqh occasions. If he succeeds in getting into history, it will be as the Great American Claim-Agent,—a dubious hanor. The *watch- dogs of the Treasury " had better watch him. The Chicago proiuce markets were irreg- ulu.f on Saturdey. Mess pork was more uctive and 20¢ per brl lower, closing at $19.15 ush and £19.40@19.423 for February. Lard was in fair demand, but 73@10¢ per 100 s lower, closing &t $12.30@12.32} -cash ond 812.50@12.52) for February. Meats were less active and easer, at T4c for baxed shoulders, 10{6 for do_short ribe, and 10jc for do alort cesrs. Highwines wers mod- tately active and unchanged, at §1.10 par gallon. Flour was quict and steadier. Wheat was active and advanced 1ic, bul closed ic Jower than on Friday, at 97¢ cash and 97c for January. Corn was dull and jclower, closing at 48}c for December and 44lo for January. Osts were quiet and fc higher, closing at 30jc cash and 30ic for January. Rye was steady, at 68ic. Barley was dull and lower, closing at §63c cash and 84jc for January. Hogs were dull and averaged 10c lower, with the bulk of the trading at $6.90@ 7.15. Cattle were dull and neglected at Friday's quotations. ‘The sheep trade was quiet, and common grades sold 25c lower. One hundred dollars in geld would buy §113.75 in greenbacks at the close. The Boston Piot (Roman Catholic), in commenting upon the school-fund recom- mendations in the President's message, says: “If an ‘Angel GapRrEL’ were to come now 2nd blow his trumpet in Philadelphia or Bos- ton, and harangue the mob against the Papists, how many fools do you think would tear up peving-stones to assail their Catholic fellow-citizens? There is some of the old GaBarzy leaven among us still, as has been proved of late by the formation of o secret proscriptive organization sagainst the Catho- lics, with President GRANT 88 its figure-head.” We presume tue Pilot would not believe the Angel Ganmier if that celestial individual were to tell it that President GRANT has sbont as much connection with a secret pibb oSttt Tt is by no maesns probable thet therelis any truth in the appalling dispaich from Bremerhaven saying that the dynamite devil, Teoaass, confessed before his death that there was an infernal machine on hoard the steamer Salier, which sailed Dec. 16 in place of the Mosel. The alleged fact rests only on the authority of & small newspaper in Bromerhaven. The Salier was not billed to sail until & fortnight hence, end had there- fore not received her lading. The cargo and surviving pas engers of the Mosel were trans- ferred to her. Itis highly improbable that there were two machines on board the Mosel. The mechenic employed by Tmo:as had made only one. In any event, the news, even if true, should have been suppressed. It is sheer cruelty to expose those who have friends on the Salier to such racking anxiety. If the steamer was overdue st New York, then—and not till then—should the item have been published. The present French Assembly is given the power of electing seventy-five Senators, to serve for life. The remsinder of the Upper House is chosen by the different departments, and the men elected serve for a term of years, like our Senators. It isa very remark- able fact that fivo out of every seven 50 far elected by the Assembly—thirty out of the foriy-two—are Republicans. This is the more surprising, inasmuch as the 'Assembly has been anti-Republican and the whole weight of the MacManox Administration has been exerted in behalf of Conservatism. It shows that public opinion has greatly changed and augurs a sweeping Republican mejority in the new Assembly, which will be elected next spring. France is evidently fast drift- ing towards democracy,—whatever that word may mesn fo the Gallic mind. The two French Republics of the past have both ended their brief lives in despotisms ; it remains to be seen whether the third will be equally un- fortunate. THR SUPREME COURT ELECTION. We print this morning a reply from Mr. H. B. Huzp to the charges made aginst him in a pamphlet recently published, and the authorship of which has been avowed by Mr. A. J. Browyx, another member of the Chicago Bar. We also print enongh of this pamphlet to render Mr. Hunp's explanation intelligible to those of our readers who have not read the pamphlet itself. Mr. Hurp, as & candi- date for the Supreme Bench from this district, is entitled to a careful consideration of his Jefense. It is also fair to remember that, while Mr. Browx's statement happens to be made up from records of the Supreme Court, it has an evident coloring of personal feeling, of the justice of which we leave every voter who reads it to determine for himself. 'We shall leave Mr. Hurp's statement to make its own way likewise, and only claim for him an impartial hearing. But while the record which Mr. Browx has made up against Mr. Horp with refor- ence to his candidature will unquestionably deprive him of many votes, there is alsoa record against his competitor which should restrain those familiar with it from voting for him. We do not refer to anything in the personal cereer of Mr. Dicxey, but to his official position on certain questions of im- portance in this distriet which render his as- pirations for the Supreme Bench peculiarly objectionsble at this time. Xr. Dicxry, in his present position as law-zdviser to the City Government of Chicago, took sdvantage of it to advise the Common Council to dis- regard an injunction put upon it by the Cir- cuit Court, and to set the pernicious, lawless, and daugerous example of tramplinga ju- dicinl mandate under foot. For this unpro- professional action Mr. Dicxex was cited for contempt, and he was subsequently fined §100 for the offense. This fine he has never paid, but has appealed to the Supreme Court, and now seeks to become a member of said Court before it has passed upon his ‘““con- tempt.” Mr. Dicxey has also recently given an extraordinary opinion that Mr. Convin is entitled to hold the coffice of AMayor eighteen months beyond the term for which he was elected, in spite of the plain consti- tutional prohibition of the extension of any official term. This question the Suprems Court, which Mr. Dicker wauts to reach, will also be called on to decide. We hardly suppose that Mr. Dioxey will, if elected, claim fhe right of sitting in judgment in these municipal cases, one of which involves himself, but his election at this time would probably be corstrued a8 a popular indorse- ment of his course, and would unguestion~ sbly exert o decided influence in the final disposition of these cases by that Court. Had Mr. Dicgey beon nominated to the St{pmme Court by a convention of a great party, and without any agency of his own, he might perhaps be excused for socepting the nomi- nation ; but that he has come forward of his own motion, snd without solicitation from eny one, is, under the circumstances, pecaliarly indelicate and offensive, He is really not a man who onght to be elected to the Supreme Bench at any time, because his somewhat in- dolent habits and advanced age unfit him for the arduous duties and hard work of that tribunal ; but & proper appreciation of . pro- fessionnl precedent should have deterred him from coming forward at this time above all others. ‘We are constrained to admit, in view of the record which Ar. Brown has made up against Mr. Huzp, on the cne side, and the | forcible objections to Mr. Dicxxs's personal ffort to reach the Suprome Banch, on tha other side, that the choice is extremely un- satisfactory. If both gentlemen were actu- ated by high public motives, they would unite in & common withdrawal of their names snd the presentation of some umd gentleman who would be recognized umi- versilly as a proper person to be intrusted with the highest judicial responsibilitics in the State. Such a coursa would place bath Messrs. Drugry and Horo before the people in an attitude to atone for everything set up against them heretofore, and entitle them to the gratitude of the public. But we are not awara of any intention on the part of either to withdraw, and the peo- ple will, therefore, bo obliged to select be- tween “‘two evils,” and each man, according to his best light, ¢ choose the least,” or re- frain from voting, as msny undoubtedly will do. NEW WARD APPORTIONMENT, The Common Council has not yet acted on the matter of reapportioning the wards, s required by the present charter. The twenty wards must be compressed into eighteen sometime before the next municipal clection in April or tho people will be obliged to elect thirty-six Aldermen on a gonoral ticket, which in some raspects would be the best thing that could happen, as it would give the voters a chance to elect a larger number of intelli- gent and honest members than thoy are like- 1y to do by the ward system. There is said to exist a division of opinion in the Common Counoil as to the number of wards to assign to each division of the city. Some of the West Side Aldermen are report- ed to insist on giving that division of the city ten of the eighteen wards, and the other two divisions only eight. They claim that if a censns were now taken it would entitle that portion of the city to ten wards. The representatives of the other two divisions reply that the late election shows that there are as many cilizens and toters in the South and North Divisions (and nearly twice as much taxeble property) asin the West Division, and that if the West Division numbers more than half the popula- tion of ths city, the excess consists of aliens, and that it would hardly be fair or just to take away a ward from citizens to give it to aliens. The last election presents the fol- lowing results: Total vote cast in the South Divixion. In tbo North Division.. Totalieesanenee ‘West Division vote, Excess, only.... This is not enough to constitute one-fifth of a ward. If the West Division should be given ten wards—one to represent aliens— and the other two divisions only eight, there will ba great difficnlty in rearranging the new wards to match with either the State appor- tionment for Senatorial and Legislative Dis- tricts, or with the Congressional apportion- ment, and confusion and trouble will un- doubtedly be the result, The common-sense proposition would be to let the present nine wards in the West Division remain substan- tially as they are now, and for the South Division to consolidate the First and Second Wards into one, tnd the North Division to unite the Ninsteenth and Twentieth together. By this arrangement no Sensatorial District would be deranged nor the lines of any Con- gressional District be changed, nor would auy voting precincts be disturbed. In four years from next June there will be a new Federal census of the city, after which, and based upon which, a new Aldermanic ward sppor- tionment csn properly and safely be con- structed. THE CHURCH SIDE OF CHURCH TAXATION. The President has stated the question of taxing church property from the side of the State alone. 'Thus viewed, it is essy to see that the State would gain by am impartial system of taxation. Hence many may sup- pose that the Church would be correspond- ingly the loser. But this does not follow, since in every proceeding of true equity all partics are really the gainers, as in an honest inter-trede in business. It is not to be de- nied, indeed, that church expenses would be somewhat increased by the tax laid ; but this would be partly mct by the decrease of the individuel tax of the members of the congre- gation, each of whom now pays his own share and a portion of that of the Church also. The poor churches have cheap houses of worship, and their tax would be small They might think it a burden at first; and so they would think their insurance a burden if somebody had always paid it for them ; but in time they would become accustomed to the necessary expense. Our forebodings of evil in changing from old customs are usually ex- aggerated. Take a parallel instance. The clergy used to be exempt from military service; and some of them were foolish enough to complain when they were subjected to the draft in the late War. But calmer thought showed that a nation’s claim, in a time of deadly struggle, is upon all citizens alike; and this claim a clergyman should rejoice to meet, that he might exhibit the same patriotism with the ‘members of his flock. To be exempt was an injustice to others; it took from the bright- ness of his example as a patriot; and it di- minished his influence with the people. The case is the same in the States (such as New York) which exempt the clergy from taxa- tion. It was common to balance this by de- priving them of aright to vote, or to hold ofice. But who cannot see that it is more bonorable for the clergy to bear the same burdens of taxation with others, and then to enjoy similar privileges? They are thus more self-respecting, and can freely appeal to others in matters of State palicy. The exemption usage furnishes an argument to infidelity. Thus Morxey, the biographer of VoLTAIRE, writes: ** The direct refusal of the clergy in 1750 to consent to pay their share of the taxes like other citizens, though owning as much as o fifth of sl the property in the realm. moved him to insist, in a vig- orous pamphlet, that the distinction in a kingdom Ydetween spiritual and temporal powers is a relic of barbarism; . . . . that superstition inevitably tends to make bad citizens, and therefore Princes ought to pro- tect philosophy, which destroys superstition.” It needs smell argument to show that when, in this matter of tax-paying, the clergy nmi the churches shall set the example of *ren. dering unto Czsar the things that are Czsax's,” they will have more power in ap- pealing to the irreligious to render * unto God the thirgs that are God’s,” It is to the true honor of the churches that they shonld break this last link which con- nects them with the State, and makes them the recipients of its bounty. The primitive churches had no State charity, in gifts or in exemptions ; and why should modern church- es receive it which abound s0 much more in wealth? If churches are to be viswed as be- nevolent institutions,—which they are only in part,—why should they ask others to as- sume a portion of their benefactions? Let sach man do his own giving, As the matter THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1875.—SIXTEEN PAGES. now stands, the State of Ilinois gives by tax- exemption a quarter of a million of dollars every year to the churches; and this is ex- torted from the tax-payers, whether they be worshipers or non-attendants at church, Christians, Jews, or infidela! And yet men talk of no connection between Church and State, and affirm that in this land no man is compelled to pay anything towards the support of religious 1deas and forms in which he does not believe! What party would dare even to' introduce a bill into the Legic’a ure which should appropriete from the Tiea. ury 2225,000, to be distributed among alt the religions denominations according to their membership, or their property invested in real estate? No matter what arguments might be urged as to the usefulness of charches to the community in moral respeots, the proposal would be unanimously rejected as inconsistent with a thorough seperation of Church and State. But the principle is not at all changed when the same sum in taxes is remitted to the churches. To give it to them -before it reaches the Tressury is to change the form but not the reality of the appropriation. The churches should not be willing to stand in this position, and to give occasion for the tannt of the unbeliever. The senti- mental idea that Christianity has akind of homsage paid to it by this exemption of church property is a delusion. For the exemption applies equally to heresy as to orthodoxy, to Romanism as to Protestant- ism, to Deism or Spirituslism es to Chris- tianity. Certainly no special honor is put upon the truth as such, while from the point of view of any particular religionist the State does & great deal to aid in the propaga- tion of error. The United States census of 1870 gives the church property of the lesding denominstions thus: Roman Catholics, $70,000,000; Methodists, $70,- 000,000; Presbyterians, $48,000,000; Bap- tists, $39,000,000; Episcopalians, $36,000,~ 000; Congregationalists, $25,000,000; the Liberal sects, $12,000,000. We omit the fractions. Now why should Protestant pri- vate property be compelled to help pay the annual tax of $700,000 that Romish church property ought to bear? Or why should Romish tax-payers sassume part of the 2,300,000 which leading Protestant denomi~ nations ought to be paying into the State Trepsuries? Or why should évangelical and non-evangelical sects be compelled to bear one another’s public burdens? Bat if all church property paid its own tax, this ec 1fa- sion and injustice would end, and each class of religionists would drmw simply upon its OwWn resources. And then so far as this should bring pe- cuniary pressure upon the churches, as such, the fact would be attended with several com- pensatory consequences. It would be a motive for the members to pay more careful attention to politics, that the taxes might not be made heavy by wastefulness and cor- ruption. The spur of self-interest might thus do what right principle has been slow to accomplish. Then, again, in small com- munities it would operate to produce relig- jous union, gnd to prevent the needless erec tionof churches not demanded by the popu- lation, but built in the heat of a quarrel or under the prompting of sectarian ambition. And, further, a healthfully repressive influence would be exerted on the erection of unduly expensive and luxurious churches. Why should a single Episcupal or Presbyterian church, in tax-burdened New York City, like Trinity or Dr. Hawr's, cost & million of dollars, and a Romish cathedral on Tifth avenuo three or five millions, and yet be exempt from all taxes? Certainly itis vain to plead the poverty of the builders, and it is unjust to throw their proper burden upon others. Itis dishonorable to religion in general thus to treat it asa child that cannot support iiself without State aid, and it is a temptation to Romanists to acquire far their Church, here as in the Old World, vast lsnded estates, to be held free of taxation. The true spirit of Christianity unites with that of our Republican institutions in secar- ing a total separation of Church and State, financially as well as otherwise. Let the Church no longer play the pauper! THE CHICAGO LIBRARY BOARD. There are a number of good men on the Board which manages our Public Library. They attend the mestings with commendable regularity. They gracefully retreated—when compelled to do so—from their rash resolu- tion to shut up the Library at 6 o'clock and 80 make it useless to a great number of its most constant patrons, who can conveniently visit it only after that hour. The Bosard, in short, despite some blunders, is evidently anxious to do the best it can. It is necessary to enlighten it by pointing out one very grave blunder, which has marked the man- agement from the outset, and in which there bhes so far been no sign of reform. The Library is & machine for supplying books to the public. It faolfills this function well enough, but the books it supplics are not just what they should be, and this makes the'machine in some measure a useless one. Bunpn’s herse-shoe machine, which has made an enormons fortune for the in- ventor and his children, is valuable, not so much because it makes shoes as because it makes good and valuable ones. If they were bad, the machine would not be worth a cent. Now it is evident that the great buik of the books distributed by our Public Library are not useful. They are largely trashy novels. Reading such stuff does not feed the youth- ful mind; it poisonsit rather. It does not cultivate a taste far reading valuable books, any more than fesding a child with sugared rumwill give it taste for beefsteaks or bacon. HawrmoeNE, Invine, Dickexs, GorpsuaTs, THACKEBAY, ave ingipid to the mental palate of a child who has supped full on harrors by reading sengational novels, in which bad En- glish, worse sense, and worst morality strive for the mastery. No doubt volumes of this sort make the Library *popular.® A foll line of obscene stories would make it “* pop- ular,” {00, among a certain class. It is grati- fying to the Librarian and the Board to be able to report that so many thousand vol- umes have been taken out every year, but such statistics are saddening to the man who considers what sort of stuff fills these thou- sands of books, There is one all-important fact which is apparently forgotten by the gentlemen in charge of this institation. The Public Library is a public school. Itis part of our muni- cipal educational system. Like the public schools, it is largely maintained by tax-payers, who receive only indirect benefit from it. Its object, like that of the school system, is to educate the community. Amusement is part of education; the whole drift of edu- cational thought nowadays is to combine amusement with instruction; but our Public Library is managed as if its sole object werethe amusement of the people, and, worse still, & if the sort of amusement provided ought 10 be ecided Emply by the opinion of ita patrons, Now, in the nature of things, a library so lamentably deficient in the higher branches of knowledge is main- ly, almost exclusively, patronized by the poor, ignorant classes. Allowing the shop-girls and errand-boys who throng the Library by hundreds to dictate just what books shall be supplied is exactly as farcical and wrong 2s it would be to allow the pupils at the public schools to decide what books should be used there. The childron now at our schools would cast an overwhelming vote in favor of substituting dime novels for the renders in use; but would this justify the change ? e When we take this matter-of-fact view of the Public Library as & part of the public- school system, tho mistake of the present management becomes patent. If this mat- ter receives the serious consideration it deserves, there will surely be a change. We are mnot advocating the total suppression of movels, by any means. A poblic library withont them wonld be only less sbsurd than a public library wholly composed of them. But this department should not crowd every other into insignificance, and it should be made up of masterpieces of fiotion, pure thoughts in pure English, not trashy thoughts in impure English. There are books on the shelves of the Library now which cannot be read with- out impairing & boy’s or girl's command of good English and lowering his or her moral tome. This ought not to be. T ——— ABSURD SOCIAL DISCRIMINATIONS. The disposition of the seats at Prof. Swino’s Central Church is the most substan- tial tribute that could have been paid to that eloquent gentleman, and the best evidence of the wide esteem in which he is held in this community. There is probably mo other clergyman in the West who conld have broken away from old dogmatic fetters and set up an independent church that would attract the same number of followers, and unite so much intelligence, character, and worth, in permsnent association. The expenses of the Central Church will probably come within $12,000 a year, while the oxpenses of other churches with one- quarter as numerous congregation and com- fortable accommodations, greatly exceed that sum. A church-edifice, used but one day in the week, represents an investment, we will say, of $200,000, or §20,000 a yesr, and the expenses of the minister, the financial agent, the choir, the sexton, etc., amount to $15,000 more. A church comfortably accommodating 1,000 people, with s popular minister and attractive choir, represents an annual cost of from $35,000 to $40,000 & year, including the Jnvestment, as against $12,000 in the present enterprise, which will accommodate 2,000 worshipers. This makes a vest difference in the cost per Christian. The salo of the seats in Prof. Swina's Church developed, nevertheless, the tendency of American society to make absurd diserim~ inations on a8 mere money basis. The scale of prices included seats at §20 a yeor, $12, $8, and $5. In point of comfort, the seats at £20, 912, and $8, are precisely aliks, and, in point of location and desirability, thers is little differonce between them. In view of the fact that the complaint of hard times is universal, and that everybody dwells upon the necessity of retrenching in personal expenses, it would be natural to sup- pose that the lower-priced places with equal ndvantages would be taken ot first. As a matter of fact, the sale was just the other way. All the $20 seats were taken before the $12 seats, and the $12 seats before the S8 seats, while there was scarcely any demand for $5 seats. Wo do not know of a more striking instance of the absurd American saristocrecy based upon money distinctions. 'There were unquestion- ably those who retained $20 seats merely on account of the foolish pride which suggests to every American citizen that he must psy as much money for what he uses as every other American citizen, and that he is dis- graced in some mysterions manner if he is deprived of this glorious privilege. There were undoubtedly those who paid $20 in the full conscionsness that the $8 seats were equally desirable, and that their finances scarcely warranted the unnecessary expend- iture of the difference. It is this general aristocratic sentiment based upon money that, more than anything else, impairs the usefulness of our church or- ganizations. The same spirit that manifested itself in the selection of seats in the Central Church leads the members of other churches to indulge their fashiongble foibles. Every ‘woman feels that she must have a new fall or 8 new spring bonnet, made by the most fash- jonable milliner, and the latest cut in dress, in order to appear in her customary place in the house of worship. Every pater-familias is impelled to pay as much for his pew, to put es much money in the contribution-box, to give as freely at the church fairs, and in every other way assert his moneyed equality 8s conspicuously as iis neighbor. It is this common weakness that has converted so many of our churches into great repositories of fashion, which are Ioked upon in much the same way as the “‘opening” at the nobbiest retail dry-goods establishment. It is this false pride which excludes many from church- going among the Protgstant churches, and betrays many others into expenditures which they cannot afford. The same prejudice extends to other walks of lifs, and particularly to the amusements of the people. It hs grown upon them to such an extent as actually to deprive them of some of the best class of public entertain- ments. Opeza-going has become so costly, with the universal greed for the highest- priced seats and the sine qua non of car- risges, bouquets, and opera-costumes, that people, unwilling to part company with their prejudices, stay away, and the opera is vir- tually discontinued as one of our regular amusements. So, in our theatres, the best locations, or at least locations just as good as any other, remain empty on account of the distinction in price, while the people com- plain of high prices and remain at home. The orchestra-chairs of to-day which sell for & dollar were formerly called the *‘pit,” and looked down upon by the people in the gal- lery above with contempt. Now, the balcony, which was formerly the preferred locstion, because it was the highest-priced, and which is still as desirable as any other partof a well-constructed theatre, is deserted because there is on insane notion that there is some disgrace in paying 25 cents or 50 cents less for the same entertninment than somebody else has paid. A similar prejudice extends to railroad-travel, and has resulted in there being but one class of cars, while there should be three or four. In hotel-life, in dressing, in carrisges, and every other social appendage, this foolish money-distinction is observed by people who would be offended if they were told that they lack common-sense. ‘Ths characteristio American greed for gain, which betéays our legialetors &xd publia ol | bus. He witl Alsesver that bis greanback is ca~ .the ascquaintance of ARAGO, the eminent astroo- ficers into pecnlation, our business men into dishonorable practices, and those holding pri- vate trusts into embezzlement, may be traced largely to the absurd social discriminations that are made on a basis of money. There will be no social aristocracy in this country that anybody can be proud of until it is reared on some other foundation than this. Indeed, a moneyed aristocracy is rather the worst phase of a social democracy, which ad- mits one man to bo as good as another man with the same amount of money, or one woman a8 good as another woman who wears as much fashionable clothing, sits in a front row at a theatre, and has the highest-priced pew in a church. It is to be hoped that our social progress may some day take the op- posite direction, and that some other distinc- tion than that of relative cost may determine the relative social position one occupies. TORTURING CRIMINALS, The horrible scene enacted st the hanging of the three wretches in New York City on Friday last, in which the displacement of the halter-knot prolonged the sufferings of one of the three some considerable time, should not ‘be allowed repetition. It was turning justice into barbarous cruelty and making the gallows an instrument of torture instead of sharp and quick punishment. We have no heart to inflict upon our readers a repeti- tion of the horrible scene which was wit- nessed by 300 of the Sheriff's *“invited guests,” who ought not to have been there, and so demoralized them that they came near cutting the man down to end the wretched spectacle. The crime of murder deserves no pity. It should be punished in every in- stance with death ; but neither the interests of justice or humanity are subserved by mak- ing thst death o horribly prolonged tor- tore. This is only inhuman cruelty, not just punishment, The punishment for murder should be short, sharp, terri- ble, and as instantaneous as possible. Death by hanging, cven when that mode of punishment is unattended by any ac- cident or derangement of circumstances, is unnecessarily cruel ; bat when the knot be- comes displaced or the rope breaks, as very often happens, it is 8 barbarous and savage form of torture, which is a disgrace to and blot upon civilization. It is an argument sgainst justice. Its tendency is to furnish the maudlin sympathizers with murderers with a powerful plen against capital punish- ment. Iis effect upon the whole public is demoralizing. The remedyis a very clear one. It is to abolish hanging alto gether and substitute some other form of punishment which shall be more instantaneous in its op- eration. The most merciful form seems to be the Spanish garrots, which pierces the spinal column with a sharp peint or blade, and produces immediate death. There may be a supreme instant of suffering, but noth- ing more, and there is never any danger that the victim will suffer torture or be conscious of suffering. In desth by the rope, even whera the halter works perfectly, suffering is prolonged, and the struggles and contortions last from five to fifteen minutes, according to the victim’s vitality. The guillotine and the military punishment by shooting ore each preferable to the clumsy and uncer- tain practice of hanging. If it is tobe contin- ued, its cruelty should at lesst be mitigated by the use of anmsthetics. The object of copital punishment is not to inflict pain,— which is mere vengeful cruelty,—but to re- move the murderer from the world in retribu- tion for his erime and in defense of society. Another phase of the New Yark execution deserves to be condemned in the severest manner, and that is the admission of several hundred people by the Sheriff to witness the ‘horrible scone. It strips the execution of the solemn character which should surround it, fills the victim with bravado and insolence, gives bim the impression of being a hero, demoralizes the crowd which attends, and sows the seeds of fature crime. . The pun- ishment ghould be as secret gs it is swift, and 1o one should witness it except the officials whose duty requires them to be present, and the jury. Viewed in its most favorable aspects, the New York execution was & sickly, sorry, brutal spectacle, the like of which, it is to be hoped in the interests of humanity and justice, may mnever occar sgain. It would be better to abolish capital punishment altogether rather than to have such & scene as this repeated, with all its brutdl and demoralizing influences. The friends of humanity and moral reform ought to agitate this subject at omce, and devise some other means of carrying out the death penalty for murder. OBITUARY. SENRY JAMES ANDERSON. The New York Evening Post has received the news of the death of Prof. HENRY JAMES ANDER- 80X, which ocourred at Lahore, India, Oct. 19, The ceceased was born in New York City, Feb. 8, 1799, and graduated from Columbia College in 1819 with high honors. In 1825 be was called to fill the chair of mathematice and astronomy in the above College, a position which he held for eighteen yeara with remarksble smecess. In 1843 bo resigned his position on account of the iliness of his wife and went abroad, where, soon after, his wife died. While in Europe he made omer, and translated for bim saveral astrosom- ical communications in the Northern Evropesn languages. In 1851 he returned to this country and was made s ‘Trustee of Columbia College. Last year he went to Australia to view the tran- sit of Venus, and from thence went to India, to vigit the Himalaya Mountains. The Post says of bim: *He was familiar with all the exsct sci- encas, an sbie geologist, an eminent mineralo- giat and chemist, and a liugnist toan extent such as few men ever attain. Hia reasoning powers were of the higheat order. His maoners were amiable, his disposition gentle and charitable, and his demeanor modest, never in bis whole life having done anything for the sake of osten- tation.” BDWLRD @. MORTON. Epwanp G. MorTox, oneof the oldest and most respected remdents of Michigan, died at Monroe in that State on Wednesday last. Hecommenced busineea life aa & printer, andin 1835 entered the oficeof the Detroit Free Press, whero he remained for s year. During the succeeding thirty-four years he was identified with several other papers in Alichigan, and at the time of his death waa one of the oldest, if not the oldest, editor in that State. In politica he was & Demo- crat. He had been Mayor of Monroe, was eloct- ed for five terms as & Ropresentative in the Leg- islature, and also served threa terms in the State Senate. PO S — Mr. Troxas Ricaxoxp, in his currency letter in yesterdsy's TRIBUNE, makes this msn.iun:m Bu TEE TRIB the facta,—misstates value of manq%mm'monu in circalation worth only 86 cents; bave bad nono this ten years, nor any depreciatod money of any Xind. The Kwa of Congreas—the higheat suthority of the land—huve made grecnbacks the stardard money for all fraaing pur- Foses, The puper itself declares iis nses and valus, made 20 by law. The *worth "of a thing is whatit will sell or ex- changs for. Purchssing power determines the worth. Let Mr. RICEMOND take & $10 greenback i one hand and a 810 gold coin inths other and enter any store in-Chicsgo snd see ‘whioh will purchass the most dry-goods, or grooceries, ar bardware, or any otser artldls be may desire o Vo i P PR B Y EEETIEROTE e P R R e R A R iEE %5 b 2 i Iy worth 88 percent, if as eagle. The law forces a nmdi‘!::% Mu e tender ncr{9 33 the equivalont of gold gk meut of debts, no matter whether itis '-xgm “"h Ppor cent of coin or only 25 per cent. py . lav canno: compel any man to giunm B praporgy for greanbacks as for gold, uu“ b docs, simply bacause they ara not worth Sty !)] 4 to 18 per cent, according hmha‘.mfim in their value or purchasing powar. Mr. R derstands all thia very wail, bat. he mgpr, ™ 5xulgs in verbal quibbles and ailly wphjn.hh is oid enough to know batter. B —_— The Staats-Zeitung - and the Frei., competitors for the city printing for the e ,;‘ two years. ' The former has the larger g tion, but the latter offers ta nig for the pringy at lower rates ihan have beretofors bagy p; Tho Freic-I'resse is the Republicag q..m. evening paper, and the .i'mhii;m, morning German “paper which 1 ‘political position the ather day by declaip, it it was neither Demoeratic nor Bemflh:h Independent. —_—— The New York Triduna 1t aanounces thata * hmhr-czif.h:!% vented, sud that this new marvel mage ity trip -_‘ two months 2go.” Hotel-carg hany running ont of Chicago on several iiney e, eral yeurs. Bat then the New Torp o aince the death of Mr. Greerxy hag i %0 ignorance and blundering. ot —_— CoLviN was 61 yearsold yesterd; gy ;.: know better than to tryto a:':,‘:.",",. is term has expired, and after the 790ple dagi him to leave the office. b e e PERBONAL. Ge:l.u Charlea A, Page, of the o publishing-house of L. F. Lawrence, Bostrn, o guest at the Tremont. ' Ex-United States Senator Ricj Quiocy, 18 serfoualy ill. He wns ttacksq :, paralrais Tharsday night. The popular caricatures of Teed sent bim with the ““lug Sir" wm’-’? waich-chain, This is understood mb.n.m:' figurative form of expression. 4 Mr. Joha D. Young, who formes), presatel the Nnth Congressional District :«nm i8 now a Doorkeeper’s messenger, Tbun;j,; ment is honurable, and, a cynic might usnal for Congressmen. e The Princess of Wales fook her of Denmark the rounds of the Iand':’:‘ mmm In ooe waek, fesliug perhaps that she moat o extra gervice to compenaate for tha inhospitaliy neglect of Queen Victcria. ** A seal-skin vest, every button of which taived a eolitaire dismond,” was what h.:: have once prompted Commissioner Douglamty adviso Supervisor McDonald “ to dreas mors iy & white man and a Christian.” *Topsy’s ™ and Mrs. Woodhull's ahow-bills pot mixed on Lockport walls. This was the cone bination : “Oh, Golly ! T'se 8o wicked.® vicTos c. ‘Quecn of the Hostenas, The story of Vice-President Wilsan's birth if 8 gypay-camp has beon, as might bave beemsss pocted, authoritatively denied. Hia grandfatner was no English emigrant. Jeremiay 8. Colbaith, an unels of the Vis-Presidas vouchas for his deacent from English stock. Capt. Eads expreases himself 23 beiog mtie fied at the progreas of the workon tne Mimige sippi jetties. The finaneial resources of i Jetty Company are now 2il that conld be de gired, and the completion of the work whishil has uodertaken meems to be s mers quationc! time. Air. W. S.Gilbert, the dramaticauthar, recestly persecuted a pour organ-grinder in a novel my, He caused tho arrest of his tormentar, had bin fined by a magistrate, aod then paid the foa By winning the gratitnde of the organist b tected himself against farther asasol,adsd the same time he hsd his revenge. Mr. Nathan Appleton, of Boston, recentlytsl an interview with Alexander Dumas in Puis, and found him atrangely interested in “thazue woman question,” whatever that msy mma. The conversation was principally sbout i Mormons, of whom Mr. Appleton bappes W know something by personsl obsarvasion. Had Gen. Babcock been srrested while bemt in Chicago, the duty of making the arrest vauld have devolved upon his father-in-isw, Mr. Cange bell, who is the United States Marshal fz= e Northern District of Illinois.—New York 2w ng Post. 'Tno disagreeabls duty mentiooed 4 devolve upon and wss performed By Campbell. Charles A. Dana is paid 810,000 per somam oditor of the New York Sun, snd recsives 5 put cent of the dividends after 35 per cen bas bwa declared. This year the dividends will probably amount to 85 per cent. Mr. Dans thus bud large interest in selling his paper, and he soms- times makes it to sell without regat @0 &1f other considerations. ! “Before his recent parformance in “L'Abms'S at the Now York Lyccum Theatrs, Mr, Fechist had played in French but twica in this coaniry— once in Boston and ouce as the Danioa Lasps Club Theatre in New York. During therehets of “L'Abime” at the Lyceum he fosgos bine gelf and spoke in English, and it was tands similsr contretemps would overtske bin is 4 presence of an audience, but nothing to mar the performance. Al the available places in the South s Lo orated with tho insceiption: “Tse 8il Liver Regula:or—tae Hon. J. B. Gosdo Tset 1t A Wasnington correspondont writes thad if Senator Gordon has & good Lver ‘nobody 8 discover it ; and the fact that he uses monas’ Regulator,” instead of beiog & rfi mendation of it, ia just the opposite. The ator has beex advised to mundmlfiflfipd vent quack doctors from usiog the nans Senators too freely and without thair consend. . The Boston Adveriiser noticed d U; mends Mr, W. F. Poole’s affective ter in a Chicago .Supnu.;nlht oot which ves (bat an allegt tion thmugp“;x » mediam from “Jnd;u'd;: condemned and haaged the Sslent witches 1680, could not be gr.mmino:i Mr. Pacle's &1 ment is ad captandum, snd cof p;mng that Judge Ward did pot sentenc ; Salem wicches in 1680, o 8¢ mymw There was 0o JndgeWudlifiunwfi 7 The Washington Capilal takes mubu:' announeing that Mr. ohn McCulloughis 8. Basd nificent Teader, & clover gentlemas, ;:fl 3 o some man, but Dot & great acton. exception in favor of bia Ruchelicu s0d sy bat 1 otier parts finds that be stsodh foot of the class of star ans. b ° {00 xtensive a repertory, uu Capilal m-hw advses him to drop all mmwwn‘ mentioned, and to adopt ¢%0 or e plays, including & Tevised edition Csdo ™ and * Bratus.” Senator G. G. Wright snd wife (Olfre LogiD) Welled, Milwaukeo ; Attorney Dixon, IL ; D, ! i osiste emply ¥ * E;