Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 28, 1875, Page 4

THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: TUESDAY. UECEMBER 28, 1878. TERMS OF THE TRIBUNE. RATPR OF FETACTITTION (TATATILE T¥ ADTANCE). Pastare Frepahl at this Oflice. Drily Editton, poat-vsid, 1 yoar., 813,00 Parts <f sen 0 Tute. Hlatied 0 wos aidross FOUR WEEK® tor, Oneoapy, De” ) eat., Club o v, pier 7. Club ol twenty, paf cof vos Tha portexa ta 15 conty & year, which no xill prepas. Specimen copd. s sent free, To preveut dalsy snd mistakee, bo mure and give Pom-Off.ce addrees 1a fill, Including Statoand County. Ttemiittances may bo iade elther by 4 Tost.Office order, or In regiatcred letlers, at our risk, TERXA TO CITY SUDKC ns, Delly, dolivered, Bundsy execpted, 225 cents per week, Deiiy, deliverad, Bunday included, 30 cents per week, Addresy TIIE TRIBUNE COMPANY, Corner Madlzon snd Dearboru sta.. Chlcago, 1l vttt AMUSEMENTS. McVICRER'R THEATIIE—Mndison street, between Denel orn and State, Engagement of (he Ostea Opera Troupe. * The Princees of Trebizonde." ACADEMY OF MUSIC—Ilalsted street, betwsen Maidison and Monroe, * The Two Orphans.” HOOLEY'S THEATRE—Tiandolph atrest, between Clark and LuSalle. Califurnia Allnstrels. NEW OICAGO TIIEAT! fark street, betwoen Rondolph and Lake. Kelly & Leou's Minstrvls, WOOD'S MUNEUM—Monroa strect, between Dear. born and Siste, Afternaom, *Red Riding-Hood,” Evemng, © Iack Harknway's Adveutures,” ADELPHI _THEATRE—Dearborn strect, cormer Aouroe. * Ths Forty Tafeves,” [t "SOCIETY MFETINGS. ORIENTAL LODGE, No. 33, A, F.and A, M.~Thll, Xo, 122 L1Sallest. —fi’-frh\l municati m this (Tucs- day) evening Al welock, for iustallation of oticers elevt and apponied for the cusulug Maronie year, Iiy ordor of the st E. N. TUCKEL, Sec'ss BUSINESS NOTICES. R, McCHESNEY'S DENTAT, PARLORS, CORNER Cim & arnd Randolvhistu, Why pay $:0 8ud ‘5.0 o sot get the | ot for $47 Hutiefaction, or money ‘Fiiling ot Lolf rates, warranted teu years. Whe Chirags Tribune, Tuosday Morning, Docomber 28, 1876, Warmer and partly clondy weather are the sonditions predicted for this region to-day. Groenbacks ot the New York Gold Fx- change yesterdny opened and clored at 881, the ighest point reached for montha, The French Assembly is now considering the Press bill, su smendment to which wns adopted yesterdny, providing a penalty for attacks npon the ltepublic. — The gross receipts of tho Illinois Central Railvoad for the six months ending Oct. 81, 1875, were & 52,40, Of this sum, 7 per sent, or $1 is pnid into tho State Trensury. The work of restoring the Column Ven- dome, destroyed by tho Communists, was yestewday comnpleted, snd the statuo of Narouzoy wos replaced on the top of the coltmp. No public veremonies attended the proecedings. e e ceernn Negotiationa nre pending for a compromise of tho suits brought ngainst ex-Cgllector Jons T, Ianern, at 8pringtield, O, on ne- count of his defaleation of over £100,000. 1f his friends succced iu rniging tho money zecessary Lo make good the deficit, it is be- lieved that the suits will bo stricken from the docket of the United States Court, Tifteen States have taken n census of population in 1874 and the total increase since 1870 is cstimated at & litllo over 2,000,000. As these States had in 1870 some- thing more than one-third of the population of the United States, n common nvernge progross throughout would show an sggre- gate incrense in five years of upward of 6,000,000, or a total population of 44,000,- 000,000, A Mutun! Council is to be called by Plym- outh Church and Mrs, MotrToN to consider the two questions submitted by that lndy,—the sufliciency and validity of the ressons of the Church for dropping Ler usme from the roll; and the sufficioncy ond validity of Mrs, MourToN's rensons for abstaining so long from the services and eac- raments of the Church. This course was de- cided upon at the Plymonth meeting Inst evening, when it was also voted to call an Advisory Council, Tho Whisky-Thierex' Organ now says, with on eloguence only equaled by Joxce after ho was convicted and sentenced to the Poniten- tiary, that it * defies malice, dares investiga- tion, and challenges geratiny,” This i touching, if not convincing. If tho Whirky- Tlieves' Organ had contented itself with grondiloquent genernlizations of this sort all the time, it would have recoived more eredit than after making an infamous attompt to break down the prosccution of the Whisky Ring by faleely accusing Secrotary DBuistow with being implicated in it. The ninety-eighth anniversary of the Battle of Treuton, which occurred Dee. 26, 1777, was colebrated yesterday at Trouton, N, J., in a mock engagement botween the Federal troops snd tho Dritish army, The patriot soldiers were led by Gon, WasmnaroN, and the surrender of the Hessians wos duly ac- complished by the time the buttle was over, greatly to the dolight of tho enthusinstlo spectators, Bubscquently tho victors und vanquished waore sumptuously dined at Wash ington Hall—a feature of tho programme which was omitted ninety-cight ycars ngo. Further examination of the books of Ep Prirres, the Bouth Town Assessor, gives still clearer evidenco of the breadth sud depth of tha villainy sought to be practiced upou the tax.payers. ‘The nssessments were plajoly influenced by bribos and fovoritism, and were without a pre. tenso of fairness and oquality, The Common Council hes appointed n speclal Comumitteo to investigate the matter, but in the meuntime Collector Evans is preparing to enforce the paymont of taxes by levy if. necessary, and before the Investigating Com- mittes can accomplish anything—if, iudeed, it hias any power st all—a great part of the personal tax outrage will have been consww. mated. The Chicago produce markets were genor- ally easier yesterdsy. Mess pork was active and declined &0 per brl, closing at §10,00 easb. and $19,26@19,27} for February, Lard wari more ective, and G@74o per 100 lbs low- or, closing at $1212) cash ond $12.30@ 12,32} for February. Meats were quiet and easier, at 70 for boxed shoulders, 10@10} for do short ribs, and 10} for do short cloars. Higuwines were dull and ateady at §1.09} ?" gallon. Flour was dull and unchanged. enb mpan rmads ggtatt petlva sad 1@ d b lose er, closing at 9ic cnsh aud 9ie for Janunry. Corn was dull nud firm, closing at 43lc for December and {3)e for Jannary, Oats were quict and steady, closing at 20l eash and #0%e for January. Rye was quict at 671@ 08¢, Barley wns irregnlar, but #@1}e lower, clos- ing ot 81)@82¢ for eash and 80 for Jauusry. Hogs were dull and 52100 higher, closing firm at $0,60@7.00 for common to choles, Caottlo were dull and unchanged. Sheep were quiet and nominal. One hundred dol- lars in pold would bny $112.62} in green- baaks at tho close. Asn preliminary moneuvre preceding an attack in force upsn the County Treasury, Sherilf AaNew hias prepared nnd submitted to the County Bonrd o communication setting forth the illogality of the Board's setion in reducing to 50 cents per day his compensa. tion for fecding prisoners fn the Jall. The matter has been referred to the Judiciary Committee, whn will obiain from County- Attorncy RousTner an *opinion” that the Board has no nuthority to ent down the Sherifi's profits on prison fare, sud the old rate of &3 conts will be restored at au ndded expense of something like £10.000 to the tax- payers. It is found necessry to pacifieate the Sherilf in these Jittle mnttors, for inmo other way can juries bo packed and scourity nfforded to political eriminals, Another mova in tho grand conspiracy of the anthracite monopoly to put down pro- dnetion and put up prices is reported from Philadelphis, where it hag been docided that the 15,000 miners in the Wyowing region shall be thrown out of employment for n period of three months or more, beginning on Fridny of this week, A suspensionof ono mouth only is ordered, but it is understood that tho **neccessary work of repmrs” will add another moutl and probably more to the period of enforced idleness and crime, It is expected that the order of susponsion will roon extend to the gront Lackawnnna rogion, and then the sonlless combination will be teady to fssue a new sehiedule of increased prices for all the conl nabove ground. Then will follow s fierco struggle hetween the mino oporntors, nided by tho suthoritics en one hand and the vast army of idle, desporate miners on the other, and, s usal, the least guilty of the contonding partics will fare the worst. CRAWFIBAING, Tho Whisky-Thicrex' Organ bas already be- gun to erawflsh out of Lo false and defama- tory article of Snaturday, in which it stated that Gen. Bancock proposes to appear before a Democratic Conunitten of Congress, take shelter under tho * safe-conduct” stotute, and make a full confesaion of what he knows about the whisky frands, and produce evi- Qonco implieating Sceretary Bristow. The Chicogo Whisky-Tkicres' Organ now refers to its Saturdny acticle ns n *“local nows article,” and gays that it wonld havo msdo an edi- torial statemont diserediting a portion of it * had the Inte hour at which it was obtained pormitted editorin]l comment.” Now the Whistiy - Thieees' Organ cannot hope to eseape the ponalty of its recklessness, ond perhaps ita desperation, by an explanation 8o attenuated and palpably false. The ‘‘local news article” was- printed in large type, “loudly " lended, given the first place in tho paper, nnd rvendered conspicuous ULy haifa column of flaming hond-lines. It was not o ews article, for the developments of a single day have boen sufficient to shiow that there was no acws in it, but that it was pure and malicious invention from boginning to ond, It was not tho kind of an nrticle that woitld have been inserted without the knowl- edge nnd sanction of the editor. It was not so hostily prepared as to prevent editorial comment, because the articlo itself stated that it hnd boen prepared after consultation with four prominent attorneys had Leen held. Tho fact is,that it wad o caln, deliberate, and onlenlnting cfort to stal Seeretary BrisTow in the interest of the whisky-thioves, and the Whisky-Thieves' Organ did not come to a realization of the resction until aiter the arti. cle was printed and put forth, It was imme- diately recognized overywhero as a wenk npology for the rovenue thioves, and as a dis- guised confession of corplicity on the part of somebody prominently connooted with the newspaper which printed it. It turns out that overy statement in tho ar- ticlo printed by the Whisky-Thicres' Organ, s0 far s it reflected upon Scerotary Bristow, is false,—cven ns to the place whero thio Sce- retary sleeps when o is in Louisvillo or Cil cinnatl, Seeretary Brisrow haa a brother-in. law in Louisville, and that brother-in-law has o brother, and that Lrother is connected in some wny with & distiller, Tho WhAisky- Thieves Organ charged Secrotary Bristow with the heinous offense of stopping with his brother-in-law (the brother of the man who has somo interest in o distillery), but it seems that even this {s not true, as Mr, Bris- Tow stops at the Galt Houso when ho gaes to Louisville, The Witky-T'hieces' Organ slso cited os 8 convincing evidence of Becretary Brastow's complicity in the whisky frouds that he stops with agentleman naned Honant, wholivesin Cincinnati, andwho, italleges, isin the whisky businesa ; but it turns out that the Secretary does not even kmow Mr. Hoparr. And this is what tho Whiky- T'hieves’ Organ now cnlls giving *‘tho onrlicst intelligence,” and *‘the full and cowmplete news,” oven though it * strikes at thase whom the public hes always rogarded with respect and esteem.” If ** intelligenco " can be synonymous with invention, and *‘news” ba nothing Lut lies, then tho latter statement {8 correct ; otherwise not. % The Whisky-Thieves' Organnlsocharged that Secretary Buisrow ondered the releaso of cor- tain Louisvillo whisky which had been seizod, beeanse he had been (before ho became Secre- tary of the Ireasury) attorney for the manu. facturors of thig whisky. To sustain this charge, some statements were forced ont of ex-District-Attorncy Groven avd the prosent Collector, Gen. WensTen, which standing olone mean nothing, but which were distorted in thejr application. The truth of the matter seems to be that (1) the Sceretary of the Treasury woa never attorney for Monks & Cons, who shipped the whisky, but in a fricodly capnci- ty, before he droamt of being Becretary, asked that action bo deferred till all the fucts should be ascertained ; (2) aftor Le became Sucrctary of the Treasury, bo refused to re- lease this whisky until tho Comiissioner of Internul Revenuo aud the Solicitor of the ‘Treasury sbould recommend it; (8) the whis. Ly is not released at all, becauss the owners refuso to pay the mouey on & compromize offered by the Goverument, on the ground that there was po irregularity about it, and that it wes not **crooked ” but straight. Thus there ls not & shred of truth left to the origi- nal four-column statement as made by the Whisky. Thicves’ Organ, All theat facts the Organ was forced to priot In the lisue pext sicceeding thatin whicl §t wut foril the ariainsl lihal. Indeed. it prints in ita own Washington correspond- enee the following humiliating retraction ; The truth appoars (0 bo that Becretary DRivrow's wret micee- & 10 prasecuting and conviciing the mems Vers of the Whisky- 1ing lua given bim o populatity and sir:ngth tUat commnand freat respect here, and hold 1itn cuemien at bay § and ft1s but Justico to ray that o charges agalist Wi nro helioved by very fow, auid they generally of the class who enruestly wish they may be trne, "Chis is about the fact of tho matter, and tho WWhisky-1'hicees' Organ is unguestionably ono of *tho clas9 who earnestly wished might bo true" tho charges which it put forth knowing them to be false. It Is following o course suggested by McDaxarp and Jove, both convicted thieves, one of whom threat- ens while tho other whines, 'The Whisky- T'hicees’ Urgan does both: it threntens ono day aud whines tho next. One day it tries to help the thioves by libeling the Seerctary of the Ureasury, and the next it tries to help them by falso explanations instead of frank retraction and confession. RS THE LEGALITY OF OUR TAXES. *A question of considorablo interest hins within a fow days been diseussed in officinl civcles in this city, concerning the intricate mntter of jocal taxation. It is suggested that the wholo lovy for city and county pur- poses for 1876 is void, because the tas has beon extonded upon tho valuation as rovised and promulgated by the State Bonrd of Equslization, nud not upon tho valuation as rovised by the County Board of Equalizn- tion. 'This objection has boon raised doubt. less upon tho strength of soms oxpressions by the Supremo Court in the case of DuPage County 9. JExus, roportod in Fneesax G5, In tho opinion in that case the Court, at poge 228, usod the following language: 1t was alao objected that the Clork extonded the tax on the arsessment-rolle made by the Town Assessors, and pot on tho equalizod valuation fixed by the Btato Bosrd, Iu thie wa cannnt soo tho sligntest objoction, Tho Slate Board only equaslized in roforenco to State tuxes, aud not with tho loast referenco to Jocal taxa- tion., The Clerk fo Lound to extend tho Stato tax on that assersment, It fs beliered to bo fhe uniform practico throughout the Htato for County Clorks to oxtend the tax for county sud other local taxes on tha original asacasment, 28 equalized by the Loard of Suporvisors, and the Btato tax on tho cqualized valus fized by tho Stato Doard, Auy other practics would lead 10 confusion ard embnrrassment. Tue Board of Suporvisors are required by Jaw ta lovy the county tax ot their shnnel meeting in Sop tember, sud town, achool, and otlier local taxes aro required 10 o Iaviod ud retorned to the County Clevk Dy or befor thot thino; aud theso levics cau only bo mado on the valuation returncd by tho Asscasors, as thore fs no othor meaus of nacortaining the rate per cant; and, it the valuation i Teduced by tho State Hoard, thera would ba o deficloncy o {he required smoutt, or If 1t slnuld ba raised, there swould bo an excesn over and aliovo the amount required and fu- tended to boleyled, if: theao taxes wero extendad on the cqualized value ixed by tho State Board, I'his Innganga would certainly sustain tho objection now made, were it applicable. It way used, however, in referonco to tho State law ns it stood in April, 1868, snd with refer- enca to the nssessment of tages for the year 1863. Since then, thore has been a new Constitation nnd a general revision of the Iaws, nnd the Rovenna law of tho State has been entirely remodeled. Under tho new law, that of 1872, thero ara no rates of taxa- tion fixed by tho county or local Boards; theso bodies cortify to tha County Clerk merely the smounts they noed to be raised by taxation. The General Revenno law of 1872 contains the following provisions, which do not occur in the Mevenue law as it stood in 1668: Brc. 117, All rates for tazes, herainntier provided for, shall bo oxtended by tho County Clerk on the as- sessed valuation of propariy, ns oqualized snd usscsred by the State Toard of Equalization, $£0 121, The County Beard of tlie Tespective coun— tics abiall, snuually, at tho Soptember wearlon, detor- mino the atuounts of sl taxea to be ralred for count; jurposos, {ho sggregate amount of which shall niot ex. coed the 1ate of 75 centa on {ho 3100 valuation of prop- erty, excopt for payment of indeb@dness exteting ut the adoption of tne preaent Bate Conatitution, uulias authorized by a vote of the people of thn county, 8x0. 122, Tho Troper authoritios of towns, town~ shiga, districte, aud lncorporated citios, Sowok, and viiluges, colleoting tazes under tue yrovieionn of this act, shall annually, ou or before the socond Tucsdvy fn Augnst, cestify to the County Clerk (bosevera!l amounts which they soverally require to be rlsed by tazation, ete. 8Ec, 126, Bald Clorks rliall oxtend fhe rates of ad- dition or deduction ordered by the County Hoard sad State Board in theseveral columns provided fur that purpoeo, Tho rates per cent ordered Ly ihe Blate Board of Equalization wbioll bo extended on the se- sesund alustion of property, ne correctod and eqaals f1ed by the County Board, Bzo, 126, All Btato and county taxes shall be ez- tended by tho reapective Counly Clerka upon the prope erty in those counties ujon the valuation produced by thie equulization and assossmont of property by the Btate Board of Pquslization, Town, distsict, village, clty, oud olher taxes shall alro ba extended agatnat such auccesed and equalized valuation of proyorty within their respectlve Surisdictions, Bec. 3 of the city charter : Tha City Councl {n citios may serers and collect taxen for corporate purposes in the fullowing manner: Tho City Councll shall, on of beforo thio second Tuedday 1 Baptomber in each year, ascertatn the tofal smount of sppropriations for all corporats purposes, legally made and to be collectod from tho tax lovy of $hat Bacal year, and by ordinance levy and asaces guch amuunt, ¥0 s artained, upon the reoland persons] property witbin tho city or vilage subject to fs1ation, ns the same la asscsscd for Stats and county purposes £or tho current year, A certifed copy of auch ordinance shall ba fled with the Gounty Clerk, ete. This is the law on the subject. It soems to bo conclusive that tho sssessment and val- uation as completed by tho State Board ia tho only one upon which taxes for any county or oity purpose can be collected undes the Rov- enuo law of 1872, WHAT ORE BPY DID. Muach bas beon sald, in history, song, and sormon, of the * providential” arrival of tho Monitor in time to meat and disablo the Mer- rimao off Portress Monroe. Il was hailed at the timo as » special providence, and hos often been cloimed ny such sinco. But time, which buries 0 many things, brings others to light, and has now vevealod the fact that not sccidont, but design, got the **checse-box on a raft” to Fortress Monroo In tima to drive tho Merrimao back to Norfolk Navy-Yard. Gen, Woor was in command of the for- tross then, aud had as his Aide-do-Camp Cul. L. G. B, CannoN, of Vermont, who has just published a small pam- phlet embodying his ¢ rocolloctions " of the famous duel which revolutioned the navies of the world. Ho eays that a Joyal man em- ployed as o mecbanio in the Norfolk Navy- Yard sent Gen, Woon word of the work on the Merrimac in Decomber, 1861, and for- warded him full details of the Confederate plan two months afterwards, justthree wedks Defora the iron ram played havoo wilh the wooden walls of the Congress and the Cum. berland, Col. OanNoN went to Washington with the first news. BranTON was alck, and Lincovx took the Colonel to a Cabinot meet- jog. The result was that work was pushed with oll speed on the Monitor. It the spy f10d not served his country so well, the Mer. rimno would have broken up the blockads off Norfolk, and might then bave crulsed down tho coast, destroying one squadron after an- other, and practically raising tho blockade of the whole coast. It has besn statod that this was the plan, and that a fleet of Clyde.built ships, laden with arms, smmunition, cloth- iug, and storss, was waiting ot West India porta to selzo their chance of safely landing their war material. 1tls difiouls to overesti- mata tha paailila damaca thin ene vem might have done, i7 sho had not been stopped after one day's Aweoping victory, The Congress and tho Camberland wera two of the finest vessels in our mavy., If thoy were so utlerly helpless befora tho Merri- mae, what could smaller whips have done? After raising the blockade, the Morrimao might have stenmed into Now York Bay, and hiad the metropolis of the New World at its merey. It would havo taken a long while to have built, lswnehed, aud eguipped the Moni- tor if sho bad then existed only in the brain of Fnicesay, and even if her framewark had only been placed upon tho stocks, as would have been the caso but for this one loyal spy. o must have run no slight risk, but his in. formation wos of the highest value, THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE IN 1870, “The political drift of the period 8 leading pnblic journals, as well as men, to that point wharo they must decide which cnuse they will serve, nud the current bhas alrendy set 50 far and so strong townrds the Cen- tonninl Presidentinl campaign ns to show that there will be but two causes—the one Republican, the other Democratic. Thero may, and probably will, be a third party, nade up of the rag-baby inftationisis and ‘roken.down speculntors of the country, but 88 botween the two great parties it lua no possibility of success. Prominent mmnong those public journals which are now declar-, ing their political allegiance for 1876 is tho New York Zidune. It support of the Re- publican party during the past threo or four years hins been of such a negativo charncter s fo make such a declaration uecessary, Its leanings hove been to the otherside. Iis critioinms havo Loen disparnging to tho Ad- niinistration, ond its comparisons and its proguostications have been favor- able to the Confederates, Ita influ. enco lns been thrown in favor of tho Confederates, and its best frionds hnve been unable to find any traces of Republichnism ahout it except of tho faintest possible sort. Tho New York 7ribune now, howevar, lays out ita policy for the contennial yenr with some degreo of circumstantinlity, It recog- nizes the importance of the centennial year, and gays In tho practical work of gavernment thero aro great sbuses to ba swept away, sud many yromiacs ta bo put 10 tho test, In tho sattlament af tho uational fnances {he year may mark tho crisia of our nffalrs. In relig- {on it promises to mark n great rovival, and thore are many signg that tho rolations of tho Church to tho State, ana particularly to_tho State achools, wiil pro- voke sbarp dlscusalon, and enter largoly into polities, 11 trade, commoree, and productive (ndustry thera azo Lopes that it will witnoss the Iong-deferred rovival. In view of tho events which must happen in tho forthcoming year, it defincy itself as follown : Tho Iribune will malntaln with the old fersor tho o1d Republican principlea of whlch ¢ was the cham- plou all through the Amurican confllet [the Rabollion), and 1t will vefolen whenuver thoss principics are vie torlous undur tho old bannere, Lut it cun vever bothy aeevant of catieures or conventions § It must approvo what It fude goud §n the actsund profossions af either party, and npologiza for the wrongdsing of nelther, In giving the nows it endoavora to sct forth tue truth, the whole tuth, ond nothing but the truth § §n politicy 115 groat ouject i to elest honest men, whom tho coun- try knows and can trust; to securo hrd mioney, ad- mintairativo reform, such oconon:y {n public affalrs as the hiard times compel from private cilizons, nnd, aa o consequence, lower tazcd, Leaving nsido its random talle of * inde- peudence ” and its determination of choice in caucus and convention nominations, it is sgreeablo to bo assured that tho New York Pritune will onco ngain maintain with forvor tho old Republican principles. It in reality enlists that journal onee mora under tho Re- publican banner, since tho people themselvos have dotermined hencefortls *“to elect honest men whotmn the country knowsand cau trust.” "'tz Critcaco Tamnust congratulates the New York T'ribune upon its declaration of Re- publiean principles, snd will labor with it side Dy sido and with eqnal fervor for the success of thoso principles and tho clection of honest men. TAMMANY HALL AND THE PRESIDENT. I'apnoany Hall has issned an address in which it takes direct issuo with tho Presi- dent upon the sentiments which ho has ex- prossed in his Des Moines spoech and his messnge, and assnils him in the following bitter and malignant manner: Suddenly and without warning, the Chiet Magiatrate of the Unfon sounda the *fire-boll ju tho nlyht;" from tba regions of persocalion he juvokes the sisit of raliglous intoleranco, and bids it to erect lta sable throne in thie land of Wberty, and in this ags of enlightonment and vauntod progess. Has history no terrors for hia Smagination as bo Tooks back over the sauguinary fields, the blocks, tho gibbets, tue atakes which staud like grim milestones of blood across the religlous track of the past 300 years 7 Or 1a the historio s & s03lod Look £ the tnlottorod woldier who has risen from the tented fiold to the Presidency, and who would clutch at rower and hiold on to it with bulldog tenacity even over tho rulns of bis country? We denounce this atrocious sitomps af the President to recall from its dishionored gravo the howling dervish of Know-Nothinglani, ‘Tho succeestul soldler, iu bis awbition to enjoy a third term o violstlon of tho common law of America, has solzed tho torch of voligiotts peraccution, snd would spply it to the temple of the Mout High, no loss than to the fabrioof our civil Ubertlon ‘Tho wost conclusiva anawer to this porti. san froth aud fury is to calmly considor the recommendations which the Presidont hna mede, What hns ho suggestod as matters wortby of considoration by the people of tha differsnt States? First, he rccommends to tho people of this country not to allow diver- sion of the public taxes to the support of dogmatio schools, and expressea himsolf as opposed to lovying assessments upon the people to provido for the tenching of scc- tarinulsm in tho public schools, in which position he is supported by every considera- tion of justice and expediency. Second, he advocates universal and compulsory educn- tion in the rudimentnry branches for those clagses of our youth who aro mob other- wiso provided for, and 03 tho foundation of this proposition contends that the perpetuity of the American Republic depends upon general onlightonment and the spreadl of edu- cation amoug tha massos, Tho position s impreguable, It iu supported by the unan. swerablo fact that sinca tho creatlon of tho world those nations have been the most pow- orful and permanent which have been the most onlightened, and, on the other hand, thoss nations have been the weakest and shortest- lived which havebeen the most ignorant and superstitious, ‘This rulo has always held true, and it does now, as may be seon by the con. gition of the various Earopean nations. The loading European Powoers—England, France, Germany, Italy, Switzorland, olland, Delgi. um, and the Besndinavian countries—hava recognized the trath of this proposition, aud Inid the foundations of their permanency deep and strong by making elementary education compulsory, and by mproving every oppor- tunity to spresd geucral enlightonwent nmong their people. 1t s theso two enlight~ ened and® statesmanlike propositions, which are the wisost things for any nation to do, for the enunciation of which Tanunany Hall 1ins 60 waliciously vituperated the Prosident. It is exactly what Tamwany Haoll might bave been expected to do. That infarmous organ. izotion, which had been the eurss of Amarionn nalitles and a_scandal at home and ubrond upon the bomsted freedom of our politienl iustitutions, has been the ngency of villainy and corruption sinco its inception. 1t produced Twrsn, CoNSoLLY, Gexer, Canvozo, and Iianvanm, 1t has sheiterait rings within riugs, which have robbed and plundered the people of New York City for years. It has mado elections n mockery. It has rnled the polls with vio- Jenco. It has stuffed ballot-boses. It has intiwidated honest voters and corrupted din- lionest onos, It lins tampered with courts and furies. It has stolen from city and county trensuries, It has londed the peaplo down with taxation o make good its robbe- ries, Tt has been managed by the corruptest politicinns in the listory of the rcountry, whose infamies ought loug ago to have con- signed them to the Penitontiary, nnd their following s composed of the loafers, bum- niers, vagnbonds, thieves, gamblers, and bullies of New York City. $ueh is the organ- izntion which now aasnils tho Pro:ident of tho United Btales and proposcs to take issto with him upon the propositions wo have alrendy named.” Tiot the issuc come. The vow which Bas been taken by Tammany Tall will not be taken by any Protestant in this country. It will not receive the sympathy of any Roman Uatholics, excapt those fanatical Ultramon. tancg who aro not American either by birth orin fecling. When this issue shell como, the President will find upon his side, without respect to religious or politicnl antecedents, all men who believe in religious liberty, in tho geparation of Church and State, ond in the blessings of enlighteument and educn- tion, THR OIL-LIGHT COMPANY JOB. Yeosterdny weo published the law covering the atterpt of tho Mayor sud Common Council to exocate an ordinance euncted by them meking a contract for au annual expend- ituro of the minlmum sum of £88,000 a yenr for lightiny the wasto lands contiguous to Chicago with ges. 'Tho ordinance wns roported from the Committee on Gna-Lighta, und a motion wns promptly mnade to put it on its pnssage. 'The provious question was or- dered, and, without o word of debate or the publication of the ordinance, it was passed. ‘I'o that ordinance the Mayor with nlnerity attaclied his npproval. Bubsequently, the Company prepared o contract which the Mayor signed, and to which Le requested the offlcinl signature of the Comptrotier. The law of the State is peremptory that neither City Council nor any department or officer of the corporation shinl) add to tho corpora- tion expenditures in any ono year auything in excess of tho amount provided for in tho annual appropriation Lill of that year, except in coses of necessity resulting from accident or casunity happening after the pssage of the appropriations, The criminnl codo of the Stato nnkes it o erimo for any municipal officer to contract, directly or indircetly, for tha oxpenditure of any sum of money not previously approprinted, and provides that the ofiicor 50 contracting shall be finod $10,- 000 or less, and may bo removed from office. Yet, in duflance of these express provisions, tho Mayor not only approved tho ordinsnce, but signed tho contract for the expendituro, ‘That the oficnse was not completed is dus not to any nction on tho part of the Mayor, bat to the resolute refusal by the Comptroller to violate hix duty and the law. Wo can rendily understand how Aldermen may have hnatily and unsuspectingly voted for an ordinance which they had nover read, and which was roported unanimously by a committee, But wo fail to comprehend how n committce of the Council, who ara pro- sumed to lLiave examined the subject, should have prepared such an ordinance, knowing that it was in violation of the charter, nnd that sny contract under it would be illogal. It is possible that they nover rend tho ordi- nance ; that it was prepared for thom ; and that their action was contined to roporting a law which rumor states and appearances seemingly confirm was worth a handsome round sum annually to somo’one who would probably pay for the posscesion of a franchiso of that kind, The Committea cannot plead ignorance of the prolibitions of tho charter; if they do, they ought to resign their offices, In this respect they aro on & par with tho Mayor, who soems to have acted cither ignorantly or defiantly of the clarter and of tho laws of the State. But neither the AMayor nor the Council Commuctoe can plend ignorance of the finan- cial condition of the city, nor of tho embar. rossmonts undor which the Comptroller | Inbora in order to maintain the public crodit, Neither Mayor nor Council Committee can plend ignorance of the fact that the city has to borrow money to dofray its ordinary ex- ponditures, and thot thero is a largo annual defioit in the collocted revenue, They know that when economy isan fmpoerative necessity, when the city is alrendy staggering under the Joint weight of extravagant exponditures and uncollected revenue, it ia no timo to ombark in the luxury of violating the law by increns- ing the publio Mabilities and exponditures, for the sake of lighting up the open prairies and spending public money. Yet the Council possed and the Mayor signed this ordinance and the contract, and the city owes it to the incorruptibility of the Comptroller that both aro not now in operation. ABUBING THE PABDONING POWER, Gov, Buvempax sdded to tho fentures of tho Christmas celebration at the Stato Peniten. tiary tho pardon of two conviets, and sclected for tho oceasion, with & view perhiaps of in- tensifying the drawatic effects and heighten- ing tho oontrasts, two murderers, It was tantamount lo saying to the other convicts who had swindled, or stolen, or forged, or committed sowe other felony not involving tho life of man, * Yon who have committed theso potty and vulgar crimes must servo out your terms, becauso socioly must be protected from such dsngerous charactors. It isonly they who lave committed capital erime Ly murdering other fellows, luvolving long terms of punishment, who can be pardoned.” Ona of tho murdorers was WinLiam Bureen, a colored man, who had been sentonced for life for murder committad in the heat of pas- sion ond whisky, just as the gambler Davis committed his foul deed, aund, arguing from anslogy, we Imay presume that it tho gambler Davie ever geta Lo the Penitentisry, he, too, may receive a Ohriat- mnas present of this sort. The dispatch nar. rating tho event grows pathetlc, and describes the tears rolling down Mr. Buvrizu's ebony cheeks, ‘There were ucores of other convicts who would havo rolled tears down their clieeks also, but unfortunately the anra Cravafrom Springtield brought them no prosent. The second convict was Jack Garvionss, white, who had alio murdered his mon, and who wont to Jolet sxpecting to stay there twenty years, He was more of a stolc, sud the tears 3id not roll down his cheeks, Ho walkedout tearless. This is all very pretty and pathetic, and aakos & very notable Chrlstmas festivity, es. nenlally for the two murdeders who are thrust upon soclety ngain, to kill or not ta kill, ag tho spirit maymova them, Wo hard. 1y conceive Lthat other and leuser conviets en- Jjoyed the spectaclo very mueh. We canfancy somo stupld prisoner who stoln tho con. ventional fteon-dollars’ worth of stufl, as he went back to his cell meditating if it might not liave been better for him had ho killed tho shopkeeper instead of merely Atenling' bis goods, sinco {Lere'lslittle chanco for n fifteon-dollar thief to be pardoned, hut mnr- derers may walk ont of their prison cellyinto the free nir again, As we have said, this ex- erciso of the pardoning power juny bo very pretty from the sentimental standpoint of viow, and it mny be applauded by those sensi- tiva souly which pour out their sympnthies apon murderers 3 but if ten ave to be con-< vieted only to bo pardoned, of whot use are | courts and proseeutions. and ail the machin. cry of law? Again, if Bn Nerwen and dAck (¥Aurnsonen cau be pardoned on Christ- mas, why not any other two murderers upon nny other holiday ? Ts it not rather super- fiunons, with all the chances now in favor of murderer's escape,~—such ns the law's delay, qnibbles, aud technienlities, tampering with Juries, and the pnroxysmal emotion dodge,~~to add {o theso the chanco of a pordon on Christmas ? Iu not its tendency to reduce murder to thoe easiest of all tho fino arts? Doces it not virtually offer a premium for the commimion of murder by reducing the probabilities of punishment to the mini- mum ? Has not society the right to demand for {ts own protoction that this frequent use of tho prrdoniugpower shiill conse, or, if it bo oxercised nt all, shall be applied in the enses of thoso who have committod lessor crimes thon murder ? ) We do not know the special reasons which lod Gov. Bevempag to pardon theso two mur- derers. Upon the surfaco there does not ap- pear to bo any reason at all why they should have been singled out. Nut whatever tho reasous may be, it only adds more proof to show that the pardoning power i# oxercised altogether too loosely, and it more than evor shows tho nocessily for courts nnd jurics fo punish mmnrdorors with death, thus putting them beyond the reach of Gubernatorial pardon and lenving the oxercise of that clamency to Divine Providonce.. At tho very least, Gov, Brver. ok should understand that tho respectable and law-abiding people of this State aro not grateful to him for the Christmas gifts of murderers which he has made to sociely, after they had been placed in tho Peniton- tiary for the protection of society, and that they will demand of him henceforth when he hns pardons to dole out of Christmas gifts that he shall not give them to murderers but to lesser criminals, Society has hard enough wotlk to get & murderer fnto tho Penitentinry without having to submit to the probability that the Governor will let him out agein, The Milwankeo correspondent of Tme Cur- caco 'TninuNg, in the course of his letter printed Sunday morning, scys: The Michigan Central Raflroad Company, T om . formed, has made & contrict with J, D, A, Kews for frelght of soverul thosand barrels of flour nta nomi- nal rato of 00 cents n Larrel from stilwaukeo to Now York, paying & robata of 10 cents per barrel from tho said nowinal rate, Tho frefght from Milwaukes to Chieago 1 0 per cent of the rato of Mllwaukoe to New York, or 8 cents por barrcl, Taling the rebate, 10 cents per barrel, and cost of tranmporting the flons from Milwauked to Chleago, 8 cents por barral, aud 72 cents rimin he the rato from Chicago to New York, yet Chicago millors havo fo pay 00 cents por barrel from Cbicago to Now York. Tho slovo coniract, un- 1e28 ruy information 18 wholly false, was rade by the Yrlo & Nortt Bhoro Line ugant heraon tho suthority of tho Genersl Freigat Agent of tho Michigan Cuutral Tllroad Compauy, ‘Wo offer this remarkable diserimination in freight rates against Chicago to the Board of Tredo as nn important matter for investige~ tion. This is o contract which comos home to thom. It was mado, as is alleged, upon the nuthority of the General Freight Agont of tho Michigan Central Railrond Company, and by its terms Milwaulee flour is gent from this city to New York nt 72 cents por barrel, while Chicogo flonr is compelled to pny 90 centa, In other words, the Michigan Contral Loilroad Company, which may bo considered ono of our home corporations, ls disoriminnt- ing ogoinst Chicago millers in favor of Mil- woukee millors 18 centa per barrel, Thia kind of work is going on right undor the oyes of the Board of Trade, If they have any re- gord to the business interests of Chicago, they will not stand idly by sad soo those in- torests tampered with without romonstrance, They should at once investigate the diserimi- nation, ind ont who is respoasible for it, why it was done, and if tho Michigan Central Cor- poration indorses the acts of its agent in this rogard, If this contract isallowed to bo oar- ried ont without any remoustrance, it witl pavo the way for othor and still more op- pressive discriminations, The only credit which the Chicogo Waieky- Thieves' Organ found for ita recont gross libel on Secrotary Bristow is reported from Sax RaxpaLL, the Democratle Congressman who rocontly offered the rosolution nsking the Prosident for all the information the Govern- ment has sbout the whisky frauds, Raw. pary told the correspondent that the Whisky- Thieves' Organ had **struck it about right." Of course Raxpaty thinks so. o ds one of the olass thot wauts to thiuvk eo, Flosays that o offered the recent resolution in order 1o have information on which to base o law to provent the recurronce of anothor such copspirnoy. This i nbout s fhin 88 the oxplanation which the Waiky- Thieves' Organ makes, 'The fact is, that tho resolution wps offered in the interost of tho whisky thieves. It calls on Secretary Baistow to transmit to the Mouse coples of all letters, tolograms, reports, in- structions, orders, et0., velnting to the Whis- ky Ring. In othor words, Mr. RANDALL de- siren that the Goverument shall exposo to the whisky thisves all the evidence it has about {ho vovonue frauds, in order that the thioves who have been indicted, but not yob tricd, 1nay know how to moet it and escape. It is & resolution which has evidently beon offered undor the pressure of tho Democratic mom. bens of the Ring. Thioves know no political divisions, aud there are probably as many Democrats as Republicaus in the Whisky Ring. The vota ou Ravpary'’s resolution, when it comes up, will show what Congress. men on eitber side wre yielding to Ring ine fluonces. Thoe New York Timcs of SBunday publishes & two-column letter on tho Chicago Reliof and Afd Society, and editorially gives high praiso to that orgauization for ite system of charitablo work, It waye: “New York Lss been called +The Citv of Cbaritice,’ but it csn evideutly learn sometling from Ohicago in the wayof oharitablo adminlstration.” The Times' oor- respoudont mukes a noteworthy suggestion to the managors of tho Bociety, He propouss that ftshould losn nionev to the poor or the tem- porarily embsrrassed on pledges, aud thus run & woral pawnbroker's ahop. This, it practicable, would certainly do grest good. It woold save the poot tha necessity of torrowingat exorbitant ratas to ment thanacdant tha moment cJ woold e e pave the way for the abolitlan of thoss pledpe. phiopa which aro Jittle moro than recoptacics for wtolen poods. A snggestion gomothing like this has been mndo hefore, though not publicly. Tho eatablbinant af a apeclal nociety for the irposo of mnking loana to the tempornrily em- Varrassod has boon proposed. Kvery banker knows how many fuilires aro cansed by the un- expected rofusal of s loan, tho non-arrival of lotter, oto. As far an the poor are concornod, liowaver, the neod cau porhaps bo best met by tuolr cstablishing, on tuelr own motion, tha Schultzo-Dolitseh banks which have ddne so much for German pensants and artissns, sud which have niready beon fully described n Taa TrtuuNe, OBITUARY. EX-HENATOR RICHARDSON, Pentorday thuro were five livlog ex-Sonators fivm Ilinols,—WiLLiAit A. Ricuannsox, BipNer Borrsy, Jaxes Suieens, 0. I Browsine, and Lyxay Trusuvrs. Beeest is on the Bupreme Benely of Tllinoix, SmirLos in the Lower IHouse of the Misrouri Legislature, Bnowxixa a lanyer at Quincy, TRUMNULL & lawyor in this city. Their colloagto, Gon. Rrcmannsox, died at hia residence in Quiucy yosterday morning, 1llo waa born in Tayette Connty, Kentucky, in 1811, snd gradu- ated from Trangylvanis University, in that Stato, whiilo still 8 boy. Admitted to the Bar bofore he was 20 years of ogo, ho movad to Illinots, which was altcady, thanks to froe labor, out- strippivg her oider rival. From 1833, whon he was olocted Btato's-Attornoy, he woa almost cootinuously in oflico until 1865, whon ho loft tho Bonate. 11ad ho written * Thirty Years in United States Politics,” the book would hiavo beon as intorenting as Benton’s ** Thisty Yoars tn the United Btates Sovato.” Hewasa member of the Stats Legislaturs in 1836, a Btate Banator in 1838, Bpeakor of the House and Pros. {dential Elector in 1844. Io enterod tho Mexican War s & Captain, and was promoted to higher command on tho battlo-flold of Buens Vists, in the freo-and-easy military mothiod of those days, by the unanimoud vote of his roglment, From 1847 to 1856, when Lo reaigned, he sat in Con- gress, activoly supportiog his intimate friend, Sonator DovaLas, n his strugyle for the so-called + Paopalar-Soveraignty " principle, as applicd to tho Kansas-Nebraska qnestion. Ho left Wash. ington to xun for Governor of Illinois, but was dofested. In 1867, Bucnaxas appointed him Governor of Nobrasks. HHa held the placo only ono yoar, and thon resigned. In 1860 and 1803 ho was re-olectod to Congross, When DovaLas died, 0. H. DnowniNo was sppoioted by the Govornor sa ad interim Benator, bat when tho Loglslaturo mot, Mr, Ricitanpson was. elected for the unexpired term. flia record sa a Sona- tor was bLaouorablo, thongh not biillisat. #inca his retiremont, in 1865, ho hsw lived quictly at Quinoy. IHis good physique hsa carcod lim safoly through soveral sovore attacks of sickoess during tho lasc docade, but ho was struck with paralysls ten days ago, snd was un- ablo to rolly from the shock, Mo participated in tho Bourbon movement of 1872, snd hna Iatoly published one or two indiscract lottors in favor of rag-money, which showed tbat his once commanding powors wero (st falling. Heleavoa behind him the recard of a loag publio caraer, and & charactor for personal and ofleial integ- nty. TTE PARL OP BTANROTE. A cablo dispatch a day or two ago sunounged tho death of Prurte Hexny Branuork, fifth Eatl STANIOPE, who bas Jong been kaown in English litoraty circlos, Ho was born in 1803 in Kent, aud atudiod at Oxford, Tn 1830 ho waa elactod to Parliumant for Waotton-Bassott in Wiltsture, and i 1835 for Hortford. In 1855, on the doath of e fathor, ho took his sost as Earl Braxe norE in tho Houso of Lords. Duriog his Par- linmontary carcer he twico hold office, onco aa Under-Secrotary for Foreign Affairs in 188405, and onzo ns Secrotarv for [udia in 1845.40, He in best known, however, as an cseayiet and hie- torian, Hie priucipal works are **A History of the Warof tho Spanisli Succassion "; ** A History ot England from the Poaco of Utrecht,” upon which ho Iabored twenty yoars; tho ** Life of the Great Coade,” published in Fronch: ‘¢ Life ot Betlaarius”; ®» volume of papers from tho Quarterly Revicw, iesued under the title of * Historical Eesays;* and ** The Lettora of the Groat Earl of Chesterfleld.” In 1846 he waa olected President of the Royal Boclaty of Autiquuries, and tu 1857 accoptod tho Charmans ship of the Nntional Portrait Gallery of Great Britain, Ho ls snccoedod in titlo and estates by Lis son Losd Maxoy, a Captain in the Gronudicr Guurds, who was elactod to Parilamont for the tirst timo in 1860, snd is now in hia 87th year. JAMES VANN, Capt. Jaxes VAN, o poted Cherokes warrior, dled recontly at Fort Cibson, Desidon belug B momber of tha Natlonal Councl], he was Ansiut~ aut Prinaipal Chief from 1807 to 1871, and again from 1872 to November laet, In Auguat last Le wag mado » momber of the Exeoutive Council by eleation of tho joint vole of the two Houues of tho Leglslature. It was, however. asa sole dler that Capt. VaNx chiofly distingulshed him= eclf. OF his milltary caroor, a letter in the New Yorls Sun soyet But it was i & warrior thmt Oapt, VAN was merd dustinguirhud, During the lsto War bie beld thor: 1k of Captaln of Company I, Third Indian Regimesty Unfed States Volunle:rd, commandsd by Col. Wizt~ 1AM A, PRILLIPA, fiow mewlxr of Oo from Konaas, In 1601 ha Joined OrOTHLEYOROL, the oyat Clalof of the Muscogros, with 40) or 500 Uherokies who Liad beon musterod into Dakwd Confudersts 161 1= ment, snd dofeated Gen. Dovatas H. Coorxs, wio was pressing the loyal Orooks ou Dip) Ore:k, intle nortlivestern part of tha Cherokes cmmlr[l.' Atibe Luttle of Honey Bpringe, 0 1563, he storoed thelricis st thut pisco Io the f4c6 of w lirgely superior forie “Toxuna sud hostile Indians, nud afterweedust O 1:n Cregk, with 3(0 or 4U0 Clicrokees, offered » stublo.n and golint realutunce to an attack upon 8 Lerge i1 d ble Gorornmeut train In the hands of & drunkn of tmunlnn;umdund of _g,o;n:;.um o upderite Uonfedarsto Gomera! (a0, of Tozat, nwe‘-h {ud"nm u"t“;lhm Lioces dnr'n.mmy. ’V’m .:‘ \: e jug Lut e Arme, AL as fnadl handan his postilan, aud_ retreat to the hsadquarcie of i reglment at Fort Glbson. —_———— A BONANZA PROM BANGE. Col. GEonak 8. Baxos Is reported o be aboud to leave the poutul service. Bofore dolug a0y however, ha has preseuted the public, throuxh tho Postmastor-Genoral, with s letter that is & bonanza of fscla and suggestions on the buske ness of mall-oarrying. All mail matter 18 divided into throo classes, Tue Drat consists of latters and postal cords; the second fa composed <f newspspary, magazines, aud reviews sent fo reg. lar subscribers ; sud tha third comprisea about overything welghiog lovs than & ton or so which tho Aworican mind 19 impellad to cover with otampa sud drop nto boxea. Tho pout- men ingrustod with the vars of third olasy mauttor somotimes havo the plasse ure of dolivering live rattivenakes, which aro forwarded in perforated tin boxes: au aceasiousl centipeda squirma fn an envelope uudorueath thelr figurea; a *‘watorfall" or chigoon is often handod them snd smoug the mauy otbor miscellaneous srtioles which crowd thio malls are wooden shoes, ox-horas, gold watches, potato-bugs, bottles, billiard-balla telescopes, stuffed birds, false teeth, bowiew knives, razors, and alligators. Things such od these sre carried at & loss. Thoy are seut fut short dintancas by expreus, and the companled make & good profit out of thom. DBut when weud « long distancs, they o into the mails aod tLe Government losas heavily by them, It losea, tooy by the second-class mafl matter, Tue annual profit from carrying letters and postals cards ls $4,212,300. 'The annual loas on secoscs cloea matter fs §0,093,023, and on third-dlase $,° 11,010, 1f those lattor itoma could be reduced or mado away with, §t would be poswble 174 matcrially chiespen the rated of lotter-postago: o would probably bo unadrisable, howayer, &0 mako any chavge i tho law relating to neconds olres matter, inssmuch £3 ooy inaresse in the Tates would seriously interfere with tho ciroule tion of nawapspers, and o with the most potent moans of distemingting genersl informasiom “This s one of the main objects of the who poatsl eystem, Another of its objects, t00 ofted ovarlooked, 8 to hold together the wide Iy soattered parta of our vaal empird Bv nromoting & coustsnl lolerpauuiuniessian