Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 5, 1876, Page 4

TERMS OF THE TRIBUNE. RATFR OF AUPECRIDTION (PATADLE IX ADYANCE), Toxtame Prepnid at this ON1 Daily Bdition, post.pald, 1yt Parts of sea Matiad ta any addrane YOUR WEERA fo Bunday Kuition; Litosary and ieligi One, i (Lot Tie: mar cng. Cluh ot twenty, per copy.. + Tha postage s 10 conts Bpecimen coples sent fre To provent delay acd mistakes, ko suro and give Poat-Oflice address I full, including Stateand County. Hemiltancenmoy be mada efther Ly draft, express, Post-Office order, or in regintered letters, at onr risk, TERMS 7O CITY RUDSCRIDERA, Dajly, delivered, Knnday excopted, 25 conta per weelr, Daity, delivered, Bundsy Included, 30 centa per week, Addron THE TRINUNE COMPANY, Corner Madiron and Dozttiorn-ta., Chicago, Tl et e et s AMUSEMENTS. HOOLEY'S THEATRE-Iandolph street, between Clark and LuSatte. agement of the Keilcgg Opers- Dompany, ** Alignon, McVICRER'S THEATRE—Madison street, hetwreen Desrborn and Biate. Eugsgement of the Oates Opera- Company, * Lot Pres 81, Gervale," ADELPHI TIEATRE—Deirborn street, Mouroe, " Tho Forty Thisves,” avoulug, ACADEMY OF MUSBIC—Halsted street, belween Madicon sud Monror, Engaimentof the Georgls Minstreis, Aftcrocon and evening, corner Afternoon mod NEW CINCAGO THEATRE—Clark eireet, betwoon Randolph and Lake. Engagementof the Harrigan sad Hart Oomblustios, * Tuv Doyle Drothers” WOOD'S MUSEUM—Mouroe street, hetween Deare “‘Tho Adventures of a Country Girl ® Afternoou and eveuiug, Whe dhieago Tyibune, ‘Wedneaday NMorming, January B, 1876. . Groenbncks nt the New York Gold Ex- change yesterdny opened nnd closed at 83]. Organization was hpé;ku:;lud yestordny in the Legislatures of New York, Ponnsylvania, Minnesota, and Mississippi. Wo nre officially assured that a rising tem- perature, with rain or snow later in tho day, nro tho meteorological conditions that may be expected in this region to-day. During the yenr 1875 thero wero in the great Stato of Illinois but two ambitions vil- lages which availed themselves of tho doubt- ful privilego of being henceforth gazetted ns citics. At St. Louis yeslerday the trial of -Gen. Bancock was set for the S1st inst. Tho prosecuting attorneys express thomselves ag positively certnin of his conviction, McKre's trial will commence Jan. 0 nnd Maouink's Jan. 23, Tonr Scorr has eaptured the Kentueky Teg- islaturo. That delectable body of Bourbons yesterday adopted o resolution urging their Tepresentatives in Congress to lubor for the passago of the mammoth Texas Pacifio bond- subsidy job, Gov. Luprsaroy, of Wisconsin, has begun the exerciso of hisnewly-acquired prerogative of decapitation, with the result of permitting saveral of Farmor Tavron's appointees to re- tiro to agricultursl pursuits, Other changos we expected to follow. Itis believed in Washington that the Na- tionnl Ropublican Convention will be held in Chicngo on tho 15th of noxt June, and that Benator Loeaw will succeed Secrotary Crraxp. 1En a8 Chinirman of the National Republican Congressionnl Committee, The crganization of the New York Legis. lature was o werk of thne, owing to the ex- treme length of the onth taken Ly each wom. ber that thoy had used neither money nor other influence to obtain votes, They all sworo to this, of course, and perhaps it's true, - A cable dispatch aunounces the appoint- ment by tho Indian Office of Lord LyTroN 7% OweN Merepir ") to succeed Lord Nonri- Broox as Viceroy of Indin. 'The latter re- tires boeause of his inability to endure the wrduous labors of another summoer in India, nd will be mado an Earl. A truce Dns Leen declared betweon Mr. fHexny O. Bowrw and tho Brookiyn Eagle. Tho two libel suits against that paper end McDenrstorr have been discontinued, the de- lonso ngrecing to pay without appenl the full unount of dnmnges, $1,000, anwarded Alr, Bowzx by tho jury iu the first suit, It is considered quite certoin that tho Democratic Legislature of Missinsippi will impench Gov. Aurs and Liout.-Gov. Davis. [f tho Democrats in tho Benate succeed in se- suring for their sido one member who was slected as an Indopendent Republican, they will have a two-thirds mnjority with which to carry out the impench: programine. Tn his messnga to the New - Yorit Logisla- wire yesterday Gov. Tiupexn showed great caution 88 o political navigator. Ho plowed the placid waters of the Erie Cannl with all the boldness of & mariner who Lnows his pearings perfectly, but carefully -avoidod the dangerous shoals of seetarianism in tho pub. lic gchools, making no mention of the con- stitutionn] amendments proposed by the President and Mr. Bramsg, sud not o word 1id he sny about the *“Gray Nuns" act. To iteer gafely Lotween the duties of a Governor sud the ambition for a Presidentinl noming- lon—tlhat was the rub The centenntal contest of the Collego Boat- ing Association will bo rowed at Baratogn, and wilt be participated in by thirteen crows, Yalo has given formal notice of its retire. aent from the lists, and Harvard announces 1 similar determination, to take effoct at the tonclusion of the raco of 187G. An mmnend- nent to the coustitution was yesterday wopted by the Association which will pro- slude the smuggling in of professional onrs- oien, a8 o certificate will hereafter be required frowmn the President of each college that mem. bera of tho crews Lave beon regular members of the college for at least nine months prior ‘o the race, The Chicago produce markets were steadier yestorduy, Mess pork was quiet and casy, Nosiug at §19.17§ cash and $19.87§ for Feb. wary, Lard was quiet and Fo per 1001ba ower, closing at ¥12.27} cash and $12.40 lor February, Meata were in good demand wd finuer, st 7@74c for shoulders, boxed, 10§o for do short ribs, and 10)e for do short slears, Highwines wero dull and unchanged W §1,08 per gollon, Flour was in better de. aioud, Wheat was active nud 4o lower, clog- ing at 95}¢ for January and Y6]cfor February. Corn was dull and lower, closing st 4340 for Yeunary aisl 420 for Lebruasy, Ools wera THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: WEDN in fair request but ensier, closing at 50¢ cash and 30fc for February. Rye was dull and 1c lower, at GGe. Barley was dull and 1@1}e lower, closing at 78}e for Junuary nud 7te for February, ITogs wero moderately activo nnd firm at e advance, selling at §6.8097.20 for common to oxtra, Cattle wero dull and neglected at 23@33¢ decline from lnst wook's prices. Bheep wero fairly nctive and un- changed. On Saturday evenfug last thore was in storo in this city 2.280,85¢ bu wheat, 568,817 bu corn, 417,002 Lu onts, 148,054 bu ryo, and 340,166 bu barley, One hundred dollurs in gold would buy 11262} in greon. backs ot the cl A communication from Mr. I, 8. Donnixs is printed in another column, contradicting the rumor contnined in an Elgin dispatoh of Monday to the effect that Warten L. Peass, Esq., President of the First National Bank of Elgin, had loft that city under circumstances suggestive of fluancinl embarrassment. That the dispateh in question was not without an appareatly reliable foundation will be admit. ted when it is known that a prominent com- moreinl ngency in Chicago on Mondny sent out circulars to the correspondonts of the Firat Nationol of Elgin advising them of Mr, Prast's disappenranco and of his financial complications. ‘These circulars, Jike tho dis- pateh, we nre glad to stnte, were utterly un. founded, and Mr. Peass is now at home as usual, Memphis furnishes mauy items of court of- iquette. ‘The latestisof a peculinrly striking character, Tivo lawyers, rospoctivoly named Moss and Bunnows, in the heat of argunient over a case pending in the Criminal Court, by degrees desconded from eloquenco to bil- lingsgote, and the transition from the Intter phase to fisticufls naturally becamo oasy. While the enraged limbs of the law wero con- tinuing their rough-and-tumblo debate inn confused heap in tho sawdust, n third party, the prisoner, apparently caring little as to who won, quietly steps out of the door, and the eause of justice is minus a prisoner and A pair of handcuffs. ‘Tho rules of that tribunal should be so amended ns to require prisoners, on penalty of forfeiture of citizenship, to re- min, and, if necessary, act the impartial umpire in little contests of this sort. Tho subject of taxation occupies considern- Dle space in our colwnns to-day. The Special Comnmitteo of the Common Council were yos- terday furnished an opinion from the Law Department—in which Comptroller Iaves concurs—that the Council has no authority to extend relief to unjustly-taxed citizens by remitting portions of {he nssessments. A circular hins been issued by the Citizens' As. rocintion deprecating n resort to the courts and advocating ns o remoedy snd o safoguard for the futuro the abolition of tho wrotclied system of township organization in Chicago, and the sclection of competent and honest men to make assossments. Tho businoss men are perfecting their organizod movemont to invoka the aid of the law, and two heavy corporations yesterday spplied for injunc. tions to restrain the collsction of the toxes levied upon them, Toreign ndvices ropresent that the grain trado of Russin is in a stato of collapse, and that a covera monctary crisia now exists ot Odesss aud other Black Bea ports, One canse for this depressed condition of sffnirs is stated to be the immenso falling off in the exportation of breedstuffs from Russis, It also appears that during tho lnst oight years, while this decreaso in the Russian oxport trade has been going on, the shipments of breadstufls from the United States to English ports have been gradually increasing, until the figures, which wore largely in favor of Rusnin in 1867, had in 1873 become revensed, 50 that in tho lattor year Great Britain im- ported more than twice ns much grain and flour from this country a3 was raceived from Russian ports. A London paper, commont- ing on this fact, names s the canses theroof the superior means of transit possessed by the Americans, nnd the great advantages oris- ing from tho newer soil and improved uystem of sgriculture adopted by American farmers. OFFICTAL COMPLICITY IN THE WHISRY RING. Within the last few days we heve published the statement of *‘a Chicngo distiller” and of a citizen who wns employod by tho 8t. Louis Ring to manago their affairs, but who upon vxamination declinod to do so, and theso togethor furnish a protty cloar explanation of tha wholo businoss, and as plainly locates the entiro responsibility for all the illegality aud dishonesty whero it properly belongs, oud that is upon the unfaithfal and corrupt Gov- ernment ofiicors, local and at Washington. Lot uas givo tho facts disclosed in these two statements. Mr, Miuen, onoe of the distillors under arrest, declared that ** it was the willful neglect of tho Revonue Bureau at Washiogton that brought this trouble on the distillers,” and in proof states that as long ago as 1871 offers were mado to persons in Cincinnati aud Chicngo to run distillories upon tiio fol. lowing Lerma : ‘That the distiller should select Lis own ollicers, who would not be interfered with, and the spoils were to be divided, In time, theso offers found willing acceptors, aud tho crooked appeaved on the market., The digtillers then had a goeneral organization to break up the illicit trado, In tho fall of 1871 as much s 86,000 bushels of daily enpacity wag enrolled in the Association, At that timo the tax was 50 cants por gallon and on in. dircet tax of 15 cents s gnllon; on the lutter tax there wai o credit of sixty days, A practice grow up of running distilleries ixty days ond then closing, tho whisky going on the markot at 15 cents n gallon lees than other distillers conld afford to do so, The Associstion appealed to the Committee on Ways and Menans to consolidate the taxes, which Congrossagreed todo, Mr, Douarass, Commissioner of Internal Rovenue, consented to farnish the Association every month with a lst of all highwinoe distillerics in the United States, with tho particulars of their daily operations, ‘I'his rendered {llicit dintillation impossible, becauso the other distillers wero thus able to detect the fraud. After two mouths the Commissioner refused to furnish the Hst any longer, thus defeating the object of tho Assaciation, At this tima New Orloans distilleries wero in full Llast, whilo the production of iMlicit whisky nt St. Lonis and in Indinua was notorions. ‘I'be Aesocia. tion then asked Douvarirs to place two of his detectives under their control aud they would exposo oll, but Dovorass declined, 'They then asked him to give official authority to two detectives to be employed by the Association, and this he re. fusied, Tho Association then sent o man on their own account to New Orleans, and ho reported that the distilleries thero were send. ing Lheir goods all over the countyy, not pey. ing tox on over one-fourth, This was made Suown at Washington, with evidence that the Now Orlcana distillers were paylug mora for thelr corn and prodneing less than 10 quarts of spirits per bushel, and still undersold the Western distiller who got corn at his door and produced 14 to 15 quarts per bushel. The Government sent n man to New Orlenns who reported that all was right ; that, while tho distillera wore producing spirits at a loss, they made largoe profits ou the slop ! Mr. Mirusn states that every effort Ly tho Association to crush out illicit distillation was defented by the Dopartment at Washing- ton, and that it was the firm bellef of every member of tho Association that the illicit distiflation wns carried on with tho knowl. edgo of the Revenue Deparimont. Tho dis- tillation of spirits is nctually operated by the Government through its ofiieers, nud it is impossible to commit fraud withent tho knowledge of tho officers, and Mr. Mittrn'a statement concludes with the following direct and pointed argumont : Now, with a1l thie knowledgs, wanld 1t bo surprisiug 1t, on trlal, it should appear that some distlilers wero unable to resist tno temptatlon and fell 7 Do not the 1oitigating clreumstances plead Loudly, and when the cry goos up, * Crueh him," 14 18 moro than fair to nsk thiat the Govornment should {iscll appear with clean #uirts 7 Whils the diatiiler will not bo held blameless, are they not tho viclims of those whoso Lusiness it wan to protect them from tho pitfall 10t which they have tumbied, Tu coucluslon, let mo ssy, (bat, from o thorough Xnowledge of the revenue laws n Lelter ono for the protection of tis Government could not Le devired. and every cent aan ba collectod, unlesa the Department at Washington fs dishonost or eriminally careless, Thero s not been & day i tho Lask thros yoars that a oy Juat out of achoo), with the evidence {n the De- partment at Wasliington, could not hava dis:overod fraud, In support of this statement wo have that of Mr. Scenist, who was applied to by Mr, Cox Mronue to go to St. Louis and operato the Ring in that city, When Mr, Becris? went thero he was in close communieation with Josce nnd McDoxaup, and in nll the negotiations it was claimed that ovorything hind Leen fixed at Washington, and ho states: “ When they talked in St. Louis about lay- ing things fixed 1 Washington, they meant that Dovaoniss was fixed. When tho St Louls Ring was started, it wns started with tlio consent of high offizials, I can tell you.” ‘We nceopt thesa statemonta as unquestion- ably true, ‘They are confirmed by abundant testimony. The evidence in tho St. Louis cases shows that the wholo illicit distillation was forced upon the whisky manufacturers by the Government officers. It is shown also that tho loenl officers were in direct col- lusion with the Revonnoe Depnrimont, Was AMr. Commissioner DovcLass & simpleton that he could not nndemstand or sce whnt overy other man in tho service and the trado fally know nud understood? Wns he a man 50 plinble that ho deliberately and persist- ently defentod every step taken by the Lonest distillers of the country to prevent fraud? Wedo notsay that 3r. Dovoriss wns cor- tupt, Of that thore is no diract proof, But if innocent, ho wns the weakest, blindest, and most incompatent officor that ever filled that office or any other oftico requiring a reesonn. blo degree of common sense, ordinary vigi- Innce, and firmness of judgment. The Rove- nue Burean at Washington and the local offi- cors of the Govornment having used (heir power aud aulhority to render tho manufac- ture of whisky—honestly—uunprofitable; hnv- ing forced them to tho allernative of abau. doning the business entirely or of accepting Lo torins and conditions offered by tho rave- nue oflicers from the Ganger to tho Depart- ment at Washigglon, the responsibility for the crimo that hos fallowed rests upon thom. As wo havo said repentedly, while we by no menns apologize for the guilty proceedings of the distillers and others engaged in the trade, the officers of the Governmont and thoir un. offlcial partnors who forced this dishonesty and this plunder of the revenuo for their specinl profit are the real and substantinl criminals, who should be mado to feel the penalties of the law they have violated and the severity of the Government they have be- trayod. THE TAX BWINDLE, The develop:nents in regard to the unfair discriminations that have been practiced in the personnl property nssessment in the South Division continue, and overy day thoy grow in number, enormity, nud raseality. ‘The people havo evidently determined not to submit to the outrages if there is o redress in law, Mr. Jonuw Iloustare, tho County At- torney, proposes to mako this efort as difficult a8 possible. IIe defeated Afr. Bunprcx's proposition in tho County Board, and merely subgtituted a proposition by which the tax. payers can ascertnin how much they havoe been plunderod. ‘This was the full extent to which Mr. Roustare was willing to recognize the claims of the tax-payers. As to anything further, he ingists that the tax-payers must go into the courts and seok what redress thoy may, ot their own cost, from the carelessnoss nnd villainy of a lot of bummer Assessors, ‘They will probably do this, since thoy aro refused o hearing anywhero. short of the courts, Tho discriminations are #o glaring that thero will be acombined re- slstance by every means which the law fur- nishes. One firm thut was nagessed $16,000 in 1874 i not assessed ot all in 1875 so with another firm assessed at 940,000 a year ngo which hns no tax to pay this year, Ier contra, a firm whose personpl property wes vahied nt 40,000 in 1874 iy obliged this year to pay taxes on $£80,000, just doublo; and still rnother which paid on 3300 last year poy this yoar on §25,500. 'Theso cases aro not exceptional. Tho lirt of Incqualitics hias grown so large that they have comato bo the rule, while the fair assossments aro the ex. ception. In mnny cases where returns were wade they were not regarded at gll, and the Asscssors made out the valuation to suit themeelves, If the practice bad been adopt. ed of putting tho names of tax-payers in ono box and the various nssessmerta in another, with two small boys blindfolded drawing out from both, and a clork setting down the amounts drawn apposito the names thnt wero drawn, it 13 probable that {he ro. sult wonll hinve been a much falrer distribu. tion of the tax than 28 it wes mude by an army of Assessord, My, Denicison hing contributed some vale ueblo information to the way in which this outrage is practiced nnnually upon tho tax. payers, ‘The fault Yies firat with tho systew, and secondly with the men to whom tho assessment Is intrusted, The system affords no time nor means for redross in cuso of iregulavity or crror. It loaves the entro disposition of thu matter in tho hands of the ignorunt and raccally fellows who clect themsolves by druwming up repeators and ballot-hox-stuffers, snd by making corrupt prowises of favoritism to those who will furnish votes, Mr, Denick- sox endeavored to counteract the evils of the system to soma extent by wging upon the County Bonrd the propricty of calling the Assessors together, and inducing them to agree upon somo uniforin basis of assussment, with o vlew of depriving tho Stato BDoard of {lie sxcusa for the enormoua additions. This was not dome. After the asseusinont was made and the fnequalities bocamo apparent, Mr. DsnicksoN made another offort to bave thom correcled in the County Donrd, which hos the authority if necessary to sct aside the whole nssess- ment and order n mow one, or to equal. izo tho nassessment. Tho County Board refused to do anything. They had a bosc- DLali mnteh on hand, or somo other personnl amusement of moro interest to them than tho.correction of an uncjual nssesmmont, and 0 they Ignored tho law and tho complaints, and let tho unfair nasessmont go to tha State Board as n provoceative for *‘socking” it to Cook County on tho State’s account, and thereby extending tho hawdship to the entire list of city taxos,—not that tho increase by tho Stato Board increnses tho aggregato tax paid for city, county, and town purposcs, but it confirms the inequalitics fo they cane not be remedied, necording to Mr. County Attornoy Roustnee's dietum. THE RASCALLY OIL-LAMP JOD. Tho communication of Comptroller Maves to tho Common Couneil announcing his de- termination not tosign tho dishonest contract for 2,000 or moro oil-lnmps for the prairios 1 was received by the Ring Aldermen with o howl of anguish, Their job vonished into thin nir upon the merciless exposuro which the Comptroller mnde of it, and they en- denvored to take their revengo out of him by indiscriminate and incoherent vilification, All this will not avail in hiding the real ras. cality of tho case from the indignant public, s these are 5o fully and plninly stated by Mr. Haves that he who runs may rend. As ana- Iyzed by him, tho contract proves to have Leen n deliborate effort to betray the in- terests of tho city to tho extent of at lonst $88,000 a year, and perhaps much niore, without any of tho safoguards whicli it is nsual to provide even in cnso of necessary and proper expenditures, It was an elort to ndd £88,000 on tho taxes of tho city without eny other retnrn than that which certain scoundrelly Aldermen wero to receive for selling out tho interests confided to them, . This contract did not limit tho number of oil-lamps that might bo erected on woodon posts at tho rate of $44 o year each in the thinly-peopled and uninhabited districts of tho city, but it did provide that the *¢ Globe Ges-Light Company,” whoover they are, should begin to draw pay for the 2,000 lamps after a certain date, whethor tho city wusod that number or mnot. ‘The contract would have covered 40 miles of suburban streots, Mr. ITaves snys, if placed only 105 foct apart, and 80 miles at 210 feot apart; but tho contract did not stipulate how far npart they should bo, nnd they might have heen set up within five fect of ench other, No quality was stipulatzd in the contract ns to tho light which was to bofurnished, and if it were no better than a tallow-dip the con- tract would have boon binding all the same, and the city would have been obliged to pay tho $88,000 n yonr! Tho contract was mada without providing for nny bids, though it is notorions that tho mmaterial could bo fur- nished at tens of thousands of dollars less than the fignre av which it was contracted, No guarautes or security was required from the contracting party for the performance of his job, though this is omo of tho most common provisions of all cily and other public contracts. In a word, tha contract was simply an empty form for vot- ing awny tho sum of $88,000 at least, and dividing it botwoen cortnin Aldermen and the * Globe Gas-Light Company.” It was rashed throagh the Council on tho pravious question without examination, smendment, or debate, and hurdedly signed by Mayor Covviy, in the ope that it would go through before tho job could bo exposed by the press or arrested by the Comptroller. And Cunrentoy and Hit- onernt writhed in agony to find that the Comptroller had the power and honesty to stop tho villainy. If the Council wero disposed to servo the publio half as well as thoy serve themsclves, they would tnlte measures to reduco the ap- propriation for lighting the streets by $88,- 000 n yenr instend of adding that amouut to it. Tho expenditures for this pur- poso have boen nearly doubled with- in the pnst two or thres yenrs, nn- 4l they now amount to over $700,000 annually. Not one of the means suggested in Mr, IIaves' communication whereby tho gns expenditure could bo reduced has ever received nny honest or enrnest consideration from the Council Ring, The number of lamps havo boeu racklessly inerensed without regurd to cxpensa or the public necessities. The Council has porsistently refused to pro- vide for a reduction in the hours of consump- tion, or pressure, or tho size of tho burnors, though smaller burnera could scarcely aford any foebler light, while they would lessen the pressure and cost. All propositions have been ignored looking toward tho establish- ment of a reformed time-tablo for lighting the lamps, prepared npon a scientifio ealculation of the length of the nights and their relative darknoss, Nothing can bo secured from tho Council on tho gas question excopt the spasmodio iutroduction of Llackmailing schemes for new companies. The intro. Quetion of ono of thesa schemes waa tho ro- ply made to the Comptroller's renewed sug- gestions for economizing; and it will proba. bly be the only responso that will bo made until the peoplo of Chicago cease to salect mupjority of the City Council from among tha bummoer and scalawng eloment of tax-eaters. The publishers of the Baltimore Sun have issued an almauac for tho uso of the Bouth- ern peoplo which is n curiosity, 8o far as tho compilntion of events during the War of the Rebellion i concerned. Under January we find that thero was n Confoderato victory at Spring Hill, Tenn., that the United Siates steamer Haltoras was sunk, and that the Retribution destroyed two United Btates ships, In February tho Union forces were defeated ot Willinmsburg, and thero was n Confederate victory at Olustee, Fla. In April here wero Confederate viotories at Plymouth nud Falmonth, W, Va, In May there wero Confoderate victories nt Chancel. lorsvillo und Bermuda Hundred, and Bavga was dofeated by Ewrtt, and JacksoN. June looms up with Confederate victories at West Point, Va., Fort Pillow, and Great Tethel, July was marked by Confederato victorics at Carthage, Mo., IHngerstown, Harper's Ferry, aud Munassas, August wes also o good wouth for the Coufederates, ns they won victories at Culpepper, Clarkevillo, Gallatin, ond Bull Run, In Soptember they were trimnphant fu Maryland, at Horper's Forry, aud Lesington, 3lo, Iun October thoy were content with one victory—at DBull's Dluff, In November they captured cars at Mayfield, ’\'y., defoated Bunxwivz at Fredericksburg, and eaptured trains st Brandy Station, and in December thore was o Confoderate victory at Fort Gibson, Ark, In no part of the alinanac {s there auy rocord of Union vioto. ries. Whoro Lhese ocourred, they are simply set ISDAY. JA NUARY &5, 18706, down a3 battles fought, withont any informa- tion ns to the result. It is n grand display of Oonfedorata victories and Unioa dofents, To all thia we have no objection, It is undonbt. edly soothing to the Southern heatt, but at the samo time it is singular how tho Southorn States, with such a record of vietories on their own sldo and nono on the other, got so fearfally discomfited and have been ever since in such n sorry plight. It is tho firal timo in history that onoe people has triumphed over nnother in a five years' war withont winning nvictory and the other people hes beon defeated after a constant succession of victories, CHECK TO TNE RHEDIVE. The Khedive of Egypt has met with n stag- gering blow. His firsl marked attempt to seizo the territory which lio has so long covet- ed, Abyssinin, hns ended in a most disos- trous failure, Tho English conquered the conntry with n not large force with comparn- tivo cnse. The Khedivo has been foolish encugh to think that Egyptians would do just what English and Irish soldiers have done. Mo rent, somo three months ago, n forco of 2,000 men, armed with splen. did American rifles and commanded by n Danish officer of skill and bravory, Col Anexprnoor, to the Abyssinian frontier. Tho little army wns landed on tho const, and for ten days swept the seatterod do- tachments of opposing troops bLefore it without difficulty. Elated by his success, Anenproor left part of his force to garrison tho conquered provices of Hamaein, which ies along tho const, and pushod into the interior with the rest of his men., When he was some distanco from the garrisons, tho main Abyssinian army appeared in force and surrounded him. Tho official reports mado to the Khedive stato that this army was 20,000 strong, but this is doubtless a gross exaggeration. No vanquished com- mander ovor admits that tho encmy did not have at Jeast ten men to hisone, Butitis known that tho Abyssinians wero led by their King in person ; that the second in command was an Lnglish officer, Kirnmax by name, who remnined in the country when tho British nrmy left it; and thot tho men were armed with repeating rifles. The Egyptinns formed n hollow square and fought from early morning to afternoon, AneNproor wns ono of tho first to fall. Nearly tho whole detachment was shot down, and the few sur. vivors wero taken prisoners only whon their nmmunition was exhausted. The Abyssininna, aftor this successful military massacre, march- ed into ITamncin and besteged the Egyptian garrisons thero. The latter, however, mannged to escape, About one-linlf the invading army got hack to Egypt. The defent made n pro- found sensation there, and tho bopstful re- ports of tho immonse loss of life sustmned by the victorions forcos fail. ed to break tho blow of tho wholly unexpocted repulse. A now army of ngarly 10,000 mon has lready been sent from Suez to the Abyssinian const. The Commander. in-Chiet of tho Egyptian forces, Rarm Pasma, goos with it. Elephants, imported from India, aro shipped in order that they may earry cannon over the mountains, as the English did in 1863, A number of American nnd English officers arc on tho stafl. A great denl dopends upon the issne, This is the Khedive's finel offort. Ho striles with all his might, Abyssinia need not fear conquest for yoars to como if sho can parry this one blow. And now comes another reformer, BMr. Senmvore, of tho House Committee on For- cign Afinirs and member from Dlinois, and presents his little plan, and it is o very little one. To bag beon looking over the estimates of tho State Dapartmont, nnd thinks that the cost of thoe consnlar and diplomatic servica can bo very materinlly reduced. This is very poor economy in the long run. Maoy of the second nnd third class Consuls ean barely live upon their foes, and some of them run in debt. Instead of cutting down the meagro incomes of theso men, it would be botter to sbolish the Consulates altogother, and the suma rale also holds good with regard to firat- class missions. It would ba better to have no representatives at all than to compel them to live in o shabby manner at first-class Courts, whero the represontatives of other nations are maintained in style. The diplomatio sorvice iz a departmont of the Govornment in which pride is commmendable. ‘While the people aro not in favor of indulg- ing in mero &illy and vulgar ostentation for tho sako of show, they are not in favor, on the other hand, of seiting this country inn shabby light beforo other mations. As Mr, Serinoen's proposition is not becoming, and besides involves the reduction of expendi- tures which are already fixed by law, ho had bettor drop it entirely, and, if Lo must go to reforming, toke up some more necossary mensure, There aro plenty of them, The community will generally rejolco in tho unanimous confirmation by tho Common Council of tho nomination of Mr. Repuonn Priyorviue ag Commissioner of the Bonrd of , Public Works. Mr. PuiNprviire hos lived Inoarly hia whole life in Chicago, and during Ithat period has enjoyod the full confidenco of the publie. Ia had persistently refused all publio office, until in 1869 he was induced, at the earncst roquost of tho peoplo of the North Side, to accept a place on the Board. Ylo has borno himself in offico honontbly, and as an officer has rotainod the publio respect and confidence hio enjoyed in private and commorcial life. Iortunate indeed would it bo for the city it all the de. partinents of the City Governmont were filled by men as faithful and as compotont. Tho ounly objection that oven malice or envy could suggest was that porsons of his nameo and kindred wore employed by tho city, but when tho number of his own immediaty descendants and of tho othor branchos of his family who have been added to the popu. Intion of Ohicago is considered, it will bo adinitted that, under a pro rate distribution of appointments according to population, he might claim several other places yot, Ilis reappointment is o gnarantoo that there will beno frauds or dishonesty intho transac. tions of the Board of Public Works which vigilance and intogrity can provent. The Fronch Assembly died with the old yonr, It wna chosen to moke peaco with Germany, Ilnving dono so, it wisely usurped the power of framing a governmont for France, It has ot length, nftor fiva yenrs' trin}, completed this task and has laid down itslife, 'I'hio country has nover been as woll or nglong ruled by a deliberative Assembly, The new form of government has had time {o grow. It isthe fruit of debate,and though the debates hove beon caricatures of Anglo- Saxon discussions, they have been substaun. tinl enough to disprove Baormor’s assertion, in his * Physicsand Politics,” that tho French cannot debate, With the Assombly died the worst fenturea of the press law, thongh thero 1s atill & censorship {nexpresaibly disguating to the Ameriesn mind, Thera will be an oxceedingly nctive political eampnign for tho next two months. . Oa the Oth inst,, the peoplo choose the delegates who aro lo elect 225 Senatora, who, with the 75 recently clected by tha defunct Asmemnbly, will form the Upper House. The Chamber of Depu- ties will Lo chosen by the serutin d'arrondisse- ment fiuat n month after this, and on March 8 tho now Assembly will meet. One great dangor still threatons Franco, It is n danger common {to countries which choose thelr chiefs, Tho Seplennato expires in 1880, Who will succeed MacManoy ? Tho Town Senatorial campnign, which has bLeon roging quite breezily for some time past, has asgumed nnew phaso of interest, Gen, Beurnar, the Becreinry of War, having temporarily left his gnns and blunderbusses aod gone Liomo {o take a hond in tho cam- paign in his own intorests. Gen, BEueNar 18 quite confident that ho will be clected. So aro his friends, ‘This, howover, is charactor- istic of all tho candidates, Mr. IIinzax is confidont, McCneany fs nssured, and Gov. Kisgwoop is satlsfied of coming vietory; likowiso their respective friends. Tho re. spectivo organs, notwithstanding that they nlso are all satisficd and confident, are Liazing away nt ench other in tho most vigorous wnuner. Tho contest ia 5o closo that thero is 0 possibility soma now man may bo taken up; and, in case one of the old onea shall bo elected, wo mny assumo from tho vigorous manner in which they aro now shaken up that it will bo tho best one of the lot. In caso Gen, Beueyar shall Lo clected, it will not make a vacanoy in tho Cnbinet, as has boon stated, since ha would not go into tho Senate until 1877, when Gen, GrayT's torm will have expired, A fow days ngo the Now York detectives arrested a man named Ciantes R, Becawitn upon tho charga of ombozzlement from his employer, Bexzatun ‘[, Bavoirr, tho soap- manufacturor. Ho was Mr. Binmirr's con- fidontin! bookkesper, and such trust was ro- posed in him that ho wos allowed to draw checks at will, and had absolute control of Mr. B's bauk nccounts. In addition to this, Mr, B. had conferred upon him many tokeus of esteemn nnd lavished presents upon him, ond all this timo the clerk was robbing him, until his stenlings reached tho large sum of $800,000. Tho most remarkable featuro of the affair is that it was hardly considered worthy of tolographie roferonce, hns made no excitemont at all, and did not creato a ripple of intorest in New York City, outside of tho thief and his employer. All of which goes to show that wo are gatting bravely acenstomed to thieveries, and now havdly consider them ns worthy of mention, Thero aro now on tho files of tho House 880 Dbills wlich wero presented bofora the rocess ond 140 on the files of tho Sanate, Of the House bills, 30 per cont aro claims upon the Treasury, the most of which come from the South and ask for remunoration for damages sustained during the War. A bill providing for an spproprintion of $309,000 to the peo- plo of Loudoa County, Virgnia, which Gen. SnentpaN visited, is n sasmple. Those, wo presumo, aro Damocratio mensures of reform, and may account for tho eagorness of the majority of the Houso to cut down the na- tional expenditures. If thess olaims aro to be paid, thera must be o wholesale rotronche meat in some direction. New corn is quoted in Liverpool at 31 shil. lings per quarter. Thet kind of corn can bo bonght in this market at 12 shillings perquar- tor, English money, The cost hore is therefore to tho cost of transporting it from this city to on English market as 12 to19, If wo take the odd shilling a8 the profit of baudling on shore, after tho payment of what are called land charges, we have two bushels in Liver- pool worth five bushels here, the cost of transportation being 160 per cent of tho cost hero, Mr. Bowsx has boon at the troubla to explain his conucction and that of the Independent towards Jax Cooks aud tho Nortuern Pacific busivoss. Ho gota forth in a fottor to the Now York papera tho fuct that tho ediforal columns of the Judependent wero not ueed for Northern Pacific purpuses, but tbat tho articles woro printed {no tho same place whoro other nowspa- peory printed them. He docs not stato Iu Lis lot- ter, however, tho conditions by which he bound himself in bis cootract with Jay Cooxs, signed {o Decembor, 1870, DBy this contract, ho gave Jax Cooxe all tho sales of bonda by the machine- ry of papers under Lis coutrol, and his servicos na oditor or sgent to go and work for tha {nter- out of the bouds frons timo to time, a8 bis ser- vicos might bo needed out ‘of Now York and Brooklyn, He was to dliconnoct Limself from all other ontororiscs, and give lus sole attention to Northorn Pacific, and turthormore, to quote from thecontract: **You givo tho oxclusive Interost and influenco of your mouoy columns and editarial columns to the eu- torprise and bouds of tho Union Pacific Rail- road, aud, in ali respects fu good falth, you avd youra are to bs oulisted for tho wholo poriod of thio loan, or until we eventually agroo to rolin- quish this srraogement.” As Lis componeation, ho waa to rooeive Gpercenteash and 10 percont stook commlssions on all saloa; 1 por cout com- mission in stock on tho mggregato of original snles of bonds in tho United Btates ; paymont for all advertielug and traveling oxpensos; and on tho 2d of January, 1871, $12,000 of Northorn Paciflo bonds to bo furnisbed on saccount, Mr. Bowe, in bis lotter, sooks to cvado responsibili- ty by easing that ho ioformed Ja¥ Cookr: tho contract was all right, oxcopt so far as the use of tha cdizorinl pege was concernod. Thielsa 1ittla hole for a lazgo man torgo through. Tho fact romaine that tho {nfluence of the Independ- ent in mavipulating Northern Pacific was dia- poaod of for o fat coneideration, and, as the Jn- dependent wos thon aud ia now a professedly religions nowepapor, this makea tho fact & dam- agiug ooe. i Kiog Arrmoxso of Spaln colebrated his ra- cout birthiday by vatlous sote of clemoucy. Among them, he gave 20,000 reala—5-cont plecos —10 tho families of those who died in the Mad- rid floapital ou that day, and sout to oach cou- vict tu tho Madrid prisons a rug, » palr of Bau- daly, and tho sum of sixpence for cigars or to- vaceo, Ho aleo issucd a royal docroo declaring & romisslon of cortain parta of the sontencos of privoners, aud & freo pardon to certaiu classos of political prisoners, Tho decroo, howover, doos ol apply to forgers, auanssins, ravishers, rob- bers, incendiarios, bribers, or fraudulen! slock- Jjobbers. The claselfication of bribers and etock- Jjobbers wili occasion some surpriee in this coun- try, whora theas classes not ouly conduct their operations with {mpunity, but sre held in con- siderable esteom. —_——— Tho Confoderate party Lass ro-catablishod slovery in Alsbama, An existiug Jaw of that fitate provides that negroos convictsd of minor offenses may ba sold to the highest bidder and mado to work vut their penalty. Tha following advertisement is from tho Oxford (Ala.) Trid- une ; Twenty Dallars Reward—1 will pay the abovo re. ward for s colorud boy natied Aswns SMcKixnat, who ¥AU away trom my place last Baturdsy uiglt, the 26th fuat, Bold Loy wau sold at auctimi for stésbiug $10 frow the Woodstock Irou Gompuny's store, and waa bound 10 e {oF five mentbe uine days and a baif Liard [abor Lo cover damiges, T4VLOR LKAMAN, ‘Tuls sounds Lke old times, whon s ments Of FuuKWAY alaves e one of the maln sourcos of incomo to the Bonthern pross. Thig ono shiowa that nogroes ara atill sold at auction, nad that ottompts are succossfully mada to ro. vivo fu indiroot ways tho slavary that the Thir. toenth Amandment wan supposed to have abol- istiod forevor. —————en Me. Fraxcis Ronixs ia a Dritlsh subject, the fathor of an intoresting family, an ex-officar {a Her Majesty's rorvice. It is scarcoly nocossary to add that Mr. Ronixe haan high ides of his own consaquonca, Ha dorives diguity snd poai. tion froto aach ono of his ralations to tho Drit s Emplto,—2n Emplre which, it will be remom. bered, the sun nover sets upon. Mr. Ronmm somotimos feels that the sun naver sots upon him, Many Loglishmen do. Faavcis Honixg was in Paria o fow months ago, and found him. self peacefully riding in an omnibus with the wita of his bosom nad the childrou of his loina, Dy n misfortuno common to tho nocessities of omuibus travel, ho was #itting chook-by-Jowl to an ordinary Fronch gentlowoman of respoctable appoaranco. Suddenly tho gentlemonmnan made n plight movoment. Sho bad lost her purse, Bho oyred Nonixs suspiciously. Hoavons and carth! could #ho suspect him,—him npon whom tho san naver sol? 1t could mot bo. But it was too trme. Tho gonilowoman did auspect Itontys, 8he nccused him to tho polico. Ifeand the wifp of his bosom and the children wore takon first to the atation and then to tho Commissary's ofiice, In thia last place, il must bo confessed Hopingdld not act too wisely nor too well, Ho conld not forgot that an indig- nity had beon offered to thosun which naver sets upon tho Britlsh Empire. Ho Ronixs bade doflance to tha Magistrate. Ilo awore and tors, 88 tho classical English custom 18, aud declared ho had nmever hoard of much an outrage. I¢ would never submlt {t—novor! Having cased his mind to this offoct, Ropixs turned about witk a majostic sweep of his arm and & plercing glance of his royal ege, and said to tho Commis sary of Polico : ** Monaisur, do not toucl my hat, you goil it. Iaman English gontloman, and | 18 ropugunant to mo to have to talk to yon. Look at tho faces of your employos, st thoao of your ngonts, at your own, and look at mo, nod toll me which of ua looke most likon thiof.” Thero upon tho French Commissary calmly ordered hig agonta to search Mr, Romns, Mrs. Roning and the littlo Robtvses. Nothing was found upon thom, and they wore discharged. Mr. Ronrya immediately appliod to the Dritish Min. {stor for rotlof and roparation for Lis wounded honor. ‘Tho affair was elevatod into ono of {n- \ornational importance. Corrospondenco passed betweon tho two Goveraments, and for n time it was foared thal two junior clorke of corra- spondonco would ba fnoxtricably involved in inky warfaro. Tho npshot of tho mattor was thal nothing was dono. On the ono sido was the unsnpported testimony of Mr. RoniNs and fam- ily; on tho other that of a reputable Fronch gontlowoman and tho agents of police, Thoro wae no proof that Mr. RoniNs said ho was o British gontleman, and o fncidontal ovidenco that he w88 & gootloman of nav doscription. Tho no- w gotiationa will bo allowed to drop, if Mr. Ronsxs | doea not see fit to accopt tho invitation of the French Governmont and prosecuto the Fronch gentlowoman for fales accusation, Tho moral of the ead transaction {a that DBritish subjocts da not nlways appear to be British geotlomen, Tholr ralationship to the eun is not stamped upon their countonances, Thoey aro human. —_— Tho 8t. Louls Glote-Democrat, in ita roviow of the tbusiness of Bt. Louls for 1475, estimatas the total cost of improvements in that city ducing the yoar st $3,622.9:0, sgainat $3,01%,60% {n 1874, Of 1,974 *fu- provoments," 1,774 wure now buildings, st u cost of $3,380,000, Tho cost of now bulldings orocted in Chicago daring 1876 waa just sbout fen millions, and building waa novor done 8o chisaply iu thig city before. This expendituro of tan milllons repro- sents more stono, brick, and mortar than aix- toon or seventoon did in 1872-'3, Tha bullding in Chicago tho past yoor was fully doublo that dono in 8t Louls, —_— . PERSONAL. Mr. Discacli attained bls 70th year and Afr. Gladstone hin G0th last weol. Cov. Bovotidgo lett Springfleld for Washing. ton yoatordey afternaon to bo absont about ton days, Ar. Max Mullor has beon offered a professor. ship in Florance at » highor salary than any evet offerad Lotore to o Profossor in Italy. The New York @raphio has written up Alex. ander Mitcholl, of Milwaukoe, for the nchnst man {n tho Northwest. Iteatimatos hla wealth wt $10,000,000. Msj, W, IL Bailhache, formerly gencral mans- gor of the Slate Journal at Springficld, hns boax appolntod General Agent of tho Otlicial Catalogus of the Centennial Commiesion, with hoadquar- teis at 109 Doarborn slreet, Chicazo. Thore's more money in publisblog Doesit 'Turnor than Sbakepearo, and, fu proportion k& the amount of writing 1n each cose, the Im- mortal sleaper has recelved about ton times more for her works than tho 1mmortal bard. Two puug at Brisach, in tho Grand Duchy of Baden, accused of having attomptod to prepart ayoung lady for tho froudulent oxhibition of Our Savlor's wounds, bavo boon forbiddon by the Badon Governmont to act as nurscs or attond upon iovalids. Tne Rov, Bamuel Hunt, of Natiol, who has un. dortaken to write the concluding chapters of Vice- Prealdent Wileon'a book on the * Slave-Power,” nasisted largely in the preparation of the two volumes nlready isauod, sud s fully scquainted with Mr. Wilson's viows aud wishes. Thosuit of Irving, the colobrated English tragodian, against the proprictors of tho Lou: don Fun creatos a groat amount of intorest and curiosity. J. L. Toolo way placed in tho wit nees-box during the proceediogs. ITe turnod thio coust-room Into s thoatro, and gava a comle porformanco gratis for tho bonefit of Judge Jjury, Iawyera, and spactators. Theodore Tilton finds the lectura businost sgroelng with ns conatitation, Ho Las gained 15 pounds avolrdupols, reclaimod hia paintiags from chattel mortgage, ropainted his houso, and paid gil of hia prossiug dobts sinco ho bogan to lecturo, Ho i to spend moat of the timo until Juno lecturing in tho East, Next summer he it to flnish Lils novel. Miriam Colea Harrs, the suthur of *‘Ruls ledgo," has & rogular fncomo of 30,000 b yosr from the ealo af hor Looks. Wion shio wrale “Rutledge,” sho took the MS. toa number of publislors, who looked it over and deolnedit with thanka, a4 tackiug ths olomonts of populad: ty. At last alio bad It published by Mr. Carlotos at ot own expense, and 60,000 coplos woro sold Just os £ast as tho printer could tum thom oat Aa royaltios were in thoso days, she only made £8,000 out of this snormous sale. Augusta J. Evany, tho suthor of ** Boulsh,” »Macaria,” “8t Elmo,” * Vaohtt,” and "I folicla,” 18 About 40 yoars of agoand tho wifool & rich man who lives at Alobile, Als, Bhe is id by those who know hier fo bo oo of thebesd cducated womon fu Amorica, An admiriug cor rospondont Bays: *'It is ust a8 natural for bet to write of clasalo shades and quote foroign l3* guages 88 it s for hor to write at ult, W.this eight youza bor publishor has paid hor §100,0X 88 bor abaze of the prafits erislug from tho s of hor books." ‘I'tio conflicting rumoars in regard to tha men's! condition of Alr. Morphy, tho colobratod chess player, sesm ta ludicat that ho fa reatly suffer Ing from partial derangement, though nosof? naturo to requiro his confinement. This viow @ the caso lu borne out by s private lotter from ¢ friend of My, Morphy, which states that hobsf boen for many years past o victim of dolusioet of varlons kinds, Ho bas ebandoned cheas sivct 1808, The story about bis bolng & drunusrd ¥ absurd, s hio liss never beon sddicted o 1bo 8 of liquor in bis life, 8enor Castalar, in his skoteh of Lord Dyto% painte Lady Byron in colors that wiil shock Mrk dtowa: *Lady Byron had litle oapsclty ¥ govern, aud moch to be governed, Iler reg 1ifo and habita openly clasbed with tbe i g o ¢