Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, September 29, 1878, Page 4

L3 £ s THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: _SUN]:;AY. SEPTEMBER’ 20, 1878—SIXTEEN PAGES. Thye Tribune, TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. BY MAIL—IN ADVANCE—POSTAGE PREPAID. Dally Editfon. onc year. 2, Farts of ver mont| Sund urda} “31-Weekly, one artsof a yoar, WEE] Ome copy. per Cluboffour.. pectmen coples sent frce, Give Post-flice address n full, Including State gad County. = Liemittances may he made efther by draft, express, Tost-Office order, or fn registered fetter, at our risk. TERMS TO CITY SUBSGRIBERA. v, delivered. Sunday excepted, 25 cents per week. elfvered, Suncay mciuded, 30 cents per week. Coruer Yzdisou 524 Desrbora-sts. . Cricrs mr'} © dellvers.of THE TEBCNE at Evanston, Euglewood, and llyde Pars left fn the countiag-room il receive promipit atieitlon. BRANCIT OFFICES. Las established branch offices Tie CICAED TEIRUN riptions and adverlisementsas for the recelnt of £ubs 0om 29 Tribune Bullding, F.T.Mc- 16 Rue de Ia Grauge-Batellere. A .—American Exchange, 419 Strand. G111, Agent. NCISCU. Cal.—Palace Hotel. CORINTHIAN CHAPTER. special convoration Monday eves ‘Clock. Wors on thee K. A, Dex 5 - Visiting com- oo, ! SN aRD, B. P . 35, K. To— Priing: T, Guemas Oew i ai 23 yeiock” Ik rul atteudance Is desired. forhere sl ge Dusincss of dmportance. APOLLO COMMANDELY. NO.1, K. T.—Stated conclave NSt Tuesdsy eveninz st & o'clock. The 01T of the Temgle Wi be conferred. Visitors al- ways welcome. 115 ord of the Conmander. 11 AT &) I be beld on Wednesday at Oricntul GARDEYN CITY O] ‘R:zular Commnni fon 3 Jiall, 133 Lasalie-ss. Sembers ure noticd 1o aphear. Visiors fratenally invited. JAMESJORN, W. M. I £0r Worl: o "t ‘cordtally Inviied. Ry arder of W . REID, I TUCKER, Secre! SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1878. In New York on Saturday greenbacksruled steadily at 99§ cents on the dollar in gold and silver coin. 2 A St. Petersbury dispatch aunounces that the Russian Government has had no hand © in fosteriug or encouraging thc spirit ex- libited by the Ameer of Cabul in s deslings - with the English Euvoy; that in any hostilities that may spriny from the Ameer’s action Russia will ramain strietly neutral, and will also furnish both belligerents arms with whick they may thoot cack: other to their henrts’ content. Dispaiches from Norwall, Conn., an- nounce another marine disaster, whereby six persons were killed and some twenty more or less injured by scalding steam. The steamer Adelphi exploded Ler boilers when a + mile from her dock. The vessel was an old one, znd formerly ran in the Norih River trade. An inspection during last June pro- nounced her perfectly safe.. There ere many tubs aflopt which will be cousidered per- fectly safe till their boilers burst or hulls fall to pieces. Coes Lax Prx, the venerable Minister Plenipotentiary from China, who passed through Ciicago about two months ago, yesterday presented his credentials fo Presi- dent Haves. The ceremony was a private one, none being admitted except those hold- ing high place at Washington. His cre- dentials wers of a broad, catholic tenor, ond refreshingly frce from the dip- lomatic verbisge in which documents of hke charzcter gre nsuslly couched. In brief, the Emperor of China recogmized that his aud all other nations are members of one human family, and he hoped that the relations between the two Governmenis might be marked with a lasting peace. The Emperor never heard of Kesey For many years France and Germsny have successfully manufactared n good quality of sugar from beeb-roots. It has long been kuown that corn.stalks possessed on unknown guantity of sacckarine matter but until Prof. Coruies, the chemist of the Department of Agriculture, {ook hold of the problem, 1he possbility of converting this matter into & mer- chantsble article of sugar was mever seriousiy entertained. With an old second- hand sorghmm-miil in an imperfect condi- tion he obtained 781 pounds of good crystel- lized sugers from 25,000 pounds of corn- stalks, or about 3% per cent. Gen. L Duc, the Agricnltural Commissioner, is highly plensed with the result obtsined, and be- lieves that, with energy and improved mo- chinery, corusugar will eventually become one of the staple productions of the nation, The “‘unwashed ” had it all to themselves yesterdsy. 'They nominated their candidates for Legiclative and Senatorial honors. A close inspection of the city directory indi- cates that the nominees are Iawyers without a brief, advertising agents, men abount town, and saloon-keepers. Of the wants of Cook County aud Chicago they know as much as 2 Hottentot does of conic sections. Should they be clect,-:md may such a catastrophe be forever averted,— neither Chicago nor Cook County can hope for auything in the shape of a soundiy-based scientific Revenne law, which is the one thing most needed'at the present. Reputa- ble citizens of all shades of polities will rejoice at the defeat of the whisky-stealing Geuger and perjurer, ex-Ald. Hripners, of the Seventh Ward, who worked hard to sccare the Senatorial nomination from the Third District. . There is a social upheaval at Newport, and the grandes dames and marrisgesble dsaghters who are packing up their trunks Prepasatory to a renewal of fashionable dis- sipation in their nrban homes are discorso- late. And it is all owicg to'the horny-handed taxpayer. Some weeks ago an Englich man- of-war tied up ashe Newport dock, and her beef-esting middies went ashore to flirt with and capture if possible an American heir: €ss or two. There was a round of balls, hops, dejeuners, ‘banguets, etc., onsea and on shore. Both sides held the honors cvem, until one evening the municipal authorities wera tempted to give nmd blow-out in honor of their distin- guished visitors. It was a big thing. None but the very elect wera invited, and, as the Bills were charged to the corporation, the managers ran it for all it was worth. The aninvited taxpayers, who couldn't find the ‘wedding garment and thefore didn't go into the-feast, rebelled. They enjoined the City Treasurer from paying the bills. As the dispateh pithily says, the * indignation of the artistocracy is great.” The bills amount to. £8,000. g COGK COUNTY LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES. Within the next few weeks there will be primary meetings for the election of dele- gates to conventions, aud the nominations by couventions of candidates for Senators and Ropresentatives in the General Assem- bly. Tee Trmuse has repeatedly urged upon the people of Chicago, of both parties,- the fact that this city has interests of an im- portani charncterfor the protectior. and pres- ervation of which she must look tothe Legis- lature, and for intelligent action in regard to which by the Legislature she must depend on the ability and experieuce of the mem- bers appointed by this county. In this re- spect Democrats and Republicans have a common interest. Chicago Las more di- reef, and, in some respects, deeper, substantial interests at stake in the pro- ceedings and action of the State Legislature then she bas in the proceedings and action of Congress, and this city can léss afford to De weakly and umntelhigently represented in the General Assembly than she can in either House of Congress. Itis true that thereis a Senator of the United States to be elected ot the meeting of the Legislature in Janu- ary, end that it 15 desirable for party pur- poses to secure 85 many Republican mém- bers of the Legislature 25 possible; never- theless, the true interests of Chicago will always be best preserved by defeating -any candidate for the Legislature, by whatever party Le may be nominated, who is personal- 1y, morally, or mentally unfit for Assembly- man. The responsibility is not upoun the voter, who but does his duty to himself and the public, but the responsibility is upon those who, as members of Nominating Con- ventions, select as candidates those who can- not be elected without public disgrace and public injury. It is just as possible ‘for the Nominating Conventions of both parties to select as can- didates honest, intelligent, respectable, and expericnced men, as it is to select men of & different character. To nominge fit men to represent the city in the Legisiature is toin- vite public respect and popular favor, and secars party success. As a matter of mere party policy. each parly ought to seek the great advautage of having candidates for whom any man might vote confidently and approvingly. In such ease the voters would all be free to vole their party ticket, satisfied that the intercsts of the city would be safe, zo matter who should be elected. It is well fo understand now, and in advance, that a party nomination for membership in (ke Tegrslature will not be accepted as binding upon varly allegianco if the candidate be uu. fit for the officz. The loss of a vote for United States Senator will be accepted in preference to the humiliation of voting for a candidate to the Legislature when that can- didate ought not to bo elected. 'T'his is equally applicable to both parties, but espe- cially 5o to the Republicaus. Oue of the Legislative districts where {he choica of Senator and of the third Repre- sentative largeiy depends, because of the closeness of ihe vote, on the stauding and cheracter of the méxn who may be nominated, is the First District. This consists of the First, Ninth, aod Tenth Wards. Oa which sids the political majority in this district rests is sufficiently uncertain to. render it necessary for the Republicans to select as candidates men who have the strength to poll the full vote of their party. Four years ngo the First Senatorinl District was lost in consequence of wuking a wesk nomination, and a repetition of ihe blunder will result exactly the same way. The responsibility for the loss of a Republican Senator will not. rest on those Republicans who may defeat an improper candidate. but on the Conven- tion who may nominete him. The Republicans in the other districts feel more confident of success. They may gain a Senator 1 the Seventh District, and can re-elect a Republican in the Fifth District. Republicans hold over in the Second and Fourth Districts. If with this they canreccver the First District, which was thrown away four yeass ago, they will have five of tho seven Senators from the county, and sceure two Representatives from each of the five distriets, and one from each of the other {wo distriets,—giving them five Senators and twelve Representatives, or seventeen votes inall out of the twenty-cight membors to which the county 1s entitled. There isa prospect that at the coming election there will be candidates in each Legislative district. nominated and supported by the Fintists or Communists, or both. This introduces an clement of uncertainty, which will be felt more particularly in the Third, Fourth, Fifth, aud Sixth Districts, and will render it all the more necessery that ihere be no divisionsamong the Republicans. Such divisions may, be more surely avoud- ed by having candidstes who, by their personal fitness, their capability, and general character, will Lave the confidence nnd sup- port of the voters of their own party, and of the disgusted voters of the opposition. A Legislative ticket made up of first-class cit1- zens will contribute much to the general strebgth of the party at the coming election, when all that strength will be needed-agninst an unscrupulous opposition, which is very confident of mwking a complete sweep. ARE BETTER TIMES COMING? ‘We notice that many of the best business men of the country who have lived long enough to witness times of depression before this one, and the revivals following them, beheve that the country stands on the thresh- old of a new era of prosperity. * They say that the period of contraction is substantially at en end; that the necessitics of life are 5o low as to make the wages of the present day better for those who receive them than were the high wagesof the period of .inflation ;- that there are abundant evi- dences of the rapid growth of our foreign commerce ; that the country has been en- riched by the large crops of several past years, sold mostly at good prices; and that the people have learned habits of economy, which result in increasing the national wenlth, It would seem that this reasoning is in the main - correct. Undeniable statistics show that the production of nearly all the necessi- ties of life, including food, fuel, and cloth- ing, have largely increased ‘daring the past dozen years. The redistribution of property arising out of the failure of speculators and rash ventures is nearly completed. One of the most prowising signs for the future is the tendency of our urban popula- tion to the land, where at least they become producers for themselves ivstead of con- sumers, while at the same time our manufac- turers are thoroughly awake to the necessity of increasing our foreign trade, and creating 2 demand forsour manufactures in distant markets, and giviog an impetus {o our car- "ment can find & more mdependent subsist- rying trade,—one of our glories before the ‘War,—it has not had since 1860. Four years ago many of our manufacturers were deemed rash adventurers in their ex- periments in ssnding their profiucts to for- eign countries rud attempting to compete in their markets with manufacturers there, They are now comphmented for the enterprise then shown, as the trade so doubtfully com- menced has proved successful, ‘and is creasing to such a degree as to create alarm among the manufecturers of thg other Con- tinent. : Epwanp Arkrxsoy, Esq., one of the high- est authorities on the subject, concurs in the opinion that the country is on the npward turn.. In 1869 he accurately foretold what would be the result of the paper-money infla- tion and speculation of that period. ~ He said at that time: * Contraction uatil our cur- rency comes to tho standard which regulates itself—that is, the specie standard, cost what it will, and hurt whom it may—is the only cure. If it does not come through vol- uatary legislation it will come through in- volugtary bankruptey.” : The experience of the country through the dreary years simce 1873 has justified theso words, and it is the more plensing to find that he who wrote thew now sees reason to believe that a revival of prosperity is at hand. He has in his reasoning proved conclusively that wo have already wade up the losses'of the War and of the succeeding disastrons period of inflation and speculation. But he points out that, in & time of universal econ- omy and retrenchiment, the middlemen,—the retailers,—who became too numerous during the inflation period, find themselves to a large extent flung out, and these need to ac- commodate themselves to the new order of things,—they must become producers or suffer want and distress. Mr. ATRINSON says that ** The limit of the 1all of prices hias been reached, and that in the practical disappearance of the so-called premium on gold we haye evidence that our normal commercial relations with the world are about restored.” Congress has adjourned, doing far less herm than was feared, and we have litile resson to fear we shall in the immediate future have violent changes in the tarifl or the currency laws, aud ihat merchants and manufacturers need not fear disturbing legis, Tatiow: for a long time to come. Many experienced men do not agree with the policy of the Secretary of the Treasury; but they see at any rate that he has a policy, and is inclined to adbere to'it, and for two years moro at least we need not dread change, or & policy so vacillating that our people may not know on what to base their caleulations. ‘What is still needed 15 that a large portion of our population shall adapt itself to other industries then those into which 1t was drawn by the dewmands of the War and the period imuwediately following it. 1t is absurd to say that we have too many people in this country, when so wmany ferlile ucres await the plow. We have not people enougl, It is our good foriune, beyond all other civilized countries, that we bave an abundenca of cheap and fertile lands on which those whom new inventions throw out of employ- ence then factory opersatives ever have. Waat and distress bave sensibly stimulated the enterprise and skill of our people. Teonomy has become ibe rule, and is no longer the exceprion. A greater number of men and women are willimg to work for a living than at any time sinco tho War. Few mea are making for- tunes rapidly, and rask speculation hasre- ceived » blow from whkich it will not imme- diately recover; but faithful and honest labor is already getting the moderate reward with which it was satisfied before the War. There is but little doubt that, if the people who now ery about the severe pressure of the times could be examined, it would be fonnd that they consist ma nly of two classes,-tramps, aud speeulators who bought at the top of an iuflated market acd ave now suffering the results of their incautions adventures. J ‘We have never been so sanguine as many of our countrymen in predicting a sudden refurn to the velues established during the Wur, and maintnined for years succeeding it, especially in regerd to real estste; still we Delieve that months ego we had experienced all the declino in prices the return to specie- payment would bring us, and that much of the property of tiis kind of the country had come into stronger hands, and is now gener- ally owned by classes who would submit to no more depreciation in prices, believing that in location with prospects for growth and improvement it is too low alrendy, and that in such cases it is sure of such an appre- ciation in priceas will cause investments in it to psy a much better percentage then if- in- vested in Government bonds or in ordinary business, and without the dangers attend- aut upon inirusting it to savings banks and trust companies as generally conducted. Tn a close review of the various periods of depression to which our country in the past has been subjected in all its interests, one fact is conclusively shown'in every case : that the return to former high values has been much more sudden than the decline; that the grade is much shorter and,stecper to prosparity and appreciation in values than is the pathway down. Renlizing that many of the prices obtained for property in the past liave been specula- tive in a great degree, we feel confident that prices will, in the future, in growing busi- ness centres, be higher than ever before, for the reason that they will be legitimate, because actually demanded for business and residence, and becausz property in Western cities has never yet sold at pric es ohtained in the cities of t he East, and that in coming years those who had confidence in the value of their property during these dreary years of depression will have mo cause to regret their faith in the future, and act in accordance with their belief in hold- ing it for better times. During the past year the wonderful sele of low interest-bearing Government bonds has shown that the money was not de- manded for tho business of the country, or that the people had not confidence to invest it in business or in permanent investments ; but during the past few months the pur- chsse from the Government bhas nearly stopped, and purchasers have become sellers, because they had renewed faith in the future, and were loaning the proceeds at higher retes, or investing it in something upon which they expected to realize en advance in price. The jobbing trade of onr city has not been so large since the panic as during the past few months, and the large. balance of trade in our favor in excess of exports over imports for the past three years shows the generel condition of the country: that we are expending and consuming much less than we produce end sell, and that the mag- xnificent crops of the present year will en- b able us to continue this same policy in a greater degree in the future than in the past. A NEW RELIGIOUS ENTERPRISE. The October number of the Atlantic Monthly contsins a remarkable article on « Certain Dangerous Tendencies in American Life.” The anthor of it is variously said to De Jases Frexray CLARKE, Dr. BELLows, or the Rev. M! J. Savage. But there seems fo be no reason for preferring one name to another, save the internal evidence that the writer must be a ¢ Liberal " Christian. Some of the tendencics referred to are esplained by showing the disposition of the people and Government to indulge extravagant tastes; the degradation of mauual labor; the passionate greed of the people for riches, and the loosening of moral restraints caused by it; the hostility of a large number of workmen towards their eumployers; the hatred of property-rights by many of those who have no property; the contempt of the common people for art and the instruments of culture; the low tone of public life; the misdirection of educational influences ; and the inefficiency of religion to correct the wvils complained of. These are groat sub- jects. Almost any of them, properly han- dled, might suffice. for an essny. We shall not attempt to notice the mngazine-writer's discussion of them sll, nor even to show the relations which in his mind they bear to each other, but will be content to give an idea of Lis argument in regard to the religious ten- dencies of the times. Religion at present, he believes, holds ont no promise of counteracting the destructive socialistic tendencies of the people. Under ordinary circumstances it' wonld be the first remedial agent appenledto. It furnishes, or hos furnished, precisely (liosa restreints which are neeéssary to keep socisty in a tol- erable state of purity. But it can no longer provide those restraints, because it has itself ruffered from the moral countagion arising from tho extravagauce following the War; it needs all its energies for its own restora- tion. ~ “The disintegration of religion,” says this writer, “‘hus proceeded rapidiy.” “The Church is now, for the inost part, a depository of social rather then of religions influcnees.” “For a very large class the Church furnishes opportunity for a pleasaut social life which is in no way different from the social life of amiable, intelligent people out of the Church.” They have developed ¢ religion which' is not religious. * Church- work is for themw, in all its forms, a kind of saored amusement. Public worship is an esthetic entertainment.” Of the ministers to these Churches the same writer says: “They believe even less than their people of the doctrines of their creeds.” *'Their preaching is usually fav, moro intellectunl then formerly, but is not based on the creeds,” Churches managed on this plan, it is obvious, have no room for poor peo- ple. Tiecso feel more and more that the Church is no Blace for them. ©There is for them usually no fraternal associu- tions with their more fortunate neighboras in the Church; no wholesome, nataral, cordizl relations between themx as human beings or brethren.” -Aund there is a very large class, not extremely poor, but who are obliged to practice rigid economy, who also are passing out of the Church in conseanence of the same unfraternal feeling on the part of their richer neighbors. Below all thé classes yet mentioned as to intellectual eharncter or equipment there is & larger number ““in whom prehistorie or savage thought stiil survives with very slight modification from science or any other modern influence.” They belicve in luck, omens, drcams, and spirits. any of them are members of Evangelical Churches. The mngazine-writer believes (and he he is bolh unjust and absurd) that 8 masjority of the members of the Evangelical Clurches of this country havo at some time consulted the spirits of dead peopl® by the help of some ghost-seer or medium. This might be done out of curiosity, without the residunm of a belief thet any results wonld come from tho con- sultation; and, even with this qualification, the estimate is manifestly inaccurate and prejudiced. But it is, within limits, true that this class of people—‘‘in whom the methods of prehistoric thought and tenden- cies are still dominant’—includes several millions of onr countrymen, who incline to think nearly all labor unnecessary, and to regard employers as oppressors who defraud workingmen of thelarger part of the fruits of their labor. Wo recognize the existence and influence of this large class, while we do not agree with the writer in ssying that it embraces many Evangelical Christinns, The principles of Evangelical Christianity, what- ever its practice may be, are utterly opposed to the spirit of modern Socialism. The failure of tie Chureh, so far as it has failed, to counteract the recent dangerous tenden. cies in American life, has been due to the apathy'of its loaders, not to any want of authority for action. The tendency of the people to substitute the shadow of wealth for the substance, to regard the possession of it ns an end justify- ing the use of aby means, and to make enomies of all who have more than the avernge share of 1t, being taken for granted, what are the vemedies? The restraints of morality and religion are not sufiicient. No others are available, They must bestrengthened. Which seems likely to be the more efficacious for the purpose ? The Atlantic writer seems to favor the divorce of morality from religion, and the re- inforcement of the former at the expense of the latter. We are not prepared to go to this length, because we have not yet seen all the signs of the failure of religion that he lms pointed out. There is much justice in what he has said. There are many churches like those which he describes in this city and in every lnrge city,—churches where polite social organization is'the main thing ; where tho poor are not welcomed; where the pastors preach o gilded and superfined morality for the rich only ; and where the sanctimo- nious profession of better principles than one’s neighbor acts upon is ealled the fulfill- ing of thelaw. Bat these churches are in no respect representative. They are the whited sepulehres. To them belongs not even the distinction of disgracing religion, for there is no religion in them. Let them, therefore, have their worldly comfort and prosperity. They heve no placs, either for good or evil, in any true missionary enter- prise, and particularly not in any scheme of that benevolent charity which begins at home, Thera are other agencies more pow- erful- and purer, which, still clinging to religion, make ‘it an@active principle. These are the country churches, the churches of the poor, and such oth- ers as have not Idst the missionary spirit. These organizations offer the chan- nels through which the efforts to regen- erate American society can be properly directed. They are better than the menns the Atlantic writer suggests, inasmuch as they are already established, and have a basis of morality agthe condition of their exist- ence. It iz much more reasonable to hope for success through them than in any other “ agencies for the diffusion of a new cult- ure” which the AAtlantiz writer can suggest. The problem is, indeed, how to quicken and rgvivify the Church in such a mauner that it will meet the enemy bravely and come off from the contest victoricusly. This is o problem which concerns believers and disbe- lievers alike ; and all should consider itina spirit of humility and anxious inquiry. HAECEEL, the evolutionist, at a ainner givén bim in Paris by some French savauls « fortnight ngo, made an informal reply to ‘VircHow's speech last year at Muunich before the Congress of German Naturalists. No piece of scientific literature since the appear- ance of DARwIN's theories nbout the descent of man and the origin of ‘species has created the sensation made by Vincuow’s address. It was o protest by the first of German pathol- ogists, and one of the first of German scien- tific men, ngainst the assumptions by men like Hagcxer, the author of a History of Creation, of universal knowledge of every mystery of life and its ovigin. profoundly stirred the able men to whom it was first spoken, and, published in German and” Enjlish, it has been widely read. Its influence has been felt chief- ly asmong tho leaders of scient.fic thought. The lecturers, magazinists, and other scientific commission-men lave done no little suppression of it to save their reputation as universal oracles. Tre Tris- UNE gave its readers the substance of Prof. Vizomow's remarkable paper at the time of its delivery. The scientific world hes been waiting twelve months for the auswer Haxcgern would make to the calm and cut- ting exposure of tho gap between the real facts of science and his * presumptuous judgments.” In an essay recently printed he took the ground that Vircaow is a Jesuit, and, at the Paris dinner, argued that those who deny the descent of wan from the ape prove it thereby. Vircmow had saidthat the hypoth- esis of the spontaneous generation of life from dead matter was ouly an hypothesis, that the materialistic theory of mind was not proved, that the doctriues of evolution could not be universally accopted, end that, strong as was his. predisposition in favor of the brute origin of man, he had to confess thit the evidence was the otlier way, as the very oldest fossil skulls found would be an ornament to modern shoulders. The sympathy Vircirow,freoly avowed with those who sought to establish these points could not prevent him, as a lover of truth, from declaring that all these hypotheses were unproven, and that they must not, above all things, be taught as schievements of science. To these conservative words, spoken in the true interest of Luowledge, HaEcKEL makes the vulgar replies we have quoted. Tn Ins speech he added a new scientific dog- ma to be chattered about by the parrot-like disciples of the Church of Scientific Infalli- bility. He nsserted tiat the primitive life- organisms were formed chemically by spon- tancons generntion at the bottom of the sea, like saline crystals in waters, and that pawral sclection and the struggle: for existence had dome the rest. Such astyle of argument, such wild pretensions to o knowledge that does not exist, show ti:at VincEow was right. It isa public duty to expose to the community, especially to the young and enthusiasti® stn- dents ot science, the charlatanism of such men. Farapay though the besetting intel- lectuul vice of the day was presumptuous judgments. Science is knowledge. Knowl- edge should correct, not foster, this fault. It1s time there should be a renction against the too-numerons. class of scientific writers and speakers who, like HAECKEL, are oranis- ciont by trade. BLACKMAILING AS A FINE ART. Blackmailing in its various phases is prob- ably more successfully practiced ic this coun- try at the present time than in any other country or at any other period of the world. It is impossible to conceive of a more revoli- ing process of extortion ; and yet, owing to the pecnliar nature of the crime and certain characteristics of the American people, « sort of tacit immunity. has been extended to those who profit by it. It has undonbtedly received o specinl encouragement from the toleration in this country of ceriain practices that are always condemned and generally punished elsewhere. Political blackmail, for instance, has become so common that it has ceased to be regarded as criminal, and is treated rather as aw essential of politics. Few men consent to go info polifi- cal contests who are not prepared to submit to, blackmail in order to get their nominations, further blackmail to get olected, and continued blackmail in the possession of their ofiices after securing them. There isa setof unscrupulous and rapacious fellows in every large community who live upon office-seckers and office- holders, and party practice has virtually sanciioned the system of enforced assess- ments as o condition of retaining place. There gre nlso_several modifications of com- mercial blackmail in the way of commissions and collections that have come to be ac- capted as legitimate, though they are in- irinsically disteputable. Almost every per- son has had experience, more or less fre- quent, according to position and means, of paying out money under mental protest against the particular political, commerein!, or social pressure brought to bear npon him. Every instance is a phase of blackmail, and all help to weaken the powerof resistance and accustom the commaunity to a toleration of the vice. The most villainous kind of blackmail, of course, is that which extorts money by threatening exposure of some actual or as- sumed irrogularity in tho moral or socinl career of the victim. There are two, Ameri- can characteristics which are peculiarly favorable to the successful operation;of this species of blackmail. First, therd is no people who 8 ostentatiously condemn im- proper relations of the sexes, and, secondly, there is no people who are 5o ready to credit soy charge of irregularity in this respect. A man or womnn threatened withan ex- posure of improper sexusl relations, whether guilty or innocent, feels sure thet the charge will be generally be- lieved, .and - that no extenuation will be granted. These cases are given special prominence by many of the newspapers, and they nssume a sensational charaster that is highly offensive to all who are involved, no matter what the outcome may be. This condition of -things alone would give the blackmailer pecniiar advantages for plying ‘his trade ; but it is further supplemented by the circumstance that, whea the biter is bitten and the blackmailer exposed, the law and the practice of the Courts allow the of- fender either to go uupunished altogefher or to escape with a penalty ludicrously out of Tts delivery .| proportion to the blackness and enormity cf the offense. ' Ii is becanse of these conditions that the community should be grateful to every one who bas the moral courage to face the The gentlemen composing the firm of MasoN & Co., who are now engnged in prosecuting one Dr. Srcorp and a rs. Inwry, should lave the moral suppori of all the decent people of the community in- their “effort to break down what is said to be the wodst ring of blackmailers over organized in this city. It is not necessary to recount the dis- gusting details of the case now befora the public. It is sufficient to say that’the pre- liminary examination shows they succeeded in getting into their clutchesa man employed in n jewelry house, threatened an exposure of his luisons unless bountifully supplied with hush-money, and thus terrified him into robbing his empleyers. The evidenco given is to the effect that these people took from their victin the jewelry he liad stolen, kuowing it to be stolen, and constantly wrged him to new thefts. No matter how depraved AMancmsr may be, his crime is galmost veninl as compared with that with which the blackmailers stend charged, nnd the vice and weakness of; their victim should only serse to aggravate the offense of those who preyed upon him. There are rumors to the effect that the aceused have been engaged in other schemes of blackmail ; and one of the part- ners in the firm siated that their resources are so large and their schemes so far-reach- ing that one of the leading detectives of the cothtry expressed the beliof that it would be dangerous to attack them. It is smd that efforts will be made to drag in persons whom the ssme parties have previously blackmailed, in order that the former may be compelled to use their influence to suppress the prosecution. One of the attorneys in the case even went so far as to insinate that one of the partners en- gaged in the prosccution had been involved iy immoral relations,—a chiarge which seems | to have been utterly. withont fonudation. But that charge, if true, would have no bearing whatever on the cese in hand, and should command no heering, either from the Court or the public. If the man and woman Secorp and Inwis are guilty, as charged, of combined blackmail azd robbery, no means should be spared to punish them to thie full extent of the law ; and if there are others Dbesides Mancmist who have been wenk enough to yield to their arts and threats, these persons should be the first and most active in nssisting the present prosecn- tion. In auy other country the case against Secorp aud Inwix would be tried on its own ‘merits, aud no extraneous charges of irregn- lar or immoral acts by others would be od- mitted; and that is the only lawful and proper way to proceed. It is high time the 1esson should be taught that blackmailing is » dangerous as well s an ivfamous bosiness. Whether the victim to blackmail las been betrayed by conscious gailt or has yielded from lack of moral courage, the same pun- jshment should alsways be meted out to the blackmailer, whose vocation is equally vile and nefarious. . IN DEFENSE OF LUCREZIA BORGIA. Vicror Heco has becoms responsible for & very herd reputation for Lucrezis Boreia, although his legend has become principally familiar to the general publie through the score of Doxizerts, who set it to music. Where one person has stadied her charncter in history, a thousand have derived all their information of her from the melodions pages of Dosizerrr's work and the dramatic personations of Guist, TiTiExs, Zuccar, Paropr, or Parzra. From these sources the world bas formed its idea of Luvcrezca Bos- 1, aud it bas not been o very pleasant one. She has been accused of leading an extremely abandoned life; of holding dishonorable re- Iations with ALEXANDER VI ; of administer- ing poison to her near relatives and friends : of giving orgies. whereupon Gesarro struck off the first letter of her surname from the inscription over the gate of her palace. It 15 charged that sheconnived at the assessina- tions of her lovers. To sum it up, she has been represented as the monster of all the ages, whose name is synoaymous with every conceivable crime. A German cavaliér, Herr GreGorovius, has at last rushed to her rescue, and published a life of her, based upon original documents aud contemporary correspondence, which places her Lefore the world in a very differ- ent light, although even his pictare is not that of a mother in Istael nor a pattern of ell the womanly virtues. A bLrief sketch of her life from the pages of GrEcorovrus will be interesting. So far from being the mis- tress of Auexaxper VI. she was his dangh- ter, She was betrothed at the ngeof 11, but the betrothal was set asideby her father, and, m the interest of her brother Casar, she was married to Jomx Sronza, Lord of Pesaro. After an alliance with the Sronzas was of no farther use to him, ALEXANDER set aside the marriage, and would have pro- cured the assassination of Sromza bad not Lucrezia warned him to fly. She was then married to Avrroxso of Arragon, who was put to death by assassins in the pay of her brother Czsar. In order to establish an alliance with the French party she was mar- ried to ALroxso 0'EsTE, the heir-presumptive to the Dachy of Ferrara, who figures as the heavy basso in DoNIzeTrr's work. As the Duchess of Ferrars, it is claimed that she led an exemplary life. She bad so ingra- band that when Lours* XII after the death of Arexavper VI, suggested to him the union might be declared illegal, he refused to have it so. Instead of administering anti. dotes to her son Griarro, she hzd no son. Tustead of picking up lovers in the street and then offering them cups of poisoned wine at the bidding of the jeelons Duke, thereby giving them opportunities to sing bewitching brindisis, @ % Magvo Orsini, she was, according to GREGOROVIUS, charitable and devout; was an intelligent patroness of art and literature; was even a careful housewife, who kept her own accounts of femily expenses and made out her own washing-bills. She took Beamo and ArtosTo under her protection, and they cele- brated her virtues in their poems. Would these gentle, timorous poets have trusted themselves to a she-devil engaged in poison- ing all the gilded youth of Ferrara, who might take it into her head at any times when the metre of their verses halted to order cofins for two? “She was a good mother,” says GREGOROVIUS, ** and, when 1n 1519 she found herself dying from the effects of childbirth, she wrote a calm, courageous letter to Pope Lo X. ssking for his blessing.”. 3 GrecorovIus, in fact, upsets many notions that have been formed of her. The general ides of her appearance is that of a tall, queenly, black-eyed, and black-haired beanty, of commanding presence and hanghty mien, whereas ho shows from a medallion por- Llackmailer, and expose and defeat him.’ tiated herself into the affections of her hus-’ trait of the period and fim%' 2 desoriptions Gf her that she ey, blonde of slight physique, fair-haitag L\ blue-eyed, and inclined to be Sentimentgy - B bernature, She was more like the Mumy I ite of the stage thanthe Lucrezig Borgiy, He claims that many of the charges: against her were made by her first husheyg. Srorza, in revenge for the dissolution of 5 marriage; that she was .not a Womay ¢ strong impulses or resolata character, wes even naturally good, but that she Ii in a very vicious atmosphere, and ieldedy, it pussively. She was an optimist {0 wigy everything was for the best, 5o whep by brother and Pne of her husbands were h ishssinnted she did ot express any specig, gree of grief. She was tho silent partneriy, great deal of wickedness, but was not y; Lerself.. She simply winked at the wigy ness, and let it go on without protes; oy dently believing that what is to be willyy and it is useless to try to preven 3 Herr Grecorovrus thinks that in eritiy moments, ‘‘as when her man; were dissolved and her husbands s nated, or threatened with assassinalion, g, suppressed nud stifled her excellont gy ments.” AL Bavory, a French apologist LuUcREZ1A, takes very much the same viewet her. He thinks that she had a very gy conscience, and always adapted Derself gy the circnmstances about hor. Thus ia Ron the made no objection to what was goingoy around the Vatican, and ensily suited hersy with ussassinations, orgies, and numerng Lsbands, and, in Ferrara, she just as exgy seitled down to housework, and was ag e emplary woman and an ornament to society, Such is Lyomezie Boroia after Hom Grevorovius’ whitewashing. There aropy wany who will consider that the whitewas, ing .improves her much. A woman wy could coolly stand by and see her husbsng assassinated, hor "brother poisoned, prasg at orgies, and allow herself to be transfern from one husband to another, withont ntie, ing ‘any protest, expressing any opinion, ¢ manifesting afiy grief, is not’'s woman g titled to any sympathy. It will ba hard o Herr GreGorovius to convinee any one fhy the womun who winked at such wickedney did not have o hand in it. A womaninbe position and circumstances lesding'a pasm’ existence is inconceivable. P — . &, One of the recent letters from Gen. Gry to an intimate friend in this couniry reluy directly to the charues of corruptipn ‘that hn been made against persons holding prominest positions under his - Administration. “Ge GRANT says that be has observed these thinas n reading files of American newspapers thy f§ had beeu sent to him, and that he had thusa quired much information which bad never be fore been brouwht to his attention. He saidhe was unable to judze of the justice or correet- ness of these statements, but, so far as his om feelings toward those in office under him were, concerned, he never liked to think ill of those| whom he had appointed to position ualess they were eatisfactorily proven guilty of the chargss alleged. Since the War, ealumuy has been sorits| in theland, and has recéived such wide and cos- spicuous dissemination thronzh the vress, that f heconsidered it unjusttoaccept all thatwas thyy stated; that he had perhaps apparently show g% andue indifference to these maiters, bui. by § error, if error it was, was oa the side B of fair dealing and justice. It might in truth be added here: to the credit of Gen GRANT that one of the conspicaous pointsof f3 his character was and 3 his warm attachment ¥ to his frieuds. When he hecame a man's friend it was mo falr-weather affair to be & abandoned in the trriog hour of adversity, bt he held on through evil and good report to the last. GrANT was often imposed uoon byus- worthy persons, who took advantage of the tenacity of his friendship. and thos 2 ngble ssd commendabic characteristic of the ex-President was used in a mauner to scandsiize bim. SHAKSPEARE says, **A fricad snculd bear bis friend’s infirmity,” and no’man in this conary has evey carried that out to x greater extest, and to bis own hurt, more than Gen. GRast. A good story is told on an Indianapolis mer chant who recently visited New York. Whis there a Mr. JounsoN claimed an acquaintases with bim, and said he attended the same church 2 at home. Both spent the evening at the theatet 8.5 togetber. and the merchant informed his ne¥ acquaintance that he should leave for home the § next morning. Tie next day he was met at tb & depot by Mr. Jomxsox anda handsome; ele zantly-dressed lady, whom he Introduced.s Mrs. Jomssos. *He would be delighted snd proud if his friend would take chareof b wife until they arrived at Cleveland, where ebe would visit séme relatives.”. The merchant wid simply charmed with the prospect, and, afters hasty adieu, Mrs. JOINsON was left in his cox pauy. ‘The lady proved equally as entertainiz® as ber husband, and before taey- retird she had so improved hber time as to # ceive the confilence of the Indiana tn cler, and he reiterated to her the sta* ment made her husband regarding tbe weath he was carrving home. They had adjoini berths, both lower ones. After retiriog. ¥ took the precagtion to place his waih money under his pillow, where, in the fs cence of his heart, he fondly imagined that & would be safe. e awoke in Boffalo the oet morning at § o'clock to find the foir female 2 bis pocketbook both zone. She had zone at Rochiester in auswer to a telegram from ‘btr husband, and, not wishing tu disturp her tird companion, she kindly let him sleep on. Tb8 authorities at Rochester were put upon th track, and she was arrested and the money recovered. Moral—Don't tell all your secred to stylish female corapanions. ——————— . Our English exchanges contioue to publish eloomy accounts from the cotton-manufsctats ing disicts of Great Britain. The stateol things has grown considerably worse stoce the failure of the fate areat strike, and there 820 immediate prospect of improvement. The n per céut compromise reduction of Wagesac cepted by the strikers has not mended matter. “T'he market is stil. glutted and tending dowa- iard, and the export demand is not increasiog- Foreizn competition, particularly that of the United States, continues as formidable as eTer and the price of cotton does_not show aoy sifd of helving matters by declining. Both maat facturers and workingmen are ,puzzled troubled, and the crisis threatens to assumebY tional importance. The only pointon erB: there séems to be general agrcement is, th the manufacturers bave done much to briag & on by the recklessness with which mills bavt been multiplied during the [ast tem yesrS prosperity, and that it will probably end in 1o8 total loss of a great deal of capital, and i transfer of a great deal more to other indus r But no such traosfer can take place witbo great suffering and commercial disorder. net,” says an exchangze, *‘a more acfortuss? period to enter,ona theatrical and costly 'mz policy has unt accurred in England within present centnry.” ——————— Generally a man finds one woman nuW': g all he can manage, and he is indeed s br fellaw who will undertake the responsibilly a matrimonial alliance several ahlebody females ot once. Especiallv wonld 8 m!'flu‘ mature age be likely to_avold such a trapi % L. there are exceptions. tb all rules, sud % Aporrn Horruasy, of New York, i3 themo, who offers himself as the frightful example R this case. Mr. HOFFXANY, like maoy & o before him, is charged with belng to0 {0 the women, and is now pining in jail 0B 8¢ of bizamy,—a crime that nnmmflrw out of baving too many mothers g eed Itis alleged that ApoLp; bas !nrm!? montal alliances with no less than e lzdies, all widows, Which is coptrarf