Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 1, 1878, Page 4

Yo, - oclock. 4 HE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, I878—SIXTEEN PAGUS. —_— Thye Tribune, TERMS OF SUBSCR!PTIO.\'.' STAGE PREPAID. BY MAIL—IN ADVANCE Datiy Edition. ope year. Puris of d year, per montl tior WEEKLY EDITION, TOSTPAID. Gze copy, per year. Club 6t 60 ... Epccimen coples sent fre Glve Post-Otlice address In full, including State and County. TemNtances may bemade either by draft, expresk Post-Ofiice order, or In registered letter. st our risk. TERMS TO CITY SUDSCRIBERS. Tafly, delivered. Sunday excepted, 25 cents per week. Duliy, celivered, Sunday fiicluded, 30 cents ver weeke Address THE TKIBUNE COMPANRY, Corner Madizon and Dearvorn-sie.. Chicago, Il Orders for the delfvery of Tux TEIBUNE at Evanston, ‘Ecglewood, and Hyde Parx feft in, the countlng-room wtilreceive promptatteation. TRIBUNE BRANCH OFFICES. Tnx CRICAGO TRIRUNE has estabilshed branch offices or the receipt of subscrintions and advertisements as ws: ™ o}\l’;’w YORR—Room 29 Tribune Bullding. F.T.Ma- ADDEN, Manager. PARIS. France—No. 16 Rue de 1a Grange-Datellere. B.MaNLER, Agent. LONDON, Eng.—American Exchange, 449 Strand. Bxxzy F. GiLuie, Agent. - BAN FRANCISCO. Cal.—Palace Hotel SOCIET WASHINGTON CHAPTER, 0. 43, T A. N lar Convocation Friday evening, Dec. ner of Iandolph and [laisted-ss.. at builncas and work eathe Hoyal Arch companfons contally Invi{z*, 47 CHARLES B. WRIGHT. Ba: COVENANT LODGE. ¥0. 526. A. F- & A. M.—Reg- alar Communication Friday. cveaing, Dec. 6. at Cor- futhian i1ail. No. 187 East Kinzle-st.” at 7:30 o'clock, Tor bustaess and {mportat work. The members are Tequested to attend. ing brethren cordfally in- Tited. Ty order of 1. W. WOLSELEY, W, M. WILLIAM KELI, Secrets . CORINTUIAN CHAPTE . 6. R A Speetal Convocation Monday evening, Dec. 2.2t 7 Councli Degrees will be conferrad. ~ The members 3f Curlothian Chaner who have the desrec red 1o sent. Visiting Companion: fuyiied. - By order PreRERt G W. BAINALLD, 4. P D. A. CASHMAN LODGE, N0. 658, A. F. & A. M.— Tecular Communication Thésday cvening, Dec. 3, at their hall, carner West Xadicoa and_ 1o ness: Anfualreport of Treasurcrand Seeret 10 M. M. Decree. Visitors welcome, X 30 liarp. G. A. DOUGLASS, Fecretary. NATIONAL LUDGE, X0. 546, A. F, & A. M.—The Annuai Communication will Te icid on Tuesiay even- ing, ftec. ¢ at ihcir bal, cor. Kandolph and Halsted- 615, for the election of .oficersand payment of Aucs. All'members are notified to be presenz. By arder W. M. A.C.WQDD, Secretary. . XO. 19. K. T. jee. 2. at 7:30 for The Crder of the Temple Ing Sir Krighis welcome. ATOLLO COMMANDERY., NO. 1, K. T.—Ststed and annual conclave next Tuesday evening (Dec. 3) at ‘cloc k. for election of oflicers. pavment of ducy, and oiher fmportant business. A full attendance i8 re- quested. Visliors welcouie. | BY under of the Com- muder. J. R. DUNLOP, Liecorder. ALAR LODGE. NO. 303, A. F. & A. M.—Recuiar nc Tucsday evening. -Dec. 3, 1n their hall, 76 Jand work. All memhers are A meett e io b prascr e rateraits sorilany b o be prescnf. The fratefmity cordially fn- » CTHUCHAN, Secretarr. ¢ it N - . DIVISION X0. 2. OF THE A. 0. IL—All members are requested to meetat thielr hall tils moruing at 9 giclock chamn, 1o siend (he funcral of our dectased ouher, Joum McGarry. By order of 5 JOHN BURKE. President. ST..BERNARD COMMANDERY, XO. 35, K. T.— Annual Couclave Wednesday eveniag, Dec. 4. at oelock. Tor the electiuns of oficers and the payment of ducs.” By order - J.S. WHITE, E. C. CHICAGO CONCLAVE, XO. Al RED CROSS OF Constantine—Hendcz ous Saturday, Dec. 7. at 7:10 p. m.. ¢hari. " JOIN D. M. CARE, Sovercign. 1i. 8. AUSTIN, Recorde: VAN RENSSELAER GRAND LODGE OF PERFEC- There wiil be a Regular Assembly on Thursday next for business. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 187S. In New York on Saturday greenbacks ranged from 99} to 99%. The excommunication of Mrs. Tmrox by Plymouth Church reminds one of the jury- ~verdict which found the plaintif guilty and the costs to be paid by the Court. LrxosTosE, the C Cre Crow Creek Indian Agent, bas been indicted by fhe Grand Jury of Yankton for forgery, embezziement, and conspiracy, and there are other Agents yet to be heard from. - The news from Afghanistan is not cheer- ing to the friends of the -invading troops. The Indisn army, after having taken the Ebyber Passes and penetrated the country beyond, has been caught in the trap of its own making. The Afredies have reoccupied the ‘principal thoroughfars and cut off Tetreat. As far as can be ascertained, a movement is on foot among & number of members of the Bar of this city looking to the impeach- ment of Judge Broocerr, of the United States District Court. Just what it will amount to can hardly be predicted as yet, the eflort being still in its infancy. The immediate cause for it, we believe, was the disagreement between Judge Brobeerr and the recent Grand Jury regarding the sup- pressed Hisparp indictment, The Town of -Jackson, Ky., is in the full enjoyment of a civil war of its own. Two lgwless mobs have been fighting each other all the past week, and half & dozen men have been killed, including the County Judge. It seems os if this charming exhibition of neighborly hospitality ought to be interfered ‘withh before long by the Governor; although it may be that he is holding off in hopes that the opposing parties may all bo killed. If 80, his intentions are laudable. When the Irish members’ of Parlisment are opposed to any measure they pursue the obstruction plan, sometimes with success. The policy of the Government in the Afghsn business bos caused ‘the Home-Rulers to unite with the Liberals in opposition. But the Home-Rule leader, Dr. Burr, it is re- ported, has decided against the obstruction plon this time. Hence Parliament may go shead and do some of its pressing work be- fore the holidays. The rumor of a dissolu- tion and a general election is hardly credible under the circamstances. —_— Whether Mr. BurLisG intended it as a joke or not, his letter to the County Commission- ers resiguing his membership in that body because he hed boen indicted in the United States Court proved to be a good one. The moment that letter was read the msjority Tose to their feet instantly. To them it was full of meaning. “ Resign the office of County Commissioner because of an indict- ment? Forbid it, Heaven! Make. that a rule, and who of ns'would be safe? Such a rule will leave this Board without & quorum. in sixty dsys.” So the resigoation’ of Mr. Brerne was unanimously refused. - — There is a rumor that Germany has pro- posed o Congress of reigning Princes to counsider the subject of Socialism. Bat as tiie reigning Princes of Europe just now, with one exception, have very little to do with law-making, the prudent reader will avoid atiaching 00 much credence to the zeport. Socleties, classes, and individuals ure subject to certain laws which can only be- changed ot déstroyed by Parlinments. - W~ BELY, VicTor, and AMADEUS might confer iogetlier for a twelvemonth, but they could not then carry their plans into © ef- fect withont the consent of the people’s Yepresentative. Sincs the Napoleonic cra times have been mighty hard for the sover- eigns of Europe. France has been perms- nently reclaimed by the Republicans; in Austria the Hungarians have gradually crept into power; Italy has become miodernized; the revolutions in Spain bave rendered the royal tenure of office uncomfortably frail; and even in Germany we find avowed Socialists sitling in Parliament. What could all the Kings and Emperors accomplish by a Con- gress except to expose their own weakness ? The general trade dopression now prevail- ing in England may be guessed at by. the items which now and then stray across the ocean by cable. Almost every day there are announcements of heavy failures and allu- sions to widespread strikes which, if occur- ring in this country, would cause great ex- atement. The British newspapers, how- ever, take these things philosophically. It is stated this morning that the Chatterly Iron Company has refused an offer of 900 men to resume work at a reduction of 5 per cent. This is p suggestive paragraph. Tho Company some months ago decided to re- duce all hands 10 per cent, and the men quit work. If there wers auy money in the busi- ness ot 5 per cent off the Company would without doubt accept the terms mow pro- posed. That they cannot is only another evidence of the break-down of this branch of manufacture in Eugland and Wales. sioners for 1878 went out of existence, smell- ing badly to the Inst. Even with tho re- cruits from the * Reformers” elected in 1877, its last hours were full of sorrow and trouble. The $36,000 involved in the Hanus case was just beyond their reach, always eluding their grasp. Desperate as were the efforts made to get it, *“ solid ” as the *“8" voted every time for its division, the Board expired officially, leaving the money in the Tressury. The Ring is broken ; the magic power that governed a majority of votes has lost its potency. Tho new Board will begin its existence on Monday, and if it wonld do well it will begin with a general break-up of tke whole county organization, from top to bottom. In the meantime there will be mourning and weeping among the retainers of the old Board, but there will be a fecling of relief on the part of the public that the corrupt and dishonest County Ring shall rule no more. . The Bavae cose has not been definitely settled by the German and American Gov- ernments. Nor is it a case that will come to an end for a long time yet, as it involves a most important question,—that of citizen- ship. Bavaer, it will be recalled, was a Chicagosn who returned to his native coun- try about a year ago and was immediately ordered away by the authorities on the ground -that he was subject to military service as a German citizen. After a year's meditation on the cass Secre- tary Evants has reached the conclusion that a naturalized German who sojourns in his native lacd over two years gives the German Government the right to consider such sojourn as a renunciation . of American citi- zenship. But this docs not touch the BavumEr case, or in fact the majority of such cases which may arise hereafter, as Bamxze did not remain i Germany but a few months. This Government surely ought to' take some definits position in a matter which is of vital importance to & very large class of our paturalized citizen THE PUBLIC-WORES ORDINANCE. So far as the crestion of au office under the title of Commissioner of Public Works is calculated to relieve the Mayor from .a bar. densome complication ' of duties, the project is not objectionabie. : We believe it to be the fact that, as the working head of the Depart- ment of Public Works, the Mayor is charged with mora than ought to be expected from hin in connection with the other daties of his office. Nevertheless, the ordinance creat- icg this office, which comes up for passage to-morrow cvening, ought to be amended in several particulars before adoption. It is especially defective in’two respects,—first, in not providing for the inauguration of the new Departwment with the new Mayor, 5o as to give every Mayor the privilege of appoint.’ ing the Commissioner who is to,serve under him, and, secondly, in not making the Com- missioner and the sub-departiments properly subordinate to the Mayor. The passage of the ordinence in its present shape will entail more confusion than now exists, and it will become a fruitful source of contention in the future. - The ordinance as it stends provides for the appointment of a Commissioner by Mayor Hearn in the latter part of his term, who shall hold office for two years, or during the greater part of the term of Mayor Heatr's successor. And thus, in the future, every outgoing Mayor would have thd privilege of appointing the Commissioner who should serve with the incoming Mayor. There is no justice in this feature of the ordinance. The new Mayor should have the privilege of sclecting his own Commissioner, by and with the consent of the Council, and of removing him at any time he may deem it best for the public service. It is only in this ¥ay that the Mayor can be fairly held respobsible for the manngement of the De- partment, and it is highly desirable to fix this responsibility upon the Mayor. The terms of the ordinsnce, as it reads now, are further favorable to a division and shifting of responsibility by making the Mayor depend- ent upon the Commissioner in some cases end the Commissioner subordinate to the Mayer in others. For instance, it is provided that the Mayor shall appoint the Seeretary of the Department, but only such person as the Commissioner may recommend. The Mayor may also appoint the Ciiy Engineer, but must procure the Commissioner’s consent to his choice, and then the Commissioner mny remove the City Engincer, but must secure the acquiescence of the Mayor in such action. The Superintendents of the various sub-de- partments are to be appointed by the Com- missioner, the Mayor's consent having first. been obtained, and may be removed by the Commissioner under the same condition. All this is needlessly involved, and the effect will be that the Major may always shift blame upon-the Commissioner and the Commissioner upon the Mayor, while the public interests will fall between two stools. The administration of the public works in Chicago is a charge amounting to at least o million of dollars a year, and it will not do to afford any opportunity to those in contral for avoiding responsibility to the public. & : ‘ The proper model for organizing the Pub- lic Works Department is forniched by the President and his Cabinet. The purpose is to relieve the Alayor from the mass of detail, but not from responsibility. He should have the appointment, with the approval of the Council, of the Commissioner, Secretary, City Engineer, and the heads of the several sub-departments, and the privilege of remov- ing these officials at will. To the Commis- sioner should be intrusted a genersl super- vision of all the departments, and theap- pointment and ramoval of the clerks and sub- ordinates, who should be hired and discharged according to the necessities of the service aud their individual conduct and usefulness. Under this condition ‘of things a thorough- going system could bo established, the peo- ple could properly hold the Meyor to acconnt for the satisfactory and economical adminis- tration of the public works, and the Mayor could make the Commissioner and the head of each sub-departinent directly and person- ally responsible for the management of his particular branch of the service. With such o system there would be no opportunity for the disagreements that formerly aroso be- tween the Mayor and the Board of Public ‘Works or the Board of Police, throngh which the efliciency of the public service was con- stantly impaired. Unless the Council is dis- posed to provide a simple and rational sys- tem of this kind, it will do better to let mat- ters stand as they are no THE ITCH FOR OFFICEHOLDING. According to latest nccounts the attempt to run the offics of Sheriff of- Cook County by injunctions -has been abandoned. It would have been more creditable to- Mr. Kenx's sense of honor and the judgment of his friends and advisers if tho scheme had never been suggested. The shape the proj- ezt assamed when it was aunnounced war- rants the belief that it was conceived more with the purpose of keeping Kerv 77 the office than of keeping Hosraany out. In the same column in which the Kery organ set up the theory that Anj. HOFFMANN isin- eligible it also insisted that, in such. case, Mr. Keex would continue to be Sheriff.5 The latter assumplion was very quickly exploded upon an examination of the law bearing on the case, and snce then we have heard no mors of the unsclfish and pure- minded patriots who proposed to, contest Maj. Horraaxy’s eligibility to the office for tha sake of public morals. The fact scems to be that Maj. Horraaxy's right to the ofiice, since he has been fairly elected by a majority of the people, aud has properly qualified, can only be contestéd by a quo warranto proceeding, which 15 a judicial 1nquiry into the authority by whick a certain person assumes to exercise the functions of any given office, and that such proceeding can only be instituted after Maj. Horraaxy has actuslly taken possession. In that case Kery would no longer be Sheriff, but an ex- Sheriff, and there is no law or precedent which could re-establish him'in a position to which the people refused to elect him. The idea of resoriing to an mjunction to restrain KerN from turning over the office was a des- perate one, and we do not believe there is a Judge in Cook County who would consent to issue such an injunction for fifteen minutes after the-expiration of Eern’s term. The latter’s talk about his own responsibility and that of his boudsmen was all weak and insincere twaddle, for the Iaw expressly exempts Keny and Jl‘fi(s’ ‘bondsmen from ell liability after turning. over his office, except as to business tramsacted during his own official term. If Maj.. HoFraaky were ineli- gible to the oflice “of-Sheriff, Jand if thero wero any honest intention to raise that ques- tion, it would have been done without refer- ence to Kenw's selfish interests. The wny wonld be to filen guo warranto after Maj. Horruaxy had taken his position; and, in case his ineligibility were established, Coroner Maxx would become Acting Sheriff till a new Sheriff should be elected. It is safo to sny that no'proceeding of this kind will be taken unless it be promvted by malice on account of the prompt defeat of tho effort to keep Kxn in office. The controversy that has been raised in this matter can on\y serve to illustrate once ‘more the inordinate passion for officcholding which seizes upon most men who have once had s taste of it. It is Jike the opium hobit, and worse than Dr. D'Useer’s aleoholic infusoria, for no variety of cinchona bark will cureit. MMen seem to be willing to sac- rifice money, reputation, and friends to keop in office after they have once been there. The combination of ‘““a Iittle brief author- ity ” and easily-gotten emoluments exercises a curious and mysterious jufluence upon most human nature. Once an officeholder aiways an office-seeker, might well become a maxim in popular government. An impres- sion seems to prevail that a vested right is ac- quired Dy election or appointment, and that there is an abrogation of contract in choos- ing 8 successor. KEerx’s case is a conspicu- ‘ous example of this monomania. Two years ago he was elected Sherifl by a good round majority, and he went into the office with the wurm friendship of those who had voted for him, and the confidence of tife entire community. He seems to have begun to electioncer for a re-election almost: before he was warm™in his cheir, and during the two years made & host of personal opponents by his promises and disappointments. It was only after a fierco struggle that he secured a nomination, and then his own party helped to defent him. A sane mau, outside of the influences of politics, would say that this experience, including- the expenditure of a large part of the money his office yielded him, would bave been enough,—and yet he was mnot satisfied. He seemed to be willing to clateh at a straw to retain his hold. Without the slightest prospect of success he has gained .the reputation of de- siring to impose himself npon the people after the people had expressed their desire that ho should retire, and there is no con- duct which calls out so much popular resent- ment. Wo presume from reports that come to us that Mr. Keny has reconsidered any in- tention he may have had-to resist the popular will, whether he has been persuaded by more judicious friends or whether he has become convinced of the inefficiency of injunctions in such a case, and that he will turn over his office, public property, aund prisoners to- morrow, take his receipt from Maj. Horr- J1aNN, and retire in as good order as possi- ble; aud, after he shall have recovered some- what from the itch for officcholding under the influences of private business life, he will recognize how narrow an escape he made from a fatal mistake. A correspondent writes n long communica- tion for our waste-basket, because he does not sign his true name, complaining that the churches in this city do not welcome tran- sient visitors more cordially than they do. He asserts—what we do not think is warranted by the facts—that strangers are hustled into the poorest and most undesira- ble seats, and that most pew-holders are dis- tant, and often insolent, to persons.not be- longing to the regular comgregation. No doubt a fine bit ‘of irrehgious - sarcasm might-be woven into am article on the . exelusiveness and aristocratic tendencies of our fashionable churches, and Mr. RonerT INensors and his adherents will proba- bly not be slow in making the most of that aspect of the situation. But there are two sides to this question. | It must not be forgotten that the regular pew-renters in o church pay a high price in cash for the privileges they enjoy, and that the cour- tesy which they extend to strangers and oth- ers springs more from n desire to do them good than from the recognition of any other obligation. But to return to the complaint of our correspondent. We do not believe that people suffer much from neglect in any church in Chicago, On the’ contrary, both pastor and all the active members in every congregation that we know anything about are always glad to see all who wish to come, and it seldom happens that anybody has to stand during service. Certainly no one s re- garded 85 an intruder, and wo suspect that thisisn trumped.up excuse on the part of those who could really find no other excuse for staying away from church on Sunday. ——e CHURCH-ABSENTEEISM. The Rev. A. B. Moner, of the Fifth Pres- byterian Church, Cincinnati, preached a ser- mon on Sunday Iast upon the subject of non- attendance in the Protestant churches of that city. The statistics upon which he based his sermon are sufficiently startling to have justified the reverend gentleman’in making a clvse search for the causes, although, with all respect for his honesty of intentions, we conceive he has ignored the real ones. The substance of his statistics may be stated as follows: The Protestant population of the city is at least 120,000 souls. Of church- going age there are, sy, 80,000. - Tho seat- ing capacity of the Protestant churches is 60,000 ; the membership20,000. On Sunday morning last the attendance was 12,500 That is, a little more than one-sixth of the Protestants of church-going nge went to church, and of the actual members one- third were at home, and in all the churches there were 47,500 vacant seats.- It is little wonder that Brother Mogky is startled at the rapid growth of absentecism. TIn searching for the causés, the reverend gentleman found that the first was the news- paper which was issued on Sunday; the secoud, the existence of so many foreigners; and, Instly, the want of efficiency in tho work of the Church. The first and second reasons are too weak and flippant to deserve notice. The third is stated too much in the manner of a glittering generality, and does not go to the roots of the trouble. In such an important matter as this it is wiser to look the truth right in the face and frankiy concede it, because a thousand such sermons os the Cincinnati ‘clergyman preached will not induce auother soul to go to church, while so far as his discourse was in the na- tare of a rebuke it was not pointed enough to pierce any conscience in the pews. In stating what it conceives to be the reasons for this alarming growth of absenteeism from the Protestant churches, Tee Carcico Tnisuse is only actuated by a desire to help the clergy correct_the evil, for an evil it assuredly is. The most comprehensive reason for this absenteeism 1s to be found in the growing tendency of the Church to become z ¢ so- ciety " ‘affair, and, the disposition to run rnd manage it after the manner of our social clubs, If one does hot belong to the clique or coterie of ‘*society,” there is little room or use for him in most churches. It is com- ing to be necessary to go to clurch in your own carringe, with.va liveried driver and horses that step high. The low-stepping borses that drag the.street-cars cannot take you into, the churgh’ “society,” unless it is known you -have a“carringe at home and are eccentric enough.to take the democratic conveyance. It is ¢coming to be necessary to wear very good clotlj¢s to the church, and to manifest an estheticstaste and disregard of espense about it, 80, that what is lost in the loudness of the opera, for instance, may be mede mp in cost. It is coming to be necessary for the coterie of church sociely to put.on an air of exclusive- ness that freezes out; those who do not move within its limits. This, we assume, is a wide departure from /the foundation prinei- ple of the Church onearth contained in the instruction to go out'into the highways and byways, and compel them to como in. The Church has'a firm grip on the avenues and stone-fronts, but it does not reach out into the byways or bring’ any influence to bear upon the cottage of the workingman. Nor would it be of any nse to invite the mechanic in to bang on s ragged edge, beeause his pride would revolt at it, nor would it be possible to induce a poor man to partake of a religion that was beyond the possibilities of his pocketbook, when salvation should be with- out money and without price, and {he Scriptures request him to partake of the waters of life freely. In the second place, the management of ¢ society ¥ in the Charch, ns elsewhere, in- volves an immense expense. The expense of the carringe and dress is but one item. The expenses of social competition are always an onerous tax. The fashionable church, or any church in which “society controls affairs, must of necessity impose very heevy pew-rents and frequent assess- ments to make the wheecls go round. When the rent of a pew in one of these churches averages as much cost as the rent of the average workingman’s house, how in the name of all that is mathematical and moral can & workingman afford te go to church? It will not do to say that the working- man can have a back seat in the gallery. The workicgman has some pride. He can have his seat in the thentre, or the concert, or in any worldly entertainment at the same price as the rich, and he meets them thero .on the level. His natural pride revolts at heing stuck off in a corner where he is the rictim of sucial distine- tions. If o manis expected Lo o io a church that cares nothing for him, because he is not in * society,” it is but natural that he should soon care notbing fur the church and- stay at home. There is ona Protestant church in this city whose seating capacity is 2,000, and there are slways 2,000 people in the seats, - This church is the Temple of Thalia, on Madison street, in whiech, for want of conformity to dogmn, I'rof. Swixe is obliged to lold his' servicce. In this church ome seat is as good as unother, and *society” doces not manage it. Jt I. practicable for a poor man to go toit. L is practicable for young men to go to it and fecl at home, and more young men go there than to any other Protestant church in the city. Therg are no extraordinary expenses to this church that involvé the necessity of o contribution- box, with its weekly snggestious. Medison street is filled with® horse-cars to take oway 1ts worshipers. There are 1o side-entertainments. It does not give con- certs, readings, or dramatic shows, is not in the oyster, strawberry, or necktie busi- ness, and has no .mortgages to lift from its organ, farpiture; -bell, or building. 'The Church should be the most democratic of all institutions. The Roman Catholic Church management understands this. That Chureh hos five or more services each Sunday. Four of these’ are free and open to the world. The pew-holder has no. clzim to his seat c=- copt at the fifth. Thus it is that the Roman Catholics have one éhurch with five congre- gations, and the Protestants hsve five churches with one congregation. All denial to the contrary notwithstand- ing, the growth of absenteeism, we believe, is due more to the encroachment of ** s0- ciety ” upon its direction and enjoyment then to any other -cause, tho natural result of which is an alarming increase of expense. Still, the statistics ‘of Cincinnati are not safe guides as sources of comparison. Cin- cinnati nmever was a traly good city, and for some time past, notwithstanding the efforts of its one traly good man, the editor of the Gazette, it has been going more and more to the bad, until it is now pretty much given over to music, hogs, beer, and Bon IncERsoLL, who has recently been holding crowded levees to the edification of its peo- ple. It has almost entirely lot go of Chris- tinnity, and one truly good man cannot save it, any more than Lot was able to save Sodom. There is too much church-absenteeisin eyen in our own pious city, which does so much for Christianity, charity, and mission work; but it is not fair to measure our spiritual condition by that of such a wicked city as Cincinnati, which has hopelessly gone over to the ‘‘demnition bowwows.” Still, the causes we have indieated are also at work here, and they should be removed, lest we reach the pitiable condition of Cincinnati. AMERICAN®EXPENDITURES IN EUROPE. The American Consul at Stuttgart, in Wurtextxberg, Mr. Jonx S. PoTrer, in his annuall report to the State Department, mnkes special reference {o the number of Americans residing in Europe, their prob- nble expenditure, and the purposes for which many remain in Europe for a term of years. Ho devotes a large part of hisreport to what he deems to be generally a great mistake : having American children edu- cated in Europesn schools, especially in those of Germany. Ho has, by a diligent correspondence with the American Consuls in Europe, reached an estimate of the number of Americans visiting Europe annually, by which it appears that from July 1, 1877, to June 30, 1878, there arrived in Europe from the United States 86,555 cabin pussengers and 59,834 steerage passengers; and from Europg there arrived in the United States 80,974 cabin passengers and 77,360 steerage passengers. The steam- ship lines report that 80 per cent of the cabin p ssengers both wayswers Americans, which would show that 29,244 American residents visited Europe during the year, which is about the average number each year. He also finds that the average time spent by Americans in Europe is two years, though that of the mere sight-seers is much shorter. Young persons, and families who go to Europe with children for educational purposes, remain ‘from three to eight and ten yenars. Families with young children often remain until the young- est has acquired the Ilangusge and obtained an education. There is o large number of American families residing on the Continent, whose hendshavemade fortunesin the United States, who prefer European life, and who live expensively, supporling con- siderable style, but who draw ali their in- comes from investments in this country. The reasons generally given for foreign residence is thnt, the educational institations of the United States do not offer the advan- {ages which they desire for their children. Mr. Porrer estimates the daily average expenditures of each person, including cost of living, education, traveling expenses, and ithe parchase’ of ‘expensive trifles, at §5. Assuming that 29,244 persons justly repre- sent the current number of Americans an- nually crossing the sea, and that the averago stay is two years, the number of Americans constantly abroad would be 58,488, their daily expenditure $292,444, and their sunual cxpenditare £106,594,600, drawn from the Uhited States in gold. Ar. PorTer has compiled from information coilected by him a statement of the number of Americans who aro residing at the locali~ ties named for educational purposes : Germany— - Ttaly— Nuples . 30| Palermo. 16| Mesel 30 Rom 20l Austria— 2 Trieste . Vienna.... Switzerland— 200 Dreaden Frankfort Freibur Stuttuar Ticidelberg. Drasee 260 Frince— {Sweden—Stockholm 250 “oulogne. 60/England— Borteaux 20/ Glaszow. 42 Marecilles Lonuon 700 Paris Russia— Italy— St. Petersburg... 60 Florence 80| Warsaw .. 40 Nice. I12iPortugal—Lisbon .. 15 Messina “30|Tuscany—Leghora. 10 wer sesnsseseaadinananes o7, 048 TOtAL.c0s sossesn * Estimated. This number does not represent students alone; it includes families and others who accompany their children during the period of their studies; and there are other places besides those named where Americans are studying langunges, art, aod science. But putting the average expense of each person thus engaged in acquiring an education at $6350 & year, the expenditure for thosc enumerated would be' $4,500,000 & year, and Mr. Porrer thinks this money, in an educa- tional way, might be more profitably ex. pended at home. On this point he writes with feelings inspired by actual observation, and so earnestly that we think what he says worthy of reproduction and of careful consideration. He writes: The Government institations of the United States, and the whole carrent of practical Dife under tnewm, is so different from those in Eirope om of sending American yonths to be cducated where they will be constantiy subject to fexchings and_ infuences that are incompatible with the institutions upon which the prosnerity and exwstence of thelr country devends, and under which they must live, may be sately qucstioned. Pareuts who love their country would do well, before eending their children abroud, to satisfy themselves that ihe precise culture they seck for them cannot be attained 1 a er degree, quick- ex, cheaper, and more practical in_character at home, .. Tnstances are known where, to learn the German lanzuaze. American children have croesed sea and Jand to enter a large school in Southern Germany, in _ wiich the text-books or grammars used were printed and published in Loston and New Haven, and tae instriuction piven by an eminent and gitted L'rofessor who acunired the mastery of the German und other languazes in America. but, while Amer- ican_yoans fadies, und_gentiemen, ‘and caildren are pursmng studies adroad. they naturally fall into the frec.and easy waye of the social life that “surrounds them, and nnconsciously hmbive a Jove of foreim customs, winch makes them restless under moral restraints aud weakens their attach- ment to tae Jaws and syetems of their native land; and thus, with rare excentions. they become un. fitted for nearly all the paths of pracuical, enci- 4 But the echolars bave no spur to cnerzetic work except that which fs- self-imposed. They 2o to their lessons and lectures when they please, —vvery dav. once In n wee s or month, or rot atall. ‘Their position, as members of the school, is not dis- turbed, nor_a reprimand_given, o long as the tuition fee is prompuly paid. The Professor will, perhaps, mildly say to a derelict student, **If you do not etuly, you will not learn. Itiswholly your affair, and ‘you alone are the loser.” No cffort {r made to develop his moral capacities, or to assist him 1n the romotion and refinement of his char- acter. Indeed. it would not be wide of thetrath to say that much is done which is bositively injn- rious to character. ‘The organization of thestu- dents into ** corps, " Yepresented by aifferent colors, LIf not encourazed fs certainly permitted, and “*duelinz " is one of the principal pastimes of the ‘*corp student,” who goon hecomes proud of Lis membership in an oreanization where ghastly scars and mutilated features are regarded asthe ‘highest marks of honoravle distinction. In these great educational institutions, which are professedly cstablixhed for the purpose of de- veloping the highestand most refined capacities of mankind, the ** Kneipe,” or drinking cazousal. i8 nn organized department of student or **corps " life, and excesses are cuitivated with method und reguiarly by meetings held once or twice in cach week. ‘ « Ho further describes the “Fest” days or nights, when the Professors attend these drinking banquets, and -enter heartily into the dissipation which is thus openly encour- aged. He also describes the fighting halls, the scenes of bloody encounters, and where men acquire fame in the proportion that they take life in the dexterous use of the sword among their fellow-students. Consid- ering the time thus wasted as taking a large fraction from tbe natural period of life, he declares that *“ It would not be an exaggera- tion to say, that a bright boy in an American school would finish his studies with honor, enter upon the practice of his profession, make his mark in the world, and a fortune as well, and retire from business before some of the students in o German scientific scheol had completed their studies.” It is possible that Mr. Porrer has exag- gerated the number of Americans residing abroad for an average period of two years, and in this way has magnified unduly the amount of money expended by Americans annually 1 Earope, It is true that the av- erage Americanwith alarge and suddenly-ac- quired fortune does expend his money lav- ishly, aud generally foolishly, but it requires a great many of thisclass, even with the help of medical and musical students of both sexes, to expend a hundred ond four mill- ions of dollars a yenr. EDISON'S ELECTRIC LIGHT. The holders of gas-stocks in England seem to be recovering from the fright caused by the announcement of Episov’s discovery of an electric light. The London Times of Nov. 14 roports an advance of # to 2% per cent in the principal stocks. On the sup- position that the panic was caused by rumors of European inventious, this advance would be difficult to explain. The European in- ventions, so far as they have been tried, have more than answered public expectations. The Secretary of the Company formed to operate the Raprerr light, now in use in the London Times' composing-room, quotes with approval the statement of FoNTirye that ¢ electric lighting costs annually 83 per cent less than gas, and gives six timesmore light.” Itis evident that the advance in gas-stocks, in the face of the results, is due to the belief that such machines as Rarrerr’sare not avail- able for common purposes, and that the problem of the divisibility of the electric light has not been solved. Episox has heen discredited by tho scientific men to such an extent that the holders of gess-stocks have got their courage again. They believe his much-vaunted * discovery” is nct going to amount to auything; and, unless it does, they are perfectly snfe in holding on to their shares for the present. : It is a remarkablo fact that just as the peo- ple an:the other side’oE. th g b come convinced that Episoxs light is a fail- ure, the people on this side are more confi- dent that it has a rensonable scientific basis. Wao do not say that Epsox has succeeded, or that he will succeed, in doing all that is claimed for him ; but we do say that there are 8 number of reasons for still putting con- fidenca in his promises. Not to speak of his previous achievements, which should encour-. age us to believe that he knows what he is talking about, he has shown fall faith in the genuineness of his invention by preparing to give it a trial on a large scale at Menlo Park. He estimates the cost of his proposed experi- ment at .$100,000 to $125,000. It is not conceivablo that he would encourage his friends to put money in such an enterprise aud embark in it himself unless ho had pretty solid remsons for believing that the outlay would be made good. His own confidence in himself and the value of his discovary, in spite of the storm of criti- cisms, sneers, and innuendoes with which ha has been visited, is almagt sublime. It is something’ like the confidence of Warrs, Argwrieur, FuLtox, and STEPHENSON, each in himself; and every grent inventor has been compelled to persevere in the face of the same oblogquy before he has been suc- cessfal. Mr. EpwsoN has given some important clews on which it is possible to base an opinjon of the feasibility of his invention. The most important statement that he has yet made concerns the method of using power in the proposed light. His critics have maintained that it would be impossible for him to use power mere economically than it is now used in the manufacture of gas. The turning of water into stenm, which is necessary for the WarLace machine, involves a great loss of heat; then there will be a loss by friction in machinery, a great loss by induction, and a loss in heat at the burner. Precisely st this point Mr. Epsox explains the whole philosophy of his system. There is o loss by heat at the burner, it is true, but that loss, as compared with the loss by heat in burning gns, is only as one to ten. Nine parts in ten of byrning gas go away in beat; one part in ten makes light. The carbon in gas which is imperfectly consumed is correlated in heat; and it is not possible to consume more than one purtin ten. If the whole volume ofgas at any given burner could be condensed into’ one-tenth of the space, and burned, the intensity of the light would be increased, Mr. Epsoy says, nenrly thirty-seven times.. Now, in the case of electricity the effect is that of condensation. Ouly one part in ten of the power is used for the production of heat, while nine parts in ten ato turned into light. Any person who desires to test roughly the truth of this observation can’ do so by putting his hand first nesr a gas-burner and then neas an electric light. It will be found that the heat emitted from gas is, the' difference of inten- sity considered, many times that of elec- tricity. g Mr. Epwsox discards combustion of ear- getic life under the repuulican inslituions of the United States. - This much cpplics generally to all parts of Europe. Residing, however, as he does, in Germany, he makes special reference to those who attend “the universities in’ that country, and the pictares he draws of uni- versity life . cannot prove attractive to Amer: icau parents. Here is a portion of what he says on this subject : ‘The music and technical echools of Germany constitute the main attraction for American youths of both sexes, 1In these institutions the courses of study are thorough, and students must work hard zad Jouz in order to ot arks of distinction. bon altogether as a part of bLis scheme. His effort is to get n platinum point—thnt metal is chosen because it does not readily oxi- dize—into a state of incandescence.” By an arrangement which he has not yet divulged, he keeps the platinum below the tempera- ture of 2,500 degrees, its melting point being 2,800 degrees. He does this Dy checking the clectric current whenever it is about to pro- duce more than the desired heat. The con- sequence is that his light presents chiefly the rhenomenon of incaadescance, and only in agér: have be-| an inconsiderable degree that of combustion; in other words, nearly all the power that po brings to the burner passes off in light, ang very little in heat. The combustion whicl takes place is that of the oxygen in the gir, The difference between this system and that which consumes & large quantity of carbop * in a gas-flame is fundamental. The eavipy - effected by the former over the latter js s great that Av. Episox ealculates he might buy #as ot the retail price, use its superflnous heny to make steam, and with that steam pro- duce an cl2etric light which could be sold a4 a profit. This seems 8 perfectly reasonable explanation of the principle which is at the bottom of the electric light, and ‘which makes it 50 much more economical in usy than gas. - It encourages us to hope that Ar. Episox will do all that he has promised, ang that, at no distant day, we shall have 4 better light than gas, at a fraction of the price now charged ——— It was currently’reported on "Change in this city yesterday that wheat is being ship. ped in large quantities from Omaha ang other Missouri River points to Milwankes gt 10 cents per 100 pounds less than the rats charged to Chicago; and the statement wag verified on appeal to parties stated to be in. terested in the wheat in question. It twag also rumored that wheat is now boing ship.. ped by all-rail from Milwaukee to the sen. board at 5 cents per 100 pounds less thanthe lowest rate that can be obtained by shippers from Chicago. The truthfulnessof this ry. mor was not admitted by the parties named, bat it was alluded to in sucha way s toleave little deubt that the rumor is founded on fact. I view of these conditions it is decidedly refreshingtoread the expression of views of a leading railroad official given in yesterday's Toibose. The gentleman claims to think that * the Warehouse Com- missioners are mainly responsible for the diversion of this class of freight to Milwag- kee, the inspection there being better than in Chicago.” . Parties in the -trade say that the existence of a grade known as “No, 4" in Milwaukee makes it a little more difficalt to pess wheat into No. 3in that city than into the corresponding grade here; and, if Milwaukee No. 2 be inferior toour No. 2, it is well that the world shoald know it, as the quotations of the two gradesin New York generally indicate that the reverse is believed ~ to be the case there. The nttempted ex. planation of the wrong referred to seems very much like adding insult to injury; and the railrond officials would do better to re- form their practice than to endeavor to evade the point at issue in any such manner as that here referred to. “Enough is as zood as a feast,” is a trite old adage, and everybody knows that one may bave too muchof a ood thivg., For example, the ‘Democratie politictans have been yearning for a «Solid South,” and they have got it pretty much as they want it, under the shot-run and red-shirt method of electioneering; but they are not exactly satisfied with their work. A Demo- cratic Coagressman from the West (was it Buir SeRINGER?) remarked in Washingion the other day that “The Sonth is a little too d—d salig,” the profane remark being elicited in a conversa- tion about the conditfon of affairsin South Caro- lina. He said that it was utterly impossible to make Northern people believe that the Repub- licans in that Btate were not defrauded out of at least three Congressmen by their system of- terrorism and ballot-box stuffing. No doubt the bulldozers carried their little pame too far. They made too clean a sweep at the first trigl. Only two Republicans in the Legis- lature of South Caroliva—a State that every- body. k:nfiwlz is Repi blican—is overworking the ovportigity. % **The people of the United States have acsin the silyer option in the payment of debts. and never will give it up—never!™ This brings the bazzanl- dollar issue on to its old groond again, namely, that the debtor shall have achance to make his creditor take 85 cents for a doliar every tume.— New York Tribune. Oh, no; that is not the idea fn your beadat all. You know very well that the bullion value of silver is as great to-day as gold was previous to 1873. You know that gold has d-, vanced in purchasing power 20 to 40 per cent within five years. What you want is to desiroy the silver option of payment, and compel every man to pay his debts in dollars really worth 125 cents each, as compared with former coin values, and that Is the reason you intrigue and misrepresent for the establishment of the gold standard; you scek to magnify the dollar; you talk of a “clipped”” dollar—what yon wantis a *loaded ” one. That is the true inwarduoess of Jay GourD’s paper and of the milk in his cocoanaut. b ———— Our readers may not have foreotten the over- issue ot horse-railway stock in Philadelphia last year. The guilty President of the Company has been finally brought to trial. An exchange' says: There was 1 grievous sieht in Philadelphis last Monday. Jomy S. MonToN was upon tae staed 10 testify in regard to the Market-Street Railway de- falcations. * The ex-Prezident of the Company told a pitifal story of his own weakness, of the over-. issie of stock to an enormots amount, of the mis- erably weak way in which he yielded to the impor- tunities and bullying of Jous R. Naarz & Co. Mr. Mortox iseaid to have answered in a mourafal manner when he acknowledged his cwn guilt. bt he mentioned the great sums raised by the fictitious stock as if they were small matters indeed. He has had 2 diactrous famiiiarity with larze amounts of money which wus not his own. e began by wink- ing atan irregularity of the Treasurer of the Com- pany, and he ended by beinz himself o self-con- victed crinunal, from whom only the plea of -* Guilty " was possinle. There have been many sad Josses of-character in our time, but none sadder than his.- ——— The New York Zribune jokes BiLr PELTOS, of . cipker-dispatch notoriety, in this unfecling man- ner: Col. WrrLrax TILDEN PrLTox has wisely discor tinued his practice of spreading the midale sectit of his name in full upon hs cards. Col. PELTON'S | middie name has been in time past an_extremely useful and ornamental portion of his signature, but never aguin willine TwLDEN part of Col. PELTOS'S name invest him with any additional dignity or re- rellection. On the contrary, Col. x's middle name will he liable to do'him sad dis- service g0 longe as he wears 3t. ~ For 1t will contin- nally remind him: and remind_other people of cer- tain’ transactions in the year of grace 1576_which Col. WiLLian TrLpes PELTox and Col. WiLtLx TiLDEN PELTON'S uncle would be pleased to have forzotten. For these reasons we hold thatCol PELTON exerciacs round judgment and discretion when s withholds as much of bis middle name 28 pozsible from the broad sunlight of publicity. A small and unobtrusive T. is every way prefersbl 1o the complete TiLDEY, whether fo_print or in the Dold, literary burean hand which Gol. PELTON ured ta swing when he aflixed his si#mature to telegrams and things in the day of hisanthority. E ———————— Some of the Milwaakee newspapers * wonder that Senator Howe's friends should hold alittle caucus in Chicago instead of Milwaukee,” but they may wonder still more to learn that there was no caucus beld here at the time referved to.; Senator Howe was on his way to Washinzton, and some other Wisconsin men of note hap- pened to be here at the same time. Toealleged “caucus” was held in Koom 259 of the Grand Pacific Hotel, and the only persocs nresenti were Scnator ana 3irs. HOWE and a representative of Tue Trisose. The proccedings of the caucus were published fu our issue of the nextmorn- ing in the, shape of an interview with thd Sen- ator. b N 1 —_— i Congress meets to-morrow, and there areover 309 bills on-the House calendar aloge. Some of the finportant bills introduced at the Jast ses sion, and ready to come up for cunsideration, are entitled as follows: An act o provide fen- sions on account of death, *or wonnds receisedy or discase contracted in the service of the United States during the late War of the Rebellion. Anactto fix the pay of letter-carriers. Bill regulating the compensation for the transporta-. tion of mafls on railroad rontes, providive for the classification of mail-matter, and for other purposes.” Bill to provide for the establishment of steamship mail-service between the United _