Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, February 14, 1880, Page 4

force up the price of paper. The ngitation off the matter increases rapidly from day to day and {f the high-tarif! men are wise thoy wil not attempt to stand in tho way of this ateat popular movement for cheap education and knowledge through tho schoulbook and the newspaper, Che Criburve. TERMS OF SUNSCRIPTION. BY MAIL—IN ADVANCE—PosTAGR PREPAID, e tA patty eaition, one soar... 512.00 —— uS} Peet s, mena and aoa Time Lower House of tho Californin Legis- | ROM MENG is omecatcm parent Sige | Wsturo yesterday passed, by a voto of 73. yeas Any othor day, por yen: to2 nays, a bill providing for the enforee- r ment of that clause of the new Constitution which forbids the employment of Chines labor by corporations organized and doing business under the Inwa of the Stata; and the Governor promptly signed the mensure, for which horecelved a round of cheers ata mmceting of workingmen at the Saud-Lot. It {gs apparent, however, that the constitutional provision in question isnot going to bo en- forced without resistance on the part of per- sons who believe the law to be unconstitution- al, and will not yicld untll the question shalt have been dectded attirmatively by tho Supreme Court of the Unttad States, to whitch tribunal a test caso will doubtless be taken on appeal, with as much haste as such a pro- ceeding Is capablo of making, The T’res!- dentof the Central Pacific Railroad, when applied to on the subject by a Committes of Workingmen, returned an evasive answer, but intimated that before discharging the small number of Chinese (only seven) now In the employ of the Company, hoshottld walt for n construction of the Iaw by tho courts; while the President of another larga corporation replicd bluntly that he regarded tho faw as being unconstitutional, and should not obey until its constitutlonality had been affirmed by the Suprome Court of the United states, ILION—VOSTPAID. Bpecimon coplos sent free. Glvo Post-Offica address in full, Including Stato and Caunty. | _ Remittances may bo made either by draft express, Post-Office ordor, or in rogistorod totter, at our risk. TO CITY BURSCRINENs, Dafty, delivered, Sunday oxcepted, 25 cents per week, Dally, dollverod, Sunday Inolutod, 30 conts por week, Addi THE TRINUNE COMPANY, Corner Madison and Doarborn-ats., Chicago, Il TAGL, Entered at the Post-Opice at Chicago, IIL, as Beoonds: Claas Matter, For the benefit of our patrona who desire to send einai coples of THR TRINGNR through the mall, wo givo horowith tho transient mte of postage: Domestic, sight ana Tretve Pasi @iztoen Page Paper, right and Twolve Pago Paper... fateh Pago VapOt sees TRIBUNEGRANCIL OFFICES. ’ pm Cricaco TrinuNs has extadiishod branch offices for the recelpt of subscriptions and advortise- ments as follows: NEW YORK—Room 299 Tribune Bullding. FT. Mc- YADDEX, Mannger. GLASGOW, Scotland—Allan’s Amorican Nowa Agency, 31 Renfiold-st, LONDON, Kng.—Amorican Rxchango, 49 Strand, Ohlenny F. Ginnia, Agent. WASLUNGTON, D, C.—1319 F stroct. A cuntous point In connection with the postal regulations of the United States In their relations to private Indlylduals and for- eign Governments was yesterday-the subject of grave consideration by the Cabinet at Washington, Tho controversy arose as an outgrowth of the robbery in Belgium of a Russian nobleman by two Amorican sailors, who promptly disposed of their plunder, amounting to 80,000 marks, or about $10,200, AMUSEMENTS, " + MoVicker's Thentre. Madteon street, botweon Dearborn and ftate. En ‘gamementof the Wizard Herrmann. Afternoon and ‘evening. . Waverty’s Thentre: { + Dearborn streot, corner of Monroo. Engagement of outs Aldrich nnd Charles Parsivo, " My Partner,” | Afternoon and oyoning, Hooley's Theatre. Randolph stroot, between Clark and LaSalle, En- faremontot E. A. Sothern. Afternoon, “Ilome.” ¥roning, “Tho Croshod Tragedinn.” ing it to a “Mr, Collins,” of Brooklyn, N. ¥. While the letter was cn roulc, and before it. had thne to teach Its destiuation, the Consuls-General of Russia and Belgium united ina request for authority to take this letter from the Brooklyn Post-OfMfice, on the ground that it contained the money stolen in Belgium. This request was refused by the Post-Onico Department, and on an appeal -being taken. to the Attorney-General of the United States the inatter was yesterday laid before the full Cabinet, and a deelsion was reached to the effect that this registered letter, belng sent from a private individual to a private indl- vidual, 13 inylolable, and ean only ve taken from the Post-Olfice by the person to whom it is addressed. Meanwhile the letter lies In Brooklyn unclaimed, “Mr. Collins” not ifay- Ing come forward to ask for It, and the Rus- sitn nobleman’s only remedy is to continue indefinily the espionage established at the Post-Ofitee In Brooklyn for the purpose of arresting the person who shall come forward tu claim the precious letter, MR. BLAINE'S PRESIDENTIAL PROSPECTS, ‘Tho most casual observer must have been impressed within the past two or three weeks: with the remarkable and widespread mani- festatlon of Mr, Blatne’s strength as acandl- date for the Republican nomination for Pres- ident. ‘The evidences of lig popularity have. increased ata marvelous rate ever since the Pennsylvanian Convention was held. Mr Dlaine’s attitude up to that time was passive. Hie was represented before that Convention as personally averse to any netive contest in His behalf against Gen, Grant. In spite of the repressive Influence which such an un- derstanding naturally exercised upon hts friends, his popular strength in Pennsyl- yanla was so deelded that it came within a few votes of defeating the Grant instructions, for which the Convention had been organ- ized by the Cameron politichins. When the proceedings of the Conyentlon became known, it was generally conceded that It was. Cnmeron rather than Grant who had carried. the day, and that the Binine element In the State would have controlled the Convention had Blaine placed Iimself at the head of his army of friends and encouraged them to make the contest. It is now announced from Washington on what appears to be good authority that Mr, Blaine, acting upon the earnest adyleo of his more Intimate adherents, has declared his pur- pose to coe before the people from now on agannetive and notimorely a willing candi- date, ‘This determination has evidently been brought about by popular demonstrations of preference for Bluine which it would be folly for him to ignore aud ingratitude In hin to depreciate, When Mr, Blaine decided that he would do nothiug to advance hisown claling at the expense of Gen, Grant, it was undor the impression, which obtained very generally throughout the country, that the Republican nonuntion would be tendered to Urant almost without opposition in case Bluluw were not a candidate. ‘There were inany circumstances that made this theory probable, ‘The popniar demonstrations of prida and admiration with which Gen. Grunt was Peeeived everywhere upon his return to the United States wero widely necepted ns indleative of a general desire on the part of the people to call him back to volltival life, Following the excitement and glamour of these receptions, however, cama abundant evidences that a large proportion of those whe had jolned heartlly in the wel- come extended to the great General of the War upon his return after an absence of several years had no Intentlon to express thoreby a political preference for the hero. About the time of Grant's return, too, there was uo distrust of tha purposes of the ex- Confederates which had been Inspired by the attompt lu.the extra session of Congress to brenk down tho Election laws, and this dis- trust led many persons to bolieve that the typical “strong man” of the country should be called to the front, Lut the apprehensign of now sectional troubles hing worn away during the Inst few months, and thero are not nearly so many people now who feel willing to sacrifice the precedent against 0 third tern to a doubtful necessity for the “gtrong man,” Finally, Gen. Grant's posl- tlon has been belleved, U1 within. the last few duya, to ba that he would only take the nowinntlon In case it was tendered to him with progtical unanimily, The Pennsylvanta Convention demonstrated the futtlity of any such hope, andJt is now declared thut Grant is willing that his frlonds should makea fight for the nominution, and that lie will accept it, no matter how flerce a struggle may bo hecessury nor how smull a majority shall be secured for him in Convention. ‘These are some of the circumstances which have put a new aspect upon Gen, Grant's candidacy, and have rellayed Mr, Blalno of any preylous obligution he may have felt not to nuke a personal and aggressive struggle for tha-nomination, If It {s ‘certuln that there Isa formidable opposition within the Republican party to the nomination of Grant, then Mr, Blaine, who is probably the second eholcouf umajority of Grant's frlonds, can- not neglect his own clalias, If it be a fact that Grant intends to be 4 candidate Ju spite of opposition, then thero aro no personal reasons why Olympte Theatre. Clark street, botweon andolph and Lake. K. 1. K, * \e\ftarnoon and oroninu. HHnmlin’s ‘Thentre. Clark stroat, between Washington and Randolph. Powagement of Frank Chanfrau. ‘Kit, tha Arkansas 'ravelor." Aftornoon and evoning. : SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1850, AMEAVY visitation of wind and rain has .t poreated considerable damage in Kentucky . Nand the southern portion of Ohfo, causing a ; sudden rise in the rivers and flooding largo ‘areas of land. Tre collections in the Roman Catholic .,, churches of the Diocese of Clifengo for the rellef of the poor In Ircland, so faras the gnme have been reported to the Chancellor, (% aggregate $14,417.35, A few small parishes 4 have yet to report. Of this sum over $9,000 havo been forwarded for distribution, and ‘+ tho rest will be sent on in a few days, ‘Tne ITouse Committee on Commerce yes- terday adopted tho bill offered by Mr, Ilen- derson, of IlInols, as a subslltute for the Rengan bill, which was defeated in the Com- uittee, Tho new bi retains many of tha features of the Rengan bill, but omits the clanso prohibitory of pooling combinations . among the railroads, It contatna a provision * fora Commission to prevent unjust diseriml- nation and extortionate charges, and appears + tobe In the nature of 2 compromisy measure ¢ between tho frlends of Governmental restric- tlon and the rallroxd compantes. Manron D. Oaven, one of tho oldest and best-Inown residents of Chlengo, dled yes- ; torday at hls home in Elinhurst, near thls + city, aged 68 years, He camo to Chicago In {{ 1836, and was prominently identified with tho enrllor stages of the elty’s maryeloug .growth, It was Mr. Ogden’s . residence in the North Division that gained a Ss. world-wide celebrity from belng the only it, bullding between the river and Lincoln Park, {1 adistance of about two miles, that passed * unseathed through the memorable conflagra- : tlon of Oct. 0 anid 10, 1871. As a eltizen and ' nelghbor Mr. Ogden enjoyed the respect and , esteem of a largo circlo of friends, and will HME be slncerely mourned, ant” mB Tae Republicans have taken pity upon the , Impecunfous Democracy of Chicago, and ugreed to pay three-fourths of the oxpenso of tho spociul fixtures at tho Exposition Build- ing to bo put in for the benefit of the Na- tional” Conyontlons which may assemble , there, ‘Tho Democrats ploaded tholr inabll- . Myto“go halves” on the costin the event 2 of thelr scouring the Democratic Convention \ for Chicago, and the local Republican Com- # mittee concluded to let them off with one- quarter, Itis tobe feared that the Inck of * backbone oxhibited by the Democrats will f, result In thelr getting beaten before the Na- #3 tlonal Committeo in the contest for the Con- + ‘vention, and that if it comes here nt allit vt will bo due to Republican enterprise and Be Uberality. fi . Tu Iawsult between Court-House Con- 4 tractor McNeil and Mr. Samuel Ashton, *s former President of the Board of County gh Commissioners, brought by the Intter to re- sy cover $3,000 for sorvices performed as Mc- et Nell attorney In assisting, hlin to gat the i stone contract, came to an end yesterday, “* the jury finding for the defendant after de vu! liberating only about ten minutes, It ap- “ peared from the testimony that Ashton, as ox-Prosident of the Board, and a promluent. Democrat, had undertaken for the sum of $5,000 to uso his influence with the Dem- #4: ogtatle members of the Board to secure . the contract, and subsequently claimed. to have boon Instrumental in bringing about that result, It wasnetan unusual thing in the County Board tn those days for tho let- ting of contracts to be “influenced” by con siderations other than those of economy and ++, honesty, and tt is not aurprising that the Jury “Af In this case, under a patited tntimatton Crom "Ff the Court that contracts of tho Ashton-Me- .e Nell kind wore opposed to public polley and therefore vold, should haye so promptly rendered & verdict uguinat the plainthif, eee jt. Present fudications are that tho Houso “& Committee on Ways and Means will report ‘ff favorably upon Mr, Forts bil! to lower the cost of schoolbooks and nowspapens, butit Is “i wot certain that the bill can be passed in the House without a stubborn flyht by the repre- & sentatives of the papersmukers and the adyo- 2 cates of high tariff generally. The paper- fg Makers will come forward with specious Lif Pleas as to the Incrensod cost of raga, while S48 the fact remains that the ttem of rags cuts a 4 4 ? very trifling figure In the manufacture of the grades of paper that would by nifected by the reduction of the duty ow imported pupsr to Spercentad valorem and the admission of ‘sodu-ash duty free. Mr. Fort’s bill ty galn- ing new supporters every day as the Con- “pressinen begin to hear from thelr constlt- ' penta on the subject of the onerous tax on knowledge and the encouragement of Jz- norance and flliteracy resulting from the eexbinatiun of protected paper-makers to Sra by putting it ina registered letter and mall-: Blaine should hold aloof and give other contending eandidates an advantage over Ibn without dolng Grant's cause any service, These considerations justify Mr. Blaine's avowed and active candidavy, and by plae- ing himsel€nt the head of the hosta of his friends throughout the country he wilt uns auestionably given dectied Impulse to the movement in his behalf. c There are other clreumstances of recent develapmont which algnalize Binine'’s popu- tarity, The people of Pennsylvania are be- ginning to make open protest against the Grant instructions and tho tit rite imposed upon thelr Convention by Don Comeron, Meetings are belng held and clubs organized in the interest of Independent action on tho part of tho delegates, which is really In Blaine’s hutorest, It is stated that there are now twenty of tho Pennsylvania delegates who will refuse to be bound by the unit rile, and there may be such an expression of popular protest before the date of the Chi- engo Convention that every Blaine delegate, and every delegate representing a Blaine constituency, will feel not morely freo to dis- rogard the Graut instructions but actually. constrained to enst his vote Independently of the unit rule, In obedlenco to..the choice of his district. There are indicattons that Blaine has greater strength than Sherman in tho Intter’s own State,» The Sherman meeting at Columbus proved to bu a very taine affair, and there is every prospect that the Blaine meeting called for tho 19th Inst, will reveal adegresof popular enthusiasm that Secre- tary Sherman hns not been able to excite among his own people. Late canvassing among tho Republicans of Illlnols has reported a larger numerteal support for Blaine than for Grant, This irresponsible system of gathoring opluions is not, of course, entirely trustworthy, but it undoubdt- edly helps to mold public sentiment. Blalne's friends everywhere, it must bo admilted, evince an enthusinsm that no other candidate except Grant lins inspired. They are Inrgely composed of the young men of the Repub- Mean party,—the most nective, earnest, and {emonstrativeelement. They will bepresent at the Chicago Convention In a force that will be surprising to Binine’s rivals. e Our purpose nt this tine is merely to pre- sent falr indleation of the drift of public opinion as it Is denoted by the reports from varlous sections. Asn result of observation and comparison, it may be safely atated that Binine bas made more headway during the Inst two weeks than any of the prominent enndidates for the Chicago nomination, ‘The saine ratlo of progress between now and the meeting of the Convention will give Blalno an advantage at the start, whatever tho ulti- mate choice inay be. GAR THE CIVIL SERVICE BE REFORMED? One of the most humiliating evidences of tha corrupting tendency of the politics of the day is tho exhtbition now making in the United States Senate concerning the appoint ment of Supervisors of the Census, Senator George LL Pendleton tg a man of hgh pre- tensions, exalted views, who has already ‘been 9 candidate before the people for Vice- President, and who for twenty years nas sought with persevering encrgy a nominn- tion for President. This gentleman was not ashamed to report's few days ago that a number of nominations by the President for the office of Supervisors of the Census be re- jected, not because of any objections to the personal eapacity or fitness of the peraons, but because they were all Republicans. Mr. Pendleton claimed that the Demooratie party ‘wasentitled to some of the Supervisors. Each Stiporvisor has jurisdiction in one district. ‘Tho elaim is that-the Democrats are entitled to some of tho districts, ‘The objection to ap- pointing Republicans, toliave any force, must have rested on the assumption that the census would bo taken {n the Interest of the Repub- ean party, and it follows that Sir. Pendloton claimed that the Democrats wore entitled to have the census taken in thoir Interest in att tho distriets, ‘The real objection, however, was that tho Senators of the United States, and not tho President, elatin to be entitled to the patron- ago of appointing the enumerators of tho consus. Mr. Pendleton and his assoctates knew that this was a scandalous abuse of the power of the Senate to confirm or roject Presidential appointments, and a glaring de- nial of the constitutional authority of the Exceuttve, ‘The spectacle of the Senators of tho United States squabbling and disputing with tho President over a division of tha patronage between thom, though disgraceful In the extreme, is, however, only in keeping with the general demoralization of tho polities ofthe country. ‘his samo principle, which practically asserts that governments among menare designed to distribute patronage,— rewards for past and bribes for future per- sonal services,—is adopted In all branches of the public service, even to the most local Instances. Even tho patronage of the alms- houses and of tho hospitals fer Infectlous and contagions diseases Iy now part of the spolls of party politics. ‘Vhe grent mafority of the American people heartily disapprove and Inment this dis grace- ful abuse of our political machinery, All questions of political principle are subordi- nated to the mere distributing minor offices, Representatives In Congress owe thelr elec tion to rings of local manipulators of local conventions, and members of Congress owe thelr first allegiance to this Inndful of cor- ruptiontsts. Oflices are the prico pledged for nominations and elections to Congress, and hence the necesslty for Senators and Rep- resentatives to usurp the power of appoint- ment lodged. by the Constitution with the President and the heads of the Executive De- partments, All this the American people would gladly seo oxtirpated from our po- Uitleal system. ‘Tho fact 1s, howaver, that tho Benatora and Representatives ln Congress have made themselves asa body the offleial proprietors of all the oMfces under the Gen- eral Government, Each\man clalms the right to appoint “my friends” and remove “my enemies” a3 9 prerogative of his office, and this most serlous and corrupting of all abuses of our political system scems to bo Nrmly eatablished, We havo from time to time published capl- ous extracts from John Russell Young's cov- versntions with Gen. Grant during the trip around the world, in which the General, after his long experience In tho office of President, spoke vory pliinly of many things, Commenting upon the demorallzation of tho Civil Servive, of which ho had been olglt years the chief, Gen, Grunt thus ox- pressed Dimselfs Glvll-Sorvico reform reata entirely with Con Rress. If membors und Senators will give up vinhning Patronige, that wi)i bo a step gained, But thore {san immense amount of human nue turo in mombers of Congress, and it isin hiu- man nature to sock power and use it, and to help friends, An Exouutlve must consider Con gress, A Government machine must run, and an Exccutlye depends on Congress, The mem- bors bave tholr rights as woll as himsolf, if ho wants to got along with Congress, havo the Gov- ernment go smoothly, and seetire wholesomo tegislation, ho must be in syinpathy with Con- gress, It hns become tho bublt of Congressmen to share with tho Exovutivo in the responsl- bility af appolntmonts, Itis unjust to aay that this habit {a necessarily corrupt. 1t ts slinply a custom that hua grown up, a fact that cannot be ignored. Tho President very rarely sppoints; he mercly reglsters tho sppolntinents of memm- berw of Congress. ‘The effect of this statement ts to add to the despulr of tho situation, Here 1s 4 frank con- fession by 8 man of more than ordinary finn- ness, and who fs commended asone Itkely, by tho mere force of his will, to give the coun- iry a “strong government,” that after elght years’ experience hoe {s unable to seo any away to freet this most corrupting evil but by abjectsubmission, Ho thinks thatthisusutpa- tlon of Executive powors by Senatorsand Rep- resentatives ig beyond the power of resistanca by any President, and that whosoever may bo olected in 1880 will take the office, resign- ing the great functlon of the appolnt- ing power to the local satrap, dema- gog, or spoll-hunter who may for tho time hold 9 sont in the Senato or tho Touss‘of Representatives, Presi- dent Mayes, though tnfler(ting a Clvit Service Inrgely odious to the country, was ablo to do much in the way of purification and much In theAvay of avolding objectiona- ble additions 46 the service. This ho did, though unnided by Congress, and frequently antagonized in tho most direct manner by Senators unwilling to yield thelr usurped prerogatives, Whatis possible for one inan {n the Prestdential clalr ought to be possible for another, and the people—or ao many of thom as ttre not oMce-holders, ofiice-brokors, and oflice-scekors— will read with regret Gen, Gran’s despairing declaration that n President nowsentering office will havo to submit to things ng he finds them, abandon his constitutional powers and duties, and hand over the most fmportant functions of the Government to such Senators and Repre- sentatives ns may nt the time run tho pollt- teal machinery of tholr respective States and districts, Let us hope that no crime, no ovil, no abuse, whether social or political, ts beyond the remedial power of a free people; aud thatin the future there will come a time and an Exceutive who will meet this corrup- tion which ling fastened upon our Clyil Sery- Ico firmly and resolutely, and, appealing to the country for ald in restoring the Govern- ment to {ts original purity and responsibility, will not appeal in yain, OUR ENGLISH SECRETARY OF 8TATE. In exccutive session of tho Senate of the United States, Dec, 4, 1878, Mr, Edmunds submitted the following resolutions: Resolved, Thut, in the Judgment of tho Senate, steps ought to bo taken to provide for ns enrly n termination of tho fishorics nnd customs are rangemonts botwoon thd United States and Great Heltain as possible, by negutlations with that Goverument to that end. Reavtved, hata copy of tho foregoing resolu- tion be laid boforo tho President of tho United States. ‘These resolutions were referred to the Com- mitteo on Foreign Relations Jan. 27, 1879; re- ported favorably Feb. 4, and agreed to unan- Amouaty by the Senate Feb. 27, The {njunc- tion of secrecy was removed Murch 27, and the resolutions, together with the memo- randa in relation to statistics of the fisherles of North America prepared for Senator Ed- munds, were printed In the appendlx to tho Congressional Hecord. ‘Tho statistics showed (1) that the dutics anyed to the Canadians under tho operation of tho Treaty of Washington for the fiveyears 187478 fnclusive amounted to $780,480; (2) that the total yalne of the American catch in Canadian waters for the same period was $281,933; (3) that tho actual net loss tucurred. by American fishermen engaged In tho in- shore mackerel fisheries in the Guif of St, Lawrence in the year 1873 (an extremely favorable year) was $03,531, Here was a strong prima facts case, sup- ported by the Senute of the United States, a branch of the treaty-making power, and ad- dressed Inrespectfultermsto the Presidentot tho United States, Tho precedents of our Government and tho usages of all constitu. tlonal Governments required that someaction should be taken on this resolution. Now, what de we tind the facts to be? ‘The Secre- tary of State of the United States, on being asked by n representative of Tun ‘Trisunn Jast month—nearlyn yoar after the passage of tho Senate resolution—what netion had been tuken in tho matter, roped that he had “dono nothing which ha was roady to have known by the public.” A. fow days aftor- ward two members of the Sennte Commitico on Forelan Relations addressed him on the sume subject, and iw returned substantially the sand answer, dtmlght be supposed that Mr. Evarts was unduly cautious and diplomatic, and thatan immense deal of negotintion of a delicate naturehad been going forward which tho public ought not to he Informed of. But wo now haye tho highest authority for saying that there have been no negotiations at all, ‘The foretgn disputches of yesterday report- ing the proceedings in the English Partla- mont contain the following: Mr. Bourke, Under Secretary for the Foroign Department, replying to Gourloy’s question as to the claiin of the Government of the Unjted States for damages alleged to have been doug by Nowfoundland Ashorinen in Fortune Bay to tho Mussichugotts ishing ftleot, said that no measure hai beon taken rolutive to the peennl- ary clus, which wasetlll under the Govern- ment's conslderution; that no mensure hud becn take for abrogating or amending Clause 83 of tho Treaty of Washington relative to the Cann- dian and Nowfoundinad snshore flshorics, and that {t wasnot thought necessary to mako any oominunication for ascertaining the purport of the provisoof the Convention of 1818... Mr. Bourke, in tho courso of his reply to Gour- Joy's inquiry with regard to tho fishories ques- tion and tho Trouty of Washington, dovlarod there was no idea of ubroguting or amonding Cinuge 83 of thut treaty, ‘This {s official. ‘Tho English Government announces that “no ameasures: have been talen for abrogating or amending Clause 33 of the Treaty of Washington relative to the Canadien and Newfoundland inshore fsh- vertea,” ‘Those revelations put Mr. Evarts in an ox- ceedingly unpleasant position. Ie cannot havo carried forward negotiations without the knowledgo of the English Government, Yet he has given the fmpression both to the Senate and to the public that ho hus been en- gaged In negotiations of some Kind looking tothe abrogation of that clause which the British Governwent says“ thers is no idoa of abroguting or amending,” It looka very inuch ng if Mr, Evarts had resolved to dis- regard entirely the Edmunds resolution, and to treat with cool contempt the Senate of the ‘United States, whitch by o unanimous yote adopted it, On Thursday Senator Blaine submitted tho following, which was adopted: Reaolved, That the President bo respootfully requested, if in bis Judgment not incompativio with pubiie Interests, te communicate to tho Benate any Information in possession of the Governmout touching the ulloged falsa statis- Ucs and fabricated testimony imposed upon tho Tull(ax Commission and used us4 basis of thetr uwardin the mattor of tho fisherios, I Secretary Evarts has known all about the swindle tho British perpetrated upon us in the Hatifax fshery-award business, but has kept his luformation to hingsalf, ‘The public hove been placed In possession of It, how- over, through Prof, Hind, of King’s College, Tlwifax, complior of the fishery procecdings, who has mado public the infamous frauds and forgeries that were practiced upon the Americans in the submisaton of the case to the arbiters, Senutor Biulne camo Into pos- session of his {information through Tind’s published letter, Evarts having too much re- gurd for tho susceptibilities of tho British Minlater to volunteer any Information to Senators on so disagreeable a subject, We opine that unless he followgup his resolu. tion vigorously and linportunately the Benate will walt awhile before the Secretary of State troubles them with much information. ‘The conduct of the Secretary of State ts not 4 ; THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY:' 14, 188b—SIXTEEN PAGES. f atrange thing in Amerlean oxpertence, From the beginning to the end of the fishery dispute our Governinent has been played upon and overreached in the same bold-faced. way. Tho truth fs, we have not had an American Secretary of State at Washington fora long time. British Influences have con- trolled our State Department, A British titled Alinister in a fine house owned by tha British Government lias given British din- ners, at Government expense, to Ameriean snobs Iving in ainaller houses and giving poorer «inners at thelr own private charge. ‘Tho British Minister has always made itn point to be on the niost intimate social terms possible’ with the American Secretary of State, Ienco the foreign relations of the tao Governments have been discussed and disposed of as family affairs. Nothing has been introduced or consitlered that might mar the general hilarity of the two families, Tho British Minister, as tho bigger man in purse, has taken precedence, not only in private but in public, . as wollat the council-board nsat the diiner- table, The dispatehes of our Government to the English Government are, It {3 stated, in- yarlably ‘submitted to Sir Edward Thornton for consideration and revision before they aresent So that Sir Edward Thoruton, not William M, Evarts, fs virtually the American Secrotary of State tn all that portains to Britico-Ameriean affatrs, Mr. Evarta is by common consent tho worst exeentive oflicer that ever held a place in the Cabinet. Ho knows nothing of the business of his Dopartment, He $s con- stantly away attending to important Inw- sults in New York. He fs slow, technical, iraseible, nnd concelted. It fs time tho United States should dis- charge their English Secretary of State, and gotan American to All his place, The next President must look west of the Allegheny Mountains for a Secretary of State who can’t be seduced by dinners to neglect tho Interests of his country. WR. BRIGHT ON IRELAND, No English statesman, and no Englishman, perhaps, 8o fully possesses the confidence and esteem of the American people, or so Nearly approaches their ideal of n great statesman, og Mr. John Bright. Heo has al- ways been true to tho cause of human liberty and rights of man, and hag devoted his fino abilities, great energy, and splendtd orator- {eal powers to tho accomplishment of those reforms which linve enfranchised every English houscholder, and which have made England almost 4 Republic with an hereditary President and a feeble, though costly, Court. Mr, Bright’s recent speech on the Irlsh land question shows that, although advanced. In.years, ho lias lost none of his youthful, vigorous, and Anglo-Saxon eloquence, or his sturdy and characteristic sympathy with the oppressed In thelr struggles for honest inde- pendence. It 1s true that he puts forward no absolutely new arguments for a: change in the Irish system of land tenure, nor does he offer any now remedics for its evil and baneful effects. Indeed, every argu- ment put forward, every statement on which ho bases his conclusion, even his remedial plans, have slready been put forward by ‘Tue Tribune; yet coming from one of tho foremost Liberal statesmen of England, and ono who will have an {Influence in the noxt English Liberal Ministry only second to Mr. Gladstono hiaself, his views cannot but have great {nterest for American readers, a3 Dearing on a subject In which they havo shown much interest as affecting a people towards whom they have always shown o very material sympathy. Beginning with tho statement that “ dis- content may be sald to be absolutely univer- gil In Irolnnd,” that in the west of the isiand ft has assumed the form of social revolt, ho palnts out the causo ag “the condition of landholding as regards the tenants, and of the tenantry as regards the landlords’; ridi- cules the notion proyatent in England that the trouble lies in tho religious bins and personal characteristics of the, people; and points to the sueccss of Irishinen in America who pursue tho calling in which thoy have fallod so miserably at home. While ad- initting that the Jand laws of Ireland ore similar to those of England, he states that thelr application is quitudifferent. Hisargu- ments, as before stated, do not possess tho charm of novelty for our renders; his remedial plans, howover, may bear restate- ment, Polnting to the success of tho Bright clauses of tho Church act, by:which tho tenants on Church lands have become owners of thelr farms, he proposes a similar plan for the purchase by farmers of such of thelr holdings a3 the landlords are obliged to sellin the Landed Estates Court; the Govern- mentto advance three-quarters of tho pur- chase money, to bo repaid by the tenant with Interest In thirty-five yenrly payments, To anoke his plan fully understood Mr, Bright puts forward the following supposititious case; Tf, for oxamplo, it [the farm] costa £400, tho Tronaury would flud, I will assume, £300, and tho farmorhimsclf must tind £100, and thon tho form fs transferred to him, and he gocs on pay- ing his ront, not to the Jnndlord, because tho Inndlord fs away,—he has fold it,—but paying his ront to the Goyernmont, which {a tho intorest on. tho monoy that bo hus borrowed from thom,and attor a certain number of years—thirty-five yoars—he has paid all tho interest and all tho prinolpal of tho £400, and tho farm becomes his ‘own as long us he chooses to hold it, Tho farmer, indeed, may by extra exer tions, and with the confldenco and hope in- splred by the knowledge that he fs to become “the Jord of his seres forever,’ become the owner long before the expiration of thirty- five years, Captions critics like the Pall Matt Gazette, which calls Mr. Bright “Mr. Parnell’s great canvert,” object to this plan, and state that In thno the tenants would refuso to pay rent to the State, as thoy now refuse to pay the landlords, This criticism is answered by Lord Monck, once Governor of Canada, and at present one of the Church Temporalities Comnilsstoners, who states in a letter to the Loudon times that only 8 per cont of the annual payments of the tenants who have purchased Church lands aro in default, not withstanding the recent bad harvcats. Ar, Bright would force the London Guilds to sell thalr immense estates In Ulater (ob- tained originally by confiscation) to the ten- antry, andalthough he docs not distinctly state tt, he Sndicates pretty plainly that ha would force the absentea landlords to do tho same, The objection that this plan would have only a very paytial effect and bo slowin {ts opération, Mr. Bright doca not answor with aufilclent clearness, but lt might be polnted out that most of the lands. in Iro- land not held by the absentees and the cor portions alluded to by Mr. ‘Bright are heav- ily mortgaged, and should the Jaw of entail bedone away with,as ha proposes, such lands would be readily disposed of through the Landed Eatates Court, ‘Tho failure of the “Bright clauscs” of the Gladstone lund avt Js no objection to the plan I¢the rights of the tenants ure properly guarded, The Landed Estates Court has es- tablighed a rule that, when the nimount of- fored by all the tenants desirous of purchas- ing does not equal or exceed the sum offered by outside partles for the entire estate, the bid of the tenants falls through, Now it seldom happens that all the tenants can raise the necossary one-third of the cash down’ purchase mongy, and such is the mania for Innd-holding among what are called in Ircland the “shopkeepers,” on ne eount of the social distinction which it confers, that what are catled “fancy prices” ara offered, and tho tenants are pre- cluded from all benefits which tho purchas- ing clause of the innd act were Intended to confer. Again, auch fs tho dislike of tho landlords to tho tdea of the farmers becom- ing Independent proprictors that many ob stacles are thrown by them in the way of the tenants destrousof purchasing. An [lustra- tion of this 1s tobe found in what Is known ng the Hareno case. The Harene estate, which Iles {n the northern part of Kerry, was to be sold in tho Landed Estates Court, The Catholle priest, noting with the Protest- ant Rector, Induced all the tenants to club together to purchase the estate in globo. When tho sale camooff, Mr. Lombard, n well- known Dublin banker, acting for tho ten- ants, offered £82,000 for the property. ‘Tho next highest bid was £31,000, offered by a Kerry landlord named Hussey. Mr, Harenc desired that the property shotld bedisposed of toMr, Hussey, Judge Ormsby, of the Court, decided that the tenants, belng tho highest bidders, shoul be declared the purchasers, An appeal was taken to the Court of Chan- cery, where Judge Ormaby’s decision was reversed, on the ground that, as long asthe creditors were satisited, the Jandlord had tha right to determine who should be the pur- chaser. ‘Thus was nn honest effort on the part of the farmers to become proprictors defented by the jealousy.of the landlord class. In any future legisintion on the ques- tion provisions should be made to prevent the repetition of Instances of the kind de- serlbed, and to fncllitate the purchase by the individual tenants of thelr respective hold- Ings, It 1s certain that great changes will be made {n the system of Jand tenure in Ireland durhig tho coming years, Whether the changes will be as extensive or as sweeping ns pro- posed by Mr. Parnell, or even ns proposed by Mr. Bright, will depend largely on the complexion of the next Parliament, ‘Ihe re- ception given to Mr, Davitt, the Irish Heuten- ant of Mr. Parnell, at St. James? Hall Inst Tuesday, Indicates that the spirit of chango Ins taken hold of a portion of the tenant- farmers of England. Mr. Bradjaugh’s pow- erful advocacy has been enlisted. The recent speeches of Mr. Mundolla and Mr, Chamber- lain, a3 well ag the support given by Mr, Dickson, one of the Ulster Land-Reformers, to tho obstructive members, may, to use Mr, Bright’s words, “bring hope into the Irish farmer’s family and his household.” which ‘will have an Influence as complete, and blessed, and as home-rullng as in tho man- stons of therich and the palaces of tho great.” —_—_ THE EVROPEAN WAR-CLOUDS, All the European journals concur In the representation that the pcople of Germany fre apprehensive of war, and are looking forward to a colossal struggle, in which Ger- many and Russta will be the principals, and Austria, Frauce, and, possibly, Italy, later participants, When the alliance was formed between Germany and Austria, and it was announced with much ostentatlon by tho respective Governments that tho new com- bination was Intended to secure tho peace of Europe, a quict fecling was induecd, and it was oven argued that the effect of tho alll- anco would be to compel Russia. to reduce her armies and armaments, and to intimidate France from making any hostile coniltton against Germany. Recent events, however, havo completely reversed this fecling, The pen that signed the alliance Js hardly dry before Germany adds to her army eleven new regiments and one battalion of Infantry, forty battalions of fleld artillery, onc regiment of foot artHlory, and one engineer battalion, besides making pro- visions to render her reserves more available thav ever before, Austria follows suit, Russia swells her already large armles to 807 battalions. France would unquestion- ably have dono the aame were not her army numerically stronger than that of Germany oven after the Increase, Italy, already bur- dened with debt and threntened with revolu- tion, till further Increases her flnancial com- plications by adding to her army and greatly strongthening her navy. To suppose that these Powers have increased their armies and mustered so many thousands moro of men into service merely for purposes of protec- tion is absurd, because they could haye ro- duced thelr armies one-half and remained safe, Armies are only Incressed when threatening emergencies orise which’ may suddenly precipitate war, This !s tho result at whieh the German people havo artived, ‘They argue that this new draft upon their resources, this additional conscription which ts draining their very Hfe-blood, means, not precautionary measures of police duty, but the preparation for conflict. i ‘There 1s overy reason for this apprelien- sion. The condition of Russia Js rapidly growing criticnl. ‘Ihe revolutionary spirit of Nihillsm constantly increases, notwithstand- ing tho severity of the measures instituted to repress it. Unier the surface it is actlvo evorywhere, and all soclety, the army, the police, the Church, the unfyersities, the peo- ple, even’ the Government functlonaries, are permentei with it. ‘Lo prevent. tho explo- sion thore scems to be but one remedy, and that fs a forelgn war, and a forelgn war 1s only possible with one Power, and that Power is Germany, with whom thore ig little doubt such a war would be popular, Ever sinco tho Berlin Congress the two countries have been drifting In tha¢ direction, and tho most significant feature of the drift is the virulent nature of tho mutual attacks of tho people and the press, The newspaper warhas beon very bitter, and popular demonstrations onsevernt occasions haveshown tho cordlality of hatred that exists. For a timo it was sup- posed that, in cnso of a confict, France could be kopt out of {t; but that supposition no longer holds. It Js becoming more and miore apparent that Germany. is not sutlsiied with the attitude of France, and that, in caso of war with Russia, France could not realist the temptation to wipe out tha disgrace of her last war and obtain compensation for the loss of Alsace-Lorraine, and Germany could not hold her back, In Buch a war it 4g Inovitablo that Austria and Jtaly must take part, the former as the ally of Germany and the Iqtter through her French sympathies and Austrian hatreds, As to the Itallan feeling, a correspondent of the Pall Matt Gazette says: Tf tha tussians aro oncourrgod by the popular fooling in Franco, they are not perhaps 0 80- riously deterred by Austrian polloy a8 8 good muny English observers suppose, Woro Auatria to Join ber forces with thoso of Germany In a war witb Russia, eho would probably Gud that she had almost enough to do in dofonding bor solf against Italy. In 1864 the Germans bad an impression that they bad socurod !n Ituly 4 thor oughly trustworthy ally; but they woro speedily wndecelved, Only an accidont prevented Victur Emmanuel from slding with Franco in 1870, and sinoe tha roviyal of the Eastern question the sympathies of Italy have boon mainly with the Husslana, Hor most active politicians aro dom- inated by # sentlinent exactly Ike thut of the Panelayists, and thoy aro greatly misunderstood {¢ they would not willingly ciak another struggle with Austria for provinces to which they havo no realclaim, but which thoy sre ploased to call “Italla Irredonta."* Mofe than all other portents this sudden increase of the European armies shows tha dangerous crisis that exists in European affairs, Instead uf tending towards the maln- tenance of peace, it only concentrates tha conditions of war where even an accident may let luose the whirlwind beyond the con- tral of those who are now secking to sha the politicat destiny of the Continent, Event of the most momontous interest are hangi : upon the wisdom of the deelsions to he mad by Russia and Germany, The clouds whith now look so threatening may blow oyer, nt Af tie storin ts precipitated no oneenn foteseg the extent of the disaster or the changes 1 must be mado in tho political system ot SRUSODG op Cop. BALDWIN, tho new Gas-Ing prooured anow machina for fost ae be burnors and motors, and hopes thoreby to Ofatrer distritution of Mbt upon tho titer; benighted peoplo of Chicago. Whatever the Merlts of this machine mnay bo, wo fonr that 44 will sccomplist little In the way of compoll} fairer monsure from gas compantes so jing ag tho Gas-Inspector relies upon tho ‘established tost-lamps. THoso test-lamps are located fy cortain engino and station houses In dittereng parts of tho alty, and, however satlefactory the teste may bo in thoso particular instances, thor, is reason to believe It will not produce apy im. Provament in tho Mluminnting quality of the streot-lamps goncrally, which rarcly light up moro than a neighboring circuit of three or tour foot, and only serve to intensify, by comparisoy tho darkness of the space between the Jaman, Any system of inspection that will compel the was companios to afford to the remote sections of tho city a Nght equal tg Pressure and caniilo-power to what thelr contract enlls for must provido for frequont tests of streot-Inmps taken haphazard. It jg possiblo that the purpose might ho acoompllaned by taking an ordinary student's lamp to any Btreot-lnmps that might be selected from tine to Une, thon turning down the Ught of the student's Inmp to correspond with tho alckly, yellow gilmmer of the strect-lamp, and carry. Ing tho student's lamp back for comparison, with the tost-Inmps, In this way, If practicable, tho test of tho meters attached to tho test-lampg would afford # basis for comparison upon which an approximate estimate could bo mado as to how much short tho pressure fs for tho street- Jamps in various districts of tho city, Some. thing of this kind must bo dons, for ample exe Perlenco has shown that tho Inspection of the test-lamps apart doos not ylold a fiir gauge of tho general pressuro throughout the city, and does not suffica to procuro for tho atreets op much ilumination as tho stmo number of old- fashioned Ianterne would afford. ere Tne reason for reversing Smyth’s action in packlug tho Albany dolegntion fs now quite clear. Itraisod a tempest of indignation that throntoned to amnsh tho machine {na thousand Pieces. The protest aguinst the snap primaries’ Plan waa signod by 000 representative Republics uns, fucludlng alarge proportion of the lending German Republicans of tho county. ‘Tho Itoche ester Democrat comments as follows: . Wo give promincneo to this Albany revolt, bee cauge It is of moro than foci bearlng. It's hoalthy sign of the times. It shows that the peo le nro in earnest. Tho “machine in Albany ug been most Arrogunt and despotic, and, bave jog had under Its control large numbera of la- Uorers on the Stata Capitol hns usually been ablo to hive its will, The uprising of tho best gltizons, who menn to huve a voice in the Utica Convention, is, thorofore, full of hope, Albany Republicnns, as witnessed by the eull for the Iugs-ineeting Inst evening. lo not mean to sub- mit tamely to tho edict of tho machine tn favor ofa Presidontin! nomination against which thely Judgment revolts. | ‘The snine sentiment that ob- tning in Albany obtains throughout tho rest of tho State, Lob Republicans everywhere take courage from tho pluck of their Albany breth- ron. Lot thein resulve that New York shui go to Chicago unpledgod to any candidate and une Instructed by a State Convention; and It that resolution be reduced to action in the primaries of tho people, and tho bonst. that one man leadi or drives tho party obediontly to his will may bo brought to naught, Albany County gives tho keynute of indepondence. Let the State ree spond in full and mighty chorus. Tho forced re- trent of tho Smyth delegates In Albuny Is butan gxamplo of what Aennblicans may ellect throughout tho Stato if they but su determine, ‘Tur statement published in the Now York Timea a fow daya ago that Gen. Grant would bo Acandidate before the Convention on tho samo terms as other candidates, and take bis chances of nomination or defeat along with thei, bas cnused a varloty of comment. The Philadel- phia Press (Blaine organ) romarka: If tho statement of a ‘closo_porsonnl and political friend” of ox-Presfdont Grant, which is 0 be found in our nows columns to-day, bo credited, Gen. Grant Is therchy placed jbsos lutely in tho list of candidates for namination fur the Presidency, Tho idea thut tho nomiaitloa must bo wnanimously tendered, ns ft was on each of tho two previous occaslons, has, 08 result of the action in Ponnsylvania, been formally abandoned, and ho fs made to descend totho fovel of other candidates engnzed inn soramblo for tho place. This fa n ucedless humiliation to be pliced upon Gon. Grant, unt it will cause sinecre rerot among bls unselllsh admirers. His selfish friends appenr to be tndif- feront to ovory thought, except the purpose ta violate the traditions of the Repubtio, to shock tho projudices and offend tho sentiments of thé pooplo, and to di tio tholt fuyorlt ton pos: Udon unworthy of dignity, bis services, and his carccr. Says the Cleveland Herald : *TheChicago yetcrans tako no stock in the Weaver demir goyx, Tho Union Veteran Club formally dee nounced the Weaver schemo ng tending to In= Juro tho businoss of tho country, and og uns sought by tho soldicrs and unjust to tho Gove ornment. It hue been sufficiently explained that Weaver's solfcitudo for tho soldicrs is 8 Moro protenso, and that ho disguiacd under tho bypoeritical form of a mensure for the boncilt of the voteruns what was In reulity nothing moro than one of tho many wild echemes of fiat inflation under pretense of paying soldiersextra monoy, which tho Groenbackers have beon try= ing to forco upon tho country. Tho strong probability {s that n large number of the petl- tlons urging tho pussage of this bill wero forgeries. “At all aventa, the sontimentsof tho best eloments of the soldicr population aro rep rosented by the action of the Chicngo nasocin~ tion, Let us soon heur that Weaver and bis bill havo beon equelched,"* . Gen. Sirensan 13 likely to got into hot water jn consequenco of hia having written threntoning Icttor to Represontutive Speer, of Georgin. ‘Tho General ts opposed to Speer's bill problbiting tho bands in the nrmy from playing muse on Bunday, and it is charged that ho de dreasad 0 note to Sucer warning him that if hls Di wus. lat tho garrison nt Attanta would bo remoyod. The army regulations problbit such interference ad this with Congressman, and Mre Speer proposes to lay the facts before tho Hause. 6 General fs clearly In tho wrong, if tho facts Uo us stated, and ho deserves to he soverely Te buked, Hig conduct towards Gen, Boynton bas not dono him any. crodit, and if he keops on io this bulldozing Woy, ho will damage hia ruputar ton very much.—I'itaburg Commeretal. Gen. Sherman hag too many quarrels on band atonce, Ono makes him bot enough, but halts u-dozen put bim Ina molten condition. re In tho yariod discussions of tho elnims and prospects of Presidential cundldates, two thivks stand out cloar from tho clouds of mist whit obscure almost everything else, They ure: (1) Lhe Domoorta of all ‘sections, atimast with O10 accord, desire the Republicnns to nominate Gen. Grant. @) Tho Republicans of all scctions, ale moat with one accord, desira the Democrats (0 nominate Mr. Tilden, ‘The moral of these pref orances could be giicssed by any average school: boy, without so much as pausing at top or mar blos.—Philadelphia Timea. * Add to this that the Republicans hnve several candidates tho Demooruts don’t want to seo nowlnated, and that tho Domoorats have 2° candidate tho Ropublicans cure a button about one way or the other, and you hayo tho whole aituation in a nutshell, —— ees Tenpnicks agreed to preside at the Pat nell moeetlny ar Stnatan iis: ! then be went down to Shelbyville to redeat upon the wisdom of auch au act, and its political oifect, Hy came: to tho concluslon if ho presided with tho Irish it would not be popular with the Germans a1 eT aA A ball pelo 9) fe % sonvile Journal. sila Now ho fa afraid his rofuaal to preside witl be unpopular with the Irish, and he doutcs that be was ever aakod to proaida, or ovor heard of Fare nell, or knows anything about distress in fre land. Ip there is a 120), healthy Grant boom in the country, the poople would Ike to sco it ox" hibitgd, but such suap-Judgwmont, thimblo-rig ging Ramos as this Inst Now York schomo Wil fail to croate any great degre of cnthusiasin among tho massos, Tho boom ts belug smothered by an overpoworing crowd of trickstors, who 879 tooting thelr horns for tho sake of promised plunder in the future. “The old man hinsell doesn't want any such disgraceful proccodiags attaching to his present program.—Jous Si Reglater, Br what right doos Senator Logan {n- torrogate the members of the Llinals dolegation esto tholr oplutona of bimactt? La it treasou 1 dislike Logan? There are twelve Republicans in tho Lower House of Congress, Nino of thes |