Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, February 29, 1880, Page 4

~ puterea at the Post-Oftce af chicago, 1L,*aa Sitond-t + Dally edition, one year~. THE “CHICAGO ‘TRIBUNE “SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 29,- 1880-—-SIXTEEN- PAGE 8.7 idea of forced emigration to the Indian Ter- ; i PIL ‘ritory was excéedingly distasteful to. the (VJ v. Z @ }-Poncas, and they would not be satisfied TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. a YY MAIL-IN ADVANCE-POSTAGE. PREPAID, 00 6.00 per mon Muesday. Tharsdny, and Saturday. per year.. vednescay, and Friday, per year.. 6-0: plonday. MW naay, 1 6-age edidon, per year Bae Specimen e Give Post-Office address in Tull, including State and County. : ‘Hemtttances may be made elther by draft, express, Post-Office order, or in registered letter, at our risk. TO CITY SULSCLIBEKS. i Dally, delivered, Sunday excepted, 25 cents per week. Datly, delivered, Sunday included, 0 cents per week. Address ‘THE HIBUNE COMPANY, Corner Madison und Dearborn-sts., Chicago, IL _———— POSTAGE. " * Class Matter. For the benefit of our patrons who desire to send single copies of THE THILTNE through the mall, we sive herewith the transient rate of postage: Me. Domest Per Etybt and Twelve Pago Puper. cents Sixteen Page Paper... cents | Eightand Twelve Page Pape 2 cents Sixteen Page Paper & cents TRIBUNE BRANCH OFFICES, ne CHICAGO TRIBUNE has established braao ofices for the receipt of subscriptions and advertise- ments ns follows: ee NEW YORK—Itoom 20 Tribune Building. ¥.. Mo- Favpzx, Manager. GLASGOW, Scotland—Allan's American News Agency. 31 Renfleld-st. . LONDON, Eng.—Ameriean Exchange, 419 Strand. Henny ¥, GILuia, Agent. Z WASHINGTON, D. C.-1319 F street. = SOCIETY MEETINGS...’ * NATIONAL LODGE, NO. 06, A. F. & A. M.—Will holds stated Communication at their hall, corner 0! Hundolph ant isted-sts.. Tuesday evening, March "2, 1580,. sarc OB 2Re ae AL Dente. ‘Visiting breth- ren coi i onder 4! : : ‘ PUN OSTRANDER, W. ML A.C. WOOD, Secretary. i ST. BERNARD COMMANDERY. NO. 35, K. T— Buatéd Conclave Wednesday evening, March 8, at 720 Beet Oe oe te Tea Broder ore asiy inv re Biehis.80 SOUND al CALLE, M.D, Commander. Bt 4.0. DICKERSON, Recorder. APOLLO COMMANDELY, NO. 1, K. T.—Stated Conclave Tai eventing, March 2, 188. at 6 o'clock. Members of Apollo must anpear equipped. Visitin Bir Knichts are alwuys welcome. ‘The Monday ani Friday evening drill corps will meet for aril Monday id Friday evenings st 7:3 onder - Bear Commander. © ILS. TIFFANY, Hecorder. VAN RENSSELAER GRAND LODGE OF PERFEC- TION A & A SOOTTISH HITE MASOSS—Regular TION. A &: diursdny evening next at #23) o'plock tor fusinesy and work ou the Fourth und Fifth Degrees y order (80, R MCCLELLAND, T-. Pv. Ge. 36". ED GOODALE, Grand Secretary: CORINTHIAN CHAPTER, NO, 3, R.A. M.—Special Convocation Munday evening, March 1 for work ‘un the IL AL Degree, Vastting ‘companions are courte ued rot ap Y QOBERT MALCOM; M. B. HP. JOHN 0. DICKERSON, Secretary. LAFAYETTE CHAPTER, NO.2, R. A. M—Hall 6 Mouroe-st—Special Convocntiun Monday evening, March iat ofclock. | Work on be and azar 1 jons welco: Fee ening Coe FORSYTH, MLB. HP. WM. J. DRYAB. Secretary. FAIRVIEW CHAPTER, No. 101, R.A. M—Regular Convocation ‘Thursday evening, March 4, 1390, nt 7:3. Work on the Stark Dezroe. Visiting, companions are always welcome. HS. TIBEANY, BL E. EL P. MYRON HARIIS, Secretary. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1890. Cocxr Rapowirz takes the place of Prince Hohenlohe as German Minister to France. ——— Mn. Trowpripce, of Michigan, who was nominated by President Hayes to succeed Hayt as Indian Commissioner, has been con- - firmed by the Senate. Unra (Ur of the Chaldees), a town of much historical importance on account of the connection therewith of the patriarch Abraham. has been nearly destroyed by fire. Sm Jame¢Fereuson, who has filled many offices of profit and honor in England and her colonies, has just been appointed Gov- ermor of Bombay, in her Imperial High- ness’ Indian Empire. ‘nis ig an age of canal projects. The Gerinun Government, it is said, contemplates cutting a ship-canal, navigable for war ves- sels, from the Baltic Sea to the German Ocean, and passing through Schleswig-Hol- stein. Tue Ru: Imperlalists are congratulat- ing themselves on the selection of Gen. Meli- koff as Virtual dictator. They. regard him as the right man in the right place. What the Nihilists think about the appointment is quite another matter. ‘Tne Spanish Government propose to move cautiously and slowly in introducing reforms in Cuba. The Cubans, and indeed many persons besides, think that the Spaniards have too long adopted an eminently con- servative policy of inaction. ‘Tuimry-rovr indictments have been re- turned against the Controller, City-Treas- urer, and City-Clerk of Elizabeth, N. J., for faving defrauded the city in the purchasing of bonds, and for paying unauthorized claims to Aldermen and other parti ‘Tre Iowa'‘ State Senate hate voted the privilege of the Senate Chamber’ to Messrs. Parnell’ and Dilion on the occasion of their Visit to Des Moines Marcli 1. Gov. Gear will preside at the evening regeption. Ex-Gov. Palmer will preside at the’ Springfield mect- ing on‘the 3d prox. ‘Tar New York irish societies have been obliged by tue force of public opinion to re- cede from their purpose of parading on St Patrick's Day. Only a small number of the societies will march on that day, and these over only a short distance, so as to comply with their charters. Twe compantes of United States soldiers have been ordered to Caldwell, Sumner County, Kas., and two to Coffeyville, Mont- gomery County, in the same State; this time to prevent white men from encroaching on the Indian Territory in violation of the United States treaty obligations. Tur North German Gazette says that should the Papslavists succeed in their de- signs it would lead to the dismemberment of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and that Bismarck would be carrying out the unani- mous wish of the German people in interfer- ing to prevent such a consummation. Ste Srarronp Norrucore’s resolution providing for the suspension of Members of Parliament who persist in obstructing the business of the House, and which is mainly directed against the Parnellites of the Irish - Parliamentary party, was passed yesterday, notwithstanding a vigorous resistance on the part of O'Donnell, the Home-Rule ML. P. for Dungarvan, and Mr. Courtenay, the Radical member for Leskeard and a Jeader-writer in the London Times. Mr. Gladstone voted against the resolution. : “Buicut Exes” stated tothe Committee pf Inquiry into the transfer of the Poncas, yesterday, that the paper agreeing to the re- moval of the tribe to the Indian Territory was signed under a total misapprehension, |: 3nd that had the Poncas known what they were doing they would notunder any circum- stances have consented to the transfer. Morgan, the interpreter, did not know the Janguage of the tribe sufficiently to clearly prysent the conditions to the tribe. The until the paper making the transfer was de- clared void. i ‘Tue inquiry into the causes, which led to the Tay bridge disaster, which is now in progress at Dundee, revéals gross: if not | criminal carelestiess onthe part of the rail- road authorities. Evidence has been given to prove that the bridge was in a very unsafe condition long befpfe the terrible accident which-has led tothe inquiry. ‘ Tue Nihilitic. disturbances are said .to have extended into the Russian provinces, and-unusual activity is reported among the revolutignists in St. Petersburg. Great preparations are being. made, notwithstand- ing, 10 celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of: the Czar’s accession. It is evident that “Hie Russian monarch Is. determined not to all see the handwriting on th Crrizexs of Northern Illinois favoring the construction of a ship-canal between the Llli- nois River and Lake Michigan will meet at Ottawa March 18 to adopt such measurés as may further the proposed scheme. The im- provement of the Illinois River will also come up for consideration. It is not improb- able that many persons from Chicago will put have rescinded their action indorsing the con- demnation of the Chinese quarter by the Board of Health. This action has little significance, as the Health Board has full uthority to act in the matter. The opposing darties in the meantime are maintaining a state of peaceful neutrality, the only in; cidents worthy of note yesterday being the arrest of Gannon, a Sand-Lot orator, who is charged with using incendiary language, and a statement by Mayor Kalloch that there was no necessity for inereasing the police force, as he bélieved all charges of intended vio- lence or incendiarism on the part of. the workingmen to be false, Tue Cincinnati Enquirer thinks that Tilden is solid in Ohio. According to that organ of. simon-pure Democracy, at least three-fourths of the prominent Democratic politicians dre in favor of the man who owns a barrel, and it matters not how the people think as,long as the machine- men are all right. A Cleveland dis- pateb states that Birnum, of mule notoriety, Pelton; Payne of Cleveland, Swineford of Marquette, and Tilden. have made a combination with Thurman by which the latter will become a member of the Dem- ocratic Cabinet in the event of Tilden’s clec- tion. Payne is to be the candidate for Vice- President. As a further inducement to Thurman to withdraw,. he is promised the nomination for President in 1884, Tom Hen- dricks could whisper a word or two of usc- ful advice into the ears of the man of the red bandana just now. Srermes are becoming the order of the day in:the East. In additiow to the strikes af Cohoes and Troy, N. ¥., already noted, it appears that sume have taken place at Brook- lyn; and the tailors, carpenters, plasterers, model-makers, ete., of New York are organ- izing for the same purpose.. As usual, .vio- lence is threatened against those who would take the strikers’ places, and-thus a large number of men are kept in enforced idle ness when they and their families can least affordit. A:largeamountof capital will be allowed to lie idle; commodities will have to be sold at increased prices; but it is the workingmen themselves who will suffer most, At the end of a couple of weeks or a month they will be forced to return to their work at the same prices which prevailed when the strike took place. The members of the Chicago Butchers’ Union should com- municate with their fellow-workingmen in the East and dissuade them from striking, which, under the circumstances, will be sheer folly, and must end in. the-strikers’ utter discomfiture. Tue Senate Committee on Indian Affairs ata special sitting yesterday agreed to re- port for passage a. bill which will radically change the policy of the Government to- wards the Indians. 1t is proposed by this bill to subject the Indians to the laws of the State or Territory in which they live, to abandon the paternal policy which has made the Indians the wards of the Nation, ‘and to place them on lands to beowned individually, and which shail be absolutely inalienable for twenty-five years. Considerable assistance will be afforded by the Government under the. provisions of the Dill to develop intelligence. and promote indus- trial habits among the savages. While the bill does riot contemplate the entire transfer of the control of Indian affairs from the Department of the Interior, it will divest that Department of much of its power in giving the control and government of the Indians to the respective States and Terri- tories in which they reside. There will be no necessity for changing the location of ‘any of the tribes except the Utes and Lemhis, as all the others are on reservations amply able to support them, either by means of stock- raising or agriculture. It is about time some such law were passed. The policy of paternal care for the Indians has been a mistaken one from the beginning, and has been instru- mental in doing away with whatever little self-reliance and self-respect the Indian pos- vessed, =j THE CITY BUDGES. The City Council is now engagedin the earnest struggle over the annual appropria- tions, which, in their turn, are limited by the law governing the tax-levy. The facts lead- ing up to the present contest in the Council should be understood in order that the pub- lic may judge of the merits of the contro versy. The assessed value of the ‘taxable property of the city is $17,970,035. The law of the State limits the rate of taxation for municipal purposes to 2 per, cent on this valuation. But;:by:o provision of law, taxa- tion for the payment of interest on the public debt and iaxation to pay judgments against ,the city, are not included within this limita- tion. By another provision of law, as con- strued by the Supreme Court, taxation for school purposes does not fall within the character of taxation for municipal purposes. In addition to the revenue from taxation for all. these purposes, the city has an income of about $250,000 from licenses and fines, and- has in the Treasury, in round figures, about $1,000,000, which, during the last three years, thas been.‘saved from appropriations and from the surplus revenue of previous years. This fund, the result: of the most rigid -economy, is now a bone of contention be- tween the opposing parties in the City Coun- cil. * The Finance Committee of the Council have made the following recommendations as to appropriations: i ‘Lo amount of the tax-levy. + $2,254,400 For schools, special tax For fiero special tay: Peed For judgments, special tax. T2500 ‘Yo amount of license revent 250,000 “Total appropriations... $4,072,289 This whole sum, except $250,000, will have to be raised by taxation. . . iS ‘There are, however, certain other purposi deemed desirable, and for which the limita- tion prohibits a tax being levied. A portion of the Finance Conunittee consider it neces- sary that appropriations be made for the fol- lowing purposes: “ Extra for sewers. $100,000 For Bridge! en For fr . | Asnotaxcan be levied for.these purposes without exceeding the legal limit, it: is. pro~ posed by some niembers of the Finangs Com- mittee to appropriate $345,000 of the surplos ioney now in the ‘Treasury for these special purposes... This’ Committee at the last regu- lar meeting made a. written report, in which théy:stated the-casa very clearly’ as follows: WaerEAS, The City Charter requires that the appropriations for corporate purposes shall bé mude during the first quarter of cach fiscal year, while the Revenue laws of. the State ren+ der it impossible to collect the money thus ap- propriated until the next year thereatter; and WHEREAS, Under the operation of these laws the City Government is of necessity left-~without funds in hand with which to meat current ex- enses, and is obliged to resort to one of the fol- lowing modes of relief: () Borrowing money, 3 ©) issuing scrip; 3) by, accumulating in Preusury a fund trough the practice of econo- my and the annual reducing of the ex nd~ {tures below the amount appropriated; ani WHEREAS, We are pronibite by. the Charter -from borrowing moncy and increasing our debt ‘beyond its present limit, and believing, a8 we do, that the Practice of issuing scrip, which the em- toyés of the élty are forced to uécept, 18 an in: justice to them, and that itis bad cconoiny for ‘the city; therefore, ~ ‘Resulved, That we declare it to be the policy of this Council to do away, at the carilest practica- ble moment, With the necessity of issuing scrip, and that we believe the only feasible way’ of do- ing -thisis by the grudual accumulation of a fund in the City ‘treasury which shall-be held ‘sacred for that purpose, and to thatend itis hereby ordered that all. tinexpended balances not including trust funds now in the City Treus- ury which have been collected from miscel- luneous sources or coliected from taxes levied for the yeur 1879 or previous years, or that may hereafter be collected on account of said levies," shall be disposed of by.the City Controller as follows: (1) Restore.the sinking fund to the full amount required by law. (@) Any unex- pended balances remaining from former appropriations . for. school purposes to be pluced to the creditof the. Board of Educa- Hon us the law fequiros, and as this Council bas heretofore ordered. (3)"Any appropriation here- vofore mude for fire or police strtions and yct- uméxpeuded to éontinue in force. (4) To the ayinent of any indebtedness incurred, includ Tae eeny outstanding, dn account of work done, muteriuls furnished, or contracts yet uncom- pleted let in pursuance of forther appropria- tions. © ‘The sum of $459,000 from the sivings of 1878 and previous years, together with tho sum of .3250,000 froin miscellaneous, sources, making 4 total of $700,000, which has been rec- ommended by the Finance Committee to be used for corporate purposes during 1880, to be so ap~ plied. (6) Alltho balances then remaining from puree source to be covered into the general In the meantime, the Council has bean con- sidering the nnnual appropriation ordinance, section by section, and has already increased. it, without reference to these’ special items, far in excess of the possible ordinary reve- nue of the city for the year, This fi¢tion in- dicates the purpose of a majority of the Council to’ so increase the total appropria- tions as to exhaust every dular.in the Treas- ury, and thus compel the city to resort again to the disreptuable, costly, and illegal prac- tice of issuing serip,—of running the City Government on credit. During nearly four years thé City Government has been éndeav- oring to accumulate a cash fund, the result of strict economy and saving, in order: to es- cape the costly and hazardous makeshift of issuing illegal serip, and now it is evidently the purpose of & majority of the Coun- cil—the Communistic majority—to seize this fund, and to expend it wasteful- ly and extravagantly, scandalously~ and, it may be added, ‘ dishonestly. The taxes levied to meet the appropriations for 1890 cannot be collected before January to July, 1881. By accumulating a cash fund in the Treasury, and the incoming: taxes for. 1879, the city may-be able to pay its expenses incash and not be compelled té issue but a small amount of scrip. Adding the savings possible in 1880 and 18S1 the city may be able in 1882 to pay all its expenses from one year to the other in cash ata saving of nearly 10 per cent from the expenditures for the same’ purposes on a serip basis. Last year the Council added 5 per cent to most of‘ the sala- ries because they were to be paid.in scrip. This year the 5 per cent is continued because the salaries were to be paid in cash; butnow, as the purpose is to expend all the cash avail- able in addition to the ordinary appropria- tions, the Council should signalize the scan- dalous return to the scrip business by another addition to the salaries. The Mayor and the Controller have, to their great‘credit, strenu- ously defended this accumulated cash fund. They have opposed any appro- priation of it. A majority of the Finance Committee have sustained the Mayor and Council. If the majority of the Council were true to their trust, and faithful to the interests of the city, this whole fund would remain intact, and astrik- ing evidence be furnished of what an honest: City Council can do to rescue a city from financial einbarrassments. The Mayor, Con- troller, Commissioner of Public Works, and a. minority. of the Council -stand be- tween this fund and the Communistic tendencies of the controlling party in the Council. Whether the Mayor and his sup- porters can maintain their position suecess- fully, and win the approval of the great mass of the people of all parties, remains to be tested. It will be a public calamity should they be overwhelmed and this accumulation of honest and economic government be squandered in the creation of new and use- Jess ofllces and increase of salaries, HOW TO SECURE CLEAN STREETS. The streets of this city are in a disgraceful éondition. They always are in an open winter or “soft”? weather at any season. They always will be so long as there shall be | no regular system of improvements, but only spasmodic and disjointed efforts to put a few blocks here and there into decent shape. The mud is dragged in by horses’ and vehicles” from the unpaved streets, which’ are now almost impassable, and distributed over the paved thoroughfares, which are in various stages of decay. Street-cleaning in Chicago means the occasional scraping of the paved streets and the carting of the mud back tothe unphved prairie-mud streets, when the work of redistributing it begins. The conse- quence is, that none of the streets are iree from a covering of mud during the wet weather, ‘while in dry wenther the strong winds that make Chicago so healthy.sweep the mud, in the torm of dust, into the stores, offices, shops, and residences, which renders life almost unendurable, and ‘does infinit damage to everybody’s possessions. The long-suffering people who inhabit Chicago sev to have become accustomed to the pre- vailing street filth, and indifferent to their own comfort, but they cannot meet strangers nor entertain friends who live elsewhere without experiencing a humiliating sense of shame. Visitors to Chicago, in looking upon the long rows of tall, magnificent blocks that have been erected since the fire of 1871, be- come impressed with the idea that this is the most beautiful city in America;-then, looking down to the filthy streets or noting their be- etimed garments, they céme to the con- clusion that it is the dirtiest city in the world, except Constantinople. ‘The latter impres- sion, being the more disagreeable, outlasts the other, and Chicago's reputation abroad is 48 malodorous as {ts attnosphere in an area of Bridgeport smells. It has become evident from long experience that occasional and partial street-improve- ments do not furnish any relief from the al- ternating mud and dust, that inflict this city. .The practice of ordering the paving of two or three blocks this week, and one or two more blocks in another part of the city next month, and some portion of another street -next_year, has proved to be utterly inade- quate to the requirements of a great city. ‘Anything like thoroughcleaning under these ireumstances {s simply Impossible, and large sums of money are throw. away every year in the futile effort to clean the city, which, if aggregated during a few years, would pay for a uniform and general system of improve- ments. Asit is, almost any stretch of afew blocks reveals all imaginable degrees of bad- ness upon a stréet which ‘has been paved, and this irregularly-paved’ thoroughfare is “cfossed bx other streets.that have never been paved, aud. are: little else. than, elongated mudholes. There is no hope of cleanliness in such a condition of things. . : “There is just one. way in which Chicago -ean attain the cleanliness of the modern European and the Eastern'cities, and that is through 8 general system of street-improve- ments. This should be bégun by the Com- mon Council’s ordering the paving of all the streets lying in the district bounded by the lake, the river, and Twelfth street. This district includes the ptinelpal business por- tion of the city. The great cominercial housts, the'¢hief retail shops, the large ho- tels, the theatres and public halls are located within these botindaries. This is the part of Chicago where the tratisient visitors on busi- ness or pleasure abidé, and.o uniform and perfect system of streét-pavements is all that is now required to make it one of the most attractive metropolitan localities in the world. The improvement should be uni- form in character and as nearly simultaneous as possible in. accomplishment. The main thoroughfares should be paved on the Detivit plan, with cedar blocks laid on a firm foundation, and the gutters at the sides constructed from small boulders. The cross-streets which are used comparatively little might: be improved with gravel or crushed, granit, laid upon a foun- dation of macadam. Certain blocks in the neighborhood of the tailroad depots and warehouses might be improved with the Belgian pavement or. large bowlders. The work could be let ouf: in large sections in different parts of the distrist defined, and a coupje of years would be enough ‘to com- plete it. Sa : -.The ¢cest of thus improving the entire South Division -north’ di. Twelfth streets when cistribtited over the property benefited, would be very stall to the individual own- ers. It-would be no larger in any event than the present cost of unsystematio and useless improvements upoit é few blocks ata time. All the streets in the described. district have been.filled to grade, aiid nearly all are walled or curbed at the sides; all have sewers, water, and gas.. The cost of paving. would vary; according to the present condition, from $1.50 to $3.50 per front foot, and it would fall upon property ‘worth all the way from $300 to $2,000 per front: foot. ‘Every owner can well afford to incur the expense; every ténantcan afford to have the interest upon the cost assessed in the form of a trifliug additional rent.: Ina business. building, for instance, twenty-five feet wide, paying a rental of sev- eral thousand dollars a year, a distribution of $10 a year among the various tenants would be trifling indeed, and yet that small amount would more than pay the interest upon the eostof the proposed improvement. In the case of vacant lots, as well ns property ttiat is bullt up, such a system ‘of street-pavements would add to their selling value several hun- dred‘per cent more.than the individual cost of paving. The money thus expended would béagood investment for Chicago as a city, and profitable for every man who, as a prop- erty-owner, would becalled upon to pay his proportion of the cost. If it be objected that it-~will require one or two years. to, make the special assessments and collect the money for the improvement "suggested, the obvious’ answer is .Will be the case whenever thé project shall be undertaken,and the.sooner the’ Council’ starts the quicker the job will he done. It must be done sooner or later if Chicago is to retain its metropolitan ‘character,.and there isno time when the burden will fail more lightly upon the peuple than during the next two years, when the rising value of property and good business are confidently expected. It niay be safely predicted, too, that if the Council order the improvement to be made, avery large majority of the property-owners, recognizing the inevitable and conscious of the advantage that will be gained, will vol- unitarily proceed in the matter and have their pavements constructed upon private con- tract. It would bea glorious thing for the city if its principal streets could thus be put- in order for-the coming summer, when the city will be filled with strangers who are coming here to visit the various conventions, encamtpmieiits, réunions, exhibitions, etc. As this dispatelt is not practicable, the pre- caution should be takeh that similar gather- ings in the future will find a cleaner and purer welconie, Whenever the general sys- tem‘of improving the stréets of the business portion of the city shall be begun, ‘thé -resi- dents of the West and North Divisions and of the South Side outside the main business district will eagerly follow the example, and it will then be buta very few years till the entire city will be provided with paved streets, Thereafter it will be easy and cheap to keep the pavements clean and in good re pair, and Chicago will have done the oue thing lacking to ntiake it the most beautiful, attractive, and prosperous city on the Amer ican Continent. E _——————— THE RUSSIAN UKASE. é The foreign dispatches report that the ex- citement and confusion in Russia are on the increase, and that 4 condition of society ex- ists amounting almost to anarchy. Arrests continue to be madé in great numbers. The palace is thronged with soldiers, and no per- son is allowed to piss it, even on the side- walk. The police force has been greatly In creased. Threatenifg letters are daily re- ceived by the Czar and his officiuls, Warn- ings have been sent to him from Berlin noti- fying him of fresh conspiracies. Tite City. of St. Petersburg is in 4 state of excitement re- sembling a panic, and every one feels inse- cure, not knowing what moment some new and terrible blow may be struck by the infu- riated Nihilists. Of course, 1n a time of ex- citement like this, a,wide degree of latitude must be allowed for rumors; but where there isso much smoke there must ibe some fire, and at present the ‘fire, though smoldering, gives every prospect of breaking out intoa raging conflagration which may sweep every- thing before it. : ‘The most significant index of danger and the impression it has made upon the Gov- ‘ermment is the Imperial ukase which has been issued nominating the membors and de- fiiig the powers df the Commission of Su, preme Control. It appoints Gen. Melikoff as the head of the Commission, the other mem- bers to be appointed ‘as he may suggest. He has the right to sunimon before the Commis- sion all whose presence he may consider useful in order to. give united character to the action of the authorities. He has direct control of all the political trials held in the Capital, in the militiry district of St. Peters- burg, and in any part of the Empire. All the local authorities, Governors, Generals, and Town-Commandants are placed under his jurisdiction, and: every employé of the Gov- ernment is bound t6 codperate with him. He is at liberty to adopt any means he: sees fit ‘for the protection of the Empire, and any orders he issues."must be unconditionally obeyed. ‘The Commendet-in-Chief of St. Petersburg is deposed: The powers of the officers of police-“are stripped from them. The army is reduced to a mere machine, at suok” The Czarowitz becomes a nonentity. The entire power of the Government is vested in one man, Gen. Melikoff, and he has’ absolute control. Beyond his decisions there lies no appeal. Following this ukase comes Gen. Melikoff’s proclamation, in which he does riot hesitate to announce that he shall vse the most stringent measures and severe punish- ments. ji a nisi, 3 Such astep as this would not have been taken except in the last emergency, and shows the desperate character of the situa- tion. It {sa public confession that the civil power has utterly, collapsed .and is no longer able to enforce its authority. It is a,,con- fession by the Czar himself that he is helpless and powerless, and that, “with all his vast and complex maciiinery of police, spies, de- tectives, and military, he is unable to check the rapidly-growing spirit of Nihilism, or to proteot himself against {ts plots. ~Absurdly claiming that he is under the protéction of God, and that he has no fear for his life, he adopts the first measures of fear, and con- feasts his alarm -by’:a step. which - is tantamount to abdication.: “Russia is- to- day governed by a- military ‘ dictator, and. all the ordinary processés of law and justice are suspended. Geh. - Meli- koff, to all fritents and purposes, Is the Czar of Russia, with the power of life and death in his hands. Such a step is-an affront to all the other members of the Royal family and to every official’in the Govern- ment’s service. It strips them of all power, and makes them the mere tools to do the bid- ding of a despotic military leader, It will ‘rouse jealousy and discontent in-the higher cireles, where it existed before only in small degree, and it will fan the indignation of the people into fury. In its every aspect it is the most extraordinary spectacle that has ever been witnessed in the history of a civilized nation. Itis the last turn of the screw, and the pabt record of the struggle between Nihil- ism and the Governmentis asufficient warrant that Gen. Melikoff will be resisted to the very death, and that uny day may bring the intelli- gence of the outbreak of revolution. LOUIS NAPOLEON'S HOSTILITY ‘TO THE UNITED STATES. In a recent number of the North American Review there appeared a very remarkable article setting forth the hostility of Louis Nupoleon to the Government of the United States during the first two years of the War ot the Rebellion, and his persistent eifort to induce England to join France in a recog- nition of the Southern Confederacy, as well as the disinclination of Lord Russell to join the French Government in any such’scheme. The facts set forth in thint article sliowed.con- clusively that Louis Napoleon was in ¢onfer- ence with Sitdell, Liidsay, an English ship- builder and zs:ember of Parliament, Disraeli, and membezs of the Fréncli Cabinet to pro- duce such a result, which was thivarted by several causes, ainong them the repeated suc- cesses of the North, the unrfopularity of the Mexican expédition, the complications on the Continent, and the stubborn adherence of Lords Russell and Palmerston to the “ wait- ing policy.” The evidence submitted was sufficient to show that, as compared with the intrighes of Louis Napoleon, tho. English Government, notwithstanding its hostility, observed a fair neutrality. The statements in this article now find confirmation in a work recestly written by Nassau William Senior, an Enzlish Master in Chancery and political econemist, contain- ing his conversations with distinguished men in Paris during the first two years of our War, which show that Louis Napoleon was not the only antagonist of the North,—many other prominent French statesinen sharing his malignity. ‘The New York Herald has printed several columns of éxtracts from this work, the most salient features of which We reproduce. These conversations took place during the very crisis of our Civil War. In March, 1801, just before the fall of Sum- ter, he talked with M. Guizot, who regretted the separation, not from any particular love for the, North, but because he thought England would have the preference over France in her business relations with the Southern Confederacy. Count Charles de Rémusat, afterwaids Foreign Min- ister under M. Thiers, and M. Thiers himself, regretted the separation, and spoke of it as a misfortune to France; but these views were not shared by other promi- nent Frenchmen, as will be seen. A very in- teresting feature of the work is his conversa- tion with Mr. Hotze, who was in England as an‘Ambassador from the Confederacy, and who ascribed the separation to incompatibil- ity of temper between the North and the South. He urged upon England that the War would last fifty years unless Europe in- terfered, and that the moment it did interfere the North would be discouraged. Mr. Slidell also took the same view, and'told Mr. Senior that he had found French opinion favorable to the dissolution, except among the Orlean- ists, and declared that England would ‘like the South because it would estab- lish no custom-houses, and would be the trué Republic, whereas the North would be ruined by anarchy. <Ac- cording to Mr. Slidell’s gloomy picture, “ There were no safeguards to freedom in the North, and as soon as the finances were ruined anarchy would come. . Then the army would take the Jaw into its own hands; and out of the anarchy which came from this there would be .military despotism,” hence “this consideration alone ought to show to Europe the madness of allowing the War to continue.” Mr. Senior was impartial in his conversations, for he talked with Union men. as well as with Secessionists. Thurlow Weed was very communicative; and at this distance from the War, and remembering ‘that ut the time of the conversation the War ‘had been in progress only a year, hig views are unusually interesting. We quote from the Heraid correspondent: : When Mr. Weed wis asked what. he would do with the four millions of helpless, ignorant ne- groes and tho millions of whites whose proporty would be valuciess when thoir slaves were sot free, he answered: - This 1g a question which we choose not to. examine.. They have been guilty of the most wicked rebellion that history records. If they refuse not merely fuir but gen- erous terms of reconciliation, thelr ruin, even thelr blood, be on their own heads." Mr. Weed also believed that the North would ¢oniiscate the lands und cstates of Rebels and sell or grant thom to loyal Northern men, or that they would become rewards for the army. The veteran statesmian was ovidently in a heroic mood, for he drew a picture of the North treating the South as William the Conqueror did England, dividing it iuto territories, making military men Governors, giving the estates to well-deserving officers, “A million of slave-owners,” said Mr. Weed, when he hud finished this fancy picture, : willbe ruined, and they will deserve to be ru- ined.” Resuming his conversations with French- men, we find that the veteran Changarnier did not think at all favorably of the cause of the North, looked upon Beauregard as a bet- ter General than McCiellan‘and in command of better troops, and did not believe it was possible for the Federal army to advance upon Richmond. MM. Guizot, in a corversa- tion subsequent to that of which we have spoken above, bitterly. assailed ‘our Govern- ment for its treatment- of Mexico, declaring in bitter terms: “They [the United States] have no scruples, no public morality, no fears. They are horrible neighbors. I am glad the Atlantic is between us.” Adolphe: de Circourt, the friend of Lamiartine, and | during the Republic of 1848 Ambassador from France to Germany, who. was pres- ent during the talk with M. Guizot, was equally bitter, speaking of the United States as not only the natural enemies of En- “gland but of all Europe. He spoke of “ the insulting, arrogant habits of fifty years of swonderful, prosperity and unchecked bition upon the United States.” And agai Tf the North could conquer the South and refstablish the United States, It would in twenty years be the most arrogant, the most rapacious, and the most unscrupulous Power on the globe.” And M. Guizot cheerfully chimedin: ‘The most disagreeablecountry to negotiate with is the United States, the pest is England.” é 3 Later conversations showed that such men ag M. Montalembert, Mar. Bonnechiose, Arch- pishop of Rouen, and the Due’ de Broglie were hostile to the North, and some of their disclosures show beyond question how bitter Napoleon was in his feelings.. The Due de Broglie, who occupied a position to know of ‘what he was speaking, sald to Mr. Senior: ‘Tho Mexican war goos on slowly, and neither its objects nor its causo are intelligible. Tho Emperor wishes to do something great and quickly. Now,if he could engage you in the war with the Federals or mere! y Bet you to recognize the Confederates he wou! id instantly foliow your example. He would make ar-alli- ance with the South, obtain her tolerance of bis Mexican -aitempt, break the blockade, restore prosperity to our, cotton matiufiictories, and es~ tablish French influence over all America, from the Potomac to Brazil, and {t could be done in three months. He would gratify, too, his old grudge aguihat the North'and against the French aristocragy, whose sympathies are’ genc! Northern. ~ Such testimony -as this, joined with other evidence which has been furnished from time to time, contributes valuable, material to the history of the early period ofour War. It not only establishes beyond question the hostility of Louls Napoleon and many of the leading statesinen of his court to the North, and their desperate effort to induce England to join them in interference, but it shows the nar- Townes of our escape in the very crisis of the War. -It would be still more interesting to know the details of the manner in which the schemes of the agents of the Southern Confederacy were thwarted after they had made such headway with the French Gov- ernment; how it wus that England, who was notoriously hostile to us, was held back; and what part Russia played In the game,—for the latter Power could not have been a passive spectator in any scheme where England and France were so closely interested, remem Mr. Guapstoxe attributes the recent Con- servative success in Southwark to dissension among the Liberals and to local issues, and takes a rather hopeful view of the future prospects of his party. He disclaims all sympathy with Home-Rule, believing that it would lead to evil consequences for Ire- land as well as England; yet he would have Parliament listen attentively and respect- fully to the claims of the Irish members, and acknowledges that England has.to do much to remedy the abominable results of its past misrule in Ireland. Although Mr. Gladstone is in advance of his party, it seems that he does not think that the time has yet arrived when any radically progressive measures in re- gard to Ireland would be acceptable to the English people. or their representatives in Parliament. Mr. Gladstone also states that the Tories have been robbed of much of their'thunder by the action of the Liberal party in supporting Sir Stafford Northcote’s resolution against obstruction. The ex- Premier did not enter so largely into the discussior of foreign affairs as is his cus- tom. Ireland seents to be occupying most of the attention of English statesmen just now. In the language of the late Horace Greeley, that country fills a place in the world’s his- tory out of all proportion to its size, impor- tance, or the number of its inhabitants. ——_ ‘ FIRES, = ‘The old theological idea of Hell was a lake of fire provided asa placé of eternal torment for the wicked; and over this place the Devil was presumed to reign. Dante described the infer- nal regions in blood-curdling strains, and the Pictures of the scones thére enacted, drawh by Doré, are marvels of horror. De Foe takes the Devil out of his natural home, so to speak, and gives a history of his residence on earth among mankind. Thecrimes and follies which have distinguished the human-race from the begin- ning of the world down to the preseht time en- tirely justify the general belle? in thé existence of the Devil, and in ‘his intimate connection with mundane affairs. But the strongest evi- dence.of the Devil's presence on earth, and of his ubiquity, or plurality, is found inthe fact that he ‘is able to preside, with a skill and inge- nuity which is truly Satanic, at a score of fires at the same momertof time. He never sleeps; he hears every fire-alatm; he rideson every steam fire-engine. But when he reaches the scene of the conflagration .he leaves the fire to take care of itself, and mingles with the crowd of people assembled to witness the show. When the flames mount upward he betrays a feeling of malignant satisfaction. If the wind blows, he screams over the telegraph-wires ahd through the broken casements like a demon. If the flames sink under an’ ocean of water, he slyly cuts a hole in the huse-pipe, or disables an en- gine. If the burning building is a warchouse, he whispers in the ear of the firomen that there ig a quantity of dynamite on storage in the must exposed situation, and that he who enters the breach goes to certain death! He mingles in the crowd of property-savers, and prompts them to throw mirrors out of fourth-story windows and tug feather-beds painfully down the stalr- cases. He follows the adventurous fireman up the ladder on his way to save a beautiful woman who slirieks at a window, and paralyzes all his noble energies by shouting in his ear: “The wall is falling!” He mounts to the roof, and, in the midst of the devouring flames, flings brands, on the wings of the hurricane, upon neighboring buildings. Theu he descends, and insinuates to the on-ldokers that everything is duumed to destruction, and that whatever can be drawn trom the wreck is luwful plunder, And, nder their hands and souls with theft, and slinic away concealing stolen property.. The Devil Is very busy, indeed. He tempts. merchants and householders to secretly convey away thoir Property, with the criminal intent of sweuring to an insurance claim for the full amount next day. He is no respecter of values; he will in- stigate a ruffiin to plundera bank-vault and the next moment tempt a newsboy or an express- man tosteal an old clay pipe or a penholder, an enipty inkstand or a match-box, from the prem- ises of an escaping tenant driven out In hot haste by the advancing flames. There is a vein’ of humor in the Devil. He shouts with mad de- light if he can induce a street-car or omnibus- driver tosneak away with o mirror, chuckling with grim satisfaction at the idea’ that the thief will see himself as others ge him every time ho looke' his stolen property squarely in the face. But the arch-flend’s draught of pleasure is not wholly unmixed ‘ith gall and wormwood. At expression of mingled disenst and rage over- spreads his malignunt countenance as he tugs in Yain atthe skirts of the brave fireman who rushes up the staircase of a burning hotel, through steam, flames, and blinding smoke, to the rescue of helpless, weeping women andchildren whose despairing cries rend the alr. His Majesty.the Prince of Darkness feels only contempt for the sneaking thict whom he has prompted to steal a Pen-wiper; but he hates with the rage of a flend incarnate the blackened hero who staggers forth-from a hell of-fire bear- ing in bis arms tho form of a woman upon whose face he never looked before. ‘To ste rotlected in the red glure of the contlagration the fiend scowling upon the hero who has risked a’life for a life, as he modestly lays his burden down, is to be thrico assured of his Dovitship, /o Foo's theory is; that, as a prelf : building of the Tower of Babel tho Devil i cited everybody to get drunk; and the theory is éxceedingly plausible; since a Prolific source of its Majesty's influence at a fire fs found In the freedom with whicl all the actors in the suddenly-improvised drama imbibe alcoholic stimulants. The scene of a grand condagration is 80 exaotly the counterpart of the fiena’s fam-: lly residence that he throws off all disguiso aud’ appears in his true character, shouting hilariously, like Barnaby Rudge's raven: “I'ma Devil! I'm & Devil!” ‘When he urges mento tako whisky at tho’ public bar, in the club-house, or in the gentleman's billiard-room, he assumes various shapes,—as tho physician prescribing for tho stomach, the bun-ricant pleading for soclabllity,” or the despondent banishing dull care, Bur the devilish impulse, men, till then honest, soll. when the fire-bell rings, and t stearn-whistle is-heard, and pet tied redden the murky, midnight sky with lurid glare, his Satanic Majesty teely tenet opportuuity warrants the assumption kingship of the infernal regions, and inet, 2S of every fool—come to gape and hain’ shouts: “Drink, drink! Steep your soul intoxicating fumesof whisky, wine, gin brs. ‘Then, indeed, Hell breaks looze on pte arr thieves who came to steal. from -the' main-to rob and plunder each other. "The: = honest ménaré hustled about and escape winn’™ watched or pocketbooks; the women, imine eo edge of the crowd, coarse, blear-esed, vee abandoned, mingle in the raélée, and—the De, happy. Butthefé isa endtoallthings Weel growd is deep in its revels, oceans of wat, re poured upon the devouring clement. The . have fallen with a deafening crash, combats have exploded, the wind has dicd ame where an hour ago there were tongues of ‘4, hissing and curling about beams and rafter” twisting and withering up iron coly at there is 2 huge bank of black smoke set down upon the wreck like a pall. Tho ine corksérews itself homeward, describing’ ey, “and arigles quite unknown tothe selene gre trigonometry. But afew choice spirits ree and the Devil remains with them. His enth asm is not dulled by thé quenched fire A smoke,-the silence which has settled upon fees ‘Scene, or the approaching dawn. He tempts my remuining stragglers to sneak through the don of police, careless whether they succeed iy stealing some charred trifle, or in being pati and marched off to the lock-up. If they a away concealing booty he laughs a fiendish laugh, and, if res are caught in the act and clubbed,stillhe laughs. At gunrise the crowa, increases, blocking the sidewalks and filling the muddy’ streets. The insurance agents pied later tolook forsalvage. The uninsured stare at the ruin and indulge vain regrets. The bas. ness public—friends and creditors—inquire any. iously for the proprietor of that which no longer exists, and the tittle army of rag-pickers ang gutter-snipes explore the heaps of débris in search of hidden treasures. At lost the Dest goes homie, baving commissioned one ‘of ‘hig imps to instigute the thieves by which the wreck is surrounded to offer their services to suffer ers in the rescue of property. But tho effortiy vain; the brand of larceny is upon every face, te joafers are driven away by the new relay of policemen, and the imp goes home to i the Devil. pase ASTRONOMICAL, : Chicago (TRIBUNE office), north latituds deg. 52m. 5i8,; wost longitude, 42m. 183. trom Washington, and 5h. 60m. 30s. from Greenwich, The subjoined table shows the time of rising of the moon’s lower limb, and tke official time for lighting the first sfreet-inmp ih each cireuit in this city, during the coming week, unless on dered sooner on account of bad wenther. - Also the following times for extinguishing the first AMoon rises.- _ Light. Brtingu 1023334 p.m... 5:54 p. m. Freed is Pm. 0:45am, Pm. 2:00am. Bm 8:04am, 303 >. 00 8 105 p.m. 6:00am pee 4:38. m listance from the earth (perigee) Tuesday at 1h. p.m.; and inher ast quarter Wednesday at 5b. 18m. p. m. ‘The sith’s upper limb tises Monday at 68. 2m, a.m. Souths at 13m. 2.63. p. m. Sets at 61X{m. p.m. ‘The sun’s upper limb rises Friday at 6h. 274mi a.m. Souths. at lim. 226s. p, m. Sets at oh 50m. p. m. ts Sidereal time Thursday noon, 2b. 5m, Sls. Mercury i3 a little east of the sun, setting after him. The distance will increase till March 10, the date of greatest elongation. ; ‘Venus is a morning star. Thursday ehe will rise at 5b. 9m. a.m., and south at 10h. imam About eight-tenths of her filuminated ‘side is turned towards us. She is approaching the sun, and is only visible in the morning twilight. Mars is an evening star, a little less than six hours east from the sun; and a few degrees east. from the well-kuown group of stars called the Pleiades. About nine-tenths of his illuminated disc is turned toward us. Thursday next he will south at 5:33 p. m., and set at 1:14 the following morning. Saturday he will be 1 degrée 10 mih- utes north from Tau Tail, abbve Aldebaran. Jupiter is still an evening star, but only visible inthe twilight. ‘Thursday next he will southat Ob. 44m. p. m., and set about half an hourafter the sun. His ‘conjunction with the sun will occur March 15. : Saturn fs an evening star, but 1s not visible. ~ long after sundown. Thursday next ne will south at 2:05 p.m., and set at 8:p.m. Hels now i few degrees beloty Epsilon in the southem band of Pisces, and nearly on a line from Scheat Pegasi, through Algentb, and extended about as much further to the southeast. The apparent breadth of the ring sytem of Satum isnow about one-fifth of its gréatest dimension, asseen from the earth. é Uranus was in opposition to the sun last Wednesday. He is now high enough to be easily picked up with the naked eye late in thé evening, so goon as the moon gets out of the way, which {vill be about the middle of tlt week. Thursday next he will south at 1h. din, Pp. m. ae Nephine will south Thursday at 3b. 40m. p.m Right ascension 2h. 2m., and north declination degrees 7 minutes. a cdot ‘The middle star in the belt of Orion will sodth ‘Thursday at Sh. im.; and Sirius at th. 47m. Us. p-m. ‘The report that some astronomers are now at work endéavoring to find a planet mosidg around the sun in an orbit exterior to thatot Neptune, raises the question, How far out towards the other stars could suck splanetmore ag a part of the solar system? The nt known fixed star is some 8,000 times as far away as Neptune, so that a planct might move at some 4,000 times the distance of Neptune with out being drawn off by the attractions of other stars, The’ planets Jupiter and Saturn some times approach elich other within a disthnce only: 10 times’ the distance of Japetus (the outer ‘gatellite) from Suturn; ard. this Proportion would allow of five ot six more plab- €2s, even if Bode's analogy be observed-in the matter of progressive distances, The outer- most of these might be 1,800 times the distance of the earth from the sun, and occupyitig 700 years in one revolution, moving at only about one-third the rate at which the equinoxes full buck uihong tHe stars. Stich a planet, howevery though as large as Jupiter, would searcely shine with one two-thousandth part the brightness of a star of tho sixth niginitude, and could only be picked up by the large telescopes. Mr. Srusax, of the Journal, has leased that concern from the proprietors for a term of years, and hus announced his firm purpose to qnit office-sceking. He has abandoned the ehite of the'Gubernatorial will-o'-the-wisp to the score of othér simpletons. Mr. Shuman acts sensibly. The sober second thought is always the best, and leads to happier results. THs ‘Tripuse did not particularly enthuse over the Preposterous proposition to separate the editor from his Journal,—exile him for years to a little country town, employ him: as an almoner of offices to a ravenous crowd of office-hunters and pester. him with the applications of thieves and felons for undeserved pardons. To company with him until 1983, after enjoying his sedative socicty for a quarter of a century, W83 too hard to bear, so we gently reminded him of some obligations he was under for favors received which.should give him pause an prevent him from doing so.foolish a thing,~-for he would undoutedly huve been elceted if nome inated. He remuins with us, and we are 8! Editors of great presses cannot afford to make; the sacrifice involved in holding ottice, unless It is one of honor and dignity, occupying.a fo7 weeks’ time, and by way of mental recreatlodr such 2s thd Licutenant-Governorship, which ‘Tne Trsose having had desired the Journal to enjoy also. All's well that ends well. Shake! ee Is all cases of great danger it becomes the duty of a public journal to warn its readers especially when that danger confronts the, Younger and more susceptible members of 80~ ciety. It is the 29th of Februdry, and pretml- neutly the day of the whole Leap-Year when the combined torees of womanhood may be ex pected to attempt the capture of tho other seX+ not by cunning devices, but by actual assaulh under privilege of the traditions of the time It is also Sunday,—o day that has been set apart by common consent for late sessions of lovers, and as this Leap:Yeir day will not come again for many years on Sunday there is thé immineat danger that the opportunity wil! be tmpro' ns ft never Bas been ‘before, hud tht, unless the victims are . unusually courageous Ja , confronting the enemy, or wily in eluding her, before the sun rises to-morrow morning bundreds in this city will surrender &%