The New York Herald Newspaper, December 29, 1865, Page 4

EW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway.—Mose Sas. LUCY RUSITTON" end 750 Broadway. SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 535 Broadway, opposite dry fb Car ereage SP ry gy an FING BRiGAND. TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE. 201 Bowerr.—Sivo- ang, Daxcinc, Bogursques, &c.—tas Dewox's Bere. NEW YORK THEATRE, Nos, 723 "az Scuoot ror Scanpat. GEORGF CHRISTY’S MINSTRELS.—Tar Ov Scaoo. or Mixsrnutsy, BaLiaps, Musioat, Geus, Ac. at the Fifth Avenue Opers’ House, Nos. Zand 4 West Twealy-fourth st. NEW NATIONAL CIRCUS, 37 and 9 Bowery. Say elas. Qyuxastic aND Fears: Es. ‘Acronatic -Siack anv Tight Bors Muxacines, “&c. Aftornoon rea, Bveniag at 73 oc! . BBY ANTS, MINGPRBLS, Netioton Wanse Douay: Dax ne srecctt—3 4 Fak Bosubetsy aeebeioe Brae Wicuas. 2 Chapel, 720 8 — Boe ees eH Souteatsntes, Barcrs aw Tmt HOOLEY’s OPERA HOUSE, Brooklyu.—Eraiorian Maw peanietloas ies, BORLESQUES 4x0 PANrOMtNES,’ F YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway. Ceo ta. A. Mi 10 BM 6 ART GALLERY, 6% Broadway.—Wenrivaton's Gaxart Painrinc. WASHINGTON HALL, Harlem.—Dx Coxpora ox we Kisnawixe TacMenren. THE NEWS. A protracted interview bet Secretary of War took place yes wult of which has not transpired. Additional important Mexican news is furnished in our Vera Cruz correspondence to the 18th inst. The impe rial papers anuounce that Don Manuel Ruiz, Judge of the Supreme Court of the republic, has abandoned Juarez and protested aguinst the latter continuing to as President after hia constitutional term has ex 5 Events at and in the vieluity of Vera Cruz do not indi- cate any intention of the French to withdraw from the country at an early day, but on the contrary are re- garded there as showing a disposition to contest their oc- caponcy of Mexican territory with the United States, The arrivals of soldiers from France continue, twelve hundred being landed at Vera Cruz on the 6th inst., and about three hundred more on the 11th, all of whom wore imincdiately afier sent into the field. French cannon and other war munitions and supplies are still daily ar- riving, and the defences of the city are being greatly strengthened and remounied with the heaviest and moat improved gang, the work being carried on as secretly as possible, sud principally at night, Further particulars are given of the victories alluded to in yesterday’ ‘Herap, which the imperialists claim to have ga'ncd at Monterey over the forces of the republican General Escobedo, on the 22d, 23d, 24th and 25th of November. They represent that he was driven out of the city with considerable Joes and pursued for about one handred and fifty miles. Our correspondent, liowever, regurds these Doagied triumphs as very small affairs, General Eseebedo, after holding thocity for some days, during which his troops stubbornly defended their position in several severe engagements, deeming it prudent to withdraw, in consequence of the imperialists being largely reinforced. A bearer of despatoes frown the Mexican @up way to Washington, was in Vera Cruz on th The rebel Maury, Maximilian’s Commissioner of Colo- nization, has issued another circulnr sotting forth the ad- vantages of Mexico for emigranta; but the arjority of those oolon sts who heve already arrived there appear to be in a miserable con: Tn regard to the pry coast of Mexico, & en the President and day, the object or re- f the contest on the Pactlo piseo despatch states that the eight miles of Acapuleo on the 30th of November, and was ” confident of success, Ho was greatly baraseing the im- perialists, and hed cut off their supplies of provisions from the surrounding country. a Our Paris correspondence embodies n number of fieant commenty of the Freach press upon ©: Schotieid’s mission to Kuropo and his recent sper Paris. ‘The prevailing opinion in the Prox that Napoleon fs beginning to see a hol: he can escape from his Mexican perplexities a Bre republican General Alvarez was withia twenty clothes. In the miscollancous extracts frot: the Evro- pean papers will be found some strango revelations of court life in the Olt World, Cauadinn affairs, as presented in our Toronto and Montreo! despatches, appear pretty mi ined, as usual. Mr. Howlind has been ajpointed to succeed Mr. Brown ns President of the Council in the Canadian Min. isiry; but Lhe reformers, whose chief representative Mr. Brown is, are not satisfed with the condition of things, and are preparing to unite with the Union (French Cana @ian) rovge party for the overthrow of the conlition Ministry. The cage of the-rebel pirate Georgian, claimed by the United States goyerament, is being argued, before ‘the Canadian Courts, - £ The Toronte Leader te publighing in leaded typoa series of medicw} articles, written by Deotor Blackburn, thé practitionbr ebarged with attempting to mtroduce yellow fever and sta:llipox among the United States troops dur. ‘ing oar late war. Senatot Williams, of Oregon, who is a member of tho + Jomt Congressional committee to tuvesligate the-claims of the repreventatives of the Southern States to admis- sion, hus recently spent a few days in Virginia on a tour of inspection of the condities snd sentiments of the people of that State, and he he - me to the concinsion, ¢ Richmond corre, ae «cat's that Virginia loy- ty, as represented im ie Legislature and the social circles of ite capital city, ts ao sbwwlate myth. He says the people siill cling as fondly as ever to the exploded faliacies of thetr Southern confederacy and entertain a strong hostility to the national Congress, though they Profess great personal respect for President Johnson, owing to the leniency with which he has dealt with ‘hem. Our correspondent states that it bas recontly come to light that the government made a mistake In the arrest of RB. Winder, who is now confined in Idbby prison on charge of being implicated in the An- dersonville outrages on national soldiers, W. 8, Winder, who bas mado his escape from the country, Ueing the person wanted. Governor Jonathan Worth, the new Executive of Nerth Carolina, assumed the duties of his office on Satur. day'Inst, ‘The arrest of every person known to have participated Jn the rioting at Alexandria, Va.,on Christmas Day bas boou ordered be General Angur, who also directs that ‘none of them shall be given up on the application of the civil nuthorities, Thert was considerable fighting between the whites and blacke at Clarksviile, Tennessee, on Ubristmas Day. An affray between intoxicated negro seamen belonging Qo the gunboat Tacony and the police took piace in Wil- mington, N. ©.,0n Wednesday night. Sevorat pistol hots were fired; but no one was severely wounded. Further interesting details of the recent wrecks along Ube coast are supplied im our columns this morning. The steamer Idaho, which went ashore on Barnegat Shoa's On last Saturday night, will prove a total loss. All the Persons on board of hor were saved, as were also those on the bark Flora, which wont ashore at Wreck Pond Mnlet, on Wednesday morning, during heavy fog. Birong hopes were yesterday entertained of getting the (etter vessel off. The schooner Sophronia, from Fall River, Mass., for Bristol, R. 1, is sunk in Vineyard Bound, ‘and it in supposed that all hor crew have been Growned. An uninown bark was yosterday morning» Riscovered the breakers in Vineyard Sound, and bor ‘Wes considered certain. Wrecks are also Weported on the Virginia and North Carolina shores. + A list of all the cases of wrecks in the October gales on Die Florida coast Which have been passed upon in the Court at Key West are riven in our correspondence From that place, with the amount of salvago rendered in the oases of two meamory, threo ships, six barks, five ‘rigs and two schooners, ) Ab the mooting of the Board of Supervisors yesterday Whe Comptrolier reported the amount paid to the super. fatendont and builder of the new Court House to havo Doon twenty thousand two hundred and sixty-five dot Sars, at Ave per cont, A motion to abrogate the contract (GM relereod, Mr, Bigyt stating thst the bulk of tho materials were already paid for, and that the balance would amount to but little, The usual percentage allowed to builders for important buildings is ten per cent, and private buildings are generally built in this manner. Architects get two or three percent on all materials, and the builders from six to ten per cent. ‘The new building is being roofed in now, and the court rooms will be ready for occupancy in the spring. The dome and the porticos will take a longer time to finish, the splendid carved capitals of the columns requiring eight or nine months to cut, The percentage system was adopted, in imitation of private enterprises, to secure 4 speedy completion and do away with the delays of salaried officials. The sum of five hundred dollars was directed to be paid to the Clerk of the Excise Commis- sioners for services during the year. The amount of two thousand nine hundred and fifty-four dollars was ordered to bo paid for legal services to the county during the recent gubernatorial investigation. Tho Board adjourned till to-day at three o'clock P. M. ‘Tho Board of Aldermen met yesterday afternoon, and transacted a great deal of routine business. A commu- nication from the Mayor relative to the accommodations to be provided for the Law Department of the city was roferred to the Committee on Repairs and Supplies. The Board created the office of Inspector of City Railroads, the salary of the official being fixed at three thousand dollars per annum. The sum of four thousand dollars ‘was dounted to the Ladies’ Union Ald Society, The ordi- "|: : mance relative: to the widening of Ann gtroct was re- ferred to the Committeo on Streets, The Board mects Again at one o'clock this afteracon. ‘The Board of Councilmen were in session yesterday, ‘and ‘trocsacted a large amount of business. . They con- eurred with the Aldermen in ditecting the completion of the Soldiers’ Monument at Calvary Cemetery, at a cost not to exceed the amouat originally appropriated, and io granting the application of the Fire Commissioners ‘for grounds in Burtiag slip on which to erect houses for storing fire apparatus. The Corporation Counsel was di rected to take the necessary legal steps to widen Broad- way twenty-three fect, north of Fifty-sevouth street, running with the westerly line of Seventh avenue, Ove hundred feet distant therefrom, to the southerly line of Fifty-ninth strest, ‘what officer was also fnstructed to take legai proceedings for widen- ing and extending Aum and Fulton streets from Park row to Fuitom ferry. An appropriation of five thousand dollars was made to a parochial school in Fourteenth sireet, which was vigorously opposed by Mr. Patterson, he claiming that such appropriations tended to sap the foundation of the public school system. Five thousand dollars was donated to the Union Home School for the education of the children of volunteers. One thousand doilars was voted to each of the Presidents of tho Boards and to the Commissioners of the Sinzing Fund for services. Three thousand dollars each was Granted to the Five Points House of Industry and the Ladies’ Mission. The Counsel to the Corporation was instructed to defend the Bourd of Councilmen on a charge of contempt of court in the case of Houghtalin versus O'Brien, The Board will meet this afternoon, Judge Giles, of tho United States District Court in Baltimore, yesterday rendered a decision remanding to military authority for trial Ralph Abercrombie, formerly a lieutenant in the national army, and who ts under ar- rest on charges of desertion to the revels, being a spy and having given testimony beforo a rebel court martial in Richmond which led to the wrongf! conviction and execution of Captaitf Deaton. ‘The business of the Unitea States Circait Court for is summed up in the following brief In mon law branch of the court there enced soventy-throe suits of civil character ve of cazes under the Internal Revenue act and ught against the Collector of the Court for exactions of duties}, fourteon of which were held and disposed of. In the equity branth there were one hundred and twenty-three suits commenced; were heard on motion of fajunction, forty- ted «ind fifty-one dented. Tn adrairalty om appeal from the District Court thirteen cases were heard sposed of, and soven appeals were taken to the reme Courtof the United States. On the criminal Jus were seventy-four indictments for various of- , of which sixty-two wore tried. thuming up for the plaintiff in the Strong divorce ix o'clock yesterday afternoon, he jury this morning. A motion came u terday before Judge Barnard, in the Supreme Court, chambers, on behalf of Mrs. Har- riet L. Raynor, to recover alimony from her former hus- band, Wm, M, Raynor, at the rato of eight dollars per week, for over two years. In February, 1362, ment of divorce was granted to Mrs, Raynor, givi mony to this amount, Shorily after the Indy hgain went to W¥e with her former husband, with whom she stayed for nearly two years, and then again left him, The ques- tion now arises as to wheiber the action of a wife ia re- turning to Lor husband after a judgment of divorce is granted does not cancel all legal decroes as rogards ali- Aunt was formerly a detective on the itan police, and also on General Baker's forse in ngion. The dociston was reserved. ation was also made yesterday before Judge chambers, to bail Christian Walters, indicted for the shooting of David Leflen, in Division street, on the 28th of last September. Le‘Ten at present Lies in a very precarious condition ia the hospital, The Judge decided that ho would admit the prisoner to bail should a certificate of the house surgeon be produced stating that the wounded man was fn no danger of death The Hon, Schuyler'Colfax delivered his lecture “Across the Continent” last evening, in the Cooper Institute, to one of the largest and most enthubiastic audiences that shag_agsembled within that bullding wpon such an occa- sion for a length of:time. “The ptmmense. hail was crpided in every part, and not.even Banding’ room~yas to bo had, for numboty:who prossed from tha outsiaS for. admittance. ‘The platform itself was crowded, chairs being Placed close up to the gaslights to accommodate the ludies and gentlemen who wore interested listeners to She lecture, Mr, Colfax ‘briefly stated the ‘motives which led to his undertdking a journey actoss tha coutinent—a desire to view for himself the capa- bilities and resources of States and Territories which had contributed and promised to contribute so much to the wedith and power of the United States, The de- soriptive portion of the lecture waa listened to with wrapt attention, the lecturer, from his scholarly choice of words and his expression of feoling, still under the in- fluence of the emotions the sublime seenes through which he passed gave rise-to, taking his hoarers’ imag!. nation with him over the lofty sierras and through the mountain gorges and spreading plains he had traversed in bis route. He was particularly applauded when speaking of Mexico as still a republic, and of the duty which would devolve upon this government to abolish polygamy in Utah—that remaining one of the twin relics of barbariam. He was very condemnatory of those United States officers in Utah who indulged in @ plurality of wives, thus setting at nought the very lays of the government they were sent there to maintain. Towards the abolition of this great cancer on the body politic he thought nothing would be so effective as completing the great Pacific Railway. His remarks on this point also drow forth hearty applause. A lecture was delivered last evening in Clinton Hall by Henry C. Carey on the subject of our national resources, in which he insisted that a protective tariff is the best policy of the nation, and that the cry of free trade is a delusion to nation with euch natural resources ae ours, The new butldiny on the corner of Broadway and Liberty street, occupied by the Mutual Life Insurance Company, was formally openod last evening. A grand reception was Leld, at which over one thousand guests wero present. ‘The fourteenth anniversary of the Orphan's Home and Asylum, located at the corner of Lexington avenue and Forty-ninth street, took place yesterday. From the re. Port of the secretary and treasurer the Auances of the in- stitution appear to bo in a satisfactory condition. The children of the establishment have beon remarkably healthy, only one having died during the past year. After tho anniversary exercises an election for managers: and trusteos was held. There is a movement in Fonianism at present looking to, the callin, ofa central arbitrating congress and the clearing away of all the parties to the present strife. Tt is proposed to have the congress called by State centres of both divisions. Tue O'Mahony bonds condemned by the Senate are the subject of inquiry tn places to which they have been sent. Ponnsylvania, New Jor. sey, Indiana and other places furnish Senate pronun- ciamienies to-day. Two new circles have been organizett Fecently in this city, We give to-day an account of the Fonian proceedings ot Upien square, with the prepara. tions for the coming convention in Clinton Mall; also several letters from contres and organizers in favor of O'Mahoby ; and the addrees of Miss Mahonoy to tho Sis- terhood likewise appears in our columns this morning. Tho United States and Brazil Mail Steamship Compa The Suit was concluded day (Friday) for St. Thomas, Para Pernambuco, Bahia and Rio Janeiro, leaving pier No.43 North river punc- tually atthree o'clock P. M. Thisis the second voyage of the Havana (o the above porta,and the gencral satis- faction expressed by passengers who went out in her on her first trip as well as those whoreturned by her, as to the superior seagoing qualities of this ne ghip and the exceilent accommodations for all, slould be sufficient to induce those wishing to visit any pf the above porte to avail themselves of this opportu Mr. J, E. Huertas 1s the obliging and attentive pursir. Ayoung man named William Keeler, who {t was an- derstood was yesterday to engage {n a prize fight near the Fashion race course with anotherlindividual called Jef, was arreated by the police at Huafer's Point during the day. ‘The sald pugilists, who are light weight fighters, are the champions respectively of what are known as the Geoghegan and McFay factions of bruisers of this city. A number of expectant spectators of the sport were assembled at Hunter's Point to take the cars for the ground of contest; but on the arrest of Keeler, finding that the game was spoiled, they scattered, and none of them were arrested. During a quarrel on night between Henry Bauer and John Mice, of No, Seventh aveaue, the former, as alleged, struck the & severe blow on the head, fracturing hie skull, and producing tajaries from the effects of which he is aot expected to recover. Bauer was arrested and committed. ‘ ‘ Over one thousand dollars’ worth ef ‘india ‘tuber was youterday ‘morning. stelén: from pier No.1 East rivor. Michael. Sullivan, 4. private watchman on, pler No. 40, 4nd: two. other men Wore’ red by a pbltooman, bé- | tween three and four’o'dlock (a the morning, passing ‘along South street, nese’ Marit, carrying bags of india rubbor which is, daid to be'e portion of the atolen Tot. | Sultivan was arrested; bat his comrades dropped their loads and fled. Other’portions of the missing stock have been found concealed at pier No. 40, and in a junk shop, and the most of it has beea recovered. Witliam M. D, Conkling and Albert Morgaa, fast youths of cightecn and nineteon, werb yestorday committed on a charge of practising an old confidence game, by calling at stores and requesting the proprietors to send speoi- mens of goods to certain houses to enable some person residing there to make a selection, meeting the messen- gor in the hall, leaying him thero, and then protending to carry the articles up stairs to the supposed purchaser, but really disappearing with them through the back part of the house. In this case the charge agaist Conk- ling and Morgan was made by Mr. King, a Fourth avenue watchmaker, who alleges that they thus swindled him out of four watches, valued at nearly six hundred dol. lars. Othor similar complaints are said to*be peuding against them. The deparinre from this city of the steamship Conti- nental, with the expeditionary party of young ladies for Washington Territory, which was to have taken place last week, has been delayed; but it is now stated that the vessel will positively sail on Tuesday next. The young ladies who are alout to try their fortunes in thas distant quarter aro nearly ail in the city ‘The town of Pulaski, Tennessee, was visived on Tues- day night last by a tornado which blew down a number of houses, It ts reported that several persons were killed, being buried in the ruins of the buildings. ‘The stock market was a shade firmer and more active yesterday. Govermracats were firm. Gold was dull, and cloned at 14534. There was but little activity or buoyaney in commer- cial circles yesterday, and the amount of business done was unusaally small both iu foreign and dowestic pro- duce, Cotton was firmer. Groceries wero dull and lower, On ’Change flour was firmer. Wheat was steady. Corn was a shade lower. Pork was irregular, Boef was steady. Lard was firm. Whiskey was nominally a shade lower. The News from Mexico—Warlike Propae ratiuna at Vera Craz. The Moxican news, which we publish this morning, is very interesting and somewhat sig- nificant. Is may not mean war, bui it can hardly be reconciled with the Louia Napoleonic idea that “the empire is peace.” The facts submitted, in the public estimation, will aot sustain, the theory that the Emperor of the French is negotiating for a quict withdrawal of hig Emperor of the Mexicans. Since our reports by the last preceding steamer from Vera Craz another instalment of twelve hun- dred French troops had been landed there and marched up into the interior. Considerable quantities of artillery, small arms and muni- tions of war were arriving almost daily, and moved in the same direction. The old guns of the casile were being replaced by new ones of heavier calibre, and on the land side of the city the imperialists were actively engaged in strengthening its defences, These movements may be the preliminary sicps to an evacuation, but they certainly look more like doliberate preparations of defonce against an expected hostile investmeat by sea and land. These warlike procecdings, in fact, give something of color to the rumors at Washiag- ton of an alliance between France, Engiand, Spain, Italy and Austria to maintain Max- milian on his Mexicam throne, although these reports are admitted to rest upon a very slen- der foundation, Unquestionably the interests of Hngland do not lie in any auch coalition in .sppport of the alleged Ameriéan’ schemes ‘of Napoleon, but:rather in the opposite direction, even to the extremity of an armed alliance, with the United States, Let France be firmly established in Mex'cd, and sho. will next be firmly established in the Central American Stateg; and then, commanding all the isthmus passages between the two oceans, not only would. the commercial ascpndency of England be thereby endangered, but all her .colonica in both hemispheres. What, then, is the meaning of these warlike preparations at Vera Cruz? They are not needed against the Mexican liberals, reduced to a feeble guerilla system of warfhre. Can they be intended as a menace and a challenge to the United States? We fall back upon President Johnson’s Mes- sage to Congress, in which the Monroe doctrine is reaffirmed, and wherein he says that “at the proper time” the correspondence between the United States and France in relation to Mexico will bo laid before the two houses. We infer from this statement that negotiations are in progress looking to the sbandonment of Mexico by Napoleon, and thet probably the high contracting parties may be discussing the question of equivalents to France for her peaceable evacuation. In this view, these warlike preparations at Vera Cruz may be de signed to assist Mr. Seward in coming to terms. There are tricks of strategy in diplomacy as well as in war. =r At all events, we have no doubt that Louis Napoleon-has been thoroughly convinced from his correspondence with our government that his Mexican usurpation cannot be recognized, nor even tolerated much longer, by the United States. He must, then, make his election of one of the two alternatives left him. He must re- tire for the sake of peace, or elect to maintain his position in Mexico at the costs and hazards of 3 war with the United States. If the nephew, like the uncle, were a believer in his lucky star against all hostile combinations and all con- tingencies, we might count upon the alterna- tive of war, or an inglorious sacrifice of the Monroe doctrine; but the disastrous mistakes of Napoleon the First have taught Napoleon the Third the saving virtues of prudence and caution tos remarkable degree, To the eagacious exercise of these qualities he is mainly indebted for his brilliant successes as the ruler of France and the arbiter of Burope. He has kadwa when to stop in his ‘by’s sonmor Havans, Captain MB, Greono, will qgil to- § military adventures, ag we hayo soon from hia The British Governm Continues om Its New Tack. . Some days ago we had occasion to allude to the remarkable change in the tactics of the British government and the tone of the Londpa press and its correspondents concerning Amert- can affairs. This especially referred to eur complications with the policy of European governments. The latest arrivals have con- firmed our views, peace with Russia and his peace with Austria, on the heel of successes in each case, which would have only sharpened the appetite of bis uncle for larger enterprises. But in his treat- ment of the Pope the patient diplomacy of the third Napoleon presents the most striking contrast to the ruinous audacity of his uncle. The causes of his overthrow Talleyrand summed up im these words: “Spain, Russia and the Pope.” Louis Napoleon has svoided ali these dangers except Russia; for the real Russia with which he has become entangled is Moxico. He undertook this Mexican enterprise upon false calculations. He blundered. sadly in his estimates of the strength of Jeff. Davis and the weakness of the government of the United States. With the collapse of the so-called Southern confederacy, which he did not provide for, bis mistake in Mexico became apparent to all the world. But Mr, Bigelow, our Minister at Paris, in which « comparison is sagely drawn between the peli- ‘ ticians and statesmen of Great Britain and our own prominent representative men. We cam come one is an inevitable fact of the future. | draw no other conclusion from the tenor:of the Belgium, merely political nation, will be ab-} srticte than that the advantage is on our aide. sorbed by the States from which it was made, | qe tate President Lincoln is taken as the type of in the general consolidation that will recognize | t4. «rough, common sense and ungainly shrowd- no good reason for a nation’s existence except | rosa of the intelligent masses of the Union, there he is, with his character for sagacity and his prestige of success both imporilled, and what is he to do? i . He, cannot :ahruptly withdraw. withostbu-’ radical differences of race. But with England the law will, and already does, operate the other’ way, beceuge the British empire is so preparing: for : We. conclude, howéver, : ‘ik his'warliko priarition’ of Vora Grun are | 1aW'doee nof:epply tat renders it now more | only “te keep up that fie tv: onty | feasible to govern large nations than It was auciently. She will be loft behind in the race manoouvering to decare the honors of a voluitary getirementes from-an enterprist e¢- complished, yet magnanimously abandoned for the sake of peace, \ We liave heard that if permitted to secure complete suppression of every vestige of the republic he will be pre- pared to withdraw the empire, But, whatever his designs may be, we are satisfied that Presi- dent Johnson has been pursuing a course of “masterly inactivity,”’land that the longer Napoleoa delays the inevitable settlement the more troublesome, expensive ang dangerous will become his Mexican olephant. We slill adhere to the theory of his early retirement; but if he should be tolerated in Mexico till our next Presidential election, that election would involve a popular verdict upon the Monroe docizine which would be decisive—peace or wal Modern Civilization and Ancient Theo-~ ries—The Influences of the Kailroad and the Telegraph on Nations. Our latest news from Europe gives intima- tion of possible changes in the national life of Spain, of Belgium and of Great Britain. From Spain we hear faintly the suggestion that the Portuguese frontier should be obliterated; that the Tberian and the Lusitanian should for- get their ancient quarrels; that Spaniard and Portuguese shouid join hands and form a single nation. In relation to Belgium it is rumored that an arrangement for its partition is already concluded, by which iis effects will pass to Holland, Prussia and France. In the English papers we find a further expression of that readiness to” dissolve colonia! connections, which, in its full development, wil! disintegrate the British empire by stripping that Power of its vast foreign dependencies. At firat glance these projected possibilities seem to have only the moat airy basis, and little or no relation’ to one another. Indeed, as on the ‘one hand we see the breaking of great Powers into smaller, and on the other the consolidation of smaller into great ones, they appear lo be direct con- trarlea, and suggest only inextricable confu- sion in government relations. Looked at more closely, however, they wi!l appear in their true light, as correlative results of a iaw of national life; and it will also be seen that, although now regarded by the masa as bare possibilities, they are the inevitable facts of the futuré. Modern civilization has changed the con- dition of national existence, In the earliest ages great empires formed around the person of some hero, and great hereditary monarchies were kept together by a religious machinery that imposed upon the people with the notion that the monarch was of superior essence to other mea, bor2 of the gods and descended frow heaven, This machinery still exisis in China, where the ordinary formula of royalty styles the Emperor brother of the sun and cousin of the planets. But as the world grew more intelligent bold robels came up every- where to question these divine origins, or to assert equally divine ones, and the great 1: wieldy realms were broken up and gave plac to ‘nuntberless small States. Then came the timé. when -great realms, were only kept to- gether by the transcendent genius of the ruler. It was no longer sufficjent to declare the King greater than other men—he had to be greater’ ‘nd to control all-by a superior intellect. The great Khosroo, Cambyses, Semiramis, Alex- ander, Timer Bec and Charlemagne are ex- amples of such,rulers. Charlemagne kept sll Burope in one power st.9 time when the com- mn necessities of national life tended to break up great empires. Consequently he was no sooner dead than the empire went to pioces and divided into dukedoms and States as numerous and different as the interests and prejudices of the people who had submitted to his rule. It could not be other- wise; for in that age of imperfect communica- tion nations could not be properly governed by « Power resident thousands of miles away. Mountains, rivers, forests, inclement seasons, the absence of roads, separated the parts of an empire from one another, s0 that it required months for the decrees of a central Power to reach through the realm. Small States were, therefore, a necessity of government. That condition of ndtional existence pre- vailed in Europe for hundreds of years, and made the basis of learned arguments on the in- herent weakness of Powers that are territori- ally great. It has been applied against Russia, and, worse still, against the United States. It is the meaning of De Tocqueville’s phrase that our country is “sa giant without bones.” Earo- pean writers saw in our vast expansion the certainty of our ruin, and rested upon the Mon- roe doctrine, that was to spread us out further, as their best ally against us. But these shortsighted persons have failed to notice that the circumstances that weakened Powers of great territorial ex- tent no longer exist. They shut thetr eyes to the fact that the power that kept nations small by necessity has passed away. They leave the railroad, the steamboat and the electric tele- graph out of their arguments—that is, they leave out the present time, They set them- selves down ae if it were the good year four- teen hundred, and reason accordingly. They forget that modern invention has woll nigh Snnthilated time and spade, and that by the Present system of interoommunication all Eu- will destroy. policy of alternately dragging with opium, adopt those styles of argument are entitled to their confidence and respect. A nation which has existed till late . years for centurics without. internal any moment, and haa been free from wars for generations, very naturally looks with suspicion upon the government which resorts to the means that England bas been in the habit of using in Asia to advance her com- merce, Almost the first step taken by England in her efforts to establish commercial inter- course with the Chinese was to demoralize the people by feeding them with opium. Then came tie clandestine trade in that article in violation of the laws of the empire, which in turn lcd to wars and insurrections, A govern- ment whose traditions have been that of non- intercourse with other nations must have had that policy strengthened in their own estima- tion when they saw that the first fruits of in- ternational intercourse were demoralization of the people, war, murder and insurrection. Yet all of these were. brought upon the Chinese by the Powers of Europe in their efforts to open that country to their commerce. This mode of procedure is 80 averse to that in vogue among the Chinese that we are not surprised that but little progress is made in ostablishing full friendly rela ; Our goyornmont has very wisely thrown the weight of its influence against this policy. The intercessions of our representatives at Pekin succeeded for » time in breaking up the policy of demanding ecssion of torritories by the Powers of Europe, and thus opened the doors of China, by peaceful moens, wider and more effectually than all the threats, bullying and warlike operations of other nations com- dined could possibly do. But we now learn that the governments of Europe are again re- sorting to their old dodge, and that efforts are being made to involve this country with them, We trust that our representatives in that quar- ter will be instructed to keep aloof from all aach alliances. Whilé we do not intend to pocket an insult from any foreign government, yet it should not be our policy to plunge ourselves into.a war, especially when the reverse of that policy will the best serve our interest, as it clearly will, with the Chinese. We want no cession of territory in Asia; we’ have sufficiont on this continent for owr purposes; nor should we assist England, France or any other gov- sernment in securing grants of that kind from the Emperor of China, If England or any other ‘country desires to engage in war. for that pur pose let them do it on their own. responsibility is that of a masterly aud energetic peace. We are go situatod that we have everything to gain ‘und, nothing to Ipse’ by that course. . cor- rectness of this view hes already been vo by the large ordcts which our ship builders have received from the Chinese, and that, too, st the very time when England and other nations were trying to force their trade upon them. The moral effect of peacefal diplomacy has ac- complished for us what the threats of war and bullying demands of other countries have failed to bring about. Such wilt unquestionably lead to this result hereafter. It is but @ short time since the efforts of Rus- sia to construct a telegraph across the Chinese empire were interrupted by the Chinede govern- ment. Serious complications were threatened; but we presume that Russia will finally carry her point, although it may arouse such animosi- ty on the part ofthe authorities in China that it will embarrass for a long time its operations. As one end of this line is to terminate in this country, we can, if we are wise, be the first to govornments have overcome the prejudice among the Chinese which their belligeroat demonstrations and threats have aroused the current of trade of China will have so strongly set in towards our shores on the Pacific that {t will be impossible to change it. That trade will soon become one of the most important of that of any nation. It will be specially valua- ble to us from the fact that the articles raised and manufactured there which we desire the most are not produced in this country. It is then clearly our policy to maintain friend- ly relations with the Chinese, The folly of the course of the European nations is too apparent for us to be misled in this respect. A nation that was constantly trying to stir up insurrec- tion in our midst, and endeavoring to demor- alize our people in every possible way, should be the last which we would desire to reward with our commerce. However, human natare is the same the world over, not excepting the Chi- nese, Those Powers which are friendly to that country during the hours of trial will gain the respect and gratitude of both people and gov- ernment! troubles (disappesr, rope 1 prOeheiay Se aaaee oan ny Ceue po arm tp fry are single State was in the Middle Ages. farvouree, "al pence, en. be ene pellay Wim But though the philosopher forget (he | Gain. and accépt the conséquatices... Our.ttue policy | ® geographical reason, or # reason founded on | «ine depository of political power;" and Gon- eral Grant is referred to as having “Inherited - in some degree the characteristics of the late bean resident.” “The-strength of the nation,” con- soatiored over the world that ‘its parts are.only per ngsng Bison which we quote, ‘lien rehgbed by Ing cea voyages. In her case the | in miss of enorgetic, industtipus, and solf- tat reliant men.” ‘This is a trath which the British probably learned in previous contests with, 7 | America; and it was scarcely necessary to for national eupremacy, atid is, therefore, the | wait the triumphant results of the rebellion to -one vast Power of the earth that this great law acknowledge it. “General Grant is spoken of : a ag the “inarticulate hero,” whose words “are The Huropean Nations and the Chinese~ | few and rugged; bat when thoy come they ex- press the dogged regolution, the ardor slowly The tatest advices from China revenl the | kindled, but when once alight steadily main- fact that most of the European Powers are | tained, the unflinching pertinacity, and the * making very slow progress in establishing | power of adapting means to ends which, acting amicoble relations with that country. The together, crashed the Southern confederation, and which we are bound to recognize the more bullying and fighting does not seem to con-| readily because they are among the beat char- vince the Gelestials that those nations which | acteristics we covet for ourselves.” The heroic momories of Mar!¥orough and Wellington are, it seems, replaced by the p greater and more recent achievements of aa revolution of} American goncral. This is a very atrango ad- mission on the part of a leading English print, and must touch the officers in the British army ina tender part. The English heroes of the Crimea, few as_ they were, seom to have been lost sight of altogethor, and, instead of looking to France for the heroes of that war, America is accepted, even on English authority, aa furnishing tho first military captain of the age. The compliment paid to the United States when, “in the moment of their success, flushed with triaimph and intoxicated with glory, their armies did not demand to be led against new enemies,” and did not murmur at a dismissal, isa fitting commentary upon the senguinary purposes and grasping ambition of the Mnglish while employing their power to seize and occupy dominions upoo which “the sun sbould never set,” G We might ‘continue at length these illustra tions of the newly found sympathy of Groat Britain for the United States, but do mot deom itnecessary. It is sufficient for us to know that the trouble brewing between England and France, which has already led to’the suspen sion of the extradition. treaty between the two nations, proliminary, as we have predicted, ta the complete ruptare of the entente cordiale, ia no particular business of our people or gov- eroment. Whatever the result may -be, the United States art suro to be benefited by thei quarrel; and we can afford to bo quict for a while, amid all the complications and clashinge among European dynasties, resting upon the laurels we have won in one of the most gigaatia atruggles of modera timos. Manicipal Reforms and Reformers. When men grow rich they become conserva- tive. Satisfied with the world as it Is, they do not care to try to make it what it ought to be. To this general rule there are very few excbp- tions, and these exceptions are mon of such marked gonius that while advocating neces sary reforms they never allow themselves te degenerate into mere destructives, like the rampant radicals, Unfortunately this dty pos- sesses but « amall number of such real roform- ers. We have plenty of rich men, bit they are perfectly contented to count owr their millions, and are never willing to give a few. dollars, or even a few cents, toward remedy- ing the evils of which they are often tie load. est to-confplain.. They will not take th’ trouble ‘to’ go, to the polls to vote, and yet they heartily denounce dishonest officials at :thei: dinner tables. They.do nothing to render ow minict pel burdens less, but they grumble terdbly : they are called upon to,pay heuyy; ‘axes. ‘They will give their names to a. reform party perhaps, but they will never give anythin elecf In every {nstance within our recollectid they have permitted the most unscrupulousioliti- cians to use so-called reform for mercenary ends, wiN!l it bas passed ito a proverb that the worst men have thi host chagges of election when the ory of rotm is raised during a municipal canvass. Whold chert a self-evident trath thet the withy cil of this metropolis are direct an Two letters which have been recen(pab- Mshed fully clucidate this view of the pjcct, and show tp our municipal refors and@ reformers in a very singular light. 1 first letter was addressed to the editor of thjour- by one of our city politicians. In thirmer our renders were treated to mside view of city politics, The writer expl the. means by which the so-called reform cidate had been swindled ont of his money by ‘kors’” and out of his election by the lukewness and disaffection ‘of the rich memberf the citizens’ combination, who allowed toliti. cians to get hold of him and sellhim @ for cash. The letter to Governor Feni goes further then this, and reveals to us tillicit connection between these politicians muni- cipal reforms. . The writer begins tating that, for reasons satisfactory to himse wag desirous ofa change in the leadersbf tho democratic party in this city, and thaorder to secure “a great personal triu” he made charges against the Comptro He then continues:—“I was assured tading members of the republican party, ndosely identified with the State Executive) ifs fair pretext could be presented for tercied of the power of removal vested in yZxoet, lenoy, Mr, Brennan should be rem ang Degotiations were actually entered. .o5, had reason to believe, with your '