The New York Herald Newspaper, April 25, 1867, Page 6

6 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR. , AMES GORDON BENNETT, JR. MANAGER. BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. Vebumme XXMIL....:-c-cereeceeeeereeeeeeees Ne. 115 AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway, near Broome sireet.—LittLs Bazeroor. NEW YORK THEATRE. Hotel.—Tux Sacrgp Tau: Fiscp—BionDin On THE tae Osta On 7 THEATRE FRANCAIS, Fourteenth street. near Sixth evenue.—La Tous pe Nasu. STADT THEATRE. 45 and 47 Bowery.— sees iasonss ona Kein Maxx—Dis Buwurisvonsten- cong. OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway.—Ross or Castiiz. IRVING HALL, Teving plase-s axp Mas. Howaap Pauu's Guanp Farewei. Concerzs in Costume. STEINWAY HALL, Fourteenth street and Fourth ave- Coacunr. nue.—G. W. Cousr’s Finst ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE Chapel, Varick street —Tas SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 5% Broadway, the Metropolitan Hotel—In tugin Etmioriax ments, SINGWNG, DANCING AND BURLESQUES.—TuE ‘Coox—L'ArRicainE, KELLY & |.ZON'’S MINSTREL ditethe sores Hotel TRICITIEG. BURLESQURS, Ba.ust Trovre—Mateinony. FIFTH AVENUE OPERA HOUSE, Nos. 2 and 4 Wost Twenty-fourth street.—Grirriy & Canisry's Miverre! Ermoriax Minstagisy, Battans, Bueiesques, &c.—Tas Brack Cuoox—Rosgar Macaine. TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, 201 Bowery.—Cowro Batret Diver- jack SHEPPARDS. Vooatism, Necro Mixstretsy, corer | visskment, &c.—Tue Forty FEMALe CHARLEY WHITE'S COMBINATION TROUPE, at Mechanics’ Hall, 472 Broadway—In 4 Vagtery or Licur anp LavGHas.e Enter tainments.—Tue Maskxp Baur. HOOLEY’S OPERA HOUSE. Brooklya.—Erutorian MIN- erexisy, Battaps aNp BuELEsQues. COOPER INSTITUTE, Eighth street.—Lxcrume a¥ Rev. J. Hyatt Saitu on “Sigut SEsina,"’ 1k cuiM’s Matinee Wednesday and Saturday at 24 o'clock, Scxnzs. NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY. 618 Broadway. Prosst—Tar Wasiinctow Twins—Wonvers 1y Natura History, Souxcr AD ABr. Heap axp Ricut ARM OF Lxcruxes Daity, Open from 8 A.M, till WP. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DESIGN, corner of Twenty- and Fourth avenue.—Exarsiti0n or Pictures third si anp Sc ‘URES BY LIVING AuTists. way. copealie Bow. York TRINITY CHOIRS, at St. John’s Musstan. opposite Ewrertatn- Bucs 720 Broadway, oppo l.—IN THein Sona, Dances. Ecoxs- &c.—Cinpen-Leon—Mapagascas TABLEAUX, Union Hall. corner of and Broadway, at &—Movinc Mire PRoGRESS—Sixty MAGNIFICENT TRIPL «REMOVAL. The New York Heravp establishment is now located in the new Henratn Building, corner of Brosaway and Ann street. NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS. Advertisers will please bear in mind that in order to have their advertisements properly classi- fed they should be sent in before half-past eight o'clock in the evening. EUROPE. Th day evening, April 24. The probabilities of war between France and Prussia remained unchanged, and a rupture of the peace of the Continent was still imminent. The otber great Powers made continuous efforts in the way of peacetul media- A Berlin journal expresses the feeling of Prussia, saving she did not ‘appeal to the other Powers for the tion. protection of her rights, and wil! not leave Luxemburg.” Another neutral appeal was, however, made to the Bor- mm Cabinet. Consols closed at 90% for money in London, States: twenties were at 67% in London yesterday, and at 73 in Frankfort on Tuesday evening. The Paris Bourse was heavy, and rentes falling. The Liverpool cotton market closed weak, prices de- chned, and middling upland was at 104d. @ 10%4d. Breads(utfs and provisions almost unchanged. The French transatlantic mail steamship Pereire, which left Brest on the 13th of April, in the afternoon, in command of Captain Duchesne, reached this port early yesterday morning, performing again, as do the vessels of this line, the valuable service of delivering our files and correspondence of as late a date as the matter on board the Cunard steamstup from Liverpool the same day, which had not been heard from at Halifax. Our special correspondence from Paris, Cherbourg, and Brussels, embraces matter of the very bighest in- torest in view of the commencement, progress and pro- bable consequences of the war movement going on be- tween France and Prussia, aud the chances of its affect- ing the other Powors. United which, no matter in what sense they may be received, goes to show that France is ili prepared for war, that Prussia is likely to hold Luxemburg, and that Napoleon must go to war or permit the nation to be humiliated to such an extent as may cost him bis thi ‘The Liberté containing the article had an immense sale on the streets, and its perusal produced a profound sensation. Paris was unoasy and the social condition unhealthy, ‘Ten thousand of the city tailors, with numbers of men Delonging to other trades, were on “strike” for higher wages, and the priees of rents and food were very high. The “red’’ revolutioniste were in council in Brussela, General Prim appearing as the animating spirit of a grand revolutionary caucus, attended by representatives The brother of Felix Orsini appeared for a moment, and the from France, Spain, lialy, Rome and Ireland. plans of immediate republican movements in Rome, ‘Spain and Groat Britain were discussed. The Fronch Emperor is pushing forward the develop- ment and completion of his iron-elad feet at Cherbourg with great activity. The Spanwh Minister of Foreign Afaira, in reply to a question in the Senate relative to the Tornado affair mated that the government would cause the rights of the nation and the decision of Spanish tribunals to be respectod. Our special correspondenta in Paris state that the Ex- hibition building was gradually assuming interior ar- Tangement, The Emperor paid a second visit to the Grounds and expressed his interest in the progress of the American department, ‘The arrangements for the tnternational yacht race, off Cherbourg, were being completed. THE CITY. A special meeting of both boards of the City Council met last night. Inthe Board of Aldermen a preambie was adopted reciting that the Legisiature had passed « Dill transferring the duty of issuing licenses and other Powers in relation to theatres, junkshops, intelligence offices, cars and car drivers, &c., trom the Mayor and City Council to the Board of Police Commissioners for @ partisan purpose, when such duties had heretofore been faithfully performed by the mauicipal authorities; and & resolution accompanying the preamble was’ also adopted, repealing all ordinances relating to such thes. tres, junk shops, &c., for the purpose of defeating the object of the bill referred to. In the Board of Councit. men this preamble and resolution were also adopted. The jesion on Life Saving Inventions met yos. , and hearda number of gentlemen on the beat method of preventing explosions of boilers and other topics connected with steam navigation. The health oMicers of the port took a trip down the lower bay yesterday to inspect a site for the proposed new Quarantine station, In the Supreme Court, Ciroult, Part 1, yesterday, in the case of Lewis Einstein ot al vs. Samuel Engler, which e on (old end stock transactions eed of promissory notes, was a rather complicated sult, to recover money report by the AUantic cable is dated yester- M. Emile Girardin published a powerful article in the Paris Libert’, containing a series of war questions to the Freuch people, the tendency of NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1867.—TRIPLE = with an fron spur. A large and swift army ee eee for rapid the Judge directed the jury to bring a verdict for the piaintify, which they did for $34,089 93. An important trial was commenced yesterday in the Supreme Court, Second district, Richmond -county, Staten Isiand, in which the validity of a will made by Juliana Gardiner is contested by her son, David L. Gardi- ner. The property, at present valued at $180,000, is in possession of Mrs. Julia Tyler, daughter of the deceased, and widow of the late President John Tyler, who, ac- cording to tho terms of the will, is to enjoy the income of the same until she is indemnified for losses sustained to her property in Virginia during the war. Contestants claim that ehe exercised undue influence on the mind of testatrix in order to secure possession of her real estate. In the Superior Court, Part 1, yesterday, a suit was commenced by Charles Endres against Charles F. Platt, who, it is alleged, has a contract for horsing the cars of the Hudson River Railroad Company from Chambers street to the Thirtieth street depot, for the alleged neglie gence of one of his drivers im ruaning a freight car over plaintiff on the Sth of October, 1864, at the junction of Canal and Hudson streets, The plaintiff, who is only fourteen years old, was severely injured at the time, losing portions of both arms, and he lays bis damages ‘at $20,000, The North German Lioyd’s steamship Deutschland, Captain Wessels, will sail from the Bremen pier, Hobo- ken, at noon to-day (Thursday) for Southampton and Bremen, The mails for the United Kingdom and ¢he Continent will close at the Post Office at half-past ten o'clock A. M. The fine steamship Eagle, Captain Greene, will leave pier No. 4 North river, at three P, M. to-day (Thursday) for Havana, The mails will close at the Post Office at two o'clock P. M. The stock market was firm yesterday. Gold was ex- cited, and after selling up to 142 closed heavy at 1403¢. ‘There was no especial change in commercial affairs yesterday, though the advance in gold in the afternoon rendered the markets very firm. Cottop was an excep- tion to the rule, the market being greatly depressed by the unfavorable turn of the advices from Liverpool. Petroleum was also dull and heavy. Groceries were steady with a fair demand, On Change flour and wheat were firm. Corn was more active and firmer. Oats were active at full prices. Pork was less active and a shade lower. Beef was steady. Lard was in active de- mand and higher. Freights ruled dull, but rates were steady, Whiskey was nominal. MISCELLANEOUS. The first blood in the Indian war was drawn at Cima- rone Landing, about thirty miles from Fort Dodge on the 19th instant. One soldier and six Cheyennes were killed, $ Our Mexigan letters are dated at Vera Cruz, April 12, and Mexico city, April 8 The capture of Puebia by Porfirio Diaz is confirmed, and full particulars are given. The city was taken only after an obstinate contest, and the berals killed sixty-three of the imperial officers afler their surrender, Marquez, who had escaped from Querétaro and arrived at Mexico city, with extraordinary powers conferred by the Emperor, appeared before Puebla soon after its capture with four thousand men, too late, however, to reinforce the garrison, Diaz im- mediately engaged and defeated him, capturing guns andgammunition, but not Marquez himself, The siege of Vera Cruz was progressing with spirit. Solid shot and shell were being hurledjdaily into the city, and the condition of the citizens was distressing. A flag of truce had arrived announcing tho fall of Puebla and the execution of imperial officers and demanding capitula- tion, guaranteeing that no lives should be taken among the prisoners if the town surrendered before the 15tn inst., but after that no guarantee could be expected. The answer to this communication is not known, but it is reported that another flag, later in the day, was fired upon from the walls, Maximilian was still closely in- vested in Querétoro, and among liberals the opinion pre- vailed that he would receive the same treatment, in the event of his capture, as had been accorded to the pris- Gners of Diaz. A portion of Querétoro was besieged by the liberals on the 30th of March, only two sireots in the town remaining to the imperialists. The condition of the besieged is represented as horrible, and the speedy capture of the town was regarded as certain. The dead imperialists remained unburied, and the hungry citizens who attempted to leave the town were shot down. The atteropted flight of Maximilian is con- firmed, and it is further reported that six hundred im- Perialists succeeded in making their escape. News from the British West Indies has been received, dated at Kingston, Jamaica, April 10, The Spanish mail steamer Moctezuma was in port, and it was thought the Chilean privateer Rayo, formerly the R. R. Cuyler, was not far distant. The Spanish war steamer Concepcion had arrived for the purpose of keeping guard over the Moctezuma, The cane and coffee fields were suffering from a long continued drought. Our Havana letter is dated April 20. The coolie im- migration was continuing without abatement. The Banco Espaiiol has been authorized to limit its specie payments to $25,000 per diem for four months longer. ‘The creditors of the Cuba Bank had agreed to grant ita respite of four years in discharging a portion of ita in- debtedness. The Spanish steamers Vasco Nunez de Balboa and Carmen had put to sea from Santiago under sealed orders. Commander Nauta, of the Austrian frigate Dandolo, at a banquet on the 14th inst., 1s re- ported to have said that he had received orders to send his executive officer to Vera Cruz to take command of Maximilian’s yacht and convey the Archduke home. Dates from Hovoluin, Hawaiian Isiands, are to the 4th instant. The official census of the Saudwich Islands shows a decrease of 9,000 in the population during the last six years, The Hawatinn missionaries in the Mar- quesas Islands bad agreed to stand at their posts and not return to Honolulu as proposed. Onr Washington correspondent says that it is probable the trial of Sarratt will not come off, as a deep impres- sion prevails among the adherents of the administration ‘that his mother was innocent of the crime for which she was executed, and the trial of the sou will only make the fact more apparent. General Pope, commanding the Third Military Southern district, which includes Georgia, recently addressed « note to Governor Jenkins, in relation to his advice to the people to do nothing but wait, asking him if he bad read a certain portion of the goneral omer in reference to the Reconstruction act. The article mentioned re- ferred to the removal of office holders who attempt to obstract the workings of the law. The Gov- emor replied that in fature he would do what is re- quired by his duty and his oath of office. The General in return says he will be compelled to remove all officers who obstruct the execution of the law, The two suits against General Wool for false imprison. ment doring his military government at Baltimore in 1861 and 1862, recently pending before the United States District Coart of that city, bave been decided by award- mg both plaintifi’ one cent each as damages. General Sheridan bas discharged an aid to the Chief of Police for discouraging negroes from registering their ames as voters, Four thousand citizens of Mobile, Ala., beld a public Teconetraction meeting in that city on the 19th inst, at which Judge Busteed presided, George Peabody is in Baltimore, and will probably not visit Washington, but receive the portrait ef Victoria from the British Consul in New York, Senator Wilson yesterday addressed a crowd composed mainly of negroes, at Norfolk, Va Governor Pierpont and other speakers followed him. Terrific earthquake shocks were felt in Leavenworth and Junction City, Kansas, and Kansans City and St, Louis, Mo., yesterday, Thoy lasted seventy seconds, the earth and river being upheared and the houses made to rock and strain likeashipinastorm. The were terribly frightened, but no one was hurt, The flood in the Missouri at Kansas City bas compelled the people living on the bottom lands to take refuge on the bluffs, send A spiritualist fs on trial in Norwich, Conn., for the starvation and beating of his daughter, aged thirteen, aided by bis paramour, The little girl escaped from his cruelty by jumping into a snow bank from a third story window. His counsel admits the facts presented by the prosecution, but pleads insanity. The Yale and Harvard rowing clabs have given up the idea of entering the Paris regatta The Yale crew objected to the short distance of the course and the Faculty of Harvard declined to give thelr under- graduates leave of absence, be The money subscribed for the repairing of the levées in Louisiana has been exhausted, and the floods are Unabated. No resource remains bat private subscription among the planters. A fire supposed to have been the work of an incendi- @Y occurred in Petroleam Centre, on Tuesday evening, destroying the Union Hotel, theatre and other property, the lows amounting to $75,000, The supposed iacendi- ary has been arrested. The Cosmopolitan Hotel in San Francisco was in- oer by Gre tothe amount of $160,000 om Tuorday a Sanguinary Scenes in Mexico—A Call for Intervention. The setting sun of the Mexican empire cests its baleful light over a reign of terror. A re- morseless spirit of vengeance and bloody re- prisals marks the steps of the advancing lib- erals, while the imperialists, baffied at every point and cut off on every side, still fight, and with the terrible courage of despair. At Zaca- tecas recently, some two hundred of them, fall- ing into the hands of General Escobedo, as prisoners of war, were taken out and shot. This summary execution of captured imperial- ists, if foreigners, is justified on the ground that they are filibusters, and if natives, on the ples that they are only doomed to the death of traitors. Porfirio Diaz, the liberal goneral-in- chief, it appears, however, in the capture of Puebla, did not pursue this rule of wholesale elaughter. He only executed some eighty im- perial officers, as he had threatened to do if forced to assault the city, and gave terms of mercy to some who surrendered. Thus the war goes on. The end to the im- perialists cannot be far off. They were in- vested in Querétaro, including Maximilian, his high officers of State and the flower of his army, chiefly Europeans—French, Austrians and Belgians—and there seemed to be not a loophole of escape for them. Marquez, the first army officer under the Emperor, had made a bold dash with four thousand mer from the city of Mexico, for the relief of Puebla; but he was too late even to help himself; for he is re- ported first as hemmed in between the two cities, and next, as having been attacked by Diaz and cut to pieces. Vera Cruz, the most important position of the imperialists as a base of military supplies and as a base of retreat from the country, was at the last accounts at any mo- ment expected to open its gates to the flag of the republic, Diaz having sent down a strong column to assist the investing forces. Now, by the maszacres already committed by the libe- rala, and which they justify under the laws of war, there is reason to apprehend that with the capture or surrender of Querétaro, Mexico and Vera Cruz, involving all that are left in arms of the adherents of Maximilian, there will be not hundreds, but thousands of them, as prisoners or as tugitives, mercilessly slaughtered. How is this shocking scandal to the Mexican republic, to the United States and to the gene- ral cause of popular institutions, to be averted? Only by the appealing or warning voice of our government. We are awaiting anxiously the news of the reception of Mr. Seward’s special courier of mercy by Escobedo, at Querétaro, and by President Juarez, somewhere in that neighborhood. We hope that Mr. Sewgrd’s appeal in behalf of Maximilian will operate not only to save the unfortunate Emperor, but also his Mexican followers, on easy terms, and his European soldiers and followers, rank and file, with the condition that they leave the country, never to return. But while this is quite as uncertain as any of the barely possible chances of war, we have not the shadow of a doubt that there is a fixed purpose in the minds of the chiefs avd followers of the liberal cause to exact a fearful work of ven- | geance for their. sufferings, tortures, trials and degradation under the foreign usurper. They say that “as by the audacious French filibuster, his Austrian servant and confederate robber and their followers, the unyielding people of Mexico were proclaimed bandits and outlaws, hunted down like wild beasts and slaughtered without ceremony, and as the pains and penalties and the wrongs and outrages we have thus suffered under this foreign boudage demand a sweeping retribu- tion, so will we enforce it.” Here is the great danger to the Mexican re- public. Where, if pursued, is this account of blood against foreign robbers and domestic traitors to end? It can only end as the old French republican reign of terror ended, in a military despotism, or @ la Texas, in the ab- sorption of Mexico by the United States, in view of law and order in the house of our next door neighbor, and so that the Mexican repub- lie shall cease to be a mockery and a by-word against our own institutions. If the French Emperor has abandoned his “grand Napo- leonic idea” in Mexico, if he bas withdrawn his army and left his unhappy dupe, Maximilian, at the mercy of his enemies—if the Mexican republic in name and substance has survived, and if Juarez is on the high road to his inau- guration in “the Halls of the Montezumas” as President of a free and reunited country, it is because of the powerful moral pressure of the Monroe doctrixe from the United States, France intervened to make of Mexico a coun- try of law, order, trade and security, with the plea that her people needed a helping band to enable them to govern themselves. We have protested, in season and out of season, against the assumed necessity of any such benevolent intervention; and as Mr. Seward has been thus successful in scolding Napoleon out of the country, we stand under bonds before France and the civilized world to keep the peace in Mexico. Presidens Juarez and his associate chiefs of the Mexican republic, therefore, will do well to remember that, as their endorsers, we are responsible if they fail—that a nation claiming to be civilized cannot be toleraied in prac- tising against its enemies the savage vendetta of the Island ot Corsica, but that if the Mexi- can people, with all the teachings and chas- tis:ments they have received, cannot govern themselves, but must be eternally cutting each other's throats, “Uncle Sam” will be com- pelled to make Mexico his Southern Military district No. 6, and to reconstruct it according to the Stevens-Sherman-Shellabarger bill. ‘The Coronation in Hungary. We see it announced that the 26th of May has been fixed upon for the coronation of the Em- peror of Austria as King of Hungary. Near as the time is, the march of events may inter- fere with the arrangement and postpone if not altogether defeat it. If there is to be a war between France and Prussia the first week in May will probably see their armies in the field. Austria does not, of course, desire to be drawn into the conflict; but we do not very clearly see how she can avoid it. If she endeavors to maintain « neutral attitude she will bring upon herself the hostility of both Powers and will ultimately be made a party to it by an invasion of her territory. With the consciousness of this fact before her it is not improbable that she will make her election early in the strug- ale, if, indeed, she has not already done 80. The coronation at Pesth is therefore one of those events which may be considered as de- pendent for ite consummation on tke ehance of $. ll peace being preserved for a few months longer, which, from the character of the recent news, appears to be exceedingly doubtful. ‘The War Panic in Europe. According to our latest telegrams the Franco-Prussian question remains unchanged. The other great Powers of Europe have re- newed their efforts to prevent the outbreak of hostilities. Napoleon is still willing to consent to a reasonable arrangement, Bis- marck, however, is obstinate, as before. When first the Luxemburg difficulty was mooted between the two Powers Bismarck, we were told, threatened to throw the onus of the con- sequences that might follow on Napoleon. Napoleon, it is nof to be doubted, now promises, without threat, but by dexterous management, (o throw the onus of possible consequences on Bismarck. The game runs high; the takes become heavy; the moves on both asides are akilfully made; the world looks on with bated breath, Some go in for Bismarck, some for Napoleon. We go in for neither. It is the excitement of the game, more than the result, of which we are enamored. At the same time we are not a‘:ogether indifferent as to consequences, nor are we in the least unwill- ing to confess that it will not surprise us if in the long run the very skilful Prussian Premier is caught napping by the wily, watchfal, far- seeing raler of France. Bismarck has no doubt been an apt acholar, but he was somewhat late in taking his lessons ; and it would scarcely be matter for wonder if the long-practised hand and eye of the master stood him in better stead in the great crisis which seems to be approach- ing than the skilful though comparatively inex- perienced hand and eye of the public. We look on this question from an entirely neutral and unprejudiced standpoint. We have no special likings or dislikings either for France or Prussia, either for Napoleon or Bismarck. We consider Napoleon, not- withstanding his many faults, to have been ‘perhaps the ablest and most in- telligent ruler of his day—to have been, on the whole, a public benefactor; and it is our decided conviction that history will judge him kindly and grant him a lofty and honorable niche in the future temple of fame. We yield to none in admiration of the talents of Count Bismarck. He certainly has not been without his faults. Yet he has dont good service to the cause, not of Prussia only, but of the whole of Germany ; and if the time should ever come, as come it must, and that at no distant day, when the unity of Germany shall be no mere poet’s dream, but a realized and visible trath, the name of Bismarck will be enshrined in the nation’s living heart. We have no desire to see France shorn of her strength, We have ever been anxious to see Germany unity made an accomplished fact. It is neither, therefore, in a pro-French nor pro-German spirit that we write when we state that this Luxemburg quéstion is too paltry an affair to justify a col- ligign between two such Powers as France and Pruseia.~ Napoleon, who bas an eye to the future, as well as to the present, and who never allows himself to become indifferent to the judgment of posterity, rightly estimates the present crisis and is willing to accept a reasonable compromise. Bismarck, on the other hand, is too keen, and in his anxiety to clutch a pos- sible present advantage he sacrifices a certain and infiniiely greater gain in the future. The Germans are not beiter prepared for a defensive than the French are eager for an aggressive war. If the love of Fatherland is strong in the one case, the pride of military renown is strong in the other. Prussia is doubtless strong in herself, and has made herself stronger by the alliances which she has formed with the other German States; but the new German machine which Count Bismarck has invented is complex and unwieldy, and as yet untested by the terrible ordeal of war. France, on the other hand, is a powerful unit, not without war experience, and moves like a living frame, and with terrible energy, under the guidance und control of a potent central will. The Emperor, besides, by the cautious policy he is now fol- lowing, is creating for himself a powerful public sympathy among the people of other nations, and when delay is no longer possible and the signal is given to strike, France will spring to ihe summons, and the name and dynasty of Napoleon will be found to be more popular than ever. We do noi say that if it should come to blows France must win; but we do say that Bismarck plays ‘a bold and hazardous game in refasing all compromise. Diamond Cut Diamond—The Common Council and the Legisinture. The Legislature which has just adjourned at Albany was a very sharp body. The manner in which it managed to spring traps and astonish the unwary by unexpected legislation bas immortatized it. But it has a fair com- petitor in the New York Common Council, as the proceedings of last night will show. The Legislature in its last hours, and with much secrecy, attached a clause to the city tax levy transferring to the Metropolitam Police Board all the powers and duties heretofore exercised by the Mayor and Common Council of New York, under all laws and ordinances in rela tion ‘to theatres, places of public amuse- ment, keepérs of emigrant boarding houses, junk shop keepers, junk boatmen, pawnbrokers, venders, hawkers, pedlers, intelligence office keepers, second hand dealers, suctioneers, hackney coaches and carriages and their owners and drivers, carts and cartmen, cabs and cabmen, omnibuses and their drivers, and cars and car drivers. This swept away at one fg! swoop nearly all the small remaining authority of the Mayor and Council, and the Police Commissioners were, no doubt, pre- paring with s relish to take upon themselves their new duties and distribute their new patronage. But last night the two Boards of the Common (Council met in special session, ostensibly to pass resolutions on the occasion of the death of one of their number, but in re- ality to try in their turn a little sharp practice on the Legislature. Inthe Board of Aldermen & preamble and resolutions were adopted re- pealing every city law and ordinance in rela- tion to all the above enumerated in- teresta, and leaving theatres, emigrant boarding house keepers, hackmen, hawk- ers, pawnbrokers and the like, for the time being, free from all city laws or regulations whatever. The resolutions were at once adopted and sent to the Board of Council- men, where they were also passed immediately, only three votes being cast in the negative. So, although the State law gives all the powor sad SHEET. authority under these laws and ordinances to the Police Commissioners, there are now no laws and ordinances in existence for them to exercise power and authority under. Of course the Mayor and Common Council contemplate passing new laws and ordinances in relation to these subjects, to which the clause in the tax levy will not apply; and so we are likely to bave warm time anda bard contest for the spoils under all this cross-firing and sharp practice, Wendell Phillips as a Pelitical Philesepher and a Public Teacher. Wendell Phillips’ oration on national affairs is like certain of the scrapings of the Cali- fornia miners—it needs a great deal of wash- ing. Sent to market through the water of many streams and the fire of much assaying the result of the miner’s toil showed s real value finally, though the precious metal was an exceedingly small proportion of the mass. So with the oration;. there is gold in it, but it is greatly overweighted with dross. Mr. Phillips’ estimate of himself as the only man of pure motives in the community will hardly pass as the real article—though, per- haps, it glitters prettily enough to the eyes of his admirers, He says substantially that the “educational machinery” of these States is composed of four great parts. First come the normal schools for the masses; next the press; next the pulpit, and the fourth and last is the model lecturer—Wendell Phillips, in short, who does the “finishing,” puts on the final graces which make us the ac- complished creatures we are. But of these four the only one to be relied upon for honest in- struction is Wendell Phillips. The schools are in bad hands, and the press and the pulpit are the creatures of interest. “Editors cannot afford to offend their patrons ;” that is, the press isthe slave of the fellow who shouts “Stop my paper!” when the truths written are a little too sharp. Pulpits fear to scourge fashionable vices, for the rich brethren are made sad there- by. Therefore the nation has no one to look to but Mr. Phillips, whose advice is always sound and pure ; never affected by prejudices, partisan views or personal predilections ; above all ordtaary human influences, and to be had at fifty cents a ticket. But the orator does much better when he speaks of this nation as having “almost reached the goal of popular endeavor” in respect to the way in which great problems are decided by the intelligence and good practical judgment of the masses. He could hardly have carried his panegyric too far in elaborating this thought—that the destinies of the nation are really shaped by the whole body of voters in the decision they give to great ques- tions as they arise. It is not as it has been in many nations from time immemorial. Our destinies are not decided “by a thousand or so of disciplined minds—not by few sent to Senates and universities”—not by the dema- gogues who prate fustian in public assemblies, nor by the Loomises who date their learned NoNsefise from academie shades, “ but by two or three million voters.” All this is excellent, and it would have been b@tter still if the ora- tor, going a little further, had shown how this judgment of the people is founded upon an extensive knowledge of the facts of our na- tional life as they arise from day to day—facte spread before the people by the press. This would have been to show the real power of the press in the case. It would also have shown how it is that every citizen who is shrewd enough to succeed in the ordinary con- ceras of life needs no advice how to vote—is his own statesman, in short; since it would have pointed to the fact that in these days all men possess that intimate knowledge of public af- fairs that was once the exclusive property of party leaders. It would have shown that knowledge of events and practical popular in- duction from that knowledge is the real basis of the intelligent judgment that the national vote gives on great problems. So far as he touched this point the orator seemed to indicate a great faith in our institn- tions; but it will not do to follow him far; for at the next step we find him turning a sharp corner on General Grant, and coming up ia another direction, having quite forgotten all the pretty things he has.said about “the brains and viriues of the community.” Mr. Philips knows that the popular tide long since tended strongly toward General Grant for the Presidency. He sees that Grant is so uni- versally regarded as the inevitable man that he does not believe even a democratic nomi- nation would kill him. And here would have been an apt and splendid illustration of his ideas of the way great results are vitalized by the “fresh warm blood of a consenting public opinion” It would have been easy for Mr. Phillips to show that Grant, a great, positive, practical, absolute, silent, determined man, is the true type of the great, silent, practical, determined American people ; and that the people have found it out by his acts, not by frothy rhetoric, nor by sach brilliant political letters as were written by the Generals whose failures made room for this great leader. Here was « fine chance ; but, unfortunately, this i a case in which the public verdict is unsatisfactory to the orator and his party. Grant does not suit them. The poli- ticians have found out that he is not to be bent, and so must be broken in public opinion. Henee the sneers and derogatory sentences of the orator, who, for just this once, will do his utmost to warp pablic opinion away from the result. But we are not governed by a few “ disciplined minds,” nor by “a few sent to Senates,” nor even by the opinion of a lecturer. The millions of voters will judge of Grant by his career, not by « few invectives, and the result may be safely left in their hands. French Iron-Ciads in Active Construction fer orming. By special correspondence from Cherbourg, France, we learn that the Emperor Napoleon is busily engaged in perfecting the develop- ment of his fleet of iron-clads in that port, the work being carried on with that cease- less activity which we lately reported as being applied in the same direction in the naval station at Rochefort. Four iron-clad war steamers—a ram, @ sixteen gun frigate of four thousand tons burden and peculiar build, with two cor- vettes—are in course of construction at Cher- bourg, and an imperative order from the Minister of Marine for their speedy comple- tion has caused the workmen to “swarm like ante” in tife shops and on the grounds. The corvettes aro destined for great speed, and engh of the four vesgela is to be furnished Napoleon’s anxiety to insure the perfect or ganization of a great iron-clad fleet before the close of the present year not only indicates @ resolution to go to war, but reveals also a de- termination to fight, if possible, only when he is prepared. Should he be permitted to use his own time it is quite likely that he will use his new and immense naval power to blockade the ports of Germany, and thus, as the London ‘Times appears to fear, inflict a damaging loss on the trade of England while battling with her ancient allies on the Continent. ‘The Eftect ef a Eurepoan War im the United States. The stock operators, gold gamblers and the bulls and bears of Wall street generally are trying to make s great fuss sbout a war in Europe. Excitement, which produces fluctua- tions in stocks, bonds and gold, they are always anxiously looking for, and never fail to create it whenever they have the least chance. This is the time of their harvest, but it iss time im which-the outelders, the gudgeons and simple- tons, get bit. The prospect of war in Europe has been seized upon by them to create a scare and violent fluctuations of prices. Now, it re- quires only a small amount of common sense to see that such a war will produce little effect ‘upon the value of things here. There may be at first some slight disturbance in the market, caused more, however, by the stock and gold jobbers than from any nataral or real cause; but this would only be temporary. Our business, resources and development do not depend upon war or peace between two or more European nations. We have got far beyond that. The truth is, that after the first slight excitement passed over we should profit by a war, There would be a great de- mand for breadstuffs, supplies and munitions of every sort, and more employment for our shipping. The United States securities would be sought by Enropcans as the best and safest investment for their money, and immigration would be greatly increased; for all who could flee from the Old World to escape the war and its consequences would come to this country. In whatever point of view, then, we look at the question of a European war, there is not the least cause for alarm here. We may look om with the greatest composure and even expect to be benefited. The Mexican Church Party—Its Next Revolu- tionary Movement, The great religious war of Mexico is near its conclusion. The effort of the clergy to hold both the national and spiritual power has been a signal failure, ——. from the tendencies of the age. The long cherished and finally accomplished idea of a foreign intervention, with a view to establish a monarchical gov- ernment which would link both Church and State, is now disappearing in bloody warfare; and Maximilian, the royal exponent of the idea, is only saved by the interposition of our gov- ernment. ~ Bins The great mistake of the Church party has been its opposition to nineiventh century ideas; a clinging to the old time and to the Old Con- tinent. It has heretofore forgotten that there exists a New World, free from traditions and with its own destiny to work out, untrammelled by European policy. Had the Mexican clergy in 1861 directed their efforts towards an annex- ation with the United States, they could have preserved much of their now lost property and all of their ecclesiastical glory. Now, under the liberal rule, their estates and trea- sures have vanished,while their spiritual power is seriously threatened; for in the great liberal battle against their temporal authority respect even for the spiritual element has almost dis- appeared; so that Mexico to-day is threat- ened to be reduced to that worst of conditions, a country without a religion. The Mexican Catholic Church, keenly alive to its condition, and having been taught that it is impossible in the New World to link Church and State, now naturally looks about for the means to restore a part of its former glory. Willing to abandon a nationality which it cannot rule, and faithful to the tradition that the Church is a primary and the nationality a secondary object, it is evident that it is about to turn its political power to the fomenting of a revolution in favor of annexation to this country. This is perfectly natural; nowhere to-day does the Catholic Church enjoy such unlimiled power as in the Unjted States ; nowhere can it propagate its doctrines with such freedom ; and nowhere can it build up and control such vast estates. Its prosperous and wonderfal growth in this country, under the law of religious freedom, offers to the Mexican clergy a bold contrast to the crushing laws which will be enforced against them so soon as the republic is re established in power. It will, therefore, be seen that a movement on the part of the Church party for annexation to the United States is perfectly natural. In support of this the whole intellectual element of the country will lend its influence ; for it has been educated, is still in great part con- trolled by the clergy, and has ever been ready to side with them when they resigned their efforts for temporal rule and shook off the corruptions which have naturally accumulated from their political ambition. Another new and powerful auxiliary element has been added to those already mentioned, by the decree of the Juarez government confiscat- ing the estates of those who have in any way supported the empire. This element, though in part liberal, or at least passive in senti- ment, has been forced to side with the Churc} party. These property holders recognized the empire because they saw in it a hope for peace and prosperity; and now, with their wealth under the ban of confiscation, they turn their eyes to the United States as their last chance for salvation. They are to-day furnishing the sinews of war to support the empire in its last ‘and hopeless struggle against the liberal forces. Had it not been for the Confiscation act, the republican t would have occupied the city of Mexico two months ago. Add to this new and powerful party the wholé foreign population of Mexico, with its ‘wealth, its influence, ite control of all the chan- nels of trade, its desire for peace and its knowledge that from no other country than this can @ guarantee of stability be given, and we have the banded elements of a new and great revolution already taking shape. The liberal party have scarcely anything of weight to oppose to this union of clements in favor of aupexation. Their Goances are com