The New York Herald Newspaper, May 18, 1867, Page 6

6 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES “GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR JAMES GORDON BENNETT, JR., MANAGER. BRoaDWaY AND ANN STREET. THE DAILY HERALD, pudlished every day im the year, Fourcents per copy. Annual subscription price, o14. JOB PRINTING of every description, als Stereo- typing and Engraving, neatly and promptly executed at the lowest rates. Volume XXXII.. AMUSEMENTS THis AFTERNOON AND EVENING, BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway. sear Broome tree—Tus Murar Wivas or Winsor. Matinee at 1} OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway.—Davip Corrarrizup— Pooanontas. GERMAW STADT THEATRE. 4 and 47 Bowery.— Den Veascawenpe, WORRELL 8} aS’ NEW be, cere f oppo. ERRLLA—FOOL OF site Now York Hotel, va fue Pairur, Watlons at Be'otsek: ‘TARATRE FRANCA! Fourteents strest. ‘Sixth arora tloue Geam-Aemtaaeetan tilaneaie Riousten. ACADEMY OF ‘MUSIC, ra OF JAPANESR ARTISTS 16 Matinee at 2 o'clock. SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 5% Broadway, opposite the Metropolitan Hotel—In turig Eruioriay ENxrertain- ments, SINGING, DANCING AND BuRLEsques.—Tux BLace Coox—lursaiaL Japanese TRouPE. KELLY & LEON'S MINSTRELS, 72) Broadwa; jow York Hotel.—Iw rune Sovas, Danone. Evouy- BURLESQu! 40.—Cinper-Leox—Mavagascan mours—Tue Jars. FIFTH AVENUE OPERA HOUSE, Nos. 2and 4 Weat Twonty-fourth street.—Gairrix & Cuiisty's Minsreeis — Rreorran Minstaetsy. BaLiaps, esques, £0.—THe Bouus Jaranxse Jucauers—Urrkk Tax Tuousann. at 2% o'clock TONY PASTOR'S OPERA 1100 place.—Tax Inrrria a WONDERFUL Fears. Matinee 21 Rowery.—Comto ons. Bacuer Divsu Ng o'clock. AOOLEY' 8 OPERA HOUSE, Brooklyn. —F: eresiar, Barcaps ano Bur Ks. — THe 3: THR BUNYAN TABLEAUX, Union Hall. corner of ‘Twenty-third street and Broadway, at 8.—Movinc Mir- mon or “Tum Pinorim's Prockess—Sixty MAGNIFICENT Soewms. Matinee Wednesday and Saturday at 234 o'clock. NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY. 618 Broadway.— Heap ano Ricgut Aru OF Prosst—Tar Wasnixctos ‘Twins—Worpers Uv y bi Pre aT, a x one ARrr. PLE SHEET. REMOVAL. TRI ‘The Naw Yore Hararp establishment is now located in the new Hxravp Building, Broadway and Ann street, NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS. Advertisers will please bear in mind that in order to have their advertisements properly olassi- fed they should be sent in before half-past eight e'clock in the evening. tTEBa wBWws. Rann nnn EUROPE. ‘The news report by the Atlantic cable is dated yester- day evening, May 17. Despatches from Athens report that two fierce battles have been fought between the Turks and insurgent Christians in Candia, The Turks were, it is said, de- Coated im both, and the united loss of Omar Pasha’s ermy amounts to three thousand men. ‘The Christian powers have again advised the Sultan to cede the island of Crete to Greece. ‘The Americans in Berlin have done appropriate honor 'Y thememory of the late United States Minister Wright. Qusteia, by imperial deoree, ia more tolerant to the Pro- betants of Hungary. | The cattle plague has reappeared in England. Oonsels closed at 92% for money in London. Five- Dronticn wore at 723; in London, and 76% in Frankfort. The Liverpool cotton market closed firm, with mid- Gling uplands a 1134, Breadstuffs dull and a little dowavard. Provisions quiet and unchanged. Ove epecial correspondence from Constantinople, dated the 20th of April, contains matter relative to the pro- " of the Eastern question to a war crisis, which is of highest importance, particularly when read in con- tion with our cable dispatches announcing the defeat Omar Pasha in two severe battles in Candia, and the representation of the great Powors to the Sultan 4 the advisability of the cession of Crete to Greece, Ruasia, according to the report, was gradually encir- oting the Turkish provinces, due east, south. and south- east, with ner troope, and large bodies of the soldiers of the Czar were stationed near Simpheropol, between Kars. and Tiflis, while the country between Kars and Exoroam,, in Armenia, was scoured by Russian cavalry. Sebastopol ‘stronger than ever,” had one hundred and Q{ty thousand men in and around the city. Odessa was filled with troops, and it was quite evident that Russia Baokrupt almost tn treasary finance, the Sultan was sur- founded with home difficulties tending even to open insur- rection im the capital. Im a case of grievance to some Ital- ian @shermep, the Minister of Victor Emanuel recently appeared in the Imperial presence, and demanded re- dross in haughty end peremptory language, The people @ubject to the Porte groan under the heavy load of tara- tion whieh they are called on to bear, while French off- Gers travel the interior of the empire, noting and report- dag on \ts industrial capacities, products and mines. THE CITY. Jofferson Davis still remains at the New York Hotel, ‘whiok he has not loft since his arrival in the city. He fe end to be somewhat indisposed, but if his health per- ‘mits will probably leave the city for Montreal to-mor- fow evening. A special meeting of the Board of Aldermen took ploce yesterday, at which the annual report of the Comp- troller was received, showing the actual debt of the city to be $22,142,245 11, the receipts of last year to be $23,736,821 55, and the amount pdid out in the same time $21,642,641 83. Resolutions to consider the ad- visability of removing the sidewalks of the Park (City Hall) on the cast and west sides inside the railing, #0 as to give more room in Broadway and Park row for car- Tinge ways were adopted. The tax levy was concurred fm, An ordinance for the creation of $75,000 worth of ‘market stock was laid over. + ‘The Board of Counciimen met yesterday and adopted the tax levy as passed by the Legislature. The resolu- toa heretofore presented providing for the appointment of & joint committee to celebrate the Fourth of July, ‘was amended by approprigting twenty thousand dollars Cor that object, and the resolution was then laid over. A resolution was adopted directing the Croton Aqueduct Department to advertise for bids for paving Seventh Svenue from Fortieth to Fifty-ninth streets with the Biafford wooden pavement. The Corporation Counsel in © communication to the Board stated that the Commis- @ioners of the Central Park and the Common Council fhad ooncerrent jurisdiction im the matter of opening @rosts and avenues between Fifty-ninth and 155th Stroma + In the Supreme Court, Chambers, yesterday, Judge Guiheriand granted the application to vacate the man- Gamus directing Comptroller Connolly to execute the foases in favor of Fernando Wood of his property Nos, 115 and 117 Nassau etree, Tn the Superior Court yesterday, in the case of Francis McGabey vs. Eliza Hanter and FE. B. Hunter, Aaa MoGabey va. the same defendants, and in the case of Francis MoGabey as administrator of Rosa McGahey and Francis MoGahey, Jr., the jury returned vercict in the first named suit of $1, {in the third of $900, and actions were brought for the recovery of damages for ‘Whe death by suffocation of Rosa and Francis McGahey pd for personal injuries revaiting from the same cause > Fravets MoGehey, senior, and Ann McGabey, as pried In yesterday's Hawate. . Taomes Healy, a deputy collector of internal revenue the First district, who te charged with embessling 375 of the government funds, wes yesterday held to * prices declined Sc. 0 100.’ Wheat, bail, by Comuissionor Newton, inthe sum of $15,000, to awalt the action of the grand jury. Healy adaounced that he did not intend to defraud bimeelf, and reiterated bis declaration that he olther lost the money or gave credit to parties tor more taxes than he had received. Te the Court of Oyor and Torminor, yesterday, An- thony Maha, convicted of murder in the second degree, in causing the death of Stephon 3, Carland by stabbing, was sentenced to the State Prison for life, after an tm- pressive addreas from Judge Miller, in which he dwelt forcibly upon the great danger of carrying deadly weapons upoa the person, & practice very prevalent at this time. Yesterday was the third and conoluding day of the Hoboken race meoting. The first oveut was « hurdle race for $600, one mile, over three hurdles, between Mr. Ryan's Expect and Mr, Midgely'’s Garrioldis. Ex- pect won by three lengths, in 2:14%%, The second race was for a handicap purse of $500, for three year olds, a dash for « mile, Colonel McDaniel’s Planet won in 1:513¢, beating Hampton Court and Eclipse. The third race was adash ofa mile anda quarter, and was won by Mr. Morris’ Twinkle beating the favorite, Ripley,and Expoot by two lengths in 2:21%. The purse for beaten herses, @ mile and a quarter dash, was won by Colonel McPaniel's Eclipse boating Snedeker's Slashor colt im2:2334. The General Transatlantic Compaay’s cteamship Ville do Paris, Captain Surasont, will teave pier No, 6@ North’ river atthreeP. M. to-day for Havre, calling at Brost, ‘The male fof France} wilt clove “et the ' Paw Oilice st: half-past®\évee'a. af.) , The Inshan line steamship City of Now York, Captain Roskell, will sail at'twolve BM. to-day from pior 45 North river for Qasenstown and IAvorpool, ‘The mais for Treland wii! close at the Post Ofoe at half-past ten A. M. The National Steam Navigation Company's steamship Erin, Captain Hall, will lteave pier No. 47 North river at noon to-day for Liverpool, oalling at Queenstown to land passengers, kc. The Anchor line steamship Caledonis, Captaia Mac- donald, will sail from pier 20;North river at noon to-day for Liverpool and Glasgow, calling at Londonderry to land mails &nd passengers, The Hamburg American Packet Company's steamer Hammonia, Captain Ehlers, will sail from Hoboken at 12 M. to-day for Southampton snd Hamburg. The maiis for Great Britain and tne continont will olose at the Post OMice at half-paat ton A. M. The fine steamship Fang Shuey, which has been run- ning for some time past in Kt, Lowden's line, botween New York and New Orleans, will take her doparture at three P. M. to-day, from pier 13 North river, for Hong Kong, Chiaa, calling at Rio Janciro, Mauritius and sin- gapore, Her accommodations and apeed will no doubt make hor @ popular vessel ia the Chineso waters. Tue popular steamship George Washington, Captain Gager, will leave pier No. 9 North rivor at three P. M. to-day, in H, B, Cromwell & Co.'s line, for New Orteans ome sidowheo! steamship San Jacinto, Captain Atkins, will leave pier No, 13 North river at three P. M. to-day for Savannah, in Messrs, Garrison & Allen's line. Until further notice the departures for Savannah will be in ra- gular succession, a vessel leaving evory fourth day, not including Sunday. The fine steamship Granada, of Loary's lino, will sail from pier No. 14 Fast river at three P. M, to-day for Charleston, connecting at that port with the steamer Dictator for the Florida porta. The stock market was dull yesterday and closed firm atan advance, Gold closed at 137%. The morchandise markets yesterday gonorally were decidedly more active and Grmer, white domestic pro- dace ruted quite duli and heavy, though some artiotes efvanced materially. Goffee was quiet but very firm. . Cotten was a shade easier, though moderately active. Oa.'Oheage Aour ruled. dull gad 4 Mall end dreop- ing, while cern and cata wore Gsamer: Fork was.a.chede castor. . Beef qua tera wore moderately active and steady, Froights coutinned dull. Whiskey advanced, with a fair demand, Naval stores wore more active and, firmer, in view of the small stock, Petroloum was more songht for. Wool continued hoavy. MISCELLANEOUS. Our advices from South America, per Atlantic cable, ‘are important. Lopes, Prosident of Paraguay, has ac- copted the offer of mediation in the pending war, prof- fered by the United States, through our minister, Mr, ‘Washburn, and will despatch at once an envoy to Wash- fogton to represent Paraguay in the proposed Congress Of representatives of the South American States. Brasil and her alties, however, have not as yet signified their accoptance of the offer. There bad been further fighting Detween the contending armies. Letters ftom our correspondents at the city of Mexico and Vera Cruz are published in to-day’s Hunatp, The siege of both cities was still going on at last accounts, but with no marked change in favor of either party. General Diaz, however, with a ifberal force of twenty thousand men, was before the capital, and only awaiting the arrival of heavy artillery to commence the attack. The 20th of April was the date fixed upon for scurrender or bombardment. Sisal was captured by the liberals on the morning of the 26th ult., aod they remained in pos- session on the 7th inst., though hourly expecting an attack from an impertal fleet. We have files from Bermuda dated on the Tth of May. The newly appotated Governor and Oommander-in- Chief, Colonei Sir Frederick E. Chapman, K. C. B., R. E. had arrived at Hamilton from Halifax. H. B. M. ecrew gun vessel Steady left for Halifax. H. B. M. gun- ‘Doat Minstrel left for Nassau and Jamaica. The French gunboat Diligante, Captain Reveult, from Havana bound to France, was in Hamilton harbor. Affairs in New Orleans wear a decidedly voleanic as- pect; but the precaationary measures adopted by the military authorities will probably prevent an eruption ‘The troops are kept in readiness for action, and a gun- boat is anchored in front of the city ready to open fire. There precautions, together with General Mower’s threat to clear out the mob with grape and canister, will nd doubt have a salutary effect om the minds of the turbu- lent portion of the population. Hon. George Bancroft, the historian, was yesterday appointed by the President, Minister at Berlin in place of Governor Wright, of Indiana, whose death wean- nounced a few days ago. A serious break in the Erie Canal is reported to have occurred a short distance west of Schenectady. A week's time will be required to make the necessary re- Pati captain of s ferry boas wan arrested at Norfolk on the 15th inet,, charged with violating the Civil Rights Bill, in ejecting s colored woman from the white ladies’ cabin of his boat. The Bank of Commerce, of New Orleans, the late Jacob Barker's concern, suspended payment yesterday. The question as to the right of the New York Central Railroad Company to charge gold rates for fare, t@ to be argued before the Supreme Court at Binghamton next week. The Fernande Wood Leaseo—A Legal Muddie. ‘The legal hubbub over the Fernando Wood Nassau atreet leases was further increased yes- terday by the restoration by Judge Barnard of the Pullman injunction, which was set aside ® few days ago, restraining the Comptroller from executing and delivering the leases. So there are now two injunctions in operation— one issued by Judge Sutherland, which has not yet been finally decided, and the one now restored by ‘Judge Barnard. We advise the taxpayers of the city not to found too much hope upon these legal proceedings. Injunc- tions are often useful for the purpose of throw- ing dust in the eyes of the public, end they generally end in nothing more than dust and smoke. Itis very probable that this will be the result in the Fernando Wood lease jobs. The peaple know that the property agreed to be leased by Mayor Gunther and the Common Council is not worth one-fourth the amount which the city is required to psy for it, and that the taxpayers are to be victimized by the operation to tbe sum of two bundred thousand dollars. But there is very little hope of ulti- mate relief from the courts. If the Comp- troller would set down his foot and absolutely refuse to execute and deliver the leases—order or no order, mandamus or no mandamus—his action would meet the approval of the people. We do not believe there is any judge on the bench who would cause his arrest for protect’ ing the from & legalignd ‘The Hecent Furcical attempt to Try Jem | finally rejooted it, although doubt is expressed of any favorable action on their part. After Tho recent attempt to bring, or pretence of | all, something may grow out of the friendly proffer of our government, and Mr. Seward, before he retires to private life, may have the Davis, bringing, Jef Davis te trial was » solemn legal mockery ran into farce. All the way through this case bas presented both a ridicu- lous and most serious aspect at the same time, and has ended in humbug and hypocrisy. Jef Davis was the leader and representative man in the attempt to break up the best govern- ment that ever existed. He was the President of that powertul rebel confederacy which for four years shook the foundations of the Union, which caused the slaughter of half a million of men, the flower of the country, which has bur- dened us with a debt, national, State and mu- | nicipal, of nearly four thousand millions of dol- lars, and which has plunged us into a sea of innumerable other troubles. More than that, he was one of the chief seceasion agitators originally who brought on the war. This former haughty: Senator--of the United States, army officer, Secretary of War, and eubsequent Presideat of ‘the most gigantic | 1 rebellion, closed his career of horrora and}: ‘power by Being: ignominiously captured when and desing in the hebiliments of aa old woman, Charged, ast only with tho orime Of treason, Hut with being an angossory to the dreadful one of assassinating the President of the United States, he ia liberated without a trial, on atraw bail, and lionized by a set of Northern politicians and pseudo philan- tbropists as a suffering martyr. Such ia the unparalleled spectacle of high crimes, soiemn Jegal mockery, and ridiculous farce combined, which his case and career present. But apart from these phases of the case a6 regards Jeff Davis himself, who, after ali, is a little, narrow-minded man, the whole action of the government in the matter, from begin- ning to end, has been disgraceful. . Under the charge ofa double crime of the most heinous nature, he was manaciod and punished with a severity of solitary confinement awarded only to the worst criminals after being found guilty. Without a trial the charge of complicity in the assassination of President Lincoln was aban- doned, and neither he nor the country have ever been informed of the reasons for the charge or the abandonment of it. For two years he was @ prisoner under the other charge—treason, and yot during all that time he was not brought to. trial, ‘though the country was in.a atate of peace, and though the constitution guarantees to every one a speedy trial, There always was sufficient cause and evidence to sustain the accusation of treason, and, pérhaps, for. conviction of that orime. President Johason asserted and reasserted, officially and anofficial- ay, in tho most omphatio manner, that tronson satisfaction of knowing that he has contributed to secure peace to the South Americans, as well as free institutions and equal rights to the citizens of Walrassia. ‘The Military Condition of the South. The Southern States are in an anomalous position with respect to law. They are, under the constitution, nominally entitled to the mass of rights it secures; yet they are eo far from being self-governing republican communities that the whole machinery of civil society, in any one or all, may any day suddenly become subordinate to the will and suthority of mili- tary rulers, practically absolute. In such « cage we clearly cannot say that civil law—the re- tions of personal right, unawed by neighboring bayonets. In thus assigning to the South a middle legal status between tho laws of peace and the laws of war—in making it a special case by a special law—Congress has on the one hand given the South full opportunity to reconstruct itself as a civil and political com- munity, free in will, unoppressed by military domination; and, on the other hand, has well provided that it shall not overstep certain definite lines, and shall aot offend the national propriety by an outrageous disregard of re- quirements that may be made by the con- queror. ‘This, as we have eaid, is an anomalous posi- tion, Nocommunity was ever before 60 strange- ly held between two extreme conditions of ex- istence. ‘Itis a position, moreover, that imposes duties peculiarly delicate in their natare upon all parties—the more especially at those points where there is coatact and, may be, friction. Such delicate duties are especially imposed upon the military commanders tntrusted with the execution pf the Reconstruction law, and who must for the present bé the expounders of the law elso—who must act under the military bill, and, in a dgree, judge tor themselves when such interference with the civil law as the bill contemplates is called for and necessary. Here is a point on which there, will inevitably be differences of opinion. Suoh differences -have alwaya erigon. -. Different views as to the time srbon the repreasive. power of daw ehouid be 2 at error eltter way, since soolety there tas lost its | natural elasticity—its recuperative. power..- In- European rule the presumption in doubtfal cases is always in favor of the enforcement of law, however harsh or onerous the law may seem ; but it is the-essence of our American’ system that the presumption is the other way—that ia doubtful cases we presume in favor of personal freedom—of the largest liberty of action short of crime, trusting and believing that no man will designedly violate the law. Hence we are leas governed than others are. Our military com- manders should never forget that this aspira- tion toward the least possible government and the largest liberty consistent with the rights of others is a frst prineiple in all Americana law. But the continued existence of society depends on peace and justice. They must therefore cer- tainly preserve peace and do what they may to secure justice without too deeply touching the organisation of courts. Where does a vio- lation of the peace begin? General Schofield warned a Richmond newspaper for certain ut- terances. He believed that such utterances stimulated ill-will on the pert of the people towards the soldiers; that such ill-wili generated a haughty, insulting demeanor, and thus led to such relations between his soldiers and the people as lead to collisions, and any fight might lead to general insurrection throughout the city. Here is exactly a case in point. Did the General interfere. in favor of peace at too early a stage t We are of opinion that in all each cases the Generals should be sure there are no other means before they use their suthority. In the case of the incendiary orator, Hayward, the allegation was that his utterances were incite- ments to riot. This was tried by the civil av- thorities. If they were sufficient there, they would have been in the other case, and would be in all similar cases. The press is not freer than speech is; but both rights are limited by the rights of the community at large, which depend upon order and peace. If the courts can secure the observance of that limit—if the military power is not really necessary—much is already done for the restoration of society, and we ought to know it. But if the courts cannot secure this ; if judi- cial decisions are tinctured with the political sentiments of the magistrate; if the hatred generated by the war renders it impossible for ® man to have justice without regard to his history or opinions; if we can see this in cases tried before the Southern courts, then we will have some positive evidence resulting from this experimental bill, and will know that the South is not competent to guard its own interests—not so far restored that it can be left to itself. But with this made clear, should the military authorities under the pres- ent law then act to prevent expressions be- cause they might lead to violence? We be- lieve not. That might lead to abuses that we ean never too carefully guard against. It would substitute opinion and » judgment of probabilities for law. We must have the fact ot disturbance—those open acts by which the South raust develop its intention not to submit to law, if it has such intention. It is of course easier to prevent than to suppress disturbance ; but we must accept the more troublesome way aa the only one by which we keep firm ground under ue. The supremacy of law implies in every age one of two things—consent or farce. The problem with reapect to the South is to find out which of these we are to rely upon. And we must judge mainly from the actions of the Southern people. Give that people, there- fore, the full chance to exhibit its consent, or more. deplorable and dreadful; siill, the very man who was regarded as the chief of traitors was never legally accused. After holding the: prisoner two years the government virtually abandons this charge also by releasing him on atraw bail. The laws remain unvindicated, and the government really avows by this last act either that there is no such crime as treason or that it cannot be reached. If this be ao, the government rests on a weak foundation. Any wicked end reckless adventurer may plunge the country into civil war with impunity. The different departments of the government have endeavored to shift the responsibility of keeping Jo Davis untried for two years from each other's shoulders. The executive held him completely in its power and did nothing. Chief Justice Chase would have nothing to do with him, although it was his duty to see that no one should be held an unreasonable time without trial, and to vindicate the laws by sering that no traitor should escape anpunish- ed. Both the rights of the prisoner under the constitution to be speedily tried and the crime of treason were unheeded, be- cause one department of the government did not harmonize with she other, because one wished to embarrass the other, and all for po- litical effect. The people hereafter will hold both responsible, giving, however, the greatest blame to the Chief Justice, because he could have demanded the prisoner and have tried him at any time. One of the most remarkable features oon- nected with the case of Jeff Davis is found in the conduct of the editor of the radical organ in this city. He was the first to go bail for Davis. He had manifested an earnest desire to do so for a long time previously. Under the pretence of humanity and a sense of justice he sought this notoriety. Inconsistent as is his conduct in this respect, with his radi- cal dogmas and radical affiliations, it is charac- teristic. At the commencement of the war he advocated secession. Let the rebel States go, he said. It is quite in keeping, too, with his “on to Richmond” vagaries which nearly rained the Union cause, and with the radical cry of on to specie payments, which would bring universal bankruptcy, and, possibly, repudiation. The course that he and such like radicals pursue weakens the arm of the gov- ernment, makes the law a farce, and threatens ‘us with the greatest evile in the future. The effect is very bad upon the public mind. The people will naturally be surprised that the sacrifice of five hundred thousand lives and the creation of a debt of three or four thousand millions of dollars to put down treason bave only ended in the virtual declaration that there is no such crime. If the government is to be conducted in this manoer they may begin to raise questions about paying an enormous debt that has produced no better result, We can only hope that the government and politics of the country may soon be in the hands of more practical and conservative men, who will neither ald treason nor leave it unpunished. ‘The War in South America—The Mediation of the United States. The cable despatch from Lisbon, published this morning, brings the intelligence from Rio Janeiro that the proposition of our govern- ment for @ meeting of the representatives of the South American States at Washington, with a view to peace, is not entirely disearded. Lopes, the ablest and shrewdest of the South American leaders, had accepted the proffered mediaion of our government and signified his intention to despatch cial envoy on the part of Paraguay (o/ national capi- | by resolute ill-will to make against itself the tal. The allies, on’ the other hand, | unmistakable case that will justify us in ae hesitated to acquiesce in the proposition of Mr. | saming that {t is amenable to nq goverament Seward; but it Gora not appear that thoy have ! but one founded on force, ‘ia wcitton will be waski 96 to canet with fall :] three. simes, in. -Dohorahi, four times each, in |'4 “Angelo und Pis di Toloasel, five times cach im | evening, Madame Ristori alluded to- the intelli- reanme his ethnological oxperimenta, The mixed races in St. Domingo might prove more duotile in his plastic hand than be found them in Mexico. Joking apart, however, this thing mast not be. America will not permit it It il g i | E are reluctant to abandon all ever seeing her return to the United States, and the more so since we have learned that she intends to enrich her répertoire with @ new character—that of Marie Antoinette. An sppreciative oritic has said that in Ristori’s : i : Tho Eogiisk Reform Bitl. ject for the tragedy which Paolo Giacometti (the author of Elisabetta), is now engaged in writing expressly for her. Giacometti will meet Madame Ristori at Paris, aud will be ber guest during her visit of wo months to that city. He wilh. visit Vorsailles and familiarize’ end incidentit must bet And what othertiving actreas could hope ao faithfully to reproduce tho daughter of a great empress and the wife of a poworfal king amid all the vicissitudes of the eventful period with which the name of Marie Antoinette is a0 fatelly associated t From her triumphant procession trom Vienna to Com- pitgne, and the celebration of her marriage at Versailles, with all the pompand parade which marked the luxurious court of Louis XV., and the magnificent fétes at Paris, which were in- terrupted by a most terrible acoident—from these opening acenes of her career in France, when, as describ yy Burke, she was glittering like the morning star, full of life and splendor and joy, until the painful days of her imprison- ment aad trial, in which the best of her traits were developed, and wesee her only as a noble, persecuted wonran, and until she perished on the scaffold, the story of Marie Antoinette is of thrilling intorest. And in view of the circum- stances which surrounded her as a central figure at the beginning of the greatest modern revolution in Europe, with its flerce struggte— which is not yet ended—between royal and arjstocratio privileges ‘and democratic rights, the interest im the périod in which she lived and died 1s powerfulty enhanced beyond any which we can actually have in the more remote days of Blizabeth and Mary Staart. It is not intended 4o bring out the acw tragedy in Paris, dissolution of Parliament and a fresh creation of peers. These last shifta of tenacious officcholders would, however, avail but little. It would be postponing, not aurmounting, the difficulty. I- is clear from his recent speech that Mr. Bright does not mean to stop at his present’ domands. Neither will the dissatisfaction, already se menacing outside, decrease in the interval. The tide will continue to swell until it ae quires overpowering strength. No tory ad- ministration can withstand it It is a question whether even a liberat one, unless it is pre- pared to go the lengths insisted upon by the popular leaders, can maintain itself against if. The time has gone by in. Bagland for party compromises. The masses feel their power and are determined to use it. If the aristocracy carry their resistance to the point of compel- ling them to use force, then revolution is im- evitable. This is what Mr. Bright's fresh agitation means. There is no compromise pos- 6 Common Council. _ The Common Council have recently ordinances or resolutions for paving .with the ‘Sprace to Wall. atest; Pearl, from bel Adrienne Lecouvreur and Giuditts, seven times in Phédre, fourteen times in Macbeth, eighteen times in, Medea, forty-eight times im In her eloquent and touching farewell, last gent appreciation with which ber performances have been received in thiscountry, particularly in New York, “ the birthplace of her success.” She has also warmly expressed her sense of indebtedness to Mr.Grau for the friendly ac- tivity and energy which he bas.displayedin his managerial capacity. In bidding her an affec- tionate farewell, we cannot reftain from re- peating our hope that Ristori may yet be in- duced to decide upon favoring the United States with another visit. We can safely pro- mise ber another triumphal tour. eee ee The Spanich Questios. England, it appears, has been more suo- cessful in settling the affairs of France and Prussia in regard to Luxemburg than in set- tling her own difficulty With Spain. Thirty years ago, had it been possible for Spain at that date to act fhe foolish part she is now playing, and give England the same amount of provocation, it is not too. much to say that within one week the British government would have delivered their ultimatum, British guns would have laid Cadiz in ruins, and British But there is-one hope left for the taxpayers. and property owners. The Croton Aqueduct Department is, fortunately, in the hands of hon- eat men. The Commissioners know very well that the Nicholson pavement is neither desirable nor economical, and that it is adopted by the: Counsel O’Gorman as to whether the ordi- nances or resolutions ordering such work can be passed without s. three-fourths’ vote of all troops would have been on the highway | gecrion 8 The terms of. offlee of the ‘persas now - werhanceeeengg ant pene Oe eee ete tie teaneay at doubt, been years of progress, and during | January, 1800; and heresfier- the torm of Councdmen that period. Great Britain, as weil as.| slected shall be for the full period of two yours. | ore, most other countries, if, perhaps, we the city ot New York, for either Board thereof, to except Spain, have learned to combine caution with energy. We have no reason to regret the change, although when we remember the recent bombardment ef Valparaiso it is difficult to see why Spain should be the first to reap the benefits which that change has pro- duced. Whether Spain shall be brought to her senses with or without an actual attack it may be hazardous to predict This much, however, is certain—that the situation of affairs at the present moment is sufficiently warlike to beget speculation ae to the probable doings of Eng- land in the event of war breaking out. In yesterday’s Henan we published « suggestive letter from the pen of our special correspond- ent in London. In that letier it is spoken of as a certainty that the first blow struck by Great Britain would be on the island of Cuba. It would not surprise us if such should prove to be the fact The acquisition of Cubs would not only strengthen the already strong position of Great Britain in the West Indies—would not only give ber complete command of the Mexican Gulf, but would be a splendid offset to our comparatively barren acquisition in the North. It is not to be sup- posed that Great Britain is ignorant of the effect which such a step on her part would produce on the mind of the American public. It bas long been a settled point with us that Spain may hold Cuba while she can, but that directly a change of masters becomes neces- sary the fate of the Queen of the Antilles must be linked with that of the Great Republic. It would certainly be strange—it is not, how- ever, past conception—if England succeeded in dragging France into an alliance on this question. The humbling of the United States would not be unpleasant to either of them. France will not readily forgive us for our interference in Mexico. England is not quite “pleased with some of our recent movements. Nor is there any lack of spoil. If Cuba were to fall to the lot of England the sacrifices of France might be rewarded by having added to the empire an ancient possession. St. Domingo might thus become another Mexico, in which Napoleon, with perhaps greater sucqess, could ih i if § E The contract for the work is, in fact, an obli- gation created and binding upon the Corpora- tion. The bonds of the city are issued to raise the money to pay the contractors, and the city is. bound to pay those bonds, and in. case of any informality or flaw in the assessment, is beholden for the whole amount thereof. In- deed, the city generally has to pay one-balf of the assessment; for the plan of the Commom Council is, first to pass an ordinance assessing the whole cost of these improvements on the property , in order to get the contract made by the Croton Aqueduct Department, and as soom as it is secured, then, with the consent of the Mayor, to reconsider the ordinance, relfeve the property owners of one-half of the assess ment, and assess that half upow the city at large. Under these circumstances the con- tracts made for the paving of the streets clearly “oreate an obligation binding on the Corporation,” and as such can only be authorized by three-fourths vote of all the members elected to each Board of the Com- mon Council. We call upon the Croton Aque- duct Department to refuse to sign any of the contracts for the Nieholson pavement job until they bave obtained the opinion of Corporation Counsel O'Gorman end are fully satisfied on this important point. ‘The Case of Ketchum—What should the Geverner do? The Western papers are just now reviving the case of Ketchum, who is in the Sing Sing State prison under sentence for heavy forgeries committed in this city nearly two years ago ‘They publish letters from Horace Greeley, Wil- liam C. Bryant and others to Governor Fenton, favoring the pardon of the prisoner, and a memorial praying his release, signed by Moses Taylor, Jonathan Sturges, John J. Cisco and many of the leading millionaires of New York. ‘These articles from the Westero ‘prose are re- publisbed by some of our city contemporarica,