The New York Herald Newspaper, February 4, 1868, Page 4

4 Ss, AP RD NEW YORK HERALD. BROADWAY AND ANN STREET, GORDON -BENNETT; PROPR IETOR. JAMES “@ AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. ROWERY TERSTRR, Bowery.—Siausss Twins—Lire 4xp Times OF Ricuagp IIT, NEW YORE THEATRE, opposite New York Hotel. Tus Picewice Parsas. OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway.~Fanouon, tae Cricast. NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—Tas Watre Fawn. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway and 13:4 atreot. ~ ums. BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway.—Littce Newt ann THs Mancuionsss. FRENCH THBATRE.—La Dawoiseyce vs Nawrenee— Vatwau. BANVARD'S OPERA HOUSE AND MUSEUM, Broad- way and Thirtiet street.—Novopr's Dacaurae, NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fourteenth street, —Graxastics, Equastrianisa, &0. THEATRE COMIQUE, 514 Broadway,—Hanxcox Comer. ‘Nation TRourB, STEINWAY HALL.—Grano Conceat. KELLY & LEON’S MINSTRELS, 720 Broadway, —Sowas, Dancas, Gocertnicitiss, BURLESQUES, 40. SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 585 Broadway.—Ermio- PIAN ENTERTAINMENTS, SINGING, DANCING AND BORLESQ™ES. TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, 201 Bowery.—Comic Youatism, NEGRO MINSTRELSY, £0. RUTLER'S AMERICAN THEATRE, 472 Broadway.— Bavixt, ance, Pantouime, &. RUNYAN HALL, Broadway and Fifteenth st —T Puce, Matinee at 2, ~ . eich Prag F. B, CONWAY'S PARK THEATRE, Brooklyu.— Ona. BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC.—I: Troratoru, BROOKLYN OPERA HOUSE.—Fancaon. iE. Brooklyn, —Erarorian , Bacaps ann Buruesques. W YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway. ~ NCK AND ARI New York, Tuesday, Febr ry 4. 1868S. EUROPE. ‘The news report by the Atlantic cable is dated yoster. day evening, February 3. Kogiaod was visited by a severe wind storm on the somo lives, The French government is likely to re-~ strict the rights of the press still more if Torced to withdraw the new bill from the Legislature. ‘The new treaty ports of Japan have been opened to fovetgners, Consols, 9334 a 933¢ for money in London. Five- tweaties, 725; a 72% in London aud 76% in Frankfort. Cotton quiet, with middling uplands at 7% a 7/5 pence, Breadstutls quiet. Provisions slightly lower, ‘The steamships Union and City of London, at this port, bring mail details of our cable despatches to the 23d of January, CONGRESS. In the Senate yesterday tho House bill for ihe taxu- tion of shareholders of national banks was passed. Mr, Wiisou's bill for a general reduction of the military force was introduced, Tho Reconstruction Dill wan then takea up and Messrs, Ferry and Stewart mado speeches, In the House pomerous bills and resolutions for referevce were introduced under the Monday cail— among ‘bem bills for the removal of the national capi- tal to St. Louis, Mo,, and to establish a Deparimeat of Justice, The Kentucky election cases were then con- sidered, aud postponed until the 11th inst, Under a ‘saspontion ‘of wae rues. Mr. axsopingon, of New York, offered a resolution requesting ‘the President to demand the immediate release of certain Fenian prisoners in Ireiand, and if the demands are not complied with to seize British subjects in this country aud withdraw ail Intercourse with Great Britain, After some debate the House refused to second the previous question and the resoiation was referred, THE LIGISLATUEE. Ja the Senate yesterday several petitions wore re- ceived and bills introduced. Nono, however, of an interesting or important character, ln (ne Assembly bills were introduced for the better security of life and property on railroads; to provide for the return of regimental flags to State and county oiticiats, and to punish official corruption. A reavlution was offered calling on the State Engineer for the annual report of the Hudson River Railroad Company for 1867. THE CITY. ‘Teo more infants recently died at the lying-in asylum of Madame Parselle, No, 347 West Seventeenth street, anda jury of medical men have rendered « verdict of improper nourishment. Iu the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad suit the tes- timony of Charies R. Marviue, a stockholder, was heard At the last suiting of the referee, [1 conta partial history of the 49,000 new snares of stock, and will bo found elsewhere in our columas in full this morning. The case of Joho Deviia, which has beea before Judge Bonedict’s court im Brooklyn for some ume, involving an alleged fraud on the revenue, wan given (0 tho jury yesterday, and @ vordict of guilty was ren. dered, ‘ine case of tho United Statesa gainst a large quantity of cuampagne seized at the Custom House for alleged undervaluation will be opened this morning in tne United Staces D'strict Court, before Jadgo Blatenford, This tsa kin case to that of the great champagne case tried last summer, which occupied the cour! a fortuight io it# bearing, and resulted ia disagreoment of the jury. ‘The favorite steamship Thames, Capiaia Peanington, belonging to the Black Star Independent jine, will leave pier 43 North river at three P. MM. to-day (Tuesday) fur Savanoab, Ga, ‘The stock market was ontho whote firm, but irregular, yesterday. Government securities were stroug. Gold was siroug, and closed at 140% a 140%. About 1,760 head comprived the offerings of beef cat- tle ai (he National drove yards yesterday. A good do- mand prevailed and pi rally higher, tras selling at 17%0, © 18¢, per Ib, prime 17\c « 17 \(o., Grst quality 16X60. @ 16%¢., fair to good 1546. & 160, and inferior and ordinary 100, a 15%. Milch cows were slow of sale and prices were heavy, ranging from $40 to $120—1 lattor for extra. Veal catves wore steady and frm at 130. for extra, 120, a 12%;0. for prime, 10%c. @ 11Ke, for ordinary and con- mon and % & 9% for inferior, Sheep and Jamba were ‘4c. & Mo. per 1d. higher and in fair de- about 5,800 head were on ) Hudson City and Fortieth street, selling at T%c. a 8c. for exira, To, a T,c. for prime and bc, a6%c. for inforior to common, Swine were ‘4c, per Ib. higher, the advance being caused by the light arrivals, At Fortieth street there were six car loads prime sold at Se. a 8c. and common to good were quoted at 7Xo. w8e.. The total receipis tor ine week were 4,835 beeves, 100 mileh cows, 748 vou! calves, 20,862 sheep and lambs and 10,10 swing. MISCSLLANEOUS. In the Constitutional Convention yesterday soctions one, two and three of tho article on State prisons were adopied Two Seneca Indians addressed the members after the adjourament on the rights of citigenship as g to their tribe, Johnson yesterday sentto the Senate tho nomination of Colonel Wisowell as Commissioner of Interoal Revenue in place of Mr, Rollios, 1k was ramored among (ongressional citcies in Wash- ington yesterday that Minister Adams had revigaod. Goueral, Mende has issued an order permiiting Stato Pairot to be extended to newspapers in his district ‘Witnout regard to politics. Jo the Virginia Convention yesterday an ordinance Foxpecting the office of Governor, which makes ‘be term four years and requires that Incumbents shail have beon residents of the United States for tweoty years, Was adopted. ‘The tone of the South Carolina Convention is con- sidered Conservative, but a bitter discussion ensued bi OM Gn ordivance invalidating comtracts based on slave labor, ‘The I, ow Matt Convention expecta to adjoura sine die NEW YORK HERALD TUMSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1868, A proposition was introduced and is under discussion in the Mississippi Convention that after a session of torty- five days the per diem should cease. — Aradical politician of Atlanta, Ga., shot and danger- ously wounded an extreme radical member of the Re- construction Convention jn that city on Sunday evening. A military commission is investigating charges against the Mayor of Savannab, To Memphis on Saturday night an abandoned woman was stabbed in @ bagnio, and @ maa was shot while trying to prevent a quarrel, On Monday a policeman was shot while attempting to arrest a burglar, and a freed- man was killed in an alleyway by another freedman. A party of soldiers, under cammand of an officer, wero sont to the Criminal Coart room in Memphis yesterday, at thg request of the presiding Judge, some dissatis- tion was expressed among the attorneys, and they were withdrawo. The revision of the registration lists in Texas has elosed. Presidential Movemoats-Troubles Among the Politicians. From the plots and counterplots, the con- flicting aspirants, cliques and factions, the wranglings and squabbles among the busy poli- ticians on both sides, it is difficult to conjec- ture who will make up the ticket or what will make up the platform, beyond the negro ques- tion, of either the republican or the opposition party. On the repeblican’ side, although New Hampshire and Connecticut and several Western States have pronouncod for General Grant, and although among the masses of the party throughous the North we hear of mo movements for Mr. Chase, (he contlict is by no means setiled in favor of Grant. On the contrary, it appears that the sappors and miners of Chase intend returning in New Hampshire the compliment paid them by, the Grant engineers in New York last November. Senator Sprague, the Rhode Island millionnaire and son-in-law of the Chief Justice, refuses, it is said, a single dollar to the repub- lican cause in New Hampshire on the Grant platform, and General Ben Butler, it is givon out, intends scattering broadcast over the -Granite Siate a terrible pamphlet on Bourbon, in return for that cruel bottling up of said Butler at Bermuda Hundred. In truib, upon thia matter of Bourbon or army whiskey the ultra radicals and the copperheads seem to have joined in a sort of Holy Alliance against Grant, When men sioop to such weapons of wariare we may be sure at least they will leave no stone unturned to reach their adver- sary. The probabilities, therefore, looking at the interests of Mr. Chase in New Hampshire, ara in favor of the democracy in the coming election. Whether a republican dofeat in New Hamp- sbire, through the detection of the devotees of Me. Chase, wiil belp him or hurt him at Chicago remains to be seen, It will suffice for the present that if the always closely divided States of New Hampshire and Connecticut are carried this spring under the dag of Grant, Mr, Chase will be reduced to an unconditional sur- render. In New York the radicals, it would appear, are prepared for the compromise of Grant apd Fenton; but the amiable letier of Fentoa recommending the samo honors in the comotery to the rebel as to the Union soldiers killed at Antietam, has awakened (he wrath of the Pennsylvania republicgns, who have in Governor Gvary, they think, or ex-Governor Curtin, or Senator Cameron, or Secretary Stanton, a much better man for Vice President than Fenton. Moreover, tho New York Grant republicans, par excellence, are dead set against Fenton, and tnrough a sort of Mozart delega- tion at the Syracuse Convention, the day after to-morrow, they evidently mean to swamp our aspiring Governor, if they can. The Conven- lion, however, it is supposed, will pronounce in favor of Grant and Feston. I so, Mr. Chase may possibly surrender without further delay in deference to the voice of New York; but otherw.se the confusion in the party camp will be only .worse coufounded froot New Uamp- soireto Nebraska, So much for the clashing cliques and faotions of the republican camp in reteronce to their Presidential ticket. The democracy are even more divided on the question of a candidate, from New York westward, while ia the New England Stuses they seem to be ready for anythiag ‘at may turn up as their national ticket. In New York we have a Seymour clique, a Hoffman clique and the dormant reiains of follan clique ; but we have no outcroppings aa yet of a genuine Pead! lique. #rom the federal offices here we have the nucleus of a Johnson party ; but Tammany and her painted indians keep aloof from Johnson while moving heaven and earth for bis oMfces. He is manifestly the proper man for democra‘s aad conserya- tives of all descriptions, and next to him, as the embodiment of the principles of the lace war for thy Union and the consiitution, stands General Sherman; but tho copperheads recoil from Sherman, as the Tammany sachems shrink from Johnson. They have no longer the sagacions John Van Buren to guide them, and so they are all adrift. Out West there has beon a clamorous democratic uprising and buliabaloo for Pen- dicton, from West Virginia to Wisconsin; but @ law event in Ohio threatens to take the cake from Pendleton. We refer to tho recent Congressional election in the Kighth district, and to Vallandiginm’s explanation of that suggestive domocratic defeat. Ho says it is due to the democratic policy of trimming to catch republican voles, by ignoring old fashioned, s!raight out democratic principles and democrats, and thas under this policy Ohio, next fall, will go republican by from twelve to twenty thousand majority. Vallan- dighom, in a word, has been @ badly used man in Obio, by his own party, and he evidently means to “sinash tho chine.” The man, too, who dictated the Chicago platform of 1864 will be very apt to have a finger in the pie in 1868. What mischief a disappointed party leader with a faithful band of followers at bis back may do bas been illustrated in a thousand cases, from Calhoun down to Fill- more among the larger fish, and trom Collector Bronson down to Fernando Wood among the smaller fry, And bow far individual claims and pretensjons have gone to settle and unsettle administrations and parties may be seen in all the ups and downs of Amorican politica, Theao are the troubles which now so seriously disturb both tho republican and democratic The first electric telegraph operated in the United States was opened between Baltimore and Washington in 1844—tvelye yoars after Professor Morse had perfopted and practically applied the electromagnetic agency—and since that time the wires that now play 50 Prominent a part in the progross of the world have been extepiding over the whole country, stretching along thousands and tena of thou- sands of miles, until at the present moment there is scarcely a village or hamlet from tho Penobscot to the Golden Gate that is without its little clicking oracle and its operator versed in the mysterious language of electricity, to convey to the wondering population instanta- neous information of the exciting political events in our own land,or of the troubles, changes and*tonvulsions in the far-off countries of Europe, The changes which have been wrought in every pursuit of life, and especially in the newspaper press, through the agency of the electric telegraph, aro very great, and can only be properly appreciated by those who can remember and recall the days when we were without the aid of this swift messenger | over the length and broadth of the land. Still the business of telegraphing in tho United States is not yet out of its infancy, and our peo- ple havo yet to experience its full benefit when properly controlled and effectively applied. The character of our government has been one difficulty in the way of a thor- ough telegraphic system. Lines have been chartered by States and built . piecemeal and then bought up and consolidated under a single company at prices largely abovg their actual value. A monopoly has thus been secured only at a heavy expense, and the necessity of charging correspondingly high rates for messages has induced the parties controlling it to continue to buy up all oppo- sition lines as fast as they have been started in order to prevent any competition in tariffs. The knowledge that the monopoly must get rid of rivals at any cost haa incited speculators to start all manner of “wildcat” lines for the pur- pose of selling thom out at their own figures ; and thus the original stookholdersin good pay- ing companies have seen their stock watered by means of these constant consolidations and blackmail operations until their onod valua- ble Interest has dwindled away to nothing. Nearly the whole telegraphic business cf the country was concentrated some time since by such means as we have described in the hands of the Western Union, and business men wore for a while entirely at the morcy of that com- pany. The cost of construction of the Western Union lines being thus about four or five times as much as they are actually worth, in conse- quence ot repeated outlays to get rid of oppo- sition and the purchase of many valueless lines, the managers of the monopoly have extorted from the business public a tariff about threo or four times as high as the legitimate cost of telegraphing® ought to be. Thoy have also made repeated efforts to control the daily press of the country, and the association of newspapers for telegraphic news was originally designed for mutual protection against the attempted extortions and abuses of the tele- graph companies, The public will be glad to leara that there are now successful opposition lines in working order to nearly every point of consequence reached by the extravagant Western Union monopoly, and that there is a good prospect that telegraphic messages will soon be sent from one end of the Uniied States to the other at greatly reduced rates and with far more rojiability und despatch than at the prosen: time. T'wo or three excel- lent opposition lines, including the Frank- lin Union and Baakers’ and Brokers’, are working to Washingion. Tho Franklin Union is rapidly extending its communications east and west; the Atlantic and Pacific company streiches away te Cleveland and Chicago, touching every point of consequence in this and other intervening States; the Pacific and Atlantic 8 Ci {i and Louisville from Philadelphia aad connocts with an inde- pendent Southern line, forming in conjunction with the Franklia Union an admirable’ line from this city all over the South and South- wesl. There are, therefore, now but few points that cannot be reached by the opposition com- panies, and all who use them speak in good terms of their rcliability, accommodation and despatch. There is no doubt that we shall soon have consolidated opposition lines all over the United States, and a corresponding reduction ia prices that will render telegraph- ing ‘no longer an oxponsive luxury and an undue advantage at the command of capital only, but a general method of transacting business such as all men can avail themselves of. The press will also feel the great advan- tage of a healthy competition, and under its influence will realize the full benefit of a sys- tem which is destined to work in the future still greater wonders than it has accomplisked in the past. reach The Famine in Northora Afrien. The latest appeal of the United States Con- sul at Tunis in bebalf of the surviving sufferers by the famine which has swept off two hun-, dred victims in a single day in that city, where the average number of deaths by starvation has for some time exceeded one hundred, and which has extended to Morocco and Algiers, and, indeed, throughout North Airica, Is even more affecting than the reports of siinilar dis- tross in Northern Europe that have prompwed @ proposal in Congress to send one ship of war or more laden with provisions for the relief of those who are perishing for want of food. No doubt the American heart will generously respond to appeals in behalf of the starving, both ia the icy regions of Northern Europe and beneath the burning aun of Africa. But, at the same timo, it should not be for- gotten that charity begins at home; that hun- ger is one of the woes bitterly experienced by the poor in New York during this tigorous season, and that, in tho South we have an Africa of our own which demands the hearty sympathy and effectual aidot our people. Let Congress and the Executive and the poople hasten to unito upon some rational plan of reconstruction that shall put @ speedy end to the alarming distress within our Southern ang Southwestern States, and we can then, with a clear conscience, undertake ta prevent famine in foreign countries. ee a as eer eet capital he thought more of securing his place re by jobs organized by speculators from the THE ALABAMA GATES. United States than he did of endeavoring to | | [From the London Standard, Jan. 21.) hold it against the world by tlose qualities aa he Oar liability oF non-tiabiity for the doeds of that had caused a contemporairy of the first ped en aunion a of right, depending om Hapsburg to warn God Almighty ito “sit firmly | of policy altogether 3 - these paca hrepr ae on his throne or Rudolph would’ push bim | was no uogloct of duiy in Ase adie as ae from it.” Jobs were as rife about Jiaarez, and | 29! responsible, aud a0 consideration of our previous doubtless still are, as they were about Max. It bs pspeeg oan — Us 0, The consequence of intruding has been the dabbling in such schemos «hat has | tn? arbitrator nto the discussion would be to vitiate eaten the very heart out of Mexican 1\ation- the arbitrator's judgment aad deprive it of all value as ality. There is no public virtue, no spivit of ‘# decision of the critical poiut—what are the obligations of neutrals in respect of ships purchased in their ports. patriotism either in leaders or people, and the | If the Poche tages gy {setully s pouctal r— country and its wealth are only the prize in ug would soulle noshing ae to the liabilities of the a rye of jobbers. » is ee mies to introduce i "asp Pg MG a same with the South American republics; and | {hat bis caso 18 @ weak qua He might as well—in- this latest upsetting of order in Peru owes ita | partof the reference the, Gompiniats of oun aera ee whole motive power to the same corrupt sort | Syme te the peseen wale Apes 8 Se ieee of speculation. One party is in the pay of semhous | pubenls to arbitrasien , the Fignt of our mer. those whose interests will be served if the With Lora Hobart princpal Poise Saw rig nig Spanish party dominates ; the other in the pay | We may ae = pd by is Fl eae NS ie of those whose interests require that the party 8 concede surthing to sasaniawisieh she would not vied that sympathizes with the South American | yiold to such monaves an those hele out by American alliance should prevail, Tho South American | fators and by Amorican avrapesbicera here, that Amer- alliance is the puppet of English merchants and miners, who can make thelr fortunes all the easier if the Spanish merchants are driven out; and the alliance is a grand ory to help drive them out, So it,goos. It isa game with no more in it than what the mines aod trade of the coast may yield ; and at the same time it furnishes as good # pretext as any other for the, people to indulge in the favorite the alleged offence is pastime of cutting each other's throats. The Rival Opera Houses, There is a break in the clouds of absolute dulness that envelop the theatrical and musti- cal firmament this season, War is-about to be inaugurated, between the two metropolitan opera houses—Pike’s versus the Academy of Music. On one side we have the imperturbable Cincinnati manager, findicially strengthened with Bourbon and other auxiliaries ; on the other two hundred and fifty stockholders armed cap 4 pie in the recollection of past fail- ures, silly blunders and Quixotic adventures. Before such a contest pale the quarrels of the Montagues and Capulets in the operatic line or Vanderbilt and George Law in the steam- boat world. The situation at presont is inter- esting. Pike is intrenched in the middle of a block, near the Hudson river; in the classic precincts of Eighth avenue, and from the stage of his magnificent establishment he hurls Gefiance across Madison and Union squares against the Irving place foe. The two hundred and fifty stockholders of the Academy, having long maintained » masterly inactivity in opera, and finding that their previous course of arro- gance and monopoly proved a failure, are roor- ganizing their forces on a new basis, They propose to deal with the public in a more liberal spirit and fight Pike with his own weapons. Haunted by the shades of managerial victims whom they immolated on the altar of their mutual admiration society, the lords of the the Academy endeavor to appease the maneé of those martyred impresarii by dealing with their successors in a more charitable and Christianlike spirit, They now try to cage La Grange, Phillips and Brignoli and draw them from the stronghold of theenemy. In the event of their success in this respect 1t will be necessary for Pike to bestir himself and put forth all his well known energy and spirit. Let him bring over Adelina Patti, before she gots married, and a suitable company, and he may safely enter the lists against all competi- tors. He can dispute the right of his two hun- dred and fifty opponents to call their estab- lishment an Academy of Music and charge them with contemptuously ignoring the very purpose for which it was chartered and built. The Academy of Music was originally an in- stitution secured by a State charter, carrying on its face a gencrous, national and artistic purpose—namely, the cultivation of muzsic, tho instruction of Amorican artists in tho beautiful mysteries of the lyric art—ot course, both as composers and periormers— and consequently socuring to them, whea qualified, an American platform for tho display of their gifts before an American public inter- ested in the progress of art, It was for this rewon alone that the Legislature was induced to grant the charter, and the stockholders pledged themselves to carry out the educational purposes of the iastitution, Without. such an object in view the establishment is a misnomer and a mistake. No Europeaa opera house takes tha! name without havinga school connected with it, How the stockholders carried out this programme and fulfilled their pledges to the Legislature and the public is well known. They monopolized the beat seats in the house, satin judgment over manager and artist, and ruined company sfier company with the utmos: sang-froid, Commencing with the jovial Hackett, who opened the establishment for the first time with Mario and Grisi on October 2, 1854, and ending wita Mare!zek this winter, the chicts of the Academy have thrown every obstacle in the path of Italian opera. They have now a chance to redeem past follies by giving up their reserved seais to the public, by encouraging and materially assisting competent artists and an enterprising manager, aud by carrying out the original purpose of education and instruction in art for which the Academy of Musio was instituted. They must not relax their exertions when they enter upon this contest with the West End; tor Pike is a wily and dangerous foe. Ho may advance a strong column of operatic artists, headed by Patti, or perhaps, like General Fritz, ia the “Grand Duchess,” he may place the two hundred and fifty beroes of the Academy hors de combat by using ammuni- tion from his numerous distilleries, Bourbon isa terrible agent of destruction on the lyric or dramatic stage; so that the Irving place managers had betwr gnard against it in the hands of their Western competitor. The quar- rel ig a very protty one as it stands, and may lead to some good for poor, ill-treated Italian opera. We hope, however, that the managers on either side will not let opera sink down again to its former humiliating condition, and that the public will never be obliged to ex- claim “A plague o’ both your houses!” in viow wh =— Most commonly the kind of talk Of orttters ogn's be ‘lowed te too the obalk. And wo can herdiy think so ill of America as to believe ‘the threats so meau and so cowardly ropresent the feel- ing Of a kindred uation. Astor the Feniaus, we may bo very eure that a renewal of their Canadian piracios will bo treated very dilfereatiy from the former attempt, and that a lenity 80 ill-roquited al never be repeated. With them, aa with any ovemy, foreigu or doi open or Respne Ret may assail her, directly or ludirectiy aid and abot ber assailants, England will know how to deal; and asauredly will uot modify ber policy or lower wor tone in deference to threats which reflect tnfamy om those who utter them. [From London Times, January 21, ) Tho Alabama correspandence was ostensibly closed by @dospaich trom Mr. Seward, dated November 20, for- maliy declining Lord Stanloy’s proposals, Tho od States government wiih only submit to arbitrati Oondition that our concession of belligerent right form part of the case for tbe arbitrator's decision. Hor Majosiy's government insist, ou the contrary, that am actual of war shall be assumed to have existed, and that, upon this assumption, the arbitracor shalt Proceed to consider the claims of she United States te compensation. Such being the respective attitudes of the two governments, Lord Hobart, in a letter which appeared in'our columns on Saturday, has uadertakem to advocate the Amorican view, wiule ‘‘Historicus,’* in aroply we published yesterday, defends the position taken by Lord Stanloy, Tho question ix one of auch vast importance, not only in its special beuring on our present relations with the United Siates, but also in ite general bearmg on the principles of international morality, that it calls for 4 deliberate aud decided ox~ pression’ of public opimon, * * * Let us now dis miss all considerations of this kind, and ask ourselves whetuer, reasonable or unreasonabie, au unconditional rosort to arbitration should be accepted by Groat Britain. There are two classes of motives which must The Proposition to Make Contracts for Gold Payments Vali It appears that certain parties are arging the passage of a bill by Congress to make con- tracts in which gold payments are stipulated valid. We see no objection why s merchant shouid not sell hig goods or any man his house to be paid for in gold if the parties making the bargain choose to agred upon that. Wo are not sure but this can be done now even by using the term “gold dollars;” but it is cer- tainly legal to sell a house or anything else tor so much weight of the precious motal-—for ‘so many ounces or pounds of gold, for exam- ple—just as it would be to sell for a certain weight of cotton or a certain numbor of bushels of wheat. We know what weight of gold is worth « thousand dollars, and tho calculation could be made to afraction. Gold, in fact, is woighed, and not counted, in all great moneyed institutions. It is supposed, perhaps, that such a bill a3 we refer to would help us to come to specie payments ; but we want no forcing pro- cess for that, There is no neceasily for such a biil any way. Indeed, Congress should not logislate at ail about such matters or the cur- rency at present. The country is not in a con- dition for any such logislation, and Congrass will have enough to do with political matters till the dismembered republic be restored and tho Presidential election be over. These are the paramount quostions—the first things in order. When they are settled Gongross can turn its attention to other subjects. be resolutely put aside before we can arrive at any sound conclusion on & questiou of ational responst- bility. On the one hand, wo must rige above the blind iustincis of pride and jealousy. Because the sontimeat of large Classes in this country way onlistod om th side of tue South, because the claims of tue Umi States huve boon preferred in too peremptory a tone, or because they bavo not been preferred, on like grounds, against Franco also, it dues uot follow thas we should turn adeaf our to cowplaints—ewn to unrcae sonable complain's—ol our conduct in recognizing the Confederate S.ates. On tho Osher haud, we must bans wita no less firmness, not wminixed with indignation, those motives to which Lord Hobart appoals when he re~ minds us that it is plainly intimated in the Alabama cor- respondence that the United States xoverament “may now be obliged to contorm its priaciples and policy to those whict {t considers to have been tie principles aud policy of this country during the Amorican civit waz.’” ‘The answer of * Historicus "is hore av aly coasiu- sive, supposing the demand of Mr. Seward to be palpa- bly groundioss -—“If the governmont of the United States quarrel with us op the question of tae recognition of bel- ligerent rights, it can only be because they are determined wm any event quarrel with uw." Happily this conclusion Is doubly bypothoti and we are by 00 moans prepared to adopt one of the bype- thoses whicn can aloue render it inevitable, We do re- gard Mr. Soward's demand as palpably groundiess, but are wowilling believe that the goveramout aud ua- able to believe that the peoplo of the United Stacos are a0 far committed to tt a3 to barbor the designs woick Lord Hobart unputes to them. It ia natural that Mr. Soward, having once taxon his stand on an antenubie posttion, should adhore to it with more tenacity them | Lord staniey did to that of his predecessor. 6 com make allowances, too, for tue prossure of political oxt- goucies, especially at the present crisis of American politics Cousidering Uhoso circumstances, Wo vontuce ( counsel the utinost pationce and forbearaace om the part of our govermmnomt, but we aro uot prepared to C/unsel submission where submission, instead of pro- moung reconciliation, could only lower us im the eyes of the Awortcan nation. BOOK NOTICE. Tus Sreanoer tw Trax Trorics. Guide Book for Cuba and the Weat Indies. Mr, John & Thrashor haa rendored 9 good service, not only to a very large class of our citizens, but to tourists the world ovor, by preparing a capital guide to Cuba and tho West India islands, We havo had in yours past an abundance of works on Cuba, ombracig the result of the exporience and observations of a num- ber of loiterers in that pleasant quarter of the globe, who have told us in an agreeable style of the manners and customs of the peopio they met, of their style of living and means of locomotion, but in such & general way that no rvally vfivabie «pocific information could be derived from all the mass of detail by the reader who desired to, know provisely how he could reacli tho Antilles, and at what cost. We havo long needed such ® work as “The Stranger in tno Tropics,” which Mr, Thrashor has furaished us, and now no one needs to be longor in ignorance of ail tho faets which bo seeks, 93 woll before he departs as upon bis arrival at nis destination, to mako bis tour pisasant and profilable, ©The Ssrangor in the Tro} full and comprehensive guido to Ha & com plete and authoritative bandiook for traveliors ta Cuba, Torto Rico ant St Thomas, [t in vory carefully compiled from acknowledged autnorities, or from personal knowledge and observation, and ombodios & vast amount of just tho precise information that a tr jor, unfamiliar with the countries he visita, would dosire to find ia aconvenient little work of the kind. The writer baa beon a resident of tho “Itvor Faithful Isle" for many years and bas enjoyed rare op- portunitios for yatharing tho beat informauion porsidie on evory mattor’ho treats, and this’ (act gives his work all tho weight of authoriiy which ao many guides lack. Ho embodies in a vory pleasing and roadablo way a choico fund of matter interesting to tho studsnt of history, to tho health-seoking invalid and tothe basiness mau as Well as to tho moro foiterer for pleasure in the buimy tropics, The travellor is frat told how Le may got to Cuda or the West indios and the expense of tho traasit, Thea ue is safely landed at THE CiBLE CONNECTION WITH EUROPE. (From the Journal of tue Telegraph, Fo® L.] Wo have oxaminod the files of the Now York papers to ascertain how many days daring the oighteem months aince the cable was laid persons daily expecting. Kuropeau nows had boon disappoluted of the wiegraph. ‘The rocord 18 a3 follows: — ‘ Duriag the first aix months, when she success of che enterprise found the iand lines yaprepared for this now and importaat business, there were thirty- three days on which the New Youre Hera failed to publish news by the cabie. Of these four wore Sundays; there were seven days on whioh the nows aot arriving in time for the New York Hnwate was published in the Boening Zos!, toa days during which the lines sowewhere botwoen New York and the oud of the Cabie at Heart's Content, uearly:two tuoa- sand miles by the route of the telegraph tine, were prow tratod. by heavy wind or sleet sior t stoamor Dauntiess, woich at tho first ¢ acroas the Gulf of St, Lawroace, was the St. Ana’s cable was broken, and the remaiming nine days nov accounted for, ue.ng Lhe next succeeding twelve mouths thero ware but ten days on which the Naw York Aeraro publ hed no cable nows, Of those one was Sunday, four the pews arrived too lato for the morning papers, bub wae pablished in the Bvening Post, three the land lines be twoon Now York and the wore broken by severe storms, and two the lines im Ir wore broken by Fanians. Tao perfect working of the ocean cables thomselves. fs complete and wonderful, Nota alugie moment mace the cables wore laid—July 27, 1806—Uas comumuuication has aot beou a simgts day thas, of more failures. Havana and given a choice of hotels. Subsequontiy — ot contained Kuropean news | o the reviows, EE MLNS the sights and tions of the city are shown | Cans “itcn which copnect New York with tho «ines. of Mexico and South America. bim, snd if he follows his intolligent guide | the New York, Newtoendiaad eed Loud a ‘, * he will miss nothing worthy of « Dg Molice, Yiaiator Love, Cape Breton, aro abou The peculiar revelations made in the Mexican | the ‘reaior. will algo und in tho guides full description | miles long, aud are worked dicot aad with a rapldit ar manaer of living in Havana, of ie varied | never before attained, The other eveniog Mr. W. documents we published yesterday of the relations between Mr. Otterbourg and the imperial authorities are not honorable to our State Department or to the way in which the nation is represented in foreign countries. Mr. Otterbourg appears in those documents as a suitor and suppliant in the ante-rooms of the imperial palace—as representing that the relations between the United States and Mexico depend upon Mr. Otterbourg’s private relations with the Secretary of the United States Senate, and as vaguely intimating that these may depend upon a railroad concession and the way in which the governmont might dispose of it. He also appears as one of that infinite multitude of speculators whose “ in- fluence with the New York press” will enable them to be immensely useful to anybody who may make it worth their while. Another of these fellows came to the surface a short time since—in some other documents not creditable to certain New York journals—in which it was shown that all tho city journals were Ketilos, operator at Washington, sent to Piadatar Cove direct, ® distance of over thirteen huadred milps, ninety—, four messages of twenty words each withui » single! hour, dropping copies at wow York. Tho mossagew, were received by Mr, W. Sherman without once imtorrupting or requ veliove such & rate of transmission and reception by the Morse machinery to be nnequalied bx any. Kuropesm Imes, and up to the highost capacuy ol our prose . Printing apparatus To perfect tho BE a Connection She two ling « botwoen New York joart’s Content Mast wilimald be worked as one, oven if one company ia compel 5@ to awallow (he other to accamplish t. Nhat dons, we shail fool that New York indeed sbaicos hand» W ithe uro) ‘Nor hall we pledge ourselves to bs fomy satéalled 1 itm ovon this, The ootamercial centres of tho world @ suab be united to fact as well as tn nama Aginglo’ (lead must connect London and New York, withost ge ing oven tho manipulation of the akilfu opeasd yen at Hoart’s Content, 4 recroatious and aij tt shops and their 8 ploasaut chaj oa tis & clear Picturesque, pleasing and heaithf« vicinity which the tourist should visit, imolu jt Thomas. will’ find in chaptors those po! ail the information he may wish on m ans Of communication, cost and places of interest to visit, We think couscientious ug! that the work, which is for sale by all booksellers, will have a deservedly large and extended circulation. ALLEGED DOUBLE SWINDLE During the past few months aumbors of merchants, bankers and prominent citizens have received letters notifying, them of their having been elected “Honorary mombers of the Now York Association for tho Benoft Of the Poor," and informin, im that communications might be addressed to George R. Spellman, Bible House, mation D, New York. 1a most cases the partion thus addressed would reviy by enclosing various sums of money (0 assist the society ia ie quod work, and would receive, in turn, am ackaowledg- their tw and the cheering mn thas “Who gives to a Veet trae wo od thas “Bread cash upon e wal will re. turn after many days,” But as a0 bread returned and ‘no evidences of assistance having reacbed the poor could be found tho donors became suspicious, and among ‘ufus Hatch, who had ‘‘cast" $100 ‘on the. = GENERAL NEWS (TEMS. Coualerfoit $10 dollar b#ls on the Nativ@d) Markos Bank of Now York aro-ii carcuintion io Bostery Goorgo Carr, a citizen of Kingston, Cemada, & uw aitted avioide yesterday by castiery his throat. Robert P. Briggs, one of wealthiont Farmers of Aaburn, Maine, committed suicide by hare ing himeil on Sunday evening. Joromian Wiltiams, of Oakbarn, in due time Masey, commitiog suicide on Sunday lags *y banging Olras04 in tho colar tried, ond it was found that the instituted inguizies which led him to think We es nate of his house, The tydy was found b¥ t.ho wife an Herato would publish, “without pay,” all } {eh Hedy Tenave, of tne’ daughtor of the decewsed om thoi retur®firom chiro news; and that whatever was not| ® nd and ascerta’ A dowpatod Crom Stun Francisco ware tO at owing to the inoroasod demand te Central Paolo Wtroad Company have farthor adwageed the price of Uiveir irss morigage bonds to par and, interest. Kightoea privonors escaped from “Jail at dt Joaepn , news it would not publish on any terms; while the othér journals would publish any- thing, news or not, if paid for it Plenty of his bat and coat and taking bis station at station D yesterday |, Mr. Eustace de to watch for the man who had casts spell on tue chari- table tnclinetions of so many. He waa not long on i ye these speculators are always coming to the Sraces ona looking, : nate spp ad for the lottorn | @o., on Saturday, by overpowering Aho kenpers Daring surface, and sro quite likely to be found in | for Mr. spollmas Ce tee Serct av thmaemeaey ten wee Killed and owe of the prisoners wee o'y wonadod, the offices of the government ; but it doos not Tho palate car ‘Gity of Chiao," running on the give a good iden of the principles that rule in Pane eecn So tosaresy aidey (hg a caphanion et higb placw’s when we find that one of them can be made“ minister. Doub(less Mr. Otterbourg only moved with the ovrrent when, being in the Mexican gama, & korosene tninp. The car waa totally deseoyas The parsongers oacaped Witbous imjary. ‘Three largo tte houses belonging to the Koiax Ice Company, situated on the Wort sido of, the Hudeos river, opposia aya toll oa Priday aight with The parties, and if the necessity of « compromise — a low o Wore Alled with ioe, the grena on both sidos were loss urgent we might look | A Curtovs Mrerons.—Copperhonds end nig- | he fell to jobbery. There were « great many Samos poet sg Un'ém sander The for general break-up into » Presidential | gers are aniting in opposition to (enoral | o¥aer jobs besides his urged ia Max's ante the cune frow Now Orleane for Cincin. sorub race, As it is, if the demoorats in this | Grant. When such oxtremop meet com | rooma Indeed, the Mexican om and the "ete taro tre ag an Tad., oa Sne. battle choose to cast aside the balsace of | mingle look oat for a verytarioas Mexican republic wore masees of Tee weage, Whiten, cognlea of Faluavie erSeeig ine power held by Andrew Johnson, they will be.| campaign, as the next now bids lively very omptre iteolf was Jeoker’s job in the be | | wore ta, aod op Pwigeaeg ana ares ie Tae sa signally defeated as in 1904. of becoming. } + clantag; end whoa Mex wee ta be fone i eae (oe SAGO OEE . i r