The New York Herald Newspaper, December 22, 1868, Page 6

6 NEW YORK HERALD ahoavway AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR, All business or news letter and telegraphic despatches must be addressed New Yorr HERALD. Rejected communications will not be re- turned, Letters and packages should be properly sealed. THE DAILY HERALD, pe ae in the year. Four cents per copy. Annual subscription price 814. JOB PRINTING of every description, also Stereo» typing and Engraving, neatly and promptly exe- cuted at the lowest rates. Volume XXXII. AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—AFTER DARK; 08, LON- DON BY Nieuw. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery. reys’ elated HERRING IN Fast WOMEN oF MODERN Towns, & FRENCH THEATRE, Fourteenth street and Sixth ave- nue.—GENEVIEVE DE BRABANT—BARBE BLEUE. NEW YORK THEATRE, oF BARLE BLEUE. PIKE’S OPERA HOUSE, corner of Eighth avenue and 28d street.—CHANSON DE ForTUNIO—LES BAVARDS. adiyay.—Tae BURLESQUE OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway.—Humpry Dumpry. with NEW FEATURES. Ree THEATRE, Broadway.—Tuz EMERALD WALLACK'S THEATRE. Broadway and 13th street.— Two Can Piay aT Tuat GAME—FOLLIES OF 4 NIGHT. MRS. F. B. CONWAY'S PARK THEATRE, Brooklyn.— ALADDIN. WOOD'S MUSEUM AND Doedapae sl ‘Thirtieth street and jroadway.—Afternoon and evening Performance. BRYANTS’ OPERA HOUSE, Tammany Building, Mth street.—ETHIOPIAN bagisa since a0. KELLY & LEON'S MINSTRELS, 720 rosinrey, no TIAN MINSTRELSY, BURLESQUE.—BARBEE BLU. SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 585 her) _—ETHIO- PIAN ENTERTAINMENTS, SINGING, DANGING, &c. TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE 201 Bowery.—Comic ‘VooaLism. NEGRO MINSTRELSY, &c. HIBERNIAN MINSTRELS, Apollo Hall, corner of Broad- way and 28th st.—O'F LAHERTY’S DHRAME. NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fourteenth street.—EQuEsTRIAN AND GYMNASTIO ENTERTAINMENT. Matinee as 234. CENTRAL PARK GARDEN.—THzo. Tomas’ GRAND PROMENADE CoNcERT. COOPER INSTITUTE, Astor place.—Joun B. Goucu’s Lecrorr, “TEMPRRANCE. HOOLEY'S OPERA HOUSE, Brooklyn.—RooLRy's MINSTRELS—“SANTA CLAUS,” GtrTs, &c. vee HOOLEY’S (E. D.) OPERA HOUSE, Williamaburg.— HOOLEY's MINSTRELS—“SANTA CLAUS,” GiFTS, £0. NEW YORK ag! OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— SOIENOE AND Ant. eS RE oe SR Se Sasee TRIPLE SHEET. ‘New bean Iahessemn December bse! “1868. Europe. ‘The cable telegrams are dated December 21. Intense excitement prevails at Constantinople and Athens. A Russian flag was burned in the streets of Constantinopie yesterday. Hobart Pacha’s conduct at Syra is approved by the Sultan. The Ambassa- dors of the Western Powers decline protection to the Greek residents in Constantinople. It is said that France and Austria will act In con- cert in regard to the Eastern difficulty. The London Times of yesterday denounces Presi- dent Johnson's repudiation proposition as conveyed in his annual message. Nearly all the members of the new British Parlia- ment who were honored with government positions have been re-elected. There have been slight disturbances in some of the Spanish towns consequent on the elections. The ministerial changes in the French government are attributed to the influence of the newspapers. The Prussian Diet has adjourned for the holidays, Paraguay. By the Atlantic cable we have intelligence from Rio Janeiro to the 6th inst. There had been no fighting recently in Paraguay. General Argollo was advancing to invest Asuncion. Rear Admiral Davis, ‘with his squadron, had gone up the Parana. He was accompanied by Minister McMahon. Congress. In the Senate yesterday Mr. Sumner presented a memorial from colored cttizens in favor of striking out the word “white” from the naturalization laws. Mr. Sumner remarked that they were the only laws which contained the word. Two members were added to the Committee on the Pacific Railroad as amembers from the South. After the transaction of soine further business of little importance the Senate adjourned until January 5. In the House Mr. E. B, Washburne occupied the chair during the absence of Speaker Colfax. The introduction of bills was not permitted, and after receiving Mr. Van Wyck’s report on the subject of whiskey frauds the House also adjourned until Janu- ary 5. Miscellancous. Secretary Seward has informed afirm in New York that the United States will not protect any United States vessel atuempting to run the blockade in Hayt. Advices from the Plains state that the expedition under Colonel Carpenter bad returned to Fort Wal- lace. No evidence of Indians in the rear of General Sherman has been found. The Peruvian transport Havana ts not to be seized, Secretary McUulloch having instructed the Collector of the port of New Orleans that she is covered by her fag. ‘The Queen's Bench of Toronto have denied the pe- tition for a new trial on the part of Whelan, con- victed of the murder of D’Arcy McGee. He will now apply to the Court of Errors and Appeais. We print in another column this morning the opinion of Judge Alvey, of the Court of Appeals of Maryland, in a certain bank case, in which he affirms the liability of a bank to pay in coin where coin is specially deposited. Ernest Baruache, a German, residing in Elizabeth, N. J., quarrelied with his wife on Sunday afternoon, and on her making an outcry one Charles Tyrrell, living in the same house, came to her defence. He ‘was, however, beset by both Baruache and his wife, and in the mélée that ensued shot Baruache in the head with a revolver. Baruache'’s wound will pro- bably prove fatal, and Tyrrel was arrested. A despatch from Little Rock, Ark., says many prominent citizens have arrived in that city from Conway county, having been driven from their homes by the militia, Captain Gibson, command. ing the militia at Lewisburg, gives quite a dif. ferent version of the outrages committed in that place from the one published a day or two since. He says that Mr. Casey was murdered for his money by his partner, and that the store houses were set on fire by their owners, who then fled. General Upham reports from Augusta that @ detachment of militia had an engagement With the insurgents, killing one man and capturing several prisoners, together with arms and horses, Refugees give terrivie accounts of the proceedings of the militia, Affre in Rochester on Saturday night destroyed property to the amount of $100,000, Four firemen were severely injured by the falling of a ladder. A large fire occurred in Saco, Me., on Sunday night, involving & loss of $30,000. Elsewhere this morning we publish an account of the opposition telegraph companies centring im this city, Also the text of Mr. BE. B. Washburne’s bili in the House for the construction of 4 government NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, 99 “-; DECEMBER 1868,—TRIPLE SHEET, telegraph under the direction of the Post OMice Department. Woman suffrage ts being actively canvassed in Missouri, A memorial to Congress in its favor has been signed by over 2,000 persons. The City. The Congressional committee investigating the alleged election frauds im this city were in secret session in the United States Circuit Court room, in Chambers street, yesterday. Among the witnesses examined, it is said, were District Attorney Courtney and Marshal Murray. In the Board of Aldermen yesterday a committee of seven to attend the inauguration of Governor Hoffman was appointed. In the Board of Councilmen a committee of seven was also appointed to attend the inauguration. Several streets were ordered to be paved with Belgian pavement and several valuable “donations” were made, The Aldermanic committee to hear the views of citizens relative te the proposed opening of Park place to North river held a meeting in the Alder- manic chamber yesterday. Petitions were presented from citizens favoring the project and from citizens protesting against {t, Judge Vanderpoel and Mr. A. R. Lawrence addressed the committee on the subject, Mr. Vanderpoel in opposition to the project and Mr. Lawrence in favor of it, after which the committee adjourned until Thursday, The Workingwonfen’s Central Association, with Miss Susan B, Anthony in the chair, met in room No, 18 Cooper Institute last night. The report from the special committee to investigate the case of a woman imprisoned in the ‘Tombs on the charge of murder could not be made, as the chairman was absent, and the committee had found three women, instead of one, allin custody for killing their hus- bands. Other reports relative to the condition of female ragpickers and photographers were received. A proposition to hold social conferences at the rest- dences of members for purposes of instruction in political rights was agreed to, and the meeting adjourned to January 8, There are at present thirteen prisoners in the Tombs charged with murder, of whom four are women, Mrs. Julia Crogan died yesterday morning at No. 446 West Twenty-elghth street from the effects of brutal treatment received at the hands of her drunken husband, who was infuriated because a few days agoshe gave birth to a still-born child. He is in arrest and ts still drunk. At a meeting of the Brooklyn Board of Aldermen last evening resoiutions were adopted subscribing the sum of $3,000,000 tothe New York East River Bridge Company, for the purpose of constructing a bridge across the river. The Hamburg-American Packet Company’s steam- ship Cimbria, Captain Haack, will leave Hoboken at two o'clock P. M. to-day for Southampton and Ham- burg. The European mails will close at the Post OMice at twelve o'clock M. Yesterday was a day of great excitement on the Stock Exchange in consequence of the announce- ment of a dividend in New York Central. The stock, which closed Saturday night at 133% a 134, opened yesterday morning at 165, sold down to 14634, but subsequently rallied and closed at 154% a 1543g. It is reported that an injunction was issued by Judge Barnard to restrain the delivery of the ‘scrip portion of the dividend. The rest of the stock market was buoyant, in sympathy with Central, Pacific Mail and Rock Island showing a considerable advance. Gold opened at 134%, sold up to 135% and closed at 13534. With fair offerings, being about "2,700 head, and a fair demand, chiefly for good stock, the market for beef cattle yesterday was quite steady. Prime and extra steers were quoted at 17c. @ 20c,—the latter an extreme price; fair to good at 15%¢c. a 1634. and inferior to ordinary at 10c. a 15c. Milch cows were quiet, but unchanged in value. We quote:—Extra, $100 a $125; prime, $90 a $95; fair to good, $75 a $35, and inferior to common, $40 a $70, Veal calves were steady at 12c. a 13c. for prime and extra and 9. a liye. for inferior to good. Sheep were in fair supply, and the demand being light prices were generally heavy. We quote:—Extra, 8c. a 8}c.; prime, 7c. a7gc.; common to good, 6c. a 6\c., and inferior, 444c. 84%, For swine the market was dull but firm at 93¢c. @ 93¢c. for common to prime. Personal Intelligence. General C. M. Dodge, of Iowa; General Thomas Carney, of Kansag, and T. W. Park, of Vermont, are at the St. Nicholas Hotel. General Jacob Stanwood, of Alabama; W. H. Stewart, of Washington, and S, G. Cabell, of Florida, fare at the Metropolitan Hotel. Colonel A. G. Warren, Major W. H. Dalton, and Major Russell, of the United States Army, and General J. V. Galloway, of Illinois, are at the St, Charles Hotel. Colonel M. de Mera, of Cuba, and L. M. Blakely, of Lyons, are at the St. Julien Hotel. W. B. Reed, of Philadelphia, is at the New York Hotel. Colonel J. F. Marsh, of Minnesota; Colonel F. G. Noyes, of Massachusetts; General C. B. Stewart, of New York; O. Ames, of Massachusetts, and H. H. Hathon, of Saratoga, are at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Senator A. G. Cattell, of New Jersey; Colonel Henry W. Janes, of the United States Army; Colonel Hildt, of West Point, and W. Watson, of Liverpool, England, are at the Hoffman House. General Clary, of the United States Army, 1s at the Astor House. Russia and the Eastern Question. The war cloud is becoming less ominous in the East. Turkey is cautious, though firm and unbending. Greece is becoming less boister- ous and more disposed to listen to the voice of reason. The one important fact which to us is full of suggestion is that the whole of Europe is agitated on the subject. It was never more apparent than now that the sore place on the European body politic is in the East. Touch it, and Europe trembles. France and England especially are put to their wits’ end. Austria knows not what todo. Prussia always looks on fearless of consequences. Russia, no mat- ter how much she may be supposed to be en- grossed with her own affairs or how earnestly her eyes may be turned towards Asia, imme- diately looms up as the great bugbear of the Western nations, For a few days it did seem as if the Eastern question were revived in all its fulness, Events created the prospect of another Crimean war. We all remember out of how little that war arose. Some trifling questions about the holy places in Jerusalem; some explanations, in which Franks and Greeks and Moslems were equally engaged and equally concerned ; grow- ing boldness on the part of Russia; resist- ance on the part of Turkey and her friends; the crossing of the Pruth, and then the Crimean war, which was in many respects a big and barren bungle. Russia was compelled to yield; but nothing was settled, nothing was gained. Turkey was not made stronger or in any sense more inde- pendent. Russia was only temporarily weak- ened. The Christian subjects of the Porte were left as dissatisfied as ever. Since the close of the Crimean war twelve years have all but passed away, and to-day Europe finds herself in circumstances almost identical with those in which she found herself in 1854. The holy places do not ocoupy the same prominent position; but the holy places in 1853-4 were only part of a larger question, and the larger question remains. rich, and though to a large extent dependent on English gold, has used that gold so wisely and so well that by means of railroads she has made herself not only a dangerous neighbor to England in India, but brought her European territories within easy and convenient distance from Moscow—a city which, though tempo- | rarily shorn of its splendors, promises to become once more the chief city of the em- pire. Russian ambition has naturally enough revived with her improved position, Now as much—now, perhaps, more than ever—she regards herself as the inheritor of the tradi- tions, the rights and the duties of the Eastern Roman empire. The great question in the East—no matter how much it may seem to be forgottea—is whether Christians or Mohamme- dans shall continue to rule on this side of the Bosphorus, The Christianity of the whole East of Europe is of the Greek Church. The millions of Russia are the most ortho- dox of the orthodox, and the Emperor is by universal consent the head of the Church, In Turkey in Europe there are some twelve millions of Christians and not over five millions of Mohammedans. The Christians are not unnaturally impatient of Mohammedan rule—all the more impatient because of the inequality of numbers. This impatience is kept alive by Greece on the south and Russia on the north: In fact, the common Christian sentiment which pervades Greece, Turkey in Europe, and Russia, makes the Greek kingdom and the Christian portion of Turkey lean upon Russia as their natural protector. Russia accepts the position and Russia, though not yet | champions the cause. We do not say that Russia courts war; but we do say that Russia has not retired from her high position as the champion of Christianity versus Mohammedan- ism in the East, and that the difficulties which make up the Eastern question are as little settled now as they were before the Crimean war broke out. The antagonism of race and the antagonism of religion are as pronounced as ever, and until race and religion cease to have a meaning the question still will remain whether twelve millions of Christians should be ruled by four or five millions of Mohammedans. It may be unjust to compare the Mohamme- dans to the negroes ; but, without wishing to be unjust, and only desiring to bring the question home, the question of the East—that is, limiting the case to Turkey in Europe—is very much the question we have to settle in the South. Shall four millions or shall eight millions rule ? It is not to be denied that our difficulty will be more easily solved than the difficulty which threatens the existence of the Turkish empire. The way to the end with us is more simple; but to some minds the comparison may be useful. It will not be wonderful if war is again staved off. Russia is not yet prepared to pre- cipitate matters. The Western Powers, es- pecially France and England, have strong reasons to seek the preservation of the Turkish empire in all its integrity. There are arrange- ments which might be made, but the possibili- ties are so numerous and so dangerous that any new arrangement is dreaded. Every Power is fearful of every other. Neither France nor England, nor Austria nor Italy nor Spain nor Portugal can entertain the idea of Russia enthroned in Constantinople. A Greek empire including the islands and running north as far as the Balkan is a possibility of the future ; but the time for such an arrangement has not yet come. A Hungarian em- pire, including the Herzegovina, Bosnia, Servia, Bulgaria, Wallachia, and implying the mastery of the mouths of the Danube, is another possibility; but the time for this is as remote as the other. The one thing which the Western Powers dread above all others is to see Russia mistress of the Dar- danelles, and thus a powerful and dangerous rival to them in the Mediterranean. Besides, the breaking up of the Turkish empire would bring France and England into collision with regard toEgypt. Both have interests at stake in that ancient seat of empire—a country long in the background, but destined yet to revive and reveal somewhat of its former glory. But neither France nor England is in a position to yield to the other. We are disposed, there- fore, on the whole, to take it for granted that in some way peace will be patched up and that the “sick man” will be the objéct of European attention and sympathy for another generation. We live, however, in the age of steam, electricity and the newspaper, and therefore give our words with a caution. We may be right; we may be wrong. Time will reveal whether the one or the other. Mayor Hoffman Declines the Honor. Mr. Hoffman has very, neatly excused him- self to a party of gentlemen who wanted to take him to Albany with a brass band and blue ribbons, as the prize cattle sometimes come to market. He has done well. We applaud his taste, his sense of propriety, his notion of economy, his modesty, his good manners, and even his note. Moreover, we resolutely refuse to listen to those censorious and thoroughly ill- natured people who hint that the whole occa- sion was made in order that the Governor might spread himself before the people in a pretty little piece of popular economy—in short, that he was invited in order that he might decline. As some people “give up” conundrums at once, and on principle, so we refuse to go into this devious inquiry, and accept man a8 meaning plainly what he says. Governor Hoffman, then, we hold as declaring himself for economy, the public interest and a due regard to the pro- prieties of his position, and we hope he may stick to this platform. He has a chance be- fore him to do good in the State, and even in the country, by setting that wholesome ex- ample on these points that men might naturally expect from the Executive of the greatest State in the Union. He knows the lobbymen and ringmakers well; the lobby, too, of this great city, which is, in acuteness, courage and ex- travagance of thought, several pegs ahead of those lobbies of the rural districts that flourish in Albany and Washington; and with this knowledge he may do good in ‘big things,” as he has just indicated a readiness to do in small ones. He starts with @ good promise. We shall watch for the result. State Srooxs anp Sgovrrties,—It is a curious fact that while the securities of many of the States, including even those of the lately reconstructed Southern States, have been improving in price in the stock market recently, government bonds have shown a de- cline and a weak tendency. This popular im- peachment of the Congressional wiseacres should teach them a lesson. [t is 9 sign that | the people have more faith in the wisdom of | their local Legislatures than in the financial sagacily of the national Congress, who are tinkering with the national credit | The Rise in New York Central. The somnolent equanimity of Wall street was rather rudely disturbed yesterday by a sudden advance of thirty per cent in New York Central Railway shares. Bulls and bears were going to sleep under the prosy speeches in Congress and dull debates upon thé financial muddle, when the directors of the Central let off a bombshell in thelr midst by dedlaring a scrip dividend of eighty per cent anda semi-annual dividend of four per cent on'both serip and capital stock. This re- markable action of the directors was not wholly unexpected; but the operators in the street had been so often deceived that the story of a dividend became, like the cry of “wolf,” unheeded at the proper moment. This same story was the lever with which New York Central had been alternatety forced upand down, as it suited the plans of those in the secret. About a month ago, in anticipa- tion of the annual meeting and further rumors of a dividend, the stock went up to 134, The public were so convinced that it was ‘all right” this time that they invested heavily— mote so than the Central clique wished. Of course it became necessary to make the afore- sail public disgorge again, and the injunction business was decided upon, whereupon the afftighted outsiders threw their stock upon the market, and the clique bought in all the way from 124 to 127, which they did all the more easily as the annual meeting passed without any action on the subject of a dividend. At a private meeting on Saturday the dimctors decided to declare the regular and sctip dividends referred to. The price the same afternoon advanced to 134 under the effect of large purchases by» the combination. Th¢ir action was made known by advertisements sent to the papers on Sunday night. Yester- day morning the stock opened at 163, and, un- derits gradual redistribution to the market, sold down to 150. The issue of the scrip isa virtual watering of the stock, such as recently took place in Hudson River, and has been done in nearly every railway stock. When the present excitement is over Central will settle back to a figure below that from which it started under the impetus of the dividend. The new strip is to share in future dividends equally with the original stock. Future earn- ings must, therefore, be divided on a capital represented by the unit 180, instead of the pre- vious unit of 100. The generosity of the direc- tors in thus donating themselves and the stock- holders in general such a nice little sum as‘ the scrip represents should not be forgotten when the application for the privilege of increasing the rate of fare, which has been denied for three winters, is renewed at the next session of the Legislature. New Phase of the Cuba Movement. Intelligence from the seat of the revolution in Cuba comes slowly and is of little import. It evidently hangs fire among the Cubans of the Western department, who seem to remain perfectly quiet, while their countrymen of the eastern portion of the island have driven the Spanish garrisons to the protection of the guns of the navy along the coast. This isa very different state of things from what was pro- mised by the Cuban juntas of the old filibuster times, when we were always assured that the whole country would rise as one man on the first appearance of assistance. It is a curious fact that at the same time when the people of Western Cuba show so little interest in the revolutionary efforts in the island there is a remarkable absence of any expression of desire among Cubans for annexation to the United States, and very little interest is expressed by the organs of public opinion in this country in the movements in Cuba. The only parties here who take a deep interest in the affair are the propagandists of the Wendell Phillips school. There is a logical reason for this fact, and it is this: —The revolutionists threaten to liberate the slaves in the island, if they cannot succeed in any other way in driving out the Spanish forces. Such a step would be tantamount to the destruction of all industry in Cuba ; for this is based on the slave labor, and would be at- tended with the sudden disappearance of pre- sent wealth. The example of rain presented by our Southern States has taught the Cubans adeep lesson, and one which they evidently have no wish to feel practically. In this coun- try the entire destruction of the great interests which were based on slavery leaves the Cubans no allies here, and hence the absence of all movement of a filibuster character. We shall not be surprised to see a large Spanish party spring up among the native Cubans in Havana when General Dulce arrives there, and an early termination put to the revolutionary movement, New Lines of Southern Railroads. Our Southern exchanges nearly every day contain reports of a new line of railroad or ranch railroad to be established in some por- tion of that section of the country, Taking these reports at a venture, it seems that there are now agitated in North and Central Missis- sippi—one of the three States tabooed by the radicals—no less than six new railroad routes—namely, the Memphis and Selma, the Mississippi Valley, the Granada and Yazoo, Granada and Eastern, Granada and Meri- dian, and the Kosciusko and Corinth, This number of proposed new railroad lines in an ostracized State shows that there must be a wondrous amount of hidden resources within its limits, and that the proper mode of de- veloping them is appreciated by Northern capitalists, A valuable road will be the pro- posed Guif line, from New Orleans to Mobile, thence northeasterly to Chattanooga, the lat- ter place being a sort of common centre for railroad travel between the North and the South, as it was the key with which General Sherman was enabled to unlock the rocky gates of the Southern country and spread before his army an easy pathway to the sea. ‘The Virginia and Tennessee road runs through a fertile district of country, and aims at the possession of a fair share of traffic and travel from Memphis, on the Mississippi, to the Atlantic seaboard, Norfolk being its princi- pal Atlantic port. The Western North Caro- lina road is of considerable importance, as it is romantically asserted that when completed “the seaboard will kiss the blue capped moun- tains of the grand West—the Switzerland of America—teeming with her minerals, water power and agricultural resources.” As an evi- dence of the value of some of these Southern the stock of the latter, amounting to one mil- lion and a half, in the Atlantic and Gulf Rail- road. This gives the Central a monopoly of the trade from Macon to Savannah, affording to that port increased facilities in obtsining cotton and other freights for its Eurepean shipping. Thus we find in the most important parts of the Southern country the existence of an en- terprising spirit of progress in accomance with the advancement of the age in all that relates to commercial greatness. Whit the South must do is to encourage immigition. Fill the land with the industrious populations of Europe, keep the niggers at work, keep go- ing ahead, and it will be but a short time be- fore the men of the Southern clime will again rejoice in bounteous opulence and unrestrained political freedom. The Suez Ship Canal, The interesting accounts we have published of the progress of the Suez Canal show that this greatest engineering work of history is to be a success, ‘The subject was first suggested by Ferdinand de Lesseps, and it is only since 1854-5 that the first surveys were made to test its practicability. At that date the foremost engineers of the world were consulted as to the feasibility of the gigantic work. The best English engineers, headed by George Steven- son, condemned it as a chimerical scheme; but France, feeling that there was more of national jealousy than engineering judgment in the de- cision, and being advised by her most scientific men that it was possible, boldly launched out her capital, and now sees success crowning her efforts. The amount thus far invested in the work is eighty millions of dollars in gold; but it will probably require an additional expendi- ture of forty millions more before the work is thoroughly completed so that a ship drawing twenty-five feet of water can pass ftom the Mediterranean to the Red Sea. Vessels of light draught already pass it. As yel, how- ever, it cannot compete with the English rail- way from Alexandria to Suez, two hundred and fifty-two miles in length. The great work once completed it will give ® new avenue to European commerte and force the Old World trade almost back again in the direction it took before Vasco de Gama opened the route via the Cape of Goo¢ Hope. The Mediterranean nations have a wmderful interest in its completion. It is essentially a work for the advancement of Latinagainst Anglo-Saxon interests, and the brain that has forced French capital to this task so views it. Science will have another chance for ceommer- cial greatness; and Italy, past whose doors will pour a vast Indian trade, will not be slow to reap from the harvest and make herself again felt asa great nation. The Suez Canal will do more to build up and strengthen Latin Europe than all the wars and all the diplomacy that have been expended in the past\hundred years. French statesmen, wisely sting it, will force the work through despite cos or op- position. It will do their nation more honor than any victory at arms they have evei won, and will be in keeping with the grea ani- mating idea of France—the building uy and consolidation of Latin interests all overthe world. There is, however, a limit to this Old Werld development. This lies in the destiny of the Western Continent. They do all they can with what they possess, but it is impossible for them to change the geography of the world, however much they may break down topographical barriers and turn trade channels, As an offset to Suez we have Panama, which fortune appears to have conceded to the New World. The Suez Canal will do an enormous trade for the whole of Europe, including Ger- many and Great Britain, until the completion of a canal across the Isthmus of Daria. Then the Suez route will belong essentially to South- ern Europe, while its whole Atlattic coast will turn westward for its commerce with In- dia, simply because it will be a cheaper, safer and more expeditious route to Easiern Asia. Notwithstanding this, we believe thst the Suez enterprise is one worthy of the age and of modern civilization. It must and will accom- modate a vast commerce. France, in com- pleting it, not alone compliments maiern civil- ization, but confers an honor upon herself and upon all the nations of the world. Mr. Van Wyck’s Whitewashing Report. The Congressional Committee on Retrench- ment, as it is called, of which Mr. Yan Wyck is chairman, has made a most extraordinary report relative to the whiskey frauds, In fact, it is not a report at all on these frauds, but a tirade of abuse of the President and the other officers of the government who {deavored to probe the rascality of the intrnal reve- nue thieves. It is neither more ner less than a lame attempt to whitewash the friads of the internal revenue officials, and to thtow dust in the eyes of the people by abusing the Presi- dent, Binckley and others, The internal revenue service in this State is {lled with a little army of the Van Wyck family; and this may account for the character of the report. Nothing more unsatisfactory—we were about to say infamous—ever emanated from s Congres- sional investigating committee, ani it shows to what a pitch of degradation ow national representatives have fallen. It is notorious that whiskey and other frauds, to he amount of tens of millions of “dollars, hav? been and are being committed in this city and neighbor- hood upon the internal revenue, md that by the connivance of officers in that sirvice; yet this committee failed to discover aty of them or to find a single delinquent officia. Further comment is unnecessary. The rejort speaks for itself. Coneress—A Horipay Recess,—The two houses of Congress yesterday adjowned over to the 5th day of January, the members generally having thought it most expedient and most agreeable to spend the Christmas and new year holidays among thet constitu- ents, Thus tar the Senate and the Louse have appeared to be all in the dark in ference to the public business before them ani ignorant where to begin to legislate or what 0 do upon any of the great questions of the day, It is to be ‘hoped that after a fortnight’s intercourse with the people the Senators and Representa- tives of the United States will returt to Wash- ington somewhat enlightened in reference to the public necessities of the day (especially in the matter of the whiskey ring) and ready for active work of a practical character, And so roads, it appears that the Georgia Central has | we wish them all ‘a merry Christmas and a | just purchased from the city of Savangah all | happy new year.” ee Jobbery iu Municipal Organizatious. Any one who sees the vast array of figures jotted down as the annual expenditure in dollars and cents of the municipal govern- ment of New York city, and who, happily for his peace of mind, is in a state of ignorance as to the mode and circumstances under which these large sums are appropriated, cannot avoid some mental inquiry and cogitation as to the men by whom these funds are so munifi- cently disbursed and the necessity for such enormous outlays, The city is taxed at pres- ent to the extent, in round numbers, of about twenty-four millions of dollars, which, added to the ordinary revenues of the city govern- ment, makes a total annual expenditure of thirty millions. This revenue has increased about one-third during the last five years and nearly doubled itself since the year 1860. We have a “‘city government” whith exercises about one-half the powers usually conferred upon municipal corporations, and the remainder of the administrative powers aré vested in some half dozen commissions and boards. These were created under the sh¢lter of the cry of ‘‘corruption,” and were osiensibly intended to act as brakes upon the wheel of extravagance and fraud. The popu- lation of New York city has not increased on2-fifth during these eight years of advancing taxation, but the revenue has magnified itself nearly one hundred per cent, and as yet, despite the fact that we have had almost four years of peace in which to reduce the inflated scale of taxation inaugurated during the war, - there are no indications of relief, These raw facts must necessarily lead to the conclusion that our present system of administration of the affairs of New York city is a decided failure, so far as the welfare of the public is concerned, and render ‘‘confusion worse con- founded” as to the suggestion of a remedy. We have the two distinctive forms of govern- ment, consolidated and exercising a varied jurisdiction, as in the Common Council, and local or special, as in the police and other commissions. All these departments have their ‘‘ regular” sessions, and enjoy, also, the privilege of call- ing special meetings, which they can generally do on five minutes’ notice. A call for a meet- ing of the Board of Aldermen or Councilmen may be issued, and a skirmish of a few minutes in the saloons and gin mills around the City Hall, it is well known and cannot be denied, in nine cases out of ten results in bringing the members together. On the 18th of February last a ‘‘regular” meeting of the Board of Alder- men was held, and an adjournment ordered at three o’clock P. M. until the nextday. Some Seventh avenue property owners were present to oppose the laying of Stafford pavement on that thoroughfare, for the cost of which they were to be assessed. At six o'clock that even- ing a “‘snap” meeting of the Board was called and aresolution adopted, when none but the members were present, directing Seventh ave- nue, from Fourteenth street to Fifty-ninth street, to be paved with this same experi- mental pavement, that five minutes’ sessiqn costing a few citizens in the aggregate half a million dollars. It is now being contested in the courts, but the result of the litigation, three or four men alone can foretell. This is but a single instance. : As to the commissions, they hold meetings whenever and in most cases wherever they please. The Commissioners of Police call sessions and transact their business at any hour of the day and night, at their residences if they choose, and the public are not per- mitted’ under any circumstances to attend any of these councils, excepting the trials of police- men for breach of duty or discipline. The Police Board exercises the power of appro- priating and expending from two and a half to three anda half millions of dollars annually. Other commissions have like extraordinary powers and similar extraordinary privileges regarding their exercise. The fact is the central government of our city, from the highest to the lowest offices, is festering with corruption and fraud, and the ostenible panacea, the local boards, is actually infected with the same plague sore. The first branch was begotten corruptly, und the second, under a false color, divides the patronage and is as corrupt as the limited power wrested from the former will permit. Judge Underwood and a Jail Delivery. Judge Underwood, one of the federal district judges, has recently put the United. States in a decidedly untenable position before the people of the State of Virginia. He has arrayed the government against all the interests of society, against good order, the security of life and of property, and has made it the champion of all the scoundrels in their efforts to get away from justice. All this he has done on a mere legal technicality. Naturally there is a protest against this in Congress. There are some Representatives and Senators who are not so insanely lost in one idea that they care to see proper reconstruction made the cower for mere anarchy and terrorism ; and these men would naturally rebuke the ignorant fan-stic who has thus outraged the bench and done what is pos- sible to show the country that, with all the clamor against the judges of ‘his city, there are worse ones in the national courts. But the radical papers indicate thir readiness to champion and sustain Under wood’s decision. Their argument is that he had no option, and that the constitution itself required this villany. This view hardly puts the constitution in a favorable light before the people, and it will find few supporters be- yond party lines. A jucige should keep in view the object of alllaw. He should never forget the maxim (if he happen to know it) that the welfare of the people is the supreme law, and, viewing statutes and enactments from such a standpoint as this vould give, interpret in accordance whatever clause of law is pleaded before him. He could then never unhinge the whole machinery of justice on a partisan tech- nicality. A Bit of Old Blue Light Puritanism. On Sunday last one of the city preachers delivered a sermon om “Our National Perils and Safety,” in which he undertook to revive the old spirit of blue light Puritanism and intolt- rance. He administered 9 rebuke to General Grant for ‘leaving West Point on a Sabbath morning, some time since, and coming to New York, where he put up at a hotel.” This is not the first time General Grant's travelling on Sunday has been objected to. The Southern rebels have had many occasions to regret his