The New York Herald Newspaper, March 24, 1869, Page 6

6 NEW YORK HERALD eee BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. naneanannnannannneen JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR ————em AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. BROADWAY THEAT! RE, Broadway.—LionEss OF THE Nogta—Two Caw PLay at Teat Gama, BOOTH’S THEATRE, 28d at., between Sth and 6th avs.— ROMEO AND JULIET. 1LO’S GARDEN, Broadws waivseawes or Tae Forty Ph ata THEATRE, Broadway and 18th strest.— ~—THE BURLESQUE Ex- RVER. IGHAM'S THEATRE, Twenty-fourth st.—PERFEO- “nnogaus ADO ANOUT « MXRCMANT OF VENICE. ACADEMY OF MUSIC, Fourteenth street—ITALIAN Orgna.—FRa Diavoro. OLYMPIC THEATRE, roadway RUNETT Doerr, with NEW FEATURES. Matinee at 1). BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Tar Seven Dwanre; OB, HABLEQUIN AND THE WORLD OF WONDERS, DT THEATRE, Nos. 45 and 47 Bowery. sain’ WWaunainnta iN Hospice Many. Ny WOOD'S MUSEUM a THEATRE, Thirtieth street and jway.—Afternoon and evening Performance. WAVERLEY THEATRE, 720 Broadway.—Etze Hour's BURLESQUE COMPANY. THEATRE COMIQUE, 514 taal —Comic SKETCUES and Livine STaTURS—PLU1 THE TAMMANY, Fourteenth street—Tam Homer Ma- RINES, &C. MRS. F, B. CONWAY'S PARK THEATRE, Brooklya.— SCHOOL. SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 585 Broadway.—ETHIO- PIAN ENTERTAUINMENTS—SIRGR OF THE BLONDES. BRYANTS' OPERA HOUSE, tours Building, 14th street.—ETUIOPIAN MINSTRELS! TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, 21 Bowery.—Couto Yooarisa, NEGRO MINBTRELSY, &. Matinee at 2}4. NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fourteenth street-—EQuEgsTRIAN AXD GYMNAsTIC ENTERTAINMENT. Matinee at 254) STEINWAY HALL, Fourteen:h street.—Tus DAVENPORT BRoruens. HOOLEY’S OPERA HOUSE, _Brooklyn.—Hoonsy’s MineTer18—Tuz HAUNTED WIG MAKER, &c. NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— scrxece AND ART. TRIPLE SHEET. New York, Wednesday, March 24, 1869. THES NwOWS. Europe. The cable telegrams are dated March 23, A committee of the British House of Commons yesterday brought in a report refusing to sanction contracts made by the government with the Cunard and Inman steamships on present terms, The strike of the cotton operatives is becoming general througout England and Scotland. In Glasgow seve- ral mills have been compelled to suspend opera- tions. The government requirement for an army contin- gent of 100,000 men was yesterday voted by the French Chambers. The Mexican General Almonte died yesterday in Paris. The French and Belgian papers have already pub- lished the preliminaries of the proposed conterence between France and Belgium. The Spanish Cortes yesterday decided that a per- son holding office under the government could not occupy @ seat as a representative in the Assembly. A number of women in Madrid have petitioned the governinent against military conscription, Cuba. ‘The British Consul in Havana has received infor- mation from Nassau that the American brig Mary Lovell had been captured by two Spanish war ves- sels while in charge of a customs officer in British waters. The Spaniards claim her as prize ,be- cause she had been blockaded, but the British Con- sul has laid the matter before the Captain General. One of the Peruvian monitors had.caused the sink- ing of the steamer towing her and seven lives were lost. Advices from Santiago state that the tnsur- gents are massing their forces on the south side of the island. Mexico. A'‘New Orleans paper says that United States troops are being rapidiy concentrated in Texas on the Rio Grande border, and additional barracks are being built. It is thought that a movement on Mex- ico is contemplated, Paraguay. Our Rio Janeiro letter is dated February 24 The allies tat Asuncion were preparing to pursue Lopez, who has been recruiting his army about twenty leagues from the capital. The people have all removed to him and Concepcion, Villa Rica, Cerro Leon and several other towns are completely deserted. Minister McMahon remains with Lopez, and the archives of the Ameri- can Legation at Asuncion have been scattered. Mar- shal Caxias’ return to Rio Janeiro has exasperated the Emperor and the government officers, who look upon him as a deserted. His withdrawal had nearly precipitated a disbandment of the army, and it sadly needed reorganization. The cholera has ap- peared on the Parana and Paraguay rivers. Congress. In the Senate yesterday Mr. Anthony, of Rhode Island, was unanimously elected President pro tem. during the absence of Mr. Colfax. He thereupon took the chair. Mr. Sprague presented a petition for woman suffrage, and advocated granting the prayer. The bill repealing the Tenure of Office act was recommitted. Mr. Sherman introduced a bill authorizing the prepayment of the interest on the public debt, which was passed. The bill to reorgan- ize the judicial system of the United States was taken up as unfinished business. After considerable debate the bill was passed. Mr. Wilson reported bills to abolish the office of chief of staff to the General of the Army and in felation to retired officers. The Senate then adjourned. In the House a bill was reported from the Com- mittee on the Revision of the Laws, extending the ‘Ume three years for the revision and consolidation of the statutes of the United States. Mr. Butler, in the debate that ensued, remarked that the commis- sioners charged with this work received $5,000 a year each and Incidental expenses and only four chapters had been revised. An amendment direct- ing that the commissioners devote their whole time to the work was agreed to and the bill was passed. Mr. Butier, from the Committee on Reconstruction, reported the Senate resolution for a special commit- ‘tee on the removal of political disabilities, He moved non-concurrence and the motion was agreed to, In reply to Mr. Brooks, who asked if it was true that the Reconstruction Committee intended soon to present a general non-partisan amnesty bill, Mr. Butler sald he oped in a day or two to present such ® measure for reference to the committee. The House then adjourned, The committee appointed by the Senate caucus of Monday waited on the President yesterday and sub- mitted the modidcation of the Tenure of Office bill as it will be reported to-day from the Judiciary Com. mittee, The President expressed himself satisfied ‘with the qhanges contemplated. The Legisiature. Bills were introduced in the State Senate yester- day to amend the charters of several stree} railroads and making provision for the government of the county and city of New York. A number of bilis were reported and two passed, one of the latter being for the construction of a railroad in 125th street. Atthe evening session several bills were ordered to 4 third reading. In the Assemby a number of bills were reported. A message from the Governor, vetoing a local bill, was received and read. The bill relating to the con- straction of certain picrs on the North river was passed and that increasing the Metropolitan Police force recommuitted, The Speaker presentedthe re- port of Mr. Gould, President of the Erie Railroad, by which it appears that on the 19th instant the com- mon stock of the company was $67,000,000; preferred stock, $8,000,000, and the funded debt, $28,000,000, By reason of Guotuations of tho QomHps aye tg NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1869.—-TRIPLE SHEET, A’ Now Era for the American Stage. | Public Educatlon—The Row Between the Gay to day it was impossible to give thetotal amount with anyaccuracy. Several unimportant bills were Passed. At the evening seasion the bill to aid new railroads was discussed and progressed. Miscellaneous. ‘Vincent Colyer, Secretary of the United States Indian Commussion, writing from Fort Gibson, Che- rokee country, says the Indians on the reservations which he has visited are quiet, prosperous and rapidly advancing in civilization, The talk of exter- mination which was 8o prevalent on the frontiers last winter alarmed them greatly, but the cheering words of President Grant’s inaugural has restored their confidence, and they have resumed their spring work with renewed energy and determination. Governor Wells, of Virginia; H. O. Bond, regiater of bankruptcy at and L, E. Dudley, secretary of the Virginia Republican State Central Committee, were arrested by the police of Richmond yesterday on @ charge of mail robbery. They were all arraigned before Commissioner Cahoon and bailed until to-day. They are charged with purloining a letter of political significance only. Considerable excitement had ensued in consequence among the white and black republicans. The democrats who resigned from the Indiana Legislature have been re-elected. News was received at St. Louis yesterday from General Custer. He is with his command on the North fork of the Red river, near the base of the Washita Mountains, and is in no danger from hos- tile Indians. The City. A mass meeting of the laboring men of New York was held last night, at Cooper Institute, to express their sympathy with the efforts of the priaters to obtain the scale of prices demanded by their soctety. The great hall was filled and the meeting was ad- dregsed by several gentlemen, members of different unions. The Cunard steamer China, Captain Hockley, will sail to-day for Liverpool via Queenstown. The mails ‘Will close at the Post office, at twelve o’clock, noon. The steamship Mississippi for St. Thomas and Rio Janeiro, calling at Para, Pernambuco and Bahia. has been detained until this morning at ten o’clock, when she, will leave pier 43 North river. The stock market yesterday was excited over another large advance in New York Central. Gov- ernment bonds were weak and declined. Gold was steady until near the close, when it showed activity, advancing to 13134. Prominent Arrivals in the City. Lieutenant Governor Gardiner, Colonel Sibley and Wendell Phillips, of Boston, are et the St. Denis Aiotel. es W. M. Ramsay, and W. Cramp, of Montreal, are at the Brevoort House. Captain W, H. Leroy, of the United States Navy; H.C. Leroy, ot New York, and George H. Calvert, Jr., of Maryland, are at the New York Hotel. Major H. T. Wright, of the United States Army, is at the St. Charles Hotel. General H. S. Burton, of Newport, R. L; N. McKay, of Boston; F. McCardle, of St. Louis; Gene- ral B. F. Bruce, of Madison county, and W. ©. Humphrey, of South Carolina, are at tbe Metropoli- tan Hotel. Ex-Postmaster General Randall, of Washington; John B. Alley, of Massachusetts; Captain Clark, and Lieutenant D. H. Reynolds, of the United States Army, are at the Astor House. W. W. Richmond, of Buffalo, and Henry Wells, of Aurora, are at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Assistant Attorney General Hammond, of Albany, is at the Hoffman House. Prominent Departures. General Albert Pike left yesterday for Washing- ton; General Harding, for Pensacola; General Sheri- dan, Colonel Crosby and Mayor Chadbourne for Chicago; George Rutter, for Memphis; A. P. Leland, for Cleveland; Captain H. C. Mahurin, for Yan Fran- cisco; J. P. Hurd, for Philadelpnia; Judge Salomon, of Nova Scotia, tor Washington; Frederick Phillips, Ter Corey, Pa., and Dr. Eldridge, for St. Louis, Mr. John E, Develin and family sailed yesterday inthe steamer Charleston for Aiken, 3. C. The Proposed Compromise on the Tenure of Office—A Copperhead View of the Subject. It appears that the difficulty in the Senate in reference to a repeal or a suspension of the Tenure of Office law has been settled among the republicans in caucus in an agreement for a modification of the law. The main object of Congress in passing the law was to keep Secretary Stanton in the War Office during Johnson's administration. Johnson’s policy of Southern reconstruction was not the policy of Congress. Johnson was dead-set against this policy, while Stanton was an active ally of Congress and a complete check upon Johnson in the matter of those Southern military gov- ernments. Hence, when it was hinted to Con- gress that Johnson had resolved upon the removal of Stanton, the two houses hit upon the Tenure of Office law, providing among other things that the members of the Cabinet shall hold their offices, respectively, during the Presidential term of their appoint- ment and for one month thereafter, sub- ject to removal only with the consent of the Senate. This section of the law the Senate has agreed in caucus to strike out, so that the President may remove any member of his Cabinet at discretion, leaving him subject here only to the constitutional re- quirement of a concurrence of the Senate in his appointments. But the law, in view of the havoc which Johnson otherwise might make in the absence of Congress among the radical office-holders, including Stanton, was framed to head him off in the section providing that in the absence of the Senate the Presiderit may suspend any executive subordinate ; but that within twenty days after the reassembling of the Senate he shall give his reasons for such suspension, and if voted unsatisfactory by the Senate the sus- pended officer shall be reinstated. Under this provision Stanton was suspended by the Presi- dent and reinstated by the Senate, the reasons given for the suspension being voted insuffi- cient. The Senate proposes so to modify the provision that the President may make re- movals from office during a recess of Congress, and that with the return of the Senate he shall not be required to give his reasons for re- movals made, but only to report them; where- upon, ifthe Senate consent, the removal shall hold good, but if otherwise the party removed shall be reinstated. Our Washington despatch states that the Senate Caucus Committee last evening waited upon the President, and sub- mitted to him these modifications, and that he expressed himself satisfied with the bill in its proposed form. Here are some important concessions to the President; but the reservation of the power of the Senate overgremovals from office is still the main question. The copperhead organ of the Manhattan close political corporation enters a just complaint against the shabby device of only suspending this office-holders’ law for the benefit of a republican President, in order that it may come into full play again in the event of the election of a democratic President. But this cop- perhead organ, through its party spec- tacles, can see nothing in General Grant's desire to have the law removed as an obstruc- tion in his way except a purpose to gain the power so to manipulate the republican party in his appoighmep’* 49 to seoure another term in the White House, Thus we are told that “General Grant wants a second term; he knows he can be re-elected only by getting the republican nomination, and the power of re- moval during the last year or two of his pres- ent term is his chief reliance for packing and controlling the Republican Convention.” This is a copperhead view of General Grant's policy. It covers, too, the old demo- cratic game which smashed the party into flinders under poor Pierce and Buchanan; and yet our coppethead Bourbons will learn noth- ing. They are firm in the fallacy that the President with the spoils at his command can buy another term as President, and that herein lie all the objections of General Grant to this Tenure of Office law. We presume, however, that the copperhead oracle which has been flaunting these views of the Manhattan ring before the public will consent to the reported compromise as’ agreed on by the republican majority of the “Senate, because it still denies to the President a decisive voice in the matter of removals from office; so the Senate may still checkmate him if they catch him ‘‘packing the Republican Convention” of 1872, But dis- missing this absurdity in regard to General Grant, the question recurs, why is the Senate so tenacious of, this appellate jurisdiction over removals from office? There may be a few Presidential candidates among the con- script fathers who desire to retain 9 check upon General Grant as a dangerous rival, but we apprehend that the influences operating upon the radical majority in behalf of this proposed compromise have very little to do with the Presidential succession. General Grant contemplates a searching diagnosis of retrenchment and reform. He is evidently in earnest in this business. But the affiliations of the whiskey rings, the tobacco rings, the various other internal revenue rings, the Custom House rings, and the Indian treaty and railway end and bond speculating rings and their ‘mercenaries of the lobby, encompass the President on every sit This powerful coalition of Treasury leeches have their allies in office, who have, we fear, their friends in the Senate, and if so General Grant must be careful in treading on the toes of these favorites, or the Senate may check him in his mad career. Here we suspect, at all events, may be found the solution of this proposed’ compromise. Where hundreds of millions of money in lobby jobs and whiskey frauds, &c., are at stake retrenchment and re- form must not go too fast or too far, for, after all, what is the government to the powers that be without the spoils ? Of the law in controversy we still trust that General Grant will insist upon an absolute re- peal. Fresh from the people, with.the House of Representatives, he directly represents the will of the people. Only one-third of the Senate represent directly the elections of 1868. The other two-thirds, excepting reconstruction, were elected upon other issues. The House therefore should not yield to the Senate upon this office-holders’ law, but hold fast to the ultimatum of the administration. Tue Irish Cuurca Br.—The debate in the House of Commons on the Irish Church bill concluded with a speech by Mr. Glad- stone, and the division on a motion that the bill should be read a second time resulted in a triumphant majority of one hundred and eighteen for the liberal government.. This result is an earnest of the final triumph of the measure. “Tis Sweet to Hear tak Waton Doa’s Honest Barx.”—Ben Butler is like one of those. useful, if not comely, dogs. so much prized by the Western hunter and known as a “bear dog.” He will-lay hold of anybody or anything, in season or out of season, badger or grizzly, Indian or skunk. Butler's latest foray in the underbrush of Congressional thickets unearthed Schenck, of Ohio, who came out snarling, but very reluctant to do battle. ‘Thrice is he armed whose cause is just,” and the taunting audacity of the member from Essex was in strong contrast to the surly reluctance of the usually belligerent Schenck. Have it out at once, gentlemen, and you will certainly amuse if you do not benefit the country. Let us know exactly what relation the honorable chairman of the Ways and Means Committee is to Sam Pike, the great distiller, and how it is that only the clauses of important bills which are most {intended to enrich the revenue are accidentally omitted in the enrolment. Not that we imagine a satisfactory explanation from the honorable gentleman from Ohio would at all squelch the inquisitive and irreverent Butler. He would be sure to break out in afresh place, and one of these days he'll find some- thing. Tor Kivo’s Ji ‘8 JesrEr.—In the good old times of the king’s jester he was a fellow of some importance ; for frequently with a timely joke he brought laughter from the fellows of a royal council board ready for a row. So it appears the Senate caucus of Monday last was turned from discord to harmony among its fellows by the Senator from Oregon rising in his place and protesting that he was ‘not a fellow, nor was he to be called a fellow by any man. This set the table in a roar, and the Senator from Oregon carried off the prize from all his fellows of the caucus, though not himself a fellow. Honor Were Hoxor Dre.—We have beheld with a good deal of interest the efforts which Senator Stockton is making in Congress to prevent the telegraph monopolists from fastening their chains upon the country. In the matter of the landing of the French cable, his exertions to have the shore ofthe United States left open to that enterprise, and otters of asimilar character, merit the approbatior of the entire community, and more particularly of the commercial portion. We need anotler cable to Europe, and must have it, and ve trust Senator Stockton will not pause in his landable exertions until success has crowmd them with full fruition. Free Sonoors.—We believe in free schods to the most liberal extent; but we sympathize with those who object to certain studies in ow schools as not the most useful. Every ote does not want Latin and Greek. But this is nothing against those languages, or in favor driving them from our free schools, Leave them for those who want them, and extend the plan to take in the more strictly practicsl studies, Teach architecture and the builder's art, surveying, engineering and #0 on. Givs Dublio Lastructiop in all thé mechanic arts, The Whiskey Ring as a National Legis lature. By turns we find every man in the United States Senate who is at all noteworthy for ability or breadth of view on national questions “yuled out,” as the phraseis. Seven men, the country remembers, were in a minority on the great question of impeachment, and, though they were men of probity and sound judgment, they were bitterly assailed for venturing to differ with the power that waa in the majority. On the question now up we see a repetition of the disgraceful fact. The, debate on the Tenure of Office law has shown that some of the strongest men in the Senate are in favor of repeal. Here are Morton and Sherman, two men with more force in them than an ave- rage twenty of their ‘‘fellows” (not counting Corbett, who is not a fellow), boldly advocat- ing the repeal, ‘and behold there is a desire to send them to the same limbo to which it was proposed to send Feasenden and Grimes. Now, what is that power in the Senate that is offended and is strong enough to threaten vengeance when it cannot control the voice of the real intellectual leaders in that body? Is it the republican party? What would there be left of’ the republican party if it were put on one side, and gn the other were put all the men Who opposed impeachment and those who are now for the repeal of the Civil Tenure bill? No, it is not party; it is the whiskey ring. Morton is right in saying that the caucus of Monday night was an “‘attempt to coerce by party machinery ;” but it is the whiskey ring that puts the machinery in motion, If you fancy such a creature as Conkling leading the drill that rules out Morton and Sherman on any ground of principle or statesmanship yon will have before you a very ridiculous image; but if you fancy him doing the same.thing in the interests of the whiskey ring the thing appears at once much more res- sonable ; for, viewing oa from the Pome ofthe ring, Principles Sen; Tha Conkting ete fre of e, pend body. Plunder being the = and votes, not arguments, the means, the fellow who can say aye when the question is called may be the peer of the best intellect of the earth. Nay, the little man is the greater in these cases ; for exactly as man has less intellectual scope he is firmer in the faith that to “‘put money in your purse” is the whole end and aim of life. Here, then, is food for thought, in the fact that the whiskey ring, or ‘the ring pure and simple as an institution, whatever be the basis of plunder, is assuming to itself the govern- ment of this country.. People suppose that they, divided on points of principle, send Senators and Representatives to uphold their respective views in the law; but it is not so. The simple truth is that when the people suppose they clect a Senator the whiskey ring designate an agent; and this agent, supposititiously a Senator, goes to Washington to do the bidding, not of the people, but of the ring. Having gone thus far in this career, whirling on in it as weare hour by hour, where will we stop? We are on a broad gauge of corruption here with our municipal rings and our Erie rings, and con- templative people wonder what the result may be; but this is little to the proportions corrup- tion assumes on a national scale. With the ring principle taking the place of everything else in the government, with our vast ma- chinery completely in the hands of men who sink all differences of principle in their agree- ment to secure the plunder, what must be the fate of our cherished unity and freedom? Tne Srrvation Iv Mex100.—By special cor- respondence from Mexico, dated in Monterey on the 28th of February, we are informed that the entire country was wrapt in a flame of revolutionary agitation. The people were dis- gusted with and sick of te Cabinet plunders of the Juarez party, the members of the gov- ernment and President looking merely to the “spoils,” and caring little for the general interest. Escobedo was doing the work of extermination in Tamaulipas, and most of the other States were considerably disturbed. General Negrete had defeated a portion of the government troops, and it was considered that others of them would join his. standard. Conductas were being plundered at all points, Advices from Texas throw out the conjecture that United States troops would soon invade Mexico and leave it open to inference that the “beginning of the end” was not far distant, ANNEXATION in Haytt. —Admiral Hoff, of our home squadron, reports to the government that General Domingue, the rebel chief in the south of Hayti, asked for the intervention of the commander of the United States steamer Yantic when Salnave was threatening to bom- bard Aux Cayes, on the ground that he had written to Mr. Seward proposing to annex his end of the island to the United States, Now that Salnave has been defeated we sup- pose new efforts will be made to push the matter in Congress ; for every temporary chief in the West Indies begins to believe that he can do better under American rule than in any other way. Not a Frttow.—When Senator Conkling asked Morton, of Indiana, in the Senatorial caucus the other day, why he did not bring in his fellows and tell them what to do, Senator Corbett, of Oregon, bounced to his feet and wished it un- derstood that he was not a fellow. “The Senator forgets,” said the facetious Nye, “that it’s a high honor to be a college fellow.” But the Senator from Oregon could see no honor in being a fellow any how. As for the F, R.S., clearly, as Artemus Ward would have put it, “he ain't one of them fellers.” Toe Voror or tHe TurtLe is Hearp iv tne Lanp.—De Bergh invokes the machinery of justice to prevent the boring of the flippers of those edible reptiles that ald@men are sup- posed to love; and one of his assistants makes the same appeal to prevent the boring of bears’ noses, What shall prevent the boring of the public by De Bergh and his assistants? PRroressional MANwens.—Some days ago a city physician exposed some peccadilloes of the men about the Coroners’ office, and the replies made are from two of the Coroners’ doctors. One wanted to cowhide the exposing physician, but did not ; and the other consoles himself with the reflection that the name of the adversary of Coroner's ways is not in the “register of respectable physicians.” What is the “register of respectable physicians?” Something they keep at the Coroners’ office? j past It fs manifest that a new era has dawned for the American stage, We are already far re- moved from the Puritanical days when repres- sive enactments against ‘playgoing” were passed and enforced in almost every State. Even the pulpit has well nigh ceased to anath- ematize actors and actresses, although occa- sionally we still hear of such an outburst of holy wrath against the theatre as was indulged in a few Sundays since by a Poughkeepsie par- son. But while a few country preachers rival the Rev. Mr. Smyth in furious invectives upon the nudities and other enormities of the Black Crook order, without, perhaps, having 80 con- scientiofsly made a personal study of them, more liberal divines, like the Rev. Dr. Bel- lows, recognize the capabilities of the stage as a school of morals and as a source of widely extended genial influences. Such divines ac- cept Talfourd’s assertion: —‘‘It is only in the theatre that any image of the real grandeur of humanity, any picture of generous heroism and noble self-sacrifice is poured on the imagina- tions and sent warm into the hearts of the vast body of the people. * * * There do the low- est and most ignorant catch their only glimpse of that poetic radiance which sheds its glory around our being. While they gaze they forget the petty concerns of their own individual lot, and recognize and rejoice in their kindred with a nature capable of high emprise, of meek suffering and of defiance to the powers of agony and the grave. * * * Surely, the art which makes the heart of the child leap with strange joy and enables the old man to fancy himself again a child is worthy of no mean place among the arts that refine our manners by exalting our conceptions.” Nor is the happy effect to be under-estimated which is produced by the theatre merely by affording evenings of healthy relaxation and innocent merriment to a community like our own, feyer- ighly ovérworked during thé day. - In fad, Poughkeepsie parson himself could not honestly repeat against the modern stage all the male- dictions which the garly Christians consistently and reasonably hurled at the obscenities and abominations of Paganism as exhibited on the stage in their times. Notwithstanding all its blemishes and de- fects, of European origin, the American stage has at length become an institution, New York can now boast of having some of the largest and finest theatres in the world, and plans have already been formed for the erection of others still larger and finer. Neither London nor Paris nor any other Eyropean capital has a proportionately greater theatre-going popu- lation, The numerous experiments which it has encouraged during a few years to introduce to the American public many of the best and most distinguished representatives of the stage as it exists in foreign countries—in England, France, Ger- many, Italy, Spain, and even China and Japan—strikingly illustrate the cosmopolitan character which our great metropolis is acquiring. Not all of these experiments have been successful; and a main reason for this fact is to be found in the excessive competition ° which success of any kind is apt to provoke here. For example, the introduction of opéra bouffe into New York was a signal for the uprising of a host of rivals-and imitators of Bateman and Grau. Burlesqnes became the order of the day or of the night in all the minor theatres and negro minstrel saloons. The airs of Offenbach’s operettas were echoed on every hand organ in the streets, as well as by the orchestras of the very theatres most ambitions to promote a new Shaksperian revival. The direct result of thus overdoing the whole business was the dispersion of the two leading opéra bouffe troupes, which were sent flying about the country from Albany to Washington. These troupes, indeed, will soon come back to New York—the one to occupy, under the direction of Mme. Irma, the elegant little theatre of John Brougham, and the other to produce in the French theatre “La Vie Parisienne,” at the well merited benefit to be tendéred to Manager Grau on Easter Monday. Especially in view of the utter failure of Italian Opera during the pre- sent season, except when galvanized to a semblance of life equally brilliant and brief on the memorable ‘‘Kellogg nights,” the two opéra bougfe companies will be heartily welcomed on their return. At the same time it is due to both these troupes to say that by the splendid mise-en-scine of some of the operettas per- formed by them, by the completeness of their arrangements for filling subordinate parts and for their choruses, as well as by the superior qualifications of certain artists, either as sing- ers or as actors, or as both, they have con- tributed in no small measure toelevate the standard of public taste. Theit beneficial influence is perceptible in all the theatres in town. No manager in the new theatrical era which has now commenced will venture to put a piece on the stage in the slovenly man- ner which used to be tolerated. Every manager begins to be aware that he must spare no expense to secure the wry best and most renowned artists of the day if he would win the golden opinions which the American people lavishly bestow ‘upyn the highest merit and distinction, The marvellous success of Ristori has taught a lessm by which the managers must profit. And now that our railway kings, our Vanderbilts ind Fisks and Goulds and Drews, perceiving the rich and vast fleld of operations before them within “the golden sphere of the theatre,” tre tempted to rival European kings and emperas as patrons of the stage, and are building aid buying opera houses and theatres in Ney York, and are planning railways that shall bring audiences to them from every point of the compass and from far beyond the Rocky Mountains, we may safely predict a new era for the American stage. The Nilssons and the Pattis and all the other celebrities of the opera and the theatre will hastea to accept the invitations which will be extended to them, and New York will become in less than twen- ty-five yoars the centre of the dramatic as well as of the commer Sonoor DisorPrine.: thing against the Free Academy is the cial inequality. Poor men’s sons are ruled ott by their pride, because there are so many rich men’s sons who wear broadcloth and gold watches, It would not be unrepublican in spirit, and would have a Spartan flavor, if the school discipline forbade gold watches and required a certain uniform dress that might bo within the reach of all, Ins and the Outs. We published yesterday a communication from “An ex-School Commissioner” in rela- tion to the affairs of the Board of Education and the objects of the proposed change in its organization through the bill now before the Legislature ; and the writer took strong ground therein in favor of the proposed new law, and, of course, dealt severely with the present Com- missioners. Now, the fact of the matter is that the subject has some merits in it; but the public will be deluded if they look upon the ez- post as anything else than a contest between two factions of Tammany for the control—not of education, but of the moneys which are con- trolled by the Board. -The disbursements and funds of the Board amount now annually to about three million dollars, and are well worthy of the attention of political cormorants, whereas ten years ago they were not. So the present dispute has arisen between the ‘‘ins” and “‘outs”—the former wing being marshalled by Thomas Boesé, the Clerk of the Board, and the latter*by George W. McLean, of the Street Commissioner's office. The introduction of the bill by a republican member was effected 80 as to take away the sting of an appearance of strife in the democratic ranks. The question therefore arises, will th people be benefited by the contemplated reorganization? Public education, it would seem, could be as honestly and prudently looked after by one set of democratic man- agers as by another, particularly when both classes of aspirants emanate from the samo common fraternity. If the present Board is guilty of extravagance or fraud,*by all means let us have a change; but it could scarcely be worth while delegating their powers to another body of men who would be ag bad as their predecessors, “An ex- School Commis- signer” says that as to the provision of the bill for the filling by appointment of the places of the present incumbents, it is the design to select men of the following character:— John T, Agnew, Robert B. Roosevelt, Henry Hilton, Richard L. Larremore, Peter Cooper, Isaac H. Bailey, Thomas Murphy, Augustus Sche| james L. Lewis, Isaac Sherman, Timothy and William H. Neilson. If such men as these were appointed they would doubtless be a eptable the commu- nity, and under theit ministration of educa- tional affairs no one would expect to have occasion - for complaints of inefficiency or excessive expenditures, And if they © do succeed the present Commissioners, let the law be so framed that the Board will not again fall into the hands of politicians; for there are thousands of men who do not ldentify themselves with any clique who are the superiors of those who do, and who would be willing to devote at least some of their abil- ity to so vital a subject as public education. “Tt’s an ill wind that blows no good,” and at least one good result may follow front the pro- sent feud in regard to the Board, as in fost instances ‘‘when thieves fall out honest men get their due.” The writer of the communica- tion referred to evidently understands some- thing of the subject, and may be the means of enlightening the people on the question of how their system of public education is conducted and by whom. The agitation of the question can do no harm, and the perturbation of the puddle may bring a good many impurities to the surface. In any event, let us have so im- portant a branch of the public welfare as edu- cation administered to the best interests of the community, even if the “‘rings” do clash and shatter each other. Our Lighthouse System. It is a lamentable fact that the United States, although far ahead of the rest of the world in railways, telegraphs, printing presses, sewing machines and a thousand and one appliances of modern civilization, should be almost as far in the rear in reference to its lighthouse system. One of the most urgent demands of the reform which we have often advocated in this system is the substitution of the electrical light for the oil lamps which so dimly illuminate our extended and dangerous coast. The Fresnel lenses and reflectora were indeed welcomed as a vast !m- provement when first introduced, but their ineffectual fires pale utterly before the splendid electrical light which is visible miles and miles away, even during a fog, and which has been so successfully tested on the French steamer the Ville de Paris. This electrical light should at once be put in use in every lighthouse along our coast, and particularly in the harbor of New York. Shippers and in- surance companies are alike interested in the speedy adoption of the new and marvellous light produced by electricity. It would be well if the impulse which Admiral Porter has already given to activity in the Navy Depart- ment were also to quicken activity in that branch of the Treasury Department to which the lighthouses directly belong. The change which we recommend would then be promptly made. Axotaer Goxe.—The mate of the James Foster, Jr., has also died of the ship fever. From cases like this of the mate and the captain of this ship our pious fathers argued providential interference. If the captains of ships see in it that they may not with impunity violate natural laws the teaching will be sufficient, Tue Tencee or Orrick Act.—The radical ship, which was stranded by the election of Grant, is rapidly going to pieces. The most dangerous and destructive rock, as we long ago warned the ill-fated vossel, is the Tenure of Office act. The radicals are in a sore strait. They cannot go ahead, and it is not probable that Grant will allow them to back out by any mancuvre of suspension, Already the rats are leaving the doomed craft, as may be seen in the withdrawal of Senators Morton, Grimes and Sprague from the caucus and their re- fusal to be bound by its action, Grant has now an admirable opportunity to settle the question as to whether he is President or only an appointment clerk to the Senate. If he re- mains true to his record, firm, consistent and just to his prerogatives and the rights of the people he will win the day. But let us have no four years’ suspension of the obnoxious enactment, Lither the law is a good one or it isa bad one. Ifit is a good one it is just as good for General Grant as any President to come. If itis ® bad one, now that the neces- sity which provoked its enactment has passed, away, let it be repealed,