The New York Herald Newspaper, April 24, 1870, Page 8

NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ns STREET. JAMES “GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR, — Votume XXXv. AMUSEMENTS To-noMDW EVENING. BOWERY THEATRE. Bowery. Vagiery—New YORK 1N I 'H'S THEATRE, 334 at., between Sth ana 6th avs.— 4 Wivow Hurr—Toopirs, TEEATRE POMIQUE, 8H Bro 844 Broaaway.—Couto Vocat- WALLACE, THEATRE, Broadway and U8ith atreet.— ‘Tas BELLE's STRATAGEM. ACADEMY OF MUSIC, 14th street,—ITALIAN OPPBA— Matinee ab 3-Tu Magio'Fuure, ys OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broaaway.—-New Vansion OF Macpzra. a8 ForEst or BoNDY-— a AVENUE THEATRE, Twenty-fourth st.—F200- GRAND OPERA HOUSE. corner of Eighth avenue and ‘24 —Tae TweLvE Teurrations. PP Aa MUSEUM AND MENAGERIE, Broadway, cor- ‘Thirtieth st,—Matines daily. Performaiice every evening. NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—Pirrin ; on, THE KING OF THE GOLD MINES. FRENCH THEATRE, 1 or Lrons, THE TAMMANY, Fouriecnth sireet.GRanp VARIETY ENTERTAINMENT. MRE, F.B. CONWAY'S PARK THEATRE, Brookiya.— Baer Lrnne. TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, 201 Bowery.—Comto VOosLism, NEGRO MINSTRELBY, £0. BRYANT'S OPERA HOUSE, 1 Tammany Building, Mth SL BRYANT'S MINSTRELS. SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 385 Broaiway.—Erato- PIAN MIN@TRELSRY, £0. Pe ad & LEON'S MINSTRELS, 720 Broadway.—Frow and 6th av.—Tas Lapy APOLLO HALL, corner 28th atreet and Broadway, — ‘tus Naw piseasicom ci _ gHOOLEY'S OPERA HOUSE, Brooklya.—Minsrezis— GoreRNaruzaL ILLusions—HaMiet. * HIPPOTHEATRON, Fourteenth street -Provesson Ris- LaEy's ComuINATION. MEW YORK MU SEUM OF ANATOMY, 615 Brondway.— Boros AND Ai QUADRUPLE ‘SHEET. asia New York, aE April dia 1870, CONTENTS OF TO-DAY’S HERALD. Pace. J—Advertisements. Advertisements. 3—Advortisements. 4—Aadvertisements. G—Washington: Honse Discussion of the Reven ue Tax Bill; the Income Tax to be Retained: a Substitute for the Funding Bill to be Reported— The State Capital: Passage of the Brooklyn Water Board and the Negro Voters Bills; the Registry Law of the State, Except for the Metropolis, Repealed—A Bogus Mourner— Staten Island Politics—No Clue to the Missing Boy Bennett—vondition of Judge Field, of New Jersey. @=The Convict of the Period : Thrilling Disclosures by a Desperado Lately Escaped from Sing Sing Prison; A Dark Career of Crime—Personal Intelligence—The Broadway “Tiger” Hunt— Staten Island: A Bird’s Eye View and Some- thing More of the “Gem of the Bay’—Brook- lyn City News—The Late Tragedy in Balti- more: Farther Particulars of the Butchery— Arrival of the Missing Steamship Cleopatra in Hampton Roads—Safety of the Steamship Venezuela—Alleged Cruelty at Sea—Naval In- telligence—The Customs Cartage Bureau. ‘7—Paris Fashions: The First Fine Sunday of the Season; The Prevailing Colors in Silks and Satins—The New Dominion Troubles: More About the Fentan Scare in Canada—The Sil- ver Nuisance in Canada—Religious Inteill- wence—Mormonism: The System In Its Varions Phases—Aged Elopers. S—Editoriais: Leading Article on France; the Ple- biscite and the Imperia: Prociamation—Big Six in the First Ward—rhe Shrievaliy—Vir- ginia Republican Convention—Amusement Announcements. @—Telegraphic News from Ali Parts of the World: Napoleon in Council Discussing tne Ple- Discitum; Bonaparte’s Position Towards the Throne, the Dynasty , and the Peopie; French Polittcal Elements, the “Reds,” the Reformers, the Trades and we Orleanists; Papal Infallibiiny with Batons and Bayonets trom Rome to Constan- tinople; The Mormons Preparing for War— New York City News—Musical and Drama- Yic—Public Schools Reunion—Lecture on the Chinese Question—A Voice for Jersey State Prison—Business Notices. 20—Up the Tigris: Babylonia and Mesopotamia Sketched at the Confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates; Steam Travel and Proposed French Communication Between Bussorab and Algeria; the Garden of Eden as a Tele- graphic Station and Ezra’s Tomb—The Water- ing Places: Preparation: Newport for tne Coming Sscason—Art Notes—News from Hayti—A Coroner Cornered—Parsuit of a Hus- band Under DifMficulties—Death from Trichina, 4S1—Livery Stables: The Horse Hotels of New York, Who Keeps Them, How They Are Kept and Where They Are Located—Old World Items— Financial and Commerctal Reports—Real Estate Transfers—Western Retribution—Mar- Tiages and Deaths, 12—st. George of England: The Red Cross Knights in Council at Delmonico’s—Great Freshet in the Mississippi River—The Latest Newark Elopement—Sad Drowning Accident—Cleonlan Society —Shipping Intelligence — Advertise- ments, 13—The Old Tontine Society: A Grand Old Knick- erbocker Institution Passing Away; Eight Lives Left Out of Two Hundred and Three; Another Death Dissolves the Fraternity— Chess Matters— Advertisements. 14—Advertisements. 15—Advertisements. 16—Advertisements. A QuzsTION FOR Conazzss. Af the Arcade sbomination loosens the foundations of the New York Post Office, on City Hall Park, what becomes of the Congressional appropria- tions to construct the building ? Tae Nosiest Proggor or tHE Day—That to construct substantial stone docks and piers on the water fronts of this city. The work should be commenced at once and prosecuted with the utmost vigor w until completed. Pretty Goop FoR ~ Pritapenpnra—The increase of her city debt from $16,781,470 in 1856 to $42,401,933 in 1870. This is a little more than half the debt of the city of New York, but it is very good for Philadelphia, so -far as getting into debt is an evidence of pros- perity. ae Livery Times 1N Yoxkers—In the demo- cratic primary elections for the coming Ro- chester State Convention. ‘There are two factions—a Tammany and an anti-Tammany faction—and they are designated by the Yonkers Herald as the “young democracy” and the “muttonhead democracy.” ‘The same paper gives the motto of the ‘‘young democracy” as “Heads I win; tails you lose,” and of the muttonbeads” as ‘Sic transit gloria mundi,” in view of the defeats of said ‘‘muttonheads” fm these primary elections. With such begin- mings we may expect rare sport among “the ‘anterrified” all over the State in the interval fo Beptember.. NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 1870.—QUADRUPLE SHEET, France=Tue Plebiscite and the Imperial Proclamation, In another place in this day's Herawy will be found copious cable despatches, special and from other sources, relative to the re~ form movement in France, and particu- larly to the plebiscite. Tho day fixed for the voting is the 8th of May. The plebiscite runs as follows :—‘‘The people approve the liberal reforms which have been effected in the con~ stitution since 1860 by the Emperor, with the concurrence of the great legislative bodies of the State, and ratify the Senatus Consultum of April 20, 1870.” To this the people are to answer ‘‘Yes” or ‘‘No” on paper. The legal electors of the army and navy are to vote at their respective headquarters, Tho ballot oxes ure to be opened at six o'clock in the morning and are to remain open until six o'clock in the evening. Tho voting papers will be examined in the first instance in each department and by a trio of counsellors appointed by the prefect. The vote will be verified on the 10th and officially proclaimed on the 12th of May. The returns from the departments will be finally canvassed by the Corps Légis- latif. The decree, which contains numerous other items of minor importance, is signed by all the Ministers, The Senatus Consultum forms part of the document, as our readers will see by referring to our telegraphic columns. It appears that the legitimists have made up their minds to vote in the negative. ‘The re- publicans, who will either vote ‘‘No” or return their papers blank or refrain from voting alto- gether, have resolved to hoist their own ban- ners on the occasion, The International Work- ingmen’s Association have decided not to vote; and, to add to the gravity of the situa- tion, a general strike had been agreed upon. Between now and the 8th of May there will not certainly be any, lack of excite- ment in France. The Emperor's policy is no longer a mystery. It is clearly and fully stated. All the world now knows what he means; how much he _ intends to part with and how much he intends toretain. The French people cannot pretend to be in doubt as to what is meant in this par- ticular instance by “Yes” and ‘‘No.” It is for Frenchmen themselves to decide how they will act in the premises. All the world looks anxiously on; but Fronchmett are directly in- terested. The responsibilities and the issues are undoubtedly theirs, How they will act is @ question which the future alone can satisfac- torily answer. How they ought to act iso question which politicians and publicists of different stripe are differently answoring. Most men who have faith in parliamentary government condemn the plebiscite as wrong in principle and as theoretically unnecessary. The object of a Parliament, they say, is to give just expression to the popular will through chosen aud trusted representatives. Where universalguffrage prevails, as in France, every general petion is practically a plediscitum, and the 4jypular branch of the Legislature is the result. A select body of men, chosen by the nation, having learning, leisure, wisdom, are surely better qualified to deal with grave constitutional questions than the nation itself, especially when popular passions are let loose, and unreason rather than reasou pro- vails. Parliamentarians, therefore, very natu- rally come to the conclusion that the Emperor, in refusing to deal with the people’s repre- sentatives d in dealing with the people themself is, as one has well put it, appeal- ing from¥PPhilip sober to Philip drunk. Un- questionably there is much sound sense in this reasoning. The manner in which this great constitutional question is put before the peopte partakes, in the estimation of such per- sons, very much of the character of a farce. “Yes” or “No” is all the voter can say. There is no room for suggestion, no possi- bility for compromise, no opportunity for reso- lution. Let us imagine any of our recent amendments to the constitution submitted to us in this form and we shall comprehend somewhat the position and feelings of millions of the people of France. Looking at the plebiscitum from a parliamentary stand- point, or rather from the standpoint of a free and self-governing people, the crowning objection to the Emperor's policy really is, that while he seems to grant further liberties he is really making himself more and more the centre of all power and the source of all reform. As he defies the people’s House to-day so may he defy it at any future time when his interests seem to render it necessary. He asks France to sanction re- form, and France, in doing so, repeats the vote of 1852 and proclaims him master. It is possible, however, that this mode of testing the Emperor’s policy is too severe. The standard is, perhaps, too high. The situa- tion of France is peculiar. The absolutely correct is not always the politically expedient. In politics the straight course is not always the wisest. If we take into consideration all the necessities of the Emperor's position—his own love of power and fame, his desire to secure his son’s succession and to establish his dynasty, the peculiar and dangerous ele- ments with which he has to work, his im- mense success—we shall, perhaps, find good reason to judge him merci- fully and to praise rather than to blame. What man who had won power as the Emperor has won it, who has been encouraged to keep it as he has been en- couraged, would rashly fling it from him? If we have aright to judge the conduct of the present ruler of France by the highest rules of morality, we are not less called upon to regard him as a skilful player ina great game. Look- ing at him in the latter character, there are few who will be unwilling to give him praise. He has played long, and he has played skil- fully throughout. He never did play more skilfully and with more certain promise of success than now. And as his personal suc- cess has not been to the disadvantage of France—nor, indeed, to the world at large— we ought not to refuse to do honor to great- If the Emperor means well, if he really does intend to go on widening the area of liberty, and if there be no choice between such liberty as he offers and revolution, with all its horrors, surely Frenchmen ought to vote “Yes” on the 8th of May, If they do not it willbe a dark day for France and for Eu- rope. The situation in France is all the more critical because of the Emperor's numerous opportunities to involve Burope in wide, wild and devastating war, ness, Tho Discrepancies of Roligious Toxchings. After six days spent in making money, indulging in worldly amusements and frivoli- ties and in the exercise of very little charity, humanity this morning rise from bed to pre- pare for Sabbath devotions, As in the ordi- nary affairs of life, our people pray with much of that nonchalance which has struck the foreigner as a prominent feature in American character. We wax rich, grow poor, indulge in pleasure and dissipation with a don't-care- if-I-do feeling that on reflection seems something astonishing. {n like manner we worship God as if we are not quite certain in our own minds whether we are performing praiseworthy duty or merely yielding to an ancient superstition, This apparent irreligion is general ; it is not confined to any particular denomination or sect. The evil—for itis an evil—is not inseparable from our political form of government, and yet it is partly due to our republican institutions. For the past eighty years we have been endeavoring to make reli- gion “republican in form,” forgetting that the government of God is a despotism. If we have not succeeded it has been because Chris- tianity is too powerful to yield to human efforts; at the same time it is undeniable that we have diyested religion of much of its influ- ence and, we were about to write, divinity. Nor is this deplorable truth to be wondered at. The facility with which any man or woman can ascend a pul- pit and preach the Gospel according to his ideas is sufficient to weaken faith, Men who know little or nothing about the funda- mental principles of Christianity instil into the minds of easily convinced persons such pecu- liar theological notions that if the various opinions held by the several denominations were all printed side by side they would exhibit the most ludicrous contradictions. In the churches to-day there will be the usnal services. If variety is the spice of life in ordinary matters it is also the spice of reli- gion. We doubt if any two sermons gn the same subject, which may be delivered to-day, will be found to take the same yiew on the most vital questions concerning our souls, unless, as is often the case, the ideas are borrowed from some of the old thinkers, Of course, this opposition of views gives the sinner a change to make ‘a “selection ; but when our salvation is at stake it is somewhat uhcom- fortable not to feel certain whether we have chosen the right or the wrong path. What we need is a universal church—oue that in all fundamental principles shall be catholic. In minor details differences of opinion are per- missible, but on the great question of which is the right path to heaven we should be united. We would suggest to our city preachers the policy of inaugurating measures which will end the present deplorable discrepancies, which confuse the sinner and alarm the saint, Nows from BSagdad~Our Special Corres pondence from the Banks of the Tigris, Our special correspondence from Asiatic Turkey, dated at Bagdad on the 23d of Feb- ruary, as it appears in our columns to-day, will attract very general attention. Its con- tents will carry the mind of the American democracy, old and young, but of the ‘“‘young democracy,” perhaps, more particularly, away from the remembrances of present election triumphs and municipal defeats, back to the period of the Saracen Caliphate, to the “gate of the Talisman” and the tomb of Zo- beide, and thus, perhaps, cause the more active members and those who are more keenly dis- appointed to reflect on the instability of party greatness and how the ‘“‘men of the time” loom up, flit across a temporary stage and disappear from earth, Our writer, standing amid one hundred~mosques and minarets, sketches Babylonia and Mesopotamia, as they are to be seen to-day, at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The river and rural scenes are painted with much spirit, the hoary traditions of the East appearing as they have just commenced to dissipate under the influence of the modern agencies of steam and electricity. French energy and capital proposed to open a regular communi- cation between Bussorah and Algeria by steam, Of the people and their prospects and present hopes it is enough to repeat the infor- mation given by our special writer, to the effect that in Mesopotamia the Garden of Eden is used as a telegraph station and the City of the Caliphs made a starting point for steam- ships. Itis the East and the eternal prin- ciple—the light from the Orient by means of American special letters and the great print- ing presses of New Y one A Caamriox IN THE ‘Rieut PLace—The Hon. James Irving, when he stood up on the floor of the ffouse and denounced, almost single-handed, the Arcade Railway bill. The gentlemanly mechanic, Bergen, spoke a8 au expert in favor of the bill; but Mr. Irving took him to task very quickly, reminding him that it was one thing to be a successful me- chanic, but quite another thing to be able to demolish, root up and destroy our beautiful highway. Irving's constituents have an interest in Broadway, and they are lucky to have a representative with backbone enough to face nearly the whole Assembly upon a measure which threatens to turn it into a wilderness. Mr. Irving’s action presented a strong contrast to that of other New York delega tes in the Honse. Disraxur’s Nover.—‘‘Lothair,” by B, Disra- eli, is the literary sensation of the hour in London, One of the critical anchorites of the great capital saya :—“If Mr. Disraeli had announced that on Monday, the 2d of May, he would sing at the opera, dance on the tight rope at the Crystal Palace, or preach a ser- mon at Mr. Spurgeon’s tabernacle, popular surprise and curiosity would not be more strongly roused than they have been by the advertisement that on that day will be pub- lished ‘Lothair."" Some advance sheets of this novel have been seen on this side the Atlantic, and they indicate that it treats that particular rauge of topics upon which people would have the greatest curiosity to hear the literary Minister—‘“‘the social and political questions of the day.” The book will be pub- lished here by the Appletons. Tux Worst Prosgor oF tHe Day—To burrow under the grand thoroughfare of Man- hattan Island in order that unscrupulous job- bers and greedy millionnaires may construct the 1 Arcade abomination, Congress—The House Yesterday~Roview of the Week. The proceedings in the House yesterday were of a more interesting character than usual of Saturdays, when it has, heretofore, boen the custom to bore the few members present with speechmaking. The day has served as a sort of vent for the accumulated gas of the week; but yesterday a large por- tion of the time was more pleasantly and profitably occupied in discussing the rights of absentees. The order to the Sergeant-at- Arms for the arrest of the members absent without leave was reiterated. Butler, who had a leave of absence, but had gone away a few hours before his leave commenced, and who is now probably in Massachusetts with his family, ready to engage in the important law business that called him away, was among the members ordered to be brought back, but on 9 motion of Mr. Dawes he was allowed to remain away on paying his ten dollars fine. John Morrissey is not as yet recalled. He has an indefinite leave on the plea of illness, and is probably at present in this city too weak and languishing to do more than attend to his ordinary Broadway business or make up stakes with Horace Greeley. A resolution was adopted yesterday, however, to recall all indefuite leaves, and it is probable that John, notwithstanding his indisposition, will be compelled to return to his arduous Congressional duties, including the congenial requirements of the Revolutionary Pension Committee. The income tax came up in the House during the day, and the members showed a disposition to fight shy of the Senate proposition, as it is expected that the House committee will pro- poze a measure of their own that will be more satisfactory. The week's work of Congress closes with but a slim clearing away of the unfinished business that is now so thickly piled on the Speaker's and Vice President's tables, There has been no bill of decided importance dis- posed of. The Georgia bill, which passed the Senate, requires further action in the House, on account of the amendments made by the Senate. The new apportionment bill, which passed without debate in the House, has yet to receive the concurrence of the Senate. The Northern Pacific Raflroad which passed the Senate on Friday, has not yet been agied | men! upon in the House. The Sypher contested election case, which has been decided in the House, is merely the prelude to three or four other cases of the same sort; and the Tariff bill isa tough subject that is usually kept under discussion throughout the session, as handy to have in the House for the ventila- tion of Congressional ideas on political economy. The prosecution of business has therefore been unsatisfactory, considering how deep in arrears both houses are. The display otherwise has been eminently charac- teristic. The House has had its fill of legisla- tive burlesque and travesty, between Sypher and the Ohio Legislature and the absent mem- bers, and the Senate, which is nothing if not discursive, has even surpassed the most san- guine expectations with its Georgia ‘‘Hash” and Captain Bobadil Chandler's bombastic flight of fancy about the chamber aetride the American eagle, and enrobed, like the dying Kirby, in the American flag. Toe LeGisrarure YESTREDAY. —Both houses worked rapidly and effectually yester- day and up toa late hour last night, winding up the business of the session. In the Senate the bill to enlarge the Champlain Canal was lost. The Free Canal Funding bill, as amended by the Assembly, and a bill desig- ngting Commissioners of Emigration and a number of others of considerable importance were passed. In the Assembly the bills repealing the Registry law except in New York city; Mr. Fields’ Jury bill, amending the election law to suit colored voters; the An- nual Tax bill; relative to the Brooklyn Water and Sewer Commission, and incorporating the Brooklyn Underground Railway Company, were all passed. The Senate amendments to the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street Rail- way bill were concurred in. A Loti AnLAD oF Poxon 0 or Jupy,—In the African celebration at Louisville, Ky., the other day, of the fifteenth amendment, they had a transparency in which the ‘Train of Progress” was depicted—a locomotive labelled “The Fifteenth Amendment,” with a train of twenty-nine cars attached, representing the ratifying States, and a number of jackasses harnessed to the rear car, emblematic of the States refusing to ratify, and vainly trying to pull the train backward. A neat thing for Sambo—‘‘a palpable hit.” Foop ror tHe THovgntTFUL AT ALBANY.— Contrast the great advantages of a magnificent system of stone docks, giving to foreigners on their arrival here the first impressions of the grandeur of our city, with the contemptible device of spoliating the main artery of busi- ness by wantonly excavating the soil beneath its surface, and giving to all the stores and warelouses on its line a tuambledown appear- ance that will make New York resemble a decrepit, old, worn out European city, instead of the youngest, most vigorous and most flourishing metropolis in the whole world, Parav INraupiity is now being debated, as will be seen by our cable telegrams from Europe, outside the Vatican in Rome, in Con- stantinople and the Tyrol. The arguments are conducted by means of the batons of the police and the bayonets of the military, Bishop Strossmeyer’s sword scene is becom- ing popular. It is about time that the Coun- cil should do p somethitag. Tur Men Wao Kerr tae Brinee—Irving and Mitchell, who made such a gallant stand against the outrageous Arcade Railway bill in the Assembly on Friday. When the gold-clad cohorts of Vanderbilt were thunder- ing at the gate these two soldiers stood firm and kept the bridge, as best they could, against the enemy. fae Wenenr anne AN IMPROVEMENT ON REYNOLDS.—Cham- bers, the murderer of Mr. Voorhees, slightly betters the example of Reynolds. Reynolds gloated over the law in advance, and by that fact dared and challenged it to a test in his own person whether it could punish murder. Chambers kept silence till acquitted, and now gloats over the failure of the law with safo triumph, The Arcade Railway Hasenlity. The Arcado Railway bill proposes to legalizo the grandest piece of rascality that ever raised its head even in the Legislature of this State. It concentrates in one act roguery and rascality enough for twenty ordinary sessions, and plun- der enough to plate with gold all the men that might vote in its favor during all those years. It may give a hint even how pitifully your grand railway jobber uses his law-making tools. The men who vote for these laws in the Legislature, and the men who want the law made bear about the same comparative relation to one another as the affluent shop- keeper to the poor seamstress in the song of the shirt, They give five, ten, perhaps twenty thousand dollars. for a vote, and the vote gives to them a law with six hundred million dollars in it. How contemptible is the proportion for the poor rogue who betrays the trust of his constituents and perjures himself by the direct sale of what he has sworn to use only with conscientious regard to the welfare of the whole people! This great scheme to plough up Broadway, to excavate and tumble down the greatest retail trade of the city, and to destroy the most extensive business that is anywhere in the world concentrated on a single street, has come toa sudden standstill in the Assembly. Only one Senator from the city, it will be re- maembered, voted in its favor in the other house, That one Senator was Mr. Genet. Mr. Genet is the party known as ‘‘the young democracy.” All the votes of that party, therefore, were cast in its favor in the Senate, and that isa party that is not very strong in the House. The fact, therefore, that the bill to send a great steam plough down Broadway was a pet measure of the young democracy did not give it a favorable start in the As- sembly, and the other fact, that a wholesome and extensive expression of popular indigna- tion made itself heard, was, fortunately, not without its effect. The bill, therefore, was not rushed through, and we are at a period in wok session when delay itself has promise for If, therefore, the bill is ia taken gut a “Sure HF knot Pas ahd embers sis fight its further progress with every technicality of legislation that secures delay. Some pretty good sense has been spoken in the Assembly on the subject of this bill. One 2} member iq: “D pie to gay further that ¥ can appreciate atid do appreciate that a proper regard should be had for the citizens we re- present, and there is nothing that gives more gratification than to see representatives acting the part of the watchdog around the gates of the Treasury or around the other interests of the citizens. ButI say there are times when the watchdogs are unfaithful and when they are appeased bya bone.” Now this is ex- cellent. A member actually appreciates that “a proper” regard should be hag for the in- terest of the citizens, and knows times when the watchdogs are ‘4 a bone.” Now who would bel honest watchdog was act favor of the bill when he used these words? Who would believe, in fact, that he had the very bone referred to in his mouth at the time? Another member spoke as follows: ‘The Arcade Railroad bill is one of the most im- portant bills ever introduced into this House. Thave not read one word of it. I don’t know whether to vote for it or not, and I want to know.” Here is the whole subject in three short sentences. The member wants time to read the bill before it passes, and if the time is given we may be sure the bill will not pass. Wuat Bgoomgs or tHe H on’ Broap- yi beneath the foundations of the priacipal ‘hotels, will remind occupants that California has been transferred to Manhattan Island, and that an earth or a sand quake may be expected at any moment. What Californian will occupy quarters in a hotel on Broadway in such a crisis, unless it be in a hotel established upon such sound foundations as the Metropolitan? Woman’s Rignuts iy Massacnusetts.—The lower house of the Massachusetts Legislature, by a vote of 133 to 68, has rejected the pro- posed amendment to the State constitution enabling women to vote. Queer people, those Massachusetts Puritans! They fill the land with their women’s rights notions and women’s rights women as lecturers and preachers of the new gospel of equal rights; but in Massa- chusetts her law-makers don’t want this thing of woman suffrage, and they won't have it. They are, perhaps, afraid it might result in an increase of women’s wages by the votes of the factory girls—reason enough against woman suffrage in MasMchusetts. A Wreck oF Heol pau is one of the in- ceptions of the Arcade abomination. The building up of a new thoroughfare, which must be intended, will be like the construction of a new metropolis of the nation. Are there enough country members of the Legislature to vote for such a measure and return to their constituents with the stigma of damaging the great outlet to the whole world of their own internal commerce? Important 1¥ Tror—The report that seven more Senators have given in their adhesion to the treaty for the annexation of all that por- tion of the eplendid istand of St. Domingo known as the republic of Dominica, and the report that these additional seven Senators will secure the two-thirds vote necessary to ratify the treaty, But, in any event, we feel preity well satisfied that General Grant will carry his point in this matter, which is the acquisition of Dominica, as the beginning of a new American policy in the Gulf of Mexico. A Loop Catt on Governor HOFFMAN, — We think our citizens can rely upon the fidelity of Governor Hoffman in respecting their wishes by promptly vetoing the Arcade abom- ination if it comes before him for approval. He is too much indebted to the people of the city of New York for his continued and un- paralleled political success to slight their mani- fost desires in regard to this nefarious project. Tar Sonenck Protective TariFy Brit, from the heavy labor with which it ‘drags its slow length along,” will probably be worried to death in the House. Pennsylvania is in a dreadful way about it; but Pennsylvania is destined to discover that there may be too much even of protection. Better let well enough sloue, for fear of something worse. Fashionable Life and Dress Fashions fn Enrope, France, restless, unquiet, imaginative, yet still elegant, France; Franoe, the inventor of the guillotine and fashioner of the latest neck- tie and summer chapeau, stands forth in our columns to-day in all the glory of the “first fine Sunday” of the season, dressed for spring and in the most complete enjoyment of the hour. Our special fashions writer in the French capital furnishes a dazzling exposition of the results in the able and interesting com- munications which appear elsewhere in our columns, The Empress Eugénie stands forth in a new toilet. Napoleon is robed for a royal entertainment. The ‘‘prevailing colors” im silks and sating flash as it were before our eyes. Concert and dinner costumes sre de- scribed with degree of accuracy which will be very likely to prove a little bewildering to those who have not really studied the ton as & domestic science. We are told of new hats and of the neatest little boots and shoes—the Alpha and Omega, as it wore, of the devotees of modern style as exemplified by artistic skill. The monarchs and people were in the theatres and on the Bois, amused and smiling, glittering in gold and jewels, and whirling and dashing along in fine equipages and on horse- back, apparently happy and unthinking of the future as if Dives and Lazarus had never been spoken of, and Danton and. Robespierre and Waterloo and Saint Helena and the coup @etat and the trade strikes had never existed or been fought or executed. Our special pen and ink picture of “life,” as seen in the Bois, is touchingly excellent and eloquently natural. It will prove quite attrao- tive as affording a view of the French people as they are and as they really wish to remain— unmoved by politics and in the full exercise of the free bent of their national characteristics in the quiet family circle, and a general exer- cise and interchange of the most refining social amenities and neighborly eomplimenta, and good feeling. rady Rocklessness at Seu. The steamship Cleopatra has arrived safely, although disabled, at Fortress Monroe, having escaped the combined horrors of the sea, the neglect, apparently, of another vessel which ignored her signals of distress and a sensa- tional report of burning in one of the Bohemian journal of this city, The cay tain ead the who saw her sighals of if and fail go to her assistance, states, in pabrisncig that he thought the rockets were signals between two other steamers that had@ just passed him, but that if they had been continued three or four times he would have known them to be signals of distress and have gone to her assist- ance without reference td the other steamers, which, he says, were nearer fo her neighbor- hood than he was. We have had at least one deplorable instance lately of the énhu- manity of thus neglecting such calls for assist- ance, If the captain did not know signals of dis- tress when he saw them he should be compelled toread up on the subject, andifthe signals were at all ambiguous the present code should be revised so that they can no longer be liable to misinterpretation. It seems in this particu- lar instance that it would have been money saved to the owners of the Virgo if she had assisted the Cleopatra, as both vessels belong in large part to the same owners. We hardly know how to treat of the conduct of the captain of the Venezuela, the long disabled steamer, which has been just seven weeks coming from Liverpool, having arrived safely in this port yesterday, after beating about disabled and almost wrecked for nearly five weeks, the captain refusing any assiste ance from passing vessels, and stubbornly insisting on his ability to get his ship to port all right by himself. We cannot but com- mend the hardy bravery of him and his crew, the tireless devotion with which they stuck to their ship, and the dogged perseverance which finally brought them safe and unaided to port ; but we ought, and yet have hardly the heart, to condemn the insane foolhardiness evinced in refusing assistance, in order, probably, to save a few dollars salvage. Governor HorrmaNn expects to become President of the United States, Let him remember that his native city, the city that has elevated him to honorable positions by overwhelming votes, protests against the Arcade abomination. BIX SiX IN THE FIRST WARD. Meeting of the Tigers. A meeting of the First Ward Wiliam M. Tweed Ciub was held last evening at No. 101 Broad street, Mr. Johu Murphy in the chair. The first business of the meeting consisted in the enrolment of members, 200 of whom wére admitted co the franchise. Ne Mr. Hesson, in the absence of the regular chatr- man, wascaliea upon to preside. Mr. John Eagan, of the Fifth District First Ward General Committee, ‘was requested to make a few remarks to the club. He said it was the first time in his life he ever veu- tured to address an assembly of his fellow citizens upon an; er hees lt subject; but, knowing Mr. Tweed ffom boyhood untli the” presont © time, ae Bin satisfied that on at fen o1 mmany was on the ie way to democratic glory and ascendan a wie rulers of the First ward erred gravely Lape ied Witliam M. Tweed was obiivious of tts inte! and bent only upon securin; Lagtonrs UU ends of hig. own. On the contrary, disregarding the petty jealousies of ward cl nes snd role Td a and fising to the height of the occasion where statesmanship and political experience were needed, showed himself the true aca of the great democratic payee the nation. Mr. VINCENT, being nominated by a member of the club for the position of Assistant Alderman, in @ few neat and eloquent remarks, declined the nomt- nation on the grounds of its being premature, No further business being before the Leesa t an adjournment Was proposed and acted npon. The attendance was large, orderly and earnest. THE SHRIEVALTY, A meeting of the Seventeenth ward E. J, Shandiey Association was held last evening at Bellmer's, No. 517 Bowery. The meeting was organized by the election of Dr. J. B. Dennis as President ana John E. Coliins as Secretary. A series of resolu- tions eulogizing Justice E. J. Shandley and nomi- nating him for the office of Sheriff for the city and county of New york were unanimously adopted. Addresses in favor of the claims of the gentiemam were nade by Messrs. Collins, Seymour, Heyman, Charles Austin, Dennis Keenan and others, The oo will hold an open air meeting in a short time. ViRGINIA REPUBLICAN CONVENTION. ‘The two factions of ‘the Vi Virginia republicans met in convention on the 20th inat, for the purpose of harmonizing differences and uniting the party. A platform of principles was adoptec favoring en- TJorcement of the fourteenth and fifteenth amend- ments to the constitution; a general system of pub- Hic education under national law; universal amnesty, subject to the legislation of Congress; encourago- ment of internal improvements, but opposing mo- nopolies; a proper enforcement of the State consti- tution and support of President Grant’s administra- tion, Aregoiution was adopted declaring that tne Convention felt no confidence in Governor Waiker'a republicanism, but Gecuning to characterize his po- litical Course. The ee va on at last accounts Wis discussing the subjedt of au address to the people of Vuirgare, ii