The New York Herald Newspaper, December 29, 1870, Page 6

NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET, JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR, All business or news letter and telegraphic despatches must be addressed New York Herarp. Volume XXXV_ AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. WALLACK'S THEATRE, Broadway and Stn street.— Tur Roap ‘to Rum. LINA EDWIN'S THEATRE, 1720 Broadway.—Littie Jack SHEPPARD, GRAND OPERA HOCSBE, corner of &h ay. and 23d st.— Les Buiaanns. OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway.—Taz PANTOMIME OF Wee Wiiie WINKIE. WOOD'S MUSEUM Broadway, cotner Sch st.—-Performs ances every afternoon and evening. GLOBE THEATRE, 728 Broadway.—Vagtery ENTER VAUNMENT, £0. | Wal FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE, Twenty-fourth street.— SaBaToGa, ne paaireape ese BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.-New Your Buna- LARS—NOLODY's CHILD. * BOOTH’S THEATRE, 384 st, vetwoen th and Olé’ avs.— Riv Van WINKLE. NEW YORK STADT THEATRE, 45 Bowery.—GenMan Ovema—WiLiaM TELL. NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—Tuk SPEOTACLE OF ‘Tue BLACK CROOK. MRS. F. B. CONWAY'S PA&K THEATRE, Brooklyn.— FEBNANDE. BROOKLYN ACADEMY Duomrssr. TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, 21 Bowery.—Va- BIv1Y ENTERTAINMENT. OF MUSIC.—La GRANDE THEATRE COMIQUE, 514 Broadway.—Comi6 Vooa.- 18M, NEGRO AO78, &0.—JOLLY SANTA CLAUS, SAN FRANCISCO MINSTREL HALL, 585 Broadway.— NeGxo MINSTEELSY, FAROgS, BUELESQUES, &0, BRYANT'S NEW OPERA HOUSE, 904 st., bettwéen 6th and 7th ays.—Nzano Minsreecsy, Eocentaioirizs, £0. APOLLO HALL. corner 28th street and Broadway.— Du CouRy's DIORAMA OF IRELAND. BROOKLYN OPERA HOU Warre’s Minsteeis.—Ci —Wrier, Anonrs & AS PANTOMIME, 40, NEW YORK CIRC! THE RING, ACROBATS, enth street.-SCENES IN _ DR. KAHN’S ANATOMICAL MUSEUM, 745 Broadway.— SCIENCE AND ART. NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway. SCIENCE AND A TRIPLE SHEET. ‘New York, Thursday, December 29, 1870. CONTENTS OF TO-DAY’S HERALD. PaoE. 1—Advertisements, 2—Advertisements. 3—France: Belligerent Batteries Pounding Away at Each Other Before Paris; Fort Mont Avron and the Saxen Siege Guns in a Spirited Duel; Berlin in Eestasies Over the Bombardment; Bourbakt Reported Advancing on Von Werder; Faidnerbe’s Army of the North at oH Chauzy Protests Against Prussian Inhumanity, 0 Map, Showing the Last Grand Sortie from ris. #—-Phepunions— ene Recent Arrests at Macy’s— John Hecker’s Theory for Reclaiming the Young—Carnival of Fire—‘Doctor” Evans’ Amusements—The Tweed Reltef Fund— istmas Festivals—New York City News— Boston Smugglers—Death on the Rail. Oneida Community—Voice of the People— ¢ Notes—i'he Taylor Will Case: Important ‘Testimony for the Contestants—Board of Ed¢a- cation—The Public Parks—The Public Decks— The Buiiding Murder: The Investigation to be © osed To Day—Naval Iutelligence—Real Estate Matters—Startling Gisres Against John H, Surratt—Annexation of Mexico—Gattling Guns Ordered by Engiand—Brookiyn Municipal Af- fairs—Bogus Jewelry Swindlers. G—E iitorials: Leading Article, “The Treasury— Taking Too Much Money from the People’ — Amusement Announcements, 7—Editoriais (Continued from Sixth Page)—Per- sonal Jntelligence~News from Washington— News from Europe—Great Bullard Match Be- id Rudolphe—General Tele- isiness Notices, T a Writ of Habeas Corpus—Railroad Race- Health Matters—Princess Editha Hopel Insane—Public Charities—Justifiable Hi cide—The Newtown Assessment Frand—Fatal Christmas Carousat—Austria and the Papacy— Charity’s Cail—Police Punishment—Daring Sneak Robbery—Russians Leaving Alaska. 9—The New York and Brooklyn Courts—Military Matters in Arizona—Heavy Land Suit in Call- fornia—Financlal and Commercial Reports— Marriages and Deaths. 10—The War in France (Continued from Thira Page)—Map Descriptive of the Battle of S Remain—inoterview of a@ HERALD Corres pondent with the French Minister Chan. dourdy—A Boston Horror—Shipping Inteili- gence—Advertisements, 1—News from China—Japanese Progress—Political Intelligence—Custom House Polttics—A Foul- biooded Border Ruffian: Wholesale Murder in Wyoming Territory—The Johnson Homicide: The Fatal Negro Affray in Broome Street on the Day of the Farragut Obsequies—Hanlon, the Murderer: The Day tion—The Indians on th Clergyman of the Period ow the Remains of an Old Actor were Treated in Madison Avenue—Personal Notes—Women’s Clubs—A Faithless Colored Belie. 42—Advertisements. d tor His Execu- khorn Rtyer—A Srenrexcep To Deatn.—John Thomas, the colored man who killed Walter Jobnson, another colored man, in Broome street last September, was found guilty yesterday and sentenced to be haaged on the 17th of Febru- ary next. “ConsciENcE Dota Make Cowarps.”—A London journal, influential bat ‘‘snobby,” says that ‘“‘at any moment the Americans may inflict intolerable insult on the British people.” Very Dundrearyish, but exciting. “‘If,” said Dunodreary, ‘‘the dog did net waggle his tail the (ail would waggle the dog.” Tne Ciry Crevrt.—The bids for the new dock bonds at the Comptroller's office were opened yesterday, and the prices ranged frem par to 105, the whole amount bid for being nearly three times the amouat offered. The credit of the metrepolis apparently stands well among the citizens, notwithstanding tbe croak- ing prophecies over ring rascality, and the building of the new docks, which the city has so long required, is not likely to be delayed for want of money. Tne ProsstaN Court has, it is said, ex- pressed to Queen Victoria its ‘‘disapproval of the matrimonial alliance between the Princess Lonise and the Marquis of Lorae.” We can scarcely credit this cable report. ‘Faithful in love and dauntless in war’ has been accepted as the motto of all true knights. It may have been altered slightly, however, since the days when the Princess Royal of England went to Berlin and the Berlinese set out for Paris. Joan Bout. Preparinc For War.—It may seem strange, but such is nevertheless the fact, that the British War Department has sent to this country orders for no less than sixty batteries of mitrailleuses, or Gatling guns, to be completed immediately. The work is to be exeeuted in Colt’s factory, in Hartford. Hay- ing ample means to supply the world with breadstuffs Uncle Sam is also prepared to furnish warlike nations with materials where- with to blow each ether to pieces or to cut each other’s throate. Send in your orders for breadstuffs or blunderbysses, it don’t make much difference which. NEW YORK HHEKALD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29. 1870.-— The Treasury—Taking Too Much Money from the People. The Secretary of the Treasury seems to have but one idea, and that is to accumulate the largest amount of money possible in the cof- fers of the governmeat. He loves to gloat over the mass of wealth there as a miser does over his money bags. He imagioes, we sup- pose, that he can point to this as the result of his wisdom in administering the affairs of the Treasury Department, and say to the people, see how carefully [ have collected the revenue and piled up your wealth. But he underrates the sagacity ef the people. They cau see that this enormous and surplus revenue—this vast unemployed capital of a hundred millions and upwards—is wrung from their hard earnings. It is, in fact, an unnecessary and monstrous exaction trom an overtaxed people. The hundred to a hundred and fifty millions which Mr. Boutwell keeps hoarded up all the time, and has kept hoarded from the time he took charge of the Treasury, is so much money taken away from productive industry. In the hands of the people itwould earn a much larger sum and add greatly to the wealth of the nation. But that is not the only loss. Lying in the Treasury vaults it is dead capital. Put out at interest, or, what would have amounted to nearly the same thing, applied to the liquidation of the debt, from six to nine millions a year would have been saved. The Secretary has lost for the country from twelve to eighteen millions during the time he has been in office by this ridiculous policy of hoard- ing. This loss, as we said, is in addition to what the people have lost in having the money taken away from their industrial pursuits un- necessarily. The remark of the Saviour about the unprofitable servant who had kept his master’s talent wrapped up unemployed is ap- plicable to Mr. Boutwell. We said the Secretary seemed to have but this one idea. He has, however, another, which also operates injuriously and keeps up burdensome taxation. That is to make the people of the present time pay off the debt which can be paid better and easier in the future—to make us who have borne the heavy burdens of the war and spilled our blood for the Union pay all the cost. This is both unreasonable and unjust. Those who are to come after us will enjoy the blessings we have purchased by our blood and treasure, and ought to contribute some- thing to liquidate the remaining part of the cost, especially when we consider that they will feel the burden much less than we do. In ten years the population of this country will be probably nearly a half more than it is now, or near sixty millions, and the national wealth will be increased in a greater ratio. Why, then, should not the people of the next decade, or of the next twenty years, pay a portion of the debt? Mr. Boutwell delights to boast of reducing the debt at the rate ofa hundred millions or more a year. He thinks this gives him great credit for financial ability with the people, and will make him a popular man for the Presi- dency or some other high honor. But the people are not so blind. They know the money comes from them and that they are oppressed to raise it. Suppose a banker's clerk, who has had handed to him a large sum of meney. by his employer to go and pay a debt of the bank, should boast of what he accomplishes, as if the money belonged te him, should we not think bis conduct ridieu- lous? Just as reasonable is it for Mr. Bout- well to claim the credit of paying the national debt, when the money pours in upon kim from the burdensome taxes imposed by Congress. It is not a question of the ability of the country to ralse an enormous revenue and to pay off the debt rapidly. That it can do, undoubtedly. Though not as rich as England im accumulated eapital, it has greater and more varied natural resources. There is, in fact, a wonderful elasticity in the capa- bilities of the country. We have seen what ‘an extraordinary strain it could bear during the most gigantic and costly war of modern times. It may well be doubted if any other country could have brought out in so short atime such stupendous resources. Then, since the close of the war what vast sums have been raised and what an enormous amount of debt, floating and organized, has been discharged! But, as was said, it is not a qnestion of ability to bear taxation—it is one of economy, of justice, of financial wisdom. A merchant who should spend all his cash as it comes in—should anticipate his unmatured obligations aad leave himself without sufficient ready means to carry on his basiness or to extend it, would be regarded a stupid man. More business is done and more wealth made by a judicious use ef credit than by actual cash, It is the same with nations as with individuals, To draw away the capital of the people unnecessarily by taxa- tion cripples the industry of a country, retards the creation of wealth and tends to keep a nation poor. The money taken from the people would be worth much more to them in their industrial pursuits than it is to the government, and would add far more to the national wealth. In one case it is creative and inthe other exhaustive. What, then, is the true policy for us to pursue? Simply to raise no more revenue than the current economical wants of the government require, with a small margin for a sinking fund to keep up the pro- cessof liquidating the debt. The people would not be satisfied if some of the debt were not paid anonally, but a sinking fund of twenty te twenty-five millions would be ample at pre- sent. Thus the debt would waste away insen- sibly and the people would not feel it The credit of the government would stand just as high, or higher. Our ability to pay would be showa, while the wealth of the nation would be more augmented. ‘Taxes to the amount of a hundred millions a year or more might be taken eff, There would then be revenue enough to pay all the current expenses of government and twenty-five mil- lions of the debt a year. Let this reduction be made and the money new in the Treasury be applied to paying the debt. The burdens of the people will be lightened, industry will greatly revive, and before six months Mr. Boutwell will have again a surplus in the Treasury. The whole policy of the Secretary should be reversed. If he has not the ability or financial skill to take the initiative in the policy we indicate Congress ought to force it upon him, A large revenue leads to extrava- aance and corruption. The vital auestion now is to reduce taxation and to bring the revenue down to the wants of an economical adminis- tration of the government. Tho War Strategy—A Diversion in| Favor of Paris. The military situation in France at preseut is by no means unpromising for the ultimate triumph of the republican forces, who have so well waged the war in which the empire failed. General Faidherbe’s defeat near Noyon could not have been very disastrous in Its consequences, and his withdrawal toward Lille seems to have been made rather in order to avold the flanking movement which the Prussian force in the neighborhood of Laon was evidently making than to escape any more di- roet consequences of another attack from his enemy in front. Manteuffel was very slow to follew him up to Albert. We do not hear that the German commander has engaged him again at that place, and he probably will not until he makes a junction with the co-eperat- ing forces at Laon, who were evidently mov- ing to cut Faidherbe off from Lisle. General Chausy, with his Army of the Loire, at Le Mans, and Bourbaki, with the other wing of it, at Bourge, have both displayed good generalship and have practised upon the Germans the fine tactics which heretefore the Germans have been practising upon them. They have learned war from their enemies. The strategic Von Moltke must invent some new movements in the game, for his old ones, by which he separated Bazaine and MacMahon, drove Bazaine into the trap at Metz and brought about Sedan, have become familiar weapons in the hands of his adversaries. General Bourbaki is now said to be moving toward the eastern portion of France to operate against General Von Werder, and we may yet hear of the sudden appearance of an immense force, making a startling diver- sion in favor of beleaguered Paris by attacking the line of railroad between Chalons and Naney, which now feeds the German army about Paris. The garrisons along this road were recently weakened by the withdrawal of troops to operate against General Faidherbe, and as large bodies of troops were soon afterwards sent from Versailles to supply their places again we may conclude that Von Moltke has a lively sense of danger in that direction. The neighborhood of Paris is eaten out, and the stubborn occupation of the railroad at any point by the French forces would have the same effect upon King William’s troops that the seizure of the Nashville and Chatianooga Railroad for a few days or a week by the rebels would have had upon the army of Sherman at Atlanta. This line of railway must be covered, and even if it is not seized by Bourbaki a determined movement in that direction with a large force will call for a heavy reduction of the force investing Paris, We may yet hear of seme such diversion as this on the part of Bourbaki. It is at present the best card in his hand; for it means fight- ing—not the devil with fire exactly, but starvation with starvation. Bishop Dapantoup’s Carcer. Following appropriately upon the interview held by our correspondent with the distin- guished Bishop of Orleans, and pub- lished in the Heraup of yesterday, we give this morning an interesting sketch of the life and career of this French pre- late. Monsigneur Dupanulonp, it will be seen, is notonly influential asa Catholic clergyman, but be is also possessed of considerable power in politics. Hence his epinions are of value and importance at the present moment. His contemptuous language when speaking of Gambetta and the other republican Ministers, and his avowed hostility to the republic, which he holds to be one merely in name, are indica- tions which point to an exereise of his influence in favor of a return to a monarchical form of government. Excepting the Archbishop of Paris, Bishop Dupanloup is undoubtedly the most distinguished of living French prelates, If he, so liberal in his religious views and so patriotic a citizen of France, sees but little hope in the future against the Prussian arms andno hope whatever from the ‘‘bloodthirsty democrats” who are ruling tho country, what must be the views of his more ultramon- tane colleagues? But whatever they may be we do not propose to consider them. We shall merely refer to the sketch of Monsigneur Du- panloup as enabling the reader to become familiar with his aniecedents and his character, GENERAL SOHENCK, AS Minister To ENG- LAND, appears to give general satisfaction, It farther appears that he is not to take this posi- tion as a mere diplomatic figurehead at Lon- don, to fill a vacancy at the Queen’s recep- tions, while all the negotiations between Eng- land and the United States are carried on at Washington, but is to be charged with the important business of reopening the discussion on the Alabama claims, and with a large mar- gin of discretion in the premises. We are assured, too, that while the general instruc- tions te Mr. Schenck will not be prepared by Mr. Sumner, they will caution him against any such settlement as that of the treaty between her Majesty’s government and the two John- sons—Reverdy Johnsen and Andy Johnson. Lastly, in this connection, it is the general belief that, although General Schenck can hold his own at a good dinner, he is fireproof against English roast beef and plum pudding as engines of diplomacy. So let the General be armed with his instructions and despatched on his mission without farther delay, AX Opp Sorr oF Wurrr Man’s Party.—A call bas been issued in Texas for the formation of a ‘white man’s party,” in which, with sin- gular modesty, the colored people are invited to join, This is somewhat like the fable of the lion and the fox. The lion pretended to be sick and invited all the other animals to visit and condole with him. All went but the fox. The lion complained of this want of sociability, when the fox explained that he had intended | to visit his lionship and approached his cave for that purpose, but he happened to observe that the footprints of the animals that preceded him al! went one way—that is, toward the cave, but none could be found coming back. Not being desirons of serving as a meal for bis majesty he had declined proceeding further. This invitation to the negroes to join the white man’s party is like the invitation of the fox to visit the sick lion—the darkies are in- tended, it is quite likely, to be used a9 bait, A Battle Near Havre. From the Heeacn’s correspondent in Havre we have full particulars of a battle which | occurred near that city last Saturday. The struggle was an important one, inasinuch as the position oceupied by the German forces was in dangerous proximity to the city, and to drive them from this ground was the aim of the French. It is true the German force was a small one, but a little reflection will show that the practice of holding positions with small bodies of troops, with heavy masses within supporting distance, has entered largely into the plans of the German commanders in the present campaign, Possibly the pressure brought to bear on Colonel Mocmanard by the people of Havre, who clamored for a grand sortie, precipitated an advance which might otherwise have been delayed with advantage. The recent battle amply demonstrates the ability of the raw levies and the compara- tively undisciplined soldiers of France to cope with the veteran troops of Germany. The French commander, yielding to the popular outcry, led his small column of thirty-five hundred men from the little village of Harfleur, On the morning of the 24th, when some distance out, the Ger- mans suddenly appeared. It was a qurprise, but no such demoralization ehiued as has fallen to the lot of the imperial armies when similarly situated. So rapid was the German advance that the French were compelled to yield, not demoralized or diserdered, how- ever, but yielding te the pressure bravely and soldierly. Subsequently forming fine of battle, they invited attack, and stood the test of the German cavalry charges. Three times did the Germans advance and three times were they compelled to fall back. Better provided with cavalry and supported by heavier artil- lery, the German attempt proved vain against the resistance of the French. The French commander at this juncture decided to re- tire and take up a better position. The move- ment was successfully accomplished. Reach- ing the heights which commanded the village of Bolbec the French rested and again awaited battle. The wisdom of this move- ment is evident from the fact that in order to reach this position the. Germans had to move over a plain, cross a stream and ascend the opposite bank. In attempt- ing this they were subjected to a most destructive artillery fire. Perceiving their mistake, not, however, before serious loss, the Germans gave up the attempt and com- menced another movement which resulted in compelling the French to fall back on Harfleur, The Germans were too weak to follow up the advantage, and finally fell back themselves be- yond the positions they occupied on the morn- ing of the battle. While this encounter demonstrates the bravery, disciplive and steadiaess in action of the new levies on whom France will have to rely, it also proves the power of an excited populace to influence the advance of an army— a power much to be feared. The history of our late civil war is crowded with disas- ters which thatinfluence accomplished. Whea the clamors of politicians cried out for an ad- vance and, owing to the pressure brought to bear on them by these political meddlers, our generals had, unwilling in many cases, to ad- vance, nine times out of ten their movements resulted in failure. In France, and at this particular time, these influences are calculated to work mnch mischief, if not disaster. A commander of an army is certainly the one best qualitied to judge of the proper movements of his forces, All things considered, we think that in the recent battle Colonel Mocmanard got off luckily. Giving all due credit to his soldiers for valor and discipline, we think he risked a battle in order to satisfy public clamor, rather than at the suggestion of his own judgment. With so small a force under him, and no reserves to call upon, it was a hazardous undertaking. Fight, fight, and hold on until reinforcements come up, has been the military policy of the German lead- ers since the passage of the Rhine. There are large bodies of German troops within easy distance of the force recently engaged near Harfleur, if Manteuffel’s northern movement has not drawn them northwards. In this lay the danger to the French, as, had the Germans heen heavily reinforced, as has been the case time and time again, the French retreat would have endedin a rout, and a rout up to the very walls of Havre. The ciiy, however, for the present is safe, but its future security de- pends largely on Mantenffel’s movements in the north. King Amadeus Ku Route to Spain. Afier all Amadeus, the King elect of Spain, is not afraid to connect responsibility with honor—to run the risks which privilege imposes. For good reasons he did not refuse the Spanish crown. For the best of reasons, now, he does not allow the festivities of Christmas week to keep him away from the noble and chivalrous people who have pledged to him both heartand hand. The young King has already set out for Madrid; and as he has spent his Christmas with his family and friends in Italy the presumption is that he will spend his New Year with his new friends amid scenes made sacred by the memories of the Catholic King and Queen, Ferdinand and Isabella, and by the great Charles and by the not less renowned though less lovable Philip the Second. Let us hope that Spain, under a new and prosperous dynasty, will re- vive somewhat of her ancient power and glory. As the Dutch William took to England with him the Bentincks and the Kappels, the ancestors of the Ducal Heuses of Portland and Albemarle, so Savoy Amadeus takes with him Cialdini and ne doubt many others. Spain, it seems, must have aking. We shall not be sorry if Spain and the new King and the new nobles all prosper. We shall not be the less sorry that we think Spain might have done better, Sxnator Sumner is being comforted in his St. Domingo unhappiness by cheering letters of endorsement from William Lloyd Garrison, Gerrit Smith and other brilliant lights of New Mngland abolitionism, What objection do these leaders in the great movement for negro emancipation have to the annexation of this ud, peopled, as it is, with blacks? Is the overnment of Baez freer than our own? Caprais Lorr has started upen his four | hundeedth veyage to Europe. He ought to “kuow every inch of grouad” on the route by this time, A TN AN a ll ea TRIPLE SHEET, Count de Chuudourdy’s Views ou the Situa- tion, Our special report of an interview held at Bordeaux by one of our correspondents with Connt de Chaudourdy, the Minister Delegate for Foreign Affairs, will be read with interest as embodying the views of a prominent mem- ber of the French government. The Count, though the antipodes of Gambetta in appear- ance and manner, is not less decided than that irascible and profane Minister in his expres- sion of a resolution to fight out the war to the bitter end rather than submit to the terms of Prossia. If not as hopeful of the future as Gambetta, Chaudourdy is none the less defiant. Peace, based upon a surren- der of French territory, is, he declares, dis- honorable and consequently inadmissible. He would prefer to see France financially and otherwise ruined rather than transfer his countrymen to a foreign rule. At the same time he believes thero is a chance of final suc- cess for the French arms. Three months ago, sald Count de Chaudourdy to our correspon- dent, it was difficult to inspire the people with courage; to-day the government has to re- strain and direct their patriotism, Time will effect a change in the military situation; the army has not lost confidence, if even it has been defeated, and it has gained in discipline and military experience. Undoubtedly this is a favorable report. Unfortunately we know that it is highly colored. Our correspondents and Bishop Dupanloup agree in representing the French as heartily sick of war and ready to make peace upon any terms short of degrada- tion, Of course it was not to be expected that the Minister of a war government would repre- sent the French people in this light. Perhaps Count de Chaudourdy, like Gambetta, has none but roseate visions of the future, and for the sake of poor France, already so badly puaished and her cities and fields so ravaged and devastated, we could wish that they were not hallucinations. " Count de Chaudourdy’s remarks on the posi- tion of England were not without importance. They indicated a feeling in which regret, pity and even contempt seemed mingled. The speaker was sanguine that England would feel the blow keenest of all other nations if she per- mitted the destruction of France, and he ap- peared to derive a melancholy satisfaction from the thought. Of Italy he spoke with the deepest indignation, accusing her of ingratitude toward a benefactor, and referring to her as a treacherous, cowardly nation, All this may meun nothing but it may also bode no good for the future of the Iiatian kingdom. France is ana- tion of strong antipathies. To use the language of one of her own sons, she forgives an injury oaly afler she has revenged it, and it may be that in time to come she will remind Italy of the day when the Italian government stood quietly by and witnessed her humiliation with- out raising a voice against it. But we must leave these reflections for the present, Count de Chaudourdy’s views are quite interesting and will be so considered by all our readers, to whom we present them this morning asa contribution to contemporaneous history and as another evidence of the enterprise of our correspondents. The French Kepublicana New York. The demonstration to be held to-night by the French Democratic Club of this city, to favor and sustain the republic now existing in France, commands the sympathies of a vast mass of our foreign and our native residents alike ; and, judging by the preparations made, we may expect that it will be a spirited and striking affair, The French journals of this city commended it enthusiastically in their editorial columas yesterday morning, and, in addition to the utterance of its own sentiments, the Courrier des Htals Unis makes the follow- ing appeal to our own people ‘‘to the manner born :”"— What we ask of the Americans and of the other populations of various nationaliiies WhO breathe the free air of this conntry 1s, that they should ex- press, by some high “public manilestation, the interest they feei_ in seeing the democratic institutions of France consolidated, and, consequently, developed in Europe. Whether France should eventuaily succumb or twiumph in the struggle she 1s sustaining against Germany, all the peoples are interested in preventing the monarciical reaction which 13 one of the foreseen results of this war. It 1s clear that France, supposing that she should not succeed in expelling her foes, Wil not, until thoroughly drained of her blood, submit to the yoke of a monareuical, miuch less of a Bonapartist, restoration; put it 1s equally clear that such is the aim to which the fury of our enemies 13 tenatng, and that ii they now lin- placably seek our ruin itis in order to conquer in advance the resistance which we should not fail to make to the destruction of the repubiic. The repab- hie erect ia France is the living propaganda of demo- cratic institutions throughout all Europe—it is the republic in permanence. On the other hand, the empire, re-established by foreign bayonets, would be ior our country but the perpetuation of discord, the completion ef ruin and the crushing down, for a long time, at least, of that Iberal progress of which France is the central hearth. And, well this fact: all the peoples are iu- ed in this protest against obscurautism rmed pressure—the Germans, like the rest, and There are others than Janizaries of despotisin in Covigents there are peoples, also, who are ani- mated with the modern spirit; and, il the Germans residing here naturally enough wish for the success of their country’s arms, we are, nevertneless, con- vinced that most of them wonld teel the profoundest sorrow at beholaing this national satisfaction made the means of chaining down the democratic aspira- tions of their own countrymen. Such is the meaning of the manifestation now preparing, and which 1s destined to make a pro- found sensation among the peoples ef Europe. Une thing must be loudly declared. It 1s that the future of liberty must not be left to depend on the forsunes of the war, and that, even should the fate of arms impose the most irremediable sacrifices upon France, one duty would remain to be performed by the peoples of all lands, and that would be to save the republic. Such are the tone and feeling of those who have undertaken and will conduct the meeting to be held to-night, and under such auspices it can hardly fail to echo far beyond the At- lantic, Tue OnetA Community.—Elsewhere we give the statement of a member of this com- munity in regard to the Royce divorce case, with which, it has previously been stated, the Community was scandalously connected. According to the present statement it appenrs that the Community had 10 connection whalever with the action for divorce on the part of Mrs. Royce, and that it would be against their published regulations to receive her or any one else into the Community at present, Their company has been full since 1867, it is immensely wealthy, and no new members are wanted to share their riches, This Oneida Community bears within it the germ of the trouble that has already arisen regarding Mormonism, and the social question apparently is so delicate that it will not be settled until the communists are at least as strong as the Mormons, Tae Taytor Witt Case.—The doctors siill disagree over the genuineness of the signa- ture attached to the late James B. Taylor's will, ‘Where there’s a will there’s a way” for the lawyers to get the moneve LO Teo Approaching Session of tho Loegislac ture. The Ninety-fourh gogsion of the Legislature of New York commences in Albany on Tues~ day next, January 3,1871, The democratic magiates have already held their preliminary caucts in Albany and the slate has been made up h regard to the prins cipal officers of the House, the Senate officials remaining as before. The folowing is alist of the officers of the House a8 agreed upon in preliminary caucus, the main joints of which we have already given in the Herarp:— Speaker, Hitchman ; Clerk, Armstong. Heads of committees as surmised :—Ways aad Means,. Jacobs; Cities, Frear; Judiciary, Fields; Railroads, Nelson. The minor offices of the House will be filled as circumstances 824 the necessities of the disappointed may reqttre. But the impression is that there will be no dix. appointments, and that the machinery has been so well arranged that the working of the Ninety-fourth session of our Legislature will not only be as harmonious as that of the Ninety-third, but that it will be still more so, many disturbing elements having been re- moved, a Now what has the Legislature that convenes on Tuesday next todo? The principal point, in our judgment, will be to see that it does, not undo that which the last Legislature did. The last was a pretty fair Legislature after it had been hammered down to its hash upon our new City Charter, and the rough and tumble democracy were made to understand the folly of undertaking a great political movement with Liliputian engineers. All national topica being temporarily out of the way, the public will await with anxiety to see what the in- coming Legislature will present for the pur- pose of lessening our tremendous city tax burdens, to give an impetus to city improve- ments already inaugurated, and to see what can be done in the way of facilitating local transportation. It is evident thatsome radical steps must be taken in the latter matter, even if it require an amendment to the City Charter and the organization of a new city depart- | ment, to be called, if it should be so deter- mined, ‘The Department of Conveyance and Transportation,” to effect the object. That something should be done in this matter; is of paramount importance, and if merely, an initiatory step in this direction be taken in the ensuing Legislature a great point will be gained and the Legislature saved from. perpetual sieges by interested parties on the’ subject of underground, arcade, surface, ele- vated and other specious projects in regard to local transportation in the metropolis. In tho meantime the well wishers of the present form of city government will, as we said at first, do well to watch that nothing that has been done which does well shall be undone by ‘unfriendly legislation.” Turning the Tables on “Big Six.” That famous fifty thousand dollar gift enter- prise is likely to bring mischief upon its founder. It seems that a small army of clerks is to be employed in distributing the charity, with the distinct understanding that two ar- ticles are to be strictly excluded from the catalogue of commodities to be dispensed—to wit, rum and money. Mr. Tweed knows very well how it would be with himself if any one were to attempt to deprive him, or his blazing coadjutors of the Blossom Club, or his jocund guests at his annual chow-chow at {ndian Cove, of his or their square allowance of champagne and whiskey. There would be a revolt at once, or a fierce rebellion that would knock the famous ‘‘Battle of the Kegs” into a cock-tailed hat. What would Tweed’s hospi- tality or the hospitality of any other man be without spirits? Flat, stale and unprofitable. Therefore for Mr. Tweed to attempt to deprive his constituency, or any part of them, of their regular ‘‘tods,” both by declaring whiskey contraband and the cash wherewith to buy it non-comeatable, is adding insult to injury. There is danger that it will lead to revolution in the Seventh ward. Is it not a direct impu- tation upon the sobriety of the poor and honest people of the ward—Mr. Tweed’s own wor- shippers and whilom boon companions? Some men can stand all sorts of calumny except being accused of not being able to hold their liquor. This charge they will rebel against to the last drop. Therefore Mr. Tweed must take care that his vaunted charity does not become the means of causing the tables to be turned on him, and instead of his being hailed as the Grandfather of his ward he will become merely one of the b’hoys. And there is another danger that monaces Mr. Tweed, Is it not possible that a ring may be formed among the battalion of clerks who are to distribute this charity, whiskey and cash excepted, that may hereafter give no little bother to the great Master of the Ring himself? Now how much better it would have been for Mr. Tweed to have followed in the foot- steps of his illustrious predecessor, Sheriff O'Brien, who has made a practice for several years of giving thousands of tons of coal to the poor of his ward and made no fuss or pa- rade about it, Mr. Tweed has carried out the Sheriff's charity ideas excepting in the matter of modesty. Here his footsteps be- come bewildered. Here he is faulty. Here he puts down the brakes, and the once dashing, go ahead ‘‘Big Six” flounders along like a por- poise on a sand bar. Seriously, we fear Mr. Tweed must be on the alert or he will find that this fifty thousand dollar donation will be the means of turning the tables on him just asa certain fifty-two thousand dollar transaction was the means of turning the tables on a once valiant editor in this city. Aoxious to Pay the Alabama It is said England is anxious to settle the Alabama claims difficulty, that she is ‘‘heartily tired of the controversy, and is ready to pay any impartial money award if an adjustment can be confined to that.” This is quite natu- ral, first, because such an unsettled difficulty with this country assumes a more serious character to England the longer it remains,_ and next because the mere money award of twelve millions of dollars or so is a bagatelle to such a rich nation. But this sum would cover but a small part of the loss this country sustained through the Alabama, If England admits the obligation to pay the amount claimed by the insurance companies and ship- owners for their losses, is not something due to the country for the greater loss of its ship--s ping and commercial interests from the same cause? These damages are not speculative, Claims. “4, ~~ —L : ° 4b |