The New York Herald Newspaper, November 8, 1871, Page 6

NEW YORK HERALD , BROADWAY AND ANN STREET: JAMES GOROON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR. All business or news letter and telegraphic despatches must be addressed New York Hgnarp. Letters and packages should be properly pealod, Rejected communications will not be re- q eC RN _ 9HE DAILY HERALD, published every day tn the price $12. ,. he Bunorzan Eprriow, every Wednesday, at Six Ogee per copy, $4 per annum to any part of Great Britain, or $6 to any part of the Continent, both to ftaclude postage. , ADVERTISEMENTS, to 8 limited number, will bé in- gerted in the WEEKLY HeRaLp and the European ‘Raition. ? JOB PRINTING af every description, also Stereo- typing ana Engraving, neatly and promplly ée- ‘uled at the lowest rater, SSS Volume XXXVI. -No. 313 oooloeeeee— AMUSEMENTS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING, 2 eS ST. JAMES THEATRE, Twenty-eighth street and Broad sway. —Litz ITZOMEN, OBEN AND Far 40, { WALLACK'S THEATRE, & Nioz Fiex—Tur Critic. WOOD'S MUSE! Broadway, coraer 20th st.—Perform- ances afternoon od ereang ae Boy Dergotiva, BOOTH'S THEATRE, 23d st, between Sth aud 6th avs, Dor; OB, THE CRICKET ON THE HraRTo. oy. a YY Ti c Boeeet Taek RE, Bowery.—CmMEz—AUNT CHAB ACADEMY OF MUSIC, Fourteenth strect—ITALIAN Draa—La Traviata. a sus NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway, between Prince Houston stresta—OUn AMERICAN COUSIN. ~ al ol 08! it r MAND OPERA BO! jE, corner of 8th av. anc 234 st— STADT THEATRE, Nos, 45 and 47 Bowery.—Orzra }SRa00n.—ToE HUGUENOTS. a LINA EDWIN’S THEATRE, No, 736 Bro: WF ‘Qpena—Fievur Dr Tax. Fatinbaiagitaayaten FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE, Twenty-fourth street. Tux Nsw Dasma or Drvonox, MRS. F. B. CONWAY'S BROOKLYN THEATRE.— Divorox. BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC, Montagne street— MacBETE. » UNION SQUARE THEATRE, Fourteenth st. and Broad- ‘way.—NEGEO ACTS—BURLESQUE, BALLET, 4c. Matinee. THEATRE COMIQUE, 514 Broadway.—Comic VooaL- 16M8, NEGRO Acts, £0. Matinee at 234, SAN FRANCISCO MINSTREL HALL, 58 Broadway.— ‘Tas Ban FRancisco MINSTEELS. BRYANT'S NEW OPERA HOUSE, 934 st, between 6th and tbh ave.—BRYant's MINGTRELS. TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, No. 201 Bowery.— NBeRo EcoENTRICITIEG, BURLESQUES, 40. at NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fourteenth strect.—SoRNES IN ‘fuR Ring, AcRosars, 20. Matince at 24. TRIPLE SHEET. New York, Wednesday, Nove~oer &, 1971. CONTEsTs of TO-DAY’S HERALD. me Advertiser i. ents, 2—Advertiaements. 4—Piciures at the Polis: How the Old Thing Did and Did Not Work in the Wards of the City; Lively Sketches of tne Men Who Ran the Ma- chine; sepogeapns of Prominent Workers for Tammany, the Committee of Seventy and the epabutcans; Scenes and Incidents at the ol S—Pictures at the Polls (Continued from Fourth Page)—Davenport’s Doom—Tel is from Eugiand, Ausiria, France, Spain, Greece, Alge- ria, Jretand and Hayti—Adairs in Utah—The Pacific Coast—Miscellaneous Telegrams—Army and Naval Lacelligence—Literature: Criticisms of New Books; Literary Chit-Chat, G—Editorials: The Result of the Elections—the Compiete and Disasirous Overthrow of Tam- Many—Amusewent Announcements. 8—Europe: The Latest Phase of the New Social Movement in England; Gambetta at the Grav of Baudin; Rival Manifestoes of Sagasta an Zorrilla in Spain; The Pope and the French Assembly; Benedetti and the Prussian Gov- ernment—Yachting—Bolivia : American En- terprise Upening Up Its Vast and Fertile Re- ons to the Commerce of the Worid—The Lu- eran Church—The Hudson Church Troubles, @—The Next War: Political Prospects of Europe rding a Lasting Peace; Eifect of German tion; Why Russia Did Not Interfere in Late Franco-German War—The Arctic Ca- lamity : Additional Detatls of the Disaster to the American Whaling Fieet—Court Calendars for To-Day—Financial and Commercial—Mar- Tiages and Deatns—advertisements, 11—Advertisemenis. 129—Advertisements, Texas has bit upon the proper method of civilizing the Indians. Yesterday the aoted chiefs Satanta and Big Tree, convicted of murdering white men, commenced their life service in the Huntsville (Texas) Peniten- tiary. Tue Governor or Utan appoints the regu- lar Thanksgiving Day with a gushing senti- ment indicative of how very prosperous and happy Utah has been. Some of the Mormons will observe that Thanksgiving with a mental reservation. Ax Exzorion Rior broke out at Camden, N. J., during the election yesterday, and the military were called out, There was nothing very exciting in the questions pending bef ore the Jerseymen, and we cannot see why their hot blood should have so far gotten the better of their clear heads, Maxmauian’s Staruz was unveiled in Vienna yesterday. The in memoriam cere- monies were conducted with great pomp and solemnity, and the spectators remained per- fectly silent. It is to be regretted that a violation of the wholesome principle of non- interference in the affairs of other people has been the only cause of so much sorrow to the Austrian monarchy and its subjects, Two Important Resignations.—Yesterday Peter Bismarck Sweeny tendered his resigna- tion as Park Commissiover in the city of New York. On the same day Frederick Ferdi- nand, Baron Von Beust, tendered to his im- perial master his resignation as Chancellor of the Austrian empire. Both have shown great tact and skill as political organizers and leaders of men, but both bave failed. The retirement of two such men from the activities of political ” Tife on the sume day is a coincidence not un- worthy of a passing notice. GovsrNnor Davis, of Texas, occupies a most uncoizfortable position, Yesterday the Lower House of the Legislature of that State passed resolutions denouncing the Governor's prociamation of mariial law in Freestone and Limestone counties, as uncalled for, unjust and illegal, and requesting him to restore civil jurisdiction in those countiesimmediately. Bullets and bayonets are playing out rapidly in the South, and the Governor of Texas can afford to dispense with them until another alection campaign. and Disastress Overthrow ef Tammany. The election is over, and the citizens of New York, native and adopted, have achieved a substantial victory over the ruling dynasty of Tammany Hall. It is probably too much to say that they have administered a proper re- buke to municipal frand and corruption when one of the principal peculators bas been elected by tremendous majority to the State Senate and snother has been fighting on the winning side and claims the highest honors of the triumph. Bat they have at least brought toa close the autocratic rule in the organization of the majority party which made those frauds and corruptions possible, and have paved the way for a new departure in the promised spring election, Sigel has been chosen Registrar over Shandley, the Tammany nominee, by a splendid majority; Ledwith has been badly defeated. for the Supreme Court, O’Brien has been returned to the Senate from the Seventh district, and a regu- lar slaughter has been made among the Legis- lative candidates of Tammany generally. But, unfortunately, Tweed has been successfal by a vote so large as to amount almost to an ovation, and this deplorable drawback casts a shade over what would have otherwise been a most glorious victory. The result in other districts and on other candidates shows that but for the blunders of the managers of the reform movement the city might have been spared this great disgrace, The tinkering in another district has also secured the return of Tom Fields to the Assembly; and it must be felt that New York has yet much to accomplish in the way of honest reformation when four such men as Tweed, O'Brien, Fields and Aleck Frear are returned as her representatives in the Legislature of the State. All honor is due to the business men of New York for the part they have taken in securing this result, and they will learn from the success of their present efforts that they have only their own apathy and neglect to blame for the greater portion of the mis- government to which they have been sub- jected. Hitherto the political managers have been suffered to run the machine after their own fashion, and the better classes of our people have abstained from taking an active part in the elections. Occasionally they have roused themselves to the point of protest and denunciation, when the vile character of party nominees has forced itself upon their notice; but when the day of eloctinn has arrived they have been too much occupied with business or too thoroughly disgusted with the whole ma- chinery of politics to take the trouble to go to the polls. This year it was different, The knowledge that they had been most shamefully robbed by some of the men they had trusted and honored ; the indignation felt against the managers of the Tammany or- ganization who insisted upon braving public sentiment by putting forth some of the worst of the curruptionists for office; the apprehension that frauds upon the ballot were to be attempted, determined them to make an earnest effort to destroy the combi- nation by which the city had been so long ruled, and they have been rewarded with success. It is true that the quarrels of the politicians themselves—the falling out among thieves—bas been a great aid in securing the victory; but it was mainly due to the solid movement of our business men and responsible citizens, who have heretofore taken but little interest in the scramblings and bickerings of profes- sional office-seekers. Dospite the assertion of the chairman of Senator O’Brien’s Apollo Hall meeting last night, that all the honor of | = tae a the result was due to the Irishmen under the leadership of O’Brien, and to the Germans under the leadership of Sigel, we claim some credit for American citizens as well, who not only recorded their votes agaiost Tammany, but used their influence to accomplish the overthrow of the “Ring,” and worked all day long in the good cause. The lesson of our local fight is, on one side, the necessity of a thorough reorganization and purification of the political parties in this city if they ever again desire to obtain the confi- dence and support of the people, and, on the other, the certainty that when the solid men of the metropolis will it they have the power to take the reins into their own hands and to drive the machine of government independently of political hacks. The victory of yesterday makes the reformation of our municipal ad- ministration next spring a comparatively safe and easy matter. Bofore the time arrives for a city election under a new charter the democratic party will have become regen- erated; the old managers will have been swept away and new and honorable men will have taken their places. The people will insist upon such nominations for all offices of trust as will deserve their confidence and approval, and no political party will dare to ignore the demand. The electors who united in the contest of yesterday will not give up their political primciples, and even in the hour of victory many of them took occasion to de- clare their fidelity to their old party while fighting the battle of reform. Their efforts will now be directed to such a political reor- ganization as will bring them unitedly into the field next spring with honest men at their head and with success assured to them through the experience of the pasl, NEW YUKK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, ‘The Result of tho Election—The Complete The defeat of Ledwith for the Supreme Court will give general satisfaction, No one will mourn his fate. He disappears from poli- tical life for ever and can bargain and sell.no more. Judge Spencer and probably William E. Curtis are elected to the Superior Court, Judge Jones being apparently defeated. The fact that he is brother-in-law to Judge Bar- nard probably accounts for his defeat, The reformers refused to endoree him and Tam- many revenged themselves upon Judge Bar- nard by voting against his relative. Judge Spencer's election is one of the gratifying features of the contest. The returns from the State are incomplete; but enough is shown from the vote of this city, as well as from such figures as are at hand up to the hour of going to press, to render it cer- tain that the republicans have carried their State ticket and the State Legislature by a good majority. 80 General Grant again marches on to victory, and Fenton and Gree- ley disappear with Tammany. Peace to their ashes, Resiguation of Park Commissioner Sweeny— A New Deal in Tammany. Peter B. Sweeny has resigned his office as Commissioner of Public Parks and expresses in his letter to Mayor Hall, published in the HeEgatp to-day, his intention to retire entirely from public life, and henceforth to confine his connection with political affairs to the single duty of voting. Mr. Sweeny has been an active and useful member of the department over which he has presided, and to him the people are especially indebted for the great improvements made in the city parks, and for those comprehensive plans for the develop- ment of the upper part of the island and of Westchester county which have already added so largely to the value of city and suburban property. So far as his public services are concerned his record is untarnished, and his retirement will be a loss to the citizens of New York, Butin openly withdrawing from politi- eal life Mr. Sweeny does an act which will be of inestimable benefit to the party whose principles he upholds, It will neces- sitate a new deal in Tammany. W4th Poter B. Sweeny’s abdication must come the fall of the present dynasty in the old Wigwam and the accession to power of new men. If the succession be wisely chosen; if the leaders who are to step into the places of the adminis- trators of the old War Horse, Elijah Purdy, shall be reputable and honorable citizens, as well as men of brains, Tammany may yet emerge from the darkness that has recently settled upon her and shine forth in her old glory and power. The example set by Park Commissioner Sweeny should be promptly followed by Tweed. The Commissioner of Public Works should in like manner withdraw at once from his posi- tion in the municipal government and from political life. He has received the endorse- ment of his district in the Senatorial election, and he should be satisfied to retire on his laurels, such as they are. He can bardly be solicited to refuse the Senatorship, for the constituency that could make mp ita mind to cast an enormoas majority for ¢uch a candidate should certainly enjoy the honor of being represented by him fn the State Leg- islature. But he should resign bis municipal office into the hands of Mayor Hall and lay the sceptre of the Grand Sachem at the feet of his brothers of the Council. He cannot retire as Sweeny does, with honor and credit, but he can retire with a large amount of ready cash, He should, therefore, stand not upon the order of going, but go at once. - Mayor Hal) will then be master of the situation, and by the choice he may make of the successors of Sweeny and Tweed he can control the re- organization of the Tammany Society. Let him choose the right men, and there will be no difficulty in reuniting the now shattered and broken democracy of New York. That being accomplished, and thoroughly honest candidates being put forward for office in the spring municipal election, there will be an end to the corrupt trading policy of cliques and factions, and the purified democratic party will retain that position in the city govern- ment which from their numerical majority they have a right to claim. The Resiguation of Baron Beust. From our cable news of this morning it will be learned that Baron Beust, the Chancellor, since 1866, of the Austrian empire, has ten- dered his resignation to the Emperor, on the ground, it is said, of ill health. The Vienna Press, the organ of the opponents of Beust’s policy, hints that the retirement was not involuntary; in other words, that he had been made to understand that his resignation would be acceptable to the Emperor. Rumor has it that Count Andrassy, the Hungarian Prime Minister, will ultimately take posses- sion of the portfolio of foreign affairs, It is not our opinion that the substitution of Andrassy for Beust in the Foreign Office would make any great change in the policy of the imperial government, Andrassy and Beust have a good understanding with each other. They are both opposed to the policy of Count Hohenwart. The Ministerial interregnum continued at the moment when our latest cable telegrams were forwarded from Vienna last evening. It was reported at that time that Von Lonyay, Minister of Finance, would be called to the Premiership instead of An- drassy, and that Beust would be sent to Lon- don as Ambassador of the empire at the court of Queen Victoria. A very influential portion of the Russian press opposed Beust vehe- mently of late, and, it may be, thus assisted in effecting his official fall. Look at it, however, from what point of view we may, it is impos- sible to refuse to admit that the retirement of Beust must be regarded as a serious blow to the Austrian empire as the Austrian empire now is. It does seem as ifthe end was approaching, and as if the House of Hapsburg were for the future to find its main pillar of strength in faithful Hungary. The crown of St. Stephen is now, as it has always been, dear to the Hungarian people, That crown is now worn by Francis Joseph. It is long since the magnates of the Hungarian kingdom exclaimed, “‘Moriamur pro rege nostro Maria Theresa.” itis not impossible that Francis Joseph may yet ask and receive a ciaer arent of AEate \ ? The Pestal Money Order System—Infu- ence ef the Telegraph and Steam Power fa Financial Affairs. A great revolution in the financial affairs and relations of the world is going on silently and with little notice from the mass of people. The magnetic telegraph, steam power and the quickening influence of the press are effecting this, Nations and local communities are no longer isolated or bound up in their own nar- row interests as they used to be. Their sym- pathies and interests are enlarged. The people ofall civilized nations begin to feel like the members of a single community, and to seek closer and more friendly relations. True, there are wars still—dymastic and am- bitious wars, asin former times, though wars atthe present day are waged for the most part for other and higher objects—for national unity, in accordance with race, language and dofined geographical boundaries, But they are being modified by the rapid and general diffusion of intelligence. Eventhe working classes, en- crusted, as they have been, in the old-time prejudices of race and nationality, and imper- fectly educated as they are, begin to form close international relations. It is the same with enlightened governments which have for their aim the progress and well-being of man- kind, But in commerce and financial affairs there is a more marked tendency to unity, enlarged and friendly intercourse and to the equalization of interests and values. Among the many events of late showing this progress and improved state of things we may mention the postal money order con- vention which was made last July between Great Britain and the United States, and which went into operation the Ist of October. To many and at first this may not appear to be an important matter, except as to the con- venience afforded to the general public or poorer classes for the transmission of small sums of money. And, in fact, the convention seems to have been made only or chiefly to accommodate the poorer classes in making small remittances. Article 1st of the conven- tion, after stating that there shall be a regular exchange of money orders between the two countries, fixes the maximum of each order, when issued in Great Britain and Ireland at ten pounds sterling, and when issued in the United States at fifty dollars in currency, But it is evident the system could be extended so as to admit of larger sums being exchanged in this way. We regard itas the first step, and an important one, not only in regulating’ and cheapening exchange between the two greatest commercial nations in the world, but as leading to a general, improved and freer exchange among all nations. It is applying the same principle in international intercourse as has been applied between the different sections of separate countries, and the same that we have been acting upon in the United States, There may seem to be a difficulty in ex- tending the postal money order system among the nations generally on account of the dif- ferent currencies and standard of values. This, however, will vanish in time. In the convention between the United States and England the difficulty has bgen overcome by fixed rales for calculating the relative value of currency and coin. Similar rules could be made for Germany, Wrance or any other country. It is this confusion of currency and coin values that has long made the business of exchange a source of great profit to bankers and brokers. If values should be fixed by conventions gene- rally among the governments, that would prove both a convenience and saving to the public and commercial men, and would tend to prevent unnecessary fluctuations arising from speculation and the power of individual capitalists, The rule established by the British-American Convention to determine the relative value of money in the two countries, until the two general Post Offices shall consent to an alteration, fixes the pound sterling of Eng- land as equivalent to four dollars and eighty- six cents of the gold coin of the United States, With regard to paper money deposited for tracsmission through the Post Offices, the rate of exchange is to be determined in New York, according to the rate of premium on gold on the day of receipt at that office of notification of such deposit. On the other hand, the value in United States currency of money orders certified in the lists sent from the exchange office of London to the exchange office of New York, is to be determined also at New York, in accordance with the premium on gold on the day of receipt of such lists. This is very simple, and under it relative values and the rate of exchange can be easily calculated. Here we bave the principle and basis of this new system of international exchange. The remainder of the terms of the convention até but the details for carrying out the object. In the early history of modern commercial development in Europe, when England and Holland were rivals, the great object was to create such a system of trade and finance as to secure the advantages of a favorable ex- change. Statesmen made the greatest efforts to obtain a balance of trade in favor of their own country, and failing in that sometimes resorted ‘to financial manceuvres. In those early times, when the Dutch had the balance of trade in their favor, England succeeded in turning the exchanges favorable to London by skilful financial management, The judicious and secret use of a comparatively small sum of money at that period was sufficient for the purpose. Exchange was high then, even be- tween countries so near each other as England and Holland, and the profit derived from it was a matter of great importance, The Eng- lish made London the financial centre and the exchanges in its favor by skilfully placing a certain amount of money to be drawn upon, even while the balance of trade was in favor of Amsterdam. The English have pursued 4 similar policy, chieflyunder the management of the Bank of England, ever since, and generally with success. But times have changed. The commercial and financial affairs of the world are undergo- ing # revolution. People have no longer to wait months or weeks, or even days, for intel- ligence. The magnetic telegraph communi- cates with jightning speed. Steam power, which ploughs across the Atlantic Ocean in a few days and the smaller seas of Europe in a few hours, carries swiftly the details and ad- justments of the financial transactions that have been accomplished through the tele- graph, There is less necessity every year for the freighting or transportation of specie. The time is not distant when it will scarcely be ne- cessary to move it at all, Even pow the change of a small amount from one point to nother is sufficient to balance transactions amounting to hundreds of millions, just as few millions at most regulate at tho Clearing House of New York the enormous business of our banks. It will be enough to know that a certain amount of specie, of credit and re- sources lie where they can be drawn upon without transporting the specie, There will be Bo more necessity for removing gold than for removing a house when it is mortgaged. We have not quite arrived at that yet; we are only approaching it, When we learn to regard gold only as a commodity, and all credits and the commercial transactions of the world shall be regulated by the telegraph, exchanges will be equalized and revulsion will become rare. Governments and their Post Office establish- ments must become largely instrumental in effecting the great financial revolution that is pending ; and hence we regard the postal money order convention between Great Britain and the United States as an important step in that direction, and one which will have in the end more extended influence over the exchanges and financial transactions of the world. The tendency of the age is to bring nations nearer together in their relations and sympathies, through the modera agents of civilization, than the people of one country or State were a few years ago. That little spark which Morse snatched from the elements and utilized is des- tined to change the face of the world finan- cially, as well as politically and morally, Yesterday’s Eleetions Outside of the Em- pire State. From the returns of the election yesterday in Massachusetts (and the old Bay State is always remarkably prompt with her returns) the repablicans have carried the State by an increased majority on a reduced popular vote, which would indicate that the democrats hardly considered it worth while to ‘‘make an effort” this time. Their candidate for Gov- ernor, Mr. John Quincy Adams, has failed also as a candidate for the Legislature in the town of Quincy, from which it would appear that the most dis- tinguished family name in the State goes for nothing when coupled with the demo- cratic party, even on its ‘new deparrture.” As for the new party of the labor reformers and the liquor prohibition party, they are each represented by a few thousand votes. The failure of the labor reformers, though assisted by the women’s rights women, to make any effective diversion from the republican ranks signifies that these elements will signify noth- ing as disturbing forces in the Presidential contest. ° In New Jersey, as we had expected, the fight has been sharply contested by the demo- crats, and, without being demoralized by the bad name of Tammany Hall, they have made & good fight for Parker, their popular candi- date for Governor, and have probably secured the Legislature, The scanty returns from Maryland indicate that the democrats substantially hold their own in that State; and the same, we think, may be said in regard to the conservatives of Virginia, We have nothing from Missis- sippi; but the news from [Little Rock, Ark,, seems to foreshadow the defeat of the Senator Clayton republicans, Senator Clayton having assumed the rdle of republican Grand Sachem in that quarter, From Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota we have no definite figures beyond those of the municipal election of Chicago. We suppose, however, that those three States remain strongly republican, though it appears that ex-Senator Doolittle, as the democratic candi- date for Governor in Wisconsin, has been making considerable gains. Altogether, out- side of New York, the elections of November sustain the general expression of those of August, September and October in favor of General Grant's administration, while the general results in New York mark the practical beginning of a great revolution against the un- paralleled corruptions of the Tammany “Ring.” The Journey of the Czar. Alexander, the Czar of all the Russias, has set out on an extensive tour throughout his do- minions. In this journey he is accompanied by the Czarowitch and the Grand Dake Vladimir, Great preparations have been made in the va- rious places which the Ozar and his sons in- tend to visit todo them honor. Regions most remote, wild and half civilized, are to be visited, and the people of these districts will for the firsttime receive among them the im- perial head of the State. Among the travels Of monarchs and great men whigh during late years have sikncbed attention for their extent and variety this visit of the Czar will not be the least remarkable. The ram- bles of our own great statesman, Seward, at his advanced aze, over the globa was an accomplishment of which he may well feel proud. The honors showered upon him by princes and peoples are too fresh in the racol- lection of our readers to require more than o passing reference to recall them to their memory. The Duke of Edinburg also distin- guished himself by visiting the far off domin- fons of the British Crown. Later still wo had the royal progress of King Amadeus through the Spanish provinces. The grim old soldier, William of Germany, on the close of the war, made a tour through his empire to greet his people and thank them for their fealty when Fatherland was threatened. We mention these facts only to show that the practice of monarchs visiting in person the people of their States is becoming more and more general, and that it is also an acknow- ledgment of the increasing influence of the people of these States. In point of interest the journey of the Czar will be most remark- able. Comprising as Russia does a greater number of distinct races than any other country on the face of the globe, with their various forms of ‘religion, their strange customs and peculiar characteristics, the imperial visitors will find much to instruct, interest and amuse them in their progress. Beyond all this, how- ever, the visit will exercise an influence much to be desired by the head of the State. It will have the effect of increasing the esteem in which the Czar is held by his subjects. Those who never knew aught of the Emperor but what they heard of him by gossippers may now feast their eyes on the person whomn they regard as little less than a god. Royal jour- noys, too, are sach pleasant affairs—holiday @elebrations for the poor peassate in every NUVEMBER 8, 187L—TKIPLE SHEET. town or village where the imperial Passes through—that they kindly dispose the People to affectionate regard for the monarch. To hold a warmer place in the minds of bis People may be one of the objects of the jour- ney of the Czar, but with the vast warlike Preparations now going on throughout the empire there are other objects in view, which time, and time alone, will determine. pent alae taper Department Bookkeeping and Disbursing Officers. The fact that Major Hodge, the defaulting army paymaster, was able to continue his peculations from the funds committed to his hands for long series of years has a new interest in view of General Balloch’s more recent irregalarity. In the latter case the disbursing officer of the Freedmen’s Burean invested two hundred and fifty thousane dollars of government funds in five-twenty bonds, and surprised the officials who were examining into his accounts with the informa- tion that the United States had been making money out of their own securities. But when it is remembered that Balloch grew rich very rapidly, according to General Howard's account, by keeping a boarding house, it seems plain enough that the missing coupons on these bonds probably went into other pockets than of persons who had bought and paid for them with their own money. If the truth could be got at it would be found that many other officers besides Hodge and Balloch have been using public money for their own purposes, and the only difference in the guilt of the two men is in this, that the one lost by speculation in Wall street and had nothing with which to make good his accounts when the day of reckoning came, while the other quietly cat off the coupons, reaping the inter- est for months and perhaps for years, and still had the full amount charged against him, ready to be turned into the Treasury when called upon for settlement, Indeed, nearly every disbursing officer who resigns from the service retires with a large sum of government funds in his hands, and, owing to the remarkable system of bookkeeping em- ployed in the departments at Washington and the small clerical force allotted for these cir. cumlocution offices, he is able to retain it for two years after his resignation has © been accepted. This is done habitually by retiring disbursing officers, and it would create surprisa in Mr. Boutwell’s bureaus if one of them should offer to turn over to the Treasury, by means of a cover warrant, the funds which he knows to be in his hands previous to the settle- ment of his accounts by the department. The act of Congress of June 14, 1866, clearly regards all these offences as embezzle- ment, and prescribes for them the punishment of felony. Under the law the case of Major Hodge was not worse than that of General Balloch, and the cases of retiring disbursing officers to which we have just alluded are as clearly criminal as either of these. And yet because Hodge did not have a balances at his banker's to turn over to the Treasury he wis sent to the Penitentiary, while Balloch carried General Schriver to the vaults of a safe security company and showed him not only the fall amount in government securities, but ® considerable sum in accrued interest, crying, “Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.” But any commendation which he conld have received would have been the commendation of the august steward, and Secretary Belknap did well ia dismissing him from the service, And yet it is doubtful if Balloch and the other disbursing Officers of the government who trifle, so far at the government is concerned, with the funds placed in their hands are as much to blame as the manner of keeping accounts at the Treasury Department. Major Hodge always stood honestly charged in his reports to the Treasury Department with every cent he had ever received, and yet he had squandered hall a illion of doilars in speculation, and might have squandered a million but for an accidental discovery. General Balloch might have gone on for years cutting off coupons from securities bought with govern- twit money if the Hodge defalcation had not stimulated a little ‘‘unseasonable” inquiry. Probably a hundred officers are to-day guilty of felony under the very act of Congress of which Hodge was found guilty of embezsle- ment, but with their acéounts always unset- tled while in office and for two years after leaving the service, it is impossible to detect their crimes so long as the present system prevails. Now only an accidental suspicion leads to the unearthing of irregularities, and & public officer has more opportunities to steal and escape detection than even the most ex- pert pickpocket or bank robber, If they have been prudent as Balloch was they may not only escape punishment when the day of settlement comes, .but be able to say, like him, “Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds,” Here is the opportunity for the civil service reformers. Instead of wasting their time it devising a system of competitive examinations for people who want to bury their talents in the napkin of a Treasury clerkship the Civil Service Commission, which is soon to meet in Washington, would do much better in pre. paring a bill to abolish the circumlocution office. It would be no easy task, we admit, and could be better performed by some of the intelligent and active young clerks in the departments, who are aware of all the imper- fections of the present system, than by the excellent but inexperienced gentlemen whe siga themselves secretaries and sit in the Cabinet councils or by the political fossils who compose the Civil Service Commission. What will Congress do in this matter? Nothing, perhaps, for Congress is itself a circumlocution office; but in the end defalea- tions like that of Major Hodge and irregu- larities like General Balloch’s will awaken the country and compel the necessary legislation. So far the civil service reformers have been only a set of blunderers—seekers after a remedy without finding the disease—but the crimes which have been revealed in the past few weeks point unmistakably to the malady. If there are any Hodges and Ballochs in the public service let us know it, and let Con- gress at its next session substitute a more simple and efficient system of conducting the business of the departments for the present cumbersome method, so that like offences in the future will become impossible. Half of the crimes which so often shock the country, many of which are explained away as mero irregalarities, are due to what ia called “bookkeeping” in, the Treagury Department.’