The New York Herald Newspaper, December 4, 1871, Page 6

| ; 4 6 NEW YORK HERAL BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR, All business or news letter and telegraphic despatches must be addressed NEw York | would be of incalculable value to the wealth | ©20ugh and bad enough to call for energetic AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. GRAND OPERA ROUSE, corner of 8th ay. and 23d at— Tus Tuk GUARDSMEN, FIFTR AVENUE Tux New Drawa oF Drvouc LINA EDWIN'S THEATRE, No, 720 Broadway.—OPxEa Bourrs—Lx Pont pas SovrERs, rains NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway, between Prince and Houston streets.-OUR AMERICAN COUMIN. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Tux HAUNTED Cmau- BRa—A TERKINLE TEMPTATION. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway and 13:h street.— EDALE, OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway.—TH® BALLET PAN- ToMImE oF Hurry Duwrrr. BOOTH'S THEATRE, 234 st., between Sth and 6th ave, — Hamat. " ACADEMY OF MUSIC, Fourteenth street—Irattan Orsna—MIGNon, WOOD'S MUSKUM, Broadway, corner itith st,—Perform- ‘ances ‘afternoon and evening. -Lir® IN THE Srarers. THEATRE COMIQUE, 18M6, NRGRO ACTS, &C. UNION SQUARE THEATRE, Fi way.—NEGRO ‘Aore—BUBLESGUR Dan 4 Broadway.—Couto VooaL- at. and Broad- ac. THIRTY-FOURTH STREET THEATRE, - nue.—NEGto EoornTRicinks, Vouauisum ao. ied | F. B. CONWAY'S BROOKLYN - Petey, OOKLYN THEATRE. an THEATRE, opposite City Hall, Brooklyn.—Wr.p TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, No. org. — Neamo KCoENTMOITING, BULLESQUES da) OF BRYANT'S NEW OPERA HOUSE, 24 «1. and Nb ava.—BRYANr's MINSTRELS. isn ey SAN FRANCISCO ‘THE SAN FRANOIsCo, NEW YORK CIRCUS, Po! . Se! Baths ya ag jurveenth strect.-SCENRS IN MINSTREL HAL! = Miner, L, 585 Broadway.. DR, KATIN’S ANATOMI - ee (CAL MUSEUM, 745 Broadway. TRIPLE SHEET. New York, Monday, December 4, 1871. ann TO-DAY'S RERALD, CONTENTS OF Page, i—Advertisements, 2—Advertisements. 3—Mexico: Probable Interraption of Friendly Re- lations; the President's Message on Our Sister Republic; the Free Zone—Departure of the Duke: Services at the Greek Church Yester- day; Programme tor the Week—the Wnarten- Ketchum Case: ‘Trial of Mrs, Wharton, Under centre of Poisoning Generali W. scott Ket chum, 4—Religious: What Was Done at the Churches and What Was Said by the Preachers; Mr. Beecher on Self-Conceit; The New ititualustic Move- ment; Services at Christ Cuurch ena the Church of the Holy Light; Bishop Potter on Auricular Confession; The First Sunday of Ad- vent at the Catholic Churches, S—Leligious (Continued fh Temperance and Reiigion: New Jersey, on Total Railroad: ‘the Fourth Pen—The Inclement Avenue _ Butchers’ Weather—Stealing a ‘Trunk—Court Caiendars for fo-lay—Financial aud Commercial Reports—Domestic Markeis. G—Edtoriais: Leading Article, “The Annexation of Mexioo—A Fair Chance for General Granv"— Amusement Announcements. 7—Eaitorials (Continued from Sixth rage) —Vat- maseda's Biloodhounds: ‘the Court Martial Sacrifices the Students to Appease the Volun- teers; Gallant Death of the Viclums—Wash- Australla—Views of the i’as' Xo- tices. S—The Army: Annual Report secretary Bel- knap; the Operations of the War Vepartment | for 18T1—Light and Imperfect Coin—Comp- trolier Connolly's Case; Nis First Sabbath in a | Common Jaiul—Runntag Noics, Political and General—A Sudden Death—Desperate Saloon Aftray—Advance in Ratiway Freigits. 9—Congress: The Members of the Two Houses; | Who and What They Are, Where They Come | From and What They fave Done for the Pub- +++No. 338 | the world. TERATER, Twenty-fourth street. — NEW YORK HH#KALD, MUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 187L.—TRIPLE SHEET, ‘The Aneexation of Mexico—A Chance fer General Grant. None of General Grant's predecessors in the White House have had ao finer opportanity than he has of adding to the glory and pros- perity of this country, and of acquiring a great name in history. Mexico affords that oppor- tunity. The annexation of that rich country Fine and commerce of the United States, a great boon to the Mexican people and a benefit to ff General Grant will make this the paramount question of his administration all other questions would be dwarfed in com- parison, It would arouse national ambition, do more than anything else to destroy seotion- alism, and the sectional feeling which resulted from our late war, extinguish the Ku-Klux of the South, and unite the people of all the tates in the one common cause of national expansion and glory. With this issue presented to the country General Grant would certainly be re-elected, and with scarcely avy opposition worth speaking about. Then, should the President and his party fail to seize the opportunity afforded, the condi- tion of Mexico is such that an opposition Party may take up this popular question and ride into power through it. General Grant is patriotic, bold and broadly national enough in his views to make the annexation of Mexico his policy. He is in a position, too, to carry that policy out, for he could overwhelm any opposition that might be made to it in Con- gress. Has he the sagacity and grasp of mind to comprehend the importance of this matter and the prise that is within bis reach? We shall soon know, as his Message to Congress to-day will indicate, no doubt, the course he is prepared to pursue with regard to Mexico. Although the annexation of Mexico would meet, probably, with some opposition, this would be feeble, comparatively, and would soon fade away before the popular fervor of the mass of the people. There has been op- position always to annexation, Timid people and those excessively conservative, as well as hostile and time-serving politicians, will op- Pose, as they have always opposed, any gov- eroment measure for the annexation of foreign territory. This was seen in the case of Texas, of Louisiana, of Florida and even in the cases of California, New Mexico and Arizona. But it is a remarkable fact that none of our promi- nent public men have ever opposed national expansion when the question has been taken up by the government without falling into dis- favor and losing their popularity. Such a conflict with the sentiments of ambition, pride, glory and progress, which animate the Ameri- cau people, is never forgiven. We might refer to the conduct and history of Calhoun, Benton, Van Buren and other prominent men, who, for political objects or froma narrow- minded sectionalism, have opposed national expansion, to show that the most towering politicians may b2 wrecked upon this rock. Every one who has read the history of our country will remember the intensity of the oppo- tion to annexation at different times by certain leading public men, particularly to the annexation ef Louisiana and Texas. Yet, with the light which later history has shed on these acquisitions and the incalculable value of them io tie country, we now wonder at the stupidity and short sightedaocss of the anti- annexationists. So it would be with regard to Mexico, and go it will be on all such occa- ons, sleepy conservatives will now probably prate about national honor, want of cause for an- lic and Themselvos—Gotny for the Gaublers— Marriages and Deaths. 20—Kurope: France Anxtous to Consolidate tne Republic; Gambetta’s Speech at st. Quentin; Dread(ul Disaster off the Port of Liverpool; Prince Bismarck and the Ambuassadors— Beecher on Spirttualism—Firat Patiharmonic Concert—The Internationals: Free Love asa Firebrand Among the Workingmen; Divisions in the Communist Camp—Siipping Intelli- ence—Advertisements. Gas Question: tow and Why We Have Baad Light; the Remedy at Hand; Naphtha More Dangerous than Guapowder— Tne Carrier Pigeons’ Flight—saturday’s Sins at ine Tombs —Advertisements, 19—<Advertisements, Tax Princk oy Wares’ Case remained almost unchanged yesterday. The fever maintained its hold, but the symptoms were not more unfavorable. Tackixe To TAR Wixpwaro—The “Sage of Chappaqua.” The Carl Schurz and Gratz. Brown Mirsouri fasion free trade platform is not the cheese for the old protectionists. Tuk Carirornia Learstarurn elect a United States Senator this week. Mr. Sargent, who has long been a Represvniative from that State, is supposed to have the best chance, THERE was a tremendous anti-Jackson up- roar in 1832, but Jackson won overwhelm- ingly. There will be a tremendous anti- Grant uproar in1872—probably with a similar roault unless the reformers are wide awake, Concress assembles to-day. Now let us koow what the democratic Congressmen have to say about reconstraction, passiviem, fasion, coalition, anti-Grantism and other characters in the play of “How to Win; or, a Race for the White House.” Tus Ku Kuivux Trias in Columbia 8.cG, are being heard before mixed juries, in which the colored element beavily predominates. nexing Mexico, the necessity of developing our present vast territory before we take more, the fear of war, the undesirable population that would be annexed afd so forth. These are the same old arguments that have been used before—the same that were used when Louisiana and Texas were annexed, We want no better answer than history gives. Look at what these magnificent territories are now, and look, too, at that other glorious acquisi- tion of Caltfornia. Here is the answer to the timid and short-sighted conservatives who may oppose the annexation of Mexico. And bave we not canse for annexing Mexico, war or no war, in accomplishing that? Great and progressive nations are never ata loss for a cause when a profound national policy or necessity calle for such action, Has Great Britain, Russia, Prussia, France, Italy r any other nation powerful enough, ever failed to seise an opportunity for acquiring territory that might add to its grandeur and prosperity? This has been more especially the case where the people of an adjoining nation have been a constant canse of trouble, danger, or incapable of self-governmeat. But we are not without good and sufficient cause for taking Mexico. This republic bas been for many years most kind and considerate to that uecighboring republic, has saved it both from self-destraction and a foreign conqueror, and has borne more ingratitude and indig- nities than any other great Power would have endured. Even when it bad possession of Mexico by conquest it gave back the territory tothe Mexicans. No nation could have been more forbearing. For years our country hae been the prey of marauders end smugglers along the border of the Rio Grande, Millions a year have been lost to the revenue by smuggling along that border, our soil has been made the base of narrow stream of the Rio Grande, and the rest of the way by an imaginary line. Mexico is not able to maintain peace and good neigh- borhood, and every year she is becoming more and more troublesome and dangerous. We have many other serious complaints against that turbulent country had we space to enume- rate them. The bill of indictment is long measures and for the complete absorption of the whole territory from the Arizona line to Central America, By the annexation of Mexico we should give peace to that country. The Mexicans them- selves would soon learn to bless the United States for the benefit conferred. The rich sil- ver, quicksilver, copper, gold and other mines would soon be developed in an extraordinary manner, and the boundless agricultural and other resources would be brought ont to enrich both the Mexicans and our own country, The different States would become so many new Califoraias in wealth and prosperity ander the rule and enterprise of Americans. Railroads and the telegraph would penetrate every sec- tion, and tens of thousands of oar people would go ‘to the splendid tropical table lands for health and pleasure. Mexico would rise, like the phoenix from its ashes, The six or seven millions of docile and industrious peons would have a new motive for labor, and the country would blossom asa rose, The United States would have a monopoly of the silver and quicksilver productions of the worid, 4 go? The same sort of timid, over-pradent and | gomoralized democracy, the main question ; besides a vast increase tothe product of gold, copper and other minerals. The Isthmus.of Tehuaniepec would become ours, besides a number of valuable ports, both in the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico. In short, the imagina- tion would hardly realize all the advantages to both Mexico and the United States which annexation would bring. This is the great question for the administration and the domi- nant republican party. It is the grandest op- portunity General Grant could have. What says the President? Will he make the an- nexation of Mexico the policy of his admin- istration ? The f Opening ef a New Chapter in Our Political History. The reassembling of the two houses of Con- gress to-day will be an event of more than ordinary importance. It will give us in the President's Message the platform of Genera! Grant and of the republican party for the great national contest of 1872. In this view we expect a very interesting Message, and a Message calculated to meet the general ap- proval of the country, toa great extent, on the important subjects of the national reve- nues, the national debt, the reduction of our national taxes, internal and external; the Spanish Barbarivm in Cuba. The letter which we publish to-day from our correspondent will, deepen the horror and indignation which was felt by the civilized world at the assassination of the Cuban students for an act that would have been severely punished by a short term of imprison- ment. The provocation offered to the Spanish volunteers by the thoughtless act of a few young men was made to assume a political importance which did not belong to it, for the purpose of in some way justifying the bar- barous vengeance which was wreaked on the offending students. But it will be seen from our correspondent's letter that even this flimsy excuse has been taken from the authors of the most cowardly crim of modern days. So far from any political demonstration hav- j ing been intended, it now appears that the students visited the cemetery for the object of pursuing their anatomical studies in the dead house, which is within the grounds, And it was while engaged in those studies that the suggestion to mark their disapproval of the Spanish cause was made, and acted upon without reflection. In a moment of repre- + hensible folly the young men offered insult to the grave of Castafion, a proceeding with which we can have no sympathy; but the civilized world has lost sight of the indiscretion in view of the tertible ven- geance which has been taken with such relentless cruelty by the Spanish authori- ties. Nor will the poor excuse that the blood of these young men has been offered up to appease the clamors of a bloodthirsty sol- diery avail nught-before the tribunal of public opinion, By the action of her responsibl: rep- resentatives Spanish rule in Cuba has lost all claims to be considered civilized, and the people would be fully justified in placing those public assassins outside the pale of law and treating them as brigands and murderers. A few more such acts of barbarism, and it will become a question bow long we shall permit civilization to be outraged at our doors with impunity. Spanish orators and governors mistake the calm and dispassionate representa- tions of our government and press for weak- ness or pusillanimity; but there is a limit even to our patience, and if once the popular voice shall definitely demand that the Spanish outrages in Cuba shall cease, no government will dare long to refuse obedience to the popu- lar will, Had the victims of the latest act of barbarity been confirmed political offenders, or even men taken with arms in their hands fighting for what they thought the rights of their country, we should not have considered their execution justifiable under the circumstance of their trial. No such mockery of justice has taken place since the maddened sans culottes filled the halls of justice in Paris and de- manded the blood of the aristocrats. The Mormon polygamy question, the Ku Klux | seene at Havana, on the occasion of the trial Klans, onr Indian brethren, our Oriental rela- tions and our relations with Spain and Mexico. of the murdered students, had more than one point of resemblance with the darkest days of We suppose, too, that as in all the State elec. French history, and we can see in the blood- tions of the passing year, from Connecticut to New York, the republican party has fought its battles and won its victories under the banner of the administration, the membtrs of the party in both houses of Congress, with a few exceplions, will promptly take their position in favor of General Grant and his policy for apother Presidential term. But what is to become of these exceptional radicals—such as Senators Sumner, Trambull, thirsty volunteers who forced General Clavijo to return to his place on the court martial the worthy rivals of Marat's butchers. Whatever excuse may be offered for the maddened and oppressed Frenchmen, who at least sought vengeance on a class that had grievously injured them, none can be offered for the men who clamored for the blood of boys because they had foolishly and wantonly desecrated a grave. Between the Logan, Schurz and Fenton? Where will they | orime and the punishment there is such mani- This is now, in connection with the fest disproportion that we stand aghast, and are really unable to realize that men with human and it is upon this matter of a reorganization | hearts could be capable of so much cruelty. of the democratic party that this meeting of | qhe sense of public indignation is dulled by Congress will be the opening of a new chapter in the political history of the country, The prevailing idea just now among the demo- cratic managers is a new departure, tanta- mount to a breaking up of the old worn out party machine. party doctors recommending the Missouri fusion policy—the policy of permitting the the very enormity of the crime which chal- lenges our condemnation; but when the depth and atrocity of the outrage are fully realized there will arise a universal cry for justice on the assassins. In setting at defiance every Here we have some of the | principle of justice, the opinions of the civil- ized world, and making a code to themselves, the Spanish authorities are but hastening the disaffected republicans to organize a new | end which is inevitable. The people of the anti-Grant party, as a nucleus in the front, in support of which the democracy, file, may rally as volunteers in the rear. Here we have Mr. Voorhees, of Indiana, re- commendiug first a National Democratic Con- United States are not much inclined to ag- rank and | gressive war, but if the spirit of the age is to be defied and a rule of barbavism set up just atour doors we shall be compelled, in the interest of humanity, to bring it to an end. vention at once to reorganize the party, and | The shooting to death of the eight students at then another meeting at a later day for the purpose of nominating a Presidential ticket. Hero we have it proposed that the democrats republican, such as Sumner, Brown or Greeley, without the encumbrance of a party platform of any sort, and here we have the platform of Carl Schurz, submitted as the elixir of life. Here we havea party doctor proposing a joint consultation of democrats and republican soreheads, and here comes up another who urges the great Penneylvania railway king, Tom Scott, as the Hercules, who, with his five hundred locomo- tive power, can surely pull the democratic apple cart out of the mud. All these propositions will now come before the democrats in Congress as the dry nurses of their party. They will, doubtless, first hold a caucus to consider their line of legislative action in reference to the President's recom- mendations, and they will next, perhaps, proceed to ‘‘interview” Messrs, Sumner, Trowmbull, Schurz, Fenton and other republi- can malcontents on the subject of a coalition against Grant. There will probably be some counting of noses and comparing of votes in Ex-Attorney General Stansbury aud Reverdy | marauding bands and evolutionists, and | Washington among these parties to-night, and Johnson are retained for the alleged Ku Klux, and it is likely to require all their eloquence to move the colored jurymen, in whose ears the name of Ku Klux is associated with Havana may for a moment have repressed by terror the disaffection of the Cubans, but it has created a feeling in this country that will shall adopt as their candidate some bolting | not die away with the report of the murderous Trumbull, Gratz | volley of Spain's eoldier assassins. The iron grasp in which Valmaseda and his companions hold the Queen of the Antilles may prove to be but the death clutch of Spanish power in America. Too Many Irons In tHe Fire.—‘‘Boss Tweed,” it appears, with the flush times of the “Ring,” bad entered into many enterprises, including Americus Clubs, sample rooms, hotels, savings banks, real estate and Croton water speculations, railroads and newspapers. Perhaps it was in view of a removal to the United States Treasary in Washington with a democratic Tammany administration in 1873 that he dipped pretty heavily into the specula- tion of a newspaper organ at Washington; but having sold out his interest therein—cheap for cash—we Infer that he has abandoned his grand idea of taking charge in 1878 of the one hundred millions in the United States Treasury, Because why? Too many irons in the fire and too much fire for the irous, THE Latest Taxa Ovr—The anti-Grant American citizens have been plundered and | we may have some light thrown upon the sub- | presidential programme of Mrs. Cady Stan- otherwise injured by Mexican desperadoes. The government of Mexico has either turned a deaf ear to remonstrances or been powerless ject in our reports from the national capital before to-morrow morning. We expect, too, before many days are over, among the mis- ton, of a fusion party against General Grant, without a platform, and with a separate Pre- sidential candidate for each of the States, horrors, to have much sympathy for the | i) prevent the evil. The Free Zone, as it is race se called along the Rio Grande border, has been Tax Waarros-Keronum Murver Trrar.— | kept up for the benefit of smngglers, to the Mrs. Eileo G. Wharton, widow of the late | great injury of our cltisens, our trade, and at Major H. Wharion, of the United States | @ loss, as was eaid, of millions # year to our Army, will be placed on trial in Annapolis, | revenue. All the remonstrances and efforts M4,, to-day, charged with baving murdered | to prevent this by the United States have General W. Scott Ketchum by poisoning. | been in vain, Our government has at turns The case haa been removed from Baltimore to | been defied, cajoled by Mexican treachery, or Annapolis on motion of the prisoner's counsel, | told tuat the Mexican authorities were power- The position which Mra, Wharton bas hitherto | less to apply aremedy. In fact, there is no held in aristocratic society in Maryland, the | government in Mexico worthy of the name. devotion and present sorrow of ber daughter, | Nor can there ever be, At the present time the extraordinary charges which are made by the whole country is in a ferment of revolution, the prosecution, and the array of testimony and the prey of rival and unscrupulous chiefs, and counsel which will be presented to the | There is no security, and never will be, for Court, will rendor the trial one of the causes | our citizens along the Mexican border, until célabres of the criminal calendar of the age. | the country becomes annexed, This border, A synopsié of the acousations which are made let it be remembered, extends for near fifteen against Mrs, Wharton, with the main points of | hundred miles, The territory is only sepa. her defence, are published in the Hunratp. rated from ours, part of the distance, by the cellaneous propositions of resolution day in | Thig would make thirty-seven, and if a combi- the House, some Presidential feelers which | nation of thirty-seven opposition candidates will compel all doubtful customers to show can’t beat Grant he can’t be beaten at their hands. One thing is certain, and that is, | an, By the way, it isa curious fact that all that upon the threshold of the Presidential | the women’s rights women, married or contest every man in Congress will be com- single, are in favor of a “new departure” pelled to define his position—Grant or anti- | and a scrub ra Grant—and of another thing, we have no doubt, and that is that after taking soundings the democrats will agree that neither the project of falling in behind the republican soreheads nor the scheme of a joint stock accommodation Presidential ticket will pay expenses in 1872. Tus Statement that Mr. Bancroft Davis’ presentation of the case of the United States in regard to the Alabama claims question, for submission to the Geneva Conference, is un- satisfactory to the American members of the Commission, is denied. Mr. Davis’ intimate acquaintance with the subject and the thorough Tmery-Five INpicrxmx7s have been found | knowledge of the intentions of the original against the mob who massacred the Chinese in | Joint High Commission, which he obtained Los Angeles, In a country where Chinese | as Secretary to the American half of that his- life is of so litte account as in California it is} torical Convention, certainly render him fully not likely that the indictments will amount to | competent to present the case in a most ‘ex- muchs haustive statements ‘The Keport of che Secretary of War | of the The anaual report of the Secretary of War, which we publish this’ morning, is quite am in- teresting document, It covers the different branches of ‘the service, with all essential details. The Secretary starts out with the announcement that the reorganization of the army required by the act of Congress of July 15, 1870, has been accomplished. The total number of enlisted men now in the ser- vice is thirty thousand. Tie number of staff officers has been reduced, and line officers de- tached for staff duty have been sent back to their regiments. ‘The financial figures show a gradual and a great reduction in the expen- ditures. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1869, they were over eighty and a half millions of dollars; 1870, over fifty-seven and 9 half millions, and 1871, about forty mil- lions, For the next fiscal year the appropria- tions amount to a little over thirty-six and a half millions, and the estimates for 1873 are a little less than thirty-two and a half millions, These include the cost of river and harbor improvements. Thus it is shown that the reduction in expenses in the War Deparment during the year 1869-70 amounted to nearly twenty-three millions of dollars, and during the year 1870-71 there was a further reduction of over seventeen and a half millions, while the sub- sequent appropriations and estimates point to a continued decrease in the expenses. The Secretary suggests that the services of extra lieutenants now. authorized by law to act as regimental adjatants and quartermasters can be dispensed with, and that the positions now occupied by certain non-commissioned officers can be dis- continued without injury to the service. While the troops have been well clothed and fed and comparatively well sheltered, he recommends that adequate appropriations bo made to increase their comfort, Modifications and im- provements are being made in our seacoast and harbor defences in accordance with the requirements of modern warfare. Special reference is made to the important achievements of the Signal Corps in connec- tion with the meteorological observations. It was only 80 recently as October last that the display of cautionary signals announcing the probably approach of storms was commenced for the first time in the United States at twenty ports upon the lakes and the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and they have already proved of great practical importance to our commercial interests. It has been ascer- tained that of the deductions published from the Signal Office sixty-nine per cent are, after acareful examination of the statistics, con- sidered to have been fully verified; and this percentage increased by those recorded as practically verified will ‘make an aggregate of ninety per cent of average verification. This speaks well for the Signal Service, which in this special branch, as the Secretary says, is more extensive and better organized in the United States than in any other country in the world. " The report shows the prompt relief afforded by the War Department to the sufferers by the Western fires, suggests a remedy for defalca- tions by a more careful and systematic scrutiny of officers’ accounts, and closes with an allu- sion to the necessity for the continued employment of troops in States of the South for the suppression of the Ku Klux. Secretary Belknap says it is a painful tact, which merits serious consideration, that indisputable evidence establishes the fact that ‘an armed rebellion of regular organization and great strength exists in parts of those States,” and ‘‘so long as it exists, so long will it be necessary to ald the civil authorities with the armed force of the nation in putting down this second rebellion and in briaging its leaders to speedy punishment.” Ceanelly Case—Applicatien for a Decrease ef Bail. An application is to be made in the Supreme Court to-day, either before Judge Learned, in Albany, or Judge Hogeboom, in Columbia county, on the part of ex-Comptroller Con- nolly, for a decrease in the amount of bail fixed by the former in the suit brought by the Attorney General against the city officials and contractors alleged to be implicated in the municipal frauds, It is held, on the part of the defendant Connolly that one million dol- lars, requiring sureties to justify in double that sum, is ‘excessive bail,” and as such {s in violation of the constitution, The Court has, of course, the power of deciding for The itself whether or not the amount is “excessive” under the circumstances of the case, but it is certainly a very difficult thing, when brought toa practical test, to obtain sureties who can justify in two million dollars of unencumbered real estate. The real point is whether the interests of the people will suffer by reducing the bail to such a sum as will enable the ex-Comptroller to gain his liberty. The present suit is a civil one, and is bronght only to re. cover from the defendants the amount alleged to have been improperly and dishonestly taken by them from the city treasury. The bail is reqaired to insure the appearance of the defendants in Court on the action, so that they may not fly the coun- try after having disposed of their property in such a manner as to prevent recovery in case of a judgment for the people. The sureties are released as soon the defendants appear, and the bail docs not cover any judgment that may be recovered. The incarceration of the parties in such a case does not subserve any good end, unless it may be to prevent the sale or transfer of their property, and this can be better accomplished by an injunction such as has been obtained, although probably at too late a day, in the instance of William M. Tweed, In criminal proceedings, where such gross and wholesale frauds are charged to have been committed, any bail might be prop- erly refused, arbitrary as such a decision may appear, provided that the accused be insured @ speedy trial, It is necessary that an example be made of the men who have 80 shamefally abused the trust confided in them, and if oriminally indicted no chance should be afforded them of escap- ing the punishment due to their crimes by for- feiting an amount of ball that after all could be but a fraction of the large aggregate of their plunder, Bat, as we have said, the présent suit is a civil one; a judgment, if obtained, would be paid and no incarceration aii asta cil defendants would follow. We cas, therefore, see no reason why the bail should not be placed at such 9 sum as would render it possible for the defendant to procure bis sureties, provided the Recessary stops are taken to guard against the sale or transfer of his property so as to prevent the collection of a judgment. Pulpit Dectrmes Yesterday, With the approaoh of Christmas there seems to have come over our ministerial friends a solemnity which hardly accords with the joy that the Saviour’s’ coming originally brought to the earth or that the commemoration of that event should inspire. Nor does it agree very well with the festivitios of Thanksgiving through which we. have just passed. The great theme in all the Catholic churches yes- terday was the advent of the Saviour. The Rev, Father McNeirny in the Cathedral, Father McCready in St, Stephen's and Father Dwyer in St. Paul's, touched on — this subject. It came before them in the Gospel for the Day, and they drew that attention to it which its. promi- nence as a doctrine of the Christian. Church demands, Father Dwyer waxed’ eloquent over the terrible realities of the’ Judgment Day, which he portrayed in vivid colors so that his audience could not mistake his mean- ing. Sketching the different classes who siall stand before the judgment seat’ of “Christ at last he said :—‘‘On the one hand shall’ appear the murderer, the calamniator, the pexjarer, the one who blasphemed and would not) go to mass, the young lady that wasted her bedy in idloneas and the round dance, the young man who in a reckless aod sinful life found destruc- tion and ap early grave. Deunken children shall appear by the side of dranken parents, and among all the infidel who denied this dictrine. and tho athelst who scoffed at it.” And then in his touching appeal ‘to the despisers of the Divine grace and merey, he pointedly asked if they did not feel giad that this great day has not yet come and for ever shut them off from repentance and from heaven. Dr. Ewer, in his new ritual Coureh of the Holy Light, discoursed also en the judgment, and said that “the punishments and rewards in the next world are awarded in proportion to the wickedness or goodness of the soul. Endless life is endless change. Movement is the order of existence. Nothiag rests here; nothing can rest in the world of spirits.” And apropos of this subject, Father Damen, in the Church of St. John the Evan- gelist, showed from the story of the Prodigal Son the condition of every man by nuture, and the hearty welcome which his return to God will evoke. ‘ 4 Dr. Hepworth, in the Church of the Mes- siah, corroborated the Mosaic declaration of man’s fall by the well-kaown and demon- strated facts of hereditary transmission of cor- rupt minds and bodies from father to son. Angels will have angelic children, and devils will have children with devilish impulses. On this fact the whole of Darwin's theory is based, The girl of a dranken mother sips rum as the girl of good parentage drinks milk. The debauched father pays the penalty of his guilt in the shrivelled and puny body of his boy. To bo born of crime is to insure a career of crime. Five Points fathers and mothers beget Five Points children. And ancient history was called in, also, io support of this proposition. The Rev. Andrew Longacre preached on the very opposite of the sum of Dr. Hepworth’s theme sin—holiness; and showed how it may be attained by any man who honestly strives after it. But our blind conceptions of God, as shown by the Rev. Mr. Powers, of Brook- lyn, to Dr. Richardson’s congregation, inter- feres with our approach to the mercy seat and our attainment of the highest bliss on earth. Ho very emphatically summed up those con- ceptions in the following stanza, which is as true as it is ludicrous :— "Wiacke cuecks ant wool hale? Aud the Grecian God # Grecian’ face As keen-eyed, cold and fatr, Mr. Frothingham, as usual, gave himself a good swing around the circle, getting off a few smart things touching the current ortho- dox theology. ‘‘If there is a God He is here,” and said he, ‘‘if the account books of the world were to be balanced this instant they would come ont square.” This is rather encouraging for some poor fellows who let their ledger accounts with the Almighty run on until they know not how much they owe or are owed. But the orihodox folks who want to frighten careless youag men and women into goodness and viriue make, accord- ing to Mr. Frotbingham, a sad mis. take when they picture ‘‘beaven about a quarter the size of hell, and make the latter a place of perpetual torment.” If men would give one hour striving for goodness where they spend one hundred hours striving for gold they would, he believed, reach a much higher development. We believe so too. That is the misfortune of our race that gold and not glory is the thing most songht after. In Cuirist church (Protestant Episcopal) Bishop Potter yesterday read the Episcopal letter on ritualism adopted at the late Con- vention in Baltimore, a synopsis of which was published in the HeRaxp at the time. Itisa lengthy document, and, like the famous “Foley injunction” granted by Judge Barnard, both sides can find what they want in it, Nothing is positively forbidden nor recommended. It simply says in substance to the ritualists, ‘‘Piease don’t go too far with your practices, but if you keep within the Prayer Book you shall find warrant there for a moderate kind of auricular confession, a proper respect for the Blessed Virgin and some little notice of the saints in your devotions. But don’t make these things too prominent or the ‘Low Oburch’ people will protest more loudly than they have done heretofore.” So much has been written and published lately on the tricks and tippings of ceriain pieces of furniture in Plymouth charch, it was certainly believed Mr. Beecher would take some notice of it and would, perhaps, account for some of the “wonderful manifestations.” Last night he preached on spiritualism, but did not say the first thing about table-tipping to gratily the itching ears of any one in his vast audience, His spiritualism is that of. the Bible, wherein God is shown by His Holy Spirit to koock on the fleshly tables of haman hearis, and wherein angels are described as ministering spirits to those who are to be