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NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR, Volume XXXVI......:::ceeseeseeeeres ee NO, 359 AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway and 13th street.— iN Ga RTH. NIBLO'S GARDEN, Houston way, between Prince and etrecis,—BLAOK CROOK, BOWFRY THEATRE, Bowery.—Fars—Bnorase Brut AND brotuen Bey. ACADEMY OF NUSIO, Fourteenth street.—Tor Orrea ov Iu TRovaToRE. * OLYMPIC THEATRE, ‘TOMIME OF Broadway.—Tus BALLET Pan- jumptTy DUMPTy, pone. THEATRE, Twenty-third st, corner Sixth ar.— AMLET. WOOD'S MUSLUM, Broadway, corner 36th st.—Perform- ances afternoon and evenmg.—JIORET OF LEAVE MAN, GRAND OPERA HOUSE, corner of 8h av. and Sid st— Cuan.es O'MALLEY, FIFTH AVENUB THEATRE, Twenty-fourth street. — Tue New Drama oF Divoxros. LINA EDWIN'S THEATRI Bovurre—Le vont pgs 801 MRS. F. B. CONWAY'S BROOKLYN THEATBE.— Romanos OF 4 Poon Youna Man. No. 790 Broadway.—OPERA PARK THEATRE, opposite” Bounswwss; on, Dor House von THEATRE CONMIQUE, 614 Broadway,(oxio Vout 188, NEGRO ACTS, &O. UNION SQUARE THEATRE, Fourteétth st. and Broad- way.—NEGRO AOTS—BUBLESQUE, BALLET, £6, e ea Str TONY PASTOR" Bowery.~ Nrero Eoorn’ Ht oan Bunesesea ns ‘ CITIES, BRYANTS NEW OPERA HOUSB, Pine peti inl oy erase Pane eee SAN FRANCISCO MINSTREL Broadway.— ‘Tuk SAN FRANCISCO aoe 38 pend STEINWAY HAL! yurteenth street.. CoxoEnT. ee Seco online NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fourjeonta sireet.—SoENES THE Ring, ACROBATS, £0. NIXON'S GREAT SOUTHE! — SORE IN TOE BING AO en NOUS 728 Broadway. ‘Ball, Brooklyn.— Bonz, ————— TRIPLE SHEET., New York, Monday, December 18, 1871. = CONTENTS OF TO-DAY’S HERALD. Page. 1- Advertisements, 2~Adverusements, 3—Yesterday’s Parade: The Processton in Honor of the Executed Comuiunists—General Rules and Administrative Regulations by which the Invernational Association 13 Governed—News from Washington—Obituary—Virginia Finan cce.—Scene on the the Mississippi River, 4—Hellgious: Congregational Cnristianity in the Churches of the City; Summary of Sermons by Popular Divines; Dr. MoGlyan on the Bible im the Common Schools; A Practica! Discourse on Temperance; Mr. Beecher on the Pity of God for Man; The Plumb-Line in Life De- serived by Mr. Hepworth—St. Stephen's Cliurch Fair—Views of the rast. 6—Bantam vs, Ginx: The Lite of a Young Britisn Aristocrat Wno Has Imbibed Radical Ideas; A Sweeping Satire on the Anomaly of British Institutions—Literature: Book Leview; Liter. ary Chit-Chat; New Publications Reviewed— Art In the Galleries, ai @—Lditortais: Leading article, “General Grant's Position and Opportunity—Territorial and Comazercial Expansion the Policy’’—Amuse- ment Announcenients, ‘7—Editoriais (Continued irom Sixth Page)—Euro- pean Cable Telegrams: The Prince of Wales’ liiness—Mexico: The Backbone of the Revolution Broken; Opening of Congress and Speech of President Juarez; The Prov- av.ues of an Amercan Protectorate Dis- cus¢a—News from China and fapan— The Weather Report—Miscellaneous Telegrams— Tweed aud Connoily—Personal Intelligence— Another Ralroad Horror—Bustness Notices. 8-Cuva; The Scene of the Alleged Desecration by the Havana Students—Music and the Drama— ‘The English Stage—Georgia Politics—Running Notes, Political and General—Tne Navy—A Clty Swept Away in India—A State Judge In- dicted In the United States Court. 9—Cock-a-loodle-Doo: The Science and Amuse- ment of Breeding and Fignung Game Cnick- ens; How It Has Been in England and How It ds in the United States—Pursuit of Western Express Robbers—Commercial Unton Fire assurance Company of London, England— Thieves on the Harlem Ratiroad—Financial and Commercial Reports—Domestic and Ha- vana Markets—The Dry Goods Market—Mar- riages and Deatis, 10—{Tae General Lana Office: Startll Disclo- sures—Quick Trial of a Murderer in Ohio—The Far East: The Japanese Datmios Preparing to Surrender Their Feudal Privileges—A Biooa- thirsty Negro—New York City—Court Calen- dars—Tne Smallpox in Brooklyn—rhe Whar- ton Trial—Snipping Intelligence—Advertise- mei 5 is and Accidents on Saturday—A Fam- din Georgla—Addertisementa, ements. t2-Aaver “Carsrmas 13 Comrna.”"—Look at the splendid exhibit—the wsrld's fair of our advertising columns, and at the abounding supplies of ail descriptions provided by our enterprising storekeepers ta meet the de- mands of their cnstgmerg in town and coun- try, wholesale and retail, Pe for “a merry Caris:mas.” Toe Smatipox QrAKANTINN AT OARLES- TON on vessels from New York and Phila- delphia has been discontioued. This will bea matter of satisfaction to stezmship captains who have been delayed aud inconvenienced in consequence of the restrictions prt upon their vessels by the authorities there. Tne News From Mexico enrourages the hope that that unfortunate oountry may yet bo rescued from chaos, Accordiog to our special despatch from the Mexican capital the government of President Juarez has gb-. tained the mastery, and tho revoluti-n Is steadily losing ground by the return to allegiance of many military commanders who had favored the cause of Diaz. Movements ov THE Grand Duxe.—The Grand Duke, from Montreal, is expected at the handsome little Canadian city of Ottawa this afternoon. He does not desire any pub- Jic demonstration (on account of the illness of the Prince of Wales), and his visit will proba- bly be a quiet one; although the gratifying news which continues to be reported from Sandringham will doubtless very much brighten the loyal faces of the New Dominion. Tne Leoistature or Sowrm Canorina, says a special despatch, will to-day be occu- pied in considering the report made by the Bowen Investigating Committee, which con- firms a fraudulent over issue of nearly seven millioa dollars of the new State bonds, Should such an amount of fraud be clearly proved, South Carolina will scarcely bo able to point the finger of scorn at New Youk, for this may be fairly placed in the category of any re- sently discovered ‘‘big” frauds, “aug Discovery OF SPROIMENS oF Amrruysr, Garner axp Goip-Beartna Quartz is an- nounced from St. Joseph, Missouri. Some workmen assisting in the construction of a bridge over tha Missouri River at that point, struck the specimens at a depth of forty-three feet below low water. Apart from the induce- ments to speculators from such discoveries, , the announcement will be of interest to the geologists of the country, as the despatch states that the gravel bed on which they were ‘$yund le crideutly the old bottom of the goa, Geacral Grast’s Position and Opportu- aity—Territorial aud Commercial Expno- sien the Pelloy. The anarchy in Mexico and the horrible state of affairs in Cuba—both chronic and a source of perpetual trouble to the United States—bring up the question as to the duty and policy of our government putting an end to these disorders by annexation. The timo appears specially opportune for the serious consideration of this subject. There is no hope—no possible prospect ef peace or good government in either Mexico or Cuba under the native rule of the former or the colonial status of the latter, This bardly any one will venture to deny. No other evidence is wanted in the case of Mexico than the history of that country and the present anarchy that reigns there—for we have no faith in the re- port conveyed to us this morning that ‘the backbone of the rebellion has been broken;” nor in that of Cuba than the uniform despotic and cruel government of Spain over the colony, the prolonged and des- perate civil war there, the virtual usurpation of the government of the island by a rebel faction of Spaniards, called volunteers, and the frightful atrocities, that disgrace the civil- ization of the age, which are committed, Under this state of things there is no hope that permanent peace can be restored in one country or the other. It can only come through a radical change in the allegiance of the people, and in their subjection to the humane, liberal and strong government of the United States. Annexation is the only remedy, All thoughtful and Iiberal-minded Mexicans, Cubans and even Spaniards will aimit this, though some of them may not like the {dea of annexation. The civilized nations and statesmen of the world know the fact, and see that sooner or later both Mexico and Cuba must be annexed to the United States, though some of them might oppose, from jealousy or othér causes, any movement in that direction, And what Amerioan citizen will deny that an- nexation is the only remedy for the disorders and evils of Mexico and Cuba? Some Ameri- cans may not want to annex both or either of these countries just now—may want to bridle the manifest destiny of their country, as our timid and mistaken conservatives always bave; but few will deny that annexation is inevitable some time, and at no distant day. There are, doubtless, several important con- siderations to be duly weighed in couneution with this qnestion. These we shall rofer to. But, first, we will look at the matter in a political point of view as bearing upon parties, the Presideucy and General Grant's position and opportunity. The republican party and General Grant have used up pretty well the issues of our civil war. In fact, they have pushed them to snch a radical extreme for party purposes as to shake public confidence and esteem, This is so apparent that, had the democratic party frankly accepted the issues of shy war, and pursued a wise, broad and liberal poliay, it wculd have grown strong again, and have hada fair prospect of carry- ing the next Presidential election. The people were diesatisfied with the proscriptive and high tariff policy, extravagance and cor- ruption of the republicane. The tide of re- action had already set in, as may be seen by the increased democratis representation in Congress. This was checked, however, by the folly of the democrats and by the dishonesty of the Tammany leaders, but not by the virtue of the republican party or any renewed confidence in it, General Grant holds much the same negative position, His mililary prestige was discounted in his elec- tion in 1868. He will now have to appeal to popular opinion on other grounds—on the merits of his administration. Demoralized end apparently powerless as the democrats are, they are still a great party, and hold cer- tain principles of policy more in accordance with the views of the American people than the republicans, But the most threatening political developments agalast the President are among the republicans. This has been seer. especially since the commencement of the present sessiun of Uongress. A number of prominent and strong leaders of the party nas shown decided hostility. Some ard rival yspiraots for the Presidency; some in- imical tc Gonezal Grant personally; some are Opposed to give any President two terms io office; and some go further for revenue reform and free trade than the administration, | For these and other reasons there is a decided and growing Gissutisfaction with General Grant snd bis candidacy for a second term, A new and great natioual issue like that of the annexation of Mexice or Cuba, or both, would arouse popular ambition aud fervor; would put au end to sectional discord, by uniting the whole of the American -people— North, South, East and West—in one common object; would break down factious opposition to the administration, re-elect General Grant beyond all doubt, and seud his name down to posterity as one of the greatest benefactors of his country. He would meet wth opposition, no doubt, particularly at first; but this would soon be overwhelmed by popular sentiment. No measure for annexation of yaluable ter- ritory has ever failed to secure public favor and the popularity of those who accomplished it, The history of the country shows that. The St. Domingo scheme has not been well received because the country is remote, a wilderness comparatively, has no productions or commeroe, and with no probability of being settled and developed. It is altogether differ- ent with Mexico or Cuba. Look at the wealth, progress and glory which have resulted from the annexation of Louisiana, Texas and California, Yet the incorporation of those rich and vast portions of our republican empire was opposed by short-sighted and timid politi- cians. But, as was said, opposition soon breaks down when the material interests, grandeur and progress of the republic are in question, Over-conservative and weak-minded men, like the Secretary of State, may open their eyes with alarm at such a proposition, They would bo frightened at the prospect of war. Indeed, decrepit old Spain has already made them tremble by her bombastic threats, But war need not follow necessarily a determina- tion to annex either Mexico or Cuba, If it should the gain would be greater than the cost, and no one, we suppose, would have the loast doubt as te the success of our arms, Can we demand the annexation of one or both these countries without a breach of national honor? ‘There is sufficient cauge in the actual condition of them, in the trouble they give us, in the continued injuries inflicted upon our citizens, commerce and revenue, and in their threatened lapse from anarchy into decay and barbarism. The cause of civilization, bhu- manity and progress demands the interposi- tion of this great nation, None of the Powers of Europe would have tolerated such chronic disorder and uncivilized conduct on their border as long as we have suffered them in the case of Mexico and Cuba. We have long assumed a certain guardianship over the populations and coun- tries of North America ; have rescued Mexico from a foreign invasion and monarchical gov- ernment, and have had many complications, verging sometimes upon war, with European nations with regard to these neighboring ter- ritories, Indeed, we have had more trouble about Cuba than with any other interaational question. Is it not time to end all this? Has not the opportunity come, through the chronic disorders and frightful excesses of civil war, to demand these territories and give the people peace and good government? We have mourned over onr declining ship- ping interests and crippled commerce, and the government knows not what to do to restore them. The annexation of Mexico alone would open a vast and profitable area to our commerce and employment for our ship- ping. Tho wonderful mineral wealth of that coantry, as well as her boundless agricultural capabilities, would be developed in an extra- ordinary manner. Ina few years wo should have in Mexico several such cvuntries as California, and a vast trade both across the border and for our shipping in the Gulf of Mexico and on the Pacific would spring up. And what a fleet of vessels would not Cuba employ? No one need be told of the greut and valuable products of that island. These are well krown. The annexation of Cuba would give also the people of the United States cheap sugur, coffee and other tropical pro ducts, besides affording a splendid market for the productions and maunfactures of this coun- try. These are only a few of the material ad- vantages that would follow. Here, then, is a grand opportunity for General Grant to make himself popular while adding vastly to the wealth and progress of the country. We can have Mexico if he will, or Cuba if he will, or both if he has grasp and nerve enough to seize the opportunity afforded by the present state of things. American Influcnces In tho Far East—A New Mission from Japan. By the steamship Great Republic, from Hong Kong and Yokohama, at San Francisco, and thence by overland telegraph, we have an interesting and varied budget of news from the far East. It is dated in the Japanese port to the 22d of November. The exceedingly valu- able cargo, with the great number of pas- sengers, which were landed from ‘the mail vessel at San Francisco—as stated in our telegram—afford additional assurance—solid and vivi voce—of the progress of the grand revolution in the current of trade and travel from the far East which has been effected by the working of the Pacific Railroad, and the consequent estab- lishment of New York as a receiving and dis- tributing reservoir of the cargoes of Chinese and Japanese products, both for home con- sumption and foreign use. The third officer of the Great Republic died on the voyage. A new volcano was in violent eruption on Sarva Island as the mail vessel passed out. The American Minister to Japan had returned to Yokohama from Hakodadi. A new Japanese embassy has been commissioned to confer with forelga governments on the subject of treaties revision. The members of the com- mission sailed from Yokohama for San Fran- cisco yesterday, and constituted the most im- portant embassy ever before sent out from the empire. The Daimios of Japan and their retainers have bsen dis- armed—a .heavy blow to the power of feudal aristocracy in the empires of the East. The Mikado is willing to open Japan to foreign trade, but will do so only after the reception of a “*: request froin the outside governments. e officers ofthe United States ship Colorado were pre- Sénled to the ruler of Japan. A disastrous fire destroyed almost the entire city of Hako- dadi, with other property valued at halfa million of dollara. The exports of tea are ex- traordinarily heavy. Silk was firm in price, United States Minister De Long will return home by the next steamer to confer with our government relative to the proposed revision of the treaties with Japan. The point of contact, for purposes of civilization and international commerce, between Japan and China and the people of the American Union, is being per- fected daily by the workings of steam and electricity. wr cdacmlaae 485 std das The International Parade. The International demonstration yesterday was a respectable, but by no means imposing affair, and the quiet, orderly behavior of those who took part in it served to render the stupid action of the Police Commissioners, in at- tempting to interfere with it, even more ridic- ulous than it previously appeared. Some fifteen hundred persons, as the reports testify, were in the procession, the paucity being ac- counted for by the fact that the International Societies were not united on the question of holding memorial funeral services in honor of the executed Communists, Still the demon- stration was a respectable one, and the good conduct of the men was highly com- mendable, The police regulations were not as effective as they might have been, and at several points the spectators were left free to break in upon and interfere with the line of march. Fortunately, however, no breach of the peace occurred, and the whole affair passed off successfully and agreeably. Police Commissioner Bosworth was relieved of his apprehension of any evi! results arising from the counsels of the ‘secular press;” the right of the citizens to mect in a legitimate, orderly and peaceable manner was vindicated ; the Communist sentiment was satisfied and no harm has been done to anybody, Indeed, one public good may have been secured by the demonstration, if the polico authorities will profit by the lesson it teaches, and learn that a power, armed for the enforcement and vindication of the law, can never successfully oversiraio its authority and encroach upon the liberties of the people. Is Ira Re-Lease-—That pulling down the Stars aud Stripes in Samana Bay? NEW YORK! HERALD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1871—TRIPLE SHER. : The Bible in the Public Schools, Any words coming from such an authority as the eloquent and acholarly pastor of St. Stephen's Catholic church in this city are worthy of attention, but none more so than those relating to a question which is now agitating, not only this country, but certain portions of Europe—namely, the Christian edu- cation of children, The controversy on this subject has been provoked by the custom, so long established here as to have almost tho force and form of law, of reading a portion of the Bible at the opening of the public schools, It was fitting, therefore, that in Hunter’s Polut, where the controversy has produced such bad blood, that Dr. McGlynn should, as he did last night, by invitation, express his mature opinions and views on the merits of this ques- tion, After stating the relation which the Commonwealth bears to every form of religious faith and worship, he declared that local school boards were trying to es- tablish a form of religion as against the specific declarations of the federal and State constitutions to the contrary, and that the consciences of many are thereby wounded, and sectarianism, which he greatly depre- cated, is prospered and encouraged. The Doctor, we think, erred, however, in saying that this is done in provocation and defiance of the Catholic Church and its teachings. We can hardly conceive that any school board would bg so illiberal as to enforce a thing because the Catholic Church forbade it. Rather we belleve the custom prevailed long before the Catholics objected or raised their voice against the reading of the Scriptures in the schools; and, indeed; in some parts of the land and of this State, the practice is as old as the Commonwealth and older than the corpo- rate existence of the Church here, But the Doctor's strongest argument lay in the alleged enforcement of the Bible reading upon Jewish children—provided, however, that they object. Christians of every name— Catholic: or Protestant—hold the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament in common, but the Jews reject the New and its teachings, And yet, so far as any practical protest has come frem them, they are. content that their children shall hear a few verses read every day rather than that they should stay away from school. And 8o far as our experience reaches the principals select their Scriptures from the Old Testament, and generally a short Psalm, a few Proverbs or something akin, But the Jewish parents do not complain because they are enjoined in their Bible to teach these Scriptures to their chil- dren as they go in and out and walk by the way, at all times and in all places and under all circumstances and conditions, And they would hardly object to it in the place pecu- liarly designed for instruction. Still, if the consciences of weak brethren are wounded by St. James’ version—and that seems to be the great objection—why not adopt another? Can there be no compromise in this matter? Are we so unchristian as to force our opinions and creeds upon those who do not want them? Surely there is a better way, and we regret that Dr. McGlynn did not point out some method of compromise to the flery and hot- headed Hunter's Pointers of the differing creeds who listened to his lecture last evening. The absolute putting away of the Bible would create just such a clamor from the other side for its restoration as is being now made against it. And then we should be no better off than we are and no nearer a solution of the vexed question, now we are making up for ft, and we fear that the worst is yet to come, The stocks of coalin and ready for the will in any event secure us against anc coal famine. The supplies on hand, for once, are too large for a corner in coal. Standing Armies aud Navies—Are We Prepared for War? The prospective reign of universal peace has long been a cherished theory of philan- thropists. With the advance of Christian civilization it has been anticipated that the barbarism of war would vanish, Even the augmenting armament of nations, the in- creased facilities which science provides for human slaughtor, have been viewed as indica- tions and adduced as arguments to flatter the hope that the instinct of human strife, awed by these accumulating terrors, might finally be content to remain quiescent, because no longer daring to act. Years ago a statesman of Europe said that ‘this appalliag increase of armament among the Powers is one of tho surest guarantees of peace.” The military history of the Inst decade forms a curious commentary upon the correctness of this pacific opinion. While the causes were all in operation which, according to our Utopiats, were to hasten the advent of universal peace, the earth was shaking beneath the tread of contending hosts, and the annals of humanity were redder with the record of carnage than they have been since the commencement of the century, Satisfied by this unsatisfactory ex- perience, we may as well accept the conclu- sion that human nature is human nature; that mankind will fight, and that improvement in the art of war merely enables us to decide quarrels more promptly than with the clumsy contrivances of antiquity, Assuming, then, that Christianity and civilization have as yet wrought no material change in fhe disposition of the human animal, who seems just as ready to use his claws as of old, it may be questioned whether a nation or its government is justified in ignoring this, or in the omission of precautions essential to protection of national existence, and which mitigate, even thouzh they may not avert, the dread contingencies of war. For this is there aught adequate except military and naval pre- paration?, And is not this a national duty? Does not the government owe to its citizens protection? Andis such protection anything more or less than physical interposition of strength armed with such weapons as render it effective? Ifin 1861 our government had possessed military and naval strength appro- priate to the magnitude and adequate to the security of the nation, the rebellion might not have occurred, or, if uuavoidable, would cer- tainly have been more speedily suppressed. Awar which lasted four years might have ended in two, not half the number of men would have been sacrificed, and our national debt would have been limited to perhaps less than one-third of its present huge proportions, Preparation for war, then, is simply a humane precaution for preservation of life and mitiga- tion of suffering—a national investment for in- creased assurance of economy in expenditure of the nation’s blood and time and treasure. The nation was not adequately prepared for war in 1861, and we paid for the error most dearly, Yet, untaught by or regardless of that terr ible lesson, we deliberately duplicate the blunders of the past, and seem voluntarily disposed toa condition of national impotence even more miserable than that of ten years ago. With extended territory, increasing population and enlarged commercial interests, demanding greater capacity for exercise of that power of protection and restraint implied in the very name of government, it is never- theless the apparent aim of legislation to di- minish, as far as possible, this capacity, and, in rendering the government practically help- less, suffer our nation to degenerate into a mere mob, incapable of self-protection and in- competent to self-control. Afflicted with the tradiilonal hostility to a “standing army,” we endeavor to emasculate that; and, more than ever imbued with ignor- ance ofthe use and purpose of a navy, our legislators appear content to permit its gradual diminution to what will be soon equivalent to about utter extirpation. Under a~ mistaken idea of economy we stint expenditure fn our navy yards, until much of the national prop- erty therein is damaged from neglect, and thus, while blindly striving to save a few thousands, risk in reality the loss of millions, Fine ships, after large amounts have been spent upon them, are left uncompleted to rot upon the stocks, and, under the disastrous policy of building cheap vessels, government work is farmed out to private contract, with the result of producing, too often, abortions of naval architecture utterly worthless, or only adapted to puzzle the seamanship and peril the safety of those so unfortunate as to man them. To protect our commerce and repre- The United States ws, Mexico—An portant Case of Alleged Piracy. We learn from San Francisco that in that city, on Saturday last, Don Manuel Cobos, a citizen of Ecuador, and Manuel Chaverro, Collector of Customs at the Mexican port of La Paz, Lower California, were arrested on a charge of piracy, in seizing the American schooner Greenwood, at Magdalena Bay, on the 28th of October last. The Lower Cali- fornia Land Company is reported as the prin- cipal mover in this prosecution; and hereby hangs a tale. Some three or four years ago a company of enterprising Americans, embracing such men ag General Butler, of Massachusetts, Marshall O. Roberts, Drake De Kay, John Anderson and George Wilkes, of this ¢ity, made a contract with President Juarez, of Mexico, which was substantially a charter to said company for the settlement of the great Pacific coast peninsula of Lower California, and the development of its resources, Several attempts have been made, in the interest of this company, to plant an American colony near the lower end of that peninsula; but they have all failed, and the last with heavy losses of property to the parties expelled. Drake De Kay and others had gathered a lot of laborers about them on the sea shore, and several little trading vessels in Magdalena The laborers were employed in Bay. ‘ ” sent the nation abroad our ‘‘floeta' gathering from the rocks along the and “squadrons,” as we term them, coast, at low tide, a species of sea weed or are of such insufficient and pitiful lichen, called orchilla, from which is obtained the famous ‘‘Tyrian purple,” or a color akin toit. This orchilla is, therefore, a cash arti- cle of commerce, commanding by weight almost the price of coffee. It abounds, a su- perior article, along the Lower California coast. Drake de Kay, associated among others, with this man Cobos, if we are not mistaken, had collected for shipment orchilla to the value of four hundred thousand dollars, when De Kay and his whole party were forcibly expelled, ag it appears, by a gang of Mexican filibusters, who seized the property of De Kay & Co., including the schooner Greenwood, and all this under some charge of violation of the laws of Mexico. Now, these arrests of Cobos and Chaverro, in San Francisco, will bring this affair toa settlement, As the facts bave been reported, itis a scandalous ease of Mexican rascality, and it ought to be, as it doubtless will be, sifted to the bottom, Meantime, as Mr, George Wilkes is or was a member of this Lower California Land Company, we should like to have his statement on the subject; for we are inclined to the opinion that in this affair we are going to have a case of great im- portance on the part of the United States against Mexico, Someratne or a DirrereNnok.—The average temperature in this city for the inst week was oleven degrees colder than in the cor- proportions that they are merely appropriate travelling advertisemenis of our weakness, rendering us contemptible in the eyes of foreign Powers and causing our sailors to blush for the credit of the American navy. In the East Indian seas the native respect for us would be greater bad we never sent a ship there; for they contrast our ridiculous naval display with the proud'armaments of other Powers, and, with no other means of judging, they judge of us accordingly. As the press informs the country, ‘‘we have just despatched a power- ful fleet to Cuba” to protect the rights of our people there, threatened by Spanish arrogance and barbarity. The mass of our citizens are probably unaware that if one of the Spanish iron-clads lying in Havana harbor should hap- pen to find it expedient she alone could readily blow our “powerful fleet”. out of the water, When, three years ago, our people anticipated that it might become advisable to whip Spain and take charge of Cuba ourselves, it might have been prudent to reflect that just then the naval force upon which we should have roliod for the job amounted to nine vessels, carrying sixty-six guns, and two thousand men, while the Spanish feet in Cuban waters consisted of fifty-six vessels, carrying five hundred and aixty heavy guos, and thirteen thousand men— a groater number than we had ip our cntire navy. Our people labor under an unfortunate delusion. Referring to the navy lift, thoy responding week of last December. In fact | fad the names of over one hundred and last winter, from December to March, we had | eighty naval vesacls, and, not knowing that the averago of the weather in Norfolk; but, more than que-fifth of thess aro wore tn. boats, tint ‘two-tnieds of the rest ar¥ rotten, mics thata — of what remains consists of Parcel of old iron tubs, which wo with the title of our - send areniceme of floating man-traps, whose only recom- mendation for going to sea would be thelr irresistible tendency to go straight to its bottom—it 1s concluded that the American Navy, if not exactly able to whip all creation, is at least adequate to all probabilities of need in elther-war or peace. Why does the Navy Department yoar after year thus deliberately foist this official false- hoed upon Congress and our people? Why does the Secretary in each annual report Gravely state that ‘the navy of the United States now consists of one hundred and eighty ships, calculated to carry, when in commis. sion, thirteen hundred and ninety guns, exolusive of howltzers and small carronades.” Such enumeration and such language are Mable to convey a false impression, and are simply preposterous in face of the fact that of the sum total of one hundred and eighty “naval vessels” only forty-nine are available as abips-of-war, and of these but twenty-nine are immediately available as sea-going vessels of eail and steam power, carrying four hundred and seventeen guns. It is unlikely that the department means deception ; but if it did it could scarcely be more suc- cessful in the use of words .adapled to such purpose. Little tugboats are mot ships of the United States Navy; neither are rotten old hulks, which are ready * to fall to pieces, Why not make a separate {invoice of all such trash, and state plainly that our navy consists of forty-nine ships, none of them, in the modern sense of the term, first class men-of-war; that twenty-nine of these are available, the rest unprepared to goatonce to sea, and that they carry alto- gether an armament of six hundred and eighty-seven guns? The Spanish Navy has one hundred and twenty-two vessels—many of them powerful iron-clad craisers—carrying one thousand guns. The French Navy bas four hundred and sixty-two vessels, carrying four thousand’ eight hundred and thirty-four guns. The British Navy has six hundred and thirty vessels, carrying nearly eight thousand guns. Whenever Congress or our people are seizod with a belligerent fit reference to these figures may be instructive and beneficial. Lovera of peace may be assured that there is but slight danger of war on our part. Our condition precludes the possibility of it, We must pocket a national insult sooner than dare resent it, and rather apologize than fight. And as soon as we are resigned to this con- viction we shall have become, what we are already accused of being, a nation of shop- keepers, whose money-getting greed will have obliterated all memories of national greatness, extinguished every instinct of na- tional pride and blunted all sensitiveness of national honor, and will leave us contented to accept the kicks and cuffs of the world, pro- vided we may be permitted a profit in tho operation. Who is responsible for this culpable neglect of national interests, so manifestly tending to national debasement, which Icaves us at the mercy of other Powers and renders our security dependent upon the good nature and forbearance of our neighbors? Those who represent, or, rather, misrepresent, - the people—the Congress of the United States. To this patriotic body the Scoretary of the Navy has repeatedly, but vainly, appealed. The present Admiral, zealous in the interesta of the service, painfully cognizant of its im- portance and deficlencies, and earnestly soli- citous for the honor and welfare of the nation, has urged, argued, almost entreated, that our legislators should appreciate the necessity of attention to their duty of providing adequately for the national defence; but, unfortunately, few men in Congress seem to see beyond the local interests of their own particular State or district, and to them the honor and welfare of the whole nation are subjécts of minor im- portance, for which they seem to have neither taste nor time. Besides, economy and re- trenchment are fashionable and popular, and “we must cut down the appropriations,” though it out the throat of the republic. The Secretary of the Navy Is himself not altogether blameless, As the representative of the interests of the service, and asa statesman concerned for the welfare of the nation, there would have been propriety in his urging more earnestly in his recent annusl report that, as a measure of imperative public policy, our naval force should be immediately and extensively increased. And instead of ‘‘recognizing,” as he does, “the desirability of reducing the military and naval establishments of the country to the lowest point consistent with the dignity and safety of the country, and its important interests,” and that the reductions suggested in the service are carried ‘“‘as fae as they can be at this time without injury or danger,” he might properly have insisted that the present reduced condition of the naval service is both injurious and perilous te the great interests of our country. Toe Preasixa INTELLIGENCE reaches mi from Washington that all is quiet in St. Do- mingo. By way of affecting proof we are informed that President Baez, like the Irish maiden Tom Moore sings of, walked rouod the island without a body guard. Cabral threat- ens hostilities, but that great captain did not disturb the President in his. pilgrimage among his fellow savages and over the gigantic thorns that strew the ground in that lovely tropical place. Difficult Questions In Fraace. The committee of the French Assembly charged with the consideration of mea- sures looking to a transfer of tho seat of government from Versailles to Paris hold asitting on Friday last. Among those who addressed the committee was M. Thiers. He wasin favor of the transfer, and 80 were others who formed part of the Ministry. It is now no longer tobe doubted that the head- quarters of the French government must on an early day be traneferred to Paris, tha Parliament, perhaps, remaining at Versailloa, Indeed, we are told to-day, by telegram, that the difficult question of tho futu,? location of the, Executive and Logislature of France will bo adjusted ia this shape, The con- sent of the government has for some time been all that was wanting to make the trana- forence certdin, Paris must again bo the pride of I'rance and the eye of Burope, Paris reatored——wial does that moan? Without # a -