The New York Herald Newspaper, March 19, 1872, Page 6

6 NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR, Volume XXXVI seeeeeees seeseeeeeee NO. 7D AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING, WOOD'S MUSEUM, Bro: ‘ances afternoon and event! corner 30th st. —Performe KINGMEN OF NEW YORK. 8T, JAMES’ THEATRE, Twen! way.—MONALDL BOWERY THEATRE, Lowery—Burra.o Bu ROBINBON AND His MONKEY. Baa—Tace hth street and Broad- FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE, Twenty-fourth street.— OLD Heaps anv YouNG HEarts, OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway.—TH# BALLET PAN- TOMIME OF HUMPTY Dumpty. LINA EDWIN'S T) se or New Yous. HEATRE, 720 Broadway.—Wircurs ROOTH’S THEATRE, Twenty-third st., corner Sixth ay. — Tue Izon Curst. NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, '1872.-TRIPLE SHEEY, The Esgagements Before the Great dential Battl—A Gratifying Change in the Conduct of a Political Campaign. A few weeks ago, before the opening guns of the Presidential campaign thundered over the bills and valleys of New Hampshire, the opponents of President Grant’s administration all over the Union looked anxiously for, the result, in the belief that it would exercise an important influence on the future action of political parties and factions. There was a diversity of opinion, it is true, as to the effects that were to follow the first battle, on which- ever banner victory might alight. Some anticipated that a democratic success would indicate the hopelessness of Grant’s re-election and convince the Philadelphia Convention of the expediency of a nomination that would unite the republican forces, while others argued that'the defeat of the democracy would insure the overthrow of Grant either at Phila- ACADEMY OF MUSIC, Fourtecuth street.—ITALIAN OprBa—Faust. WALLACK'S THEATRE, Broadway and 13th street, — ‘THE VETERAN. GRAND OPERA HOUSE, corner of 8th ay, and 23a st— Lacia Rooxku. NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway, bet Houston st —LA BRLLE Savage, we" Prince and BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC, M — In TRavatorr, Hee ree MRS. F. B, CONWAY'S BROOKLYN THEATRE.— Parr o' Day, PARK THEATRE, opposite City Hi _ BorFALo Bi. ai diary Thai aae THEATRE COMIQUE, 514 Broadway.—Couro Vooa- .38MB, NEGKO AC18, &0,—CINDE RELLA. UNION SQUARE THEATRE, Fourteenth st, and Broad- Way.—NEGRO ACTS—BUBLESQUR, BALLET, &0. TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, No. 201 Bowery. — NEGRO ECOENTRICITIES, BURLESQUE, £0. Matinee at Mg. BRYANT’S NEW OPERA HOUSE, 234 st., and 7thavs.—BRYANT’S MINSTRELS. kui bee etary THIRTY-FOURTH STREET THEATRE, near Third ave- bue—VARIRTY ENTRETAINMENT. Matinee at 2. SAN FRANCISCO MINSTREL H. — HE SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, ee pate connrwer HALL, Fourteenth street.—Granp Con- PAVILION, No, poe Maal 688 Broadway, near Fourth st.—Gganp NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fourteentn sireet.—SozNRS 1: ThE Ring, ActonaTs, £0, islet NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, —— SOIRNOE AND Ant. bap adi ae aia TRIPLE SHEET, New York, Tuesday, March 19, 1872. CONTENTS OF TO-DAY’S HERALD. Pacs. 1—Advortisements. 2—Auvertisements, 3—St. Patrick’s Day: The Grana Pageant in Honor of Ireland’s Patron Saint; Features of the Procession; Thirty Thousand Men in Line; Au Immense Concourse of People In the Streets to See the Turnout; Review at the City Hall; A Pleasant Day, No Disturbance and a Long March; Banquet of the Knights of St. Patrick; Observance of the Day in the Suburbs ani Elsewhere—Committee of Seventy—New Jer- sey Methodists. $ 4—Congress: Sorehead Sympathy with the Distin- uished Outs; The Civil Rights Bull Kept for a iny Day; ‘troublesome Questions Touching Congressional Printing—New York Custom House Investigation—*L'Internationale:"’ An- niversary of the Uprising of the COmmune— Murder Upon Randall’s _Island—Political Movements and Views—Senator Sumuer— Mayor Hall—Municipal Matters—New York City News—Give Us a Simple Tarif Like Eng- land’s—Suicide in Bellevue Hospital—The German Widows and Orphans’ Society—A Baltimore Merchant Arrested. $—Financial and Commercial: Scramble in London for Erie; Advance in the Shares to 48%; The General Stock Market Dull; North Carolinas Active and Higher—Fighting the Pacific Matl—The Jersey City Frauds: The Municipal Government on Trial—The Judiciary Com- mittee: The Argument of Counsel on the eee. of Charges—Lrooklyn and Rapid ‘Trans 6—Editoriais: Leaaing Article. ‘The Engagements Before the Great Presidential Battle—A Gratl- fying Change in the Conduct of a Political ampaign’’—Personal Intelligence—Foreign Personal Gossip--Amusement Announcements, 7—The Alabama Claims—Cabie Telegrams from England, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain and India—News from Washington—A Family Poisoned—Accidental Homicide—Miscellane- ous Telegrams—Lusiness Notices, S—Interesting Proceedings in the United States, New York and Brooklyn Courts—Important Insurance Trial—Daring Escape of Convictsa— Marriages and Deaths—Advertisements, 9—Advertisements. 10—The State Capital: Doings of the Legislators Who “Wax Fat on Three Dollars a Day;’’ Ma- terial Amendments to the Seventy’s Charter; The Governor to Sign the Erie Bill; Religious Consolation for Pious Souls in Prison Dress— Obituary—Amusements—Naval Orders—Ship- ping Intelligence—Aud vertisements, 11—Advertisements, 12—Auvertisements. THe ANNIVERSARY OF THE Parts Com- muNE.—By an odd coincidence the day all Srishmen celebrate fell upon the anniversary of the Paris Commune. In Paris yesterday, unlike the feeling of quiet which prevailed here, the government felt alarmed and dreaded the attempted repetition of last year’s terrible scenes of fire and blood. Every pre- caution was taken to guard against any mani- festation of the rebels, who still exist in con- siderable numbers in Paris. “Tim New Pourricat Siz SHow.—Regard- ing the Parkersburg (W. Va.) movement, which is supposed to have been set in motion by Judge Chase's friends, the Trenton Zrue American (democratic) says “‘it is nos to be denied that the platform is composed mainly of sound planks, but it isa platform without an organized party at its back.” Be that as it may, this Parkersburg party may do as well as some other side shows that are already re- hearsing under the Presidential canvass. A Marytaxp Famity Porsonep.—Accord- ing toa despatch we publish to-day a few neighbors called at the house of a Mr. Arnold, in Frederick county, Maryland, on Sunday evening, and were surprised that no one came to the door to admit them as usual. Conscious that the family had not left the house they listened, and the faint cry of a child convinced them that something was wrong. They sub- sequently gained admittance by force, and were horror stricken on beholding the mother lying in the last agonies of death and her five children speechless and insensible. It is sup- delphia or before the people by convincing both democrats and dissatisfied republicans of the necessity of uniting in the Cincinnati fusion scheme, In either event Grant was to be the loser; hence his opponents could watch stoically the progress of the fight and be satis- fied with its result. To be sure New Hamp- shire was redeemed. The democracy, with the State patronage at its back, was driven from the power it managed to secure last yoar through the supineness of the republicans, and the Granite State wheeled again into line in the administration ranks, ready for the more important campaign that lies before it, But what of that? The democratic defeat was designed by Providence to convince the still stiff-necked allies of Jeff Davis ofthe necessity of making common cause with the dissatisfied republicans against the man who had dec- orated that favorite of the chivalry with the Order of the Crinoline and Chignon. So the same prophets who hailed democratic New Hampshire last year as the advance guard of the destroying army of copperheads and sore- heads, shout for republican New Hampshire this year as the pioneer that is to remove all obstructions to the overthrow of our military despotism and to the throwing open of the gates of federal patronage to the host of the faithful. A similarly happy state of feeling prevails in the anti-administration breast in regard to the approaching election in Connecticut. We are told that this second contest of the year, like its predecessor, is to exercise an impor- tant influence upon the Presidential campaign, and, whatever its result, the effect is to be equally auspicious. Let Hubbard win, and the success of the opposition in November is secured; let Jewell triumph, and the defeat of Grant may be regarded as already accomplished. A democratic victory is to convince the enemies of the administration that they have only to be united to place themselves in power, and is to bind them together in support of the Cincinnati movement as closely as our Western friends pack their corn-fed pork in barrels, A repub- lican success is only to be the means of inducing the opposition elements to unite for the accom- plishment of their common object. The game is played on the principle of “heads I win, tails you lose,” and whichever side of the coin turns uppermost Grant is to be the victim. In two weeks the Connecticut election will be over, and we shall then hear as cheerful a note from the throats of the copperheads and* soreheads as we have heard since the close of the New Hampshire contest. Should the re- sult be the same the wooden nutmeg will prove no harder to digest than the granite. We shall be told then, as we are told now, by the anti-Grant organs, that defeat is only the key- note to success, and the political ostrich, hid- ing its head in the sand, will continue to im- agine itself in safety. We understand that even Senator Wilson, who is about to proceed on a pilgrimage to Connecticut, regards the signs of the times as indicated in the New Hamp- shire campaign suggestive of the urgency of republican unity, even should it be necessary to make concessions in the nomination ofa President—and a Vice President—at Phila- delphia. However this may be, it is certain that the ordinary conclusions of political experience are rejected this year and that preliminary reverses are now hailed as the assured indications of final victory. The present tone of the anti-Grant organs and leaders calls to mind a familiar incident of the Southern rebellion, After the Union spirit had been thoroughly aroused and the Union army under General Grant began to press the confederacy towards its inevitable fate, the Southern generals, politicians and journalists, with their Northern copperhead sympathizers, professed to discover in every new defeat a ‘‘blessing in disguise.” When Fort Donelson surrendered to the Western commander its capture by the Union forces was regarded by the hopeful rebels as a “blessing in disguise.” When the artillery of General Grant thundered against the bluffs of Vicksburg, until the Confederate flag gave place to the Stars and Stripes, and the key of the Mississippi passed into loyal hands, the result was still a ‘‘blessing in disguise.” When Grant crossed the Rapidan he showered these ‘blessings in disguise” upon the rebels all through those battles of the Wilderness, in which the gallant Lee hurled his forces again and again upon the advancing columns in a desperate but vain attempt to break the iron links that were gradually being drawn around him. And so through the slaughter at Five Forks the “‘blessings in disguise” continued to fall thickly on rebel heads, down to the storming posed they had drank some tea which had been poisoned, and the death of the mother shortly after the discovery would seem to indicate some such theory, “Aw Inquintve Friend” asks us for infor- mation as to the character and objects of the Cincinnati Convention. It is a National Con- vention called by the liberal or anti-Grant republicans of Missouri, to meet in Cincinnati in May, to consider the political situation and to take such action as may be deemed ex- pedient. We suppose that if they get op an assemblage which promises anything like balance of power in the election they will nominate a Presidential ticket, in view of a fusion with the democrats, and that otherwise they will postpone any definite action until a day or two after the adjournment of the regular Philadelphia Republican Convention. From present appearances the Cincinnati Convention will be « mixed assemblage of large proportions, of the Petersburg entrenchments and the final evacuation of Richmond. Nor is this pleasant philosophy entirely of a local charac- ter. The story of the French war presents a similar experience. Everybody remembers how the sanguine Frenchmen hailed as ‘‘bless- ings in disguise” defeat after defeat, from Woerth to Sedan, until they found themselves hermetically sealed up in their beautiful capital, driven to make entreés of elephants and ragouts of rats, and finally compelled to surrender to the German ‘‘barbarian.” The pending political campaign, in which Grant is again the leader, with the old copper- head element again in the field against him, is, therefore, only history repeating itself, except that ink now flows instead of blood, and ballots do the work of bullets, As victory after victory lights upon the Union banner the rebels meekly offer thanks for “blessings in disguise.” New Hampshire {9 lost to them, and they rejoice; Connecticut will follow, and their hearts will be glad with song. General Grant will have many of these blessings to bestow upon them before they ‘‘get out of the wilder- ness” of their political complications and wit- ness his reoccupation of the White House. It now appears probable that every State in the Union—except, perhaps, New York—will enrol itself on the side of the administration in the November election, and no future political event can ever be more certain than is the success of General Grant. The petty issues of the opposition fail to take hold of the public mind, and, while the people might have rallied to the war cry of a pro- tectorate for Mexico in the cause of civiliza- tion and humanity, they care nothing for a pro- tectorate for the interests of a faction in the federal offices or for the sale of a few thou- sand second hand muskets ata good price to French contractors, If our own State be un- certain in the contest her position is due solely to the blundering management of ward politicians and the unhealthy influence of an unscrupulous “ring” in the affairs of the New York Qustom House. But so far as the grand copperhead and sore- head amalgamation movement against Grant is concerned, it has presented no single idea worthy of a statesman or of a great political party, and its accession to power would simply be the triumph of a horde of politicians hungry for office and barren of any well-defined national policy. This is the secret of the ‘blessing in disguise” bestowed upon the opposition by the administration in the recent victory in New Hampshire, and of the repeated blessings that will follow in its wake until the crowning triumph in November. There is one gratifying feature in this new political philosophy. It promises to impart to a Presidential campaign a more Christian and civilized character, The opposition will be welcome to all the consolation it may derive from New Hampshire blessings, if it will continue to observe the amiable spirit its gratitude seems to have imparted to it. For over thirty years our Presidential contests have been carried on in @ manner not altogether creditable to an on- lightened nation. English travellers have written volumes upon the coarseness, scur- rillity and violence that attend our quadrennial canvass. Foreign journalists regularly search our own newspapers for evidence of any dis- graceful feature the campaign may exhibit, in order to hold us up to the world as a race of semi-savages, and, unfortunately, their search is not always made in vain. Now, however, the partisan organs appear to have adopted a new tone, and are as full of meek- ness and amiability as the staid Presbyterian Observer or the pious free love Independent. A few days ago two of our city contempo- raries—party papers of ability, conducted by writers of great political experience and sagacity—gave evidence of this pleasing change in the Presidential programme, so that there is really ground for the hope that our politicians may in future carry snuffboxes in place of revolvers, and bonbons instead of bowie knives. Of course we may attribute this improved condition of mind to the sooth- ing effect of the new philosophy that finds blessing in defeat, and we trust that it may meet with no rough disturbance until after Grant’s re-election in November next, In- deed, why may it not be the means of bring- ing about a friendly union of all the political elements in the country in favor of the man who has been so signally instrumental in secur- ing us a government of free institutions under which to live? The Cincinnati Convention is called as a ‘‘conference” of republicans. If it is to be so in fact, as well as in name, why make it only a gathering of disappointed sore- heads and hungry place-hunters? Let all the republican party be represented there and en- dorse as one man the nomination of Grant as the people's President. Then let the old copperheads fall into the ranks, even as the soldiers of Lee would now be found among the most gallant soldiers of the Amer- ican army, and let the nation honor with a unanimous vote the General who, inthe dark days of the rebellion, carried the Union banner to victory. In this manner the New Hampshire election and the administration triumphs that are to follow in its wake may, indeed, be made to prove “blessings in dis- guise” for those who are now weak enough to attempt to defeat General Grant by a combi- nation of all the copperheads, soreheads and empty heads in the country. The Irish National Celebration in Cork. The anniversary of Ireland's patron Saint was celebrated with great enthusiasm by ¢ portion of the people of Manster, in Cork, on Sunday. The street procession was nu- merous, and conducted in an animated and orderly manner. There was a mass meeting in the Park, at which fifteen thousand persons attended. The object of this assemblage was to advocate a royal amnesty for the Fenian convicts, The Chairman was, evidently, by our cable report, excited; for, in his state- ment of the case, he abnegated the national idea of gallantry towards ladies and the Irish sense of appreciation of a brave bearing in battle so far as to assail the personal acts of Queen Victoria, the right of her dynasty, her companion, Lady Churchill, and the memory of the Duke of Marlborough, the soldier an- cestor of that lady. The Duke of Marlborough received a great amount of praise and pen- sions, with a large share of odium and con- demnation, in his day; but the Irish orator has not told of his military deeds in language near as expressive as did the little Wilhelmine of the poet, when she looked at the skull which was dug up on the battle field of Blen- heim. Old Caspar told her of the fight thus: — “Great praise the Duke of, Marlborough got and our good Prince Eugtne.” ‘“‘It was a very wicked thing,” said little Wilhelmine, The Chairman of the Cork meeting agrees ia opinion with the child, Senator Sumyer’s Postrion.—Some of the political journals have been having this and that to say about Senator Sumner’s position, and what he is assigned to be and intends to do at the Cincinnati Liberal Republican Con- vention, It now appears that the reports in regard to his having accepted the Presidency of that Convention are without foundation, and that his opinions about what he shall do after the proceedings of that Convention are 4 absolutely his own; in other words, he is his own master of his own situation, and intends to remain go, The Alabama Claims—Premier Gindstone’s Report on Secretary Fish’s Note. Mr. Gladstone went down to the House of Commons last night and made his reply to Disraeli’s question relative to the delivery and tenor and tone of the American government despatch forwarded in answer to Earl Gran- ville’s note on the Alabama claims question. Lord Granville made a coincident statement on the same subject in the House of Lords. The British Premier acknowledged that Secretary Fish’s communication was received by the Queen’s Ministers on the 14th instant, Thursday last. He was “gratified to be able to state that it was couched in courteous and friendly terms.” This assurance was received by the members with cheers. The Prime Minister then proceeded to unfold ‘the serious part of the case by stating, ‘‘our views are not adopted; hence, in the opinion of the government, an answer is required, which the government of the United States appears to invite. This answer will be delivered to the American Minister in London before Thursday of the present week.” ‘“Ex- ecutive prudence prevented the Minister from informing the Parliament of the exact terms of the forthcoming reply, the Queen's advisers imitating, as he alleged, the action of the United States Congress in its legislative forbearance towards the President in this respect. Mr. Gladstone affirmed, in conclu- sion, that the British note would show the anxiety of the nation to carry the Washington Treaty into execution, and be at the same time in fall consonance with the demand for the upholding of “the honor of the country.” Earl Granville promised to place the correspond- ence before the Peers at an early moment, His lordship was very serious in his expres- sion, and, a new feature in the conduct of offi- cial communication to the aristocracy, he— not Gladstone—referred to the ‘public anxi- ety” which exists outside and the grave re- sponsibility attaching to the Cabinet treat- ment of the case. This statement—of the Premier and the Peer—for the Brit- ish nation goes to prove that the Alabama claims correspondence is not by any means terminated between the governments of England and the United States; that the views of the two Cabinets are not exactly in accord with respect to the general hearing and treatment of the matter ; that the British people are anxious as to the issue; and that Jobn Bull is exceedingly well disposed to fall back, ministerially at least, at any suitable moment on that time-worn and strife-breeding position of his, the “honor of the country” and its maintenance. Secretary Fish has been courteous; now we must wait to hear again from Granville, A Simple Tariff and Simple Collection, In another page of to-day’s HzRatp will be found a letter from one of our most prominent and respected business men on the question of a simple versus a complicated tariff. The views put forward in this communication have been advocated in the Hzratp; but they possess so much weight and carry such simple force with them that we are glad to give them prominence. Our systems of tariff and tariff collection are open to exactly the objections urged by this gentleman. We have too many articles on our duty list, giving rise to endless complication in the transaction of the business of the Custom House, and of little or no monetary profit to the country, since they barely pay the cost ofcollection. We learn from Washington that the committees of House and Senate purpose narrowing the number of dutiable articles by extending the free list, and that several important reductions will be made on existing rates. This is right, but it is half-hearted and done much at haphazard, since the articles off which most of the duty will be taken are just those which do not interfere with the business of certain monopo- lists. Let them give us a group of at most fifty articles, and with a cheaper and more simple mode of collection the revenue need not suffer. Our certified invoices are a humbug. The espionage and seizures, if not worse, mark the thorough contempt of officials for the theory of the sanctity of a consul’s certificate or the value of an oath, As human nature goes thisis not to be won- dered at; and the per contra side, that dis- honest importers or the agents here of foreign manufacturers should seek weak humanity in the person of a needy, politic-tainted Custom House officer, is more simple still. Let us imitate England in this, who has isolated all these offices from the troubles of party—too much 80, perhaps, for party sometimes means principle—and, what is more to the point, has adopted a system of seizure which guards both the government and the importer. Ifa man invoices his goods below what they aro worth the government seizes them, pays him ten per cent profit on his invoice, sells the goods and lets the man caught in the act go about his business. There is no vulgarization of oath-taking, no espionage after the goods have once left the warehouse. It takes one man where we employ three to do the govern- ment’s work, and, with the aid of criminal prosecutions for smuggling, guards the reve- nue ten times more effectually than our cum- bersome, blundering system. Will Secretary Boutwell or President Grant make a real re- form in this business? “Bressinas iN Disauise.”—The democrats look upon their defeat in New Hampshire as “a blessing in disguise,” and they are pre- pared to rejoice over a similar blessing in Connecticut. They remind us of the “Johnny Rebs,” when they began to rejoice over the loss of Savannah, Charleston and other places up to Wilmington, as ‘‘blessings in disguise.” They remind us, too, of the North Carolina tar heel, who gravely remarked that, ‘‘after all these blessings in disguise, for my part, I should like to have one without disguise, just for a change.” Facts ror Hipernians.—Forty-five thou- sand Irishmen paraded yesterday in the streets of New York. Including bad whiskey, wear and tear of stovepipe hats and afternoon et ceteras, it may be safely said that every son of the sod, mounted and on foot, suffered in pocket to the amount of ten dollars. In hon- oring St. Patrick, therefore, the Irish work- men of New York squandered four hundred and fifty thousand dollars, This sum would bring from Ireland nine thousand brawny lads and give them a little pocket money to start them on their way to the West, Tee A select committee was appointed on Mon- day week by the House of Representatives to inquire into the conduct of the Secretary of the Navy in relation to certain grave charges. We hope that they will give us a fair, thorough investigation, and let the truth be known. But there are points outside of the charges brought against Secretary Robeson which are certainly not much to the credit of that officer. In the HxraLp of a recent date it is reported that Secretary Robeson had recently given “an unfavorable report to the House Committee on Commerce on the state of the navy.” His declarations fully endorsed or even exceeded the assertions of Representative Swann, of Maryland, on the same subject. He informed that committee ‘that if we were to get into a war, with Spain, for instance, and attempt to land an army of five thousand men in Cuba (the only point of attack), we have not a suffi- cient navy to guard the channel between Key West and the nearest landing place in Cuba; and that we should not be able to effect a land- ing through any aid to be given by the mavy, and that he would trust to manifest destiny to be able to do it.” This is one of the most astounding confes- sions, perhaps, ever made by a Cabinet officer. A navy that has uniformly reflected name and fame on the nation, and which has been accus- tomed to conquer, certainly during four wars, is now reduced to this extremity. We knew that it had peen suffered to go into dilapida- tion, but no one ever believed it had come to such a pass as that. Now, Mr. Robeson may trust to ‘‘manifest destiny” as much as he pleases, but there are at least twenty millions or more of people in these United States who will do nothing of the kind, and who prefer to trust, in such an event, to the manifest efficacy of powder and cannon, and frigates and ships-of-war. What is more surprising still, is the fact of that officer's report to Congress for guidance in their legis- lative action, looking to a persistent reduction of the navy, weak as he saysit is, He advises the abolishing of three distinct and entire grades of its personnel, or, in other words, to gut off its head and kill it out and out. He fails torecommend a stringent daty to the nation, which it might be supposed he is re- quired to do, to repair his crippled navy, and if not fit for repair, to rebuild it at once. Again, the other day Mr. Hale, Chairman of the Naval Committee in the House, seriously informed the country thata great many United States vessels had disappeared, and that it was impossible for him or for the proper authori- ties to find them, or to find what had become of them. Can this indeed be true? How can a ship-of-war of this government disappear and nobody know what has become of it, or not know how it disappeared? The people of this country who have paid fearful prices for these ships, built or bought during the war, may be pardoned if they are incredulous on this point; and the sooner an account is rendered of these missing ships the better. The proposition to sell all the unserviceable ships and materials is in the right direction, as every man knows who has anything to do with real estate, to say nothing of national duty and welfare. But Mr. Cox, of New York, asks avery reasonable and pertinent thing when he suggests that professional men—the navy officers—should examine and report what is unserviceable. But then this was objected to by another Congressman, on the ground that they would sell out every vessel of the navy. This man, surely, puts infinite faith in the pa- triotism and fidelity of the officers of the navy. There is not the slightest doubt that if a board of such was ordered to decide this question, they would do it in all fidelity, even if they sold the house from over their own heads, in preference to aggrandizing themselves at the expense of the people of their country. Another member proposes to sell the Naval Hospital at Brooklyn, for the reason that it occupies a site of land which has very much enhanced in price since this hospital was built, Now, does this legislator know that ever since the organization of our navy, every officer, man and boy, who is in it, or ever has been in it, has or does pay a regular monthly tax for these very hospitals? Does he know that this tax comes out of their monthly pay—and: not by naval appro- priations—for their own support and cure when sick or wounded? These hospitals, like the pension fund, belong of right to the officers and men of the navy, and even the govern- ment has no honest right or title to their ap- propriation. Mr. Banks is to be honored for his good sense asa financier, but there is a graver reason than he gives why this property should not be wrested from those who were and are taxed for it, and that is that the gov- ernment has not the right and title to it. The navy is certainly in a bad fix, if, we ob- serve the results of its weakness, Spain exer- cises the right of search in time of peace, and polices our American ships for us—in her own way. England says fearlessly, ‘‘ Withdraw your claims, or take war, as you choose.” But she has been preparing for five years for this announcement! Venezuela captures half adozen of our merchant ships, and causes vast losses to our American shipowners ; but—she pays for it by an apology. Panama seizes a vessel and puts it to her own use, and when called to an account says ‘“‘it’s all in fan,” and ‘‘if you are going to make war about it, why, come on; we are ready for you.” Even Panama can afford to give usa grin of contempt ! x There is no possible way for a nation of great maritime possessions and hav- ing seacoast of some six thousand miles and more to evade the duty of self- defence. Nations have duties as well as rights, and nearly the whole of our history exhibits a weakness in the matter of responsi- bility. It is a nation’s duty to protect its own commerce. It is its duty to survey and make charts and render a general assistance and aid tonavigation. It is, like all other responsi- bilities, a tax on wealth and influence. At this time, and during all the past, we are using English charts and depending on ‘‘Per- fidious England” for maps by which to sail our ships around the world. Sad admission for a great nation ! Tan Rerorm Movement in Lovistana is getting pretty well under way. Even that amiable old sleepysides, the New Orleans Bee, the old creole whig organ, has opened its eyes and is battling away gallantly in favor of State reform, javy and Its “Reformers.” Extraeraimary Veveiopment of British Come merce. The synopsis of the statistics of British Commerce which we published yesterday shows that the exports of British and Irish produce in 1870 reached in value, within « fraction, the enormous sum of a thousand millions of dollars, and the export of foreign and colonial produce to about two hundred and twenty-five millions. The exports have been nearly quadrupled in the course of thirty years, or since 1840. The increase has been progressive all through this period, but greater during the last fifteen years, and was the greatest in the decade from 1855 to 1865. The total exports increased in these ten years about five hundred millions of dollars, In 1870 the United States stood first among nations to which Great Britain exported her products, The exports amounted in that year, British, Irish, colonial and foreign included, to over a hundred and fifty-five millions, of which more than a hundred and forty millions were British and Irish. The country that stands next is Germany, to which a hundred and forty millions were exported. Then fol- lows France, receiving over a hundred and ten millions; British India, a hundred millions; the Netherlands, over eighty millions; Australia, over fifty millions; Egypt, nearly forty-five millions; Turkey, more than forty millions ; Russia, over fifty millions; the British North American Possessions, between thirty-five and forty millions; China, over thirty millions; Belgium, approaching forty- five millions; Italy, exceeding thirty millions, and Brazil, over twenty-six millions. The countries having less than twenty millions are not mentioned in this abstract, but in the aggregate the sum must be large, for British commerce extends over every portion of the globe. Whatare the causes of this extraor- dinary commercial development? Here is an interesting question for our political econo- mists and statesmen. Protection is certainly not a cause; for British commerce has in- creased to a considerable extent in proportion to the abandonment of the protective system and to the progress made in free trade. This country is far richer than Great Britain im natural resources, and has a larger population. Why is it, then, that our commerce develops so slowly comparatively, while that of England is augmenting so rapidly and vastly? Let us endeavor to understand the problem and in- augurate a better commercial policy than we have been pursuing. Tae Utica Herald (administration) has peculiar view about what it terms ‘‘liberal re- publican nonsense.” According to this print no position could be more inconsistent and ridiculous than that of the so-called liberal republicans. ‘They are neither fish, flesh nor fowl. They belong neither to the earth below nor the heavens above, but hang, like Mohammed’s coffin, suspended between.” The Mohammedan figure might in this conngction be used to a further extent. The question be- tween the democrats and the republicans is whether ‘the mountain shall come to Mo- hammed or Mohammed go to the mountain.” The result, however, may be the same in either case. “Parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.” Srour aND STRONG are the names of two of the London Rowing Club boat’s crew who are to contest with the Atalantas of New York on the Thames. There. may be something ‘ina name ;” so the New Yorkers had better look out for a Swift, either in personal presence or action, and so gain the victory, Personal Intelligence. Ex-Governor J. B. Page, of Vermont, is at the St Nicholas Hotel. Mr. Thomas McGreavey, member of the Canadian, Parliament, from Quebec, 13 at the Gilsey House, General L. H. Warren, of Philadelphia, is among. ‘tne sojourners at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, General S. A. Duncan, of Washington, has arrived. at the Astor House. General James McQuade, of Utica, Inspector Gen- eral on the staff of Governor Hofman, 1s at the Gil+ sey House, Chief Justice John McClure and General J. M. Sarber, of Arkansas, are domiciled at the 3t. Nicho+ las Hotel. Jonn 8. Eldridge, of Boston, ¢x-President of the Ene Railway Company, yesterday arrived at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Mr. James Austin, of Montreal, 15 not, as he was in yesterday's paper reported tobe, a member of the Canadian Pagliament. Senator Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts, yesterday arrived at the Astor House, He remained but a short time in town, departing to fulfli his engage- ments tospeak at divers places in Connecticut in, favor of the republican nominees, General N. P, Banks was at the St. Nicholas:Hotel yesterday. In the evening he started for Wash- ington, Governor H. C. Warmoth, of Louisiana, accom. panied by General Sheridan, of New Orleans, ex- Superintendent of Police Swords, of New Orieans, and several others, lett the Fifth Avenue Hotel for Washington on Sunday evening. Ex-Congressman James M. (often alluded to as “Impeachment’) Ashley, of Obio, yesterday arrived from Washington at the Astor House. He wilt leave here this morning to commence bis work of stumping Connecticut in the interest of tne republi- can party. Ex-United States Senator James R. Doolittle, of Wisconsin, is at the Astor House. He 1s en route to Connecticut to take part in the canvass of that Stave, Mr. Doolittle was throughout the war and until the attempted impeachment of President Johnson amoderate republican. He has now be- come an equally moderate democrat, and was the candidate of his party tn the late Gubernatorial election in his State. The bitterness of the defeat he experienced will probably show itself in @ more than ordinarily earnest series of speechos during his present “stumping” tour. There is at the Fifth Avenue Hotel a Committee of Ten from the oll regions of Pennsylvania, headed by Mr. G. Snamburg, which has been ap- pointed by the monster corporauon known as the Southern Improvement Company, to amicably ar- range a settlement with the obstreperous. oil mer chants of New York. FOREIGN PERSO! IL GOSSIP. —tTnhe Pope, according to the Temps, has prema, turely returned good for evil by instructing the French bishops to encourage @ legitimist restora- uon. —M. Rouher, after tho funeral of M, Cont, ‘which took place on February 16, was followed by a ' crowd of persons, some shouting “Vive URmpé. reur!’) others uttering hostile cries, M. Rouher nastened to ils carriage. Some individuals then tried to stop his horses, but faved in the attempt, —General Sherman, with his party, were to arrive at Naples on tne Zist ult, It was intended ta have a special excavation, with a luncheon, in nis honor at Pompei. The American feet. was aso expected, but no further news of their cdining was known, except that some letters had been recesved for the admiral and other omcars, —Prince Bismarck contemplates a large creation of life peers in order to counterbalance tie conserva live prejudices of the Herrenhans against tis Schook bil, ‘This expedient, which has been under con- sideration for some time, has at last been resolved pon Ay EF Lure dtenity he on destined for 6 NOV! I sully ave diabuag ul SLA LOR men aud Reveralsy sat