The New York Herald Newspaper, December 29, 1872, Page 8

THE NEWS OF YESTERDAY. ne ‘NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR. Volume XXXVII.........+++ AMUSEMENTS TO-MORROW EVENING. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway and Thirteenth street.—Broruzr Sam. iN THEATRE COMIQUE, 5I4 Broadway.—Diva Doxo 1 BOOTH'S THEATRE, Twenty-third street, corner Sixth avenue.—Ricuaxp III. OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway. between Houston and Bleecker sts.—Les Cent Vixrcxs. "S MUSEUM, Broadway, corner Thirtieth st— ee ne Giant Rinen. Aiternoon and Evening. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Swamr Ancris—Tae ‘Heo or Povann. GRAND OPERA HOUSE, Twenty-thira st. and Eighth av.—Rounp Tux CLocK. NIBLO’S GARDEN, Broadway, between Prince and Houston streets.—Lxo anv Loros. UNION SQUARE THEATRE, Broadway, between mote a Fourteenth sts.—Scmoo. For ScanpaL. STADT THEATRE, Nos. 45 and 47 Bowery.—Orxna— Tax Jewess. ATMENEUM, No. 585 Broadway.—Tux Tanex Huxon- ‘BACKS. FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE, Twenty-fourth street — New Yuan's Eve. MRS. F. B. CONWAY’ Divorce. BRYANT'S OPERA HOUSE, Twenty-third st.. corner th ay.—Necno Minsraxrsy, Ecoxnrnicrry, &c, BROOK LYN THEATRE,— TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, No. 201 Bowery.— ‘ouurrr Dosrry. SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, corner 28th st. and Broadway.—Etniorian Minstuersy, £c, SSUCIATION, Fighty-sixth » “CuxaR Grit.” HALL OF EAST SIDE st. and Third av.—Lecrv \ ASSOCIATION HALL, 2d street and 4th av,—P1axo- Yours Somes. NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— )Scimncx AND Art, TRIPLE SHEET. New Yerk, Sunday, Dec. 29, 1872. To-Day’s Contents of the Herald. *THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CITY FINANCES : AND ITS EFFECT ON THE PROGRESS OF THE CITY! COMPTROLLER GREEN’S INCOMPETENCY”—EDITORIAL LEADER— SrxtH Pag. iA SEASON OF DISASTERS! SEVERE GALE AND SHIPWRECKS IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL! A BRITISH SHIP WRECKED ON THE LOO- CHOO ISLANDS, AND THE CREW, SAVE FIVE, DROWNED—SEVENTH PaGE. TORM RAVAGES ON THE NEW ENGLAND COAST! THE SUFFERINGS OF THE SHIP- WRECKED! THE STEAMSHIPS CUBA AND SIBERIA IN PORT: OTHERS ANXIOUSLY EXPECTED—SEVENTH PaGE. BNOW-BOUND IN THE SUBURBS! A TERRIBLE SIXTEEN HOURS ON THE RAIL! REPRE- HENSIBLE NEGLIGENCE OF RAILROAD OFFICIALS! SUFFERING PASSENGERS : HEROISM OF FRANK, THE CONDUCTOR— THIRD PaGE. 1CE GORGING THE FATHER OF WATERS! LOSS OF LIFE AND OF STEAMBOAT PROPERTY! A COAL FAMINE —SEVENTH PGE. ‘EUROPEAN CABLE TELEGRAMS! SEMBLY DISSOLUTIO: THE POPE'S INSULT TO THE KAIS: A NEW CUBAN CAPTAIN GENERAL—SEVENTH PAGE. @ DREADFUL DISASTER IN HARLEM! A KITCHEN RANGE EXPLODES, A LADY'S CLOTHES IGNITE AND SHE IS FATALLY BURNED—PROFESSOR TYNDALL ON RADI- ATION—FirtH PAGE. NON-RECOVERY OF THE REMAINS OF THE CENTRE STREET FIRE VICTIMS! THE WORKINGS OF RED TAPE—Tuinp Pace. WHE STRONGHOLDS OF THE NATION! FRON- TIER AND SEABOARD FORTIFICATIONS: THE WORK DONE AND PROPOSED—TENTH | PaGE. DEPARTUKE OF THE ADRIATIC! HER BROKEN PROPELLER BLADES: THE COMPANY'S AGENT AND THE CAPTAIN INTERVIEWED: NO DANGER—Tuimp Pacer. BPORTS FOR THE SEASON! SNOW SCULPTURE? THE SHOVELLERS HARD AT WORK: THE SLEIGHING CARNIVAL: SKATING AT THE | PARK—EiGurH Pace. FRIENDSHIP FOR CUBA! POPULAR AND PRESS ACTIVITY IN PERU AND CHILE FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE GEM OF THE ANTILLES: PERU AND JAPAN—MUSICAL j AND THEATRICAL—FovuRTH PAGE. JHE REBELLION ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE! INTERVIEWING THE MODOC BRAVES: VIEWS OF THE LEADERS: CAPTAIN JACK FOR PEACE—THE APACHE WAR—Eicuru | Page, BPIRITED BATTLES BETWEEN NEW YORK AND TROY GAMECOCKS! 7 STAKES AND WAGERS: VICTORY PERCHES UPON THE TROJAN “WHITE TAILS”—Firtn Pace. CONTINUED TESTIMONY OF EDWARD 8, STOKES! HIS COUNSEL RELY UPON Es- TABLISHING THE THEORY OF TWO PIs. | TOLS: PROCEEDINGS IN THE VARIOUS COURTS—Firta Page. ON 'CHANGE! THE LONG-DRAWN-OUT MONE- IN THE WEEKLY BANK STATEME GOLD LOWER—THE ERIE RESTITUTION— Nunta Paos. KU KLUX EN ROUTE TO ALBANY PENITEN.- TIARY! CONFESSING MURDERS COM- MITTED—THE FIRE MARSHAL’S REPORT ON THE ORIGIN OF THE RECENT CON- FLAGRATIONS—TuinD Pace. ‘THE RELIGIOUS RESUME! SERVICES OF TO-DAY: EPISTOLARY POLEMICS: THE ST. BAR- THOLEMEW’S MASSACRE—Fourtu Pack. From Mexico we:learn that the election bal- | lot-count riots which have just lately disgraced Matamoros were renewed with fatal violence in the streets of Tampico. of a greedy democracy. Tar Weer 1s Wau Sraery was a dull one in speculative circles owing to the intervention of the Christmas holiday and the great snow storm. Money was scarce and extravagantly dear, the stock brokers having paid as high as three-eighths per cent a day for its use in their business. Gold closed at 112. Tae Owners or THe Sreamen ADRIATIC, which started for Liverpool yesterday with a damaged screw, deny that there is any danger in consequence of her condition, and insist that she will make good time over despite the injury. Itis to be hoped that they are correct | in their statements and that their confidence in the vessel is not misplaced. They have certainly incurred a serious responsibility, and notwithstanding their reassuring words the arrival of the Adriatic at Liverpool will be looked for with anxiety by those who have FRENCH AS- | The Management of the City Finances and Its Effect om the Progress of the City—Comptrolier Green’s Incompe- tency. We are quite willing to acquit Comptroller Green of any felonious designs upon the city treasury. We are prepared to concede his integrity in the matter of dollars and cents, and to admit that he is incapable of forging a city warrant or stealing any portion of the city funds. We have not so poor an opinion of the people of New York as to regard him in this respect an exception to other reputable citizens, and we cannot applaud the judgment or good tagte of those who deem it necessary to continually blow their ram's horns in the public places and proclaim over and over again the wonderful honesty of our financial head. Nor can we, as public journalists, allow this loudly-heralded reputation to deter us from examining the Comptroller's public acts or from censuring his official conduct where censure is deserved: We see no reason why Mr. Green should be exempt from criti- cism in his official capacity any more than any other public officer. When the policy he pur- sues is detrimental to the public interest it is the duty of the independent press to expose and denounce it, and Mr. Green can no longer evade a reckoning with the people by the worn-out cry that he is being assailed only because of his superlative honesty. We have called upon Comptroller Green to explain why in the first place he stopped the payment of interest by the banks holding the city deposits in the manner inau- gurated by Chamberlain Sweeny, continued by Chamberlain Bradley and pressed upon his approval by Chamberlain Palmer, and why, in the second place, he neglected to en- force upon the banks the rule he himself laid down for the crediting of the interest to the several funds, and for a monthly report of the amounts so credited, if he believed this plan to be legal and practicable. Tho story is asimple one and cannot be befogged by side issues. Before Chamberlain Sweeny took office any interest that might be allowed by the depositary banks, or any profit that might accrue from the custody of the city and county funds, went into the pocket of the Chamberlain. The balances in the treasury were kept at a very high figure for the profit of that officer, and upon nearly the whole of these large balances the taxpayers were paying seven per cent interest. The abuse was loudly denounced by the press and the people, and Chamberlain Sweeny, upon taking office, an- nounced that the banks holding the city and county moneys would be required to pay to the city treasury four per cent interest thereon in lieu of simply paying the expenses of the Chamberlain’s office. The amount thus received was paid to the Chamberlain and by him placed to the city’s credit as a separate fund. This reform secured a double advan- ‘tage to the taxpayers. As the Chamberlain was no longer interested in the deposits, and as it was not desirable that the city should pay seven per cent interest and receive back four per cent, the balances were kept at a low figure. Nevertheless, the fund thus handed j over to the city by Chamberlain Sweeny and | his immediate successor for interest received from the banks amounted to nearly five hun- dred thousand dollars. If the old system had been pursued and the treasury balances kept | up to the old standard, Chamberlain Sweeny could have pocketed a million dollars during | his term of office. | When Mr. Palmer became Chamberlain he proposed to keep up the practice pursued by | his immediate predecessor. The law of 1866, | chapter 623, did not require the banks of de- posit to pay interest on the cityand county moneys, or make any provision for its receipt by any city officer; but it did give the Cham- berlain the power to appoint and dismiss at his pleasure a deputy chamberlain and clerks, and to fix their salaries, and it required the banks holding the deposits to pay those salaries and the rent of an office propor- tionately to the balance held by each. The arrangement inaugurated by Chamberlain Sweeny, and which Mr, Palmer desired to continue, was that the banks should pay four per cent interest on deposits in lieu of these salaries and rents. It was competent for the Chamberlain and the banks to make this com- promise, and when the amounts were paid to the Chamberlain every month he made a public statement thereof to the Comptroller, and paid the sums over to the credit of the city. The money thus received went to the general fund, was used for contingent expenses, we pre- sume, and thus was just so much AN IMPROVEMENT | Eight persons | were killed and wounded. Wretched results | profit or saving to the taxpayers. Comptrol- ler Green, however, in December last, refused | to receive the money any longer, and addressed | a letter to the Broadway Bank, the designated | depositary of the city and county moneys, forbidding that bank to pay the Chamberlain any interest whatever, directing that the interest accruing on the daily balances should be placed at the credit of each account, and reported each month to the Comptroller. The bank was further notified that no payment of interest would be sanctioned by the Comp- troller, except made on warrant, signed by the | Comptroller and Mayor, and, where necessary, by the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. Comptroller Green, if competent to fill the office he holds, must have known at the time he made this singular order, first, that if pos- sible to be complied with it would lead to confusion and discrepancy between the books of the depositaries, who added interest to the several separate accounts, and of the Cham- berlain, whose entries would not show any | for interest could not be drawn as he proposed onany form of warrant prescribed by law. The arrangement could only be made between the Chamberlain and the banks, and paid by | the former, as it had been paid, directly into | the city treasury. In January, 1872, Chamberlain Palmer noti- | fied Comptroller Green of these facts, ten- dered him the interest on the treasury balances, | and proposed, if he would withdraw his pro- hibitory letter of December to the designated bank of deposit, that the checks for the / amount of interest should be made ont directly to the Comptroller himself instead of to the Chamberlain. In place of complying | with this request Mr. Green on February 3 again wrote to the Broadway Bank, reiterating | the instructions contained in his December letter, and adding, “As no statements of interest for the months of December and Jenuary have been received by this Depart- that the amounts thus credited should be | interest, and next, that the money accruing | | | ment, I would again request that the same be furnished as required without further delay.” No such reports were ever furnished, and o year has been suffered by Comptroller Green to paas away without any interest on the city deposits being paid into the treasury for the benefit of the taxpayers, The city and county balances in the hands of the banks have reached the enormous average daily amount of five millions and a half for the whole year, and thus the taxpayers have been defrauded out of some two hundred and twenty thousand dollars. Comptroller Green has made no direct offi- cial explanation of his singular action. Indi- rectly he at first professed ignorance of the fact that no interest had been paid by the banks on the city deposits, and pretended to believe that the amounts had been credited’ to the several accounts as directed by him last December. We exposed the falsity of this pretence by showing that the Comptroller must know of every dollar paid into the bank to the city and county account, and that he receives weekly statements from the Chamber- lain of the exact amount placed to the city’s credit, The Comptroller must, therefore, have been aware that no interest whatever was allowed or credited on deposits, even if the failure of the banks for a whole year to make the reports called for by him in December and February last bad not sufficiently ap- prised him of the fact. Driven from this excuse the Comptroller endeavors to raise side issues, first, by pretending that Chamberlain Palmer, and not the Comptroller, was responsible for the non-pay- ment of the interest, when he had himself tied the Chamberlain's hands and pre- vented him from receiving the interest, and next by denouncing the appointment of a bank President as City Chamberlain, and ac- cusing the Chamberlain of illegal action in appointing his own deputy and paying his salary, the Comptroller claiming that the ap- pointment of the Deputy Chamberlain should be made by himself, and that the Chamber- lain “has no right to draw money out of the public treasury’ to pay the salary of the deputy, ‘except on a warrant signed in the usual way.’’ We know nothing and care noth- ing about Chamberlain Palmer's action in the matter, but the policy of appointing a banker as Chamberlain is by no means new. Shep- pard Knapp, while Chamberlain, was Presi- dent of the Mechanics’ Bank. Chamberlain Edmonds during his term of office was Presi- dent of the same bank, and Chamberlain Stout was President of the Shoe and Leather Bank. If Comptroller Green knows anything of the city laws he must be aware that the law of 1866 gives the Chamberlain directly the ap- poinfnent of his deputy, and that the salary of that officer is not drawn out of the city treasury at all, but is paid by the banks hold- ing the city deposits. Comptroller Green cannot by these shifts evade the responsibility of having stopped the payment of interest on the city and county deposits and thus taken out of the pockets of - the taxpayers unnecessarily in a year over two hundred and twenty thousand dollars. The impression prevails that his personal jealousies and enmities induced this singular and repre- hensible course; that he was resolved that neither Chamberlain Sweeny nor Chamberlain Palmer should receive the credit of the crea- tion of an important fund for the benefit of the taxpayers, which the one had inaugurated and the other was desirous of carrying to still greater success. At all events the Comptrol- ler is bound to explain to the citizens an act which upon its face bears a very questionable appearance. The people would like to know why an officer who has been involving the city in suspicious litigation, and who has dis- played such excessive watchfulness over the pay rolls of laborers and the accounts of scrub women, should have shown so much incom- petency and neglect in a matter involving the loss of a quarter of million dollars to the pub- lic treasury. When the Comptroller explains this singular piece of official blundering we have some other questions to put to him on the subject of his management of the financial department of the city government. The Centre Street Fire—A. Crucl and Disgraceful Outrage. The bodies of the victims of the Centre street fire still remain buried beneath the ruins, while city Gepartments and public officials argue and squabble as to where the power rests to order the removal of the débris and the recovery of the remains. Rela- tives of the hidden dead hang heartbroken over the snow-covered mass or plead beseech- ingly to the authorities to restore to them at least the charred and blackened bones of those who were so dear to them in life ; but still the ruins remain where they fell and the hands of the officials are bound helplessly in the bonds of red tape. There are those who would gladly undertake the work ; the Police Department, the Health Department, the De- partment of Public Works, would either of them set vigorously about the humane task, without a moment’s delay, regardless of au- thority, but for one fact. They have no money, and the cold shadow of the Finance Department falls upon them and warns them that any work performed in the cause of hu- manity, if not duly authorized by law and duly approved by the financial head of the government, will not be paid for. The story is a sickening one and disgraceful to a Christian city. A fire occurs, and seven unfortunate souls perish in the flames and are buried beneath the burning ruins. The police are applied to by the sorrowing rela- tives of the victims to unearth the remains; but the police find that they are not author- ized by law to do so, and they have no fund that can be used for the purpose. They would gladly undertake the work, but the Comp- troller would be certain to refuse payment, and their hands are tied. If the Comptroller will sanction the expenditure they will set about the task without delay. The Health Depart- ment is approached, but the same reply is given. The Department of Public Works is sought, but there is no obstruction to travel or business, and so a similar answer holds good. The owner is begged to clear away the fatal pile, but if he touches it he vitiates his insur- ance. The lessee receives a similar request; but he cannot undertake the work—it is the business of the owner. Comptroller Green is the obstruction ; get his promise not to throw a captious, technical obstruction in the way of payment and the work can be done at once. ‘The Coroner addresses a lettor to the head of to the rescue, but night comes on and no an- awer is received from Uomptroller Green. So the dead must lie rotting through the Sabbath in their horrible tomb, and the survivors must continue to sorrow for their double loss. . We are astonished that this outrage upon humanity should be suffered for a single hour in a civilized community. The victims are in humble life, and the apologists for the Fifth Avenue holocaust may on that account regard the recovery of their remains as a matter of little importance. But the dead of Centre street are as dear to the hearts of relatives and frionds as are the dead of Fifth Avenue; and wo do not believe that any red tape wound by the Finance Department around the arms of the city government would delay the removal of the ruins of a Fifth avenue mansien, if they covered the remains of six or seven of the wealthy residents of that locality. We call upon the Police Department, as the best pre- pared and most active, todo this humane work at once, on this very morning; to put all the force necessary from the Street Cleaning Bureau on the job, and to demand the payment of the necessary expense or to charge it in the accounts: of the Bureau. We should like to see what public officer would dare to repudiate the bill. Caba and the South America—A Lesson for United States. We publish in the Heraup to-day an inter- esting letter from our special correspondent in Peru, from which it appears that the sym- pathy so long manifested by the South Ameri- can republics with the cause of the Cuban revolutionists promises now to take practical shape and to lead to important results. About two months ago Chile led off in the movement in favor of Cuban independence and freedom by public meetings, by newspaper agitation and by the formation of a society for the pur- pose of extending material aid to the strug- gling patriots, The earnestness of the Chileans in the cause was manifested by the questioning of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the House of Representatives as to the sen- timents and intentions of the government in regard to the Cuban conflict, and, although the Minister diplomatically evaded a direct reply, there are sufficient indications to show that the sympathy prevalent among the peo- ple is shared in by the government. Peru has followed the example of Chile, and enters vigorously into the championship of the cause of Cuban independence. The press of the Republic, divided on political questions, is united in advocating active interference to drive the Spaniards from the island. Three plans have been proposed—a loan to the Cuban Republic, secured by national bonds ; a South American Jeague, embracing Mexico, for the final liberation of the island, and the immediate enlistment of Peru single-handed in the struggle. Meanwhile it is evident that the Peruvians are in earnest on the subject, and that it would be hazardous for the administra. tion of President Pardo to oppose the popular sentiment. Tie developments made by the Henatp Commissioner in Cuba will serve to intensify the desire of the allied Republics to take up the cause of the revolutionists, and will prob- ably hasten positive action on the part of Allied Republics of the those governments. When it is discovered that after four a years’ single-handed struggle against the power of Spain the patriots have now in active service an army of twelve thousand men, which would be swelled to fifty thousand if the supply of arms and ammunition enabled them to take the field, the people of Chile and Peru will be the more eager to extend to these brave men the aid which would secure to them the independence for which they have fought so well. The propositions of the Peruvians are not quixotic, as our correspondent mis- takenly designates them. Spain is weaker as a military power to-day than she was wlien Chile won her independence, or when Peru scattered the Spanish army at Ay-acucho. All the forces that the Spanish government can raise and rely upon are needed at home to prop the tottering throne and beat back the ever-returning wave of revolution. Cuba has already stood for four years unsubdued, de- spite the desperate efforts of the Spanish troops and the revolting barbarities of blood- thirsty volunteers. To-day the Republic has an army of ten or twelve thousand men in the field, and a united people behind it ready to swell its ranks as soon as weapons and ammunition can be secured. Very small outside aid is needed to turn the Cuban patriots into the aggressors and enable them to drive the Spaniards from their island, as they were driven from Chile nearly sixty years ago and from Peru within the last half century. An active movement of the South American Republics in favor of Cuban independence would render the final result of the struggle certain, and that result would be in favor of freedom, humanity and civilization. The great Republic of the United States stands rebuked before the action of Chile and Peru. Again we hear of the disgraceful pro- vision in the convention manufactured at Washington by which we sought to tie the ‘ hands of the South American republics and to deprive the struggling Cubans of any aid from those sympathizing friends. Chile and Peru refuse to ratify the convention because of this cruel provision, and our government has to add to the shame of this pandering to Spanish interests the humiliation of the de- feat of its scheme. Apart from this, it is neither creditable to us as the leading republic of the world, nor flattering to our self-esteem as @ people to allow the little States of South America to onistrip us in the race of human- ity and to teach us the duty of a free govern- ment towards a people who, by a four years’ suecessful struggle against foreign oppression have fairly won their title to independence. Nevertheless, we hail with satisfaction the prospect of an active movement on the part of the allied republics of South America in aid of the Cuban cause; the more so since it is cer- tain that the brave policy of Chile and Peru will render it impossible for our government to remain longer in the unenviable position it now occupies with regard to Spain and Cuba. Eyouisn Acricurtuntsts.—Speaking ot a late London meeting in behalf of agricultural laborers and better wages, the Slandard urges that the proper cure for the grievance is cmigra- tion. It advises the ill-paid farmers to carry their labor where there is large demand for it and land is to be had for the taking. Pointing to . the colonies it anys, “There is your heritage.”” the financial department begging him to come | Our Castle Garden statistics show that very NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1872.-TRIPLE SHERT.. same view of the subject, except that they mostly locate their promised land south of the forty-ninth parallel and the St. Lawrence. The Ice Flood Prepare for Rivers. The telegrams last night from the West give alarming tidings of the rising flood in the Mississippi. The snows, which began on the 19th instant in the Upper Valley of the ‘Father of Waters,’ were heavy and prolonged, andt he indications are that they will be dissolved without delay. If the Winter season were more advanced we might hope that the cold would be sufficient to retain them in the crystalline or solid state; but the appear- ances are now against this conclusion. At eight o'clock yesterday the thermometer in Western Minnesota had risen thirty degrees in eight hours, and at five o’clock in the after- noon the temperature had increased nearly twice as much, making a total change of fifty- four degrees, Fahrenheit, in sixteen hours. The change in the barometric column from high to low pressure was also indicated, and the same conditions prevailed south- ward and eastward of Minnesota to Keokuk and Davenport. The tem- perature also in the Upper Missouri was above the freezing point. The freshet at Memphis, reported as so high and destructive in the morning and at noon, had increased in the evening, and at five o'clock the river at that city had risen forty-four inches in the past twenty-four hours. At Cincinnati the Ohio had risen nearly a foot, and in a few hours promises to add its vast volume of ice and water to the already surging current of the Mississippi. Should the Missouri add its floods the devastation south of Cairo will be immense. The evening regerts indicate no rise in the Ohio at Pittsburg, and it is probable the foun- tains of the Upper Ohio are still sealed by ice. But with the eastward advance of the low barometric conditions, and the high tempera- tures from Iowa and the Far West, they must soon be unlocked. An immense amount of snow is known to have fallen in New York and along the Alleghanies, and it is not improbable there will be considerable volumes in all the rivers running westward to the Ohio as well as eastward to the sea. If the Winter were more advanced the danger would not be so great; but no reliance can be placed upon the non-dissolution of the heavy snows of the past week. It may be well for the cities lying on the Hudson and the Susquehanna to secure themselves against all possibilities of heavy ice gorges. Rome and Switzerland. It is now some weeks since we called the attention of our readers to the little trouble which had arisen in Switzerland between Rome and the Cantonal authorities. The trouble was of a twofold character. According to the laws of the Helvetian Confederation no new diocese can be created or bishop ap- pointed without the consent’ of the civil anthorities. It is also contrary to Swiss law for the bishop to depose priests without the consent of the State. In both those particu- lars the laws of the Swiss Confederation have been violated by the Church. Some time since M. Merwillod, Curé of Geneva, was ap- pointed by the Pope Bishop‘of Hebron, aux- iliary of Geneva, exercising functions, how- ever, in Switzerland. The State, of course, refused to recognize his authority; and the Bishop rebelling, he was forbidden the exer- cise of his episcopal functions in Swiss terri- tory. The matter was referred to the Pope, and the Pope stood by the Bishop. Such is the one case. The other case is that of the Bishop of Basle, who, without consent of the State authorities, dismissed two anti-infallibil- ist priests. The State authorities, after some patient consultation, denied the right of the Bishop so to excommunicate, enjoined him to rescind the excommunication he had pro- nounced, summoned him to appear before them to explain his conduct, and finally de- manded the immediate removal of the Vicar General. The matter has at last been ended by the breaking up of all relations between the Swiss government and the Vatican. The Papal Chargé d’ Affaires and attachés have been re- called, and the presumption is that the Papal Legation at Lucerne will be abolished. This must be a fresh source of anxiety to the Holy Father. It must, however, be admitted that in misfortune he fights well. Snow anp THE Crry Rartroaps.—The late storm has shown the inadequacy of our city railways. Some of them have suspended their trips entirely. Others, doubling their teams, have kept at work, though running irregularly. The Third Avenue Company, in particular, showed great energy in clearing its tracks. But, at the best, they only suggest how much better the service could be done by steam. It is to be hoped the experience of the last week may hasten the realization of some efficient rapid transit scheme. From various parts of the city we receive complaints that the compa- nies, with their ploughs and patent sweepers, throw the snow from their tracks upon the sidewalks, to the great annoyance of foot pas- sengers and householders. In consideration of their valuable franchises the companies im the Mississippi— Tee Gorges im the should be required by city ordinance to clear | their lines by removing the encumbrance from the street altogether. This they could do, with their large force of men and teams, at small expense, and it would be but simple justice to the residents along the lines, who are incom- moded and put to expense by the present prac- tice. Tue Lonpon TxriecRaPa “expects from | President Grant's second term fresh additions | to our galaxy of republican stars. It says the Cuban patriots have maintained their war of independence for four years, and concludes that the Spanish government is unable to put down the insurrection. If the insurgents are recog- nized as belligerents it thinks arms and am- munition from this city, and volunteers from our Southern ports, would soon turn the tide of the rebellion against Spain. It does not undertake to prophecy whether Cuban inde- pendence would lead to her incorporation into our Union, We take the liberty to say that the people of the United States will hail the independence of Cuba or of Canada, though they do not desire their annexation, and would prefer the formation of a confederacy of inde- pendent American republics which would enforce the Monroe doctrine against any European Power intermoddling in American affairs. tipple the surface of political life in England, The John Bull, an ardent High Church and tory journal, lately said editorially: We be- lieve that the tory party will cordially sup- port the claims of women, themselves house- holders and possessors of property, tp ‘the | electoral franchise, believing that the right te ® vote should be given with regard to property and not to sex.” The article in the John Bull has given riseto much discussion, the Slandard- adopting the suggestion and warmly encour- aging the new idea. On the other hand, the Daily Telegraph is furiously opposed, and puts the question, “Why should not new elec- tions turn on green tea, double perambulators or scarlet fever of a malignat type?’ The Daily Telegraph, in the heat of its rage, usea language which does not speak well for ita gallantry. This is not well:—‘Votes and sur- gery are equally desired, simply because all daughters of Eve must by their nature long for forbidden fruit.’’ Later the Pall Mall Ga- zelte has taken up ¢he cudgel, and, among other things, tells the conservative party that if they adopt the platform of woman suffrage “it will bring immense discredit on party con- sistency.” It is a pretty little fight as it stands. It argues, we think, great poverty of ideas on the part of the conservatives. If they have no grander cause to champion than that of woman suffrage, they have but small chance to succeed in putting down the Glad- stone Ministry. Mr. Gladstone cau, with much more consistency than Mr. Disraeli, adopt the woman suffrage question. } Christmas Week in the Religious Press. Christmas-tide and its eternal teaching of peace and good will to men receive from’ the religious editora this week their usual moed of enthusiastic attention, and, indeed, somewhat “crowds out,” to use the ‘technical slang of journalism, the discussion of more disputed topics. But this is atit should be. For surely, if ever secular knights of the quill can be moved by the gentle influences of this happy season into charity and mutual forgiveness, their religious brethren should at least ‘do likewise.’ ‘There are, however, a few excep- tions to this pleasant rule, a3 will be seén by our review below of the “‘spirit of the religious press.” The Christian Union indulges insome dreama of fancy about a ‘‘good time coming’’ in Con- gress, when the political lambs and lions shall lie down together and devote themselves to the making of good laws and not to the spout~ ing of ‘rowdy rhetoric.” This is about as re. mote, we think, as the millennium itself ; but it is a wish which the genial influences of the season may well engender. And if it ever should be realized we quite agree with the sentiment of the following peroration: — Is it hoping for too much to hope that, sooner or. later, the District of Columbia may cease to be the centre of mercenary intrigue and of minor poll- tics?—that within its limited area may be concen- trated the best thought and the noblest aspiration of the country?—that, free from the dangers and temptations of larger cities, it may show a beauti- ful cultivation of religion, of literature and of art? of manly and womanly graces? of single-hearted patriotism and of a political wisdom so rare that we may well regard it as peculiar? The Methodist confesses to being a little as- tonished to see “how patronizing the new,’ school of sceptical science is to the Almighty.”* It then adduces Professor Tyndall's already famous criticism of the mechanism of the human eye, which our readers remember he indicted as marred by many defects. It adds :— He is a bold man who can assume that he carriea in his own mind the absolute norm of a world crea- tion, or, what is the same thing, that he can decide that such and such isthe absolute norm as it ex- ists in the Creator’s mind. The answer to such an assumption is that neither he nor any other man is in a position to see ail of the Creator's designs, nor to comprehend the whole of the processes of creative art—in a word. that the extent of human bo eaectag must be remembered in all our criticisms of nature, The rebuke strikes us as needed. Taking * the eye as we find it, it seems to us to fulfil its purpose with a fair degree of success, and even if, as Professor Tyndall suggests, it might have been a much more satisfactory ef- fort of creative art, we sre, on the whole, quite content with what the Almighty has given us. In heaven; we have no doubt, the Professor will be permitted to model his own eyes. But perhaps the Professor does not be- lieve in heaven. The Independent and the Golden Age are at one, or nearly so, in regard to the Louisiana question, widely as they differed during the vourse of the campaign. The former criea out for “protection against domestic violence.”* Tt says: — aap ay We are not alarmists, and certainly not hostile to the President; yet the principles involved in thia Louisiana dispute go to the very life of our system of government, ey raise an issue in respect to which we cannot be indifferent. If the results of State elections can be determined in the way in which tern ence determined in Louisiana, and if the executive power of the President m: be in- yoked to sustain these results, then, indeed, we have reached the end of State governments. exist only by sufferance. The very provision of the constitution which was intended fer their protec- tion im@an extreme case becomes the instrument of their destruction. Wecan have no sympatl with and lend no support to such @ fatal cent zation as this implies. And the Golden Age expresses the same ideas in equally forcible words :-— ‘The policy pursued by the administration toward Louisiana is not only in violation of the constivu- tion and a marked departure from the traditions and spirit of the government in its dealing with the States; itis a dangerous one. If the Seresl. dent can unmake and make @ State government im Louisiana, what shall hinder his making a govern- ment for Missouri or New York? If these recent usurpations in New Orleans are sanctioned by Com- d allowed to unrebuked by the people, 11 hinder similar and even greater usarpa- y and every State in the Union? Admit the right of the federal authorities to unmake and make State governments at will, and the Republic is virtually at an end. Doubtless President Grant did not propose atthe first to interfere with the | legitimate authorities and loca) affairs of Louisi- ana. But the spirit of his administration is milt- tary, and he insensibly inclines to arbitrary methods and acts. He is more of a commander-in- chief than a President, and forgets that the nation is not an army of which the States are merely corps and detachments, The Evangelist accounts for the recent epi- demic of crime—and it seems to be still raging as fiercely as ever—by the theory that ‘hang- ing is played out in New York.” It therefore thinks that the muttered threats of swift jus- tice, which we hear every now and then, are not very surprising. But, it sensibly. con- cludes: — ‘The state of feeling thus indicated is ominous of those violations of public peace and order which, led under the prestige of vigilance «i citizens must de- mand and insist on, ia not harshness or retalin- tion in a bitter spirit, but justice, simple justice, and nothing more. Let the- law be sternly en- forced, and let the exceptions be as few as they are numerous now, and we may hope that ere long the riot eee ae Passions in our city will receive ache ‘The Freeman's Journal, after arraying from the columns of the Hxnatp the awful disasters - from floods and storms in Great Britain, Frange end Ijaly, etsjves to. soqount for the