The New York Herald Newspaper, September 30, 1873, Page 6

THREE MILLION PILGRIMS. An Effert to Interest the Working- men of Paris. METHOD OF THE PROPAGANDA. eae (A Description of the Mental Condition of the Ouvriers. SDEVILS IN SMALL CLOTHES” Sitoyens of Belleville, Mont Parnasse, St. Antoine, Vilette, Montmartre and Vaugirard Becoming Pious. ‘THE REFORMATION SHOPS. ‘Details of the Management of the Workmen's Clubs—Their Rapid Increase. HE NEW IGNATIUS LOYOLA. To Sam Up—These, Catholic Workmen’s Clubs Are Among the Great Facts of the Age.” THE TOILERS AT LIESSE. NotRE DAME DE LIESSE, August 17, 1873, In order to presentea clear idea of the present freligious revival in France I will give a list of the ‘pilgrimages which have been or will be made merely during the current week. Yesterday, the 16th instant, there were four pilgrimages. One to “Our Lady of Boulogne,” one to “Our Lady of Grace” at Cambrai, one to “Our Lady of Roche- fort,” one to “Our Lady of Pity.” These four pilgrimages were all conducted by the clergy of the respective dioceses in which the shrines are situated, under the expressed sanction of their Bishops, . To-day, August 17, eleven separate and distinct pilgrimages will be made to the following sanctu- arie: 1, To “Our Lady of La Salette,” from Nimes, 2. To “Our Lady of Boalogne,” from Paris. 3. Te “Our Lady of Liesse,” py the Catholic “Workingmen’s Clubs, 0! Paris. 4 To ‘Our Lady of Kocomadour,” from the dio- cese of Agen. Rai To “Our Lady of Ceignac,” from the diocese of ez. 6, To “Our Lady of Children,” from the diocese of iu ‘3 “Our ten A the Liberatress,” from the diocese of St. Claude. 8. To “Our Lady of Pennafort,”’ from the dlocese sof Frejus. 9, To “Our Lady of Verdelais,”’ from the dioceses ‘of Bordeaux and Agen, 16. ro “Our Lady of Vaulz," trom the diocese of moges. 11. To “Our Lady, the Guardian,” from the dio- ‘cese of Marseilles. To-morrow, August 18, five pilgrimages will be made :— ‘ 1. To “Our Lady of Lourdes,” from Perpignan and Angers. 2. To “Our Lady of Pontmaiu,” from the diecese of Laval. 3. To “Onr Lady of Rochefort,’’ from the dioceses of Nimes and Avignon. 4. To “Our Lady of the Hermitage,” from the ‘diocese of St. Claude. 5. To “Our Lady of Pity,” trom Lozére. On Tuesday, August 19, there will be four pil- grimages :— 1, To “Our Lady of Salette,” from Marseilles, 2 To “Our Lady of Lourdes,” from Agen. 8. To “Our Lady of France,” from Vivarais. 4 To “Our Lady of the Castles,” from Taren- aise. On Wednestiay, August 20, four pilgrimages will ‘be made :— 1, To “Our Lady of Salette,"’ an immense pil- gtimage, travelling on foot, from Grenoble. 2. To “Our Lady of Lourdes,” from the diocese of al 9 3, To “Our Lady of the Hermits,” from Einsideln Gwitzeriand). 4. To “Our Lady of Pontmain,” from Chateau- Goutier. On Thursday, August 21, eight pilgrimages will ‘be made :— 1. To “Our Lady of Salette,”’ from Paris. The pilgrims of Paris will be accompanied by delegates trom various other dioceses, 2. To “Our Lady of Pgntmain,”’ from the diocese of Laval. 3 To “Our Guardian Lady,” from Marseilles and Toulon. 4. To “Our Lady of Mount Roland,’ from the dio- ese of St. Claude. 6. To “Our Lady of Orient,” from the diocese of Rodez. 6. To “Our Lady of Consolation,” from the dlo- wese of Frejus, 1. To Cour Lady of Villethiers,”’ from the diocese of Blois. 8. To “Our Lady of Safety,” from the diocese of Bayeux. On Friday, August 22, there will be made five pilgrimages :— 1. To “Our Lady of Salette,’”’ from tne diocese of Niort. 2. To “Our Lady of Lourdes," from the diocese i Tal o7 Tar! 8. To “Our Lady. of La Réal,” from the diocese of Per oar Lady of la Sedz,” from the diocese of ray “Our Lady of Prouilhe,” from Carcassonne. It appears from an impartial calculation that there must be about THRBE MILLIONS OF PILGRIMS In France at the date of this letter. One of the most remarkable of the numerous pilgrimages on foot at the present writing is prob- ably that of THE CATHOLIC WORKMEN'S CLUBS. Persons who are well acquainted with the French laboring classes will hardiy read without amuze- ment that they have been induced to become pil- grims and to entertain serious thoughts ef salva- tion. They are A LIGHT-HEAPED FOLK, not at all given to troubling themselves about their pouls. “Save me! ye black-gowned men, from what?’ calls lustily out a frog workingman, not without a caper. “Ido not want to be saved. The true idea of paradise is to eat fried gudgeons to the sound of a fiddle at the barriere on a Sunday.” It ts by no means astonishing that they should have formed this notion of happiness; for if man were an ape, as he is alleged to be, it would not be an incorrect one. In fact, the frog workingman bas deen shookingiy corrupted by cheap literatare. Adultery, seduction, outrage, theft, murder, bave all been deified in his eyes a thousand times by the most consummate masters of popular fiction whom earth has ever produced. It would be dimMcult to find one solitary hero of @ French fashionable ro- mance who, if judged by ® very moderate stand. ardofhonor, must not be pronounced a scoun- rel. Butthe heroes of those unfashionable ro- Mmances which are read at Belleville and im the Faubourg St. Antoine are simply 4 DEVILS IN SMALL-CLOTHES, *-ngsvrog workingman glories in these demons. He sees vem reproduced, in the most emchauting shapes, in fn’ DeWspapers, in his theatres, at his singing shops gx4 ip the grandest transformation scenes of his OgxPRRIMENTAY) GPVERNMENTS."? ‘They represent the only eeuception which exists in his mind of the sublime and beautiful, and with @ faith (which has, after all, someting touching in it, seeing by what brightly colored delusions the poor creature has been duped) he takes @ person ‘who ought to be sent to @ house of correction for bis model, It was an arduous task to make @ decent, God- fearing citizen out of a frog workingman. But it has been attempted and, to a certain extent, ac- oMplished by # handsome young Count de Mun, NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1873—QUADKUPLE SHEET. who Is a captain of cavalry in the French army and basa face like @ warrior of romance. Captain Count de Mun, the Count de la Tour du Pin, M. Paul Vrignault, and M. Léon Gautier, whose names have been courteously communicated to me, have formed thémselves into an association for the active propagation of the Roman Catholic religion among the working classes, and have es- tablished the principal seat of their administra- tion—which is a very complete and wide-spreading administration—at No. 17 Qual Voltaire, in Paris, 1t would not be very wonderful it THE CAPTAIN OP CAVALRY who ts at the head of this movement should some day be as famous in the Vatholic world as Ignatius Loyola, for rough work can only be done by youth and energy. Age and experience have, indeed, often @ good idea, but they are so careful to mount iton @ tortoise, lest it should run over some oppos- ing prejudice or hostile interest, that to this day the world is little better for the tong life of Methu- Selah, and all the greatest things in it have been done by boys who had never learned to count the cost of # heavy head and a sick heart, Captain de Mun'is evidently a brave, ardent man, who does not shrink from difficulties. He has not gone down to a nobleman’s country house and caught a canting carpenter or two by a lucrative job and a dull sermon. He has gone straight to the heart of his task and tackled THE NIMBLE-TONGURD ABSINTHE-DRINKING COCKNEY of’Paris. Having done this, and not till then, he founded Catholic workingmen’s clubs in the French provinces, ‘The main object of these clubs is to give a healthy mental education, not only to*the mem- bers of the clubs themselves, but to the working classes generally, But many other objects almost equally important are also included in their estab- lishment, A committee, composed of many eminent clergy- men and laymen, under the presidency of M. Gau- tier, has been formed to atudy the vexed questions which have arisen within these last few years be- tween master and workmen, and to report upon them from a strictly impartial point of view. They hoid conferences, or,as we should say, give lec- tures, embodying the pith of their reports in order to make the truth known to whomsoover it concerns. Workmen’s libraries have been established to teach them the principles of trade and enable them to undergtand the lectures delivered to them. A periodica! print, dealing with current events, is also published with the same intention and distributed gratuitously. The Rey. Father Mousabré, one of THE PREACHING BROTHERS OF ST. DOMINIC, and a man of great eminence as a teacher, has drawn up @ programme of the studies necessary for workingmen, anc has issued several remark- abie tracts on the subject. The first of the educational lectures was delivered by Father Dulong du Rosnay, and it was attended by about 400 workmen. Before ne had given six lectures his hearers increased to 1,500, The lecture | room in which the conterences were held was found too small for the purpose, and the Pantheon was next selected. A second series of lectures was also given simultaneously to large congrega- tions at No. 84 Rue de Grenelle, and it became | necessary to open new clubs at Belleville, Mont Parnasse, Montmartre and Vaugirard. The central library of the Catholic workmen’s | clubs already numbers 2,000 volumes, It is formed solely of books relating to questions which have a practical bearing on the business interesta of the workingman. It is not made up of GOODY GOODY BOOKS; jt is honestly what it professes to be, and gives Valuable aid to intelligent labor, The Catholic working men’s clubs in Paris are at Present six in number. They have been per- manently established at Mont Parnasse, Belleville, Vaugirard, Montmartre, St. Antoine and Villette. A seventh club, espegiaily intended for the work- men of Alsace-Lorraine has been opened at Passy. But perhaps THE GERMAN AMBASSADOR may put his finger in that pie, if not his thumb, and take out the vest plums tn it. These Catholic Workmen's clubs are not dull places of resort for sanctimontous prigs prepared to have their heads talked off after they have been respectfully bared for the glorification of Counts. There is SOMETHING HUMAN AND PLEASANT in them. Private theatricals are charmingly got up among the members, under really admirable guidance; for the~theatres employ an immense number of workmen and workwomen in Paris. Carpenters, joiners, smiths, firework makers, painters, tailors, milliners, and o multitude of other laborers, There is also good music and sing- ing at the clubs, and cheerful evenings may be passed there, away from the gim shop, which has | the thought of heaven, or, say an archery meeting, hitherto enjoyed A MONOPOLY OF ATTRACTIONS for the workingman and his wie. THE CLUB OF MONT PARNASSE is the principal’ clab yet open. It numbers 210 members, thirty-eight of whom attend the educa- tional lectures regularly every Sunday. The Belleville Club has fifty-nine members, all well conducted workmen. Twelve of them attend lectures. The Montmartre Club, opened in July, has 116 members, Ten of them attend lectures. The Vaugirard Club, whicn opened two months ago with twenty-four members, must now find ac- commodations for 183 members. One of the principal designs of the Catholic workmen’s clubs ts to facilitate intercourse between employers and employed. The committee do not think that they have done enough when they have opened clubs for the workingman, unless they also provide for his wants. They have, there- fore, organized a workingman’s secretaryship or office in the centre of Paris, This, when brought into thorough working order, will be A GENERAL INFORMATION B8HOP, It will furnish, gratuitously, all the intelligence now supplied by ‘houses of call,” mostly pot- houses, and used as bait, too often greund bait, to catch a THIRSTY MAN OUT OF PRESENT EMPLOYMENT, A register is already kept at each of the clubs and at the Workingmen’s Library, and this register is placed at the disposal of employers and employed in the neighborhood. Both parties are admitted on Sundays and Mondays every week for the pur- pose of inscribing in these registers all offers of work or employment, and likewise the subject of ail complaints, disputes or contentions, as well as any facts or information useful in business, The registers are presented every Tuesday at the chief office, The replies are written opposite each question or demand, and each register is returned on Saturdays to the club to which it belongs. The funds for these objects have been entirely raised by voluntary contributions and by a charity sermon preached on the 14th of April at St, Clotilde by Bishop Mermillod. The Centrai Committee of the Catholic work- men’s clubs have placed themselves in communt- cation, through Count de Is Tour-du-Pin, their Seoretary General—in official communication with all the ecclesiastical and civil authorities in France, in order to obtain aid and assistance from them in case of need. All the parochial clergymen of Paris have associated themselves with this work, and new clubs are opening daily in the provinces, and fourteen sub-committees have been recently formed, while the number of institutions connected with the society already exceeds 140, Lyons and Marseilles, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Roubaix, Brest, Pau, Tourrion, Vannes, Auch and Roanne, are among the latest towns which have taken @ definite part in the movement, and many of THR GREATEST LADIRS IN PRANCE are giving extremely energetic support to it—a fact of which I have been made aware in @ remarkable manner at several arawing rooms. When French ladtes really make up their minds to patronize anything or anybody it must be admitted that they DO IT IRRRSISTIBLY and have a way of laughing to scorn the objections of recalcitrant man whitch is all their own. Theretore it will surprise no ope to learn that the Catholic workmen’s clubs are becoming too small to accommodate their members. Not only are there two clubs at Annonay, but the senior club ‘two Judges among the committee men, which also nambers tle principal personages of the depart- ment. M. de Montesquieu is president of one of the workmen's clubs at Bordeaux. The Archbishop ol Grenoble has given his benediction and a sub- scription of 1,000 francs to the club in that town; he has also obvained for it a valuable lease from the brethren of the Chartreux for a new club house, The Bishop of Vannes has published his testimony to the orderly conduct anu good qualities of the workmen’s clubs in that city, and M. de Breuer, a nobleman of great local importance, has consented to act as its honorary secretary. The great city of Lille has opened three clubs, and Colonel de Cherisey and sixty of the principal persons in the town have associated themselves with these establishments. Gymnastics haye been introduced into many of the principal clubs on the recommendation of the Archbishop of Paris, who has also connected his name and approbation with them. The Marquis de Beaumont is President of the Tours club, and the Archbishop has publicly Pronounced a benediction on it. M. de Bodan, Deputy for Morbihan to the National Assembly, 1s President of the Vannes club, which numbers a colonel of artillery, an engineer, & diplomatist and @ major Of cavalry among its committee. To sum up, these Catholic workmen's clubs are among THE GREAT FACTS OF THE AGE. Captain de Mun was therefore able to lead down to the out-of-the-way town of Liesse no less than 2,000 workmen, who: ostensibly went there tor pious purposes, The day was very fine. ‘The old Mediwval city, though much fallen from its ancient greatness, was, picturesque and interesting,» The streets were alive with animated groups, and the beautifal church was decked with banners, flowers and the painted images of saints, The whisper of prayer and the loud chant of hymns came through the open doors by turns and filled the summer air with the breath of incense, going— whither ? ni “Well,” said I to a milliner’s girl -and her Jules, who were standing near the church porch, sue busy with a glove button, he sucking the knob of a Stick, “Well, what do you think of all this ?"” “Ma fot c'est bien gentile,” said the milliner’s girl and her Jules. It has been often said, and will be said again, for stupid things must be often said, or mankind would forget them, that the Roman Catholics de- grade piety into pleasure, and that these modern pilgrimages are, after all, only made up of picnic parties and holiday lovers. It is certainly possible that some of the pilgrims are not saints, and might feel indisposed, if suddenly required, to become | martyrs, But which, after all, is the worthiest object for the gathering together of a people— with some crooked sticks and half a dozen yards | of string for a subject of perpetual contemplation | on a summer’s day ? This ancient Roman Catholic faith, though it has been so often despised and mocked, has a bright and wondrous life init, Of course It is not so re- spectable as the Reformation, which arose from the desire of one man to break an oath which he had | voluntarily taken, and the fixed determination of | another man to have two wives though he gave his soul for the second, Still, though not up to the moral standard of Priest Luther and King Henry, itis a lovable faith, speaking softly and sweetly to the imaginations even of the ignorant. Whether it is the true faith or not is another question, 1 was at mass this morning and the Church of Liesse was so crowded that there was not room tor another stripling in it. I looked keenly at the | congregation, and have seldom seen harder faces, or closer looking fists, Yet the church: was filled with their offerings, and not one of them would go away without leaving a part of that he loved best on earth, his money, behind him. I wonder why they did it. They were not holiday makers. They were THE ROUGH FARMERS OF CHAMPAGNE, I was going to write. But they are not so rough. They seem like people who are playing at being rough. Cockney hermits would perhaps be a just term to apply. to them, and that is indeed what they really wish to appear. It is not a beautiful ideal, but they attain toit, which is something in this world of ours. Their Women were amazing specimens of the adverse sex. Their clothes were starched and stiff, They looked, when old or cantankerous, like queer contrivances for navigating the air, about to sail away into space upon broomsticks, with their fat, DUMPTY BANDY-LEGGED CHILDREN AFTER THEM: Not at all an imaginative population these Liesse country folk. the shrine of tne Virgin, and supplicating the miraculous image, which had appeared in the Prison of the three crusaders and their jaiter’s daughter. I wondered why they did it, and why the church altar was so rich with their gifts, till I read again the inscriptions 01 the votive tablets on the church walls; and thought how this man’s mother had been suddenly healed of an infirmity as she prayed, or that woman’s child had been restored to her. Is it, or is 1t not a good speculation to pray for nine days and give 100 francs in sacrifice and alms ? That is the question before us at Liesse. The Presence of these men and women declare that it is @ good speculation. Very sharp fellows some ofthem. Nochance of getting a fancy or a false- hood, however cunningly managed, into their heads, It must be admitted, however, that the THEATRICAL RFFECTS WERE ADMIRABLY Gof UP. And why not? Religious ceremonies are the only artistic amusement of the artistic French people in many country towns. The ceremony was very fine. The chanting was very impressive, The tones of the organ were grand and solemn. The bell had a silver sound. M. le Curé and the at- tendant priests seemed to imhabit a serene atmos- phere and were elevated above the people. They moved about before the high altar in splendid robes, amid flowers and lights, while the voices of the choristers rose and {ell melodiously as the rise and fall of waters at @ fountain. Above them, supported by a sculptured arch, the gift of a pious Duke of Lorraine, was the miraculous image of our Lady of Liease—a little black image, no big- ger than the vision seen by Armand Wallet at Batignolles—with all that devout crowd worship- ping it, as @ work of (aith and love made perfect. There was nothing in 1t which unskilfal hands might not have carved and which pity might not have admired. All over the front of the church were stuck a number of painted images of saints and patriarchs. Abraham about to sacrifice his son, and Jacob with nis laddgr. They were rudely done on wood or card-board, and no better than the images ina childs’ picture book. They were, 1 dare say, very funny and trumpery in the sight of some, for I heard some laughter about them. But what, if they led the eyes, and through them, the hearts of ignorant peasant children up to heaven? ‘The miraculous fountain, too, is but a well, with & pitcher tied to ® piece of string, in it; but what, if it heals the sick? Ihave seen and talked with those who testified to tts virtues. At all events it is A PRETTY SORT OF PIETY to come and pray at this fountain. Itisa well in the midst of orchards and flowers and gardens, with a grove of trees leading ap toit. There is a chapel near, wherein beggars say their prayers all day long. Some country people were eating bread and meat on their thumbs and PICNICKING AT THE MIRACULOUS FOUNTAIN 1 stood vee What then? The water was ih and pure. d they better picnick in pot- houses? I #hould like to know how much of the sneering at Roman Catholics is managed, directly or indirectly, by THE LICKNSED VICTUALLING INTEREST? To be sure, the water, though sweet and clear, Was not so jolly and delightful as beer, with nico- tine and cocculus indicus in it. Not far from the miraculous fountain is the chapel of Notre Dame Reparatrice, It stands ina little walled garden, It was very quiet, and the door stood open, so that prayers might be done privately, without payment of the usual two pence. Lentered, and found a young grisette of the Paris pilgrimage upon her knees, She was crying. A pretty, delicate thing, and she sobbed as if her heart would break, But she trippea away presently, with a bright word, like a glimpse of sunshine through an April shower, as she passed has been obliged to move into larger quarters. Bagnéres de Bigorre has set up aclab, with the eminent Viscount de Puységur for @ presklent. and Yet there they were, all praying at — me, Perhaps ‘Our Lady of Consqlation’’ had already hoard bet THE VIRGINIA CAMPAIGN, The Real Issues Between the Republi- cans and Conservatives. The Gubernatorial Candidates on the, Stump. WHITE AGAINST BLACK. Kemper and Hughes as Temperate Antagonists. Ricuaon, Sept. 26, 1873, To an outsider it would appear that the came paign in this State is unusually tame, for beyond the mention of meetings, held in various places, in the newspapers, there is little said aboutit, The financial crisis absorbs ail interest and is the main topic of conversation in all quarters, to the exclu- sion of everything else. With the opening of Oc- tober, however, the political canvass promises to assume @ more lively aspect, and the stump will resound with the trumpet tones of many orators in the most approved spread eagle style. But that the campaign has been well and actively started it cannot be denied, the two guber- natorial aspirants being now and for some time past on the stump in the southwestern portion of the State, which, hesides the Valley and the Pied- mont region, ts the main ground of the contest, ‘The HERALD correspondent has recently visited all of these sections, and, vi'wing the situation from an impartial standpoint, it seems clear that the conservatives are destined to carry the day. It should be remembered in the outset that the result in November next between Kemper, the conserva- tive candidate for Governor, and Hughes, the re- publican candidate tor the same place, will be the WIBST AND ONLY REAL TEST of the strength of parties in Virginia since the war. In 1869, when Walker was elected, alarge percent- age of the conservatives were prohibited irom vot" ing by the reconstruction acts of Congress, and in the subsequent Congressional and other elections there was no real Issue to test the strength of parties, Now ithas come down toa square fight | between the democrats and republicans, without any efforts at cajolery on the part of the republi- cans or Greeley concilation on the part of the democrats. I do not write now to encumber the columns of the HERALD because of any great activity or excitement in the canvass or because of any new exigency tn political affairs that would justify me, but merely to state the case fairly and correct grave misapprehensions that now exist at the North with regard to the real issues in the cam- paign. It is only proper that the people of the whole country should know the exact attitude of parties, certain republican journals alleging that the conservatives have made it a white and black man’s fight. This the democratic organs deny; but to arrive ata correct understanding of the subject, it will be necessary to review briefly the | main occurrences on the political stage since the overthrow of the secession movement, Imme- diately a(ter the close of the war the people of Vir- ginia, through their accredited representatives, lost no time in endeavoring to ascertain from the authorities at Washington the conditions upon which they could be restored to their old relations in the Union, They were told that before the Southern States could be received back into the fa- mily fold they must of their own accord forever abolish slavery within their borders, declare the ordinance of secession null and void, repudiate their war debt and proceed to elect members to the National Congress who could stand the test of the iron-clad oath. Here, in Virginia, the first three requirements had already been complied with by the Pierpoint government, and embodied inthe Alexandria constitution, a8 it was then called, and that instrument was promptly and cheerfully accepted by the people of the wholo State as their organic law. It remained only to fulfil the last condition, which was done by the selection of original Union men unobjectionable on the score of previous opinion or conduct during the war, This was the FIRST PRACTICAL STBP TOWARDS RECONSTRUCTION suggested by Mr, Seward, and known to be in ex- act accordance with Mr. Lincoln's views, and it was eminently proper that it should come from the recusant States. The result is well known to the readers of the HERALD who are familiar with the Political history oi the country since the close of the war. This plan of reconstruction did not suit the views of the extreme men of the republican party, whose avowed leader was Mr. Thaddeus Stevens, of Pennsylvania. From that faction, the others concurring, the flat went forth that the Southern States were to be regarded in the light of subjugated provinces, amenable to the most rig- orous laws of conquest. In other words, they were to be subject to such rules and Ytegulations as would effectually radicalize, Airicanize and recon- struct them in the interests of the dominant party to enable them to maintain their ascendancy in the government. The first step in furtherance of this gcheme was the establishment throughout the South of military governments, with powers as ab- solute and irresponsible as were ever exercised by tetrarch or satrap, the disfranchisement of a large class of Influential white citizens, and the investure of the entire negro popujation with full POLITICAL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES, ‘The military commanders were ordérea to make registration lists of the qualified voters under these restrictions, and, when completed, to hold elec tious for delegates to conventions for the purpose of framing organic laws ior the several States thus proscribed, subject to the approval of a republican Congress. All the oficers, registrars, judges and commissioners were required to take the iron- clad oath, and the voting was to be done ee Mee thereby placing the entire ma- hinery at ircical a8 it was) in the hands of political adventurers, carpet-baggers and others of the same persuasion. The fruit of such election in this State Was ® convention, memorable in its his- tory as the “Underwood Convention,” composed ol outcast Northerners, negroes, Canadians, Nova Scotians, Hibernians aud what-nots; and they set to work and framed a constitution, which perpetu- ally excluded from ali participation in the govern. ment tne great body of the native white people of the State, Finding that their protests against this unrighteous scheme for their social and political bey Bo were unavailing, and that there was a fixed pur; on the part of those who con- trolled the legislative branch of the government at Washington to enforce this edict, the people of Virginia yielded to the inevitable result, and through the intercession of a few liberally disposed republicans obtained the smail boon of being per- mitted to expunge by their votes the odious and intolerabie disfranchising clauses of the Underwood constitution. Allowed this privilege they not only agreed to accept that instrament, objectionable as it was in many other reaat but aiso to support three pronounced republi! 8 tO fll the chief ex- ecutive offices of the Commonwealth. By these overtures and political sacrifices they succeeded in rescuing their State from the calamitous doom which has beiallen every other Southern State where the republicans obtained the ascendancy b; the above means. The ‘ative party tri- umphed by such an overwhelming majority as to give them absolute control of all the departments Of the new State government. THE WHITK AND THE BLACK MAN'S FianT. £01 now to the issues im the present canvass, as y Os th ag of the Underwood constitu. tion, is te be foun real and true origin of any “white and black man’s ight” in this State, which, as it can be seen, was ini ted by the ne- groes and their friends. Further than this, when ction upon the adoption of the constitution took place the ne; 3 voted solidly for the reten- tion of the disiranckising clauses, which, if adopted, would have consigned to political bond: nine-tenths of the entire white people, and Placeé Virginia in the same condition prob- ably that Louisial to-day. It was at this time, and for © long period subsequent to it, that every Possible concession was made by the whites to the hegr conciliation in Deg tel was resorted to; but all Fg nen looking tical harmony between the ra were sullenly and grossly re- Jected by the negroes, Kvery efforts was made to roduce an impression upon this stolid mass of ignorance that their true interest as newly entranchised citizens «was to _— cultivate friendly relations with. the whites; but all appeals were in vain, By theif conduct revious to the Walker cam} in 1869, during its progress and up to the present hour the negroes forced the issue, which, it is but just to say, the whites struggled in every way to avoid. When defeated on tue disiranchiging clauses of the constitution it was thought and’ oped that the result would open their eyes to the foliy of their course towards the witttes, But such isnot the case. They are to-day as mrwch united as ever and a8 determined to assert their demands for the control of the State government, though | believe the sensible ones among them are convinced they can never obtain is, vote as solidly as they may. THE REAL ISSUE OF THE CAMPAIGN. This, then, is the great overshadowing issue in the spprosching State election, Bvery other ques- tion of local and domestic concern is made sub- ordinate to this vital matter, and in the struggle, in which ti are en, dd the conservative party claim they have a right to command the con- sideration and well wishes of all the friends of social order and good government through- out the country. Although the republican can- didates and leaders have, with the aid of the administration organ at Washington, which ts also the party organ here, endeavored to ve the contest somewhat of a national caste. It has no relation whatever to national affairs. but is cere &@ State canvass, without any reference to residential or administration politics. It is rather unfortunate that the republicans should have dragged national affairs and the administration so prominently into their canvass, as that will be an additional and strong ineentive among the con- servatives to secure an administration deieat, which, from tne present aspect of affairs, will most assuredly be the result, Grant and Greeley men are cordia!ly united in the determination to avert from Vi ia the fate of those Southern States where the worst radicalism prevaus. Unlike Mas- Sachusetts (ag described by Governor Bullock at Worcester), they have one special favor to ask of the administration, and that Is, in the language of Henry A. Wise’s message to Mr. Buchanan, when President, that it will . “KEBP ITS DOGS OFF THEM.” Under the bead of ‘Political Buncombe and Humbug,” a Northern republican journal says the consermative press of this State is filled with noisy appeals to the whites to redeem the State from dis- grace, 4c. Now, there is no disgrace to redeem the State trom. Jt nas been under conservative Tule since reconstruction was effected under Gen- eral Canby. and it is to maintain the supremacy of the conservatives in the State that they are now making 80 active a canv; Nobody denies that the n 1s a citizen, invested with all the rights and privileges politically that a white man is; but when they themselves together solidly in a political Organization and assume an aggressive attitude, with the avowed purpose of assuming control of the State government, then comes the tug of war, and the negro will come out second best in Virginia, The negro, in the fulness of bis good nature and nerosity towards his old master, 1s willing to vote at the same polls with him, to sit on the same jury with him, to make lawa in the same legislative body with him, to ride in the same car with him, to put up at the same hotel with bi and even to eat at the same table with him, bu' to vote in the sams party witn him—never. The conservatives are cordi “if invited to come over and join the great republican party of progress, of peace, of security—the party of the administration and the party which alone cap develop the great mineral resources of the. State and build her great internal water-line; but ask a negro to join the conservatives, and the taithful race how! about secession, rebellion, Ku Kluxism and’ future slavery. In fact, the negroes are so well organ- ized and drilied—not in any republican principles, but into a political hostile attitude towards the whites—that to-morrow, .1f the conservatives suddenly turned radicals, the negroes would, with- out any hesitation whatever, assume tue opposite side atonce. Nothing but education and time will make a tree and independent citizen of the negro; but I think, trom the signs of the times, that era in his political history is far off yet. THE CANVASS has been conducted to the present time with a cer- tain degree of courtesy towards each other by the opposing bernatorial candidates; that is, I be- lieve, neither of them has said anything behind the other’s back that he would not Say belore his face. Kemper, the conservative candidate, is a fine orator, who can strictly be called a conserva- tive. His well-known’ gallantry as a soldier, com- bined with his eloquence on the stump, infuses an enthusiasm into the crowds of ex-Coniederates that everywhere throng to hear him, which carries them with him to a man. Throughout South- western Virginia his canvass has been @ series of orations, and trom the indications that section will give the conservative ticket a larger vote than it ever polled beiore. Colonel Hughes, the repubil- can candidate jor Governor, while a good speaker, @ vigorous, profound and able writer, and thoroughly versed in the political history of Virginia, as well as her internal im- provement policy, not the man to arouse his bearera on the stump. His statement of the case is clear and logical, nis arguments forcibie and his deductions convincing, but he certainly lacks the eloquence and magnetism; and that nameless other quality which sways a crowd like a great Wave, tosses its hat into the air and brings forth a cheer that fills the firmament and wakes the eehoes of the valleys, as does his opponent. He ts carrying on an active canvass, following mainly in the ‘track of Kemper, sometimes meeting him on the stump, and always maintaining a bold tront and making a gallant fight. He would make an excel- lent Governor, and would perhaps be acceptable enough W the people of Virginia if 1t was not that be is the head, brains, organ and mouthpiece of the negro party, to which for the reasons above given they are so bitterly opposed. it is my im- pression, from ail that I have seen and heard, that THE REPUBLICANS are adopting a covert line of policy in the canvass, which is destgaed to take the conservatives by sur- prise on the day of election. This plan is to create perce their opponents an impression of apathy that does not really exist in their ranks. If true the artifice works well, iorI have heard it re- marked by leaging conservatives again and again, “The negroes don't seem to take the same interest in this campaign that they did in previous ones;’’ ‘but there is where they make the mistake. The negroes are the most thoroughly disciplined voters that ever cast ballots, By holding small and ap- parently indifferent meetings at various points where their opponents are strong, they lull their apprehensions and produce an im- pression of weakness; but on the day of election every motaer's son of a darky will be as promptly at the polls as if his very existence de- pended upon it, To-night, and as they occasion- ally do, the republicans held a yer, large and en- thusiastic meeting at the Assembly Hall in this city, which was addressed by Colonel Hughes, their gubernatorial candidate, le predicted the de- struction of the conservative party in the coming election, extolled the republican party as the great party of the Union, which had for its principles the amendments to the constitution. He denied that his party sought to establish negro rule in the State, and said they would not if they could. The colored people bad only control in some ten counties in the State, and it would therefore be ssible to place them in the ascendancy. There will soon be some 350 candidates in the fleld, and of these net more than twenty will be colored men. The con- servatives have accepted our principles, and yet he abused for advocating those very principles; but he did*not care for abuse, as he stood now where the conservative party stood in 1872, He claimed the republican party was the party uf progress, and i! Virginia wanted her canal built by the national government she would have to elect a republican Governor. General Kemper, if elected, could not get an appropriation, but by electing a Union Governor Virginia would show that she was a and Uncle Sam would then kill the fatted calf. ‘These were the chief points in Colonel Hughes’ speech, which was loudly applauded throughout, THE CONSERVATIVES are just as anxious to have the eanal built as the republicans, and perhaps more 80, as they would be materially benefited by it; they are just as eager to come into friendly relations with the na- tional government as the people of any other State in the Union. They have, as Colonel Hughes says, accepted all the amendments to the constitution; their loyalty is unquestioned, for no one can point to an act of disloyalty in Virginia since the close of the war; but i/ the building of the canal ts to be purchases at the risk of placing their State in the jands of the party which ruined the remainder of the Southern States the people of Virginia will try Governor Walker's pl ind build it by private en- terprise and capital. This is the pronounced ulti- matum of the conservatives, and have no doubt whatever but that the result in November next will verify it by the eae majority for their ticket een cast in the South, excepting Gover- 's in Georgia, since the close of the war. POLITICAL NOTES. Two weeks from to-day (Tuesday, Octobe 14) elections will be held in the States of Pennsyiva- nia, Ohio and Iowa. Pennsylvania will choose a’ State Treasurer and a Supreme Court Judge; Ohio &@ Governor and other State oMcers, and lowaa Governor, Other State officers ahd a Legislature. In Towa the issue is distinctly made vetween the farmers’ candidates and the regular republicans. The colored politicians of Charleston, S. C., threaten to organize a black man’s patty if they are not allowed to fill half of the municipal offices. The democrats, prohibitory law men and a few discontented Butlerites, are to hold a grand polit- tt WM. T. LEE VS. BROOKLYN, Interesting Yacht Race for $1,000. The Lee Beats the Brooklyn by 6 Min. 18 1-2 Sec., with Time Allowance. The match race for $500 a side, between the open boats William T. Lee and Brooklyn, ten miles to windwara and return, from Gowanus Bay, was sailed yesterday in accordance with the rules of the Brooklyn Yacht Club, to which both boats be-* long, and, after an interesting contest, victory was awarded the Lee. For three or four weeks there has been much speculation in the yachting circles of the City of Churches regarding the result of this contest, ‘and in the majority of instances it has as- sumed the form of wagering large sums of money; and this is the reason of the numbers that patron- ized the steamer Virginia Seymour, that was en- gaged to accompany the yachts, At elevem o’clock everything was found in readiness at the foot of Twenty-fourth street, Brooklyn, to start the competing boats, Each nad a new set of sails, made py John M, Sawyer, and being um restricted regarding the number of men, the Lee had eleven on board and the Brooklyn @ crew of fourteen. The judges decided upon by the owners were Mr. F, P. Buoker for the Lee and James Sweaney for the Brookiyn. The course was from the dock at the foot of Twenty-fourth street to the buoy No. 834 on Southwest Spit and return, fully the distance determined upon. The compet- |. ing boats were :— th, Allowance. Name. a Ss. Win. T. Le 3° 00 Brooklyn 6% IT The early morning portended rain, but approach- ing noon the clouds broke and the sun delighted thousands who had gathered to note the start of these grand racing boats. The wind was iresh from the southwest and the tide the last of the food. Everything being in order and it being de- termined upon that nine of the seconds allowed the Brooklyn should be taken at the start, the Brooklyn was ordered to be away at 11h. 34m. oes, and the Lee at 1h, 34m. Ibs, Both had their matnsail ana = jib set before the word was given, and like deerhounds they went about their busi- ness, At 11h. 35m. 033, the Lee went about and stood in to the Long Island. shore, and twenty sec- onds after the Brooklyn followed her example. The leading Lee was not long upon this tack, as she again went about at 11h. 38m. 10s., and this manceuvre was repeated by her adversary, Alt this while the gentlemen on board the Seymour were betting their momey with the treedom of “old. salts,” and without much difficulty it was ascer- tained that the Lee was the favorite at $60 to $40. At Lh. 47m. 06s, the W. T. Lee tacked to the star- board and the Brooklyn immediately followed, and here the Lee began to leave the Brooklyn, and from this time she kept widening the gap to the finish, though in two instances the Brooklyn for & short time lessened it considerably by able sailin; It is not necessary ‘o give the several taoks cacl boat made, but at twelve o'clock the Lee was heading for the Staten Island shore, and was fully a quarter of a mile to the front, The Lee stood on this tack until 12h, 04m, 25s., when she squared away Jor the Bay Ridge dock, then to shape her course through the Narrows. It had been observed by this time that the Lee was handled with more skill than her adversary, and that she could outsail her without much dificulty. At this time Captain Smith, of the Brooklyn, thinking that she had too much last on board, threw into the bay severai sand- bags, but they sadly wanted this weight before the end had been reached. At 12h. 35m. the Lee weathered Fort Laia; and two minutes therealter she stoo her 3 to the Spit. After tacking at Robbin’s Reef the Brooklyn and 38 on down by Lafayette without another board, apd at 12h. 41m. 00s, she was ‘“‘aiter her’ leader, both with a iree wind, it having been working around to the south-southwest. Here the Lee was half a mile in advance, and though she tacked at 1h, 26m. 308., and again at Lh, 39m. 158., she main~ tained her position to windward and a long dis- tance in advance, Merrily they skimmed the waves towards the outer goal, and, with the Sey- mour in good position to note, it was recorded that the time of the boats turning the Southwest Spit was as follows HM, & aM, & William T. Lee...... 2 06 66 Brooklyn.+.......2 1 a ‘The wind stiil held very fresh, and it was interest- ing to observe the perfect composure with which the respective crews ever and anon received “a ducking” from the cloud of spray which broke fore and ait the'crafts. When the Lee squared away for home it was a question if her adversary could not beat her before the wind, and while it was felt that the Lee would be victorious, many wagers were made that the Brooklyn would lessen the time be- tween the boats, as irom the starting point to the Southwest Spit, to that of arriving home from that point, In this they were also disappointed, as the e beat the Brooklyn 4m. 84s. to the Spit, and, in- creased the lead to 6m. 18348. to the home stakeboat, after deducting the allowance of 17% seconds, to which she was entitied. At tne head of the West Bank the yacht Columbia shot by the contestants, and, in return, gave each agun. Through the Nar- rows both yachts whiskered out their jibs, put, de- Spite all that the Broeklyn could do, she was out- sailed, and each turned the home stake as below named :— Actual Corrected: Time. Time. HM. 8S HM. & 403 50 4 03 530 Brooklyn... 410% 4 10 0% Thus, with all the allowance, 9seconds before the start and 3% at the finish, the Lee won the race and $1,000 by 6m. 18348, The Lee was baiit by Mr. Harry Smedley, of South Brooklyn, and the Brook- dyn by Mr. James Lennox. A CATBOAT RACE. + Newport Water Sports Testing the Rela- tive Speed of the “Cats” in a Breese— The Race, Time and Prizes. ‘ Newport, R. 1., Sept. 29, 1873, The long-talked-of catboat race was sailed to day. The course was from a stakeboat at Fort Walicott to and aronnd the lightship at Hog Island and return, The prizes were raised by subserip- tion, and much interest was manifested in the re- sult, The weather was thick and threatening, which, together with the wind blowing fresh from the southeast, caused the sportsmen to expect that it was impossible to sail the race. However, at the appointed time they es under weigh, and the start was watched by a large number of spec- tators. The following is the official time, with the awarding of the prizes:- PI Start. return. Time of Race. Name. HWS HM. S. & B. O. Matthews.. 12 13 30 23 15 3 i447 A. R. Case. -oM OO 23 63 «15 88 Zippo... ai $396 8250 = SECOND CLASS. Gcorgeand Anna 12 16 1b 3°33 1b 3 17 © Tidal Wave...... 12 15 @ 3 42 6 8 3 00 Maris. Dauntless. au 2 Dolly {$35 & Lilly. 390 = The New York Yacht Clab always have taken great interest in these boats, and it was their wisn that the race might be sailed while the fleet were here in August. e Dauntless, named in honor of the yacht Dauntiess, was obliged to stop, a8 was also tl Lilly, to take in sail, as the wind was blowing too strong. The Zippo carried away her 4 and the Dauntless parted her mainsheet. The race was an exciting one, the several boats behaving splendidly, and having a0 opportunity to test their relative sailing qualivies. —— aon DEERFOOT DRIVING PARK. —>———_ First Day of the Fall Trotting Meet- ing—Events and Entries—Pool Selling Last Evening: ‘This is the first day of the Fall Trotting Meeting at the Deerfoot Driving Park, and should the weather prove pleasant the amusement will be of jeal powwow in the old Cradle’ of Liberty, in Boston, on Wednesday, the sth of October. United States Senator William Windom, of Min- nesota, in a letter says he has not drawn his back pay and will not draw it, and at an early day in the next session of Congress he will introduce and urge the passage of an act providing for the cover- ing into the Treasury of his own back pay, together with all other balances for increased compensa- tion to members of the Forty-second Congress re- maining in the hands of the disbursing officers of Congress, or which may be on deposit with the Treasurer of the United States, Jonn Pickens is the republican mominee for the New York Assembly in the First district of St. Law- rence county. He is sure of his election, and will succeed Darius A. Moore, who represented the dis- trict in the two last Legislatures. There ought now to be @ “Stealins” norainated, then we should have @ regular legislative team—"Pickens gr Svealigs,”” the most interesting nature. First on the listis & purse of $300, for horses that never beat three mimutes. %Jn this contest there sre fourteen entries. Second on the list isa purse of $500, for horses. that never beat 2:29. In this are the chestnut mare Grace Bertram, gray gelding Jack Draper, chestnut mare Lady Emma, sorrel gelding Fred, gelding Tom Keeler, bay gelding Tip Allen, grav welding Ka waton and black ‘mare Lady Byron. he latter Was withdrawn. Pools were sold upon one of these-events last night at the rooms of Mr. T. B, Jonnsov, Broadw: and Twenty-eighth street, the uncerments being an average :— . ? 2:29 PURSR. Tom Keeler. 40 50 Mild. 18 20 2 rhe” iil begin promptiy at two o'clock re The ‘Coney Isiand cars, Which leave the Fulton ferry every five minutes, via Smith street. pass the grounds oly