The New York Herald Newspaper, December 6, 1873, Page 4

————— 4 Q \ \ NEW. YUKK H#KALD, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1873—WITH SUPPLEMENT. NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET, JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR All business or news letters and telegraphic despatches must be addressed New Yore Hagrap. Volume XXXVIII o. 340 AMUSEMENTS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway and Thirteentn street.—Tux Lian, Matinee at 14s. UNION SQUARE THEATRE, Union square, Broadway.—Tnx Wickep WouLD. Matinee at 2. near WOOD'S MUSEUM, Broadway, corner Thirtieth st.— Evxrysopy's Friexp, &c. Afternoon and evening. BROADWAY THEATRE, 723 and 73) Broadway.—A Lire’s Dream. Matinee at Its, GRAND OPERA HOUSE, Fighth ay. and Twenty-third st-—Humrry Dowty AsroAn. Matinee at 135. PARK THEATRE, Brooklyn, opposite City Hall.— Masks anv Faces. Matinee at 2—New Macpatey. FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE, 28th st. and Broadway.— Fonrtunx. Matinee at 1g. LYCEUM THEATRE, Fourteenth st-—Srit Watirs un Deer. toxe BOOTH'S THEATRE, Ticket or Leave Mane nd Twenty-third st— De ACADEMY OF MUSIC, ith street 2 and Irving place.— Traian Opera, Matinee at 1— Ne METROPOLITAN THEATRE, 585 Broadway.—Variety Ewrenratnaenr. Matin BROOKLYN THEATRE.— MRS. Guneva WMEATRE COMIQUE, J Enreetaiwaent. Matinee at F, B, CONWAY Choss. Matinee at2. GERMANTA THEATRE, Mth strect and 3d avenue.— Des Eversant. Heamr. Matinee at2. » between Prince and Maunee at Ly. TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOU Matinee at 9. 201 Bowery.— Vaniety EXtertainment. Twenty-third corner BAIN HALL, and Bowery.—Tux Pincrim. Great Jones street. between Broadway Matinee at 235. STEINWAY HALL, Fourteenth street—Gnanp Arren- oon Concent. ASSOCIATION HALL, 284 street and 4th avenue.— Guanp Concert. Matinee at 2~Dramaric Rucitats. THE RINK, 34 avenue and (th street.—MenaGenie axp Museum. Afternoo! d evening, WITH SUPPLEMEN New York, Saturday, Dec. 6, 187: iN THE NEWS OF YESTERDAY. To-Day’s Contents of the | Herald. “TRE DEFIANCE OF THE CUBAN VOLUNTEERS! SHALL WE LONGER DELAY THE VINDI TION OF THE NATIONAL HONOR?—LEAD- ING ARTICLE—Fovrta Pace. AMERICANS MUST BE PROTECTED IN CUBA! THE STATE DEPARTMENT LIFTING THE | CASINO ESPANOL GAUNTLET—Firrn Pace, | THE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN UNITED | *STATES VAL COMMANDER CUSHING | AND BUICHER BURRIEL ON THE VIR- GINIUS CAPIURE—THE SOU BOARD RIPE Z _ BULLYING—-Tuimp Page. RUSSIA AGAIN MOVING UPON CENTRAL ASIA! THE TURCOMANS TO BE “PUNISHED” BY THIS EXPEDITION—FirrH Pace. CENTRAL ASIAN GLE BEIV HOW THE “A LISHMAN” ACHIEVES DISTINCTION PING THE HOLY LAND ANEW—TuInp PAGE. POSITIVE CONTRADICTION, “BY ROYAL COM- MAND,” OF THE MANTEUFFEL DUEL RU- MOR—FATAL FIRE AT HALIFAX, ENG- LAND—FiFTH PAGE. SIROCCOS OF FLAMES SWEEPING THE PRAI- RIES OF KANSAS AND DAKOTA! WESTERN FIRE FIGHTING! GREAT LOSS OF PROP- | ERTY AND NARKKOW ESCAPES—Testa Page. THE PEOPLE'S OPINIONS UN THE VILLE DU | HAVRE HORROR—THE REFORMED EPIS- COPALIANS AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS— THE BAR HONORS THE MEMORY OF THE LATE JUDGE PECKHAM—E1GuTa Pace. 4N OUTWAKD BOUND OCEAN PERILLE ERN STAT! EAMSHIP IM- | HE TORNADO-IN THE WEST. | AND CANADA—FIRE RAY- AGES—THE RING CASES—SixTH PAGE. NOMINEE FOR CHIEF JUSTICE DE- NOUNCED BY THE OPPOSITION PRESS AND “DAMNED WITH F PRAISE” BY ADMINISTRATION JOURNALS—ART NOY- ELTIES—SiitH PGE. CONGRESSIONAL BUSINESS YESTERDA HOUSE COMMITTEES! THE . WITH THE SHIPPING THE LO COMM rH PAGE. | BISHOP’POTTER, OF 1 LAR” FAITH, | ON THE REFOR! CHURCH MOVEMENT | OF BISHOP CUMMINS! AN INTERESTING | CONVERSATION—EiGuTH PAGE. RACY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ELDRIDGE. MacMAHON LIBEL SUIT! AN EXPENSIVE | BOUQUET AND ARDENT MESSAGES— | MECHELLA “INSANE"—Tuirp Paz. FINANCIAL DANGERS! OCTOBER FAILURES! TRANSACTIONS AND PRICES—Nin7H Pace. IMPORTANT RESULTS IN THE CORNELL IN- QUIRY YESTERDAY—THE CUNGREGATION- | ALISTS’ QUARREL—SixTH Pace. TH& GRINNELL BANKRUPTCY LITIGATION! GENERAL LEGAL BUSINESS—ALDERMANIC PROCEEDINGS—Erent PAGE. ‘Tux Ont Way to settle the Cuban question ig to take Cuba, Tae Late Storm, which was comparatively | light along the Atlantic seaboard, assumed | the character of a summer hurricane in its | course west of the Alleghanies, from Memphis to the Great Lakes. At various intervening | points there were lightning and thunder, hail | and rain, and in numerous localities trees, houses and barns were blown down and fences | swept away. <A tempest so violent and sweep- | ing over such a vast extent of country as this we may confidently expect will soon followed by a great reaction. be ir Is Rumonep that Fish is again about to write warlike despatches to Madrid. We hope not, It would be too crushing. Vow et prarte- sea nihil. Norama Coury ve Farrer than the last mild request of Captain General Jovellar that our government refrain from pressing its de- mand until such time as the bravos of the Casino Espafiol can be, conciliated. Having Conceded almost everything else to appease the Spanish wrath, why not “give up the ship” too, or, at all events, wait for it until we Can get it without hurting the tender feelings ‘of the Volunteers ? 7 FOR WAR—SPANISH PRESS | The Defiance of the Cuban Volun- teers—Shall We Longer Delay the Vindication of Our National Honor! The dangerous policy adopted by the au- thorities at Washington in the Virginius case has produced its natural results. Our forbear- ance is mistaken for weakness, or, perhaps, for cowardice, by violent men who only understand the logic of brute force. From the first moment we warned the government that its efforts in the cause of peace would end in failure, and now the soundness of our views has been vindicated by the stern logic of events. The milk-and-water policy of Sec- retary Fish has compromised the dignity of the nation without even securing the igno- minious peace he sought to thrust upon us. Woe are no advocates of war, but we want no hollow peace when the honor and the interest of the nation are the price at which it is to be obtained. Had the President consulted his own strong common sense and patriotic instincts we should have been saved the ignominy of seeing our overtures for com- promise rejected with disdain. But it is our misfortune to be represented in our dealings with foreign States by men who think no sacri- fice of dignity too great to secure peace. When once questions involving the national honor are handed over to the care of our diplomats the result ceases to be doubtful. Interminable despatches are exchanged, filled with words signifying nothing, and only in- tended to mislead public opinion and induce acquiescence in a peace-at-any-price policy. Mr. Fish has already distinguished himself by an ability to muddle plain questions in a way to puzzle the public and turn the nation’s attention from points of vital interest. The result has been most unfortunate for our na- tional reputation. We have taught the world to believe that we can be insulted with im- punity and that outrages committed against our national sovereignty can be compounded at the cost of a few thousand dollars. The growth of this sentiment is fraught with danger to our citizens and to our inter- ests. Had a more worthy policy been fol- lowed no foreign State would have dared to haul down our flag on the highway of the sea, and to slaughter the men who had trusted their lives to its protection. We shall not enter on the discussion of the aims or motives of the men taken on board the Virginius. The question we have to deal with is one of principle. To uphold the doctrine that an American ship, carrying the national flag, is an integral part of our territory America has before now drawn the sword, and, whatever the cost may be, we must insist that American vessels on the high seas shall be free from visitation or search. We have been charged by the Hessian press with favoring war, but we have urged strong measures only because we have been convinced that an honorable peace could not be ob- tained. We knew the men with whom the nation had to deal, and that, however well disposed the government at Madrid might be to do justice and afford satisfaction, it was powerless to enforce obedience in Cuba. The soundness of these views can now be judged when no misrepresentation of partisan news- papers can longer conceal the gravity of the events transpiring in Havana. The seizure of the Virginius at sea was a rant violation of international right. The was known, both at Washington and Havana, to bean American ship entitled to the fullest protection of the American flag. The | question of her seizure was therefore lifted out of the domain of diplomatic chicanery, and ought never to have been allowed to be- come the subject of lengthened correspond- ence or discussion. The duty of the govern- ment was clear. An act of war was committed ; bya foreign ship, resulting in the capture, | imprisonment and death of American citi- zens. Such an outrage called for signal and speedy reparation. The insult to our flag was deliberate and should have been atoned _ for in a manner that would have left no room for doubt that apology, to be followed by ample reparation, had been made. But Mr. Fish’s paltering policy led us into the devious paths of diplomacy, from | which we emerge with honor and dignity torn toshreds, The insult to our flag that should have been answered by a demand for instant satisfaction, and, if refused, by immediate action, has been allowed to become the subject | of long-winded discussion, while our trampled flag, wet with American blood, lies on the deck of the captured Virginius a worthless rag, to be spit upon by the vile Havana rabble. When the seizure of the Virginius and the massacre of a portion of her crew became known throughout the civilized world there was but one voice of universal condemnation, and nations looked to see the American gov- ernment vindicate the honor of the flag in a manner worthy of a great people. No one dreamed that the outrage would have been | tamely endured and made subject of rose- | water despatches. The insult in its nature demanded swift punishment or signal repara- tion. Had our fleet gone down to Cuba with orders to bring back the Virginius and her surviving passengers, by force, if necessary, our action would have met with universal approbation. Even the English press was prepared to approve the annexation of the island as the best means of | putting an end once and forever to the atroci- | ties of the Hispano-Cuban volunteers. Now the English press begins to question the legality of our pretensions. This is not to be wondered at, for England has ever desired to exercise the right of search, Wecan therefore comprehend the motives for the sudden change of opinion. But America has always refused to permit the right of search on the high seas in time of peace, and no adminis- tration would dare to abandon our traditional position on this most important point, We have been urged by the Spanish parti- sans in this country to take no action which might embarrass the government of Castelar. While we have the fullest confidence in the good faith of the President of the Spanish Republic we hold, and have held from the beginning, that he is powerless to make the orders of his government respected in Cuba or to force the volunteers to obey. We shall regret being compelled to adopt severe mens- ures against even an insubordinate province of a sister republic; but we cannot allow the safety of our citizens, or the honor of our flag to be imperilled by any people, no matter under what form of government they may choose to live, We demand that the rights of our citizens shall be respected by all mou, aud when the government of a country is un- able to secure our flag from insult at the hands of a portion of its subjects we must take upon ourselyes the punishment of the wrong doers, This is our position to-day. It has become evident that Spain can no longer control the Hispano-Cuban volunteers. She can no longer offer guarantees for the ex- ecution of her treaty stipulations in Cuba, because the violence and passion of a section of the population will not permit reparation to be made to the offended dignity of our country. We cannot submit to this mob dic- tation, and, since Spain can no longer make herself obeyed, we must step in and enforce respect to law and vindicate our injured honor. Spain entered into a solemn engagement to restore the Virginius to the American nation as some apology for the outrage committed against our flag. And now a wretched cut- throat mob has interposed its veto to the ful- filment of a treaty engagement between two great nations, and we must pause, and our injured honor must wait, and make conditions with a vile rabble! This is what is meant by a demand for delay in the fulfilment of an en- gagement to secure which Mr. Fish sacrificed no small portion of the nation’s dignity. What a monstrous sight! Two great na- tions bullied by a traculent mob! It is not possible for this country tamely to submit to such dictation, and no course re- mains for President Grant but to appeal to force, There is nowno question between this country and Spain. The Havana volunteers have virtually declared themselves indepen- dent by defying the orders of the Madrid gov- ernment. They have no longer the right to cover themselves with the Spanish flag, and we hope General Grant will take decisive steps to crush this nest of land pirates. Whatever the Hessian press may say, the people will support the President in an energetic and de- cisive policy. Spain admits, through the mouth of Captain General Jovellar, that she can no longer enforce obedience in Cuba to her government or her laws. She cannot, therefore, quarrel with us, because we shall only step in to punish outlaws who have defied the government of their own country and heaped insult and outrage on a friendly nation, If she’should make such action on our part a cause of quarrel she must abide the consequences. Spain fails to fulfil her engagement to deliver up the Virginius, and there remains no choice for us but to take her by force. Whatever, it costs, the Virginius must be taken to an American harbor. We owe thus much, at least, to our dignity and to our safety. The nation will expect to see the fleet go down to Havana and bring the Vir- ginius back. If the mob refuse to let her go, then we must appeal to force. Run out the guns, and let them speak. Jovertan Hints Very Puarnty that the Spanish Volunteers are a greater power than the combined forces of the United States and Spain. Really we are not sure but he is right. Safety on the Ocean. Some good propositions have been made in the Chamber of Commerce on this subject, to which Congress will be asked to give the sanc- tion of its legislative authority, and to which it will be requested to call the attention of other governments as proper matters for inter- national regulation. The one important and immediately practicable point is in regard to laying out courses for steamers. Hitherto this has been only suggested and recom- mended, and the recommendation has been so little attended to that only one company has given orders to its captains in accord- ance with it. It is now proposed to enforce by law the sailing of steamers in definitely indicated courses, which would certainly render it impossible for steamers to collide with one another and would reduce to the lowest possible point the chance of col- lision with sailing ships, as these would then know exactly where to look out for steamers. Unfortunately, Congress has but little au- thority in this matter, and none over the vast majority of seagoing steamers, as they are under foreign flags, and we cannot legislate to control their conduct beyond our jurisdiction; but no doubt the representation of our gov- ernment would have much weight with other Powers. It is also proposed that every ship shall carry an electric light, and that the staterooms and passageways on steamers shall be kept lighted all night. Perhaps the electric light will be a subject of some diffi- culty on account of its expense, but the latter proposition is one without that objection and should be accepted without hesitation by every steamer company. At the hour when the Ville du Havre was struck the staterooms were all in darkness, for the lights are gen- erally out at midnight, and, perhaps, many a one now gone down lost, while groping in the dark, the valuable time that would have snf- ficed to reach the deck. Any one can see in ® moment’s thought what confidence, as well as assistance, a light would give in such cases, and it is to be hoped the steamer companies will understand this as readily as the public may. ConGresstonaL CHARACTERISTICS,—By the number of bills for the return of the grabbed salary we are shown a new trait in the Con- gressional character—the grab showed that the members would filch the public purse, and the bills show that they will try to play honest | when caught at it. Exoranpd AND THE Virornrvs.—It is re- ported by cable that the London Times says Her Majesty's government must demand from Spain the surrender of the British subjecta captured on the Virginins, but must not com- mit itself to the proposition that the seizure of the ship was illegal. If the seizure of the Virginius was not illegal it was legal, and if she was legally seized by the Spaniards the persons found on board are justly prisoners in the hands of the Spanish authorities, and England, therefore, has no right whatever to demand their surrender. As the Times is not likely to argue manifest absurdities of this sort we assume that its views are inaccurately represented in the telegram from London. English subjects, like other people, are amen- able to Spanish law when charged with violating it if they have come properly into the hands of the Spanish; and the demand of England for the release of her subjects com- mits her to the view that they did not prop- erly fall into the hands of the Spaniards—that is, that the ship from which they wore taken was illegally seized, Evil Committee-Making, If Mr. Blaine went to work to appoint the committees of the House of Répresentatives upon the principle of giving the worst men the best places he has succeeded charmingly. Though the odor of the Orédit Mobilier exposures hangs about the garments of Dawes and Garfield and Kelley and Scofield, they retain their old places—the first as chairman of the Ways and Means and leader of the House, the second as chairman of Appropria- tions, the third the second place on Dawes’ committee and the last as chairman of Naval Affairs. Comment upon this action of the Speaker is almost impossible, so base is the act. The reputation of these men is so soiled and besmutched that to hear Dawes and Garfield talking virtue is much like’ listening to the Evil One counselling sinners to pursue the straight and narrow path. Young Mr. Hale, of Maine, is not so youthful a man to hold the second place on the Committee on Appropriations as most people would suppose, for he is the Speaker's otherself. Wheeler, O'Neill and Starkweather, who are on the same committee, are all men who ought not be entrusted with the expendi- ture of the people's money. Poor old Mr. Hooper has been ‘“bounced’’ from the chairmanship of. the Committee on Bank- ing and Currency, Maynard taking his place. In the present Congress this commitiee is one of the most important, and it is unfortunate that it should have a Cheap Jack for a chairman. Eldridge retains his place ‘on the Committee on the District of Co- lumbia, and altogether it is arranged as a con- venient instrument of the Washington Ring, Sypher, a young man who earned a very bad reputation in a very short time, is chairman of what ought to be an important committee— that of Expenditures in the Treasury Depart- ment—and has the second place on the Com- mittee on the Pacific Railroad. There is neat irony in making General Butler chairman of the Judiciary Committee—a position for which he is amply qualified—and giving his bitterest enemy, E. RR. Hoar, the second place on his old commiftee, the Revision of the Laws, of which Poland is chairman. Last year Blaine doomed Butlér to this Botany Bay of the House, and Judge Poland for some offence— blundering, we infer, in C. M. transactions— is sentenced to penal servitude this year. The democratic members from this city all get good places and the republicans bad -ones. Wood takes Brooks’ place on the Ways and Means, Cox succeeds to Wood's old place on Foreign Affairs, Roberts goes on the hard- working Committee on Claims and Creamer is putupon the Pacific Railroad Committee; but, ofcourse, democrats do not count in this Con- gress. On the whole, Mr. Blaine did his work as badly as it was possible to do it, Nor a Srvovz American War Vessex has yet been seen about Havana. If the san- guinary Volunteers should rise to-morrow and attempt to massacre American residents where could they find protection? And yet, with this terrible danger menacing hourly, our government hesitates to send a fleet to Havana, lest the Volunteers might take offence. Give Them Time, by All Means! We are a polite, forbearing and patient people, and the buchu diplomat who signs protocols for us is the paragon of politeness, forbearance and patience towards anybody who will help him in any of his buchu plans. He was so patient with Castelar that we almost wept when we saw how anxious he was to concede everything which American honor demanded rather than hurt Castelar. Castelar wanted a little time, and Secretary Buchu conceded it. Admiral Polo wanted until Christmas Day before Spain should purge itself of contempt to our flag by salut- ing it; Secretary Buchu bobbed his topknot in the dust in his haste to grant all that the Spanish Admiral wanted. From Castelar we come to Jovellar, and now the latter wants time. Can Secretary Buchu refuse? Castelar got what he wanted, why not Jovellar or Burriel-ar or any other-ar? Castelar got a month; let us be more generous to Jovellar. The bloody-minded Casinos are at fever heat, and it may take a year or two to cool them off. Let them have time—as much as they want of it. Seiior Soler wants time too, He should have half a century, Ameri- can honor is such an elastic thing, under Secretary Buchu’s policy, that it can surely stretch as far to accommodate Jovellar and Soler as Castelar. Now, let them be given a year, or two years, or seven years, to settle all the business they have on hand—to cool off the volunteers. Let Congress vote several cargoes of ice toaid the cooling process; but let our war ships be got ready, let our volun- teers be mustered, and then let these hot gentlemen of the bloody minds be peppered until the island of Cuba is rid of them. Give the officials and everybody all the time to cool they want, but let them do it in their way, and in their own country, while we make Cuba too hot to hold them. Secretary Fish 1s Anxious not to give offence to the bloody murderers of poor Fry and his fellow victims. But the butchers of Santiago de Cuba did not hesitate about giv- ing offence to us when they trampled on our flag and slaughtered those who had trusted their lives to its protection. Tux Conoressionan Pantc.—The conscience- stricken Congressmen who supported the back-pay larceny and the increased salary bill last session, following the lead of Senator Conkling, are rushing in bills by the score for the repeal of those measures. A single bill would answer all purposes, but every terrified sinner desires to be able to say to his constituents that he had a finger in the repeal pie. Many a culprit has convicted himself by shrieking out his innocence as soon as the weight of the policeman’s hand has been felt on his shoulder, and these Congressional grabbers, by their eagerness for repeal, only render their responsibility for the larceny of last session the more apparent. Concress Has a Great Dean to say about back pay, but nota word about Cuba, Onur Representatives. are more concerned about their own political standing than about the honor of the American nation. Yesterpay Arrennoon a draft of fifty con- victs was made from Sing Sing and sent to the prison at Auburn, Among them wero Wal- worth and Ingersoll, Woe are afraid this will be very disagreeable news for the criminals’ friends, as it certainly will prove most depress- ing to the spirits of the criminals. What tne convicts at Sing Sing particularly dread is transportation to Auburn, where the discipline is more strict, where the chances of escape are fewer and more difficult, and where the con- vict is uncheered by the spectacle of the river and the passing ships. No friend of humanity can regret that the bonds are tightening around two culprits, who, whatever may be the differ- ence between the kind and intensity of their guilt, have done more than ordinary criminals to deserve the doom which has been accorded them. Russia and England + Future. Tho interest shown in Asiatic affairs by the American people finds an interesting expres- sion ina communication which we print in another column from ‘‘An Englishman.”’ 'The comments of the Heraup upon the Russian movement into Asia and that futuro, swiftly coming, as many men believe, when the Englishman and the Cossack will stand sword point to sword point on the confines of India, do not meet with the approval of our cor- respondent. It is not the tendeney of the English mind to underrate any danger, and it is hard to understand how the Crimean war, which taxed the resources of the British and French empires, would have been fought in obedience to the drifting and shifting public opinion which our brilliant correspondent in- forms us now exists in England in reference to the Russian question. We can well understand the present Ozar is an easy-minded, stout- hearted gentleman, who drinks champagne as he leans over the back of a chair, and cares more for peace and quiet than for Russian aggrandizement; but there were Czars before Alexander, and there will probably be Ozars after him who will have more earnest and ambitious purposes. What Russia may be to-day is no criterion of what she may be in the future, with a more enterprising mon- arch—one like the first Czar nanied Alexander, who believed his mission wis to re- construct Europe in a sort of mys- tical obedience to the Greek religion, or some of his ancestors, like the foolish prince who fell in love with Frederick the Great, and the prince, still more foolish, who would have joined in the alliance with Napo- leon if he had not been killed one night by a party of conspirators. In a government like that of Russia—called by Talleyrand, we think, an absolute despotism tempered by as- sassination—it is a mistake to accept the doc- trine laid down by our correspondent, that there is an indifferent policy towards Asia in the minds of its rulers, and that to this policy public opinion in France and England is even more indifferent. We have seen no Power grow with more steadiness, more zeal for ag- grandizement, than Russia. The anxiety shown by the Russian government during the Prussian and French war to break the Black Sea treaty; the sensitive feeling in England in reference to this very Khivan movement in Central Asia; the ever growing thought that these two Powers, separated by nature and space and civilization upon one continent, will some day meet face to face in another; the happy feeling thet seems to have come to those who believe in peace by the proposed marriage of an English prince with a Russian princess ; all these indications, added to those which we see every day in the journalism, in society and in politics in England and Russia, only strengthen us in the conviction that our in Asia—The correspondent underrates the value of the | Asian question and knows Russia well enough to see the humorous phase of her strange peo- ple, but does not examine her closely enough to give her rulers credit for the ambition of the future. If anything would strengthen this belief it is the correspondence which we have printed from the Russian column in Khiva. The movements of the army of General Kaufmann and the policy which has controlled the Rus- sian General in dealing with the powers of Central Asia in themselves controvert the | opinions of ‘An Englishman.” What we see in the critical statements of our able correspondent is that Russia presumed to quarrel with the Khan of Khiva, marched a well-commanded army into his dominions and | has taken possession of the Khanate under circumstances which show an intention to hold the country. Yet with diplomatic tactall a this is done so as to excite no jealousy on | the part of England or create a policy that might lead to war. When a complaint is made of Russia advancing into Khiva the answer is that the Czar, having imposed a fine upon the Khan, simply holds his army in the territory of that Prince until the indemnity is paid. The imposing of an indemnity by a power like Russia upon such a potentate as the Khan of Khiva is as absurd a proceeding as it would be for the American government to inflict upon the Modoc Indians an indemnity for the cost of the Modoc war and to send an army sor of Captain Jack would find the means of satisfying the demand. In _ other words, the indemnity is simply a pretext. It satisfies England, France, Germany and those Powers who may care to trouble Russia for information as to her intentions in Asia. But we all know, as our correspondent ‘so clearly and logically shows, that before this indemnity can possibly be paid the advance of Russian civilization, and the steady, silent progress of her armies will succeed in time in giving the power of Russiaas permanent a hold upon the halt-civilized people of Kiiva as it now has in the Caucasus and the Crimea. At the same time there are many opinions expressed by ‘An Englishman’? which will have @ peculiar interest at this time when American readers are called upon to follow General Kaufmann and his army through the deserts of Central Asia, As a criticism upon Russian society and manners it is of great value. But we do not accept the conclusions at which he arrives. We still feel that Russia does not go into Central Asia simply to drill her troops or give a holiday to her officers; but with the stern, inexorable purpose to hold Khiva, and to go beyond, even to the borders of India; and that the time will come, unless we have such a change in Asiatic politics as appears to be impossible, when the English- man and the Cossack will stand sword point to sword point and dispute through many a battle the dominion of those ancient and fer- tile Empires. a" Born Oonansss ann THY Canine havo a pacific tendency—some Southern Pacific and others Northern Pacific. | than five hundred. var watest Degradation=The Miserabi( Subterfuges of the State Department. The people of the United States are dis posed to be very lenient with the authoritia at Washington who at present hold control o the government in regard to the Virginiu trouble. War is an evil to be avoided as wi would avoid a plague or any other grea calamity, and if the administration can pro serve peace consistently with the honor of th: Republic it will be entitled to the gratitude o the country. But there is a point beyoné which the patience of the people cannot bi expected to go. Secretary Fish recently ar ranged with the Spanish Minister terms a peace which every American felt to be dis graceful, but which many preferred to war The Virginius was to be delivered up t us immediately, at a port to be agrocé upon between Mr. Fish and Admiral Polo This was the first and chiof condition of th: protocol, But the Spanish-Cuban authoritia declare that the Virginius shall not be sun rendered at all ; and now we are told that oui government will so far recede from its position as to ‘wait until the delivery can be effected in a way that will give the least offence to Spanish pride.”” Weare further informed that the arrangement between Secretary Fish and the Spanish Minister did not contemplats that the Virginius should be delivered up us in Havana or any other port, but that she should be ‘taken from the harbor of Havant and convoyed beyond its jurisdiction, an¢ then delivered to such United States vessel a might be sent to receive her."’ Is our government demented? Do the au thorities at Washington suppose that th American people will patiently suffer thei: standing as a first class Power and an honor able nation to be thus bartered away by miserable diplomatic huckster? Translated into plain English, this new’ degtadatiox means that we are to prowl about the harbo: of Havana, waiting patiently until by some ruse the Spanish agents of the Madrid govern. ment can steal the Virginius, sneak with he: out of reach of the volunteers and the guns o! Morro Castle, and deliver her into ow possession. Having heen robbed by 6 highwayman we are to stand shivering round a corner until a policeman stealthily brings back our property and restores it to us, We are not to confront the robber, lest our presence might give him offence. And for sucha ‘surrender’ of the Virginius we are asked to overlook the viola: tion of law and treaty in the seizure of the Virginius, the outrage on our flag, the bloody slaughter of poor Fry and his fellow victims, the insults to our Ministers and Consuls, and all the other wrongs inflicted upon us by the cutthroats of the Spanish colony. We may well ask, who has been the offender in thi: matter—the United States or Spain? Th dastardly conduct of our administration woulé put Spain in the position of the injured party and make us the real aggressors, Congress. 3 Daring the last two days. (to say nothing & | the Senate) the table of the House has been deluged with bills introduced from all seo tions of the Union and upon a great variety of subjects. Conspicuous among these bill were the numerous projects presented for the | repeal or for modifications, more or less, 01 the obnoxious increased salary and back pay bill of the last Congress. The necessity o/ “work meet for repentance’’ has evidently fallen upon the House and all in that body | concerned in that scandalous back pay experi ; ment. Next, numerous financial projects | were introduced—good, bad and indifferent— and still they are coming in. In the miscel- laneous list which followed were bills to regu« late railway freights; to aid in the construc tion or widening of several grand canals, North and South ; to assume the debts of the South. ern States ; to reduce the postage on letters ; to restore the franking privilege; to repeal the iron-clad oath and to grant belligerent rights to the Cubans, The Senate was not in session yestorday, having on Thursday adjourned over to Mon- day; butin the House the day down to the announcement by the Speaker of the standing committees was occupied in the introduction of more bills. The number already on the House calendar for this session is hardly less “Tf we have such things in the green tree what shall we have in the dry?" An interesting little resolution, offered in the House yesterday and adopted, was that of Mr. Hoar, directing the Secretary of the Navy to communicate any facts he may pos- sess tending to show what legal or equitable claims the owners or officers or crew of the | Tigress or any other persons may have on the United States for assistance rendered to the officers and crew of the Polaris. This means that all such persons are to be rewarded for the timely and valuable services, and we hope disio-abiste cotmnbsy to Hnidy ter nABL tie ennoee- | soon to announce the passage of the bill. Secretary Fish Has Kerr Aw our war vessels away from Havana out of considera tion for the “pride” of the “pirates and slavers” of the Casino Espafiol. If Americar citizens should be butchered in Havana Secre- tary Fish would be responsible for their lives. Mexico anv Cusa—Inrerestine Inrorma- tiox.—We have a special despatch from the city’ ot Mexico, via Matamoros, from which it appears that a commissioner from the Captain General of Cuba had arrived in the Mexican capital to buy provisions, mules, &c., for tha Spanish forces in Cuba. This looks as if our Spanish belligerents in Cuba were preparing for the possible contingency of @ more activa campaign than any they have had for some years past. We are confident, however, thas ‘a toree of five thousand American volunteerz could settle with all the fighting Spaniards from one end to the other ot the island. The trouble lies in the fears of our Secretary ot State. He has heard so much of the terrible fighting qualities of those Spaniards in Cuba that they have frightened him. In his present frame of mind he would probably agree te furnish those terrible Spaniards all the pro visions and mules they want with a promise from the Casino Espnfiol not to carry their war into the United States. ode Tux Pxorosey New Move ror Exzerma 1 Paestpent.—The Indianapolis Sentinel, a paper that is supposed to speak by authority on thi especial topic, asserts that Senator Morton i sanguine that his new scheme for clocting President will meet with general support. He thinks he has adjusted the details so as te meet all objections by small States that woul¢ bo lost sight of in a massed vote of the poopk