The New York Herald Newspaper, February 11, 1875, Page 6

7 NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1875.-TRIPLE SHEET. NEW YORK HERALD ANN STREET, BROADWAY AND JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR, NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS.—On and after January 1, 1875, the daily and weekly editions of the New Yorx Henarp will be pent free of postage. THE DAILY HERALD, published every day in the year. Four cents per copy. An- nual subscription price $12. All business or news letters and telegraphic despatches must be addressed New Youre Hemp. Rejected communications will not be re- tarned. Letters and packages should be properly sealed. LONDON OFFICE OF THE NEW YORK HERALD—NO. 46 FLEET STREET. Bubscriptions and advertisements will be received and forwarded on the same terms as in New York. sereeesecessoeee NO, 42 VOLUME XLee rere ones AMUSEMENTS T0-NIGHT. yen esdincton sregee tie ARE A DB CROWN, at 8 P, woop's MUSEUM, Pee Tosi METROPOLITAN THEATRE, corner Thirtieth stree.—DARING DICK and Be, 585 Broadway.—VAKILTY, ats. M.; closes at 10:30 M. Tt SHIP, at 8 P. M.; closes at 10:45 P. M. W YORK STADT THEATRE, Bowery ble. DAKWINIANES, at 8 P. M!; closes at OLYMPiC THEATRE, 2 624 Broadway.—VAKIETY, at 8 P. M. ; closes at 10:45 BROOKLYN N PARK THEATR) oeeve SINN'S VARIETY, at3 P. M.; gee at 10:45 ROMAN HirPODROME, | ‘Twenty-sixth street and Fourth avenae.—Atvernoon and | dvenitig. at Zand 8 THEATRE COMIQUE, Ho, $14 Droadway.—VARIETY, at 8 M.; closes at 10:45 | hth street and Broa’way.—WOMEN OF THE ey) Mr. Lewis, Miss AY, at8 P. M.; closes at 10:40 I. M. enport, Mrs. Gilbert. | | FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE, | | TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, | oe aa Brordway.—VASIETY, at 8 P. M.; closes at 10:45 | LYCEUM THEATRE, Fourteenth street and Sixth aypnue. —THE NEW MAG. Pare atSP. M.; closes at 10:45 P.M. Miss Carlotta weet fechoh dy hed Mal gata ey an wEGRO ‘wenty-thira street, near >! = ESE, &c., at 8 P. M.; closes atid ¥ uM. Dan GERMANIA aon ATR! Fourteenth street.—LE PART DU DI closes at 10:45 P. M. Miss Mavr. PARK THEATRI Broadway.<French (pera Boulfe-G GIROFLE-GIROFLA, P.M. Mue. Coralie Geoffroy. LE, at 8 P.M; Brestrer- a4, MOTHER'S PPRAYER, até P. M.; closes at mP. Edwin F. Thorne. BOOTH’S THEATRE, gorner of Twenty-third street oe Sixth svenue.— HENRY v., ats P. M.; cioses at Il P. SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, Ents rner of iwenty-ninth {rect NEGRO NSIRELSY, are Po sat oP. M. HALL, DULL CARE, at 8 P.M; ¥ OF DESIGN, corner of Tw weit thie street and fourth avenue.—EX- HIBITION OF WATER COLOR PALN' TINGS Open trom 9 A. Na. to 5 P.M. and irom 6 P. M. to10 P. M. GLOBE TH Broadway.—VARIZ1Y, TRE, ; closes at 10:20 P. M WEATRE, at SP. M.; closes at LLA! Bresawar 10: A ie Boucicaalt TRIPLE NEW YORK, THU! SHEET. FEDRU! Q I. 1875, From our reports this morning the probabilities | are that the weather to-day will be warmer and cloudy, with possibly rain or snow. Watt Srneer Yesrerpay. —Gola was firm at 1142, foreign pressed and rey easy at last rates. Amother Reason Why President Grant | satisfied the country. That argument was Ought to Resign. The resignation of a public officer is al- ways presumed to be a voluntary act, and the reasons for such a step are founded on his private convenience or inclination or adiress themselves to his sense of public duty. We appeal to the latter class of motives. Wepre- fer to present considerations which ought to have weight with » consc'entious functionary who subordinates individual emolument to the public welfare. It is on this high ground that we again ask the attention of His Excel- lency to the benofits which would accrue to the country by his voluntary retirement to private life. Such a line of argument as- sumes that His Excellency does not belong to the vulgar tribe of office-loving politicians and traders in public trusts. It assumes that he is a patriot, a man of a high sense of political honor, a citizen who cherishes a grateful sense of the distinguished marks of esteem which have been bestowed on him by the country, and especially by the repub- lican party. He owes it to the great but de- caying party which has so highly honored and so stanchly supported him not to stand in the way of its success, when his retirement would bring Vice President Wilson to the head of the government and harmonize the party. If he admits that he is under any obligation to the country he should stand aside for a re- publican successor whose wise and conciliatory policy would give effect to that patriotic desire for ‘peace’ expressed by General Grant in his letter accepting his first nomination. In- stead of “peace” his administration has brought increasing elements of disturbance, The condition of the South, politically, economically and socially, compares un- favorably with its condition at the date of his first inauguration. He has brought the business of the coun- try to stagnation, the national Treasury his party from a victorious and seemingly invincible majority to a humiliating minority in most of the States that have recently held elections. The industries of the country, the tranquillity of the South, the condition of the treasury and the prospects of the republican | party are so different from what was expected | from President Grant that even he must per- ceive that his administration is a political failure; and by the sound rule of judging a tree by its fruits he ought to see that his policy has been a stupendous mistake. All this was apparent when the Heratp be- | gan to urge upon him the duty of resigning. His Excellency every day adds new reasons in support of our suggestion. The public might almost suppose he had a secret understanding with us for securing ® unanimous in- dorsement of our recommendation and making it universally popular. After his military interference with the Louisians Legis- lature, for which he partially apologized in a Message to Congress, he forthwith sent troops to Vicksburg to decide a question which be- longed to the State courts, and now, in equal defiance of law, he has proclaimed Brooks tion to install him in office by military force, unless Congress positively forbids him. The effect of his astonishing Arkansas Message on public opinion may be seen in the copious extracts which we give to-day from the press | of both political parties. The Troy Times, | one of the most loyal of republican organs, | field Republican says, ‘‘no wonder that such astute politicians as Henry Wilson are wring- ing their hands.” The Utica Herald, the leading republican organ of Central New | York, edited by a distinguished republican upon to issue this Message.”” The republican Boston Transcript thinks ‘‘it is entirely inad- | missible to reopen the Arkansas troubles.” | The Philadelphia Telegraph, also republican, | says, “it is most devoutly to be hoped that Congress will tarn a deaf ear to this Message; ing the republican party to rnin as to yield a THINK oF THE Poor. —This i is the time for charitable deeds. For tae Frist Tre in forty years the Hadson, opposite New York, was bridged | over with ice. Is it posstble that there can be two opinions as to the necessity of rapid transit ? Tae Weatnen yesterday was more relent- ing; but the narrative of the dangers and hardships of crossing the ferries reads like a chapter from the adventures of Dr. Hayes and Dr. Kane in the Arctic regions. Every Crrizen should feel that he owes a kind thought andastill kinder deed to the suffering poor, upon whom this severe weather falls like a curse from heaven. Tue Horrors of the "middle passage of which we read in the old narratives of sea adventure are surpassed by the stories we print of the horrors of a journey to Hoboken and Brooklyp. Mz. Hexry Bzrcu calls our attention to a case of extreme wretchedness in Clinton street. investigated this case and commends it as one worthy of practical benevolence. His appeal is worthy of attention, and will, we trust, not be heard in vain. Mr. Trxron spent yesterday on the “ragged edge” of Mr. Evarts’ cross-examination. There were no material facts developed, only # little more light upon the peculiar ways of Brooklyn Plymouth church civilization. These strange people seemed to be always kiss- ing, quarrelling and carrying scandals. When will the sad, dreary, shameful business come to an end? JUDGE Doxonv: yesterday, in denying a motion for alimony to a wife on the ground of eruel and inhaman treatment by a husband, made some judicious remarks upon the ten- dency of married people to carry their family jars into court. The Judge reminded such suitors that their, feelings and comfort are secondary to the good of thé children, and the future welfare of those who have a right to look to parents for example and instruction, and who in the absence of that ‘must fail to become useful members of society."’ If our quarrelsome married people would only think of the children what misery and scandal and trouble would be saved ! It is hard to feel that such misery | exists in a Christian land. Mr. Bergh has | moment's consideration to its peremptory in- | structions.’’ Nobody believes that such lan- | guage, or anything resembling it, would ever | be used by rm can journals toward Mr. President. No republican Wilson could make mistakes calling for such strong expressions of censure | {and alarm by journals that advocated his election. All these extracts are, therefore, a virtual, thot t a formal indorsement, of the Hznaty’s advice to His Excellency to give place to a republican successor who enjoys | the confidence of the party. The republican | journals do not desire the continuance in office of a President-whose conduct and policy | they are ashamed to advocate and cannot de- fend. The strange Arkansas Message, unaccount- | | able even from Grant, must intensify the republican regret that Mr. Wilson is not at | the head of the government. His Excellency seems to have lost his memory, besides abdi- cating all the claims he ever had to common sense. It is inconceivable that any man who had not hopelessly lost his wits, it is aston- ishing that any man ontside the walls of an asylum for lunatics, could have sent to Con- | gress a Message which so condemns and re pu. | diates his own recent policy respecting affairs | in Arkansas. In 1872 Brooks ran on the | Greeley ticket and Baxter on the Grant ticket. The Grant party in that State counted Brooks ont and Baxter in, with the President's im- plied sanction. Brooks has since changed front and become a supporter of Grant, and, for no other reason known to the public, His Excellency has also changed front, and maintains at this late day that Brooks was elected. Why did he not make this discovery more than two years ago, when the returns of that election were as accessible as they are at present? It is scandalous for the President to change his opinion on such a point for no other discernible reason than that the Greeley candidate, who was counted our, has turned his political coat and become a supporter of Grant. Did this wh filing office- seeker's desertion ot his supporters cha the number of votes cast for him im 18’ There is a still stronger reason, if a stronger be possible, why the President should not have made this late recognition of Brooks, No longer ago than Jast May General Grant issued a proclamation, in which he asserted the title of Baxter and denied that of Brooks The argument put to the Governorship. to the verge of bankruptcy, and has reduced | Governor of Arkansas and signified his inten- | says, ‘the President has erred.’’ The Spring- | member of Congress, says, ‘“‘we can- | not conceal our surprise that the President should have felt called | founded on provision of the Arkansas constitution which makes the General Assembly of the State the final judge of the election of State officers, and on the fact that this tribunal of last resort in such cases had declared that Baxter was legally elected. Such & decision foreclosed controversy on that sub- ject, and the President was so advised by his Attorney General and made the opinion of that officer the basis of his proclamation. In that document, which all political parties ap- proved at the time, the President used this lan- guage: —‘‘Whereas said Elisha Baxter has been declared duly elected by the General Assembly of said State, as provided in the constitution thereof, and has tor a long period been exer- casing the functions of said office, into which he was inducted according to the constitution and laws of said State, and ought by its citi- zens to be considered the lawful Ex- ecutive thereof.” It is amazing that, after such a proclamation, so recent and so well remembered, the President should publicly ‘tum his back upon himself” and declare that Brooks is the rightful Governor. What has wrought this wonderful change? How did the President acquire authority to review and reverse the decision of the General Assembly, which the State constitution makes the final judge in such cases? Even if the new Arkansas con- stitution is void, as the President contends, he bound himself, by his May proclamation, to support Baxter and repudiate Brooks. The recent Message, compared with the May proc- lJamation, presents the most remarkable in- stance of self-stultification to be found in the officialrecords of any government. It cannot be doubted that the country, irrespective of party differences, would feel a sense of relief on the resignation of such a President, nor that the republicans would hail with acclaim- ing joy the substitution fora President who 80 wantonly defies public opinion of a true, tried and judicious member of their own party like Vice President Wilson. The Pavement on Fifth Avenue. We congratulate the people that there is a prospect that the Legislature will pass the bill authorizing the paving of Filth avenue. The necessity for such a work has long been ap- parent. Fifth avenue is not an ordinary street, but a public highway, as much a part of the Central Park as the Avenue of the | Champs Elysées is a part of the Bois de Boulogne. It is the pleasure ground of rich and poor, and the city isas much interested in keeping it in good repair as in preserving the Park or the wharves or the Croton Water Aqueduct. But it is most important that there should be no such blunder in this as was made in the old Tammany times. We do not want soft, crumbling pavements of wood or tar or chemical mixtures or asphalt. Experience shows that in our climate, with the extremes of heat and cold, the hard winters and the pitiless sum- mers, we cannot make a successful arti- | ficial pavement. In Paris, where asphalt and | similar preparations are used, the climate is milder, and the pavement is useful and | pleasant, free from noise and dust. But even in Paris it needs constant nursing and the vi- | gilant supervision of the authorities to keep it | | from crumbling. If we had any instance of a | successful asphalt or composition pavement ia | New York that had stood all seasons we could | understand why it might be used in the re- construction of Fifth avenue. But we know | | of no such instance. We do know of miles— | wethink we may say bundreds of miles—of pavements in New York and other cities, but in New York especially, that are a disgrace and a wanton expenditure of money. The little bit of asphalt pavement around the Worth monument has been cited as an evi- dence of what can be done with this composi- tion. But we all know that this is not a success, and that ithas only been kept in reasonable order by the most constant watch- ing and tender care. We want a road that will last a century— something like the old Roman roads whose re- exchange steady, stocks de- | that it will not so obstinately persist in driv- | mains, after the lapse of ages, excite the won- der of the traveller. Nature has done far better for us than science in providing meterial. We do not want chemical ex- | periments, but solid, genuine, lasting roads. We do not build for to-day or to-morrow; to suit this interest or the other; to give a job to The Mayor's Power of Removal. In accordance with our custom of introduc- ing lawyers of high standing to discuss in our columns the legal aspects of such political questions as turn upon points of law as well 98 on considerations of public expediency, the Hzraxp prints this morning a very able communication relating to the authority of the Governor of the State in the removal of the heads of municipal departments. Every lawyer who reads it will perceive that itis by no ordinary hand, and must concede that its reasoning and copious citations of pertinent authorities corroborate our statement that it is from ap eminent member of the profession. It is a document which deserves the deliberate perusal of Governor Tilden, who will find in it matter which it would cost him and his legal advisers a great deal of research to bring together and arrange, if they should under- take this investigation without our learned correspondent’s assistance. It is the purpose of the. communication to define, with legal accuracy, the extent and limitations of the Governor's authority in the removal of city officers by the Mayor. It shows by a careful examination of the provisions of the charter, and by numerous judicial decis- ions on analogous subjects, that the function of the Governor and the function of the Mayor in cases of removal are quite distinct and essentially different. The Mayor and the Governor do not, by any means, possess a jomt and co-ordinate authority in questions of removal. According to the charter, re- movals are acts of the Mayor and not acts of the Governor. The Governor is empowered to decide whether the reasons stated by the Mayor to justify a removal are sufficient, but it is no part of his function to inquire into the facts by which the Mayor's charges against an officer are supported. The charter does not provide for two successive investigations of the facts, one by the Mayor and the other by the Governor, but only for one investigation of the facts by the Mayor alone. The charter does not give the inculpated officer a right to be heard in his defence before the Gov- ernor, but only before the Mayor. The Mayor is not required to make a tran- script of the evidence and forward it to the Governor, but only to forward to him a writ- ten statement of his reasons. Whether those reasons are supported by proofs it belongs to the Mayor alone to decide, and the only duty of the Governor is to judge whether the charges are a valid cause of removal. For the sake of illustration, let us suppose that the charge against the head of a depart ment is a wilful violation of law. The Mayor examines witnesses, takes other evidence and finds that the charge is sustained by the facts, He thereupon communicates the charges to the Governor, whose sole duty is to decide whether those charges, which he must take to be true, are an adequate reason for removing the officer. The charter gives him no authority to institute a new investigation, give the defendant a new hearing, go over the facts a second time and take testimony, as he would be bound to do if he were clothed with the power of removal. The charter provides for but one investigation, and that is an in- vestigation by the Mayor. It entitles the accused officer to but one hearing, and that is a hearing before the Mayor. It makes the | Mayor the sole judge of the evidence by which the charges are supported, requiring Lim to communicate merely the charges, but not the evidence, to the Governor. The Gov- ernor must act on the Mayor’s reasons, and he bas no legal authority to review the evidence in support of them. This is made so clear by our correspondent that we suppose no lawyer who reads and weighs his cogent communication can enter- tain any doubt on the subject. And the law on this point conforms to common sense. It is fit that the investigation be conducted on the spot, where oral testimony can be taken without putting witnesses to inconvenience, and by an officer whose knowledge ot persons and acquaintance with city affairs qualify him to judge of its credibility and its bear- ing. It would be absurd to call the same wit- nesses to Albany to repeat their testimony. The Governor will, nine times out of ten, bea citizen of some other part of the State, and must be very inferior to the Mayor as a judge of facts connected with the city government and of the credibility of local witnesses. He | owners of ingenious patents, who would like to test their theories at the expense of the | | treasury. We want the best road that science | and energy can build. We know of nothing | better than the old-fashioned macadamized | road. Experience shows that this road an- | swers better than others the severe strain of | | our modern lite. It is not an experiment, but | | a fact. Why waste money and lose time compounding tar and mixing gravel and as- phalt and massing blocks of wood, which will | crumble and decay in a short time, when we | know,that the macadamized road has every element of durability, comfort and usefulness? Any Albany legislation that propo: to de- experiments will be an ontrage upon the peo- ple, and a renewal of that deplorable system of corrupt dealing with the public which we | thought had gone out forever in the fall of the | Tammany Ring. | | | vote Fifth avenue to another series of chemical | | of the charges, but not of the evidence by which their truth is established. But be this as it may, it is certain that there is no provision of law which either permits the Governor to re-examine the facts or requires the Mayor to forward to him anything but the charges, apart from their evidence. for the Governor to decide is whether the charges, supposing them to be true, justify the removal. ‘The charter requires the Mayor not only to communicate a written statement of his reasons to the Governor, but also, on the demand of the removed officer, to ‘‘make in wriiing a public statement of his reasons therefor."’ Precisely the same language is used in both requirements; but nobody can suppose that it binds the Mayor to lay the evidence betore the public, and if not before tae public, then, by strict logic, not before the Governor. We refer our readers to tho Let Our noble matrons and maidens feel | letter in other columns for a full statement of that their immediate duty is to look into some of the scenes of misery with which our city abounds, and alleviate them. Lext.—The fasting season begun yesterday, | and Ash Wednesday was generally observed in | the Roman Catholic and Protestant Episcopal churches. The season is one which cannot be too faithfully cclebrated; for, says an old writer, ‘if we purpose to mend our faults it is not sufficient barely to confess them at all adventure, but we must let our in steepe in the water of meditation. men are better for this an ft since it enables them to put some their ap- petites and desires apart from the Christian discipline of the season. "All Tue Prosrzrtty ¢ mt tables published by the that the exports and imports of 187 to over $1,500,000, 0090, e y showing an incres and over 1868, when ihe , and 565,000, 000, ’ was in the tide of pros; of nearly $230,000,000. During the year the ex. ports were more than $2,000,000 in excess of the imports. This shows that there vellous prosperity in France, that the war | has not diminished the thrift, industry and forth in that wroclamation was sound ond | enterpriss of that extraordinary people. onlession lie | is mare | the argument. We Recrert that the compromise in Lonisi- ana between the conservatives and the exist- ing State government seems to have fallen through. This is a painful fact. We hoped that there might be wisdom and patriotism | enough to end these unfortunate complica- tions; but it is evidently difficult to suit all parties. Tux Traxsrr or Venus.—We devote con- siderable space this morning to a record of the observations made by our astron- |omers of the transit of Venus. Too much praise cannot be given to those who managed our American expedition for the thorough and honest manner in which they did their work. We are proud to think that America has gained a leading position in this matter, and that in conception and organiza- tion our system was so much better than that | of any European nation. As our narrative shows, while the Europeans followed obsolete and imperfect methods of inquiry, America | took a new path and achieved a splendid sue- This we believe to be largely due to the rgy of Professor Henry Draper, | many years, having constructed the largest | telescope in the country. Our report will be may be an equally good judge of the gravity | The only point | who has stndied astronomical photography for | | | found to be a valuable contribution to ase tronomy. The Speech of John Bright. The eloquent speech of Mr. Bright, de- livered at Birmingham on the 25th of Janu- ary and elsewhere printed, possesses more than usual significance in the present crisis of English affairs. We are rejoiced to see this illustrious and venerated statesmen, whose name is honored all over the world, so well restored to health that he can take an active part in publio affairs, Mr. Bright devotes his address to the relations of the Church of Eng- land to the Crown. He shows the misfortune of such an alliance and its injury to the cause of true religion. He says that the Church holds the position now it did under Elizabeth, and that it is necessarily, from the march of civilization, a false position. A reform in this he regards as the next problem to be solved by the liberal party—a problem more important to the prosperity of the Empire than free trade or an extension of the franchise. Mr. Bright marks out aline of new de- parture for the liberals. He sees that the time is coming when England—to use the words of Mr. Disraeli—must consider ‘“burn- ing questions.” These questions have long been threatened. Lord Palmerston, by his marvellous tact, Lord Derby, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Disraeli have postponed their consider- ation, ignored them and held their parties to- gether by personal power or political genius. But this putting off from to-day until to- morrow cannot pass forever, even in politics, The day must come. Mr. Gladstone is gone. Disracli—a much older man and not in the best of health—must soon go. The tory party will pass into the hands either of Lord Derby or Lord Salisbury. The new issues that will arise will affect the franchise, the aristocracy, the Church and the Crown. Mr. Bright, the most eloquent man in the liberal party, now de- mands the disestablishment of the English Church. This is certainly a ‘burning issue.” Mr. Gladstone’s pamphlet has had the effect of nitro-glycerine upon the old conservative politics of England. The country is more ex- cited over the allegiance to the Papacy than it has been at any time since the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The speech of Mr. Bright is pregnant with meaning, and marks, wo think, a new departure in English politics and the advent of a new political generation, big with momentous issues and events, Rapid Transit. Naturo seems to have taken up the question of rapid transit. There could be no more eloquent arguments in favor of rapid commu- nication between New York and its suburbs than the scenes of the last few days. We have had some very cold days—what we have had in the past and may again have in the future. The direct effect is to practically close all communication between New York and the cities lying on the banks of the Hud- son and the East River. Yesterday, for in- stance, travel was practically interrupted be- tween New York and Brooklyn. It would be hard to picture the amount of discomfort, embarrassment, business trouble and personal misery that ensued. Brooklyn is a part of New York. There is scarcely one of its citizens not directly connected with us in the way of business and active employment. Yet, by the mere falling of the thermometer a few degrees below the average winter temperature, the people of Brooklyn are suddenly removed from all com- munication with their places of business. Those who crossed the river did so under cir- cumstances of personal suffering and discom- fort of a most disagreeable character—long waiting in the bleak ferry houses, the dismal journey through the tumbling ice, overcrowd- ing, cold and every possible disadvantage. There can be but two solutions. One is a sys- tem of rapid transit that will enable New York to retain its citizens within its limits and permit them to dwell within certain and rapid communication, unmolested by ice, snow, cold or floods, The other is the completion of the bridge, only another phase of rapid transit. A Question of History. Far be it from us to interfere with the his- torical, literary, philosophical and metaphysi- cal discussions between Mr. Evarts and Mr. Tilton. One point might aswell be made clear. In the cross-examination of Mr. Til- ton on Tuesday Mr. Evarts drew out the fact that the plaintiff had walked in a pro- ecssion “to do honor to the Commune,” especially the memory of Rossel, who, ac- cording to Mr. Evarts, ‘was put to death by judgment for having executed the Chief Jus- tice of France and the Archbishop of Paris.” Mr. Tilton responded that the procession was “in honor of the revered memory of Rossel, whom the French government put to death, and whose name ought to live to be the synonyme of liberty.’’ Furthermore, Mr. Tilton informed Mr. Evarts that Rossel was “a sublime man,’’ and that “the memory of young Rossel is sweet and clean,” and that he honored him ‘‘before all mankind.” The truth is that Rossel took no part in the execution of the hostages, nor was he put to death for that act.. He left the Commune some time before its fall and the massacre. He was executed fof having, as an officer of the French army, thrown up his commission and taken up arms against the government. His offence and its punishment were purely military. But for this M. Thiers would have pardoned Rossel. He feared the effect on the army. Nor do we think that Mr. Tilton exactly appreciates Rossel’s character when he speaks of him as “a synonyme of liberty,” and ‘a sublime man.” Rossel, in his defence, took pains to separate himself from the theories and rhapsodies of the Commune, and from those sincere, fanatical idealists who believed in Com- munism as a principle, such, for instance, as Delescluze. He avowed that his only purpose in joining the Commune was to arouse a sentiment of antagonism to the German army then investing Paris. He believed there had been a premature sur- render to Prussia ; that France bad not prop- erly used her resources in resisting the enemy, | and that the Commune movement could be used to revive the warlike spirit of France and to renew the war. Mr. Evarts does the | memory of Rossel injustice when he identifies him either with the extreme theorists of the Commune or with the despairing, maddened fanatics who set fire to the palaces and shot the Archbishop. Mr. Tilton also does the | true leaders of the Commune injustice when he places Rossel among their number as “a sublime man,’’ or in any way ‘‘a synonyme of liberty.” He was a gallant, erratic, not very wise young officer, who was whirled into the Commune, neither leading it nor led by it His fate excited general sympathy because of his youth and his courage. So far from being @ leader of the Commune he was only an in. cident in its extraordinary career, deserving neither the censure of Evarts nor the praise of Tilton. The Independence of the Senate. One of our contemporaries makes an in teresting narrative in reference to the recent election of a Senator in Wisconsin. Accord ing to this journal the credit of the defeat of Mr. Carpenter must be attributed to the Mib woukee and St. Paul Railroad Company, There is an interview also with Mr. Russell Sage, Vice President of this company. Mr. Sage makes a remarkable statement, which, if true, should be immediately investigated. Hi says itis true ‘that his company had con tributed largely to the defeat of Mr. Car penter.” ‘The special reason,’’ he explains, ‘for the opposition of the Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad Company was on account of Mr. Carpenter's position in regard to the raib road agitation in Wisconsin.” The statement of-Mr. Sage is confirmed by Mr. Carpenter, who made a speech in Milwaukee on Tuesday evening attributing his defeat ‘largely to the opposition of the railroads.” We have heard, from time to time, of the influence of rail- roads upon legislation and the elective franchises. There has been some anxiety in the West as to the character and extent of this influence. ‘Phis is the first’ time, so far as we know, that an officer of a railroad com pany publicly boasts that his corporation has made any such use of its power. If the election in Wisconsin was the work of the Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad Co. pany, as Mr. Sage, the Vice President, avers, the matter should be examined by the Senate. There can be no clearer proposition than this— that, where large corporations, who owe theiz existence to the beneficence of Common- wealths like Wisconsin, attempt to interfere with legislation, to defeat Senators and mem bers for not obeying their will, that we are no longer under a free government. The de- feat of Senator Carpenter is a small matter compared with the principle which is here in- volved. We certainly think that the Senate owes it to its dignity to summon Mr. Sage to Washington and ask him in what specitl manner his railroad company ‘contributed largely to the defeat” of any candidate for a seat in that body. There can be no higher question of privilege. ‘Tae Cxnrmemat.—We print a most inter esting letter this morning from Philadelphia in reference to the Centennial. The work goes bravely on, with an amount of earnest and quiet enthusiasm on the part of our Phile adelphia friends quite beautiful to sea The Catholic Total Abstinence Society propose to build « colossal fountain, with statues of Archbishop Carroll, Father Mathew, Commodore Barry and Charles Carroll, of Carrollton. Why not General Montgomery? The Germans will send a statue of Humboldt; the Jews of Philadelphia will build one com memorating religious freedom; the Italiang will send a statue of Columbus, while Misa Hosmer will contribute her marble work of Emancipation. PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE. Rev. George H. Clark, of Hartford, 1s staying at the Fifth Avepug Hotel. Professor B. Silliman, of Yale College, 1s stop» ping at the Windsor Hotel. Mr. Harvey G. Eastman, of Poughkeepsie, tg stopping at the Albemarle Hotel. Colonel H. S. McComb, of Crédit Mobiler note riety, is registered at the St. James Hotel. Commodore Tneodore P, Greene, United States Navy, 1s quartered at the Grand Centra) Hotel. Mr. Handyside Tapp is a British oMcial at Shanghai, but destiny intended him for the bar. Postmaster General Marsnall Jewell and Comp. troller Nelson K. Hopkins left this city last evening for Wasuingvon. Mr. Franklin B. Gowen, President of the Phila- deiphia and Readipg Railroaa Company, is at the Brevoort House. Mr. John Mitchelis announced as a candidate for memoer of Parliament for Tipperary in the event of Colonel Waite retiring. Mr. J. H. Devereax, President of tne Atlantie aad Great Western Railway Company, has taken up his residence at the Windsor Hotel. Bishop: Vaughan, of Salford, England, is the guest of the Paulist. Fathers, West Fifty-nints street. He will sail for England on Saturday next. The Vienna Wehrzeitung, which has aMilations with the Austrian Ministry, hopes that “the swore of Great Britain will soon again be laid in the bal. ance of Europe.” Mr. Samuel Hooper lies dangerously ill of pneu- monia at bis residence in Washington. His attach ‘was sudden an‘! has lasted but three or four daya, He was not improved last evening. Sir Samael Hayes, of England, who has been on @ hunting excursion in the Far West for several months past, arrived in this city yesterday, from volorado, and is at the Gilsey House. The President of the sritish Royal Society has received an intimation that Her Majesty's goverm ment is prepared to grant $5,000 to secure ob servations Of tae total eclipse of the sun in April next. Charles Darcours, the dramatic critic, estimates that the nightly attendance at the forty-two theatres and places of amusement in Paris about 58,000, provided they are filled to their ce pacity. Zach Chandler was first elected Senator seven teen years ago, and on that occasion Ledyard, the son-in-law of General Cass and then a mem»er of the Assembly, voted for Judge Cnristiancy, whe now displaces tue /amous Zachariah. An article printed by the ultramontane organ Germania, of Berlin, explanatory of tne motives which may prompt future attempts upon the life of Prince Bismarck, has created some sensation in Germany, and is violently assailed by the semi- official press. In the nifh section of the first article of our State constitution it is written that “excessive ball shall not be required;” and yet it is reported that Judge Donohue recently required bail of $100,000. in @ casein which the sum in dispute was $7,000, Is this true? Andifitis true did the Judge con sider the constitution ofany consequence, The widow of the late Commander Cushing yew terday sent by express to Allred Iverson, of Georgia, a sword that was presented to that gen- tleman by citizens of Coiumbus, Gu., when he was a lieutenant of United States cavalry before the rebellion, but woich had been captured during that condict by Commander Cushing in one of nis raids, The proposed Telegraph Conference at St. Pe- tersburg will probably meetin May or June. The principal proposal designated for discussion is the suggestion that in /uture the tariff shai! be 1ramed not as at present, according to the nomber of words, but of single letters contained in a mem sage, a8 Continental companies find the scope given to the ase of compound words largely abused.