The New York Herald Newspaper, April 10, 1875, Page 6

e NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1875-TRIPLE SHEE a nnnemiiaied ‘NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET, JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR. NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS.—On ond after January 1, 1875, the daily and weckly | editions of the New Youx Hensup will be | sent free of postage. THE DAILY HERALD, published every | day in the year. Four cents per copy. An- nual subscription price $12 _ Rejected communications will not be re- turned. Letters and packages should be properly sealed. LONDON OFFICE OF THE NEW YORK HERALD—NO, 46 FLEET STREET. Bubscriptions and advertisements will be received und forwarded on the same terms as in New York. ROOKLYN RK THEATRE, Eotion are RINT ae 8 Peay closes at 1045 | P.M. Matinee a M. BRYANTS OUSE, fest Twenty-third Lahey near ‘slate avenue. enipte ome eg &e.,at8 PM ; closes at 10%, My Mat GERMANIA THEATRE, teenth street. —INDIGO, ats Py AE M, Miss Lina Mayr. Mail Bie rcs Broaq away =e NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DESIG: Erreney thea ytreet and fourth, avenue, ISP kine Ex- ION, Open day and evening. eee Oe HIrPOOROME, a enty-seventh street-—VISIONS or Houni:. P.M. and §P.M.; Menage rie open at LP. re P.M BOWERY OPERA HOUSE. pees tae. ‘at SP. M.; Closes at 10:65 ‘Twen po eM PaRK THEATRE, ys i Secoees att Bt M.; closes at closes at 10:45 eM. | VIC THEATRE, ery, ats P. ML; closes at 1045 | Riad AVENUE TH ATRE, reet and Broadway.— nies x: closes at 10 <0 P. Davenport, Mrs, albert, ” Matinee at 1:30 WERY THEATRE: | L-AROUND TE WORLD iW’ ElcuTy Days, | eteP. A. Matinee at 1:30 P.M. | AND OPERA HOUSE, Peper grence Gnd Twenty-third strect--AMIMED, at 8 joses at 10:45 P.M. Matinee at 1:30. M. we ROOTS THEATRE, « ira street an avenue.— | SER ae BY closes at 1 P.M. Mr, Bignold, LYCEUM THEATRE, t, neat Sixth avehueeLA JOLIE USE, at 8 P.M. Alle. Aimee, Matinee at | P.M. BAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS. wen’ us = ata P, M.; cloves at OP, My Matinee at? EMY OF XUSIC, Irving: lace —italian Opera LOMDRA, at 18) P, a. joftnan, Alias Randall Oe hag’ THEATRE, Fins tween Second and Third avenues— reat tea M5 closes at 12 F. + sTEINWAY HALL, fe street.—CONCEKI, at 5 P. M. Theodore MRS. hese Y pe i Mpg begs Closes at 10:45 SEU } Broadway, corner ot Thirticth strcet=THR BLACK | Baye. MES TM; closes at i045 re M Matinee at2 | THEATRE CORIQUE, | closes at 10:46 | $0, Proaaway.— ya iETY, at SP. it; A, Matines at 2 METROPOLITAN MCSEUM OF ART, pee Fourteenth oaccpitarenibioas from 10 A. M. to’ SP. M. TRI R IPL E § SH E ET "SEW ¥ Yor i, § SATU RD: —— ns From our reports this morning the probabilities Gre that the weather to-day will be rainy, fol- towed by clearing and warmer weather. 10, | macy, | silver-coasted island from Holland and France. | The House of Commons, in atime of pro- The Shadows in the European Sky, The close relation between the civilized nations of the world is seen in the sympathy which the political condition of one country imposes upon another. Notwithstanding the acrimonics which so often disturb diplomacy—even to cruel and unnecessary wars—the progress of civilization has brought the nations nearer and nearer. Steam, the telegraph, the progress of religion, free trade, travel, literature, cheap newspapers, are all so* many agencies that make more and more possible the fraternity of the human race. Science and education seem to be the best ministers of democracy and peace. Let us compare the world as it is in the nineteenth with what it was in the eighteenth century, and we shall see tho tent and value of these changes, and how futile are the experiments of those statesmen who believe that any success in war or diplo- any measure of annexation, con- quest or violence, will render possible an absolute violation of justice. Europe is now in a fretful, irritated condition because of the injustice which marked tne close of the last war, especially in the dealings of Ger- many with France. Every day or two we have an uncasy rumor from the Continent. England, powertul and growing, the branches of her empire spreading out until they | owetelindiow the world; strong in her wealth, her naval supremacy and her national character, looks with uneasy eyes over the “silver thread of sea’’ that separates her found peace, discusses no subject with half the eloquence that is bestowed upon war. The manhood of Europe is under drill. Ger- many, Prussia, Italy, Austria and France aro | straining the mighty resources of their empires to excel in military excellence, and it would not surprise us if to-morrow the tramp of armed men were suddenly heard from the Seine to the Danube, All the world is held in pause and anxiety because of this condition of affairs. It is four years siuco peace was declared between France and Prussia, but there is no peace. Prussia crowned her imperial greatness by overthrowing a Bonaparte. In six years she had marched from vic‘ory to victory over Den- mark, Austria and France, For when Sedan was won six years had only passed since Bis- marck roughly declared that there was no policy but ‘blood and iron’’ that would save Germany. In these six years Europe had seen three wars, each of them won by Prussia. In six years Prussia had dismembered Denmark, Austria and France; had lifted out of the dust into which it had been thrown by Napoleon the crown ot Charlemagne and placed it on the brow of her King. Surely, if any war could bring peace, it would be a war that had such aclose, Why is it thus, that Europe has never been so disturbed as since Sedan? Why isit that since Bismarck and Thiers signed the peace ot Frankfort Europe has been in a state of unrest and uproar? It is because a cruel war ended in an unjust peace. Only a few weeks since the Lon- don Times, with unusual emphasis, pointed out that Europe was a camp, and that Germany had summoned tbe nations to arms. And now comes the announcement of o Berlin journal, supposed to represent the English influences to serve ag a breakwater between England and French ambition. After Waterloo the independence of Belgium became ‘necessary to the safety of Great Britain.” But can the London Cabinet calmly look on and see Belgium reduced into the vassalage imposed by Prussia upon Denmark? If Lord Palmerston were alive we know what English statesmanship would answer. If the spirit of Lord Pal- merston still dominates the councils of England we can well imagine that a menace to Belgium would mean war with Great Britain, It may be that Bismarck in his pride does not pause at such a contingency, France and England have become natural allies. They have a thousand interests in common, while religion alone is the only strong tie that binds England and Germany. The next war in Europe will be a war of allies. Russia will vaturally sym- pathize with Germany, although even the Czar does not cheerfully accept the tutorship of Bismarck, and he has a new and dear tie With England in the person of his daughter, who is now an English princess, Italy, no matter how friendly the King may be with the German Emperor, can never really be- como the enemy of France. Geographically Italy is at the mercy of a French army, and, as members of the same family of nations, their interests are alike. Austria has not for- gotten Sadowa, and she remembers that a cardinal point of Prussian statesmanship is the annexation of the German provinces of the Danube. All this time the influénce of Rome must be considered. The Pope is to-day even in his dethronement the most powerful prince m Europe—more power- ful, perhaps, than any ruler in the world. Germany has defied and Snsulted him, im- prisoned his bishops and made a persistent war upon his power. The influence of Rome wil be entirely arrayed against Germany, and it is an influence that no statesman can despise. We are now well into the spring, when the roads are good and the crops aro in the ground, When statesmen are in a fighting humor they find the spring the most con- venient season. All the signs are ominous, We trust that there is wisdom and prudence enotigh to keep the peace, and that even \Bis- marck may see the way to his ambition with- out deluging the Continent with blood, A war now would have the most disastrous effectupon Europe as well as America, Even Germany, with all her strength and pride, must shudder at the prospect, especially when she remembers the terrible sacrifices imposed upon her by the easy victory over France. Her next victory will not be so easy. Great as the German Empire now is, that of France was at one time greater. Power- ful as this Emperor has shown himself to be, his power is but the shadow of that once wielded by the Great Napoleon. Napoleon, atter Wagram and Jena, imagined that he could become the arbiter of Europe—a modern Alexander, king of kings, Emperor of the West. Bismarck, after Sadowa and Sedan, may fancy that he can lead Germany in the same path of universal dominion. Napoleon's ambition led him to Waterloo, and Bismarck, with all of his power, pride, genius and fame, should beware of following the example. The Removal of Siate Officers. opinions of Prince Bismarck, that the German Chancellor really thinks that France, | under the lead of the Orleans princes, means | to “precipitate a war of revenge ;” that in | Austria the conservatives look toward such a | movement with hope and expectation ; that | the upper classes of Italy would gladly war upon Germany to show their appreciation of | the Pope ; that France looks toward an Austro- | Italian alliance, and that the time has come | to ‘‘wake the slumberers’’ and ‘acquaint them with the real. of the situation.’’ At the | same moment there is an angry question be- tween Germany and Belgium, a question re- | minding us ot the complaint made by the wolf in regard to the wicked lamb that would tronble the strea: from Berlin, coming so hard ng note to Belgium, is full of significance. No one for a moment supposes Warz, Srnver Yestrnpay.—Foreign ex- change was firm. Goid closed at 115. Money | ‘was easy on call at4and5 per cent. Stocks | were irregular. ~ | | Smaxerr is still under duress in Cuba. | Bat his return to our anxions country is oply & question of time, as the order for his arrest | remains in force. | Fraxce.—The announcement that the French government is summoning citizens of France resident in foreign countries to return home and do military service is suggestive. Grnmaxy “has 3 made her peace with China. It is reassuring to find Germany anxious to have amicable relations with any nation. Now, if this kindly spirit could only find expres- gion nearer home ! We Parr this morning a letter from St. Domingo, calling upon the President to ro- sign. The arguments presented by our cor- Respondent are forcible and urgent. We are not without a lingering hope they may bs beard in Washington. : We retord two executions this morning— Michael Sullivan, at New Brunswick, N. J. for the murder of a farmer, and Patri O'Shea, in St. Louis, for the stabbing of his wife. O'Shea died asserting his innocence, while Sullivan made no state ment, Turet Wasan important meeting at Central Park Garden last evening of property-owners to protest against building an immense @laughter honse on the west le, at the foot of Fifty-ninth street. Ternando Wood was | mong the speskers. The proposal to estab- Tish this abattoir is an outrage. Fraxce axp ti Crs At.—We learn by our cable despatches that the French , gion on the Ceatenuial met yester¢ under the presidency of M. de La encouraging letter was read from th Minister of Commerce shiv that Fy will take an active part in the great diep Our fellow citizen, Paul Boynton, proposes to cross the straits of Dover in his “life eay- fing dress."’ He witl leave Dover xt threo in the morning and expects to reach Boulogne @ journey of about twenty-seven miles—in twelve hours. This is a daring and novel undertaking, and we are not surprised that it ‘attracts universal attention. | honest, industrious, harmless Belgium, whose | | and most patient statesmanship, has sub- ing alliances that Germ: that Bismarck really means to quarrel with people have done nothing but hammer and dig and stitch since Waterloo, caring little for the conflicts that now and then surrounded them. But Belgium isa good pretext for an alert statesman with a purpose to serve and anxious for even the shadow of motive to guide his hand. France has given him no such motive. France, animated by the wisest mitted to buffeting, censure, insult and scorn. She has paid her money, kept her peace, and | east cannon. To att France under such | circumstances would be a war of wantonness | and outrage, offendir lization, precipitat- does not care to iy all, summoning to a | nce A despair a people who once traversed Europe under the flag of a republic, and who, notwithstanding Sedan, | are ready to start on the same adventure. | Therefore, since France has not permitted the | 'y to Bismatck of a direct renewal | civi encoun.er, and, war of de opport of th 8 policy has been | ~ to en: it with unfriendly States. Thus we | have seen his power in Switzerland, in Italy, | in maine If he could only make these | nations so many sentinels on the bor- ders of France, ready to advance upon the signal trom Beriin, it would make the ca m on the Rhine so much easier. Once | se upon France the necessity of defend- | ing ali of her frontiers from hostile neigh- | bors, and Count Moltke would have an easy | road through Champagne. The same thought w marck’s treatment of Belgium inte m is French and Catholic. | She has no sympathy with either the politics | or the religion of Pre perhaps the on! im i of the Holy Belgium is , the natural road to alliance is pos- cod upon Belgium, like sark in 1804, cannot but ms ¢ An pon Franee, nse sen attack npon J It brings way Me ore th th if there is yin ‘the traditions of snglish statesmanship, it is a menace to Eng- | Jand, attacks u war | and a most worthy citizen, is in prison. | yesterday. Her government is | One of the most important bills of the session was introduced in the State Senate It empowers the Governor to re- move any of the State officers for malversa- tionsin office. ‘The bill is framed in pursu- ance of a provision of the constitution of | 1846, which has been for nearly thirty years a dead letter, in this language :—‘Provision shall be made by law for the removal for mis- conduct or malversation in office of all officers (except judicial) whose powers and duties are not local or legislative and who shall be elected at general elections, and also for sup- plying vacancies created by such removal.’ We will not discuss this bill in detail until we have had an opportunity to examine its text. It has been drafted and presented at the instance of the Governor, who regards it as @ necessary means of rendering the State administration honest and efficient. Grant- ing that its principle is correct we cannot un- derstand why Governor Tilden should object toits application to the governmentof this city. The State officers whom he wishes the power to remove are not his appointees, but are elected by the people, whereas the heads of the city departments are appointed by the Mayor. the Mayor should have power to revoke or nullify his own choiee of officers than that the Governor should have power to nullify the choice of the people. Governor Tilden's constituents have a right to demand that he be consistent. The heads of the municipal departments are as much under the super- | vision of the Mayor as the heads of the State departments are under the supervision of the Governor. If efficient administration re- quires that the chief executive should have the power of removal in the one case it mally requires it in the other. Governor Tilden stultifies himself in asking for himself a power of removal for which no reason can be given which is not a stronger reason for its possession by the Mayor of the city, Sparx.—The usurper Alfonso continues the work of governing Spain under “liberal insti- tations’’ by exiling the professors of the Uni- versity, Salmeron, former President of Spain, The illustrious Castelar is about to go mto bane ishment. In the meantime we have our daily assortment of lies about the Carlists. The latest is that the veteran Elio, Secretary | of War to Don Carlos, is about to abandon his eanse. There is about as much truth in this as there was in the old story that Castelar meant to acknowledge the Alfonso usurpation, Aneto E proposes to send an expedition tow North Pole. Austria will repeat her experi: ment; England has PEDITIONS. _Sweden also now an expedition on foot; Unele Sam fancies the s eaterprise, and Prassia, France and Rus could doubtless be tempted. Why, then, will not all these nations join their forces for co-op ion ona |} common plan? One grand Arctic expedi« tion, supported by the n mrees of be somewhat sful struggle seven nations, would perl nearer the possibility of a with natare than a smaller expedition, and, by the movement of the expeditions in echelon, one might at last start almost fresh at the point at which the endeavor is com- Belgium was made a kingdom by | monly abandoned, It seems much more reasonable that , 4 the | Pennsyivania and the Centennial. By a letter from the Governor of Pennsyl- vania, which we print to-day, our readers will see at a glance what has been done by the Key- stone State and the Quaker City together for the encouragemeat of the enterprise of the Centennial celebration of our national inde- pendence, Governor Hartranft’s letter is worthy of special attention, particularly on the part of the authorities and Legislatures of the several States, It is true that in the merely material aspects ot the case the city in which independence was declared may have the greatest interest in the celebration; and that view has been accepted in the liberal financial support of twoand a half million dollars voted; but os independence is not local there are other than the merely material aspects of the case, and the consideration of these will suggest the inquiry whether Penn- sylvania shall so far lead all other States in this patriotic interest. At the same time, 80 far as material interests are concerned, New York has as much to gain as, if not more, than Pennsylvania, New York city will be the home, more or less, of all the visitors to the Centennial. The thousands who come from Europe will naturally and necessarily visit New York, and the same may be said of tho tens of thousands who will come from the other States. Therefore the gain that will re- sult'from this Exhibision, if it should yield any gain, will be as much ours as that of Phila- delphia. Governor Hartrantt is pleased to allude to the support given to the Centennial by the Henatp as something that will entitle us to “the gratitude of the nation” and give the Heranp ‘a warm and permanent place in the affections of Pennsylvanians,’’ We are not insensible to this courteous recognition of our efforts by the gallant gentleman who presides over the destinies of Pennsylvama, We be- lieved in the Centennial from the outset. There was at one time fear that the movement might become a job-seeking endowments and subsidies from the national Treasury, and fall- ing, perhaps, under the control of certain politi- ciuns who are endeavoring to govern affairs im Philadelphia, as we ourselves were at one time governed by politicians who are now happily in jail or flying from legal process to the four quarters of the globe. So long as the Centennial threatened to assume this as- pect we feared it as the inception of a vast and disgraceful job. But Pennsylvania has rescued the movement from any such contin- gency. The men who control it are the first citizens of Philadelphia in business and social standing. Mr. John Welsh, who is head of the Financial Commission, is a wealthy, en- terprising and honored citizen of Phila- delphia, whose name is a guarantee that whatever work he attempts will be honestly and promptly done. Mr. Goshorn, the Director General, has won golden opinions by his management of the duties assigned to him. The city and the State have been lavish in their expenditures to make the Exhibition a success. Consequently, in supporting the Centennial, we not only hav@the assurance that a patriotic work is being done, but in sucha mapner as to reflect honor upon the nation. Ina labor of this kind, carried on by such men, and free from tbe taint of job- bery or self-interest, the Hrnatp is only too glad to do its part. je The Governor informs us that the State of Pennsylvania has appropriated a million of dollars to the Centennial, the city of Phila- detphia has given a million and a half, and it is probable that “‘a further sum of one million dollars will, within a few weeks,’’ be devoted to the same object. This amounts to three and a haif millions from one State alone. These appropriations do not include the pri- vate subscriptions from individuals in Penn- sylvania, which will probably amount to an- other million. This is certainly a noble work for one State to do. We trust that our own State will not be tardy. The govern- ment has appropriated a half million, which, however, will be devoted to the display ot the various departments of the general administration. New York will certainly aim to make a display worthy of our supremacy as the Empire State. Wecannot afford to be under obligations to our friends in Pennsyl- vania for the opportunity of so doing. It is | not the habit of New York to be dependent upon others where either her honor or her in- terests ate concerned. We trust that before the Legislature adjourns an appropriation | will be voted that will enable New York to make an appearance at the Exhibition worthy of our greatness and the magnitude of the | occasion. The Beecher Case—The Value of Character, We have a lullin the Beecher case, arising out.ofthe unfortunate illness of Mr. Beach, | one of the counsel for Mr. Tilton. The pro-% ceedings will be resumed on Monday, when it | is presumed the direct examination of Mr. Beecher will close. The cross-examination will occupy all of next week, and may have even a longer range. This will close the case for the defendant. We shall then have the re- buttal and the speeches of the counsel. Itnow looks as if the case will reach the jury abont the lst of June. The evidence of Mr. Beecher | has been of a dramatic character, but of its value as indicating the fame of the celebrated | defendant we prefer to reserve our opinion. This we beliove to be fair to both parties— to the plaintiff no less than the defendant? | One of our contemporaries, in discussing the case, makes the point that Mr. Beecher’s evidence is not to be believed until it | is confirmed by corroborative statements ; | that, as a witnes:, ho is no better than atfy other of those that have gone upen the stand. The effect of a doctrine like this is to do away, in our minds, with the most precious privilege of a citizen— j the privilege of a good name, In all the | transactions 6f life, «m@ more especially | in a criminal trial, character is always the | first and vital po’ If a man can live to mature aye a vagabond, a spendthrift, an | adulterc t, if he can ignore all the duties of society, and at tho same time go upon | the witness stand and he treated as one who bas led an honored life, then, of wnat | value, even in a worldly sense, are a good life | anda good name? Now, wethink that so far as Mr. Beecher is concerned, his character, his years, his name, should be allowed to | speak for him with all possibie em- | phasis. there are resources enough in law and in | the ingenuity of those who prosecute him | knowledge of the history and philosophy of | other. | ous. | the national administration. to demonstrate that fact, But what we object to is the train of argument that ani- mates so many ot those who criticiss this unfortunate transaction and assume that every witness who does not answer their hop2s or their dislikes is a porjurer. Mr. Beecher is anold man. He has lived until this time, so tar as public repute is concerned, a blameless life, He bas gone through manhood into old age and whitening hairs, through the tempta- tions that surround all of us in our journey through the world, and has gained the fame of an eloquent and illusirious clergyman. So far as we know, until the broaching of this scandal, no one had accused Mr. Beecher of any offence affecting his standing either as a clergyman or a gentleman. And yet, beyond most men, considering his celebrity, his temperament, his influence, his personal surroundings, his life has been subjected to temptations. Now, the point we make is, that, while Mr. Beecher is on the stand, while his evidence is being scrutinized by cunning lawyers, and while he speaks with the penalty of perjury, imprisonment and degradation be- fore him, while he swears under the solemnity of an oath by the ‘‘ever-living God, the Searcher | of all hearts,” his character should be con- sidered. We seo many things in this scandal to deplore, many things he has not yet explained and which we do not think can be explained. Now that Mr. Beecher is bearing public witness let us all stand off and give him fair play. Certainly if a man can live until within the verge of threescore years and ten, and so live that he becomes one of the most celebrated men of his age, and yet this fame counts nothing in a time of trial, then of what use is character at all? Comptroller Green’s Lobby Operations. The word “lobbyist” is justly deemed a term of reproach which no respectable man is willing to have applied to him, Comptroller Green cannot escape this disreputable title on the plea that he does not often go to Albany in person; but he employs paid tools who act by his inspiration and obey his instructions, How he pays his lobby this winter has not yet been disclosed; but his chief agent ina former Legislature, Mr. Dexter A. Hawkins, was paid out of the city treasury at 2 most ex- travagant price, as wes shown by the publica- tion of his bills a year or two ago. But whether their stipend comes out of Mr. Green's own pocket or out of the taxpayers of the city, itis quite certain that they are un- commonly active in Albany this winter. Green's hand has been plainly visible in the legislation of the present weck on two sep- arate bills, One of these bills in which Green’s lobby has been diligent in earning its wages is the Dill relating to the deposits of the city moneys, the selection of the banks which are to receive them and the rate of interest. The bill, as it passed the Assombly, made the Chamberlain and the Mayor the judges of this matter. The Chamberlain is the City Treasurer, who is responsible for the safe keeping of its funds, and it is reasonable to associate the Mayor with him in the discharge of this trust as a precaution. against favoritism to particular banks. But there is no good reason why the Comptroller should be joined with them in the discharge of this trust, But when the Assembly bill got into the Senate Green’s lobby got it so amended as to give him a voice in the decision and enable him to arrest the action of the Mayor and Chamberlain. This amendment was made because Green wanted it, and instructed his lobbyists to secure it. In all well organized governments the func- | the chief finance officer and the treasurer are strictly sep- arated, and for the soundest reasons. The federal Secretary ot the Treas- ury never handles a dollar of the public money. He or his subordinates examine claims, decide what sums are duo and give warrants for their payment, but the custody of the money is given to the Treas- urer, who is quite independent ot him. Tho Treasurer gives heavy bonds; the Secretary gives none. ‘Ihe Treasurer is not appointed by the Sccretary, but by the President and Senate. He is an independent officer,’and is made so asa means of protecting the public funds. The same system has always prevailed in.our State government, The Comptroller never touches a dollar of the State funds—all tions of that of claims against the State being paid by the | “ Treasurer on the Comptroller's warrant. The division of functions between these two offi- cers is intended to make them checks on each Onr city government js organized on the same principle. The Chamberlain derives his appointment from a source entirely inde- pendent of the Comptroller. He gives a bond | of a million dollars; but the Comptroller gives no bond, for the reason that the law does not | intrust the city money to his keeping, as he | | merely examines and certifies claims and draws his warrant for their payment. But, impelled by his wish to grasp all the powers of tlie city government, Green instracted his lobbyists to get the bill amended in the re- | publican Senate as a means of breaking down an old and established check on his authority. The bill which was sprung on the Assembly for rovolutionizing the city government and concentrating the greater part of its powers in his hends is a more conspicuous illustration of his activity as a lobbyist. With Husted as a confederate and the black horse cavalry as | coadjutors he succeeded in giving this pre- | posterous bill quite a promising start in the Assembly, but he is destined toa signal de- | feat. But he is as fuliy stamped as'a lobbyiet by the attempt as he would be by success. Tlis ambitious scheme is utterly preposter- It is a scheme to overshadow the Mayor and usurp his powers by one of his subordi- nates. national Secretary of the Treasury to attempt to eclipse and supplant the President and | make the Treasury Department supreme in The Comptroller would be much better employed in attending to the proper duties of his office instead of | expending his energy in the disereditablo | | trade of an Albany lob! rbyist. Mrscoverxaent IN ‘Annaxeas—We print this morning another letter from the pen of Mr. Chartes Nordhoff, describing the mis- government of Arkansas. Mr, Nordhoff, who is now in the South, on behalf of the Hznatn, studying the solemn and perplexing problem of reconstruction, brings to this work the If he is saying what is untrue | highest qualities—honesty, courage, fairness, an incisive and graphic style, and a deep It is as absurd as it would be for the | our government, He tells us 9 sad enough: story of the manner in which reconstruction has been performed, and at the same time emphasizes the duty that more and more de volves upon all honest men, without distine tion of party, of rescuing these Commonwenlths from the degradation into which they have fallen. Crucity to Animals. Societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals would seem to be made up, wherever they exist, of the same sort of people—med- dling, impertinent, ridiculous busybodies, far less concerned with the ostensible objects of their association than with the incidental op- portunities afforded to assert a pitiful author ity and parade their poor importance. Their last appearance is in this light and in a Brus sels theatre. In Brussels, as in several other cities in Europe, Jules Verne’s ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’’ is on the stage, and one 6f the performers is an elephant. This intelligent beast is not reduced, as animals generally are, to playing a mute part; he hag speech—that is to say, at a certain given moment he must utter the sufficiently known scream of his species. Billy is up to the game, His keeper, an Englishman, is on such terms with the animal intellectually that he has less than the usual difficulty in making him understand what he wants him to do, and in this instance bas trained him so well that he has only to put his hand on the animal’s side and say scream—when‘he screameth ag it it were the ‘“‘whangdoodle mourning for her young.’ But the Brussels Society for the Protection of Animals did not know this; and seems to have had as little faith in the intelligence of animals ag knowledge of the relations between them and their keepers; and so it assumed that it is unusual for an elephant to scream ; that thig elephant screamed with pain, from some prod by a sharp instrument given every time the scream was required; and that these prods were in contravention of the law; and upon this fabric it would have interfered with the play, but that Billy and his keeper demon. strated to a committee of the society what may be done with animals by @ man who loves them and understands them. Mrs. Tiztoy will not be a witness in the Beecher trial, unless the counsel on both sides should consent to call her. The Legislature has refused to pass a bill giving wives the opportunity of testifying in cases in which either husband or wife iw a party, This was the bill introduced to mect tho case ot Mrs, Tilton, We presume some sound legal principle con- trolled the action of the Assembly. At the same time we cannot but feel that a law which permits Mr. Tilton, the husband, to spend weeks on the stand’ assailing the honor and virtue of his wife, and which prevents the wife from vindicating her womanhood, isa violation of the trae spirit of the law. Prorzction ry Caxapa.—We learn from Ottawa that a demand has been made upon the government of Canada to grant protection to sugar, else the refining business will be destroyed by American competition, Some- how the English are never enthusiastic free- traders except where their own interests are served. PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE, Preiiminary to hanging first get your Sharkey. San Francisco is badly lick-ed on those mom uments, and so orth, Mr. Samuel Bowles, of the Springfield Repud- lican, is sojourning at the Brevoort House. General Kobert Lenox Banks, ot Albany, t# among the iate arrivals at the Clarendon Hotel. Brigadier General Benjamin W. Brice, United States Army, is registered at the Windsor Motel, Gormany is now furnisoing Russia with large Proportions of the manu/actured goods formerly supplied exclusively by England. His Excellency will leave Washington next Friday for Massachusetts, to attend the Centene nial celebration of the Battle of Lexington, General Widiam Tecumsen Sherman arrived ig this city yesterday from his headquarters in St Louis, and is staying at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Mr. Henry Bergh will lecture this evening, be fore 2,000 children, in the Academy of Masia, Philadelphia, on the subject of “Kindness to Anunais.”” Senators Dickinson, Kellogg and Laning, and Assemblymen Rausom, Wenzel, Wellingson and Vosburgh arrived at the Metropolitan Hotel last evening from Albany. Mr. Algernon Sartoria, the _President’s son-ine law, will sail tor Engiand to-day in the during the absence of her huspand. On Git that at Sarrcionis, in France, a baby was born which lived less than one day, and in tnas short period informed the good people avout that “1876 would bea good year, but 1876 a blovay one.” M. Thiers can neither eat nor talk without a chaupfretie or toot stove under his feet, and the apparatus to wissimulate its true character is made in the form of a little valise that always goes witn him. Easter cards have been introduced by tae Lom don stationers, engraved In the form of crosses of great varicty, and many of them of great beauty. Some of them sell as low as two-pence each, others as high as half a crown. Alancon journal, The Tobacco Plant, has a fine caricature cartoon, showing the Right Honorabie Benjamin Disraeli as the great god ran ¢narming all vhe beasts; Mr. Bright ag a ijon, Mr. Lowe asa | bear, Lord Derby asa waten dog, and other whigt and tories as wolves, foxes, pote cats, &c, M. Ravatau, Mayor of Marseilles, made @ tour of inspectionin the hospitais of that city and caught the smallpox. $0 now he knows the con+ dition of the hospitals. Hospitals are so far bar- barous in France that emalipox patients are not separated from the ovhers,” His Exceilency the President will herearter re ceive visitors at the Magisterial Palnce by card, between the hours of eleven o'clock A. M. and two o'clock P. M., except on Tuesdays and Fri days, when the Cabinet assembles, and only gov ernment oMcials will be received. English law is funny, If Mitchel bad lived Moore, the candidate of the minority, would have | had the seat in Parliament, because, under tne | law, votes cast for a candidate known to be ine eligible are not counted; but Mitchel’s deatn gives the case one more new phase—legally. Messrs. Joun Bigelow, Alexander M.* Orr and Jobn D. Van Buren, Jr., members of the commise sion constituted by Governor Tiiden for investi gating the canal frauds, residents of this city, were In Aibany yesterday for the purpose of con- suiting with the Governor concerning tne dunes Of the position to whteh they have been appointed, Apropos to the notion of putting ciocks in all the principal streets of Paris, all comoined etec. | tically to give a uniform hour, the Figaro pays, “Tos 1s the jast work of progress, and Paris, ag usual, is in advance of ail cities.” But Brussels | haa this piece of progress ten years ago, and copied it from old-lashioned Ghent, | M, Lorgertl, of the Frenen Assembly, has excited | the French apothecaries, He says they sci for twenty-five cents @ medicine which costs them about a cent @ bait; out they say the meat cine costs them at least twice as mach, that is three cents, and they seem to consider it an out. Tage that any one shoud thus question thelr right. to @ RrOMt Of 800 per cont,