The New York Herald Newspaper, September 23, 1875, Page 6

6 NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR. NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS.—On and after January 1, 1875, the daily and weekly editions of the New Yorx Hxeratp will be vent free of postage. THE DAILY HERALD, published every day in the year. Four cents per copy. ‘Twelve dollars per year, or one dollar per wonth, free of postage, to subscribers, All business or news letters and telegraphic despatches must be addressed New Yorx Hera. Letters and packages should be properly sealed. Rejected communications will not be re- turned, enetetaitisanennrtth LONDON OFFICE OF THE NEW YORK HERALD—NO. 46 FLEET STREET. PARIS OFFICE—AVENUE DE L'OPERA. Subscriptions and advertisements will be received and forwarded on the same terms as in New York. NO, 266 GILMO! SUMMER GARDEN, late Barnum's Hip) me.—GRAND POPULAR CON. CERT, at 8 P. M.; closes av 11 P. M. METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, fou3ae West Fourteenth street.—Open from 10 A. M. to5 TIVOLI THEATRE, Eighth street, near Third avenue.—VARIETY, at 8P.M, | FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE. Twenty-eight street, near Broadway.—OUR BOYS, at 8 P.M. ; closes at 10 :30'P, ML MIQUE, at 5 P.; closes at 10:45 WOOD'S MUSEUM, adway, corner of Thirtieth street.—DEAD TO THE WORLD, at 5 P. M.; closes at 10:45 P.M, Matinee at 2 P.M. Bro: METROPOLITAN THEATRE, Nos. 585 and 587 Broadway.—VARIETY, at 8P. M, LYCEUM THEATRE, Fourteenth — street.—!'rench Opera Boufle-MADAME L’ARCHIDUG, at 8 P.M. PARISIAN VARIETIES, Sixteenth street and Broadway.—V ARIETY, at 8 P. M. Irvin lace and Fourt WORLD IN ElGHTY DA AROUND THE M.; closes at 13 P. M. at 8 P. MINSTRELS, orner of Twenty-ninth street, ats P.M. GERMANIA THEATRE, Fourteenth street, near Irving place.—RABAGAS, at 8 P. M.; closes at 10:30 P. M. AMERICAN INSTITUTE, Third avenue and Sixty-third strect.—Day and evening. ae BOOTE TRE, enue.—THE FLYING Belmore. )PERA HOUSE, Twonty-third street. and SCUD, at 8 P.M. Mr. Ge DARL ronty third street and INSTRELS, at 8 P. M. OLY No, 624 Broadway.—VARIETY, HOWE’S & CUSHING’'S CIRCUS, Eighth avenue and Forty-ninth @treet,—Performances day and evening. PARK THEATI and Twenty-seeond street.—THE MIGHTY DOL- P.M. Mr. and Mrs. Florence. Broadway LAR, ats TR NEW YORK, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1875, From our reports this morning the probabilities are that the weather to-day will be warmer and partly cloudy. Tue Fast Mat, Tras.—Newsdealers and the public throughout the States of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as in the West, North and Southwest, along the lines of the Hudson River, New Yorle Central and Penn- sylvania Central Railroads and their connections, will be supplied with Tux Heraxp, free of post- age, by sending their orders direct to this office. Want, Srarer Yesrerpay.—Gold opened at 116 3-4, declined to 116 1-4 and closed at 1161-2. At this price $100 in currency is worth only $85 83. The stock market was feverish and lower. Foreign exchange was full, but somewhat firmer. Tue Lerrer or Eart Rosset and the correspondence we publish to-day in relation to the Eastern difficulty will be found of in- terest and will throw additional light upon the question now agitating Europe. Tue Featvnre of the Newtown Creek Regatta yesterday was an eight-oared barge race be- tween married and single crews. The bachelors won, beating their competitors by three lengths, much to the delight of the Single ladies present, who signified their in- tention to do their best to induce the victors to change their boat next year. Count Annim on Apprat.—The appeal of Count Arnim to the higher Court from the | sentence of the Kammergericht is to be heard | on October 17, and a despatch from Berlin | predicts that the judgment of the lower | Court will be confirmed. Of course it will. | But meanwhile the Count is in Switzerland, | and as his health is not good it’ is probable | that he will remain there. Anornern Brora Arrray 1s Recorpep to- | day, which will probably result in the death | of one of the parties engaged in it. Two men, one named Gran and the other known | as Buffalo Bill, fought in a lodging house on Tenth avenue, and Grau was stabbed so seriously with a butcher knife that his life is | despaired of. The murderer's story is that the attack was made by Grau, while the | dying man declares the stabbing to have been unprovoked. Spanisn Castixs.—The Papal Nuncio, it is announced, made demand of the late Spanish government that the Concordat between Spain and the Vatican should be at once executed, that the arrears due to the clergy should be paid, and the vacant bishopries be filled as speedily as possible. The reply of the Ministers, while conciliatory in tone, firmly denied the right of the Nuncio to put forward his demand under the circumstances of the case. The Spanish castles of the Papal representative have thus been de- stroyed, and the question now is, in New York parlance, What is the Vatican going to de ahout it? NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1875--TRIPLE SHEET. Is There To Be a Break-Up of Politi- cal Parties? There are so many disrupting forees at work in both political parties, and especially in the democratic, that the drift of present tendencies is toward disintegration and reor- ganization, Whether this will take place before or after the Presidential election will depend on the events of the next two months ; but either during or soon after the great contest of 1876 a reorganization of par- ties seems inevitable, We have frequently depicted the internal dissensions and divi- | sions in the democratic party, and if the republican party wears a greater outside show of unity it is merely owing to the pre- ponderant influence of General Grant and | the cohesive force of federal patronage. This cohesive force will continue to operate for some time yet, and the general dissolu- tion and reconstruction, if they precede the Presidential election instead of following it, will start from ‘the irrepressible conflict” which has arisen in the democratic organiza- tion. There are many minor lines of cleay- age, but the great and destructive one is the irreconcilable difference between the hard money and rag money democrats, neither of whom will yield their ground if the inflationists carry Ohio and Pennsyl- vania, which seems probable, and if the anti-inflation democrats carry New York, which is next to certain. With this result of the approaching elections both wings of the democracy will make a resolute struggle to control the National Convention, and the defeated wing is likely to bolt, A grand split, like that which took place at Charleston in 1860, would not be as hazard- ous now as it was then, because the republican party, the common adversary, is declining, 4 whereas in 1860 it was thoroughly united and steadily rising in public favor. The conse- quence of running two democratic candidates see what other interpretation can be pus upon the following extract from its com- ments:—*‘‘As to the theory whieh is so much favored by our independent friends, that no unity is possible among the denjoerats of the | East and West, and that a new party will have to be formed, it will be time enough to discuss that after the present campaign is over.” This is as much as to say that unless the result of the fall elections (meaning a defeat of the inflationists) shall insure a hard money victory within the party lines, Governor Tilden’s supporters are ready to entertain the question whether it is not better to break up and dissolve the demo- eratic party and make themselves the leaders of a new political organization. This line of speculation on pending contingencies does no discredit to the political sagacity of the democratic organ. Governor Tilden, a shrewd and vigilant observer, is alveady meditating on the course he- will pursue if the inflationists should seem likely to get the upper hand in the National Democratic Convention, Certain it is that he willnever submit to their ascen- dancy. Unless he sees a reasonable probabil- ity of controlling the Convention he and his hard money supporters will break up the democratic organization and attempt to form a new party. The fact that his organs give out this intention at this early stage proves that they have little expectation of Governor Allen's defeat. They geem to have resolved that, if the inflationists capture the Demo- cratic National Convention, President Grant shall not be ‘‘the residuary legatee” of the inflationist folly. The common im- pression is, that if the inflationists get con- trol of the democratic party General Grant will be the inevitable candidate of the repub- licans on a hard money platform. If things take that turn Governor Tilden intends to eut him out by a brilliant feat of strategy. next year would be to throw the Presidential election into the House of Representatives. The recent election in California insures the democrats a majority of the States in the House, and as that body votes by States in the choice of a President they would elect one of the democratic candidates if there should not be a majority in the Electoral There is not much danger of a republican majority of the electoral votes if there should be a democratic split on the in- There is a large body of inflationist republicans in the States who would be more likely to vote for the democratic inflation candidate than for a republican hard money candidate, like Presi- dent Grant, if he should receive the republi- Colleges. flation question, can nomination. The ‘benevolent reader” must not con- sider this as mere vague speculation. We are prepared to give him proofs that a grand break-up and reconstruction of parties is contemplated as a political possibility (we are not yet warranted in saying probability) by the hard-money democrats. ‘The air is full” of this idea or ideas which lead logically to this result. Among the‘ multitude of proofs we will take the latest that has come tohand. The Brooklyn Eagle of last evening boldly denounces Allen and advises the hard-money democrats of Ohio to vote for Hayes, the republican candidate. The Brooklyn Eagle is the most prosperous, able, vigorous and influential democratic journal in the State outside of New York city. Its editor is an active, astute politician, in confi- dential intercourse with all the party leaders, including Governor Tilden. The proclaimed hostility of the Zagle to Governor Allen's in- flationist supporters, and its declared wish that the democratic party may be defeated in Ohio, are noteworthy signs of the times. In its last evening's issue there were two long editorial articles pressing this view. In its leading editorial it says:—‘‘At this very time the democracy are threatened with division and defeat when success seemed surely to wait upon them. A currency con- vertible into coin is the only democratic cur- rency. Paper money is not merely only un- democratic but it is the parent of other un- democratic heresies. On this issue those who stand by the old faith must welcome all who agree with them now, irrespective of past differences.” In another article the Hagle says:—‘‘A change of attitude on the part of Eastern democrats of principle toward al- leged Western democrats of manifest expe- diency has been imminent for months.” After going on through a long article of unrestrained denunciation the Ezgle closes by saying:—‘‘The democrats of Ohio, who desire their party alike to do well and to de- serve well, both now and for the future, ought not to vote for William Allen, and, as shirkers in war are helpers of the wrong, they should not merely not vote for him, but they should, vote for his opponent, General Hayes.” When prominent democratic journals advise the defeat of their own party things have come to a singular pass. The Brooklyn Eagle does not stand alone | among the organs of Governor Tilden, al- though it is bolder and more outspoken than the rest. The World yesterday also broke ground in the same direction, but in a more cautious temper. Notwithstanding its reserve | its meaning is transparent. It takes a round- about method of hinting what it does not yet dare assert—that Governor Tilden and his | supporters are prepared to disrupt the dem- | oeratic party unless it can be harmonized on | the New York platform. It copies a long | article from the Chicago Tribune, putting sev- | eral passages in italics to give them em- | phasis, and among the sentences which it makes prominent is the following :—‘‘The unanimity with which this act was done, and the defiant tone of the platform, leave no | doubt whatever that the democratic party in | New York is already prepared to form the | nucleus of a national hard money party in | 1876, should one be necessary, which will be made up without reference to past political combinations.” Why should Governor Tilden's most confidential organ give prominence and emphasis to the opinion ofa leading republican journal that “the democratic party of New York is al- | appears that Sperry, the agent, has been He will split the democratic organization and attempt to form a new party on a strong plat- form of hard money and reform. He doubt- less calculates that there are hundreds of thousands of republicans who will sooner vote for him as the head of a new party than for President Grant running for a third term. Instead of permitting General Grant to enjoy the advantages which would result from the triumph of rag money infatuation Governor Tilden will make a high bid for those advan- tages in aid of hisowncanvass. Considering that his chances as a democratic candidate will be annihilated if the inflationists are in the ascendant, he could do nothing so prom- ising as to precipitate a dissolution and re- construction of political parties, Should he succeed he will always be famous as the in- troducer of a new era in our politics. The time is ripe for a reorganization of political parties if there are men bold enough to attempt and sagacious enough to accom- plish it. Both of our existing parties have outlived the issues on which they were founded. Both are full of internal dissen- sions, The republican party is in as great danger of being cleft asunder by the third | term question as the democratic party is by | the inflation issue. It is high time for a re- organization which will enable citizens who think alike to act together. It will be fortu- nate for the country if the old carcasses can b@ buried and new parties formed on living issues. * A Model Indian Agent, We respectfully request Secretary Delano's attention to the statements of a Hxratp cor- respondent, in our journal of yesterday, con- cerning what they call at Washington ‘‘ir- regularities” at the Fort Berthold Indian Agency. The Indians at this agency are dis- satisfied, it seems, and they give as reasons for their dissatisfaction such matters as that the agent hires them to work, and then pays them with goods, which are already theirs ; that he charges them very high prices for this property of their own, as, for instance, when Black Wolf's wife wants sugar the agent sells her four pounds of her husband's sugar for adollar, when she ought not to pay more than ten cents a pound at a trader's store; that the agent swindles them in buying their hides, giving them but two dollars for hides worth twice the money; that he pays them in checks, and sometimes gives out a twenty- five cent check to an Indian who should re- The Calamity in Texas. It is possible that there may be some ex- aggeration in the reports which we receive from the Gulf of Mexico; but even making allowance for the terror of men who write with the waves tumbling through their streets, and their roof-trees falling over their heads, itis unfortunately too true that we are in the presence of a widespread, painful and terrible disaster. The appeal of the District Attorney is painful in its brevity and force:— “Weare destitute; the town is gone. One quarter of the people are gone. Dead bodies are strewn for twenty miles along the bay. Nine-tenths of the houses are destroyed. Send us help, for God's sake!" This is the ap- peal of one American citizen to the American people, and certainly there could be nothing more heartrending in its brevity and truth. Indianola is one of the oldest towns on the Gulf. It goes back to the Spanish occupa- tion, before the independence of the Repub- lic. It has been ashipping point between Mexico and the United States, and, although it has grown but little in the last few years, railroad communications and the ingress of commerce gave to it a bright future. But now it is a thing of the past. Its people are homeless; lighthouses, wharves, business houses, dwellings, have been swept away; fences and trees are piled up in broken masses, and rails are washed from their bed. Only five houses are left stand- ing, and the people are suffering for food and clothing. Thus far the reports show that from a hundred to one hundred and fifty lives have been lost. Our first duty in considering this appall- ing disaster is to remember that there aro fellow citizens who need our immediate aid. We of the North should be especially prompt in assisting the suffering in Indianola and Galveston and elsewhere. It is one of the few opportunities that have been vouchsafed to us since the war to do a brotherly act to brethren in distress. It was only the other day that we were doing what we could to alleviate the terrible calamity that had fallen upon the people of France, Now the same appeal comes from our own citizens on the Gulf. New York should send promptly to these people supplies in the way of clothing and food, or money that will buy supplies in New Or- leans and elsewhere, so that they may be speedily helped. It is only necessary for our people to know the extent of any calamity of this kind for them to make a prompt and full response. In the presence of a visitation like this—a visitation of God, a manifesta- tion of His extreme and irresistible power, when lives are lost and towns are swept away, when the uttermost effort of man’s knowledge only shows that we are as reeds before the wind in the presence of His awful and inscrutable power—there can be but one thought, and that is of assistance to those in trouble. And this should be given not as a duty, but asa pleasure. Duties of this kind are pleasures. They show that whatever we may be in politics or in sectional feeling we are one in the bonds of humanity and kind- ness. The Massachusetts Democratic Con- vention. This respectable body transacted its busi- ness at Worcester yesterday with easy promptitude and results which ought to be satisfactory to its constituents. It was a matter of course that it should renominate Governor Gaston by acclamation. ‘I'he un- expected triumph won in his election last year, in a State which is the citadel of the republican party, was a brilliant testimony to his great personal worth, and he has so borne himself in office as to justify and in- crease the confidence of his fellow citizens. Whether in office or out of office nobody in Massachusetts has ever spoken of him but in terms of respect and commendation, and if his re-election depended on _ personal qualities alone the result could not be doubtful. But until last year the democrats of Massachusetts were so insignificant and hopeless a minority that it is doubtful whe- ther their accidental success can be repeated, If a democratic Governor should be elected a second time in that ancient stronghold of the republican party it would be one of the ceive two dollars, and who cannot read; that he keeps an uncommonly profitable boarding house and supplies it out of the stores belonging to the Indians ; that their cattle last winter starved to death because the agent's brother bought hay which had cottonwood piled up in the middle of the stack; that when an Indian chops wood he has to take his pay in checks on the Indian trader, who sells goods ata hundred per cent profit, and who, they say, is a partner of the agent ; that when he sells a cord to an Indian this unfortunate finds it afterward charged on the books as having been ‘‘issued” to his wife; that the agent speculates in the cord wood cut from the reservation by the Indians ; that the agent's brother speculates in the potatoes raised by the Indians, selling them on his own account to the steamboats ; that the servants at the agency are made to sign blank vouchers for their earnings, and so on. Mr. Delano will find the letter extremely interesting, especially a passage in which it boasting that he is sure to retain the agency, at least while General Grant remains Presi- dent. He meant, perhaps, as long as Mr. Delano remains Secretary of the Interior. We trust the Secretary will not overlook this Fort Berthold agency. It will take a good deal of whitewash to cover up the rotten matters there, and he should set some one at | work soon, Tue Tourxwn Srivrrer.—The cable de- spatches this morning hint at “insurgent vic- tories” and tell us that ‘‘Trebigne is again | surrounded.” At the same time we are told | that the result of the efforts of the Consular | Commission is not yet known, and that the | report of its failure has been premature. It | is also announced that the Sultan and his Ministers are fully convinced that certain | most significant signs of the times. The ticket is strengthened by the nomination of General Fairchild, of Western Massachusetts, as the candidate for Lieutenant Governor. Gen- eral Fairchild is a popular and much es- teemed liberal republican, and will add to the popularity of the ticket outside the dem- ocratic ranks. The platform is skilfully drawn. Its se- lection of topics throws light on the political feeling of the State. Its strong indorsement of the amendments to the federal constitu- tion adopted at the close of the war and its reprobation of secession indicate that the progress of public sentiment in Massachu- setts has not been as rapid as in some other States. In most of the States these are dead questions, and the fact that the Massachu- setts democrats think it necessary to shield themselves from imputations in relation to them shows that old prejudices linger there after their extinguishment in other parts of the country. Some local questions are skil- fally touched in the platform, like liquor prohibition, and especially the labor question. The labor question is one of great interest im Massachusetts, The weavers who are on strike at Fall River have hosts of sympathizers in all the large towns of that leading manufactur- ing State. We suppose the Republican Con- vention will also put in a bid for their votes, but as the hard times are chargeable to the republican party the democrats will prob- ably reap most advantage from the discon- tent of the laboring classes, On the great national issue of inflation the Massachusetts democrats are sound and rightand in perfect harmony with the de- moeracy of New York. If they re-elect Gover- nor Gaston it will be by the aid of thousands | of republican citizens, and their success will contribute to a reorganization of political ready prepared to form the nucleus of a concessions are necessary, and that the old | parties if the New York democrats, led by national hard money party in 1876, which will be made up without reference to past political combinations?” The leading dem- state of things in Bosnia and Herzegovina | must thoroughly changed. The reforms | indi lin the Consular reports will, there- Governor Tilden, should undertake this task. Tax Maryann Rerupiicans.—Tho repub- ocratic organ seems anxious todisseminate | fore, it is said, be carried out by the Porte | licans of Maryland have united with the this idea. The World, in its editorial col- | umns, greets this opinion with friendly hos- | seem to imply that the Sultan is somewhat | nation of a State ticket and the adoption of a | under any circumstances, all of which would | “organized friends of reform” in the nomi- pitality, and concedes that it will be | alarmed, at the condition of affairs, and that | platform. Their candidates are men of char- | worth considering if the inflation democrats | the “bears” in Turkish securities can score a | acter and capacity, but they stand little win in Ohio and Pennsylvania. We do not | point in their favor. favor of speedy resumption and against any | The Use of Naxrow Gauge Ratlroade expansion of the currency. As a matter of course it strongly favors reform and denounces the corruptions and in- iquities of the present State administration, which is in the hands of the democracy. It is lamentable to contemplate the depraved condition of all our State governments as viewed from the standpoint of the ‘‘outs.” The Topography of the Texan Coast and the Cyclone. When reviewing the long list of disasters attending the recent storm on the coast of Texas we are struck by the awful suddenness of the catastrophe and the peculiar character of the visitation, The records of storms in the Gulf of Mexico show that since 1830 nothing like that of September 19 has been experienced on the Texan coast within the memory of the oldest residents on that sec- tion of our coast. Few storms have reached as far west, the usual point of turning north- ward and northeastward being about the ninetieth meridian of west longitude. How- ever, a study of the coast line of Texas fur- nishes unmistakable evidences of the prev- alence of violent seas, created, without doubt, by the passage of great storms to the east- ward, A branch of the signal service system is devoted to the observation of waves break- ing on the seashore, and when these are found to have attained more than ordinary size and force they are accepted as proof of the approach of a storm or the passage of a centre of disturbance to seaward of the point of observation, The effect of the action of waves breaking against a low, sandy coast, is to wash up sandbars parallel to the shore line, and these accumulations grow in proportion to the frequency and force of the waves and in the direction of the prevailing winds. An illustration of this fact is to be found on the southern coast of Long Island, along which sandbars have been formed ex- tending from New York Bay to Montauk Point. The coast of Texas, like that of the Middle Atlantic States, is broken up into numerous lagunes or bays, inclosed by those natural dykes of sand, and an internal sys- tem of intercommunication is maintained between points along the mainland through the sheltered channels of these inclosed wa- ters. For the convenience of this traffic and the facilities afforded for the shipping trad- ing with the coast cities have been built on the inland margins of the lagunes, as in the case of Indianola, and sometimes on the sandbar or island itself, as at Galveston. The basins formed by the inclosing sand- bars are usually shallow, the outlets being kept deep by the diurnal scour caused by the ebb and flow of the tides through the narrow passes. The capacity of these outlets for the drainage of the lagunes being limited by the operation of natural causes to the actual reqffirements of the particular area drained, any extraordinary accumulation of water in the basin cannot escape in time to prepare for the reception of the incoming tide wave, and an overflow on the land re- sults as a natural consequence. Now, the region visited by the cyclone had a series of extensive ‘basins inclosed by sand islands lying along the entire coast, and when the terrible energy of the storm forced the waters of the Gulf through the passes and over the sandbars themselves—for their crests were elevated only a few feet over the sea leyel— the waters that could not escape were poured over the adjoining flat country, inundating it toa depth of many feet. We have shown that from the actual direction of the storm centre the apex of its parabolic course was between Indianola and Galveston, and that consequently its forward movement was slower at this stage of its progress than at any other and the local duration of the storm longer. Cities built on sandbars on the Texas coast are as certain of ultimate injury, if not destruction, by storms such as that which has devastated Indianola and Galves- ton, as a tall tower built in a district subject to earthquakes. They may escape for half a century, but their fate is inevitable. Tue Pvpric Scxoors.—School Commis- sioner Wood desetves credit for his cham- pionship of the cause of the female teachers inthe public schools at the meeting of the Board of Education yesterday. The salaries of the female teachers have been reduced about three hundred dollars a year and their labor increased. In the primary schools there are fifty scholars to each teacher, while in the grammar schools the ratio is only thirty-five. Althongh his resolution to in- crease the number of female teachers in the primary schools was defeated, it is to be hoped that the Commissioner will persevere in his effort to obtain justice for these valu- able and inadequately remunerated employés of the city. There is no reasén why the female teachers should not be paid as much salary as the males. The Board expressed in plain terms its condemnation of the factious course of the Comptroller in relation to the school appropriations. Mr, Green, it is charged, neglects, in the teeth of a Supreme Court decision, to hand over to the School Department its unexpended balances, and obstructs the payment of claims audited and allowed by the Board. But this is only con- sistent with the Comptroller's policy toward all the public departments. Tum Arun Lapprr Jop.—The inquiry into the aerial ladder calamity was continued yesterday. Mrs. Scott-Uda testified that she sold the right to nse the ladder to the New York Fire Department for twénty-five thou- sand dollars, and pending a suit to recover this amount she sold out her interest in the patent and the claim to the chief clerk of the department for fifteen thousand dollars. Fortunately for the chief clerk the Comptroller paid the claim very shortly after this pur- chase. ‘The clerk testifies that he paid the fifteen thousand dollars to Mrs. Scott-Uda with his own money. The transaction ap- which cost three firemen their lives, Tux O'ScreaMER on THE Wanpatra.—The lovers of polite literature will be gratified by the perusal of the address of the O’Creamer | last night on the virtues and saccomplish- ments of the O'Kelly. If the proceedings of the anti nanyites are to be accepted as a specimen of the sort of entertainments with which we are to be fayored during the fall campaign, Donnybrook Fair will be a Quaker meeting to the political gatherings of the | chance of success, The platform declares in | next six weeks. They begin to talk of railroads down iz Mexico, and the Mexicans see the importance of building a line to connect with our rail road system to give them access with thei products to our, markets as well as enable them to obtain ours more cheaply. At the same time the value of narrow gauge roads begins; once more to be disenssed. | It ia doubtful if the narrow gauge is suitable for a trunk line which has reasonable expecta- tions of a great and constant traffic; though there are not wanting experienced railroad men who assert that a three-foot gauge is the best for all railroads. However that may be, there is no doubt that for branch lines for railroads in sparsely settled districts and for mountainous countries the narrow gauge is the best. But the truth is that we do not yet know all about the use and the economy of the iron track. It is a tremendous machine, which we have begun to use in a crude and, as will by and by be discovered, a costly way. The economy of even the most costly rail road over such common roads as this country has, or, indeed, over any common road, is so great that we have hastened to extend the crude system, without stopping to consider how the greatest economy might be effected, For a long time it was thought that a six-foot gauge was preferable to a four-foot-eight; and when the Pacific Railroad was planned there was a vigorous attempt to make that a six-foot gauge. Now, however, the Erie company will, as soon as they can borrow money to do it, narrow their gauge because they cannot compete with their rivals on other terms. It is not probable that any important ling in the country will be altered to a narrowey than the present ruling gauge; butitis very likely that hereafter branch lines will ba built on a three-foot or even a two-foot-and-a« half gauge, and if this system is once beguy many localities may gain the great con« venience and advantage of a railroad con« nection which are now without; for oa nar< row gauge road, with light iron, not in« tended for high speed, may be run as com mon roads are, up and down hill, at a saving of great sums in cuttings and other engineer« ing extravagances. The common desire ta go at top speed has done much to hinder tha extension of narrow gauge and economical iron tracks. Canryrxa War Inro Arnica.—The prow ceedings of the Insurance Convention, now’ in session in this city, were enlivened yester« day by the introduction ofa resolution by q gentleman from Indiana declaring that therq is a necessity for legislation for the protection of life policy-holders. The resolution wa followed up by an address in which the ina surance companies were somewhat roughly, handled and were described as making suc, a bargain with insurers as the trader ene deayored to make with the Indian, Money invested in lottery tickets, the speaker, claimed, has made returns more frequentlyi than has money invested in life insurance policies. Such doctrine must have sounded strangely in the ears of insurance commise sioners, superintendents and agents ; neverq theless, the speaker was patiently heard and his resolutions quietly quashed. Life insur< ance should be encouraged in the public in« terests, for it no doubt checks pauperisny and saves much suffering. But the best way: to encourage it is to provide efficient protecw tion to the insured; hence the remarks of the gentleman from Indiana are worthy of consideration. Tue Orn Ory.—The Roman Catholiq bishops assembled at Maynooth mada themselves unhappy over the educational system of the State, and declared that it ig perilous to liberty. They desire to retain the power of educating the people, as far aq they are willing that they should be edu« cated, in the hands of Catholic professors, The popular belief is that education is tha best promoter and the surest safeguard of liberty, and the bishops at Maynooth ought to be sufficiently enlightened to recogniza that fact. Tur Lienats ‘1x Councrt.—That impor« tant body, the Liberal Republican Conven- tion, which has been amusing itself for a couple of days at Albany, has resolved to let its ‘‘party” do as it pleases in regard to tha rival tickets in the approaching State elec« tion. It has indorsed Governor Tilden, however, and the democratic platform. Na doubt the Governor and the platform will ba gratified, however indifferent the tickets may be as to the action of the ‘‘party.” PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE, Senator Henry Cooper, of Tennessee, is staying at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, Professor 0, C. Marsh, of Yale College, has arrived at the Hoffman House. Congressman P. M. B, Young, of Georgia, is stopping at the Glenham Hotel. Rev. Dr. Walsh, of Troy, is among the late arrival@ at the Albemarle Hotel. Professor Francis A. Walker, of New Haven, is ro- siding temporarily at the Gilsey House. Mr. Stephen B. Elkins, Delegate to Congress froma New Mexico, is at the Nicholas Hotel. Senator Ambrose E. Buruside, of Rhode Island, are rived last evening at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, Lieutenant Commander H. ©. White, United Stateg Navy, has quarters ab the Union Square Hotel, Baron de Sant’ Anna, Portuguese Minister at Wash ington, has apartments at the Westminster Hotel. Colonel Thomas ©. Baylor and Colonel T. J, Treadwell, United States Army, are at the Metropolitan Hotel, Prince Gortschakoff was to leave Interlaken on the 15th to pass several days with M. Thiers at Ouchy, They fancy in Europe that we came near building barricades in this city in the row over the two Hamlets, Captain John Mirehouse, of the steamship City of Montreal, has taken up his residence at the New York Hotel, General Eli 8. Parker, of Connecticut, formorly Com. missioner of Indian Affairs, 18 sojourning at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. , Paris papers report that ono of the brothers -May, Communists in Paris and this city, has been killed in Herzegovina, Lord Houghton and his son, Hon. Robert Milnes, of | England, arrived at the Brevoort House last evening pears on its face to be as rotten as the ladder | from Philadelphia. Lieutenant Colonel Barton S. Alexander, of the Engl. noer corps, United States Army, is quartered at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Ho for the runners! There is good sleighing in the neighborhood of Montreal, and snow is reported to bo two fect deep on the Malboie road, Roederer said “a constitution should be short,” and he would have a “clear,”’ bat Talleyrand inter: rupted und said, § hort and obscure.” President and Mts. Grant, Colonel Fred Grant and wife and General Babeock left Long Branch yesterday, on aepecial train, at 3:15 P. M., for tho West, An Emperor respectfully asking a Parliament to give him vacation for eighteen months, as just seen ip Brazil, is pre-ominently @ nineteenth century svectaaia