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14 THE COTTON MILLS. What the Rhode Island Sav- ings Banks Show. HOW ABUSES ARE POSSIBLE. Some General Conclusions in Re- latiun to the Matter. Provipencs, Oct. 12, 1875. During the recent Fall River strike the management of the mulowners of Rhode Island became a subject of controversy, andsome harsh accusations were made against them of tyrannical conduct towards their oper- atives, That amon the owners and managers of cotton mills, there should be found men of a mean and tyrannical, and, perhaps, even a cruel disposition, 1s not improbable. The manager of a large factory has, necessarily, great power over the working people, and wherever mev have great power they are likely to abuse it if they dare, Whether such abuses aro more common in Rhode Island than elsowbere I am Bot capable of deciding, for to do so I should have first to make an investigation, which would require many Months. Those, however, who assert that the operatives of Rhode Island are ‘no better than slaves,” seem to me to accuse, not so Much the millowners as the Vhemselves. No man isasiave who has the right of migration secured to him, unless he lacks the spirit of a map, the courage and endurance which all of us need | ‘tn the struggle of life. The Fall River striker who re- fuses other work and remains in Fall River consuming bis savings is an unreasonable creature, but he is nota slave. If he chooses to be improvident, and if bis im- providence brings him to want, and if want thus brought on compels him by and by to accept distaste- ful terms, proposed to him by his former employers, !t seems to me he is in fault, but he is by no means a | slave. In the same way, ifanywhere in Rhode Island or elsewhere in New England the factory operative is uncomfortable and submits to permanent discomfort or wrong, he has himself to blame. He cannot be called “a slave,” for he has the right to go elsewhere and do something else, It may be difficult foryhim to do this at the precise mo- ment when he becomes dissatisfied; but in this his case is no worse than that of millions of his fellow citizeus, who, if they are sensible people, toil and economize ‘until they have saved enough to enable them to mir grate or change their employment, and until they see an opportunity to do so. ‘THE RNODE ISLAND COTTON MILLS. In general the operative in a cotton mill in Rhode Island has what seems to me one advantage; the mill- owner is usually accessible to him; he can reach him with complaints and remonstrances. He serve astock company, but individuals, who, in the | majority of cases, live near the mill, and exercise more or less oversight over its | “management, It is the custom, to@m here as elsewhere in New England, for the millowners | to build upon their own property houses for the occu pation of the operatives, which are let to these at what is acknowledged to be a low rental. In the newer estab- lishments these houses are usually very comfortable and much better than could be obtained elsewhere at the same rental In some of the older establishments the houses are not as good; but the tendency is to build better. The Fall River Labor Journal complains that at some mills the regulations made for the conduct of the oper- tives who occupy such houses are arbitrary and op- pressive. imagine a whimsical manager or superintendent, with SB propensity to interfere in men’s lives, exercising his suthority in an unpleasant way; but {f he should push his regulations too far, he would run the risk of losing his laboring force; and ho will not do this, because the pecuniary loss which results from a ‘disorganization of the force’’ ts too great to | be borne. The security of the operatives lies just there, It requires months of care and expense to thoroughly organize the force in a mill, to make all work harmoni- ously together, to weed out the incapables and get the right person in the right place. When this work is once done, it is nothing less than a calamity for a force 80 trained to be broken up, and a millowner will rather work at a loss, as miany all over New England are now doing, than to stop bis works and thus lose the people he bas trained. That, nevertheless, tho mill owner has great power over his operatives ig undeniable. Here is an instance which shows it, Last winter smallpox broke out in one of the Rhode Island manufacturing villages. It was at a time of the year when the opera tives, mostly French Canadians and a merry People, are accustomed to visit from village to village, having dancing parties and other frolics. The physician who was called in decided that it was absolutely neces- Sary to isolate the village in question, and to vaccinate all the people, The millowners made known the neces- sity to the operatives, and threatened to summarily dis- cbarge and eject from their houses every one who evaded vaccination or who transgressed the temporary quarantine. The result was that the disease was checked at once, and, if remembef rightly, but one ™man was taken with smallpox after the order was given, and he was discovered to have evaded vaccina- tion. Of course, while in this case the authority exer- cised was for the good of the people, I agree that it might also be used for bad purposes, But if it were, it ‘Would be resented, and the people would in time re- move, Therein lies, I think, their sufficient security. THE SAVINGS BANKS, In one respect, I think an abuse is possible, and has 4m two notable cases happened. It is more or less the case that the millowners are also the controlling mana- gers of savings banks in the State, Where this is tho case, their mismanagement as millowners may lead them to borrow the savings banks’ funds to help them Out of straits, and it may happen that the fuilure of a mill may involve thefailure also of a savings bank, and the loss of their savings to the operatives. Two of the savings banks of Rhode {sland are now winding up their affairs. They were involved in the Sprague failure, ‘and im just this way. The money inthe banks was borrowed, I am told, to help the £ and the end is aJoss which ought to have been ay Of course the témptation to borrow the funds of a bank which is thus controlled is very great, aud the ovil is not necessarily seen by the depositors in time to be averted, Iao not know what the law-making power can do to prevent such a connection ; but those who undertake to advise laborers aa to their interests should certainly warn them not to invest their savings in a bank which is controlled by their employers. FIGURES FROM THE CENSUS OF 1875, The census of Rhode Island has just been completed, and fortunately under the supervision of an ancom- monly intelligent statesman, Dr. Snow, of Providence, Some facts and figures which I have taken from the as yet unpublished tables tell the general condition of Rhode Island in an instructive and, to mo, ox- tremely interesting way. For imstance—With a Population of 258,239 souls Rhode Isiand hag, in this year of hard times, only 480 paapers, an increase of 36 over the year 1873, Plo, has but 95 paupers; Woonsocket, with 13,576 per ple, bas but 8; Pawtucket, with 18,464, has bat 6; Lin- colo, with 11,565, bas but 6; Cumberland, with 11,614, has only 7. Burriliviile, a seat of the greatly depressed Woollen manufacture, with 6,249 people, bas 9 paapers; ‘Westerly, with 6,408 people, has but 1. The State contaius 55,245 femilies and 38,875 dweil- ing houses, of which only 1,963, many of them farm houses, stood empty when the census was taken, You Will notice that for the whole State the ave rie rage 1s less than one family anda half to the dwelling. In Provi- dence tho average is higher, but still only 1.62.100 to the dwelling. This shows s fair degree of comfort Bmong the population of the State. The returns of the Sayings banks confirm |t and surprised me. THE SAVINGS BANKS DEPOSITS. In December, 1872, the total amount of deposits in thirty-six savings banks was $42,683, 638; an increase during the year of $6,293,000, There were at that time 68,004 depositors, of whom 11,670 had over $1,000 each, leaving 76,004 depositors of less than $1,000 each. In December, 1873, thirty-seven savings banks had $46,617,183 deposits and 93,124 depositors, of whom 13,106 had over $1,000, and 14,668 over $500 and under $1,000. In round numbers the depositors of amounts ‘ander $1,000 had increased during the year by 8,000, Gnd there were 64 264 depositors of lass than £500, The operatives | does not | Possibly this is true in somo cases; I can | Providence, with over 100,000 peo- | NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1875—QUADRUPLE SHEET, | increase in deposits im this year—1872-3—was only $4,033,614 This was a year of hard times, but the in- crease Was still handsomely above the mere addition of ix per cent interest to the ainount of the previous year. In December, 1874, the total deposits were $48,771,501, and the depositors 98,359, of whom 13,521 had over 1,000; 14,884 over $500 and under $1,000, and 69,954 depositors had less | than $500 each. That is to say, during the year 1874 | the depositors of over $1,000 had slightly increased by 415—namely, the depositers of between $500 and $1,000 had aiso slightly imereased by 231, and the de- positors having less than $500, the greater number of whom are probably mechanics, laborers and servants, hud increased by 4,691. In this last year the saving! banks deposits of the State amounted to an average of over $495 to each depositor and to over $185 per head of the total population of the State 1am aware that such figures as these from the sav- ings bauks returns have but an indefinite value, but put together with the small pauper population and the absence of strikes, of which there have been none, or almost none, during the year, and the gon Siderable increase of depositurs of less than $500 each, it looks as though there could be but little absolute want and suffering in the State. Most of the mills, in fact, are at work, and the factory population, which consists largely of French Canadians and Irish, is earning | wages, and at rates of pay which enable at least the un married to lay by money if they wish to. Many of the mills keep stores, and (n running over hastily @ number of “pay envelopes” which | found in a manufacturer's counting room I noticed that nota few of the opera- | tives trade out the greater part of their pay. Iam told | that they are not generally provident; and this is prob- | bly true of the factory population everywhere. In some of the towns there are co-operative stores, + and here and there one hears of “sovereigns of indus- | try,’? societies whose object ts to buy at wholesale, through an approved agent, and thus save the profit of the middleman, I am told they flourish and are suc- cessful. bi The necessary expenses of an eperative consist of course of three elements-—shelter, tood and clothing. | | Under the factory house system in Rhode Island and Massachusetts house rent is usually no higher now than before the war, where the house is owned by the com- pany- The owners purposely keep down rents, Houses off the mill lands—as at Fall River—cost more, | because they come under the general law of competi- | tion, Food is, except in the article of meat, nearly as cheap now as before the war, Clothing is cheaper just now. Iam told that the relation of prices to wages | enables unmarried women to lay by more now than be- | fore the war; but families do not do quite as well, there being still a difference against them in the cost of food. It was remarked to me by several persons that the {ac- | tory population had—in common with the rest of the country—got into the habit of spending more money during the war, when everything was inflated, and that they were but slowly and reluctantly returning to the old economies, which is but natural, The trades unions do not make much headway in Rhode Island, and this, they say, is mainly because there are but fow | English among the operatives. The greater part of | them are French Canadians and Irish. THE FUTURE PROMISING, | The conclusion which I come to after an attentive though necessarily brief survey of the cotton industry | is that tthas an extremely promising future, which | Will be realized a# soon as general industry revives. | That the mill owners are somewhat too apt to complain | of high wages, when they would do better to ener- | getically seek a wider market and uso skill and enter- | | prise in trying to adapt their goods to 4 foreign | | demand. That when trade ig very dull, as it is just | mow, it is not @ good time for operatives to strike, That as soon as industry and trade revive factory wages are likely to rise, because there is not, I believe, an actual surplus of operatives if al! the mills were working full ume. That | a lively demand for cotton goods would at once develop | @ scarcity of at least some kinds of operatives, and | henee a natural and inevitable rise in their wages. And | nally, that we aro still in this industry in this country | at the point where wages will rise or fall not by the | arbitrary intervention or motion of either mill owners | or operatives, but by the natural and sufficiently quick | operation of the law of supply and demand. The mill owners could better afford to pay higher wages if they | had a full demand for their product than they | can afford to pay the present rates at the present | time of depression. They cannot afford at any time | | to oppress their operatives, because these would leave | | them. They can better afford to work without profit | than to stop, because if they stop their machinery | deteriorates, a great part of their expenses continues, | and they disorgauize and lose their trained laboring | force. If those propositions are correct, as I believe they are, there does not exist in the relations between | the mill owners and their operatives in this country | such a condition of unlimited power on the one side | and dependence on the other as would imperil the rights of the operatives or enable their employers to oppress them without risking losses of a kind which they could not afford. CHARLES NORDHOFF. THE WHITECHAPEL MYSTERY. A NEW PHASE OF THE STRANGE TRAGEDY— WAINWRIGHT'S BROTHER ARRESTED ON A CHARGE OF (CITY IN THE MURDER— ANTECEDENTS OF THE MAN. (From the London Standard, Oct, 5.] ‘The arrest of Thomas George Wainwright as an ac- complice of his brother in the murder at Whitechapel has given riso to speculations as to what new phase this tragedy may next assume, Although nothing war- | Tanting any decisive action on the part of the polico appeared until recently, yet almost from the discovery | of the barbarous crime the police entertained suspicions | | with regard to this man, It is stated that the most | | conclusive evidence will be brought against him as to | | the writing of the letter signed “kK. Frieake.” It is on | | this ground, and also for personating Mr. Frieake, that | the accused’ was apprehended. Very little stress is laid upon the purchase of the chopper and spade. | | ‘The antecedents of Thomas Georgo Wainwright aro | rather dissimilar from those of his brother Henry in at | least one respect. Henry lited with his wife until the | day of his apprehension, while Thomas, who is six years younger, deserted his wife and children that he | Might cohabit with another female, This brother was married about nine years ago, and shortly before that | time he inherited a fortune of about £2,000, as did also | his brothers Henry and William. He then embarked in business as a furnishing ironmonger in | Westminster and everything went on prosperously for a while. Soon after the birth of his frst child his trade failed to such an extent that ho had to give it up, and for atime he lived what may be termed a quiet life. ihon he again went into business, with the assistance of bis mother, in the Mile-end road: but, | like his previous uudertaking, this ‘also failed, Subse- quently he became managet of various firms, some- times travelling on commission, even occasionally act- ing in this capacity for his brother Henry. During all this time he was not inattentive to his wife and chil- dren, The ultimate «phere of his Jabors was in a firm in Oxford street, where he occupied the position of man- ager. About’ two years ago he discarded his wife, who seems a most amiable young woman, leaving three little children entirely dependent on het for sup- | port. At infrequent intervals he sent her a small sum | of money to assist her, but no amount at all adequate to support his family. For the first six months alter his desertion, she heard nothing of him until one day | she accidentally met him witha female, She stopped him, and he, after making some excuse, promised to communicate with her. A few © alterward this same female called on Mrs, Wainwright, and representing herself as tho daughter of Lis employer, wished partic- ularly to know whether Wainwright was @ mar- ried man, as he had told her he was single, This for the time deceived the wife, but she @ub- | sequently ascertained the truth as to their relationship, Previous to discovering this the female called again, ropresented herself as an actress and stated she would send ‘the man home to his wife at once,” but nothing more was heard of him until a short time since, when he was found living in awell-furnished house at Ful- | ham, Mrs, Wainwright was somewhat surprised that | ber husband was allowed to escape with the sum of £1 10s. in his possession, while she had to depend for ber support upon a source to which she was reluctant to apply. Te nay both prisoners will be placed in the dock before the magiwtrate at Southwark Police Court to answer the severa! charges brought against them. PHILADELPHIA Gomace, [From the Boston Sunday Herald.) | The silver bullion which is now being received at the | Philadelphia mimt for parting is mainly from the Con- | solidated Virginia mine in Nevada, and contains forty | per cent of gold, fifty per cent of silver and ten per cont | of base metal, The bullion i# known asthe doro, or silver containing gold, The mint fs supplied with bul-. lion as rapidly as is required for coinage purposes, In | Addition, the Assay Office in New York supplies the | Mint with One silver sufficient to insure a coinage of $1,000,000 por month in subsidiary silver coin. The | Standard fineness of the coin is made of 900 parts of | Pure silver and 100 parts of pure copper alloy. Pho law | Of 1873 has somewhat increased the weight of the sub- idiary coin, #0 that the coing at present issued are trifle heavier than the coin issued prior to Ast of April, 1874 and are made to | upon to | nial authority or government, in weight with the French coin, At sidiary coins issued are the half dollar, quarter dollar, twenty-cent piece and dime, The half dollar weighs 192.9 grains, This piece formerly by pa 192 rains. The quarter dollar now weighs 96. rains: it formerly weighed 96 graing, The new twenty cent piece weighs 77.16 grain, and the dime weighs 28.58 grains; the latter formerly weighed 38.04 grains. These are the only silver coins authorized ex- cepting the trade dollar, which is a commercial piece, and weighs 420 grains.’ Since January 1, ‘last, there has been issued from the mint in Philadelphia between 4,000,000 and $5,000,000 im subsidiary silver coin, the coin has been’ transferred to the Assistant Treag- urer at Boston, where it will remain until such time Se the sub- | as tho Secretary of the Treasury sees fit to commence the work of redemption, It is stated by the chief coiner, Colonel Snowden, that if the mint was worked | to its ‘fullest capacity it would turn ont $50,000 in mall silver coin per diem, During last month the mints at San Francisco and Carson coined over 1,000,000 pleces of the twenty-cent coin, » PIAIVE , 7 THE FUGITIVE SLAVE QUESTION, PRIME ests THE ENGLISH PEOPLE CONDEMN THE ACTION OF THE ADMIRALTY—NUMEROUS MEETINGS AND INDIGNANT PROTESTS, {From the London Daily News, October 7.] Last night a crowded meeting was held in the school room attached to the Borough road chapel, Southwark, to protest against the Admiralty. instructions respecting the reception oh board Her Majesty’s ships of slaves, Mr. Andrew Dunn, late candidate for the borough of Southwark, took the chair. The Rev. G. W. McCree, in moving the first resolution, showed how utterly op- posed to all the best feglings of Englishmen were the Admiralty “instructions,” and said that it only needed the great and potent voice of the English people to be heard to have those ‘‘instructions” revoked. He moved “that this meeting, having heard and read the instruc- tions recently issued by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty in reference to fugitive slaves, hereby protests against them as contrary to existing British law; a8 inhuman {n relation to captives and slaves seek- ing to eseape from the hateful oppression and horrible cruelties of bondage, and as incompatible with the be- nign and protective principles of the Christian faith, and earnestly urges their immediate withdrawal.” The resolution was carried amid loud cheers, and then Mr. Prebble moved, and Mr. Chapman seconded, that the foregoing resolution be forwarded to the Lords Comm!s- siouers of the Admiralty, Mr, Prebble said if there was one thing above another which Englishmen should prize it was the honor of their flag at sea, Could it be hon- ored, or was it worth honoring, if a poor fugitive-black did not find refuge under it? The resolytion was carried, and a vote of thanks to the chairman closed an enthusi+ astic indotin 2 Last evening a meeting was held isthe boys’ school room, Clapton Park, under the presidency of the Rev. Jabez M’Railton, for “the purpose of offering a public protest against the order of the Admiralty and of con- ferring together as to the speediest possible mode of obtaining its earligst revocation.”» Tho room was well filled, and on the platform were several ministers of various denominations, with a number of well known residents. The Chairman said if the order lately issued by the Board of Admiralty were allowed to become law the millions of money expended and the thousands of lives sacrificed by Great Britain in carry- ing out her slave emancipation policy were simply 80 much blood and treasure cast into the ocean, As a young man, and up to within the last few years, he had spent his life on the coasts of Africa, and he could solemnly assure them that if it once got wind among the native traders that slaves could be claimed from under the British flag, then would caravan upen caravan be fitted out, fresh impetus would be given to what has now become a dying trade, the exports of ore and other merchandise would practically cease, and the labors of Brougham, Buxton, Clarkson, and a host of others who had spent their time and wealth in fighting one of the severest and noblest social battles the world ever knew would be literally thrown away. Should all else fail, the Queen, who had ever shown herself foremost’ in deeds of charity, must be ap- pealed to. 4 BREACH OP THE LAWS OF GOD AND MAN, He concluded by moving “That this meeting views with feelings akin to dismay the order lately issued by the Board of Admiralty relative to the giving up of fugitive slaves, and this meeting is further of unani- mous opinion ‘that such an order, if put into force, would be unconstitutional to a and alike a breach of the laws of God and man.”? The regolution was seconded by Mr. Mildred, supported by several other gentlemen, and carried with cheers. Mr. Bevan proposed and Mr, Turner seconded a motion “that a temporary committee be formed to act with other local committees in carrying out the objects of this meeting, and that the present chairman act as president.” A number of names of local committee men having been given in, the meeting adjourned with the usual vote of thanks. ‘A public meeting was held last evening at the Good ‘Templars’ Hall, Battersea, for the purpose of organizing a demonstration to protest against the Admiralty order in reference to fugitive slaves. Mr. W. Ward, who waa in the chair, in opening the proceedings said that the publication of the Admiralty order had excited univer- sal indignation. No one but a Minister out of bis senses could have issued instructions which were a gross viola- tion of all the principles of the British constitution. If Parliament bad been sitting he had not the elightest doubt that the instructions would not have remained in force for one day. (Cheers.) He understood that the British Anti-Slavery Society had taken the matter up, and that they would not rest until the order was res- cinded, (‘Hear, hear’’’?) Onthe motion of Mr. . Hardacre, seconded by Mr. Emerson and supported by Messrs, W. Bull, J. A. Giles and ©. F. Billington, a res- olution was adopted condemning the Admiralty order, and pledging the people of Battersea to co-operate in the forthcoming demonstration. A deputation was also appointed to walt upon the British Anti-Slavery... Society and solicit their assistance in making the meeting a success, IN MANCHESTER, [From the Manchester Examiner, Oct. 7.} The Mayor of Manchester (Alderman King) has re_ ceived a requisition, bearing 196 signatures of Manches- ter citizens, calling upon him to convene a town’s meeting ‘forthe purpose of considering the circular recently issued by the Admiralty to the commanders of Her Majesty’s ships ordering the restoration to slavery of fugitives taking refuge upon their yessels;” and in compliance the Mayor hag called a mecting to’ be held ia the Town Hall at eleven to-morrow morning, ‘THR ABORIGINES’ PROTECTION SoCIRTY. The following memorial haa been addressed to the Lords of the Admiralty :— On behalf of the Committee of the Aborigines’ Protec- tion Society we beg to express our profound regret that, under Your Lordships’ authority, instructions have been issued to naval officers commanding Her Majesty’s ships of war which require them to return to bondage fugitive slaves who have sought the protection of the British fag. It would thus appear that British men-of<war are to be brought under the operation of @ fugitive slave law as remorseless as the one which formerly existed in the United States, while a branch of the public service which for more than fifty years has been distinguished for its noble efforts to suppress the slave trade, is now to be called perform the odious office of surren- dering escaped slaves to their masters, We moreover deeply regret that these instructions distinctly recog- nize the legal rights of slave-owners, and, therefore, the lawfulness of ownership in human’ beings, Although the cases with which these instructions deal are divided into three separate classes, yet we observe that to whatever class the slaves belong the same fate awaite them—that is to say, they are in every instance ordered to be sent buck to the siave-holding jurisdiction from which they have escaped. But even if any real “distinction had been mate between the several classes. we should still respectfully and ur- goutly protest against regulatious which are ab Variance equally with the traditions of the ma- tion and with the obligations of hamanity. We also ask permission to cali Your Lordships’ attention | to the fact that, so far as wo can judge, these regula- tions may be entorced in the Pacific as well as in the Indian Ocean; and consequently fugitive Polynest who bave fled from foreign kidnappers will be liable to be given up if the latter are only, able to show that their vessels have been properly licensed by some cola For these reasons we bog respectfully to express the hope that Your Lord- ships will give the public an assurance that the instruc- tions will not be enforced. Wo have the honor, &c., CHARLES WINGFIELD, Vice President, F. W. CHESSON, Secretary, Wraraineten, Oct. 1. The Bishop of Lichfleld has written a letter to the society, strongly condemning the ‘action of the Ad- miralty, Letiers have also been received from Sir Powell Buxton, Sir Benson Maxwell, the Hon. Arthur Kinnaird, M. P., and other gentlemen. On the motion of the Hon. Evelyn Ashley, M. P., scconded by Mr. James Heywood, F.R.8., and supported by the Hon, B. Lyulph Stanley, Mr. McArthur, P., Professor Amos, and other gentiemen, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: ‘ M. Liowi | _ That this mocting expresses its cordial approval of the pro- test against tho instructions for the return of fugitive slaves which have been addressed to the Lords of the Admiralty om behalf of the society ; and this ineeting earnestly hopos shat Her Majesty's government will lose no tue in withdrawing instrnetion® which are so much at variance with the feelings of the country CHESS. oposed to hold an International Chess Con- at Philadelphia next year in connection with the Centennial Exhibition, to which the most prominent European players were to havo been invited. In order to insure their attendance prizes of sufficient value to tempt them to cros# the Atlantic would have to be assured them, and, a6 no special efforta to this pur- one are announced, it is to be feared that the project as been abandoned. There will ® gathering of (morican players, doubtless, and if we are to give up opes of a visit from such maateré as Btoinits, Black burne, Kolisch, Zukertort and the veteran An lerssen, still there will be interesting contests between our native players. In this regard = the play of the strongest American _ players. through the winter will be watched with great interest by all lovers of the game The chess season Ly A said to have been opened by Mr. Alberoni’s visit to Philadelphia, where he was signally successful in bia encounters with the players of the Quaker City. The gentleman mentioned is now contesting a series of games with Mr, Mason, of this city, the winner of the first eleven parties to be the victor, in London Messrs. Steinitz and Blackburne have ar- ranged @ match, which will be looked upon by common consent ag for the chamolonship of the worl | | THE WAR IN’ LIBERIA, The Causes of the Native Rising at Cape Palmas, AN AMERICAN NEGRO REPUBLIC. The intelligence made public a few days since to the effect that hostilities have broken out between the Amonés-Liberian colonists and their descendants, who have established a republic on the west coast of Africa, and the aborigines at Cape Palmas, in the southern part of the country, will necessarily excite a good deal of interest in the United States. For twenty-five years after the first settlement wae made by free negroes the colony remained under the supervision of the American Colonization Socicty, and the emigrants were con- stantly reinforced by now arrivals from south of Mason and Dixon’s line, Thousands of native Africans bave become civilized and enlight- ened through their influence, They enjoy a govern- ment of their own; they speak the English language; have numerous churches and schools, and the Republic _ is now recognized as an independent nation by the principal Powers of the earth, many of whom, includ- ing the United States, maintain diplomatic representa” tives at the capital, Monrovia, The present difficulty arises, as several previous ones have, out of disputed boundaries, and the right of the aborigines to trade without restraint with the English, French and Por- tuguese who have established factories on the coast, Cape Palmas, where a battle was fought September 17, and fifty killed and wounded, was settled in 1834 by emigrants from Maryland, who wore sent thither by tho Colonization Society of that State, Under the name of Liberian Maryland it now forms one of tho provinces of the Republic, Its territory extends from the Equator several degrees north, and very little is known of 1t be- yond a few miles from the coast | The native popu- lation consists of tribes called the Veys, the Papehs, the Bassas, tho Kroos, the Grebos, the Mandingos and others who inhabit the country back as far as Soo- dan, The boundaries north and south of Liberia have been questioned by both England and France. Lat- terly, however, theso Powers disputed the sovereignty of the Republic over a large portion of Maryland and claimed the right to trade with the natives who dwell below the fourth degree of north latitude, where Capo Palmas is situate, irrespective of Liberian customs laws. Tho aborigines took the same ground, claiming that these were ontirely independent and had never sur- rendered or sold their titles to the territories they oc- cupy. About ten yeara ago President Roberts pro- ceeded {na man-of-war, with a body of troops, and subdued a rising in Maryland, and it is believed that the malcontents on the present occasion will also be put down, ‘The claims of England are now principally confined to trade with natives on the northern por- tions of Liberia until the question is finally decided by the United States as arbitrator as to whether the dis- puted territory justly belongs to Liboria or not, THR REPUBLIC OF LIBRRIA, The Republic of Liberia, as stated, is the outgrowth of the American Colonization Society, which was or- ganized in 1817 under tho auspices’ of Henry Clay, Chief Justice Marshall, John Randolph, of Roanoke, Bushrod Washington, and other eminent men. The idea was that many, {f not ull, of the liberated slaves in the United States would prefer returning to Africa, and that through them colonization and the Christian religion would thereby be introduced into that benighted quar- ter of the world, The emigration to the coast of Atrica was commenced in 1820 and has continued uninterrupt- edly up to the present year, The territory now occu- pied was purchased from time to time from tho aborig- ines, great numbers of whom seem to have yielded to the influence of the new arrivals of their own color, The colonists first landed at the Sharbro Islands, but eventually settled at Cape Mesunadu in 1822 The country has been prospet and the experiment has been considered very successful. re are several rivers extending for hundreds of miles into the interior, and all along those streams and the spaces between them are the most productive tracts of country, stretches of beautitul valleys, diternating with picturesque hills, covered with wild and yet luxuriant vegetation, await- ing only the hand of industry to develop. Underlying these largo areas evidences every now and then appear that there are deposits of rich minerals The rive with the creeks flowing into them, furnish almost illim- itable sources of water power. Immense forests of the finest timber are yet untouched and mountains of iron uninyaded. Coffee thrives well Indeed, {t is claimed ‘that the quality of this article is unsui Liberian coffee commands a higher price than any of the heretofore most favored specimens Sugar cane grows im un- rivalled luxuriance; canowood is produced in unlimited quantities; indigo, arrowroot, limes and oranges are largely exported. ' Ivory is easily obtainable, The population of the Republic is about 600,000; but of this number only 30,000 aro civilized and the descendants of American emigrants. A large number of the inhabi- tants of the interior depend upon Liberia for ther supply of imported goods, INDBPENDENCE DECLARED, Liberia declared its independence in 1847 and was acknowledged during the following year by Great Britain and France, which made treaties for th Iition of the slave trade, and in which compact the Republic has faithfully performed its part The gov ernment is modelled after that of the United States, There is an elective President, Vice President and two houses of legislature. No white man, according to the constitution, can hold office, Joseph J. Roberts was the first President. He served from 1848 to 1866—four terms, He was succeeded by S. E, Benson, J, Warner, James S$ Payne and K. J. Roye, The latier, in 1870, while acting as President, went to Europe and there contracted a loan for $500,000, and on his return was accused of having appropriated the money thus ob- tained for his own benefit and that of the mombers of his Cabinet. A popular rising took place in Liberia, Roye fied and Roberts, the first President, was placed at the head of the government, Roye attempted to assert his claims to Presidency by force and was put in prison, He effected his escapo, and in making ‘an effort to get on board an dutward bound vessel was drowned, in 1872 At the general election held last May James S. Payne, a native of Richmond, Va, was elected President and 8. J. Crayton Vico President, President Roberts has been on a visit to England for several months, and the Vice President acts as head of the government during his absence. THE BOUNDARY DISPUTE. The dispute between Great Britain and Liberia as to the boundaries’ of the hig feces has been of long stand- ing. The latter claims territory stretching on the northwest to the Galinas river, on the southeast to the San Pedro River, a distance of 600 miles; on the east, to the interior, there is practically no limit to its bor- dor. England is, of course, interested only in the coast trade and has frequently complained of reatrictive cus- toms regulations injurious to her commerce which the Republic has imposed in the nature of import and ex- ort duties, The climate of the main land is deadly to ans, and factories, a8 mentioned before, are here and there maintained for trading purposes in that region outside the limits of Liberia. In examining the latest maps it will be observed that the Atiantic washes the four States of the Republic from the nortbern liue of Guinea to the southern line of Senegambia. Lines indj- cate the particular tracts of territory purchased from tho natives at different periods. The English govern- ment, however, takes the ground that it is impossible to decide upon the validity of the deeds of transfer, and hold they are sinply ez parte documents that the 'abo- rigines refuse to recognize, In 1863 a commission was appointed to examine into the question, and a partial settlement was reached, by which the sovereignty of Liberia was acknowledged over a territory named Saga- ree, This established its authority to Solyman River im the northwest, which appears to be some distance above the Manna River, the extremo that the maps show’ Liberian purchases from the natives, It is the cuuntry lying between the Manna and Young rivers discussion, Within these limits England claims the right of trading with the interior uninterfered with by the Liberian authorities and where the demands of the two countries clash. Five or six years ago England was roady to recognize at once the sovereignty of the Republic over the greater part of thi countrl were it not, as her goverament alleged, that some of the na tive chiefs denied any cession of their territory or that Liberia had any claim to it; that Great Britain therefore waa unwilling to hand over these chiefs with whom she had treaties that were faithfully observed against their wishefand upon insufficient evidence of tie to the jurisdiction of Liberia It waa further stated that the justice of these pretences could only be satisfactorily established by a strict and impartial inves- Migation on th % into the title deeds upon which Liberte rested her claims and into any evidence against their validity that might be produced by the native chiefs. Matters rowmined in this condition up to 1873, the English trading on the coast in dispute regardless of the claims of Liberia; but on one occasion » Britlsh vessel was driven off by the Liberian officers, and for whieh act England enforced satisfaction, in 1878 the latter Power mac roposition for A SETTLEMENT OP THE DIPPICULTIRG. It agreed to recognize the actual limits of the Repub- lic as comprising the coast line betweon Cape Palmas pe ar the present difficulties exist) on the south and he south bank of the River Solyman to the northwest, bat could not admit, without further inquiry, the claims advanced by Liberia on the lino of coast north of that boundary lying betwoen the Solyman and Sheban rivers, Two British and two Liberian commissioners were to be appointed, whose decision waa to be con- clusive; but in cago of tics ment tho United States ‘Was to appoint an arbitrator, whose judgment was to be final. It is understood that the commissioners wore appointed and are now engaged in taking testimony; but it must be observed that Great Britain brings into question the sovereignty of a large stretch of Southern Liberian seacoast. The province of Maryland extends many hundreds of miles south of Cape Palmas, and instead of the latter point being tho southern boundary of the Republic the true place would be, according to the maps, King George Town, near the mouth of the river Pedro. On this coast are situate the poarl fisheries, and there is a large native popula- tion who aro always anxious to exchange indi caoutchouc, cocoa, coffee, gOld, fruits, ginger, peari &c., for ammunition big Negg w spirituous’ liquors and dry coods, shown no diaposition to int north | that” provokes | H materfere at Cape Palmas veyond the questioning of in- beria to exercise sovereignty over chiefs with whom she has made treaties, and whose righte she considers ‘she is bound to roe ‘TOR PALL EXPRDITION TO LIBRRIA. The Colonization Society, as stated before nonin senate & com of emigrants to Liberia. The regular expedition this year will be despatched next month. Among the emigrants preparing to go at that time are Rev. Andrew Cartwright, of North Carolina, and Rev. Charles W. Bryant, ‘ow Orleans, with their families and some of their church members. Since the close of the year over 3,000 people have been afforded passage and established in Liberia, and thousands of others are earnestly preséing their demands upon the society for the facilities to enable them to remove and obtain & home im the land from whence their ancestors wero forcibly brought to this country. Tho applicants are mostly in families and neighborhoods, many of them being the most tutelligent and well-to-do in their re- spective districts, moved to emigrate by letters from relatives or acquaintances residing in the Republic, The. Projoct of removal w Liberia, it is said, is more popular with the negro race at present than it has been at apy former period. THE SPECTRE MINER. {From the Santa Rosa Democrat.] Wo published not long ago an account of the Guerne- ville ghost. We have the following authentic particu- lars;—The scone of the appearance wasat the Crossus mine, on Austin Creek, about three miles from Guerno- ville, The men who work in the mine had just gone to bed, when there was a noige at tho door, then some ghostly music. They next heard in the shaft the sound of sharpening tools, the noise of the bellows briskly working to pump air in the shaft and the shi chinking of the pully on the whim used for raising an lowering the buckets in the shaft, This noise was kept up as if there was a whole force of ghosts busily employed from ten at night until three o'clock in the morning. The mouth of the shaft could n from the cabin; but, though the noise was dis- tinct, no forms were seen to move about the shaft. ‘The work was kept up for three nights In succession; then there was an interval of comparative quiet for three weeks, A day or two ago Abo Steratt was at work alone in the shaft; the other men were above [aia Steratt was preparing to put in a shot when ¢ heard @ noise close to him. He looked up and there stood a man clad asaminer beside him, in a space which an instant before had been vachnt. Steratt asked “What do you want” No reply. He punched at the figure with ' drill; {t went through the airy semblance of humanity, Terror-struck, Steratt ex- claimed:—“If you are going to work here I want to get out” He whistled to bis companions above to come down, and then said:—‘Or if you want mo to work here you must get out,” Whereupon the figure scemed to Vanish upward from sight and has not since been seen, Noises as above described have been heard, but the spectre miner has not since been seen, CALIFORNIA TRADE IN MEXICO, {From the San Francisco Chronicle. ] Each succeeding year shows an increasing and en- couraging trade between this city and the Moxican Pacific coast. San Francisco is tho natural outlet to supply Sorthwestern and Nouthwestern Mexico, We have fixed and reliable communication by steam and sail with Mazatlan, Guaymas, San Blas, Manzanillo and Acapulco, The Colorado Steam Navigation Company has a line of steamers touching at tho three former ports and the same company has six steamers plying on the Colorado River, From’ Guaymas goods from this city find their way intothe principal cities in the State of Chibushua, The Pacific Mail Steamship Company des- atches a monthly steamer, calling at Mazatlan, San las, Manzanillo and Acapuico, en route for 'Cen- tral and South America, to Pamama, beside the regular lino touching at Acapulco for Panama. Five mercan- tule houses in this city have lines of sailing vessels, which ran regularly along the Mexican Paciile coast, and, beside, four small Mexican schooners aro engaged in the trade. Mexico is beginning to realize that sailors constitute a vital glement of society, and, knowing how deficient she is inthis respect, is opening schools to teach her young men the fascinating art of navigation, for life on the sea, with all ita dangers, bas a fascina- tion. Our neighboring Mexican port, Mazatlan, hus a school for this purpose, and from {t the people hope to see their sons come forth capable of managing men-of- war, steamers and sailing vessels, Strange to say, there are not probably in the whole Republic 100 Mex- ieans who could run a steamboat from Mazatlan to San Francisco, This 8 a Peculiar fact in a country which has over 11,000,000 of population, A PETRIFIED BABY. {St Clair Letter to the Albany County Gentleman. We are having a very interesting mystery here t the shape of the second edition of the famous Cardiff Giant. Two men living in the town of Kimball, ten miles from Fort Hudson, while out hunting, stopped to gather specimens of stone from ~a gravel bed in the Pine River that wag washed out from the bank near by during the fresbet a year ago. In this loose bank they uncovered a stone resembling the face of a child. After looking at it in_wonder for a time they, thinking of the doubt that hangs over the discovery of the famous giant, went out and brought fifteen or twentv men to witness this before taking {tout It was then removed witha mass of gravel adhering. The face, chin, throat, part of the right arm, shoulders, breast, of one arm and the whole of the other showed distinctly in perfect for all the rest merging into a mass of grave and small stones, cemented together the same as seen in any gravel pit. The rjght arm is bent, the forearm is lying across the body; the other is bent below the elbow. The eyes are well defined and very broad; fore- head flat and sloping, nose small, sharp; nostrils open; lips very thin, flat; mouth well defined—eurve of the lips perfoctly natural; chin square; slight depression or dimple over the breast bone, also just above the arm where the ribs meot, or at least just below where they meet. The form of ‘the breast is perfect. The skin on | the surface is smooth, not showing the marks of tools. Some call ita so ger child, and account for the great breadth of the head at the eyes by some pressure that flattened the forehead. Among the small gtones are petrified coral, shells, &a, such as are very common through this country. Can you tell us what itis? AN ANCIENT WALL IN MISSISSIPPL (From the Port Gibson Standard.) About eighteen miles from Port Gibson and one mile from Brandywine Springs, on the place of Mr. O’Quin, the existence of a great number ot blocks of cut stone has been known for an indefinite time, and the people in the neighborhood have used them for props for their houses. Mr. James Gage, Jr., went out there a few days ago to explore and had a specimen stone brought into town. tls about three feet long by about twent inches or resembling in shape a bar of soap, ig probably a native sandstone. Mr. Gage took this block himself from beneath the roots of a large pine tree. It formed a portion of a wall about twenty fect broad on the top, which Mr, Gage traced for a distance of 260 yards, The inference that one would naturally draw from this superficial view is that this must have been a city wall, but deep exploration might show it to be @ portion of @ fort, temple or other building, Any way, its antiquity is probably immense, antedating the history of the red men, DESPATCHES IN THE AIR. {From the London Live Stock Journal.) An ocean homing bird, of great docility, intelligence Andspirit, bas been found in Iceland, which files at a speed of 150 miles an hour, and is able to find its home over sea and land from any part of the habitable world. A pair of these birds a few days ago brought despatches from Paris to a lovely spot in a wild and rocky part of Kent, within ten miles of London, in one and @ half hours.’ Press carrier pigeons took the despatches on to the city, the whole distance from Paris to London by actual parcel mode of conveyance being done within one and a half hours, If the experiments at present being made in traming and educating them continue successful, it 1s hoped by next summer to establish » daily miniatare ocean mail between America and Eu- Tope, the whole distance to be traversed between sun- rise in one hemisphere and sunset in the other. OUR OLDEST VESSEL. [From the Boston Advertiser.) The bark Draco is the oldest vessel in the United States. She was built at Duxbury by Reuben and Charles Drew in 1824, and now is over fifty-one years old, The Draco was built in the most thorough man- ner and of tho best matorials, pasture oak, and if no accident occurs 7, liveas long in the future as she has in the past, She is 251 tons rogister, double deck, originally a brig, but altered into a bark in 1834 She was first employed in. the freighting business; then sold to P. and O. Flint & Co. for the South Amori- can trade; next she passed to Samuel J. Bridge, Joseph Knowles and E, Tucker Osborn for the Aus- tralian trade, and was finally sold to Mr. J. Bourne, Jr., of New Bedford, for # whaler, and has long been en- aged in that business. The Draco was well known in joston forty years ago, and was 4 favorite vessel with all her owners, as sho was almost always fortunate in making profitable voy for them. In 1896 the Draco, in voyage from Valparaiso to Swansea, It Wak loaded heavily with a cargo of copper ore’ passed through the Straite of Magellan, the only vessel of any considerable #izo that ever made the passage before that time or since, HOW TO INFLATE. (From the Boston Post— democratic. } There ie but one way to inflate, and Oarl Schara fully agrees with us in the fact and in its inforences ; that is, for the government to create a series of extraordinary demands. In the absenco of # gigantic civil war it moust conceive and undertake huge projects—of canals, railroads, river improvements and heaven knows not what—enterprises not needed, at immense and waste fui coat, by the employment of corrupt agencies, for tho sake of ing these additional tens and scores of millions { lation, And Carl Schura 1s forced to come back to our own position and admit that the surest way to stop all farth: jension of inflation is to choose an honest aad incorrantibla governmant, TH REVOLUTION 1 KYOKAND, The Russian Preparations for the Expedition to Kashgar. GENERAL KAUFMANN’S RETURN How Russian Officials Collect Taxes in Tashkent. THE EXPECTED CONFLICT! Tasuxxyr. July 20, 1875, The last year here has been quiet enough. There Were some disturbances in Khokand last summer, aud we all hoped that we might have a chance of anothet expedition, but General Kolpakofsky dared not undere take anything in Gencral Kaufmann’s absence, being bound hand and foot by his instructions, and knowingy at the same time, that anything which he did would da turned against him by Kaufmann’s friends, who wish him no good. On the arrival of General Kaufmann, alter his eighteen months’ absence, everythin changed. So maify officers were back that the tow! seomed positively lively, ana there appeared to beg general feeling not only that something ought to bel done, but also that something would be dono, Goneral Kaufmann had becomé down in the mouth by the aty tacks on him at St. Petersburg, and was desirous of showing his vigor, of proving the purity of his admini tration and in general of making some groat coup thi would entirely rehabilitate him, THE EXPROTED RVENT. What this was to be nobedy seemed to know; but everybody whispered Khohand, though some of the better informed hinted that matters were not all right in Kashgar. First of all, however, we were to have & purification of the domestic administration, and w@ were given to understund that during the General's ab» sence, and under the direction of Kolpakofsky, every- thing had been going to the bad, and that while thera might be, perhaps, a certain grain of trath in the stric« tures on the administration which had been published in St Petersburg and abroad, yet that this was all sub4 sequent to General Kaufmann’s departure for Khiva, and was, thercfore, not his fault, So investigating committees were set to work—we call them hero revisions. The district of Kurama was revised, the town administration of Tashkent was re~ vised, and, in fact everything was revised, that would bear revision without showing too bad a result, Most of these investigating committees ar@ still hard at work with their facts and figures, trying: to show that ‘although there may have been a few administrative irregularities .during the past few years yet’’—— you know the rest, and how easy it! to cover up wrongdoing in a remote province lik this. ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS. The only report that has yot been made 18 in rogard to the town government of Tashkent, whore the iny, habitants, for a long time past, have been complainin; of the high taxes, It has been found that during the, time of General Kaufmann’s administration, that is, since 1868, the, taxes have increased from 60,000 128,000 rubles, 8o that they now amount to more tham three rubles a head on the officially taxed population. During this time the general tax for the ex- penses of the city government, the amount of} which and the manner in which it is spent, being en« tirely at the discretion of the commandant of the town, bave Increased from 16,000 to 86,000. Although thera has been no effort in this report to point out abuses! yet two or three things have come to light which that our officials here are not neglecting to study thd, most modern methods of treating the governmental funds, The official estimate of the population of Tash kent for tax collecting purposes is about 42,000, men, women and children included; for some other purposes it is estimated above 10,000, and is known to bo much more, It is therefore plainly possible foran amount of taxes nearly equal to tha official return to bo collected and put into the peckcts of the officials without anybody being the wiser; and as no receipts are ever given to the nativos for taxes, they may be collected two or three times, snd comu- plaint is very dificult, HOW THE TAXES ARB LEVIED, ‘We Ond, too, that our system of appropriation is @ very simple one, There isa sort of governing council, composed of natives, supposed to be freely elected by the town or district, although, of course, chosen ac; cording to the orders of the commandant. This council has the right of voting whatever money is necessary fox the administration and of collecting it from the inbabts tants. The commandant, then, merely says, “I need 80 much money for the ensuing year,” and the amount is voted at once; or should thore be any objection he replies, ‘such are my orders from the Governor,” and the matter {fs at an enw Sometimes for building ® now house or fom laying out a garden or for somo extraordinary expense, more moncy is necessary. In such a case » resolution to that effect 1s written out in Russian In tha book of records andthe members of the council, ong after another, are ordered to put their seals to it, with out fm the least knowing what paper they are signing, Afterward, to ayold all possible questions, one of the interpreters, when he has time, writes a translation tp the native tongue on the opposite page, so that, if av investigating committee should come, everything would be tn order. PREPARING FOR win, Jory 21 Those who predicted an expedition to Kashgar soony to have been right after all When General Kauftnany returned he agreed to the appointment of Colona Reinthal aa the commercial agent or cons in Kashgar, but thought it best before allow ing him to occupy the post to send him there, nominally to take some presents to Yakub Khan, although r to find out how the land lay. Reinthal was very or received, and, in spite of the treaty, so much objecti was mado to the appointment of aconsul that he di not even speak of his appointment, although the Kashgarians seemed perfectly well aware of it, for, E presume they have plenty of spies here, and he thera . fore remained only three days in Kashgar. On his ré~ turn he reported to the Governor General that Yakulj Khan had the most hostile disposition towag Russia, and was only waiting to impro' his troops béfore he mado an attack w us He has received several instalments English rities, and has a largo number of military ine structors from India and Turkey, so that his army ig really becoming formidable, Beside this, he has * large number of good cannon and is rapidly making others, General Kaufmann, in forwarding this reporf to St. Petersburg, eaid that he saw no way of sottling the diMfculty except by arms. It {8 necessary, hows ever, to obtain somo further information before an ex~ ~ pedition is sent, and thore seems to be an idea that we may perhaps do better if wo, invade the country fromm tho side of Khokand rathor than from the Na‘ where the Kashgarians havo put up good fortificatior to command the passes. EXAMINING THR PASSES, Colonel Scoboleff, who so distinguishod himself in the attack on Khiva, has therefore been sent by Gene! Kaufmann through Khokand to examine the leading into Kashgar, He takes an escort of and I ani ordered to accompany them. It is a tre dous piece of good luck for me, for I was not allowed go with the Khivan expedition. At the same time, Weinberg, the agent of the Foreign Office, gocs tq Khokand with us to ask permission of the Khan allow Russian troops to pass through his coisa Scoboleff, ever since the Khivan expedition, has rnd on very bad terma with Kaufmann, but reconciled to him, they say, by an to let shim have command of an expeditiong How that may be I do not know, but Scoboloff is good fellow and a brave one, and I somehow fee! in m: bones that the result of this will be @ war in which shall perbaps have a chanco, SCOBOLRFY’S ENGLISH SERVANT. By the way, dia you hear the story of Scoboloff’ servant? When he wae abroad last winter he took Englishman as a body servant, a man who had form served in the Guarda, but when he got to St Petersty General Kaufmann made strong objections to the man’ nationality for fear lest he might correspond to ae and only allowed him to go on a promise that would never write home even to his famil; of that when he got LF here he waa dism: altogether, Scoboleff felt s little sore about it, bub expedition will no doubt cure all thay,