The New York Herald Newspaper, January 4, 1876, Page 6

NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET, JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR THE DAILY HERALD, published every day in the year. ‘Twelve dollars per year, or one dollar per month, free of postage. All business, news letters or telegraphic despatches must be addressed New York Hnap. Letters and packages should be properly sealed. Rejected communications will not be re- turned. LONDON OFFICE OF THE NEW YORK HERALD—NO, 46 FLEET STREET. Four cents per copy. PARIS OFFICE—AVENUE DE L'OPERA. Subscriptions and advertisements will be received and forwarded on the same terms as in New York. ol wrenty.eichith street, near fanny Davenport. { TONY PASTOR'S NEW THEATRE, oe, S85 and 387 Broudway—VARIBTY, wt 8 1. M, Mati. Bee ot PARK THEATRE, roadway and Twenty-second street. —IE CRUCIBLE, at P.M. Onkey Hall Broadway and mained owery.—VALLEY FORGE, aud Vetson. 76, at 8 P.M, Mr, SAN FRANUISCO MINSTRELS, ow Overs House, Broadway, corner of twenty-ninth street, $52. WOOD'S MUSEUM, ay, corner of Thirtieth street.—FAUST AND ROU RIRITE, at 8 P.M.; closes at 10:45 P.M. J.B, oberts, Matinee at 2°P.M.—THE FORTY THIEVES. jelle Hewitt. GLOBE THEATRE, ‘Nos. 728 and 730 Broad: ARIETY, at 8 P.M, BOOT! THEATRE, Busy: third street and Sixth avenue.—JULIUS CASAR, 43PM. Mr. Lawrence Barrett. THEATRE COMIQUE, Pe 514 Broadway.—VARIETY, at 8 P. M. THIRD AVE: rd avenue, between Thirtic AINSTRELSY and VARIETY COLE UM, irty-fourth street and Broadway. —P?RUSSIAN ARIS. ren fem 1 F. M. tod P.M. and trom 7 WALLACK’S THEATRE, jp ay and Thirteenth street. OME a8 P.M 10:45 P.M. Mr. Lester Wallack. 3 closes PARISIAN VARIETIES, Jen treet, newe Broadway.—VAIIETY, at 8 P.M. atinee at 21, \ GERMA Fourteenth street. —COM ‘ashington street, Brooklyn.— Joba E. Owens. UNION SQt re and Fourteenth From our reports this morning the probabilities wre that the weather to-day will be colder and slear, ‘Tue Herarp ny Fast Maw Traws.—Nevs- flealers and the public throughout the States of Wew York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as in the West, the Pacific Coast, the North, he South and Southwest, also along the lines of the Hudson River, New York Central and Pennsylvania Central Raiiroads and their con- hections, will be supplied with Tuk Henan, of postage, Extraordinary inducements fered to newsdealers by sending their orders Birect to this office. ‘Wart Srarer Yesrenpay.—Stocks did not Jespond to the expectations of those who ex- ted higher prices with the new year. loney on call remains firm at seven per ent currency and gold. Gold was quiet at 13 a 112°4. Good railway bonds were steady nd in fair request. We Envy tHe Feeurxe of joy with which the French papers that had been suppressed made their appearance on the streets of Paris esterday. It was a taste of liberty to which fn hey have been unaccustomed. Liberty of She press is such a commonplace with us that we have become oblivious to its delicious Savor. Tux Law Courts Orenrp for the year yes- berday with some new judges and a great Heal of business. Slack times bring no dim- Inution to the lawyer's trade, for the tighter money is the more litigious we become. ‘Tue Discnance or Loapen any Price ona prosequi being entered for them by the klyn District Attorney ends a very un- leasant feature of the Plymouth scandal. . Bowen is still busy with his libel suits, Tar Betoun Mixes have the privilege of ving us exciting news every now and then. ‘hey furnish firebrands to European poli- ios as well as fuel to the multitude. Many f the leading spirits of the Paris Commune © from these coal districts. They have rioting there, using firearms when do- so, and have had the military called out quell the disturbance. Tre Catnourcs or Grnwany are organiz- g to celebrate the exit of Archbishop howski from prison on the 3d of next th with befitting ceremonies. It can be no permanent service to the Empire to ve cause for these demonstrations, and the way that the imperial government can void them is to throw open the prisons and eave the ultramontanes without pseudo- We should then hear less about Itramontanism. ‘Tue Sraxist Mrsistay appeals to conser- ‘ative Spain in its decree convoking the Cortes. Avowed enemies of the monarchy nd the dynasty will be debarred from vot- ing; but if this provision is strictly con- strued the t will obtain an obe- diont Chamber, but will leave the country Sefior Castelar will contest na and Valencia unless the stipula- of supporting the monarchy prevents f NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 187 Shall We mave Our Manieipal Election im the Spring? The Henatp during the interval between the election of the new Legislature and the time of its meeting has sent correspondents through the State to make inquiries of the members elect and obtain their views on the important question of holding the muni- cipal election of this city in the spring of the year. We publish this morning a copious instalment of these interviews, from which it will be seen that the Senators and Assem- blymen are almost unanimous in favor of such a change. North of Spuyten Duyvil there are twenty-four Senatorial and fifty-five Assembly districts. In these districts seventeen of the twenty-four Sena- torial districts are represented in the new Legislature by republicans and seven by democrats ; and fifteen of the seventeen re- publican Senators, with five of the seven democratic Senators in the districts north of Spuyten Duyvil, approve of the proposed change in the time of the city election. In the Assembly districts lying in the same region forty-four of the fifty-five republican Assemblymen and thirty-three of the thirty- nine democratic Assemblymen indorse the change. It is clear, therefore, that if the members should act on their unbiassed in- dividual judgments a bill fixing our munici- pal election in the spring would be carried through this Legislature without serious op- position and almost by acclamation. But there is some reason to fear that the honest judgment of the members, as ex- pressed in these interviews, may be over- ruled by scheming politicians. We have never expected the support of political traders in so valuable a reform. It is the interest of these vampires, no matter to which party they may belong, to maintain the “solidarity” which strengthens their local canvass by the contributions of their State, county and Congressional candidates to the common electioneering fund of the party. The opposition of the trading poli- ticians is what we have counted on from the beginning. We feel no disappointment in finding that they are against us. We under- stand their artful mancuvres, We shall promptly expose and we expect to defeat them. The latest and most cunning trick has its origin in the Custom House. It is an adroit and apparently asuccessfal attempt to play upon the vanity and political neces- sities of Mayor Wickham. Of all men in the State Mayor Wickham is the one who has the strongest motives for deprecating a city election next April. He derives all his im- portance, all his political and the greater part of his social consideration from his posi- tion as chief magistrate of this metropolis, and for a weak, vain man, with the instincts of g swell, the loss of his only title to public consideration is looked upon by him as a serious blow to his pride. He knows that there is no possibility of his re-election next April, if the Legislature should order a municipal election then. The dexterous Custom House republicans, who have taken the measure of the man and understand his foibles, promptly saw their opportunity and are trying to make the most of it. They see a chance of a republican Mayor without the risk and trouble of electing him. A pliant, democratic tool, who depends on their pleasure for continuance in office would be nearly as serviceable to them as a republican Mayor, and it costs less to cap- ture Mr. Wickham than it would to go into a municipal contest in the spring. The Custom House republicans act on the adage that “one bird in the hand is worth twoin the bush,” and, unless appearances are decep- tive, Mayor Wickham is already ‘a bird in the hand.” He has nothing to hope from the city democracy since the seorn poured upon him in the late canvass by the politicians to whom he owed his election. It is not sur- prising that so small and snobbish a man goes down on his knees to preverft the re- publican Legislature from shortening his term of office. The readers of the interviews which we publish will see that many of the republican Senators and Assemblymen who approve of a spring ¢ ion refuse to commit or pledge themselves on this question, lest they should thwart the policy of their party. Senator Harris, of Albany, for example, says :—‘‘It nothing should happen ina party sense to change my opinion, or rather the way I should desire to act on the question if left to myself, I certainly would vote for suchan amendment. But it might be made a party question by the republicans to vote against such anamendment. Insuch a contingency I would naturally have to stand by my party.” Senator Woodin, who is also one of the ablest republican Senators, said:—‘'I am so much of a partisan that if I thought it would unfavorably affect the republican party in this State I would do my best to de- feat it.” Many other republican members of the Legislature expressed themselves in the same sense, approving the change, but resery- ing their freedom to act with their party. ‘There seems to have been a widespread feeling in the State that the republican party might perhaps gain some important advantage in the city by opposing a reform whose im- portance they were constrained to acknowl- edge. If they could make sure thing by capturing Mayor Wickham why should they ineur the hazard and uncertainty of a new election next spring? This may seem forci- ble to those who look at things from a low partisan level, but it is bad tactics, even from a party point of view. The opinions of the gentlemen whom our correspondents have interviewed are highly valuable as bearing on the true merits of the question, If it could be decided without regard to party exigencies the Legislature would be almost unanimous in favor of sepa- rating the municipal from the State election, Senator Harris says:—‘‘I have always been in favor of a spring election for local officers in New York, and always of the opinion that a great mistake was made when the election for charter offi- cers and State officers was made to occur on the same day.” Assemblyman Mahar, of Albany, says:—‘‘Having the local election in the spring works well in this city, and I do not see why it should not in New York. In- dividually Iam in favor of giving New York a spring election for local officers.” Senator Wellman belioved that if the time of the election were changed better men could be brought into office in New York city.” As- semblyman Post thinks “it would be a wise change. ” Assemblyman Power says:—“I think it would be a good thing for New York city.” Senator Carpenter says :—‘I think that at a Separate local election in New York less of politics and more of fitness would enter into the canvass.” Senator Rogers, of Erie, testi- fies to the good effect of separating the city from the State election in Buffalo:—‘‘When the charter election was held in the spring and the voters had nothing but local issues to meet the result was that publie spirited, non-| -partisan men were put in charge of affairs.” ‘ Nearly all the interviews are of the same tenor as those from which we have quoted. They show that if the question were decided on its merits, uninfluenced by party feeling or intrigue, the municipal election in New York, like the local elections in the greater part of the State, would be disentangled from general politics and held on a separate day. We trust that short-sighted views of tran- sient party advantage may not prevent 80 important a reform. Hoist by Their Own Petard, In Germany they are never so pleased with any other intellectual fancy as with the He is a tolerably great man who saves their country from the enemy, especially if he lived as long since as Arminius did, for then they may not limit their admiration by the consideration whether he is a Bavarian or a Swabian or a Saxon. He is also a great man who can write ‘‘natural music,” particularly if it is as thoroughly bad—that is to say, natural— as Wagner's. But he who explains why the sunshine is warm, and why it makes violets discovery of a cause. blue and buttereups yellow, or who goes with sufficiently incomprehensible profun- dity into the oceult reasons for the appear- ance of white hairs at the tip end of every dog’s tail—this man is the greatest and most admirable of human creatures; for a man’s opinion of music may be the result of a boil in his ear, and patriotism is at best only a prejudice in favor of your own country; but science alone is an unchangeable beacon for humanity. Jt is because of their fondness for causes that the Germans were delighted with a theory in explanation of the horrible dynamite project against the safety of a pas- senger ship. They were reconciled with the calamity by the discovery of its ‘psycho- logical” source. It all came from freedom—from democracy; it followed upon American civilization as naturally as apples upon apple blossoms. If you have no freedom of your own it is well to make it appear that other people's freedom produces frightful diseases. Then you may be the better contented to have William the Em- peror sit on your head. Between the lines of this sort of cheap philosophy you read a solemn injunction to the Germans to take care never to become a free people, for as soon as they are free they will immediately begin to put cases of dynamite on board pas- senger ships, in the hope to blow them up at sea and get the insurance. But since the discovery of this source of a great crime, and the fulmination of this pleasant opinion of democracy and its results, it has been ascer- tained and shown that the projector of whole- sale murder by dynamite was not an Ameri- can at all, but a thorough German ; that he was born in Germany, and, though he came to this country with his parents in infancy, was sent home in early life, and was raised and educated in his native country. Here is a new sphere for the ingenuity of the Berlin journalists. Let them wriggle out a good philosophical statement of the fact that a German, being the extreme quantity of hu- manity, can be as bad as any other man, or even worse, if he once takes to evil on the American plan. Perhaps the only thing American about Thomassen after all was the conscientiousness which drove him to a des- perate escape from his remorseful thoughts. Parties in France, One of the vagaries of party tacties that seemed incomprehensible was the struggle in the French Assembly over the life Sen- atorships, by which nearly all these places were given to republicans of more or less ex- treme convictions. By the French mail we get the details of the conflict, and it appears that the result indicated was the conse- quence of the course suddenly adopted by the legitimists. Their policy was, ‘Any- thing to beat the Orleanists.” Between the legitimists—that ‘is, the party of the Right—and the Orleanists, or Right Cen- tre—ever since the famous co-operation of the 24th of May, 1875, there had been amity, with variations. It was by their joint action that Thiers was overthrown on that day. Both factions believed in the monarchy, and so had a great idea in common ; but they be- lieved in very different candidates, and so had a perennial source of disagreement. Logically, however, they were nearer to one another than either was to any other party ; and when they acted together they could control the course of legislation. But the legitimists discovered the Orleanists to be uncertain allies. From the point of view of the Orleans party the Right was a good sup- port when an Orleans project was to be car- ried; but when the legitimists thonght their castle assailed the Right Centre did not al- ways come to the rescue. It notoriously failed to keep its pact on the 24th of Feb- ruary, when it fairly ran away from its allies and voted for the establishment of the Re- public. “It made the Republic,” says M. de la Rochette, of the Right, ‘‘against the King and against the royalists; and now that the Republic is made it wishes to govern it, not only against the King, but also against the republicans.” The Right Centre, having helped the republicans ordain that there should be a Centre, hoped that the royalists would help them to secure for their own party all the life places. Against this little arrangement the legitimists boldly revolted, and went over to the republicans with the declaration that they preferred open enemies to concealed ones. Henee the republican sweep. Twrep's Crvm Sorrs had another skittitel- ing day in the courts yesterday, As in the hostile meeting of great armies there is al- ways a good deal of preliminary fighting be- fore the weighty issue is joined, so in the war of the city on the mighty thief it takes some time to drive in his well-feed legal pickets, :-TRIPLE SHEET. Is There a Bargain? The Sun thinks it evident that the appoint- ment of two republicans to the places made vacant by the removal of Police Commission- ers Matsell and Disbecker is the consequence of a disreputable political trade, to which Governor Tilden is a consenting and probably an active party. The Sun says, with characteristic vigor:— “Messrs. Wheeler and Erhardt may possibly be very much better Police Com- missioners than Messrs. Matsell and Dis- becker, whom they supplant; still we believe the change will be injurious to Governor Tilden. It is too transparently the fruit of a political bargain, and if there is anything hateful and abhorrent to the American mind it is trade in politics. The instinct of the American people is against such bargains and against all engaged in them.” Despite the industrious attempts made to cover it, it is clear enough that there has been abargain. But Governor Tilden's com- plicity is not quite so apparent as Mayor Wickham's. If we look merely to the Gov- ernor’s official action, overlooking the secret understanding on which that action was based, it might be difficult to convict him of having been a party to the scandalous bargain. His official concurrence was necessary to effect the removal of Messrs. Matsell and Disbecker, but he had no legal or rightful voice in the appointment of their successors. Yet these removals, which Mayor Wickham has desired to make for a whole year, but dared not attempt lest the Governor should not support him, were so unannounced and sosudden as to justify the suspicion that the Mayor informed the Governor whom he would appoint, and thereby gained his consent to the long- deferred removals. Mayor Wickham's motives in filling these vacancies with republicans are transparent. It is a bribe to the republican Legislature to take no steps for shortening his term of office. He fears the passage of an act changing the charter election to the spring, and appears to have made a bargain with the republicans and to have sold out to them in the expectation of staying their hand. He knows the democrats of the city would never think of re-electing him, and, lest he should lose his office in the spring, he makes over so much of the city patronage as he can control to the republican party. He has a cordial understanding with the Cus.om House republicans, to whom he has surrendered on the condition that he shall not be disturbed by a spring election, Governor Tilden’s mo- tives do not lie quite so near the surface ; but he, too, is unwilling that the charter should be amended this winter, knowing that the changes to which he stands com- mitted by old declarations are distasteful to Tammany, whose support he needs in con- trolling the choice of delegates from this State to the Democratic National Convention. This disreputable bargain has the sanction of the republican organs of this city, who see in it a temporary party advantage. The Commercial Advertiser, whose editor has always been a power at Albany when the republicans controlled the Legislature, has come out in opposition to any charter legislation this winter, since Mayor Wickham’s fulfilment of his part of the compact. The Commercial says:— “There is talk in some quarters about amending the charter of the city of New York, The republicans at Albany have heretofore had too much to do in tinkering New York city charters. The less they have todo with that instrument this year the bet- ter.” This is the quid pro quo for Mayor Wickham's republican appointments. The Brooklyn Mayor's Message. Mayor Schroeder, of Brooklyn, has opened his official term with a Message to the Com- mon Council which contains many excellent hints, comments and suggestions. As a re- form Mayor he can, of course, well afford to denounce the doings of the Ring; and, while he wishes to see official malfeasance punished, he is desirous that the city should complete the improvements already begun, but in such a manner as to give the tax- payers a full return in value for their ex- penditures. He speaks in deprecatory terms of the system of issuing city bonds for every local improvement, and lays down a plan by which the city can have its improvements carried on while paying as it goes. This plan is certainly safe, but as the Mayor, doubtless, well knows, it has its limits, He is, however, right when he says, “Legislation procured at Albany by par- ties directly benefited has often resulted in saddling the city at large with bills they should have paid.” The bond system, as it has been administered, is indeed an open door to the treasury, and allows the public moneys to be squandered at a rate that would never be tolerated if the sums were drawn forth in the shape of taxation for the princi- pal instead of the interest; but its abuse is not an argument against its utility. The Mayor looks carefully over the departments and makes many useful recommendations. His position on the reservoir question is a sound one. The contractors, who expended the entire appropriation upon excavations and sue for a further sum, have left the work in such a condition that it is of no service to the city. It is without a dam, but the Mayor thinks it worth one, even as it is at present, and believes that the Common Council have the legal power to order the work of building it to proceed at the city's expense. He calls attention to New York's failure to provide its share of the bridge ex- pense. He feels that the times preach their own lesson of economy; that the citizens will, therefore, watch their public servants with greater keenness, and that the day has come ‘‘when criminality in public office shall no longer go unpunished.” So may it be. Tus Suxpar Laws.—In the recent suit undertaken to restrain the police from interfering with certain theatrical per- formances given in this city on Sundays it was contended for the theatre that the Sunday law was unconstitutional, on the ground that its subject matter is not expressed in its title. The title of the law is ‘An act to preserve the public peace and order on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday.” It is now decided by the General Term of the Conrt of Common Pleas the law in its relation to Sunday amusements. To preserve order, the Court holds, is ‘to preserve the established mode of proceeding,” and ‘‘the established mode of proceeding for a good and law-abiding citizen is to refrain from labor on Sunday.” By this interpreta- tion every labor that is not “necessary” or done in ‘‘charity”—the pursuit of any occupa- tion that cannot be covered by the uncertain standard of these terms—is contrary to the public peace, and may be interrputed and stopped by the police. Our own Revised Statutes, therefore, are not much more lib- eral than the famous Blue Laws, that even Connecticut no longer accepts. The New York Mayor's Message. Mayor Wickham’s second Annual Message isa solemn, prolix and rather empty docu- ment, of which the main purpose seems to be to convince (he public that our city ad- ministration has reached such a state of per- fection under his reforming hand that the Legislature need be in no haste to make any changes. ‘This is a surprising piece of infor- mation, The press of this city, without distinction of party, has been complaining throughout the year of the inefficiency of almost every department of the city govern- ment, and its news columns have teemed with facts which justified its invectives, It is benevolent on the part of Mr. Wickham to assure the people that they have had no ground for discontent. It seems that, after all, we have not suffered from the perpetual nuisance of filthy streets; that there was really no Harlem flats nuisance exhal- ing malaria and poison last midsum- mer; that the police have done tbeir duty; that gambling and bawdy houses have not infested the city, and that all the hid- eous abuses testified to before the Legisla- tive Committee of Investigation were sheer fictions! If Mayor Wickham can persuade the people that the city has been admir- ably governed during the past year he may, perhaps, silence the urgent demand for a new charter and a spring election. The beautiful harmony which has prevailed through the- year among the various municipal depart- ments, and especially between the Mayor and the Comptroller, with their fre- quent interchange of pleasant civili- ties in the Board of Apportionment, will recur to most readers of the Message as odd confirmations of the roseate view which our bland Mayor takes of our city affairs during the past year. It is delightful to discover so many reasons why the Legislature should be “lost in wonder, love and praise” at the spec- tacle of so well governed a city. It is to be lamented, however, that the forthcoming report of the legislative commit- tee, which has lately collected so much ugly evidence, should contradict and discredit Mayor Wickham’s pleasing pictures. The truth is that our city government during the year has been execrable, in spite of the Mayor's whitewash. There is a striking contrast between this year's and last year’s Message in the bearing of the Mayor toward Comptroller Green. The Message of last year was full of bitter invectives against the Comptroller, who is now treated by the Mayor with the most re- spectful courtesy. The fierce lion of last year now “‘roars you as gently as a sucking dove : an 'twere any nightingale.” What has wrought so surprising a change? Surely nothing in the deportment of the Comp- troller; it is not he that has changed, but the Mayor. It is supposed that Mr. Green will have influence in the new Legislature, and this may explain why the Mayor thinks it politic to conciliate him. A comparison of Mayor Wickham’s two messages is rich in curious suggestions. A Margin in Soap. The fact that a confidential clerk and cashier in asoap factory was able to embez- zle a sum of money variously estimated at from three hundred thousand dollars to seven hundred thousand dollars in a few years, and to escape detection and arrest for nearly two years after leaving the soap man's em- ploy, indicates a margin in this essential of the toilet which is surprising. Nobody sus- pected that the soap business was so profit- able that a soap man could be robbed at this fearful rate without finding it out. Yet the case of Beckwith shows that the safest place in New York fora dishonest clerk isin a soap factory. This ingenious business man sys- tematically laid aside for himself an increase of ten per cent on all the disbursements of his employer's establishment, and even es- caped suspicion for a long period. It is not of the crime we would speak, for that is of a kind which just now is common enough, nor of the confidence of the soap man in his clerk, but of the enormous profits of a busi- | ness which could stand such a drain upon it without exciting suspicion, What must Mr. Babbitt's profits have been if Beckwith was able to appropriate nearly halfa million of dollars out of the establishment without even so much as exciting suspicion? Evidently the people of this country submit to the pay- ment of enormous prices for the most ordi- nary necessaries of life without so much as grambling. Reasonable profits in the sonp business would not long have withstood Beckwith’s assaults upon Babbitt's income. As it is, the crime is not without its benefits in the exposure. People may learn from this not only the margin there is on soap but the enormous profits exacted by business men for everything they make and every- thing they sell. Indeed, the corner grocer thinks himself entitled to a profit of from fifty to a hundred per cent for bringing a barrel of potatoes from Washington Market and peddling it out by the small measure, These exactions, criminally enormous as they are, do more to keep our working peo- ple in poverty than any of us have suspected. When clerks can steal a fortune out of a single establishment in a few years it is time that people refused to pay prices that make such crimes possible. Ex-Govenyon Drx's Lecrvnre on the “Evils of the Day” contains many good points, prominent among which is his advocacy ofa single term for the Presidency. Tho Governor is an old man, and not likely to have changed his views of things like this for many years past ; but if he had only had the courage of his opinions # couple of years ago he might not have bad the ‘ex’ before his name last nicht, The Millennium. In our cable letter from London last Sun- day was included an abstract of the sermon delivered by the Rey, Dr. Cumming, at the Scotch National church, on New Year's Day, in which that eminent clergyman repeated his views, somewhat revised, of the mil- lennium. He warned his hearers to make ready for its advent. The second coming of Christ on earth, according to this prophet, must happen before September, 1876. Mr. Moody was quoted as one of the authorities for this belief. The Jews are to return to Judea this year. The Turks are to disappear asa nation, Altogether, according to Dr. Cumming, there are to be great doings in the world during the memorable year which is just begun. More faith would be naturally placed in Dr. Cumming’s predictions if they had not been already weighed in the balance and found wanting. It has been his business for the last quarter of a century to periodically an- nounce the millennium, and his fate to have his prophecies proved fallacies. The mil- lennium stubbornly refuses to come, though called upon, like the spirits in the vasty deep that Hotspur spoke of. This is an an- cient folly. During the persecutions of the early Christians and before the foundation of the Church in Rome the millennium was. ex- pected. It was constantly impending dur- ing the Dark Ages. Scores of pious caleu- lators, whose brains were muddled by long study of the signs in the Apocalypse and the mystical numbers on the forehead of the beast, have predicted the acts of Heaven with more ease and certainty than if they had been making tho tables for next year's al- manac. It is the old story of man’s self- conceit and the credulity of the ignorant multitude. Years ago these predictions worked great harm. The Millerite excitement in America and London sent hundreds of pious and weak-minded individuals to the lunatic asy- lums and caused immeasurable distress in families. Now they do less harm, tor the standing of Dr. Cumming and his rivals in biblical interpretation has been injured by their utter failures. Besides this, science has enlightened the people. Astronomers like Mr. Proctor calculate that the earth will be habitable for a million years. The prophets cry out in vain to intelligent and trustful Christians, who are content to accept the good which is given to them by Heaven, and have not presumption enough to think they are admitted into the councils of the Omniscient. Dr. Cumming can do little harm by this old, foolish, wicked proc- lamation ef the coming of the end of the world, Here in America we have the Cen- tennial, and we ask all the world to come to us and see the result of a century of freedom. The International Exhibition will do more to hasten the true millennium than all the prophecies that have been made from the days of Joanna South- cott to those of the Rey. Dr. Cumming, Eneuish Trarmina Surrs.—It is only a fortnight since we were informed by cable of the burning of the training ship Goliath on the Thames, by which a number of the boys lost their lives; and now our special despatches tell us of the burning of another on the same river. This chain of fatality seems unaccountable, unless we accept the theory of our correspondent, who is, doubtless, well informed. The fire on the Goliath resulted from the explosion of a kerosene lamp, and there seems no doubt that it was what is generally included in the term “accidental.” The copflagra. tion unfortunately produced a boy hero, and the praise he received and the gold watch he was about to get, it appears, stimulated the boys upon the Warspite to such an _ extent that they or one of them resolved on having an opportunity to show their courage and get praise and gold watches. This is very absurd to grown up people, but we must remember how confidently the darkies of the South believed in that mythical ‘forty acres anda mule” from General Grant. Cross anp Onzscent.—It is odd to notice how misfortune makes strange bedfellows. Only to think that the successor to Moham- med has appealed to the Pope to help him out of his difficulty with the Herzegovinian rebels is enough to make Saladin and Gode- froi de Bouillon turn in their graves. Such, however, is the fact, and Cardinal Franchi is seeing what he can do for the Sick Man, PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE, Mrs. Johnson, widow of the late ex-President, is so riously ill. Bishop John W. Becxwith, of Georgia, is at the Ciar. endon Hotel, The son of the late ex-Senator Richardson is lying very il! in Quiney, Til. Rear Admiral Angustas L. Case, United States Navy, is at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Ex-Senator Fenton is now staying where he expects to pass the winter, ‘The Pella (Jowa) Blade has declared that Senator Bek knap ts its first choice for President. Senator Francis Kernan arrived at the Windsor Hotel last evening on his way to Wasl W. P. Fishback, of Indianapolis, is in St, Louis, tt ts said, to enter a libel suit for $50,000 against the Globe Democrat in Vebaif of a client. M. Bartholdi, the French Minister, and M. Boutton, of the French Legation, arrived from Wasbington last evening, and are at the Brevoort House. lt is asserted that all the disabled soldiers who wore removed from positions by the domocratic House of Representatives have been put into other places by the President, The Philadelphia Times says it is about neck and Enterprise, Fla | neck between Bristow with the Whiskey Ring and ‘Tilden with the Canal Ring. ‘‘ Neck or nothing’’ is usu- ally the political maxim, It is stated that Rey. Robert Laird Collier, has ac- copted @ call of the Second church, in Boston, and will Jeave England on January 8, entering upon his duties there within a few weeks. The Council Blafs (lowa) Nonpareit asserts that Colonel Warren S. Dungan and Theodore M. Stuart, of Chariton, are talked of for Congress in the Seventh district, to succeed Hon. John A. Rasson. Mrs, Hannah Storer, of Bowdoinham, Me., was born July 4, 1776, about the time the “Liberty Bell’ was ringing out the news of the great Declaration at Phila delphia, She is in good health and full of patriotism, A solemn auniversary mass of requiem will be cole brated at haif-past ten e’clock this morning at St Stephen’s cburch for the late pastor and founder, Rew. Dr. Cummings, The clezgy and faithful aro invited te be present. The Cincinnati Enquirer thinks the Hon. Milton Say- ler, Chairman of the House Commiites on Publie Lands, has an opportunity to distinguish himself, be- cause it wasa little resolution touching public lands which drew out the celebrated debate between Wobstet and Hayne,