The New York Herald Newspaper, April 8, 1876, Page 6

¢ NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR THE DAILY HERALD, published every day in the year. Four cents per copy. ‘Twelve dollars per year, or one dollar per month, free of postage. ‘ All business, news letters or telegraphic despatches must be addressed New York Hera. Letters and packages should be properly s€aled. : Rejected communications will not be re- turned. PHILADELPHIA OFFICE—NO. 112SOUTH SIXTH STREET. LONDON OFFICE OF THE NEW YORK HERALD—NO. 46 FLEET STREET. PARIS OFFICE--AVENUB DE L'OPERA. Subscriptions and advertisements will be received and forwarded on the same terms as in New York. seeeeee NO, 99 AND BVENI AMUSEMENTS THIS APTERNOON WALLACK’S THEATRE. TEARS, IDLE TEARS. at 8 P. M. Matineeat 190 H. a. Montague. BROOKLYN THEATRE. FERREOL, at 8 P.M. Matinee ut 2 P.M. TONY PASTOR'S NEW THEATRE VARIETY, at 8P. M. 10N UN SQUARE THEATRE. FRaeean asp. M. Masince at 1:0 P, M. C.B. CHATEAU MABLLL FARIETY, a8 P.M. Mating BOWERY THE ROB ROY. at 8P. M. 5 THIRTY-POURTH P.M, FIFTH A PIQUE, at 8 P.M. Matinee at 1 ACADEMY OF MUSIC. NORMA 1.30 P.M. Mile. Theress Titiens. GLO} VARIETY, at 6 P. M. fay, FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, at 8P. M. Matinee at 3 PARISIAN VARIETIES. VARIETY, at 8 P. M.. Matinee at 27. M. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DESIGX. PIFTY-FIRST ANNUAL EXHIBITION, Day and evening ouyar VARIETY, at 8P. Si. Matinee WooD's KOM. HOT CORN GIRL, at 8 P.M. Walter Benn, Matinee at 2 LYCEUM THEATRE, VAUDEVILLE, at 8P. M. Matinee at f30¥.M. Minto Palmer. THEATRE COMIQUE, SP. M. TR SHEET APRIL 8, 1876, IPLE "From our reports this morning the probabilities gre that the weather to-day will be cool and clear. Notice to Countay Nzwspxauers.—For pt and regular delivery of the Heraup 2 Jast mail trains orders must be sent direct to this office. Postage free. Wax. Srreet Yestenpay.—Stocks improved in price and closed firm. Gold rose from 1127-8 to 1131-4. Foreign exchange was firm. Money on call was supplied at the close at 3per cent. Government, railway bonds and investment stocks were steady. Hoxors To THE Memory of the late Surro- gate Van Schaick were the order yesterday in the courts and in the Board of Super- visors. “Gnatz” Carrett.—Robeson says he can explain everything. Then why does he delay? The country will rejoice in an ex- planation of his relations with ‘‘Gratz” Cat- tell. In a Lrrtiz Army like ours the entire register becomes familiar to the people, and the semi-annual changes by promotion, re- tirement and death are of general interest. ‘We present elsewhere the list for the last half year. A Srony, incoherent but horrible, is that related by Andreas Fuchs in his trial for the murder of Simmons in Brooklyn yesterday. The crime was a terrible one, and its sur- roundings only add to its horrors. The testimony in the case is now finished, and a verdict will probably be reached on Monday. Our “Nzw” Crosrxat Court.—The Legis- lature created a new criminal court and the people elected » new criminal judge. But the court has never been able to sit. We are no better off than before and we spend more money. Can any one give us an intelligent reason for this evil? Either abolish the judge or give us justice. Goop Fie ix tHe Sza.—The London Daily News is very angry with the Senate be- cause it did not confirm Mr. Dana. We aro very sorry also. But we have as good men as Mr. Dana from whom the President may choose. More than all, we do not think the choico of an American Minister especially concerns an English newspaper. Mr. Dana axp Mr. Conxtixc.—Our Wash- ington correspondent is authorized to say, upon the highest authority, that the state- ment, originally appearing in the Tribune, to the effect that Mr. Conkling opposed the tonfirmation of Mr. Dana is incorrect. Mr. Conkling supported the nomination of Mr. Dana and voted for his confirmation. ‘Taree 1s a Saturany Lesson in the con- vietion of Captain Kahn, of the Franconia, for manslaughter for running into the Strath-Clyde, even if the question of juris- diction is decided in his tavor. If an of- fender of this kind cannot be punished in any other way an international tribunal for | the high seas will become a necessity. | Auer ‘“Bowserns.”—The more the investi- gations progress the more we are disgusted | with o class of statesmen and claim agents | who hang about the capital, living on their | reputation as army officers. Belknap was a type of tho class. This “General” Rice, who seems to have been the go-between for | Belknap, was another. These army ‘“‘bum- mers” are a disgrace to the army, to law and | politics. ew ‘Tur Quezn or Exciaxp now only needs her own assent to be called “Empress of | India,” and sé she desires the title there can | be little doubt that she will assume it. For | @ h.ng times tho kings of England were ac- | eustomed to call themselves kings of France, | and there is certainly more reason for the pew assumption than there was for the ancient title, ts NEW YOKK HERALD, SAT The Canvass for the Presidency—The Changing Tides. The Tribune prints the letter of an in- genious correspondent upon the canvass for the Presidency. This correspondent tells of an interview with Mr. Blaine. In this conversation Mr. Blaine is represented as saying that he is not afraid of any of his rivals—Morton, Bristow or Conkling. The only one he fears is “the Unknown Man.” Mr. Blaine is one of the most ingenious, as he is one of the most amiable and winning, of our public men. He showed in his Ander- sonville speech a close knowledge of the moving currents of American politics, and he may well dread the Unknown Man. In America the Unknown Man is oftentimes the powerful factor in the political problem. It is not so in England or France. In Eng- land the leader of a party—and the Prime Minister is almost certain to be leader by in- tellect and experience--when, as sometimes happens for political reasons, an unknown man is selectéd he is suse to be crushed by the common sense of the party, which erases amanand not a name, When Addington became Prime Minister, in the time of Pitt, as acompromise, and when Aberdeen was selected because he was neither Russell nor Palmerston the arrangement failed. Either would have succeeded with us, be- cause our politics are apt to repel the Palmerstons and Pitts and ele- vate the Aberdeens and Addingtons. The class which gives power in England is small, cultivated, sensible—lords and gen- tlemen who know their leaders, and select them because they can lead. The class which gives power with us is the people, who do not know their leaders, who are governed by clamor, passion, State pride, sectional aspirations. To them Blaine, Morton, Conk- ling are ensigns, pennants, and after they have been blown and tattered in afew storms a new flog, with a new name, is a relief, and they cheer it as heartily astheold one, Eng- land selects positive, while we are apt to be content with negative leaders, This is what gives the Unknown Man .an importance which we would much rather he did not pos- sess—an importance which he will always have, so long as conventions throw aside a Calhoun, a Douglas, a Webster, a Chase and a Seward, who can lead, and take up a Har- rison, a Scott, a Polk, a Pierce, a Breckin- ridge and a Grant, who can run. Morton, Conkling and Blaine can lead; but can they run? That is the question that now puzzles the chiefs of the re- publican party. Each of these cham- pions has a potent following. There is a fourth name which occurs to all readers with a value of its own— that of Bristow, of Kentucky. Bristow isa sentiment just now—the sentiment of re- form. This is because of the developments of the past few weeks. Bristow is the flower of safety which bold republicans would pluck out of the dangerous nettle of Belknapism. Republicans fly toward Bris- tow as the inhabitants of Herculaneum and Pompeii fled from the sweeping lava of the burning mountain. He is their refuge, and if this volcano of crime continues its erup- tion they may have to take him in apite of themselves, But New Hamp- shire, Rhode Island and even Con- necticut indicate that even the vol- cano is not to be feared. The folly, the weakness, the incapacity of the democrats all indicate that whoever leads the republi- cans will win. The monster rebellion men- aces us from the South, the monster repudi- ation from the West, and we shall be apt to risk another Belknap rather thin meet an- other Jefferson Davis, who favored rebellion, or another Johnson, who was willing to sur- render our national credit. Therefore Bris- tow’s strength is negative and secondary, and the problem of the republican succession, until the tides change, is between Morton, Conkling and Blaine. Of these men Conkling is the leader, with the chances of victory on his side. We question if Blaine and Morton combined can defeat him. New York will sup- port him—practically as a unit—what ever political dandies like Curtis may say to the contrary. Behind New York we havo Pennsylvania, the second State in the Union, under the veteran leadership of Simon Cameron. New Jersey shows signs of falling into line. The best advices are that Mississippi, Alabama and North Carolina will support him as a second if not a first choice. Ohio would prefer Hayes—would like to keep him in reserve as the Unknown Man; but of the three Ohio would much rather have Conkling if it came toachoice. More than all, he has the avowed support of the President. Grant is really Conkling’s most powerful ally. As politics go now the influence of an adminis- tration over a party is irresistible. Jefferson showed this when he not only named Madi- son to succeed him, but Monroe to succeed Madison. Jackson showed it when he took the second rate Van Buren and forced him upon a party which had a dozen leatiers with more ability and more availability. If Lincoln had lived he would no doubt have wielded the same influence. So long as Grant was negative and silent—so long as he saw the chance of the third term— his power wns dormant. Politicians traded upon him. Adventurers used his name. The party seemed to disintegrate. Now that he has said, and said frankly, that Conkling stands to him as Madison did to Jefferson and Van Buren to Jackson, the issue narrows, the party shows discipline, and column after column wheels into line under the banner of Conkling. These | columns are the regular troops of the re- publican army—they are the veterans of that powerful and well drilled organization, ‘They will not stampede at the sight of Cur- tis or run away from the venerable fogies of the Union League. With Arthur leading his trusty henchmen from New York, Cameron advancing with his Highland clans from Pennsylvania, and Grant coming up with the imperial guard of office-holders from the | other States, it is difficult to see how the array can be beaten. And yet the most brilliant battle plans have been known to result in the most dis- astrous defeats. Sometimes ‘‘the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong.” “Let not him that girdeth on his harness | boast himself as ho that putteth it of.” We have no doubt that in those hours of medi- candidates for the Presidency, these words of inspiration are often heeded ; for is it not also written by the wisest of men, ‘Boast not thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth?” Never was there a more perplexing canvass for the Presidency ; never a time when, with the varying omens, the result was more uncertain. Never was the Unknown Man a more interesting personage in our politics. He came to the front in 1844 as Polk, in 1852 as Franklin Pierce, in 1860 as Lincoln. All the signs favor Conkling now, | a8 they favored Van Buren and Cass and Seward. In the meantime let us look on with good temper, without impatience, never forgetting the glorious hopes and promptings of the centennial time, and feel- ing assured that whoever enters the race in the spring, and whoever wins in the fall, the Republic of Washington and Adams will live, ‘and that government of the peo- ple, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.” Fraudulent Trustees. It appears now that Mr. Barrett, who recently absconded from this country in de- fault to séveral estates, had also raised money by forgery, and this offence is included in our extradition treaties with England and France. Should he, therefore, be found in either of those countries he can be returned and dealt with according to law forthe crime of forgery. For the other offence, however— the greater crime—he would still be out of the reach of justice. Here is the startling contrast—the wicked inequality of the law made painfully clear. For twenty thousand dollars wrongfully obtained from one source this man could be sent to the State Prison for perhaps fourteen years. For one hun- @red thousand dollars, perhaps two hundred thousand, wrongfully obtained from another source be cannot be punished in any way whatever. He robs a steamship com- pany and it is a crime; he robs families, orphans, widows, and it is a kind of miscon- duct, an impropriety, whatever you choose, but nota crime. Now, which of the two— a powerful corporation or an orphan child— noeds most the protection of the law? Why should the law unequally protect one per- son’s property and not another's? Can any one give any good reason why a man should be punished for offences against those who can in some degree help themselves and not be punished for offences against those who are altogether helpless? This defect in our law should be remedied, We are in this re- spect behind the world. In other civilized countries dishonest trustees are punished, and in England the penalty extends in some cases tp transportation. That such offences are not punished here is ashame to our justice. The Coming Emperor. The Emperor of Brazil comes tous in a double capacity—first, as the ruler of the greatest American nation, our own ex- cepted, one which dominates the Southern Continent much as the United States the Northern; and second, as aman personally distinguished for his learning, humanity and enterprise. He should be welcomed on his visit to this country, not only as the repre- sentative of an empire with which we are in friendly relations, and who, because of that fact, should be received with all courtesy, but also as a sovereign who has nobly sought to promote the welfare of his people. He is com- mended to us by his virtues as well as his rank. Such royal visitors are rare, and we should not merely honor them for their own merits, but ‘‘use them after our own dignity.” We know that our best citizens appreciate the importance of this approach- ing visit of Dom Pedro, and that the meet- ing to be held at Delmonico’s to-night to consider what steps should be taken to extend him proper hospitalities during his stay in this city will meet universal approval. New York may be considered the front door of the Republic, and the whole country is inter- ested in ourconduct, It may rest content that so far as the metropolis is concerned the reputation of America will be sustained; but beyond this civic welcome the imperial guest should be officially received by the government. Our fleet should meet him in the lower bay and escort his ship through the Narrows—the threshold of our watery halls, The highest officers of the govern- ment should meet him in this city the moment his foot touches, for the first time, the earth of North America, That is all that is required of us, and all that Dom Pedro would wish. Useless cere- monies are undesirable, but some proper ceremonies are demanded for the sake of the dignity of both our guest and ourselves, If the government discharges its duty in this matter the people will see to the rest. They will escort, with military and civic honors, the Emperor from the Battery to his hotel and attest the sincerity with which all Amer- ica welcomes him in her centennial year. We cannot afford to seem cold or indifferent on an occasion when two continents meet, each to congratulate the other on its vast improvement and growth. Grxx’s Banr Jexxrns is one of that peculiar class of statesmen who expect to make reputation by constant endeavors to call at- tention to themselves. His plan is to ask the | Ministry delicate or difficult questions, and to make the most of the replies. The latest endeavor of this kind was in regard to diffi- culties between the United States and Great Britain over the fisheries question, and, being reproved in the House for his offensive lan- guage toward the American government, he retorted with notice of a motion that the course of the Ministry is dilatory and in- jurious. It is not likely, however, that Jenkins’ anger will overturn the Disraeli Ministry or embroil the two countries in war. ConoreGationat Dissexstons are likely to be the natural fruit of the action of the dif- ferent councils in regard to the Beecher scandal. The withdrawal of Messrs. Bud- ington, Storrs, Taylor and McFarland from the Associaticn of Ministers is only the be- ginning of the troubles. It is nota little singular that these dissensions should occur in the Congregational fold, where the inde- pendence of each church is eo highly tation which are, we trast, vouchasfed to | prized. Our Representative in London. It is thought by the World that if Mr. Longfellow is ‘‘in all other respects fit for the English mission,” the fact that he isa poet is ‘an additional recommendation.” While it treats thus lightly the poetic faculty it gives at length an account of poets in all the moods of the Muse, from satirical to ro- mantic, who have been distinguished in po- litical and diplomatic activities, and its citation of names will suggest the reflection that the intellectual and moral attributes which make a successful poet are precisely those that fita man toshinein diplomacy. Keener perception than is the possession of ordinary mortals is perhaps the first of poetic attributes ; a perception whose processes are 80 swift that tothe many the result is deemed an intuition—a perception that pierces all mere forms and outward disguises and dis- covers the very inward nature of an act or thought. But such a perception is not more truly the essential characteristic of a poet than it is and must be of every great diplo- matist. It is often his primary duty to dis- cover the thoughts of men who use language only to conceal them. But with the thought discovered, with the idea possessed, it is equally the fanction of poet and diplomatist to handle it with delicacy, tact and a nicety of art that recognizes all the shades of all the phases of propriety. It is still our opinion, therefore, that no better name than that of Mr. Longfellow can be suggested for the English mission. Mr. Longfellow is our preference; but if the President should care to honor poetry agd this metropolis and journalism at once the name of William Cullen Bryant will occur to all as a proper nomination, and one that would properly sus- tain the literary antecedents of the position. Ralph Waldo. Emerson would be accepted with enthusiasm by those whom we have to please on the other side in these matters; while here it would be regarded as achoice creditable to the administration. Mr. Em- erson’s studies and thoughts are deemed by the many as aside altogether from the prac- tical affairs of life; but this is an error. He is a gentleman of high culture and pure life, and would get our character out of the diplomatic quarantine into which it has been put by recent events. “Dark Lantern” Politics. Now that Tammany Hall has an organ which is honored with the patronage of Augustus Schell there is one point to which we commend the attention of the editor. This is the Know Nothing feature of the Tammany Society. As our readers know, Tammany Hall is governed by a secret Order. This was never so clearly shown as in the controversy between Tweed and the Young Democracy, When the leaders of the Young Democracy had the power to remove Tweed, Connolly and their gang, the secret lodge interfered. The result was that ‘weed and his gang were enabled to rob the city of many millions of dollars. This power still remains. The secret dark lantern Know Nothing lodge has the power to donow what it did then. This power the people repu- diated at the last election. We urge the honest men of Tammany—the men who be- lieve in the integrity of the party and the triumph of its principles, such men as Erastus Brooks and Angustus Schell, to throw aside this dark lantern feature and make Tammany clear, open and free. Let us have an organization of the people gov- erning the party for the good of the people. ‘We commend this principle to Mr. Schell and his organ as something that may be dis- cussed with advantage. Why Did the Democrats Vote Against Mr. Danat Some of the independent newspapers are censuring the Senate for allowing itself to be ‘led by the ear” by General Butler and voting against the confirmation of Mr. Dana. But it now seems that the larger part of those who voted against Mr. Dana were democrats. If the democrats had supported him he would have been con- firmed. We may infer that the democratic Senators are not men to allow General Butler to lead them by the ears, so that we must look further for an explanation. Why did the democrats vote against Mr. Dana? He isagentleman. He is a scholar and a jurist of varied and rare acquirements, His nomination commended itself to the best people in America and England. He had shown by his running for Congress against General Butler that he was no parti- san. There could be no objection to him as Minister. The fact that General Butler op- posed him was a warrant for democratic sup- port. We cannot imagine that Senators like Bayard, Thurman and Randolph would vote against a gentleman anda scholar because he was a republican. As patriots they would | be more likely to help the President than to hinder him. Why, then, was he not con- firmed ? In his notes to Wheaton's ‘International Law” Mr. Dana opposed the right of secession and the whole line of argument advanced by the sea@ssionists to sanction their war upon the Union. The avowal of this doctrine, if we are well informed, cost him the votes of consistent and conscientious Southern men like Gordon, Cockrell, Ransom, and other distinguished Confederate officers. Those Senators having taken up arms and risked their lives in defence of the ideas which Mr. Dana opposed it was only natu- ral that they should not wish him to go to | England as their representative; but such considerations could hardly enter into the minds of democrats who were Union men. | As it now stands the only intelligent reason for the opposition of the democratic Senators to Mr. Dana's confirmation is that involved in secession. | exists let us know it. This is a dreadful record to make at the outset of a canvass for the’ Presidency. Haha sats Awenican Canprxars.—We note that the Italians. Why does not His Holiness follow up the happy selection of Cardinal Me- Closkey by sending the berretta to two or three other American prelates? Our readers will remember that it was in response to the suggestion of the Henatp that the Pope named the first American Cardinal. His Holiness will certainly admit that the grati- fication which attended this act justified it. ‘We have a cardinal in New York esteemed | he opposed secession and all the doctrines | | If any other reason | two cardinals appointed by the Pope are | URDAY, APRIL 8, 1876.—TRIPLE SHEET. for his virtues and learning. But we have other prelates in other sections worthy of the honor. Let us suggest the learned and eloquent prelate of South Carolina, Bishop Lynch. Bishop Lynch is one of the chiefs of American Catholicism. He is a Southern man, and his elevation would be a compli- ment to the South. Archbishop Kenrick, of St. Louis, would also be an excellent prince of the Church. America is large enough for a half dozen cardinals, and His Holiness should remember our venerable prelates in apportioning his honors. Anyhow, let us have a cardinal for the West and another for the South. 3 Cheap Cabs. London has 7,864 cabs, of which 4,223 are four-wheelers and 3,641 hansoms, These cabs are owned by 2,800 different proprie- tors, and are let out by the day to licensed drivers, of whom there are 10,093. The ex- cess of drivers is due to the fact that the same cab goes often night and. day, and is let out to one driver for the day and to another for the night, This excess also leaves a margin for drivers incapacitated by ill health or otherwise. The average of horses kept by proprietors is three for a cab—say in round numbers 23,000 horses. Here, therefore, is an enormous industry. Nearly three thousand small proprietors have their capital in it; twenty thousand poor men—stablemen and drivers—get their living out of it, and many thousand others, as feed dealers, horseshoers, carriage builders, &., are benefited by it. All this great industry built up on what? On the public demand to be carried short distances at cheap rates. With one of these cabs, on their systemga man could go from the Hzraup office to Union square in ten minutes, for twenty-five cents, and for every additional mile, in any direction, only twelve cents. At such a cheap rate to travel swiftly and comfortably in a cosey, pleasant vehicle would seem in this city as if the mil- lennium had suddenly dropped upon us. Few if any proprietors in London run their own cabs. They hire them to the licensed drivers at so mucha day, the rate being different for busy or dull seasons. Four dollars and a half is the highest rate for hansoms; two and a half for four- wheelers. And all that the driver makes above this is his profit. From the fact that so many men live on the industry it is evi- dent that they commonly make a fair amount above their rate of hire. How is it that we, as a commercial people, with a spirit of enterprise, cannot or do not organ- ize an industry in this nature to supply the demand here, as in London, for cheap transportation? Our demand is not so great, but it is in its nature the same; and why can it not be similarly supplied, so far as it goes? Police! Police! One of the best things lately done at Po- lice Headquarters is the suppression of the attempt on the part of the policemen to make up a purse to be sent to Albany, there to be used on cheap Assemblymen for the defeat of a certain measure now before the Legislature. It is bad enough for us to know that our Legislature is merely a law market, where # man pays his money and takes his choice as to what bills shail pass ; but it would be a sentimental aggravation of the case if we were compelled to recognize that this habit of making a football of cur political system is not confined to great cap- italists, but is acted on down to the pettiest scale ; that there is a kind of retail trade in legislation as well os the wholesale traffic that threatens the foundation of the govern- ment. If every body of public servants as to which there is any intention to change the law can put up its small purse and bribe the lawmakers the right of the people ‘‘to make their own laws” will be seen to have a ridiculously extreme aspect. It is a subject for congratulation that this truth is clearly seen at Headquarters, as it applies to the po- lice. Let us hope that it will be seen also that it applies with equal force to the Com- missioners and their friends in other offices in this neighborhood. It is as much out of order fer Commissioners and Custom House men to pervert legislation to their party bar- gains and to secure laws in that way as it is for patrolmen and roundsmen to endeavor to do this by money sent to Albany. pO AHP IGEN Anornrr Rervstican Gux ror ConELIne,— Hon. John M. Francis—the editor of the Troy Times, and the leading republican journalist of the State outside of New York—pronounces in the heartiest manner for Roscoe Conkling. Mr. Francis believes in New York and in New York statesmen. He will not follow Curtis and the Yankee Ring which controls the Union League. He stands by his State all the time, and by the representative republican of the State. Mr. Francis could not write as fascinating an essay as Mr. Curtis on the ‘way to behave” and on fashions. When it comes to politics he has the sense and foresight which distin- guished Mr, Greeley. ASrvere Storm swept from the lake region eastward through New York and New Eng- land yesterday afternoon, raising quite a dust in the streets of this city. An evident atmospheric revolution was in progress ; and as all such disturbances have but one direc- tion we will learn in due time the effects on | the Banks of Newfoundland. The weather hére has grown perceptibly colder under the influence of the northwester that followed the storm, and promises to be cool and clear or partly clouded to-day. Yesterday’s storm | shows that onr prediction as to the usetul- ness of the “Ulster” for a little while longer was well founded, Extnaprtiox.—There are now three pris- | oners charged with forgery——Winslow, of Boston; Gray, of New York, and Brent, of | Lonisville—in Logdon awaiting extradition, | but there is delay over their surrender be- cause of the questions springing out of the | Lawrence case, Whatever may be the | merits of the English claim in regard to | Lawrence in its present shape it does not | justify a nullification of the treaty. The , surrender of the three prisoners named is | asked upon grounds clearly within the treaty, and when Lawrence is tried for an- other than an extraditable offence it will be time enough to determine what is to be done with the treaty. | | cu ‘The League Island Navy Yard Frauds. It is s curious story which comes to us from Philadelphia, foreshadowing the testi- mony which is to be adduced before the Naval Committee of the House, touching the contracts of Nathaniel McKay for the removal of the navy yard to League Island. McKay is a bold and astute operator, and, no doubt, will justify many of his acts on the ground that it is the right of a contractor to care for his own interests. His efforts at getting rid of competitors in the bidding for contracts are, perhaps, of this character, and though morally wrong, it maybe doubted whether his- acts are legally punishable. The alleged appropriation of government prop- erty under cover of other property actually bought by him at those peculiar auctions which he is an adept in devising, is, if true, an entirely different matter, and the whole question resolves into an inquiry whether or not a theft was com~- mitted by McKay and his agents, with the connivance of the Navy Department. The charges are boldly made, however, by the persons who are offering themselves as wite nesses to the committee, and they must bé sifted tothe bottom. MoKay’s character ag a bold and adventurous seeker after the interests of Nathaniel McKay, at whatever cost of combinations and promises, is well known; but we should be slow to accept as true the offences so confidently charged against him, and we await the investigation with painful interest as one of the most important which has ever taken place in this country. Not only is McKay's integrity involved in this issue, but the honor of Secretary Robeson also and the good name of the department and the government. All we can hope is that the inquiry will vindicate them, though at the same time we are bound to confess that the allegations are supported by an array of facts and of names which give the charges a very ugly look. Tue Navat “Gratz.!’—The relations bee tween Robeson and the Cattells, in Phila- delphia, are like the relations between Judge Cardozo and Gratz Nathan, which became celebrated at one time. Robeson gave the patronage, “Gratz” Cattell raked in the money—one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, so faras heard from. Unless Mr.. Robeson can show that he did not enable “Gratz” Cattell to make this money he should be impeached. The case looks worse against him thanit does against Belknap. Corrzcn Rurrianiss.—What Princeton College needs is a department of police, College rowdyism in that fine old seat of learning will, if not checked, undo all that has been done by the eminent men who have presided over its destinies from the days of Witherspoon to the days of McCosh. We honor Princeton, and wish it well. But if this ruffianism continues its work is at anend. Brother Moody reports that he had @ precious season when there a few weeks since. Brother Moody should go back again—with a: file of policemen. ‘‘Derrcrencies."—We hope Mr. Randall will not pause in his war upon deficiencies in the appropriation bills because we are out of coal and gas. The “deficiency” business is the source of a hundred swindles, The departments should know what they want when they ask for appropriations. When they blunder they have no busihess to rush to Congress to help them ont. Let Mr. Randall be firm on this point. Berxwarism ix THE Warn DerarTMent.— It looks'now as if the War Department Ring means to destroy General Custer for swear- ing against Belknap. The country will not stand any trifling of this kind. Secretary Taft should clean out his department. Bel- knap was there for six years, and no doubt left a lot of Belknapism behind him. Herr Onamnxeuars.—The President should not neglect the appeals made to him by Chamberlain, of South Carolina. If_the Governor cannot save the State from the worst elements in our politics, then there is no salvation for it. PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE, A. H. Stephens ts atill very feeble, Clymer wants to pat a headstone on Belknap, Isis claimea that the cholera does not attack the Hebrew race. Blaine gives personal attention to his chances in New England, French ladies, in blouses and top boots, shoot harea ‘and partridges. Supervising Architect Potter is examining the public buildings in Cincinnati. Sinoe 1868 more than 100,000 Chtnamen have arrived at the port of San Francisco. It js strange that that shower of flics came just after the dried currant and mince-pie season. The Toronto Leader says that a low style of sensa- tional hteratare in the United States has had an evil influence in Canada. Congressman J.amar’s health has improved; but he iy Sonstantly threatened with paralysis, of which he hat already hai one attack. A bew expedition is going to explore the Okefenoke swamp in Florida forthe purpose of discovering the cause of the mysterious smoke which ascends from ite jungles. a The Baltimore American (rop.) says it was one of the idiosyncrasies of President Grant that he never under stood the importance of having a first class lawyer af the head of the Department of Justice. Signor Carlo Sestini, Signor Giuseppo Sestini, Signot Carlo Padorani, Signor Vigna dol Ferrs, Signor Man tellini, Signor Pio Baccarani and Signor Professor Can. of Leghorn, the Italian Commissioners ta the Exhibition, arrived in this city yesterday per Anchor line steamer Victoria. ‘The New Orleans Republican (rep.) prociaims that it has “made tho proof that conservatism in Louisiana is devoted to the Union and does not intend to abandon the Union, while democracy openly de. nounces the Union as it is, and proposes to bury the present Union principles and take whatever form of government may spring from its grave.”’ A Washington correspondent of the Raleigh (N.C.) News writes (March 31):—“I havo just seen Colonel Mosby, who is,as you know, one of Graut's right bowers, He had just come from a conference with the President at the White House, and he says that Grant ¥s still in tho field asa candidate for re-election, that he considers New Hampshire an indorsement of his administration, and is determinod, if possible, to secure a third term.” ‘The Sun, of April 7, said:—"Wo aro bound to report the fact that Senator Conkling is becoming stronger and stronger as a candidate for the nomination of the inpati Convention, General Grant has declared (n his favor, and though Grant's support is now rather injarious in the Northern States it can help greatly io the South. With New York and Pennsylvania and « large force of freedmen and carpet-baggers to back him it will be difficult to beat Mr, Conkling at Cincmnati, and itis more likely than ever that tho republican party of the whole country will soon be shouting for him and proving by figures, which cannot lie, that he is sure to be elected,”