The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-01

Such Is hasty outline OF the leading events
Of the past twelve months.
CONDITION OF THE NEWSPAPERS IN THIS
CouETEY.--During the past year the journals
of the United States, both city and country,
have suffered greater depression in their busi-
ness affairs than was ever experienced in any
preceding twelvemonth. Rard times has lain
his whitening fingers upon them, as well as
upon nearly every other branch of business,
and its effects may be seen ia the sickly exist
ence that attaches itself to large nuziber of
what have been previously considered well pay
ing and profitable papers,
The year 1864 will date the demise OF many
an influential journal in this country, whose
propriercrs had labored under their burdens
ana struggled almost against hope to sustain
their enterprises, but were ultimately weighed
down by overpowering exigencies until their
capital, their ambition, and their fondest hopes
sunk into one common grave. Others have
been forced to curtail their dimensions thereby
materially reducing their expenses, and con-
tributiDg to exc ont an existence fraught with
financial difficulties, ana encompassed with all
the other troubles incident to revulsion in
trade and o general tightness in monetary
affairs. Nearly all have been compelled 90
lessen their expenses in some way-the greater
portion by reducing the number OF men in their
employ, and using larger type in their news
departments.
Two great causes Of the suffering among
newspapers has been the high price Of paper
onAt he faIl xx,fp H. du tain
age, the latter OF which il as essential to the
prosperity Of newspaper establishment as
food is to mans existence and when the re-
ceipts from this source begin to diminish, and
the expenses Of paper increase, two vital stabs
are made, and the life Of the journal is in dan
ger. Then comes the struggle under difficult
ties, as has been the case during the year just
closed; and If the signs of the times Indicate
Alright, will continue 30 TO be for some time to
come. The END is not yet, and we shall be
prepared soon to see more OF our cotempOra-
ries, even some of great pretensons 10 this city,
passing into that underlined bourne, never to
return.
Amid all this wreck, all these difficulties,
these suspensions, reductions aud curtailments,
move, in the even tenor of it's way, supported
BY an enlightened public aud pat ronised for its
usefulness.
CRIMINAL STATISTICS FOR 1S54.-We lately
published an annual list Of the criminal Stats
tics Of the year 1854, from which it appears
that the numbar nf arraisnmAnis hessro suo
Conr.s VI General and Special Sessions has
been less than those of the year previous In
the Court of General Sessions, during the year
1853, 1856 persons were convicted OF felonies
and misdemeanors, while during the year 1854
there were onlyt 544 convictions, SO in the
Court Of Special Sessions there were 5,l4s
convictions in 1853, while in 1854 there were
only 4,S78
With such mixed population az ours it is
somewhat curious to notice the different species
of crime to which different nationalities are nd.
dicted. We heard a learned judge Of great ex-
perence in the criminal courts of New York
once remark that nearly ali the murders, riots,
ADD violent assaults were committed by Irish
men; daring burg,aries and highway robberies
by Englishmen; petty thefss and larcenies by
Germans; and airoit forgeries, obtaining goods
under false pretences, and similar offences by
Americans.
From our own observation we are enabled 10
endorse this statement as being perfectly cor
rect But the proportion Of native born crimi-
rails is trihing compared with those Of foreign
birth. We venture to say, without fear Of con-
tradiction, that within the limits of the city of
New York, there are five times a. many Irish
men convicted "a native americans. During
the past year there were upwards OF one hun
dred and fifty convictions fer crimes of sio-
lent nature, instigsted by revenge or by wanton
brutality, ana often committed under the in
fuence Of strong drink. These are mostly. ii
not altogether, attributable to the Irish Eng
lsh criminals are scarce ID number, but zach
n they are they have rendered themselves suf-
fciently notorious by daring robberies ana bur
giariee, They are composed chiefly Of men who
first earned an unenviable reputation in their
own country, and, being hunted down ny the
police, escaped 20 continue their depredauons
mere until they are brought 10 trial ana COZ.
demned 10 the State prison. Germans figure
largely in the list as perpetrators of petty
iarcenies, receivers OF stolen goods, and not
nnfrequently "a parties to assault and battery.
On the other hand, whsre some grand scheme
is set on foot for obtaining money, ana ingeni-
GUS frauds arc practised on the public, an
American, with rare exceptions, is sure 10 be
the head AID front of the offence.
IN examination Of these criminal statistics
gives us another reason 20 rejoice at the rise
md progress Of the present native American
party. BY no principle of justice can We be
expected to receive among us the offscouriags
Of the European population This kidd al IN.
migration during the past few years mas multi
piled vice in sil orr large cities, has filled our