The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-07-17
Brief Comments ON Currcu, Topic,.


The City Government deserves great credit
for the promptness and vigor Of its action ON
the important questions which have come be-
fore 1t since the fire. The ordinance forbiding
the erection of wooden buildings within the
city limits, except under certain restrictions,
Is already in force 1t ought still to be CON
sidered whether an amendment requiring roofs
of new buildings to be slated is not impera-
lively demanded. The committee on new
streets is busy with the suggestions received
from various quarters, and several improve
ments which will commend themselves to the
good judgment of the community are already
under consideration, and will be reported for
action at an early date. The proposed public
square in front of City Hall will be great
convenience, mot only to loungers and strangers,
who form by no means despicable class,
but for outdoor meetings and concerts. A
mall somewhere between Congress street and
Back Cove would serve to make that region
more attractive for householders, and may be
worth considering at least as temporary
measure. The application to the State Gov
eminent for enlarged powers for taking land
for public uses will meet, we trust, with iav-
orable reception, and when the power is grant
ed we hope and believe it will be fearlessly
used without regard to the eroaking which
will be sure to arise in some quarters about
expense. This is no time for penny-wise,
pound foolish policy. The generations to come
will thank us, if we seize now the opportunity
which has arrived, to regulate and control the
growth of the city, instead of allowing it to
grow up in mere confusion and disorder. The
committee for distributing the relief fund has
wisely determined to render assistance where
needed, to parties who desire to build. They
say nothing in their public notice about the
character of the buildings to be put up by this
means, but we hope their enquiries will include
this point with the others named. q
THE dissolution of the Cabinet which sur
rounded Abraham Lincoln, and the ncmina-
ton of the president of the "Bread and But
ter club of Johnson politicians for the place
vacated by Postmaster General Dennison, are
significant circumstances. The Philadelphia
Convention hasfallcn into the~hands of the
Democrats, and Mr.. Raymond has avoRed his
intention of withdrawing from the movement.
There can no longer be any doubt that Mr..
johnson will fall into the same hands-indeed
his recent Every respectful letter to the Tam
many club sufficiently shows that he has al
ready accomplished the facile descent. Con-
gress proposes to adjourn next Monday, If
the Thirty nineth Congress leaves in the hands
of an avowed enemy that enormous engine of
corruption which the Executive patronage has
become, power too great and dangerous to
be trusted even in the hands OF friend, then
the Congress which has deserved so well of
the country will nevertheless have failed to
act in most important crisis, and will be just
ly held responsible for its failure.
THE arrival of the Nova Scotian off Farther
Point gives us two days later intelligence from
Europe A great battle was fought in Bohe-
mia on the Sd inst, and as might have been
expected from previous advices, the Austrians
were completely routed. Field Marshal Won
Gablenz appeared at the Prussian headquar-
tiers on the evening Of the 4th, with flag of
truce. On the 9Th the Paris Moniteur an
nounced that the Emperor of Austria, having
maintained the honor Of his arms in Italy and
concurring in the opinions expressed in Napo-
cons famous letter of June 18th to the French
Minister Of Foreign Affairs, was willing to cede
Venetia to the Emperor of the French, and
accept his mediation for peace. Napoleon
Immediately communicated with the Kings of
of Prussia and Italy, asking for an armistice
Their replies had not been received. The war,
brief as it has been, has assured the supreme
cy of Prussia in Germany if it ends now
Venetia belongs to Italy by every right, geo.
graphical or national, and the transfer to Ma
poleon can only be regarded as an indirect
cession to Victor Emmanuel. Whether the
French Emperor will not require some reward
for his mediatorial services. say in the direc-
ton of the Rhine, remains to be seen. faz'
NEAL Dow was entertained by friends of
the Temperance cause in Dublin on the Goth,
and at Cork on the 22d ult. In both cities IT.
was acknowledged that the abstinence move
ment is at low ebb. y