The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-29
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.



In your issue OF the 9Th inst Is o paragraph
about extortionate gas bills in Jersey City. Please
permit me through the columns OF your paper o
make little statement to petitioners, editors and
legislators. and all others interested In being sup
piled with good quality OF gas AZ fair price.
First-Not i've per cent Of the overcharge In gas
bills Is chargeable to the meter. Second-Oyer
nnety-fve per cent OF Is chargeable TO the infe.
ror quality Of the gas; and II 1t Is intended to gee
relief through legislation let law be made
fixing standard for Ras-say at some figure be-
wv een sixteen and twenty-five candles pOwer-and
back this law with severe penalty for It's inrac-
ton. and then appoint dufitul and efficient nspec.
tors 10 test the gas furnished, and all consumers
viii be pleased and surprised at the excellent light
they have and the cheapness OF their bills The gas
should also be passed through the meter under lull
pressure where small gas bills are desired. You
may remember that 1t was said OF the explosion at
Cincinnati anu At Worcester that the cause thereof
was unknown Now, II were commissioned 10 In
vestgate for the in those cases, first search
would be directed TO the place and manner OF mix
ing air with their gas. 4. ). IL.
Time for tue War in Franc, to be stopped.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
In the name Of humanity ask, "is II not time for
the war TO be stoppeds II the Prusslans arc 80
nearly allied to the tiger creation that once having
tasted blood nothing short of gore and devastation
will satisfy their appetites. why should not nations
whose instincts are more human step In and put an
end the strifet When two private individuais-tne
mug masherp and the 'slasher"-have dispute
and wish to settle in q ''twenty-f0ur feet ringr
whcn is the greater brute OF the two, the laws OF
the country very wisely interfere anu endeavor 10
prevent the disgusting exhibition. Now, II IL be
considered great crime for two obscure men to
pound each other nearly TO DEATH surely 1t must be
at least small one for two powerful, civilized ma
tions to put on the trapplugs OF war ana endeavor
to worry one another TO the very brink OF desuruc-
ton.
In the ring" nothing is allowed but a "fair,
stand-up rght'-n0 hitting "beow the belt" or any
be compelled to measure his length on the sward
through a skilfully directed blow his opponent
quietly walks to his corner" and humanely allows
the unucky wight to take a few seconds rest TO re-
gam his wind. No hitting when down, or kicking,
ana only the two parties most lEteresed-the prin.
cpais IN the quarrei-are permitted to pummel
each other How dltfeIent the case In o war be-
tween nations France ana Prussia, for instance.
Just because one vain man called an emperor.
to make war upon another vain man." called
king egions OF soldiers are led forth to CUT thrust
indescribable sorrow upon millions OF innocent
people; and an INSCRIPTIONS world looks on and
appauds the wondrOus bravery and skill OF the VIC
tors and the determined heroism Of the vanqlshed
and the great and good king after each victory pub
licly thanks the God OF Battles for smiling on his
arms, and also piously nvokes His assistance before
going into the fight. Now, II there be one
thing IN this world more supremacy ridicu-
leus than any other 1t must Ne the spec.
tacle of a commander OF an army about to ami
hate or horribly mutilate tens Of thousands OF his
fellow creatures praying to the Great Creator to
~
would we think or q pIOus murderer who should
make a long prayer before venturinR to stab or
his vanous work with an invocation to Heaven
that the "cops'' might not ''naD" him They would
be laughed at and scorned as vile hypocrtes and
rightly too. How much worse, then, 1t Is for q
commander to perform such farce. 1t Ia hardly
reasonable to suppose that He who made the
world large enough for all,n and gave the sublime
command, 'Do unto others as you would they should
do unto you," can possibly assist few ambitious
men In bringing misery ON the rest Of mankind.
might" We know, "gives right" but those who
chance to have the might must not infer 1t was
given them for the express purpose OF crushing
Sn1 M to have nss ms
We repeat, then, that the war ought to be
stopped: Allowing that France, IN the person
against the PrusSians BY forcing them into war,
she has grevously suffered for 1t, and II the French
lor snamss SAKE 40 not IKE 70 cry qa other
for ner. And should Prussia refuse to halt In her
murderous career the simple alternative would be TO
assist France by force OF arms.
1t may be delicate matter 10 interfere IN national
as well as in family quarrels; but there are two
in isvor Of the French. First England who for many
years past has had faithful ally In France. Where
would Johnny Bull have been In the Crimean war
and bravery the Russiab Bear Would have goeDed
him up, and poor Turkey too. And who will be have
nation alton ike England should stand oy and see her
friend Knocked down, and kicked and stabbed after
she Is down, Is one OF the NEST extraordinary sights
OF the age. But "whom the Gods wish to destroy
they first make mad,' and should "Peridious AL
bon" ever be invaded by a powerful enemy the rest
OF the world could not be blamed for looking quietly
on while Mr.. Bull was being shorn of his greatness
and perhaps his name, now 80 prominent, Obliter-
aed from the list OF nations The other great nation
that should possess vital interest IN the welfare
OF France Is the United States. Because in the first
place, the Americans are republicans. and may,
therefore, very naturally be supposed TO sympathize
with sister republic. Again, 1t is generally under
stood that the French materially assisted our
forefathers in their struggles for indepen.
dence and other occasions, and therefore
1t seems something ike the worst KIND OF
ingratltude to stand with arms folded while
the friend Of our childhood and helplessness is
being worried, devastated shorn of Its glory and
strength and perhaps ruined for centuries to come.
Paris, with Its unequaed treasures Of art belonged
alone to France but to the whole civilized world
and no army Of modern Gotns or vandals should be
permitted 70 destroy It. great nation like the
United yates has only 10 make proper protest,
with hint that the American people will not suffer
their ancient ally to be torn 10 pieces and the Prus
slams would soon be on the march to enjoy their
llmsurger or schwetzer kase and lager in their
Fatherland. 1t Is fine opportunity tor the Amer.
can eagle to scream and put his claws down, and we
trust he Will rot neglect It, Yours respectfully,
"JOHNNY BUILT ASHAMED OF HIS COUNTRY.