davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1872-03-13
THE TWENTY. THIRD STREET COUP DETAT


The satisfaction with which honest citizens
watch the progress of affairs at the Office OF
the Erie Railway Company arises rather from
an appreciation of the causes which made this
startling revolution possible, than from ap-
prOval of all the devices by which the we'll
laid plans of the English stockholders were
carried into execution. None know better
than the law-abiding citizens who rejoice at the
downfall of the Gould usurpaton, that it is
not by surprising Board of Directors, forcing
open DOORS and disrcgarding even the writs
of an Erie judge, that the real owners of the
railroad ought to enter into permanent pos
session Of their property. None know better
than these owners that the officers of the new adj
ministration ought to be chosen by the free vote of
the stockholders, in the emannerprescribcdby law.
The first action of the new Board was to tele-
graph to Albany and urge the passing of the
Southmayd bill; and one of the conditions i'm
posed upon the conquered Gould faction in
the treaty of surrender concluded yesterday
was that Gould and Eldridge should unite in
the same recommendation to the Legislature.
In a word, the Dix party has acknowledged
from the outset that the will of tho share
holders is the only legitimate source of the
Directors power. But when the control Of
the road has been fOrcibly held for years by
q clique of Wall-st frcebootcrs who will not
allow fair vote to be taken, who own the
courts which ought TO give redress, and
corrupt the Legislature which ought to
remedy the injustice of the courts, q
temporary cxpcdicnt like that of Monday
becomes not only allowable but necessary
ol,,iio o1x ,lar
The Dix administration, until it has been rat
fled by q vote of the stockholders, must be
regarded as provisional government, and by
its prompt resolution III favor Of the repeal of
the Classification act SO that this ratification
can be obtained, it has commended itself at
once to the public confidence.
But in the conditions winch enabled Gen.
Sickles and his friends TO carry out their bold
and brilliant scheme there is, as we said be-
fore, abundant cause for satisfaction. That
jaw Could should have been able to baTTicade
himself for twenty-four hours inside the Opera
House. to surround his camp with bruisers, to
sue out writ of injunction. and to threaten
a new course Of Erie litigation, gave no one
much uncasiness for it was evident that the
Gould Ring was shattered. The most power
full of the cOnfederates OF the Erie President
had made terms with the stockholders and
given their chief away. The subordinate Off
GERS Of the road had all turned against him.
lie had reached a point in his career where
money would no longer buy what he needed.
If he went into tho lobbies Of Albany
where he had so often gone before, he found
only rascals who took his brbes and lacked
courage " fulfill their bargain. II he ran to
New-York tribune., 1872-03-13
21rr.,.21oTIs Da:lu GTIbat1!e
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10. 1872.

It's said that the French Commission on Capulations
H., found strong evidence against Marshal Bazaine'
- There was another stormy scene IN the French
Asc,,lly ycs.t rday ===- A telegraph cable Is to be
I,id from epan TO England. == Switzerland Is watch
A., for Italian reyoluuonists the PieGmontese IRON
tier.
In ;tc United states Senate yesterday, bill was ~
oduccd 10 prevent the destruction of timber ana puohc
Juds Some further progress made III the LeSl'la-
,,ve Authorization bill-in the House, the 1erha
I,uer bin was recOmmtted with Instructions Tie OIL
s,crc, AZ tho subsidy to tlo China steamers was debated
utltagth without result.
TJ,e EcpnMilans have carried Ncw-Hanpshre by
,.rhsp, 100 majority. - terrible tragedy mas
,ccurr,d near Albany. The Pcnnsylv wanna LeglSi-
4rc has passed Free Pipe BILL in the interest OF the OIL
,roau,,rs =-= Gen. John c. ". Parker has Deen
oppontcd Surveyor Of Customs at New-OTleans, vice
Gen. Longsreet. resigned
jay Gonld has surrendered, and the new Directory Is
5n full possession Of Erie. =- The murderer Foster
has been granted trial, and the murderer Money
ius has been sentenced to Is months imprisonment.
The Insurance Committee took evidence in favor
Of Superintendent Miller. g. Leet and Stockings
General Order trckery is still further exposed. ==
Gold. uCl. llOt llOl. Thermometer, 80, 35'. Soo
New-York tribune., 1872-03-13
THE CENTENdRY COMMISSION.

The United States Centennial Commission
ers, who have been holding their initial meet
ing at Philadelphia, adjourned on Monday last
to meet again in May. They have begun their
work with the energy and sound practical
sense which we anticipated. The Commission
Is now thoroughly organized as working
body, site for the buildings of the Exposition
has been chosen, State organizations are pro-
jcctcd and last but not least in Importance,
a definite plan resolved upon for raising the
money necessary. An effort is to be made to
obtain a grant from the National Government,
and, failing in that, the different States are
to be urged each to contribute her quota to-
ward the expenses. While either of these
methods would be just and appropriate, per-
haps the latter is to be preferred as tending
TO excite keenor individual interest in the
great enterprise, and more thorough esprit
dc corps among tie whole of the States.
We are pleased to observe that no effort was
made by Philadelphia or Pennsylvania, during
the sitting of the Commission, to convert this
National Thanksgiving into q local money
making speculation. The k-jobbing scheme
of a few indviduals-to which we called atten-
ton in time to prevent its being clandestinely
hurried through the Philadelphia Councils and
the State Legislature three days before the
assembling Of the Commissioners, and which
would have taken the whole affair out of their
hands and made their coming farce-was de-
feated the moment it was made matter of public
notoriety. The majority of Philadelphians, we
are glad to certify, have too high sense of
their own honesty and the honor of their city
to suffer both to be misrepresentcd by few
greedy politicians. A different class of men
apparently took charge OF her conduct. Phila-
delphia will in any case be an enormous gamer
by the profits of the Centenary, and she will
lose nothing by the generous courtesy with
which SO far she has played the host.
New-York tribune., 1872-03-13

the courts he found his judges busy In the
task of saving their own heads. His own Oh
fee was full of spies and traitors. Or the SIX
teen associates who had plotted with him III
the Board room, the boldest and the most IN
genious was dead Another, versed in all the
arts of corruption and legislative legerdemaln,
was an indicted felOn, trembling at the pros
pect of cell and striped jacket a thlrd
had quarreled with him rather than JOIN IN
scheme to swindle Fisks widow. Two or
three more were known to be on the point OF
desertion, and at the last only three stood by
their leader. 1t il bitter hour in the life OF
q man like Gould, who has learned to think
that every human being has his price, ana that
laws, and courts, and virtue can be Dought
and sold like merchandise, when he dls-
covers that gold has lost its purchasing
power, and there is after all superior force,
be it fear, or conscience, or public opinion,
or what you will, against which even the
purse of Fortunatus could do nothing. In
truth, to close observers it has been evident
for many months that such an hour for
Gould could not long be deferred. Fisk saw
the shadow Of the coming misfortune. Gould
himself had an ill-dcfined dread of it when
he compelled his pal to leave the Nice-Presl-
dcncy. The Office of the Erie Railway Com
pany ceased some time ago to be the hall Oh
wild revclry ard vulgar riot which 1t used to
be in Fisks prosperous days. The conspira-
tors sat around the table with blanched faces
and uneasy eyes, every man listening for the
constable at the door, and wondering whether
he could betray his fellows before he was
betrayed himself. We need not inquire just
how the revolution at last was brought about.
Revolutions always suppose previous state
of public feeling favorable to their purposes.
We know that for six months popular
hatred of fraud has been gathering strength,
and in this purified moral atmosphere scores
of gigantic wrongs have been crumbling into
ruins The Erie Ring was ready to fall to
pieces before it was fairly attacked by this
English combination and so with one we'll
aimed blow from q man whose habit it is to
strike to some purpose when ne strikes at all,
it is numbered with the scandals of the past.
New-York tribune., 1872-03-13
An OLD LIE REVAMPED.

Hank" Smith, not content with some $4,000
$4,000 year Police Commissioner Is shown to be
directly sharing in the dirty drppings OF the Ring and
this the very time when he not only President OF
"a nominal Republican Association but was a momoer OF
the General Committee which Mr. Greeley presided
indeed was, If mistake not, member OF the sub
committee which nominated Mr Greeley for Chairman.
Hank" claims to have paid. in single year, more
than thousand dollars of these stealngs OF the Ring
directly toward keeping alive the Committee which had
Mr.. Greeley its head aud yet the latter Innocent gen
teman objects 10 being accused OF assocating with Tam
many Republicans!
ResponSe BY The 1ribune.-Mr. Hank" Smith
Gf that is the way to spell his name) was
never seen in the Union Republican General
Committee while Mr.. Greeley was its Chair
man, nor since. Mr.. G.'s recollection is that
he was elected to that Committee but never
took his seat in it, and soon resigned and let
another be chosen in his stead. That he was
never at any of the many meetings over which
Mr.. 6. presided, is morally certain. And that
he claims" to have paid $4,000 or any such
sum, for keeping alive the Committee which
chad Mr.. Greeley at its head" has not even a
shadow of probability.
But The Times has cried Hank Smith so
long and 80 necessarily that it seems high
Smith is Police Commissioner, elected by
Republican Legislature at time when his
intimate relations with Tweed ~ Co. were
well known and unconcealed. He was nOmi-
mated for that responsible post by the enemies
of Gov. Fcnton and TIE TRIBUNE, under the
lead of Thomas Murphy. We beliere that
money secured that nomination; but, since we
do not know, we will not charge it. lie was
made a member of the Republican State Com
mittce and of its Executive Committee by the
Murphy wing" of the party, in opposition to
that with which we acted and still act. If
his godfathers have not had all the use OF
him they bargained for, that is none of oar
business They put him intO the Police Com
mission; they now charge him over to us, and
demand that We get him out We decline, for
lack of power, and because it is none OF our
funeral.
New-York tribune., 1872-03-13

They seem to depend on rather poor al
manacs up the Eric Road. The Deposit courier
fancies that Gov. Fenton il likely to be "a
candidate for tho u. s. Senate next Winter
against Roscoe Conkling, when Mr.. Fcnton's
present term does not expire till 1870! Just
listcn
"Tho object of TryaIBUsE ia plain to be seen 10 as
sumos that bir Ford viii be candidate for reelection to
the Legislature next Fall, which Legislature has de-
volying upon 1t the great responsibility OF choosing
United States Senator for the six years following tho ih
OF March. 1873. II ensues then. from TIE fRDuNR's
stand point that he Nir Ford) win iavOr tLc roGccton
New-York tribune., 1872-03-13
THOMAS G. SIIEARMAN ON THE SITUATION
of tho ciucuInstnncDA which

THOMAS G. SIIEARMAN ON THE SITUATION.
In explanation of the circumstances which
led TO Goulis retirement, Mr.. shearman said last
evening:
Many Of the gentlemen engaged in the movement In
u, NJ oYId Wien the FIRST 1l in the excite
ment yesterday occurred, some gentlemen engaged Ia
the opposition movement sent Tor me, ana assured mo
that the movement implied personal animosiY 10 Mr..
Could they only wanted change IN the administration
of the road and they wanted to know 1t was not pos
sble 70 negotiate u settlement between the
might be removed, and at the same tim:
having been removed from hls 0ince as President L
told them that there was not doubt In my mind AS TO
the regularity and legality OF Mr. Goulds position and
his power under these circumstances with the ana OF
his friends among the directors still in Office to up all
secure entire control OF the management but also
told them that good reason TO believe that Mr. Gould
continue in the management. and that should avlss
him to retire, IL he could do so honestly, but wOuld
advise is ine h na,er to ed mr. G real
met me this morning at an cary hG R a9d ose Te nd
ree conference with Mr.. Could which uted III tho
course We have taken, for we soon saw our way 10
made for "A meeting between Gen. sickles. Mr. Dudley
Field and myself which took place before II oepIA anu
and desire do justice 10 all parties; as We had noth
ing ask, except assurance of justice to the
consistent with the serespect OF Mr. Gould II an not
take long to agree upon the propositions 10 Dc suDt
Directors. 80
Gen Sckess friends were left free TO assert the legality
OF their own Board, and Mr. Gould aud his friends Wefe
left equally tree 10 assert the exclusive regularity OF
their BOar. But Mr. Gould had no objection whatever
to the gentlemen who composed the new Board eight OF
whom indeed were already recognized by HIM as legal
directors of the Company He, therefore, issued call
for meeting, to be held by these eight directors, six OF
whom ATTENDED the meeting III tue regular dlrectors
ROOM Mr. Gould presiding Mr.. Gould then resigned his
position President, and the nine vacancies on the
beard were filed the selection OF the nine friends o.
Gen Sices, who had entered the socallcd new Board
These gentlemen took their seats, and Gen. DIX WAS
unanimously elected President by the entire Boafd
which was thus one of unquestionabe legality
New-York tribune., 1872-03-13
amrs,meuts. etr.. CHS gpenins.

Ac.nrMy OF Muac.-Italian Opera; La i'"''-
uu" Mile Nilsson. pootl
FIFTH AVENUE THEArER.-" D1'or'c' A. ,-,
Wool -. " uv,,rty
rrmrt," Reconstrpcted g. Ia f"I
pe%pV .s Tur,rrR.-"M Marriage" J. s. Mackave
APE TuEATER-At 2i and at 8: Variety
WuI.cK,s TuEATER The Veteran Lester
wslhok
sTElNwAY HAII~-AtS s: Pianoforte Recitals Miss
Aehhg.
SAN FRANCIsCo MINsTREIs.-Birch. Wamboid, ETC.
NENN-YoRK CIRCV's Fourteenth-st, between lhird
.Dd Fourthsve AT u and at 8; "CindereA'
New-York tribune., 1872-03-13

We congratulate the City and the State on
the complete success of Gen. SckIcs's mag
nifcent coup d Gt0t in Erie All remaining
differences were yesterday settled by general
consents the authority of the new officers
is universally acknowledged and obcyed ;
Mr.. Gould remains temporarily a Director,
and we are informed that all parties
telegraphed last evening to Albany
that considering the present arrange
ment provisional only, they desired the speedy
passage of the SOuthmayd bill, which provides
for a new election of Directors by the votes
of all the Stockholders. Gen. Sickles per-
emptorily denies that the movement is in the
interest of the Atlantic and Great Western. So
the consummation so long delayed, so earnestly
desired, seems at hand. Worth Millions as it is
to American credit in Europe, it is worth even
more as vndicatiOn of American character
from a reproach too long endured as though
irremediablc. Let us hope that other abuses
are also on the way to speedy correction
New-York tribune., 1872-03-13

Of Mr. Grecieys pct, the Hon. X. f. Fenton' ana 'nn'
tho Oneida statesman dr. Conkln0 will return 70
his home I'm disgrace"
What now of THE TRIBUsE's standpoint Y
New-York tribune., 1872-03-13

A telegram from Paris to tho Associated
Press informs us that Mr.. Sumner was mis-
taken when he stated, in bringing forward his
resolution of inquiry into the sale of arms, that
the Committee on War Contracts in the French
Assembly had requested the United States
Government to communicate the result of its
investigations into this subject-a request
which occasioned considerable remark in Wash
ington, since it purpOrted to have been made
several days before an investigation had even
been suggested. The Associated Press now
tells us that no such resolution was offered or
even thought of in tho French Committee.
But it was the Associated Press which misled
Mr.. Sumner, by means of the following dis
patch, dated Paris, Feb. 0:
Tne Assembly Committee War Contracts has adopted
resolution asking the United States Government to
furnish the result or the inquiry into the conduct OF
American officials who suspected OF participating
in the purchase of for the French Government
during the war;"
We dare say Mr.. Sumner, in common with
great many people, would feel obliged to the
press agent for an explanation.
New-York tribune., 1872-03-13
TEENS or The TRIBUNE.

DA-Y TrrrUNr, Mail Subscribers, $40 per annnm.
Sr,f.N, FiKIY TRIBUNE Mail subscribers, 81 per-
WMIIY TRIBUNE. Mail Subscribers. 81 per annum'
Advertising Rates.
pAuv TRIRUNE Soc. 4Oc., 50c., 15c., and ~ per line
Sr,-.-NIrKLY TRIBUNE. 25 and 80 cents peT line.
NEIAIY TRIBUNE, So, SO, and So per line,
According to position III the paper
Terms, cash in advance.
Address. THE TRIBUNE. New-York.
Tur WEEKLY TRIBUNE will be ready this
morn ng at O'Clock, i'll wrappers Tor mailing Price
cents
New-York tribune., 1872-03-13
Dneinres Notlfes.

SAVE FIFTEEN DOLLARS.
Rur the celebrated WnsoN SHUTTLE SEwNs MACHINE Inc oss
A.. ~orM Prcc sold payments Of S. month War
nied r good Canassers aud Agents wsal Ohoe
.p5 WILSON SEwiNGMAcHNE COMPANY, 1O7 BosdwSy
To CoXsIM sIMPTIyFS.-Many have been happy
20 gve testimony In favor Of the of WuRoKs fuk
livEE on Experience has proved 1t TO be S ~,
Asthma, Nphheria, ant all diseases
Manufactured only by A. b. MILbOk 'n ~
lt6 Court-st, Boston. Sold by druggists generally, ,--
ONLY COMPANY IN AMERICA writing leariy
G,peral Accident Pole es-The TRAVELLERS OF Hartford
BARGAINS in JEwELRY and WATCHES-oeli'
ins Of Al less wholesale prices ,.., =.
's vs. Gro c ALLEN, 84l Broadway, neif Fourteen'hst
Wedding Notes, Ball Cards, Monograms, Orders
Of Dsucu Bal Jas Everiel 3O Broadway Esaesno @
DID 1T DO RIGHT to bring dat keg up de hln7
u il rd WiLLIANs EXTRACT JAAAcA GlSGhh yes Joe
ARTIFICIALTTIEs-PALMER LIMBS.
i-P Broava n T.; 1909 Che'nuis, PAl; 81 Gree St Booa
Fans. Jewclry, and Watches repaired.
GEo. {. ALIEN. 84l Broa+vay, near FouT'e'rDs~
New-York tribune., 1872-03-13

donot seem to us precisely the qualifications
which the Presidents enthusiastic Civil Service
message led us TO believe he would hereafter
seek in all appointments under the reform no
pledged himself to institute. What does the
amiablo President of the Civil Service Com
mission think of themY
New-York tribune., 1872-03-13

There is hopeful prospect of the defeat OF
the infamous scheme of the so-called Southern
Improvement Company 10 throttle the petro-
Ieum industry of Pennsylvania. The mOnopo-
lists, who thought they had control of every
IMlroad outlet of the oil regions, are prac-
ticaly put into chancery, and are not likely to
bc taken out very soon. This time popular
jpdiena,iOn has been too much for monopoly.
New-York tribune., 1872-03-13

We should really like to know what Mr.. Mace the
bruscr can have been originally. His prof ssional
rival, Mr. OBaldwin, has written letter Of an OBJ
jurgatory character, alludng to the dross Of the
drcgs of society" from which Mr.. Mace sprung.
Now Mr. Mace at present is prize-iShter, OF rather
dubious standing Il rum-sellor, and tho keeper Of
gambling shop; and if he only reached this social
elevation by "spingng up" pray whero did he
atuIi
New-York tribune., 1872-03-13

In the investigation of Printing abuses, now
conducted by the Assembly, one of Mr. Tweed's
LEGISLATORS comes to the front with candid
acknowledgment of official present-taking. Mr.
Montanye, who was Chairman OF the Assem-
bly, Committee on Printing last year, contesses
to accepting $500 from Weed, Parsons ~ Co.,
and like sum from The Argus printing con-
cern. What is more, he jauntily justiiics this
sort of bribery, which, like the unfortunate
Tcrwillger, he considered ga regular thing"
He had great deal of running about to do,
he complains, and thought it great hardship
that he should be obliged to work, without
extra pay while the rest of the members were
having q good time sleigh-riding, &c. The
trade Of politics deadens the cOnsciences OF
men to such degree that like Mr. Montaync
men can accept presents from contractors, and
then boast of their good luck and smartness.
1t is in evidence that Mr.. Montanye professed
to have received $4,000, instead of $500; but
he may have been only giving rcms to his
! Imagination. His debasemcnt is complete
enough
New-York tribune., 1872-03-13

They had another Of those nonsenscal exhibitions
called tournaments in Aiken, ). C.. on the 9th
inst. The chiyalry Of the thing must have been in
line keeping for one of the "Knights" personated
"Iumpty Dumpty," and another "Wild lrsbman."
"Thc Prince of Orange" won the first prize; the
Duke of York The second and II knight" called
"Ku Klux" the third. Could anything take us more
forcibly back to the days of the Crusades' Imagine
one Of Spenscrs gentle knights prcking on the plain
to tilt at a ring in Aiken. >. c..
New-York tribune., 1872-03-13

The Senate Committee of Investigation stilI
receives unwecome evidence in New YORK
Custom house affairs. The Chairman OF inc
Committee, yesterday, badgcred Gen. Palmcrs \.
Private Secretary for a long while. pnt uiu
not manage to shake his evidence bearing Oh
the unsavory Corrigan matter This Corr'san'
it will be recollccted, was a day
laborer who was made tho excuse
by Collector Murphy for interfering
with the removals in the Appraisers Depart
ment. One would judge, from the evidence
which is now confirmed, that the President was
rs much interested about Corrigan's case as
about any question of domestic or foreign
policy. The other testimony was conclusive,
also, as to the boasts which Lect made con-
cerning his influence at Washington. Inc
more this business is agitated, the more dis
creditable does the Custom-hOuse Ring appear
But, nevertheless, it has q long life.
New-York tribune., 1872-03-13

II is said. in one obituary notice of NJ Cont, Louis
Napoleons Cabinet chief, that he had the courage
to write poetry without being forced TO do so. and
modcsty sufficiently intrepid not 10 publish it, O.!
boarding-school misses and inspired young collie
gians why will you not follow tho praiseworthy cx-
ample of this good gcntlemanR We do not object
to verso-makng as private accomplishment, for 1t
may be made a pleasant, refined. and oven useful
amusement; but we have FIVE hundred and one OBJ
jections. some Of them personal, some moral. and
some critical to the passion for printing verse of
which already there il no lack, and for which the
world has nothing but ignOble uses.