The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-04-29
NEw YORK. Anril. 26 1873.

y
libraries of incoherent and bewildering talk up
On every conceivable subject. He has been un-
der the influence of the delusion that he was
destined for the Presidency, during the past six
wears. But that admit is a monomania
which has afflicted great many otherwise sane
men. and would hardly justify straight jacket.
But Train has plunged headlong into every
chimera of his time-has practiced the widest
extravagances of speech and of pen at home
and abroad-has used language in public as
semblages, that it is uncomfortable decent
man of sound mind could be guilty Of And to
crown all he remains voluntary prisoner in
the dismal Tombs of Centre street, refusing to
give bail, and apparently rejoicing in the noto-
riety of his situation. His offense is the viola
ton of the law against obscene publications.
He pleads guilty, with q qualification that he
has written nothing worse than can be found in
the Bible The rawlings of Train in his cell are
of little more account than the screenings Of
parrot in its cage. The public will be glad
when his wild aspirations for martyrdom are
squelched by his release. 1t may be question
whether his insanity is of such an aggravated
type as to warrant his transfer to Lunatic
Asylum. He has never been suspected OF any
other propensity to violence, than hard Nords.
His madness is all talk. He has always been
tee-totaller and has no bad habits. But on all
occasions his tongue runs necessarily GIVE MIN
an audience and he is happy. He can improV-
Use rhymes by the hour, and discourse on any
theme with equal volubility. Wherever ne
goes, on the street, in Hotel, in steamboats,
and rail cars, be will manage to gather crowd
around him and inundate them with torrents OF
words, words, words.
The suspension of the Vienna commission
occasioned great surprise to the community.
Gen. Van Buren, has always borne good rep
utation. and ever since his appointment as
Chief of the Commission, has devoted his en-
tire time to his work. No one dreamed that he
was actuated by any other motives than ambi-
ton for distinction. He was exceedingly proud
Of his position, and evidently determined to In
vest it with all the dignity and grandeur posi-
Bile. But his friends will be slow to believe
that he has sought to make it a source of profit
The more reasonable supposition is that if any
privileges have been farmed out for speculative
purpose, the blame rests with subordinates
not with himself. There is every disposition
here to suspend judgment until the facts of
this painful case are made known.
In any event, it is sad blow to the Gener-
al. He set sail from New York accompanied
by his whole family on the 18th of March,
amid the acclamations of numerous friends,
and with the brightest anticipations of winning
glory and renown from his mission. At the
very threshold of the temple of fame, which he
was so eager to enter, he finds himself super
ceded, and his reputation for u time at least
under dark cloud. Far away from home,
unable to explain or vindicate himself for
weeks, his case calls for the exercise of all the
charity and sympathy due to an absent country
man in distress.
The new Commissioner Col. LeGrand B.
Cannon, is well known and highly respected
citizen of New York, who has been absent in
Europe for nearly a year. His military title
was acquired during the rebellion. He served
on the staff of Gen. Wool He was an earnest,
capable and efficient officer, and whether in
the service or in private life has displayed a
degree of patiotism unsurpassed by any man of
his time. Being gentleman of large wealth,
and uncommon energy, his influence was
widely felt. In 1866 he was the Republican
candidate for Congress in Brooks's district
and made a gallant canvass though the odds
were hopelessly against him. In every good
work whether political or social, Col. Cannon
was sure to be sent to the front. In the Pres-
dental campaign of 1865 he was one of the ac-
knowledged leaders OF the Republican party,
and when he left the country few days prior
to the Philadelphia Convention, he expressed
the most undonbting confidence in the re-elec-
ton of Gen. Grant, of whom he was one of the
earliest and most steadfast supporters.
Among the associates of the new staff, the
NAMES of Theodore Roosevelt, Jackson s.
Schultz, VIM. FL. Aspinwall, Samuel C. Ward
VIM. I. Blodgett and James Renwick will be
instantly recognized as pre-eminently excellent
in every point of view. Mr.. Schultz left here
for Vienna on the 10th inst. and arrived in Liv.
erpool to-day. The other gentlemen have been
in Europe for considerable period. 1t is said
that Mr.. Blodgett and Mr.. Aspinwall are on
their way home, and will not therefore be able
to accept the appointments rendered them, but
there remain five commissioners, either of
gift of the government.
The astounding discovery of defalcation Of
over 100000 by the cashier of the Atlantic Ma
tional Bank was the sensation of Wall street
to-day. That bank with but $500, 600 could
have suffered so great a loss without the knowl
| edge or suspicion of the President or directors
| is a circumstance calculated to weaken publi
| confidence in the management of financia
trusts. The eulpable negligence which render
| ed such stupendous robbery possible, canno
| be too severely censured. The rage for stoc
| speculations, which has grown up since the ad
| vent of an irredeemable currency is the prima
cause of nearly all the derelictions of bank OF
fcers which have from time to time sweep
| away the accumulations of trusting stockhold
ers and depositors. We hear a great deal Q
the fortunes made in single day by audaciou
ventures upon the Exchange, and now ant
| then, a Fisk or Gould succeeds in piling up il
| gotten wealth by millions But these illegiti
mate gains are always represented by CORE:
ponding losses. Of these the general publ
! scarcely ever hear. The victims when the
| lose their money disappear from view and al
seen no more. 1t is only when men like TIL
cashier Taintor, struggling against fate, yiel
to the temptation to purloin moneys and ST
curities, that they may rush into the street an
gamble desperately to retrieve their bad lucl
that we get clue to the sources whence th
fortunate few derive their prodigious profit
To every sharper there are numerous dupe.
As fast as the latter are cleaned OUT ne,
ones take their places. On ten per cent
margin, they buy and ''sell short" sometime
| making little, oftener losing good deal, til
what with commission and interest, their mar
gins run out, and they haven't cent left Fo
it is universally the case that your amateur
jobber in stocks, like all other gamblers. vii
play till he is "dsad broke. He is always SURE
that the tide is just about to turn, and that ont
more risk will save him. If at such a crisis, he
happens to have in his possession trust funds
| 10 touch which is a crime, and to lose which
Is utter ruin, the temptation to appropriate
| them Is too overpowering to be resisted. 1t will
be only for little time He is certain to win
and then he will promptly replace them. IT,
begins by taking portion only of the effects
| confded to his custody. They 60 into the com
mon whirlpool. He must recover them or h,
disgraced and beggared. And so he goes O,
| and on till money, honor, everything is sweep
| away, and he awakes from his feverish dream