National Republican., 1873-12-31

furnished by tue recent ABSORPTION OF the fh-
cinc and Atlantic lines by the Western Uhion.
No sooner docs a competing line begin to
afford some relief 10 the public from
the onerous burdens OF high charges
than this gigantic monopoly steps forward with
an offer too tempting for the cupidity of the
corporators TO Withstand, and gobbles up the
whole business within It's insatiatc nav. Then
the Western Union tariff is shortly adjusted SO
as to extract from the people money enough
to pay the dividends upon the additional stock.
In this manner the public Is ssddled with
about four prices for its tclcgraphic
communications. In the first place, rs = we'll
known among telegraphers, all the linesyn the
country have been stocked at about fouh times
the original cost Of construction. Started In
this manner, like street railways, the dock is
judiciously and carefully retained IN frs,
hands u,til II has been several times diluted
by the watering process, when II is put upon
the market at fabulous prices, the shrewd
ones selling out, and the greenhorns parchas-
ing an " elephant" It is quite possible that
the present owners Of the Western Union
stock have paid for IL nearly It's face. value I;
but II so II Is no criterion by which TO Judge Of
the intrinsic cost Of the property. Tbs evil
In the railway and tclegraphic sysiemdof the
country, involving an enormous tax UPON the
industry and intelligence Of the people, has be-
come almost intolerable. II Is the IMPERATIVE
duty Of Congress to take some mca}ures TO
prevent the watering Of stocks, or assume con-
troll Of these great adjuncts ofcommer}e.
The Richmond Dispa'eh has upon It's edi.
a.. ala 49, .lS. a..
ters not q little over the supposition that the
Government intends TO suppress all future at
tempts to aid the Cubans by sending armed
expeditions from American ports to the Ever
Faithful Isle. WIN Mr.. Fillibustero frankly
admit that he Is slightly prejudiced by the
memories Of the past against Spaina In our
opinion, the Spanish Republic has given salts
factory indications that II is able to compel tho
Volunteers on the island TO obey its authority.
At the same time II has given equally satisfac-
tory indications Of It's intention to do justice to
the Cubans themselves by abolishing slavery,
by granting representation In the Cortes, and
by abrogating many Of the oppressive and pro
scriptlve laws now In force. All these things
demanded by justice, will bo done In time
Meanwhile we can afford to repress the arden
desires Of some Of our would-be heroes, who
fear not the fate Of poor Ryan. Bu,
In doing this the Government will only inter.
fere to prevent violation Of the laws. II th'
Dispatch man. desires to clear cargo Of arm,
| for Cuba or for Spain, he may do so with i'm
punity; but, In view Of our recent experience
as well as the duty we owe to a sister republic
we must be careful that he does not ship him
self or any other lusty warrior at the sam,
time. -Four years hence the Dispatch may sim
another tune, embracing an allusion to Cub
as one of "Grant's satrapys." Wonderful
things, more wonderful than this, have hap
pened in less time than that, and II Is anon,
the probabilities OF the future that, In aspeace
full way, without violation Of law or ignorin
an International duty, Cuba may become eithel
independent or part Of these United States.
The correspondent from this city to tn
Chicago Tribune has been mIsied by some dc
signing person 10 make certain false assertion
regarding General Horace Porter, late privat
secretary to the President. The truth is, ths
General Porter rendered his resignation as a
army officer, aud It was accepted in due forI
with the customary aud legal leave Of absenc
which is granted to officers under such circuu
stances. His contract with the Pullman Pa
ace Car company, with which he Is now col
nected as the chief executive officer, expressl
stipulated that he should resign from Ii
army. His friends In Washington, intlmatel
acquainted with his personal affairs and wit
his intentions, authorize the statement thi
he docs not desire to rc-enter the service;
fact, that nothing less than the demanth I
imperative duty could induce him again TO Al
sumo position Of any kind in the army. II
may have drawn pay at the legal rates allowe'
pending his absence but as this Is customai
with officers similarly situated, and as II
sanctioned by the law Of Congress and u
. regulations OF the War Department, he HI
done nothing wrong The "Army Register
4 printed amer the expiration Of his leave, wi
/, show that his name Is no longer carried On ii
rolls.