New-York tribune., 1874-11-23

Chester offering moro economical sites.
Our correspondence gives details OF this
movement, and suggestions for reforms Dy
prominent business man. who believes that
prompt measures will stay the tide.
Strong arguments are brought forward by
Judge Wiltshire to prove the legality OF the
present government of Arkansas. Among the
many reasons for urging that there should be
no Federal interference in the affairs OF this
State, is the fact that the new constitution
sets safeguards about the public credit, limit
ing the power of taxation aud the issue OF
State and county bonds.
Mr.. Beecher describes an experience in
having sermons reported in the newspapers
which looks as though it might have been
painted from the life. Whatever may be his
knowledge of the exigencies of printing
"office," it can hardly be, however, his own
experience that he relates. His deliverances
from the pulpit are not likely to suffer from
the "cutting down" process very frequently.
Less has been said about the destitution oc-
casioned by drouth and grassboppers in Kansas
than in Nebraska but the number OF sufferers
is equally great. In twelve counties the destruc-
ton of crops is total they are on the extreme
border of settlement, and have been hrst
broken by the plOw within year. The suf-
ferers have expended all their means in build
ing their houses and putting in their crops, and
are now entirely without resource. Prompt
and liberal aid is absolutely required to Keep
| thousands from starving.
Readers of THE TRIBUNE's Western corre-
spondence will recOllect that some months ago
process was described by which certain rail-
roads, owning land grants, enabled the pur-
chasers of their lands to evade the taxes. ibis
operates greatly to the disadvantage OF Gov
ernment lands adjoining, on which the settler
has to pay taxes. Our dispatches indicate that
this system may be carried out with regard to
the large amount of lands for which warrants
are soon to be issued to the Union Pacific and
| other roads Here is case where some legls-
lation is needed, if possible, before the issue OF
warrants.
Winter is not yet upon us, and already we
have the record of highway robbery with
which that season usually opens. There were
two cases of this sort on Saturday night, both
in the more respectable quarter of the city,
and one of them characterized by almost
murderOus violence Unless our police and
courts are prompt and severe with this class
of cases, we shall have more of them. There
| was also murder the same night, growing
out of a discussion of the 1ongshoremen's
strike, and remarkable attempt at incendia-
rism by boy; making altogether heavy
nights work in crime.
In New-Jersey the Democrats are embar-
rassed by their good fortune. They have
large majority on joint ballot. Consequently,
when an Objectionable class of politicians
plead for appointment, the leaders cannot ex-
cuse themselves by saying, "Well, really, we
would help you if we could, but we have to
"ask aid from our opponents" Nevertheless
an effort is to be made to present as clean
record as possible for 1876. Our local columns
indicate the probable choice of United States
Senator to succeed the Hon. j. p. Stockton,
and mention the names to which prominence
is given for the offices of State Treasurer,
Prison Keeper, and Judge of the Supreme
Court.
PierrepOnt, who invented the Third Term
Joke, or even from Gov. Jewell, to Mr.. James
Russell Lowell is a very marked advance. If
it should prove true, as our Washington CORE
spondent intimates, that the President is con-
sidering the propriety of appointing Mr.. Lowell
to the vacant Russian mission, we may have
reason to congratulate him upon selection
that might almost lead us to forget few
Cramers and Silas Hudsons. Massachusetts,
would not be regained by the tender of first
class mission to Prof Lowell, and perhaps
even Mr.. Motley's still sore friends would not
be mollified but the country would gain an
admirable foreign minister, and the Admins
tration would gain credit for once compre-
hending the dignity of high Office and the
sort of citizen the people would like to see
sent to fill it.
The diplomacy of our Secretary of State hav-
ing failed to bring about an agreement for
the settlement of our claim for indemnity on
Spain, he now favOrs a resort to arbitration.
Although provision for this contingency was
made by the Washington protocol, the Ian
guage of that document is not very precise.
We have no information that the Secretary of
State proposes to submit any counter claims
by Spain in like manner to arbitration. But