New-York tribune., 1874-07-30

The meeting of the Democratic State Gen.
trail Committee of Illinois may indicate turn
ing point in the politics of that State. 1t was
attended by number of men who have hith-
erto been prominently identified with the Re-
publican party, and whose accession to
the ranks of its opponents is notable.
The address issued appeals alike to Democrats,
Liberals, and all who are opposed to the Adj
mnistratiOn wing of the Republican party. In
Alabama the Democratic State Convention
exhibited remarkable unanimity of feeling
and nominated the Hon. Geo. S. Houston by
a rising vote. The platform is not yet an
nounced.
To the story of the great disaster by Hood
in the vicinity of Pittsburgh there are added
this morning some additional thrilling details
of narrow escapes and terrible deaths. The
loss of life, though larger than was at first
reported, will probably be less than two
hundred, and many persons now missing VIII
vet be found alive. OF the value OF the
property damaged and destroyed no
new estimate is given, but the bridges
have generally been repaired and rail-
| road travel is unObstructed. The people OF
Pittsburgh and Allegheny are quick to respond
to the call for charity which comes from their
destitute and suffering neighbors, and 1t is to
be hoped that the liberal hearted of other cities
will not allow them to bear the burden alone.
1t appears to be the fate of the chief actors
:. in the deplorable Brooklyn scandal which still
poisons the atmosphere, to move perpetuaiiy
amid cloud of lies. The latest phase of the
case, the arrest of T1lton, in the multitude oil
conflicting stories, seems likely to prove OF as
| doubtful origin, uncertain purpose, and incon-
sequent end as any of the rest. But of third
hand tattling, and the eager rush of extraor-
dinary women to publish to the world what
prurient stories they have been retailing in
! strictest confidence for years past to all their
dear five hundred friends, each day brings its
| larger load. Miss Susan b. AnthOny's brother Is
| the last and nastiest of these old women gos-
| sips; though there is a serious rival III the
| person of Newly "artist." Meantime Mr.
Beecher and his friends are gravely strainlng
the patience of public that eagerly waits for
| the proof that it may still trust them.
! 1t appears by letter from one of the
! jurors who convicted Tweed that injudicious
| friends of the prisoner are endeavOring to
I
bribe the Jurors to petition for his pardon
after serving one year Such action if per-
sisted in will simply injure the prisoner The
public are indisposed to insist that Tweed
shall be confined to the contracted cells of
the Penitentiary, one of which his gross body
would almost fill. Such confinement in his
case would be torture his constant employ
ment at the hard labor to which the law SEN
fenced HIM would soon result IN death, to
which the law did not sentence him. In his
peculiar case the Commissioners are warranted
| in applying such rules as common sense die
tates, consistent with his security and the per-
| formance of such physical labor as is possible
for such man. His friends will only make
! the public less lenient in this regard by talk
! ing thus early of mitigation OF a sentence
which in the first place was too lght.