New-York tribune., 1874-11-18

which the probable changes are very fully de-
tailed. Moderation 10 expected on the part OF
the victors; but some alterations OF the city
charter may be safely predicted, at least to
the extent of changing the control OF the
Departments
Republcanism is to organize against Grant
ism-that seems to be about the substance OF
the latest Washington developments. 1t is
the only practical line of policy for those
Republican leaders who believe it possible
yet to do something in 1876 to turn back the
tide which few weeks ago came near. sub
merging them. The late elections certainly
did not mean the death of the Republican
party, or the permanent triumph Of the De-
mocracy What they did mean was the res
olution of Republicans to use any means
in their power, whether by staying away from
the polls or by voting the opposition ticket.
to destroy Grantism. We think it will be
found that they did destroy it.
Two steamboat disasters are reported In our
columns; one of most unusual character,
| the vessel sinking at its wharf at New
Orleans during the night, three OF four hours
thus drowned There is as yet no explana-
| ton of this occurrence, and until the steam
boat is raised, speculation as to the causo OF
her sudden sinking is fruitless. The other
disaster happened on tug-bOat in our own
waters. and though deplOrable, is not in the
least strange. leaky boiler with rent OF
half its length had been patched within day
or two, and when it exploded yesterday after
noon in He'll Gate, killing the captain and
two or three men, the pressure OF steam was
at least rs of the 80 pounds allowed by law
before the patching.
Judge Humphreys is justly indignant at the
arrest of Hayes, and characterizes it as an at
tempt to ObstIuct the course OF justice IN the
Safe Burglary case. 1t is supposed that the
intention of Whitley was to influence the jury
by this arrest and his oath that Hayes had
committed perjury but he will now have to
defend himself against Judge Humphreys's
prosecution for contempt, while the effect of
his high-handed proceeding on the minds of
the jury will probably be the reverse of what
he anticipated. The theory of the defense in
the suit itself. as thus far shown, is that the
safe burglary was merely scheme of Hayes
and Zirruth but strange as is the generally
received theory of the plot, this would be
stranger still, and it must tax the ingenuity of
the defendants counsel to make their new hy-
pothess square with the facts.
James O'Drien has been disreputable poll
tician of the Tweed school In this city, VINO
ouarreled with Tweed and his crowd, and did
good service by revealing their secrets.
Whether justly or unjustly, he has had the
reputation of being brawler and political
ruffan, and has certainly been surrounded by
relatives and other followers of that type.
Coroner Croker, although not so notorious, is
probably man of very much the same character
and caliber. They got into violent braWl
on the morning of the election, in the course
of which an innocent person was shot. AS
Mr.. O'Brien happens, at this time, TO be on
the Administration side his story concerning
the responsibility of Croker for the
murder has been generally accepted in
Administration circles. AS MIR. Croker
WAS on the side of the Tammany
candidate, several of the Tammany magnates,
some of the highest resDectability and others
of less satisfactory repute, have espoused his
side. The Grand Jury has indicted Coroner
Croker. Under the circumstances the lndlot-
nent seems to us warranted, and we hope to
see o prompt and fair trial without partisan
interference on either side. So far as the
public know it was brutal and bloody brawl
between reckless ward politicians, with very
little in the personal character of either side
to enttle their representations to any
special regard as against the Others.
OBrien is the more notorious, he had the
larger personal interests at stake, and it is
entirely certain that whether Croker was or
was not guilty of the actual shooting, O'Brien
was at any rate guilty of provoking brawl,
while he stood before the public in the atti-
tude of an Administration candidate for
seat in Congress. Good citizens will be very
apt to reserve their sympathies and await the
settlement of the facts by competent court.