New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-01

NEW"1ON
Trunk and Great Western railroads, after
three months hostilities, and the first consc-
Quence is the restoration of tho old rates for
passenger fares between Detroit and Buffalo.
France il q very poor source from which to
derive valuable information concerning tho
domestic affairs of other countries The story
that the Emperor of Brazil intends to abdicate
in favor of his eldest daughter sounds very
much like numerous other reports from South
America which have appeared in the Paris
journals and afterward proved to DO entirely
without foundation.
Contrary to the expectation of the lawyers
in the Beecher case themselves, it was found
impossible yesterday to finish the ex-
animation of other witnesses in time
to reach Mr.. Beecher. Mr.. Evarts, how
ever. announced that he would be called
this morning. His testimony has been antici-
pated with fevcrish anxiety, and he has never
from tho pulpit addressed an audience
thousandth part as large as that to which he
will speak to-day from the witness stand.
The action Of the Assembly yesterday on
the Senate resolution providing for the ap-
pointment by the Governor of o Commls-
sion for the investigation Of Canal frauds
marks another step in execution OF
the policy of reform. There was no
voice in the negative, but explanations
will DO expected from tho twcnty-six Assem-
blymen recorded as "absent or not voting"
| "a
10y the Governor without delay. and
the Commission ought to be speedily but
carefully appointed with view to immediate
work.
As rule, the stories Of outrages pCrpctratcd
| by Mexican raiders upon American citizens on
the Texas frontier not only do not make any
impression on the mind of the average rea Ter,
but fail even to attract the attention of the
| Government. But of late the reports are so
numerous, and in some cases so trustworthy,
that they cannot be overlooked. Gov. Cokc'S
dispatch to the President yesterday Is an
earnest appeal for protection. He draws
dark picture of tho depredati0ns and crimes
of the Mexicans, and reports that they
threaten the depopulation of the Rio Grande
country. The Secretary of War, in the alb
sence of the President, assures the Governor
that military assistance will be promptly given.
| We suggest that q few companies OF troops
may well be spared from New-Orcans.
The table on our first page to-day exhibits in
q compact and intelligent form the contracts
now pending on the canals of this State,
giving. not only the engineers original est
mate of the cost of the work. but the price at
which it was awarded, and, in cases where
payments have been made, their amount. 1t
| shows the glazing and suspicious contrast which
| exists without exception between the estimate
and the contract price and in many cases the
! excess Of payment, not only over the contract
price but over the estimate. aff0rding, in the
first place, presumption, and IN the second
place proof, of fraud. The Albany letter, on
another page, gives the results of careful
examinations, by engineers specially employed
by TIE TRIBUNE, into the manner in which
a number of the more prominent contracts
are being executed. This story of unblushing
fraud is based on such facts as the Canal
| Ring cannot ignore and cannot meet.
The mass meeting of business mon Mt the
Produce Exchange to-day will give Gov. Tilden
assurance of such support as an honest Gov
| ern0r has the right to expect from the
metropolis IN conflict with the Canal
| thieves who are throttlng it. There is
absolutely no division of sentiment on the
subject in this city, but our business men
must avoid supposing that there is therefore
no battle to be fought The Canal Ring has
been the most powerful political organization
| in this State. Tammany controlled one
party, the Canal Ring controlled BOTH Its
management was less audacious, more skillful
and more dangerous. The members of
it are stung by the exposure, but not
stunned, much less destroyed. They de-
clare that they will defeat at the
polls next Fall every man who has been iden-
tilted with the campaign against them. TO
that threat the business men of New-York
will have an opportunity to-day to show what
| their answer is.
The decision of the United States Supreme
| Court Yesterday in the case of Cruikshank,
Irwin and Hadnot was one of marked import
ance. The case came up from the Circuit
| Court for the District of louisiana on a Ger
| tificate of division. The indictment was for
conspiracy under the sixth section of the
Enforcement act of May, 1870. The main
ouestion involved was whether persons found
guilty Of conspiring to prevent duly qualified
| citizens from voting at any election in the
| State, including Federal elections, and also
| guilty of cOnsDiring to prevent citizens from