New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-09
month or more after the annual one, scarcely
touches the merits of the case.

There has been spirited debate in the Cana
dian Parliament on protection, occasioned by
Mr. Workman moving an amendment to the
Supply bill, censuring the Government 1or no'
adopting that policy. Sir John Mcdonald spoke
strongly in favor of protection, and was an
swered by Mr.. Mackenzie, the Premier, VINO
as warmly sustained free trade The amend
ment was rejected by 119 to Ga. The debate
and the voting show that there is an active
and resolute prOtectiOnist minority, which Is
likely to be stronger when the question assumes
practical shape.
In the House the angry discussion on the
Belknap investigation partakes of the charac-
ter of nearly all the debates of this session, IN
being chiefly an endeavor on either side TO
make political capital out of the errors OF Its
opponent. Mr.. HOar has suggested that the
Republicans, if they had the management,
would quickly have Mr.. Belknap both indicted
and mpeached; perhaps that is too much 10
believe but there does seem to be the danger
as the matter stands that, as Mr.. Blaine fears,
the ex-Secretary will slip between the two
stools and escape.
The anxiety of our merchants that the
pledged word of the nation shall be kept as
TO resumption in 1879 finds further utterance
in the resolutions of the Importers and Gro
GERS Board of Trade. The mercantile classes
of this city include quite as many debtors as
creditors, and their practical unanimity on this
subject shows that they do not believe IN the
absurd theory that restoration of specie pay
ments will increase their burdens. The shock
b hot ,ust OlpdUp
resume is repudiated in advance, will prove
far more costly than would the efforts neces-
sary to meet the promise.
The Senate has refused PinChback his seat.
Only five Republican Senators united in the
work but it is enough. All honor to them
for it. 1t is amazing how suddenly spasm
of virtue attacks the party in power after
such an affair "a the Belknap explosion. Here
we have in quick succession the best Minister
we have had named for England since John
LathrOp Motley was driven out and Chas.
Sumner expelled from the party for complain
ing of il, two or three excellent men talked OF
for War Secretary, and man of unquestioned
character and ability finally selected. Babcock
sent to the right about, and Pinchback told to
90 home What an avalanche of decency we
might expect if Robson should follow Bel
KNAPP, or Ingalls, come to sudden grief
We might fairly hope at least that it
would not be until after the nominal
ting conventions that man like Caleb Cush-
ing should again be nominated for such an
Office as Chief Justice. or another Chandler
selected to succeed another DelanO, or new
Boss. Shepherd thrust under the nOstrils of
Senate that had just condemned him. For
the rest, it only remains to congratulate
the Senate and the country that the
present spasm has resulted in sub
stantial justice. Mr.. Pinchback was never
elected to the Senate. He had no manner
of right to the seat he claimed. The effort of
this mulattO keeper of a New-Orleans gam
bling house to use the power of the National
Administration to force himself into the United
States Senate was as mwarranted as it was
indecent. His rejection by mo- means olsen
tangles the complication which the Presidents
lawless acts have created in Louisiana, but it
is q step in the right direction.