New-York tribune., 1876-05-20


Mr.. Morrison's proposition to adjourn Con-
gresS on June II seems unreasonable III Vie"
of the unfinished work on hand in both Houses.
The Democrats may. however. favor the meas
ure as it would enable them 70 make politlcai
capital by unfinished Investigations held open
during the Presidential campaign.
1t is sought in the Government school bill
to render education in Great Britain almost
compulsory by prohibiting the employment oil
bows and girls under ii who have not al
tended school. The object Of this measure Is
good, but the poverty of the working classes
must render it in many cases impYacticable.
The creditors of Winslow, the forScr, Will
find little comfort in the views expressed at
the Cabinet meeting concerning extradition
matters. There is no room for doubt that our
Government Will adhere to its position and
very little chance that Great Britain Will
promptly change the course she has adopted.
The British advocates of "female cnfran-
"chisament have lost the support of John
Bright. He voted for wOmen's suffrage III
1867, but has since seen reason TO change Ms
views, and this year spoke strongly against
the measure. His new opinions are stated as
resulting from moro careful study and OBJ
ServatiOl.
Details of the ingenious methods by which
WHISKY dealers of this city have dcfraudcd the
Government are given i'll our local columns
The accused, however, stOutly declare their
innocence, and it is 10y no means certain that
the success which attended tie whisky prose-
cutons of the Government at st. LOUIS and
Chicago will be repeated here.
Mr.. loves apology for declaring that Queen
Victoria sought unsuCccssfully to have two
Premiers make her Empress of India was very
humliating. Tho House of Commons, as our
London letter shows tre'ted him mdulgently.
and discontenanced further attacks upon him.
His arrogant bearing i'll former contests must,
however, have deprived him of much SYM
pathy.
The "People's Canvass" letters which we
publish this morning exhibit more even than
their usual diversity Of opinion. The Reform
Conference gives large occasion for congratu-
lation from some writers aud sharp criticism
from others. There is only one respect III
which these letters are unanimous; they all
admit the need and express the intense desire
for reform iii our Government.
In our very full reports Of the proceedings
of the Presbyterian General Assembly 1t will
be seen that a wide range of subjects engaged
the attention of the meeting yesterday. RcS0-
lutions were passed warmly approving the de-
cision of the Centennial authorities by which
the Exhibition buildings are closed on Sun
days The approval is based on religious and
legal grounds, and bears no reference to the
practical considerations which have been urged
by the advocates of Sunday opening.
Mr.. Sidney Lanier has met the usual fate OF
all poets who write for a special occasion. In
his case, however, a sectional feeling. which
was passing out OF our literature, seems to be
again revived. His Cantata has been assailed
by many journals throughout the North ana
West, and is valiantly defended by the
Southern press. We print to-day Mr.. LanlcrS
own explanation and defense, wherein he sets
forth some hitherto uneXpresscd opinions con
ceIning the relations between poetry aud the
modern school of music. Whatever may be
thought of his performance, he makes it evi-
dent that he worked in accordance with Il
conscious, intelligent system, and that, If he
has failed, it was not through ignorance or
lack of honorable ambition.
There was vely little substance to Mr.. a. G..
Riddles attempt to connect Mr.. Blaine with
some improper transaction in bonds of the
Kansas Pacific Railroad. What little there
was Mr. Riddles partner at the time, Mr.
Joseph Il. Stewart plants his heel upon, and
stamps into nothingncss, in the letter else
where printed this morning. Considering the
attenuated nature of the calumny, and the
historical, legal, and documentary nature
of the reply, we are forced to regard 1t as
somewhat in the nature Of training cOlum-
bad to kill hOusc-hy. Mr.. Stewart fOrtifcs
his letter by abundant references to the legal
proceedings in his case-a case fully set forth
in Mott and IIopkinss Court of Claims reports.
The noticeable feature is his citation from that
casA of the original power of attorney from
John T.. Blaine, given him early III 1868,
under which he adjusted the whole
claim about which this chatter has arisen, two
years before he had ever met the Speaker, or
knew that his Kansas client was the Maine
Speakers brother.-Mr. A. NJ. Gibson is also
after Mr.. Riddle; and he doubtless convinces
that gentleman that his effort to vindcate the
memory of q dead man by throwing mud at
Blaine is chiefly noticeable for its damaging
effect on the tombstone.
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