Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1876-02-03
Our New York Letter.
A Presidential Free-fOr-an-The
Epidemic of Crime-AU Sorts,
From our own Correspondent.
New YORK. Jan. 81, 1876.

NEW 1Ohh, Jan. 81, 1910.
To the Editor Of the Fayette-
raIe Obserrer.-Now that Gin
cinnati has been fixed upon as
the Presidential race-course OF
the Republican party, a fresh i'm
petus has been given to discussion
and speculation as to what entries
will be made and which OF the no,
bic steeds will come out ahead
A good many of the parties inter
ested insist that these entries
should be restricted to coursers
who have never run before. but
whether or no this clique will sue
coed in excluding one old war
horse, who is a terror to the back.
ers Of all his rivals, is very uncer-
tain. However, the winners
prize in this contest is only a
nomination after all, and to make
that worth anything he must win
another in a race where no one
will walk over the course; for un-
less the knowing ones of New
York are greatly mistaken, he
will have to beat the very strong
est Of the democratic stud before
be can have "stable" quarters in
the White House.
To come down to plain English,
the universal Impotence to know
the result of the Republican Con-
vention is only equalled by the
difficulty of making even a re-
spectacle guess at it. The quick.
silver character Of nominating
conventions is so we'll recognized
that even papers of the Herald
and Sun description, who are US
ually extremely dogmatic and
positive on doubtful topics, are
observed to tread very gingerly
about the confines of this subject,
and to avoid prophecies that
might look awkward next June.
The only certain thing about the
whole matter seems to be that
patient walters will find out just
as quickly as any one else.
The city seems to be suffering
from an epidemic Of crime of all
grades, which, during the last few
months, has kept the police court
aud the coroner pressed with bust
ness, aud SO crowded the State
prisun at Sing Sing that the war
den writes that but few more
prisoners can be received. Be-
side the multitude OF minor often
ces, lsrcenies, defalcations, bur-
glaries, and the like, the number
OF which is, of course, largely at
tributable to hard times, the av-
erlge of murders for the Winter,
SO far, must be two or three per
week, many of them being of sp2-
cial atrocity. "MurdererS Row"
IS one line of cells in the Tombs
is called, is but too we'll filled;
three executions have already oc-
CURED in the Jail yard, aud nun.
bors more await the rope or exec
utive clemency-that is, if they
are not decided to be unfortunate
lunatics, more to be pitied than
blamed, and thus avoid convic.
ton altogether. This insanity
dodge has been pushed to such
brazen lengths in the courts of
this State that the public gorge
has begun to rise against it; and
already a bill is under discussion
which will give judges no discre.
ton in sentencing this large class
of "insane" homicides, who, I'M
der it's provisions, 60 into imme-
date confinement in an asylum
especially provided for their rscep
ton. ami stay there till they die,
beyond the reach of medical dis
charge or gubernatorial pardon
The passage of this bill, if it o.
ours. will cover a multitude Of
legislative sins on the part of our
Albany Solons, and will put a
healthy check on the use of tao
tics which have many a time de-
fraudsd the gsllows of its just
dues.
The name of Longteilow in lit
seems to be somewhat as
the mantle of Elijah in prophecy.
Mr.. W. w. P. Longfellow, neph.
ew of the poet, has entered the
field, aud promises to gain distinc-
ton as the editor of The Ameri-
can architect, the elegant week
Iy commenced with the new year
by Messrs. Osgood g. Co., of Bos- !
ton. And be has journal which
is in every way one to be proud
of. It's design, which the opening
number ably sustains, is to cover !
the entire range of construction
and decoration, and thus to render
important service to architects, /
builders, interior decorators, aud I
All interested in their work. In :
execution it is incom.
,arably the finest special publica- t