New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-13

step only brings into holder relief the action
of the remaining half of the committee III
rising above partisanship, and making report
that is consistent with common sense. Tally
one for Mr.. Proctor Knott
Every good citizen will be glad to hear that
Judce Miller of the United States Supreme
Court dseredits the recent report OF a CONVEX
sotiop with him. in which he discussed the
political situation with so little reserve. While
no one can deny the right of the judges OF our
court of last resort TO think and act as citizens
without prejudice to their judicial office, the
people would always be glad to feel that the
members of that great tribunal held them
selves aloof from the contests of parties. And
now that it seemed possible that this vexed
question might come in some shape before the
court for settlement, there was special reason
for regret that any of its judges should nave
spoken so freely. On all accounts, therefore,
it is satisfactory to know that Judge Miller
has been misrepresented.
The failure of the prosecution in the case
against Jarvis Lord adds another to the list
of unsuccessful efforts by the people to punish
those who have betrayed their trusts. Like
most other cases in which the people have
failed to reach practical OF even technical re-
suits, this seemed as clear case of fraud as
the heart of prosecutor could desire. Certain
canal contractors met together IN one room
and sold off by auction among themselves the
privilege of making bids for contracts which
the Canal Board was waiting in another
room to award. The privilege once purchased
none of the other bidders competed with the
buyer, and the State was made to pay just
what he chose to make it pay for the service
he was to render. 1t was for getting by tins
means perhaps thirty per cent over ialr
price on his contracts that MIR. jarvis LORD
was brought to book, and yet the courts give
the people no remedy Thanks to MIR. OCoLor
apd Gov. Tilden and the legislation respecting
delinquent officials which they have secured
the thief of the future will not have so easy
an escape.
ghe French crisis has ended happily. Sena-
tor Jules Simon becomes Minister OF the In
terror and head of the Cabinet, while NJ. Mar
tel takes charge of the Ministry OF Justice
The remainder of the Cabinet is unchanged.
This settlement promises to reeStablish mar
mony all around. As an author and practical
statesman, NJ. Simon is amply qualified to con-
duct the Government. Since he entered pup
lie life in lS4S, as a member of the Consntu-
ent Assembly, he has consistently supported
Republican principles. He succeeded victor
Cousin as Professor of Philosophy at the SOr-
bonnie, and had the honor of being removed
therefrom for his hostility to Louis Napoleon.
He was elected twice to the Imperial Legls-
lature, and was also member OF the Govern
ment of National Defense. While NJ. Theirs was
in mower. he was Minister of Education and Re
igion, and as such instituted important re-
FORMS VI. Simon il a Jealous advocate oil
popular education, the abolition OF capital
nunishment and the advancement of the
working classes. In a special degree nc up
holds freedom of the press and liberty OF con-
science. His colleague, NJ. Martel, acted IN the
last Assembly with the Conservatives, but he
now Loyalty sustains the Republic. President
MacMahon deserves credit for his calmness
and sagacity in this crisis. He is an obstinate
man, but he knows when to yield.
/ At any other time the sudden and almost
dramatic return of Mr.. Joshua F. Bailey
| would be q genuine surprise. Mr.. Bailey has
| been fugitive in South America for seven
wears. His sureties long since made good hls
| Indebtedness to the Government, and even his
enemies had comfortably forgotten his defaca-
ton before Secretary of the Treasury rose
| into national Importance as a Presidential
candidate by doing on comparatively
small scale in two or three Western
cities, with the whole power OF the
! National Government behind him, what Mr..
| Bailey, unaided, undertook to do in New York
against the Whisky Ring of the whole country.
| OF the two campaigns Bailey's was certainly
the more plucky, vigorous, and skillful. 1t
| failed because, unlike Bristow, he did not have
| the backing of the National Government and
| Treasury and he fed because, with
| the sanguine confidence in success which
young men are apt to have, he had taken
| liberties with the Government funds Ill his
| hands. which success would have fully war
ranted, but which failure converted into
| defalcation. The District Attorney and
most of the high officials then ia
miliar with the facts certify to Mr..
Bailey's good intentions and innocence
! as to any personal dishonesty in the matter.
The snretes, who suffered by his defalcation,
unite in the certificate, and the Government,
in according him a full pardon (nO criminal
proceedings ever having been instituted against
HIND. admits that his defalcation was due en-
tirely to his use of Government funds III
prosecuting whisky thieves and in defending
! himself against the conspiracy of the Whisky
Ring to break him down, and that none OF the
money was ever used by him for his individual
purposes 1t is understood that Mr.. Bailey
lived for time in Brazil in exceedingly strait