New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-27

NE
say that the family has not been indebted to
its politics for its places. This Is a'kind Oh
hereditary distinction that the Constitution
had no intention of fOrbidding, and IL there
are any heirs, they should step up to MIR.
James's Office and settle down for life.
Pupch's plan to prevent accidents was 70 oe
n director on the locomotive, but it must be
modified to fit the latest case. brakeman
who has been arrested on charge OF man
slaughter, testlfies that the negligence winch
brought on an accident and loss OF life resulted
from his having bad no sleep to speak OF
for a week, his last trip having been 70 hours
long. He had not taken off his clothes 1or
seven days. PuacES plan might be enlarged SO
ms To keen the director awake as long as the
brakeman is awake, and to keep the directors
clothes on as long as the brakeman's clothes.
This would make all thing even, and save liie
Postmaster James conducts an Investigation
rs well as he runs pOst-ofice. The men who
collect letters from the lamp-posts were IN
structed Yesterday to empty their bags right
on the committee table, OF these letters fresh
from the hands of the writelS and beyond the
possibility of any tampering, fully one-third
| showed the same pecuiarities IN sealing that
! led Mr.. Hewitt to believe that his correspond
ence was Systematically read In the post
Office! Mr.. Hewitt will see now more clearly
than ever his mistake in not reporting his sus-
plcions to the authorities when they were hrst
| aroused. Even few minutes talk with a
letter-carrier would have suhced to set his
mind at rest.
| The best method for the dissolution of the
solid South by a Republican President can be
told in a few wOrds-cut off the caTpet-bagger
root and branch. 1t is short prescription
that is likely to take long time to operate,
but it bids fair to be effectual. An interesting
letter printed elsewhere shows that in every
Southern State there are great numbers OF men
now acting rom necessity with the Democrats,
who would join heart and soul in movement
of which this should be the first step. The
color line would break with the bursting of
the bonds that held these men within the
Democratic party, and the South might then
govern itself decently and in order. Let Gov.
Hayes think about it.
After so many conflicting reports as to routes
for ship canal across the Isthmus, there is
satisfaction in reading the conclusions of a
commission appointed by the President to de-
eide which route should have the preference.
| The Nicaragua Lake route, which wins favor
from the commission, has been less telked
about than its rivals. 1t will not require so
grand an exploit as q ship canal carried
through a tunnel in the mountains, but 1T
promises to cost less for construction, both In
money and in human lives. Whether the
present is a favorable time to begin the ex-
penditure Of a hundred million dollars seems
somewhat questionable; but it is pleasant to
know that the work is not impractlcable when
ever the country can afford it.
Capt. Howgate of the United States Signal
! Service has had special opportunities for know
ing what can be done IN the way of keeping
an observing party tOlerably comfortable in
localities exposed to the worst of wintry
weather. He believes with most of those who
are interested in Arctic discovery, that the
true way to reach the Pole is to establish
permanent station in high attitudes, from
| which an expedition could be sent when an
exceptional season offers opportunity. His
letter is of interest in showing the advantages
of the upper part of Smiths Sound for such q
permanent station. That view has been
already advocated in these columns. The ex-
pericnce of Capt. Mares may discourage
| Englshmen from again attempting the Smiths
! Sonnd route, but it is not likely to have
similar effect in this country.
In urging the return of the companies that
i n
| have left the organization, the National Board
of Fire Underwriters present strong arguments,
and show Willingness to meet the secedcrs
half way. Except in periods when all the COM
panies are suffering from heavy losses, there is
rarely much cohesion among them, especially
as TO rates and commissions. There is at all
events no danger that a combination can be
| made strong enough as a monopoly TO keep
rates uniustly high and take advantage Of the
public. The danger is Of quite another sort /;
| il is that the companies will go into an unwise
competition in cutting down rates and doing
business too cheaply the result of which
would be that when the next great confiagra-
ton takes place q heavy list of broken under
writer's must follow. TO keep to the mean be-
tween these extremes should be the fixed policy
of the National Board, and as the present en-
deavors seem to have that in view, they de-
serve success
In Mexico, President LerdO is out of the
field, and the contest now lies between Gen.
Diaz and ex-ChIef-Justice Iglesias. The odds
are in favor Of the former. His troops occupy
five important States, in which are the Ma
tional capital and the port of Vera Cruz.
Iglesias is recognized by IL States, but
their influence is not felt at the Ma