davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1876-02-03

ocratic party. The Ring held the chief offices
in which public moneys were wasted by co.,
rupr contracts. The Executive and Leglsla-
tive branches which confirmed the extrava-
gances were in the hands of the party mana
gers. who also controlled the financial depart
ment which paid out the money to the favored
contractors and sinecurists. 1t held and con-
trolled the courts, the District-Attoney's ONCE
the Grand Jury room itself the whole ma
chinery of justice as well as of government
WAS In its hands. 1t even owned the news
paper organs of both parties, and reform had
not voice until THE TRIBUNE gave its
wrongs free utterance.
The reform has not been violent as was that
in this city which resulted in the overthrow OF
Tammany but with the reorganization on
Tuesday night of the Democratic General Com
mittee of Brooklyn 1t has been successful. That
reorganization was of far more importance
than the general public of Brooklyn seem to
have imagined. II vas tho elimination OF the
work which has been going on from the time
we first made the exposures OF corruption IN
Brooklyn, and has been gradually extended to
all departments Of the Government. 1he
Board Of City Works early after our first ex-
posres stopped the laying OF worthless patent
pavements at fabulous prices. Extravagant
contracts for the building of the two prn-
cipal works of the city-the East River Bridge
and the Hampstead ReservOir-were annulied.
Unfortunately work on these structur was
also stopped for time, but Is likely TO De
soon resumed as it should be, under less ex-
travagant conditions. The parasites who fed
as sinecurists on every department were next
weeded ont. The finance department Tell
under the control Of IN, who felt tho respon-
sbility of the position. The fountain-head OF
iustice-the District-Attorney's Office - was
purified; and on the benches OF the several
courts appeared tried and good men, while
those who had misused their places learned
the wisdom of exercising greater discretion If
they wished to keep them. McLaughinism,
defiant to the end, still ruled arbltra-
Iily in the Committee until last Fall, when dis
aster naturally overlook the misguided party
and finally on Tuesday night Mclaughlin
himself was deposed. and the reform element
which had been elected to the Committee
chose q true man to the chairmanship. 1hls
reorganization rescues the Committee entirely
from the control of Mclaughlin, and gives Its
direction to those who, like The TRIBUNE,
have been patiently but persstently fighting
for rcfonein Kings County politics and
Brooklyn municipal government. TIE IRIB-
rNE congratulates them and itself that this
result is at last attained. 1t remains with
them to see that the good consequences which
ought to follow are not thrown away, and
that the work in the right direction goes
straight along.
New-York tribune., 1876-02-03
ANOTHER Friend IN TROUBLE.

Lightning strikes again; in NeW-orleals,
this time. People closely connected with
brolher-in law Casey have been indicted. The
look of tho thing warrants the fear that
brotber-in-law Casey himself may not be en-
tirely out of danger That he had quite TOO
much To do with distillcrics was obvious from
his relations with the distiller Jouctt OF st.
Louis who pleads guilty, but for some uncx-
planed reason has not been placed on the
stand, with other distlleIs, to testify as
10 what ho knows about rings. There Is cur
rcnt n report that he has letters from Mr..
Casey. Men do say that Le threatens TO produce
those letters. if matters against him are pushed
too far for his convenience. But now, as II to
provo that protection through friends lniiuen-
tial at the White House is worthless, some OF
the men employed in confidential positions III
Casey's own establishment at New Orleans are
indicted. When the President said, &" Let no
"guilty man escape" he doubtless did not
think that there would be any evidence against
Babcock, Casey, or 0rvil Grant. Perhaps
there may not be; let US sincerely hope not
Bnt the search is getting uncOmfortably hot
Is il not curious that in every city where the
President has had near relatives or intimate
friends, at one time or another sad scandals
have arisen7 1t must be all owing to the Ii
centious press, no doubt. But Corbn in New
York, Casey in NewOrleans, Babcock as meas
urer at Washington and as indicted conspira-
tor at st. Louis, Orvil Grant as Indian
operator In general and near friend Of people
ia trouble at Chicago, have been for reasons
best known TO themselves heavy load for
the President to carry. II an ugly fraud Is
exposed anywhere, the first question that oc-
ours to anybody Is whether another Of Grants
friends has been tracked. 50 fur, only Mo-
New-York tribune., 1876-02-03
PUBLIC OPINION.

Senator Sherman having condemned the third
term notion, THE NEW lOhK TRIBUNE says ne looms
tp "a zed statesman The large sizes prevail
II that Is the rule Boston Journal tRepD
Are the worst elements of party life so
Thoroughly in the ascendant that noble nature Ike thai
OF C. Kerr IL obliged tn duck ts head 20 40 empty Al
Image as Hendricks IN. y. Evening Post IND RepJ
II looks now as if all the Republican papers
OF kausas would declare FOR Blaine Ia few weeks. sup
pose AL other candidates Withdraw and make II mani
mon. for the man from Mlne.-oI Joseph (Aol Herald
(RepD
Should Mr.. Conkhng be the candidate we are
sure that Mr.. Washbrne and Mr. Blaine would both cor
daly support him, he IN turn would cordially -pPor'
either OF them any other true representative o he
lican princ ples.-f Albany Journal (nepD
We urge the Republicans to come mp on
the 18th IN the full determination TO select ucNet OF
good strong men. from top 20 bottom. WIN slch,
ticket and an ouspoken platform We can dryt the de'
morAiised Democracy the wall and recover tul- Hto
Ii ought DO done, and can 10 done-lhartoru Fo''
(RepD
We have not the remotest idea that Presl.
dehtial nominee Will be taken Ium the south We WIN.
neither President nor vi tpresdeut taken from tLit
0uarrr Let Norh take them both hut we confess We
shol prefer that the Presidency be intru.ei 10 mAn
wuo lives in great and growing region, whose power,
and growth and youth. and boundng yiSor would 10
favorable 10 broad views and generous impulses
lKiehmund Dispatch tDemD
New-York tribune., 1876-02-03
4 SENSIBLE ANENDVENT

Representative wilson ot Iowa recently ihllo-
duccd a Joint resolution for an amendment t" the
Constitution providing that after the year lSS2
the annual meeting of Congress shall be III
January, and the terms OF Office ol Senators
and Representatives shall end on the 3lSt OF
December. The change is intended to abi1dge
the long interval which now occurs between
tho election of Representative and the open
ing of the Congress in winch he is 10 serve.
By the Constitution Congress has power to
prescribe the time of its assembling. aud
also the time and manner of holding
elections for Senators and Representa-
tiyes; but as the proposed reform could
not be conveniently adopted without shorten
ing by about two months the terms OF Sena-
tors and Representatives Ill Office at the time 1t
takes effect, a Constitutional Amendment in
stead of statute Is proposed as the means oi
carrying it into operation.
The dearest desire of every COngrcS-mans
heart nowadays is to amend the Constitution.
The fashion of tinkcring at that instrument
threatens to destroy the popular respect for
the safeguard Of our Liberties, an. 10 pro-
posal for change ought to be listened To unless
the eravest reasons can he urged III IT'S sup
port. Certainly the present system OF choosing
Congress thirteen months III advance OF -
time of meeting is highly Objectionable and
we have had striking experience oi its
eylls this wear. 1t was the old belief
that hv postponing the work Of legislation
until the passions Of election time had been
amply cooled we secured Congress compare
lively free from the influence Of popular
clamor, and made of il dgnficd and faith
IL II, tltn Oi
munity fIcm serene elevation and acting for
il with all the cOmpOsure OF superior wisdom.
But the further We 60 in our experiment Of
popular government the more clearly are We
convinced that the safest way is to tru" the
people. The average virtue and wisdom oi
the community il always higher than the Wiz
tue and wisdom Of Congress- so that the more
closely Representative expresses the temper
of his constituents the more likely he Is to b'
right.
Besides, it is a bad plan to send n Congress
man back for reelection when only halt his
term has expired. During the first session he
is..iInid and in a season OF political uncrr-
taintv like this he is unwilling to do anything.
During the second session, if be has been de-
feated, he is reckless. Last year, for instance,
the infamous Force bill was nearly imposed
upon the country by the votosof Congress
men who had Just been beaten at the
polls and had nothing to look forward
to except consulships and post-oiliceS ;
and next Winter we NAV anticipate
tronble with the infationists who see that
their political career is run. If Congress
man had TO serve his whole term before he
went back to the people to give an account OF
his stewardship there can be no doubt that
we should get much better service than we
get now, and Congress would he what it ought
to be. but is not, an expression of the popular
will
New-York tribune., 1876-02-03
POLITICfL NOTES.

Is the Conkling movement confined 10 Oneida
Couutyi II not. why sit thar no clubs are formed
outside Oi hat county
Cen Banks says the letter which The World
publi.hcd oyor his signature Tuesday base
aud Infamous forgery"
The independent says we had IL from
ylc,-Presidont Wilson's lips that about year be-
foro is death he advised Gen W. T. sherman be
fl Ia his pubc uterances. he likely 10 he
tie next Republican candidate Tor President"
Wisconsin steps TO the front with a Presi
DENTAL ca udidate His name is Gen. Lucius Fair
child and he is u. 5. Consul at Liverpool Tho Racine
Journal brings him out Saws he was great IN war and
eau party should not run him for the Prvsdsncy.
1t is pretty clear now that Senator Sher-
mans letter could not have injured Gov Hayess pros
pects IL it had been written FOR tho express purpose
OF showing tho Governors weak points So far as the
party press is concerned Hayes pushed OF the
track now. Except the few Journals IN ONO which have
advocated hi since his election Governor, there Is
not nge Republican Journal Of any prominence In the
country that does daty he lacks the cber FOR
Presidential candidat'. same might he said with
equal truth Of the comments On Gov. uartranIts can
didacy
Quoting THE TRIBUNE's suggestion that IL
Senator Conkng succeeds In securing pledged delega
ton frs this State he would IN certain
use 1t In favor Of Grant Morton. Ths Troy Wing adds
"That 10 just H. Mr.. Conkng Ia not candidate In any
true Of the word and the Republicans Of th State
New-York tribune., 1876-02-03

il easy to conceive OF circumstances under when
such system would promote instead OF m-
minish corruption. The proposal to issue con-
solidated stock on account Of outstanding as
sessment bonds and stocks, is well enough
but might go further. If we cOuld have the
great mass of our city obligations funded INTO
a single consolidated loan, we should have less
mystery about our finances, and more active
demand for economy from the taxpayers
Tho provisions preventing the prevalent
habit of beginning an improvement with low
estimates, then running up the cost and
forcing the city to complete, at whatever
expense, the work to which it hes committed
itself, seem well guarded, and are soreiy
needed. That for'idding any Judgment against
the city on any contract beyond the original
appropriation therefor, would he particularly
beneficial.
So much may be said of the bill from hrst
reading. Its general tendency is good. IL
seems in many particulars more carefully
guarded than most of the Albany legislation to
which this city has been treated 4; and there
can be little doubt that its effect upon the
growth of taxes and the city debt would bo IN
q marked degree astrngeut and wholesome.
New-York tribune., 1876-02-03

Donald and Joyce have been convicted, ana
Babcock indicted, but no man feels confident
that other close friends of the President
may not at any moment De SUM-
moned to answer in the courts. Fortunately
for the country, tho President himself Is isneither
accused, nor by sane men suspected, OF any
complicity in fraud. But he has marvellous
knack of getting about him men whose per-
formances expose them to Suspicion, or worse.
Added to that. no has o strange fondness Tor
the very men who expose themselves to the
gravcst suspicion, and clings to them with
tenacity which seems almost Incredible.
In BabcOck's case, for example we
are told that tho President himself
has consented to forward n deposition
for the defense, and he still believes that Bab-
cock is entirely innocent. So he believes that
Shepherd has done no wrong that Casey and
Packard arc spoiless as long "a they control
the Republican party of Louisiana to his salts
faction. and that Dcano was poor, rerse-
cuted victim of liccntious press. Aiter all
the President is the chief sufferer. His inehds
have made money ; he has borne Tie burden
OF public ccu.ure and suspicion with a patience
worthy of pack-m
At all events, " let no guilty man escape
The warmest friends of the President may
we'll pray that the brood of ravcnous creatures
who lave been getting fat by their pickings'
and meanwhile dragging his reputation IN the
mire. may he broken M completely. Dis
honor and punishment for them can bring no
new disgrace to him, for, unlappily, they have
done already all that they could to tarnlsh
his reputation, so that their exposure can
only relieve him still more completely
from the fou suspcions which they
have caused. BY all means let them be cx-
posed and punished before the term OF the
President expires. Let the people be permitted
to see this great soldier, before he passes for
ever from cvil life. cleared from all the stains
cast upon him 10y friends whom hc has un-
wisely trusted. aud to whom he has unWiSely
adhered. Let them have cause to remember
him, UNEQUAL 10 high responsibility in EVIL
life indeed. but an honest and patriotic man
who rendered the country glorious service IN
lis tiinr of li,n.
New-York tribune., 1876-02-03
cjyy FINANCES AND PrBLic HoRKs.

fTTY FINANCES AND PtBLIC HOHhS
All hasty legislation concerning conpli-
Gated financial system is to lie regretted ; and
the first object of any legislation on such II
subject should be To make the system more
simple, safe, and direct Mr.. Noodih's bill,
we hear is likely to pass II demands the
closest scrutiny, and should not be passed
without the previous approval of those
most familiar with the workings of
the present system. But its aim seems
10 he in the right direction. and
many of the reforms which it institutes
are plain to tho most casual observer. Thus,
40 long as we have dcmagogues in Office and
a rabble ready to demand more than the
market pay for less than the standard days
work, there can be no question that il is bet
ter to have public Improvements dOno by CON
tract. So long ~ the pTctenso OF a sinking
fund is kept up, there can be no question that
if ought TO I've kept up honestly, and that the
diversion of two or three millions each
wear TO pay the current tax levy should
DO stopped. There can be no question
that current expenses should be honestly paid
out of the current taxes, and that the whole
business of borrowing for such purposes should
be poremptolily and finally stopped. And
there can be no question that, for the present
at least, 1t Is wise to limit the amount to be
raised in any one year for city work author
lied by special laws to one million dollars,
and to compel an open and honest tax for any
moro money required for such work.
There may be some doubt as to the wisdom
Of requiring four-ffths vote of oil the men,
hers In the Board Of Aldermen Oh any ordi-
nances involving tho expenditure of money
This puts it completely in the power of a small
fsotious minority to defeat everything; and II
New-York tribune., 1876-02-03

4 venerable Doctor of Divinity in Connect
lent once gave an excellent general definition
Of fluent person in description of ialha-
tive nrighbor. "BIothcr B. means well, sald
the Doctor "lle is n very sincere and honest
"maD: but he talks faster than he thinks ANA
che believes what he says because b" hasn't
"caught up with H." And that appears To he
The trouble with Bishop Gilbert Haven, who
some time ago made notable third-tcrm ~
horfaton To an association of Methodist clrr-
c,ymrn i'm Boston, which he has not yet got
through explaining. The good Bishops trouble
sccn,s to he fucncv, or what the small boy
calls "roo much chin" II will Verha;s hc re-
mruhcred that The OmHha (Ncb) Eee, short
time after the publication of the Boston sprrch
had brought the Bishop into prominence
in the secular world. published "hat puiporied
to hr nm interview with him. III Which
he talked with great freedom about the pub
Gshing finn Of Harper y Brothers Of this city.
and their relations with politics. parties. &r
The inicl view was widely copied. and Doubtless
annovcd the Bishop. who by this time had
"caneht up with it," He accordingly wrote 10
Tnr Inir,.xE, and to Harper Il Brothers, cX-
plicitly denying the statement, made in the
wa. in the nature Of private and cOniidcn-
iial communication, aud not intended 10
a. made public Thi. letter was pub
li.hed in TuE TmnrNr some weeks a2". 1t
n, ,hcvcd the Bishop Of the odluin al having
been guilty of what, 20 soy the least ""N e
,rcat judiscrction, but it also pat the reporter
of tie Omaha nov spapcr in N embarrassing
uosii on. 10y charging him with u"trGi'in'r'"'
and breach Of confidence.
The rcuo,trr who WIS responsible for th"
public;,tion il, it ,ccm-. himself clergy man OF
the Mcth.d,t dcnoninaiion, pastor "f ms
sion church in Omaha, who IN addition to his
pas oral duties acts ls reporter Tor me H'e'
He naturally feels aggrevcd N the imputation~
mt upon him by the Bishops explanation and
..sks lis a. an act of justice To prhh-h hi' own
statement of the case. This We do IN his let
t,r uIintrd herewith. In addition to thlS let
tor we have Il statement in The Bee yonch-
,no Cor the t1lthfumc>5 and accuracy OF IT. re-
roftrr. and giving is reasons for saving that
Bishop Haven could not have helped knowing
that this gentleman Vas % regular reporter Tor
the paper. and was acting in that capacity
when the conversation on public affairs with
tbc Bishop took place. The editor says in
fact that he was regularly detailed foi that
work; to procure the Bishops views upon the
Presidential question, and report whatever he
might say upon public topics that would toe ot
interest The writer of the present c"mmuni-
cation says he has taken this step under the
advice of the Presiding Elder of the district
and the clergymen OF Omaha. As il now
stands. it seems to he question al ycracty
| between him and the Bishop.
New-York tribune., 1876-02-03
THE VINELAND HOMICIDE.
TIE .rTORNEY-GENERALs SUMMING UP FOR ihs
STATE BEGUN-THE CASE Will PROBABLY Dn
GIVEN TO TIE JURY TO-DAY.

TIE ,IIORNEY-GENERAL's SUMMING UP FOR ihs
STATE BEGUN-THE CASE WILL PROBABLY Dh
GIVEN TO TIE JURY TO-DAY.
BRIDGErON, \. j., Feb. 2.-The trlal oi
Charles X Lands was resumed this morning oeio'o
Judye Reed with Associate Judges whitaker iiarr''S S
Woodruff on the bench very large audience was
present One OF the jurors quite sex yesterday! %
is better to-day E1-C hanceior Williamson coh'iuu''
his address TO tho jury behalf OF the prisoner cANs
that the evidence Of malpractice acquitted III. Pfl'oN
He further sued that Il had been oOnclnslNoJ SNOW"
that the prisoner Was not of sound mind and moH0''
when he fred the fatal shot, and therefore ouSh' hV y
be held responsible, because he not rta''ua'O
being Attorney General yannatta then arose 10 oV
the case for the state. -,
Tho Attorney General then proceeded TO argue -
the death was caused by bullet hred by the deieDu
with premedtation and malicious intent that the
caused absce sses and the Assesses caused MS u'
He denied that tho probing OF tho physicians haa 0"o
It, But even IL 1t had, that would not excuse 'ne P
ouer VINO was responsible for the wound, prooine
ab.cesses and all the train OF evils which foLo"o- ~
shooting He denied that the Assesses could nave 80
discharged, and quoted from tho evidence T" '
that no witness had testified that an abscess
crlice of the wound. Iuls pelnB '"
bo auesoned how could the abscessos nave oe.n ira
wrout drst penetrating the durg ndtr, ana hsA hsA.ai G
healthy brain substancet Before Mr fhhna''%
tle insanity portion OF tho case tho oou. Altar
The case will probably g. " the lur! "-in"'"
New-York tribune., 1876-02-03

Will defeat themselves II they give him their votes 10
dispose Of at tbe National Convention. 80 far the
selection Of delegates concerned, know how 1t will
be dors, and we shall describe It fully IN time 70 let
voice in the State OF National Convention"
There has been another addition to the few
Journals in this State In favor OF delegation pledged
Senator Conkng for tho Presidency. The Lihte Fals
Journal and Courier Is the recruit and 1t gives these
grounds its faith More than any else does Mr.
Conklng seem to fitted for the Presidency by bis
mental and physical vgor, by his most distinguished
ability by his most honorable career and education at
tie bar and in Congress, by life OF temperance virtue
and industry As statesman he has no superior In this
country orator he has won Fames highest honors
scholar ana tSp Gen ef ne Tanks
liable Judgment his counsels are ever valuable and bis
conclusions correct"
One of Gov. Tilden's bitterest opponents in
the south is The Richmond Dispatch. 1t to have
TO favorie for the Presidency. and apparently will be
satisfied with any one except the New-York Governor
Here are some Of its reasons: In ideD's case 1t
matter for regret his account that no should han
from New-York. He would better hail from some ether
state The Democratic party has sustained already two
defeats with candidates from HewYork, and il IA abso
lutey impossible that they could be triumphant upon
third tial with horse from the stable. The peo
pie would permit anything Of the kind The belief
that II Is impossible would make 1t 80. Besides Mr. Til
den has no remarkable traits o character, no national
all
could rus him on the upward way the Presidency
spite Of those unfavoIabe facts to which we alude
Every few months that notorious ranter, Mr..
Robert Toombs, gets up In some public place and
amuses himself by making Secession speech. In which
ne represents nobodys sentiments except HE own The
Southern prcss promptly ceny that he has any right TO
speak tor the South and repuGa'e all Of bis uttorsnces
few Administration journals in the North republish
the speech and point to 1t indication OF tho un-
reconclled spirit Of the South, when 1t Is only an
indication that its author IS reckless fanatic
what the South really thinks OF him may be judged ny
these remarks from The Ly,,chbvg virgintGn: Now.
what sense is there in Toombss rayngf What Is the use
OF his talking about what he fought for when' as
everybody knows he did little or no fighting when the
opportunity was furnished him, and only the inclination
was wanting! We deny the right OF Mr. Ioouos' ~noSo
life has been signal failure and who with great natural
talents ia utterly devoid of wisdom TO keep MS country
an a ernent and simply to gratfy his vulgar TASTE i9f
payng bully and braggart 10 lhfe INC peopis t"st
should DC hls chief object to serve"