New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-29

buying silver to pay them with, because
it was cheaper, had their eyes opened
on this question. One of our bank presidents
saws they were. 1t is easier to see the point OF
q swindlc. when the swindle begins at home.
The new Legislature is the last that VIII
meet before the promise of the State to re-
sumo specie payments on January l, 1879,
must be fulfilled, if unrepealed. This
act which was passed without single
word of discussion in either house of the
Legislature. and was regarded then as of no
possible consequence, now becomes OF consul
cradle importance. 1t may interest the silver
screamers to know that the section IN re-
lation to taxes distinctly provides that lhey
shall be paid in gold, or paper redeemaDie Ill
gold.
The Rovalist and the Republican officers
were both clearly TO blame in acting as they
did at Limoges when they apprehended that
the French Government intended 10 ha'o
recourse TO violence. While General DroSeiies
deserves excavations for his readiness to shoot
down women and children, Captain La Bordere
WAS not justified in assuming on shght
grounds that he was required TO join In an at
tempt TO overthrow the Republic. The incident
indicates that the French Army would have
been rent by political strife had MacMahon con-
tinued his injudicious course.
The value of Englands mediation between
the Car and Sultan will depend upon the
terms she is prepared to offer, on the
mart of the latter. Hitherto the Car has
been resolved to compel the Sultan
to sue direct for peace but if he can gain all
that he seeks through Lord Derby's good
Offices, he may be willing to open negotla-
TONS There is 10 reason to suppose that the
Car will retard hostilities in the least
from Difference to England. The tone OF the
Russian press renders it evident that Lord
Derby will be regarded throughout as an OF
fcious friend of Turkey, and not as the repre-
sentative of a neutral power, interceding in
the interest of peace and humanity
COMPARISONS Of thermOmetTical records tel
tbe same story as our sensations respecting
this months weathcr-it is extraordinary. Its
average temperature is higher than that OF
any December for many years, and the lowest
range of the mercury this month Is 1912 above
the average low range OF eight previous Deem
bers A yet more remarkable feature Is the
evenncss of the warmth; the range OF the
thermometer has been less than usual by at
least one-fOurth. The fact last mentioned IS
probably the chief cause of the comparative
healthfuneSs of the season, since sudden
changes of the weather, with great extremes
of temperature, are generally followed by an
increase of the dcath-rate.
The balance sheet of the canals shows a
larger deficit than ever. While there has been
gain of about II per cent in the tonnage,
tbe reduction in the rates OF tolls has decreased
the receipts by about 81 per cent, the tolls
being but $SSO,6S6 as against $1,3lO,OO3.
1t must he remembered, however, that the
canals are still under the old system OF
divided responsibility, which used to mean
corruption as well as waste, and which
must. by reason of its lack of order and con-
centratiOn, still mean certain amount OF
waste and inefficiency. The fact that the
canals are probably administered with fair ap-
Proclamation to honesty cannot cure the evils
which are inherent in a system with large num-
berOf heads and no official brain. If Governor
Robinson will promptly nominate to the Senate
Superintendent of Public Works who is
thoroughly qualified for his position, and who
will manage the canals as Mr. Pisbury is
managing the prisons, then the reorganization
Of the government of the canals will be at last
begun And not until we have had at least
wear of such an administration, simple, eco
nomical and with one responsible head, can it
be said that the policy of low tolls has had
fair trial.
Evidences of the alarm which las seized the
capitalists and the great mOneyed institutions
of the country, at the threatening approach OF
silver initiation, accumulate almost too rapidly
for enumeration. Two large Western cities
have been refused loans except on a gold
basis, one asking $1,000,000, and the other
81, 800, O00 one bank has even refused to make
a small loan of $4,000, on the ground that If the
Bland bill should pass the loss would be greater
than the interest would cover. and it was
"safern to keep the money. The statements
of the presidents of prominent banks and