New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-21

"nothing to do" 1t is not surprising that
some of Mr.. COwngs colleagues presented
this as too "sweeping" 1t seems to have
swept too close to the Board of Aldermen.
The Democratic portrait-gallery in the House
is still growing Yesterday Mr.. Hamilton, of
Indiana. drew himself up before the eyes OF
the country as vulgar demagogue; whose
manners are as bad as bis logic II was once
thought that there could be nothing worse
than the last House; now an anxious country
is inquiring whether the next House can be
worse than this The last House is already
in the shade.
The advance of the Russian main army on
Erzerum and the coming transfer of troops
from Armenia to Bulgaria, are sequels to the
brilliant victory Won at Kars on Sunday. The
daring project of General Philippof to march
part of the army through Asia Minor to Con-
stantinople, is also rendered feasible by the
possession of the key to Armenia. In this
spell of enthusiasm the Russians are appar-
emily ready for the boldest enterprises.
British confidence in the police will receive
n rude shock from the conviction yesterday, IN
London, of four noted detectives, charged
with conspiracy. These men sold themselves
cheaply to a gang of swinders, whom they
shielded from arrest, and encouraged III their
ncfariOus schemes at time when they were
supposed to he the terror of the criminal classes
II will now be in order to inquire If detec-
tiyes always detect.
In a London letter, printed on another page,
is presented, in an outline of an article by
Goodwin Smith, perhaps the clearest analysis
vet given of the condition of public opinion
in England on the RussO-TuTkish war. he
party which stood by the North during our
civil war now stands by Russia, and the party
which sympathized with the South and aided
it, sympathzes now with Turkey, and would ard
it if it could. This is the rule, to which the
exceptions add a good deal of interest.
That Silver Bill seems to have been pretty
well mangled by the Senate Committee on FL
nance. The free coinage provision is stricken
out, and, with other amendments, the bill Is so
emasculated that, while it might do damage
to the country, it will not bring the profits
that was expected to the owners OF silver
mines. Mr.. Jones will doubtless renew in open
Senate the fight he has lost in the committee,
and will hardly be restrained by any delicacy
about legi;latng boldly III behalf of his own
property.
A Washington dispatch describes the good
luck of Mcssrs. Scudder and BOwditch, who
have been making an exploring tour at the
West in search of fossil insects. 1t appears
that portion of the Rocky Mountain region
was quite as prolific in insect life in Tertiary
ages as now. If, as some saees think, there
was a Pliocene man, he may nave been cOeval
with PliOcene gIasshoppcr. Dr. Scudder Is
good authority on such subjects, having writ
ten a work. which has already become a clas-
sic, on fossil butterflies.
A revival of alchemy in the present day
seems somewhat an anachroniSm. Chill is the
scene of operations of the new Caghostro;
Paraff is his name. lie has found numerous
dupes who put faith in his alleged power
TO transmute copper into gold. HIS career
Will, however probably terminate with his
present imprisonment, as the CHILEAN judge
has ordered the achemist to perform his Won
dcrs in the presence of the court, and under
the eye of experts. In case of failure, Paraif
must undergo the penalty for swindling.
Lord Dcrbys intimatiOn to the Chinese that
the removal of the WOOSung Railway would
be deemed an unfuendy act by Great Britain,
appears to have been entirely dsregarded, i'll
asmuch as a Shanghai telegram announces that
they are destroying the rOad-bed. In this the
Chinese officials are simply gratifying the
deep-rooted preiudices which caused them to
retard the building of the railroad, and ulti-
mately to purchase it, with the secret purpose
of suspending its operation. 1t seems paradox
zeal that a nation which has prosperous
steamship line should be afraid to tolerate the
locomotive
The Elevated Railroad chooses the moment
when it is making a good start in building its
road on the East Side to give a loud warning
to people in general to get out of the way, or
take the consequences. A claim is made against
the Ninth Avenue Road for $500, 900 damages,
resulting from its attempts to delay and de-
feat the building of the Elevated Road on the
West Side. and it Is announced that one suit
for S25, 900 damages, already begun, is to be
pushed as rapidly as possible, and that another
suit for a large amount against another
individual is to be brought as soon as
proceedings can be instituted. 1t may be made
an expensive natter it seems, for corporations
and property-owners to oppose RAPID transit,
and this emphatic declaration of the doctrine
of reprisals, just as the road is taking new
stride up the Bowery, will make cautious peO-
pie think twice about the wisdom of getting
in the way of the locomotive when the bell is