New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-13

and may elect several members to the next
House. Our Washington dispatches show that
the composition of the North Carolina Legisla-
ture makes it possible for the Republicans IN
the event of a bitter contest between
Governor Vance and Senator Merrimon, to
decide who shall be Senator and ALSO that IN
Florida there is hope that at least one ne
publican Congressman will be elected.
49,
Butler wants to make things lively during
his last session in Congress (Perhaps tne
public has not realized, by the way, tho taot
that the next session viii be Buffers last Tor
time at least. He cannot very well run Tor
Governor and for Congress too, and run TOT
Governor he undoubtedly Will But the way
In which he proposes to begin making things
lively is by inducing the Potter Com
mittee to report Senator Matthews to
the House as in contempt in not
obeying the subpoena of the committee
General Butler has a prejudice against high
''toned, digni6ed Senator's and evidently
considers Mr.. Matthews a Senator OF that
kind The country, never having surplus
of amusement in these sober times, VIII DE
glad to have the General proceed with the
performance; and possibly it would be SO de-
PRAYED as to enjoy seeing Mr.. Matthews
stirred up.
What Governor Rice of Massachusetts has
to say upon the current politics is worthy OF
attention. as coming from a Republican OF
the best class. The Governor, while thinking
that formal suggestion of General Grants
name for third term would arouse much OPP
position, nevertheless declares that he seems
to be the strongest candidate IN the country
On Massachusetts, politics Governor Rice
is necessarily an authority. Ills fofe-
cast of the campaign makes ex-Goy-
ernor Talbot the Republican candidate. ex-
Governor CASTOR the Democratic candidate,
with Butler running his own race between
The most important of these Interpretations
is that the Republicans will hold the State
against all the demagogism of Butler and all
the intrgues of the Nationals and the Demo-
Gratis. Probably in November Kearney's friend
win have reason to reflect that Governor
Rice's foresight was as good as Buffers hind
sight.
On another page Will be found a letter from
Mr.. w. Fraser Rae, the English writer who
accompanied Mr.. Lockyer TO this country TO
witness the eclipse of the sun. The letter Is
written from the astronomers headquarters
in Colorado. 1t is not, however, dry dis
cussion of technical points, but rather a
description of some of the incidents attend
irg the observations, and frank admission
that much cannot be told respecting their
actual results, because the conclusions OF the
observers seem 50 hopelessly at variance.
Professor Watson's discovery of Vulcan seems
to be freely admitted, and there is generous
praise for Mr. Edison, who has taken his
place among the scientists by short cut.
Nobody will be surprised, of course, to learn
that the success of his micro-tasimeter has
suggested to Mr.. Edison the idea of teie-
scope to detect the presence of a star which
even the eye of the telescope cannot see. The
more definite results Of the observation are
certainly valuable in the highest degree, and,
when they have been serutinized and studied,
the world will see that great progress has
been made in astronomical knowledge.