Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-05-13
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
Special Correspondence.
NEW YORK, May 6, 1878

NEW DIRK, may o, 1873.
The death of John Morrissey, on We'd
nesday, seemed to occasion good deal
of genuine sorrow. both public and pri-
vate. The newspapers all had words of
regret in chronicling it, the city flags
were placed at half mast, and the tenor
of individual comment was everywhere
favorable to the deceased. The event
itself was scarcely surprise, the won
der being that human vitality could have
borne up so long under a complication
of incurable diseases Ever since the
election last year, in which he squander
ed the remnant of his already reduced
strength in his successful struggle to
beat Augustus Schell, Mr.. Morrissey has
been practically doomed. That last
struggle was in one respect like Samp-
sons in the temple. 1t pulled down the
local pillars of Tammany and crushed
his opponents, but it involved Morris
sey's own life.
1t is curious and interesting to see
the various grades of moralizing over
Morrissey in which the press h1ve in
dulged. ranging from the ''goody-goody"
style, in which horror of the prize fight
er predominates, up to sort Of apothe-
osis of the hard-hitting Senator'S ''rug-
ged virtues as many delight to call
them. The truth, as usual lies some
where between these extremes. The Ca
reer of the dead man was quite out of
the usual order, and still he was by no
means remarkable character. He had
a great deal of energy, and enough abil-
ity to rise above the obscurity in which
he was born | am afraid, however, that
his muscle was practically the largest
element in this ability. Had that not
given him the sharp and general notori-
ETY. which attaches to the pugilist, it is
questionable whether his later course
would have attracted very much atten-
ton. His remuneration of the prize ring
glorifed him to the sentimentalists, so
that his assumption of responsibility was
encouraged, and his political advance
ment FASTENED with utter disregard of
the fact that this apparent reform sprung
so little from quickened morality. that
he Immediately became gambler and
peol-seller, and remained such to the
end of his days. In politics his merits
can be briefly summed up. He would
not steal, and he stuck by his friends
like General Grant himself. On the 9th.
er hand, he was thorough partisan he
never originated any valuable legisla
ton, and he never rose in method OF
manner above the ward politician. He
seemed to me a sort of human mastiff
full of force, courage and fidelity, bu
with hardly more delicacy or true mora
sense than the latter.
The telegraph has given US the open
ing ceremonies and scenes of the French
Exhibition which is designed to leav
all its predecessors behind in magnif
J cence as we'll as time. The formal throw
, ing open of the mammoth Fair by tn
Chief Executive of the French nation
assisted by three heirs apparent to tn
, thrones of neighboring countries, an
, the ex-sovereign of fourth, is hurried
5 ly described as having been most impo:
: ing. Of course no particulars of the e1
hibits have been received as yet but tn
d general tone of the messages, after MAX
, ing due allowance for the pardonabl
patriotic bias of our correspondents, give
a satisfactory assurance that Uncle San
Notwithstanding his tardy preparation
o makes quite satisfactory showing. I'll
J, main exhibit from our shores that Il
% telegraph has specified thus far, is IL
n immense display of Howe scales, whicl
), having swept the honors at every prev
n GUS Exposition. have gone into this OIL
l. more magnifcently than ever. The
'e victory is foregone conclusion, and
n only wish l could say the same regar
lie ing all the rest of the American deleg
B. ton.
+ 1t is an edifying spectacle to see t
Re eager haste of large class of small me
re chants, brokers, etc., to get into Il
% friendly embrace of the bankrupt |;
IT, before that convenient piece of legisl
ut ton shall be wiped from the nation
10 statute book. The District Court he
rs is kept busy from morning till night f
IL. ing the papers of hurrying throng
rd tent upon embracing what may be tn
Sc last chance to get coat of fnanc
On whitewash and be able hereafter to SIN
ut sweetly in the face of an army of sw
u died and wrathful but utterly helpl
ed creditors. An absence of all insolv.
le- laws would doubtless work occasion
n hardship on honestly unfortunate m
oW who, failing with no suspicion of tri
rs cry, would be unable to get forr
BY discharge, but it would put stop to
I'm enormous amount of rascality in the "
re- of fraudulent bankruptcies. The act
ms of Congress in the matter is avail
are with much anxiety.
Die The Gilbert Elevated railroad, alb
ner which there has been, perhaps. moro