New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-09

by the New-York Historical Society. hasty
glance at this work will convince any one that
Jones possesses IN abOunding measure what
competent authority has pronounced the two most
essential qualifications Of good historian, namely,
wrath and partlaty. II it Is proved that he makes
several conspicuous errors his statements of fact
regarding this affair. may n not be inferred
that he is also endowed with that fine artistic in
stlnct which never allows a good story to be sacrl
feed simply because it happens to be untruef
IL is well enough understood that the lively
anticipations Of an earthly paradise which accom-
panied our acquisition of Alaska have been sternly
proved fallacious. The accounts of the terri
tory. of It's rich vegetable and mineral productions
and of its heavenly climate, which were then pub
lished, would be mighty interesting reading now.
If one could Law hands upon them conveniently.
According to Commander Baardsey. Of the James
town, now stationed at SItka. the territory pro-
duces something more than the lions the can
yas-back ducks, the foxes, tie beavers, the
martens the rich perennial grasses, the radishes.
the turnps and the tertiary coal of which we used
to read such glowing descriptions. 1t also produces
HootchenoO whichis The uncOuth name Of one Of the
naSrest intoxicating beverages which ever flowed
down an iutamed throat into an exasperated
stomach. This fer0ciOus fluid being imbibed not
only by the aborignes but by the sailors, naturally
results in rows, poverty, iazlness, murders and
freuZIes The reprehensible stimulant Is distilled
from molasses and coarse sugar, in Illicit but
cOpious way the Indians themselves being adopts in
the bus ness. Commander Beardsev, under color Of
suppressng riots, has had the satisfaction of break
ing up number of stills, and of destroying consid-
cradle quantities OF the HootchelOO after the Maine
Law fashion but IS admitted that there is way
or dt dieri
except by prohibiting the importation of the
lasses and sugar from winch it made. This, it Is
thought will" save and develop Alaska" while moth
ing else will Meanwhile. Commander Beardsey,
unless restrained by red tape, will probably go on
smashing ms many stills as possible.
Under orders of the House of Representatives a
committee went to Cincinnati to investigate the
workings of the United States Marshal law. Ii was
composed of four Democrats and three Republic
cans The committee spent fortnight looking
into the Congressional election Of 1873, VIXEN Rep
resentatives Butterworth aud Young were elected,
aud when the Marshal law was put in force. They
made no discoveries, save that the candidates
spent a good dea of money for legitimate campaign
expenses. No oppression OF unfalrness was proved
against the marshas. The other day. after the
committee had got through with che 1873 election,
the Republican members wanted to 60 back to that
of 1876, when no marshals appointed aud
when the famous Eph. Holland frauds were com
mitted which elected General Banning to Congress.
On this fair and reasonable proposition the commit
Zee voted. ayes, three (a Republicans; nays, four
Tall DemOcratsl. Having failed to catch Repubii-
cans in any wrong acts, the Democrats careful
not to initiate that clumsy fisherman, Glover, and
refuse cast Their hooks where they would be
to bring up batch OF fellows Of their own party.
1t is stated that four cadets dismissed from West
Point for " hazing" members of the lower classes
will perhaps by the lenlency of the President be
allowed TO return. Two of those Inculpated have
already been allowed to do this. But in each of
these cases the offending cadet will be degraded to
the lower class and will thus be Obliged to associate
with those whom he msu5ed. Tue public will be will
ing this matter to the good sense and equity
of the President ana will DC satisfied If such Glenn
encv is not followed by renewal of the semi-atrocI
ties which rendered stringent action necessary. A
young man may be tAoughtless or cruel without be-
ing an ingraned blackgard especially if he merely
follows a traditional custom. still there are many
reasons why General Schoheld should be- substan-
italy sustained in his discipline and if these ca
diets, under any conditions, allowed to return, 1t
should be with full understanding that it is mercy
which tempers justice and that they are treated
with a kindness To which they have no claim.
There is a rumor that Mr.. Riddle, who lately re-
signed tho position OF superintendent Of the Public
Schools. because of the feeling occasioned by his
foolish book on "Sprituaism," may possibly be
restored to his old place. and there is another rumor
that he is not quite sure about the "sprits" rs
he was. This again IS denied, and it is asserted
that he means to devote his whole life to the max
ina OF books and tho delivering Of lectures on the
subject Of ghosts A little common sense ought
defnitely to settle this matter. If Mr. Riddle be-
heves what IN his book he Processes TO believe. 1t Is
his duty to cry aloud aud spare not, giving all his
energy. talent and thought to the promulgation OF
the new gospel. IL he right, he cannot do better
than this; aud If he IS wrong, the Board of Educa
ton cannot do better than TO elect SOME good
20 oil bis place as soon as possible IL he is fit for
the place, be ought not to desire III If he is not d.
be ought not to have il.
Last Winter the Indiana Legislature bestowed
upon Miss Fitzgi bbon the dignity and emolument
Of State Librarian. But that young lady. not
tent with the society Of the WISE aud learned, and
poetical, immortal la their books, yielded TO the
Establishments Of man, then married him. and Ia