New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-21

without serious detriment to the Republic,
but if he does not emphatically- discourage
such assembages and declarations as those
on Saturday. he cannot fail to be considered
a Pretender and be treated accordingly.
The City of Memphis seems to be in state
of panic, and Washington dispatch indicates
that the latest phase of the situation
is much the worst-worse than anything
told in the general press dispatches. The
number of cases of yellow fever is now
reported to Congressman Young to nave
reached sixty. If this be true there can be
no longer any doubt that the frightful scourge
of last year has returned, whether with all
it's old virulence remains TO be seen. III
some respects the situation is more seri-
Gus than il was then, for although the
city will be emptied within forty-eight hours
il is said. of all who are able to get away,
the number of those whom poverty will cham
TO the spot is larger than it was last year,
Obviously the dangers of the pestilence will
be increased by this state of things. The whole
aspect of affairs in Memphis Is disheartening'
therefore, not only for those whose interests
are bound up in that city, but for the whole
country, which had hoped to see the South
SHARED from a return of the pestilence. Much
can be done, no doubt, to check its progress,
and should be done quickly.
The extraordinary affair on one OF the Hud-
son River boats, where canister OF powder
was deliberately exploded in one of the state
rooms by means of slow fuse, and several
persons were somewhat injured. is one OF
those very disagreeable incidents which no
amount of subsequent discussion will mend IN
the least. Iii scarcely credible that this should
have been the work of one of a gang OF thieves,
who hoped to rob the passengers during the
confusion which would inevitably follow such
an explosion. Human life was endangered by
the trick, and thieves are generally supposed
TO be fastidious about shedding blood. The
culprit is, in all probability, insane; both his
act and his defence of it seem to show this.
And after that statement, it must be admitted,
there is little more to be said. No amount of
calculation or discussion can help the matter
at all, or do much to prevent repetition OF
this amazing performance. 1t is impossible
for steamboat officers to pass upon the sanity
of their passengers and reject those who are
not of sound mind; it Is also lmpossl-
Bile, probably, to prevent any passenger
who takes a fancy to blow up his state
room from indulging in that pastime.
But there need be no alarm among travellers
on this account. Happily the number of IN
sane people who ride on steamboats, is limited,
and the number of insane people to whom
such a foolish and diaboical idea as this
would suggest itself is still smaller. There
are degrees in lunacy, and this man Evans
would probably be regarded BY the average
lunatic as a tremendous fool. He is there
fore rarity. and the public need not
grow hysterical because he has shown himself
There has been but one Thomassen probably
there will be but one Evans. If the affair
can be said to have any moral at all, 1t is a
familiar one-that the proper time to shut up
Enthusiastically insane persons is before they
have done mischief.