New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-04

that the Democratic State Convention, which
meets there to-day, will probably resolve in
| favor of the payment dollar for dollar of the
| entire State debt, except the portion which
West Virginia is morally bound to assume but
refuses to recognize. Such action would entltle
the Democracy of Virginia to praise and sym
pathy were 1t not for the fact that experience
has shown that no dependence can be placed on
Its campaign resolutions concerning the debt.
The so-called debt-paying wing of the Demo
cratic party has controlled the State Govern
ment for over decade, and has made no serious
effort to pay either principal or interest of
VTginia's obligations. 1t is fertile in resolu-
tons, and resembles the man who had soarings
after the Infinite and divings after the I'm
fathomable, but who never paid cash.
A commission appointed by Governor Cornell
is looking for a site for the Reformatory for
Women to be built by the State. Some rural
neighborhoOd will be selected, and as the fund
for the building is small gift of a site would
be very acceptable. 1t is a singular feature of
the plan for this institution that no women
from the city of New York will be admitted
This is not, however because the authorities
think the wicked females of this city are be-
yond reclamation, but only because there is not
money enough to provide a structure large
| enough for city and country both, and it is
thought best to give the country the first benefit
OF tins new reform agency. Similar institutions
III Massachusetts, Indiana, Ohio and Canada
have been found successful, a large per-
centage of the inmates being permanently re-
formed.
The discussion of Hartmann's position as a
refugee from Russian justice recalls the case
of John III. Surratt, who while in hiding
abroad stood in closely analogous attitude
to our laws to that occupied by the Nihilist
toward those of Russia. Surratt was impl-
Gated IN the plot to assassinate Lincoln. He
fled the country, and was discovered in Rome
in November, 1866, in the uniform of Il Papal
Zouave. He was arrested, but escaped and
took ship to Alexandria, closely followed by
an American war vessel. The Egyptian Gov
eminent seized him and gave him up to our
Consul-General, although there was no extra
dluon treaty under which be could be de-
manded He was tried in Washington and
acquitted, not so much from lack of testimony
against him, it was thought at the time, as by
reason of the rebel sympathies of certain mem
bers of the jury.
The discussion about the mail bags is not
likely to become grave international dis
pute. Canada does not exactly apologize, but
she says her offence is small one and that
the United States has been guilty of the same
thing What is more to the point is the
statement that the suggestion that a peculiar
sort of bag be adopted for the mail business
between the two countries, and that each fur
nlsh fair proportion of them, originated
with the postal authorities at Ottawa This
being the case, there ought to be no trouble
III carrying out an arrangement which would
avoid all further causes of trouble. Perhaps
we shall some day have postal union with
Canada, and then customs union and then
but we will leave our friends over the Dor
der to further elaborate the possibilities of
the future. Meantime we will not quarrel
with them about our missing mail bags. No
doubt they have made good use of them.
1t would be hard to find in Miss Braddon's
most sensational novels q romance of crime
more astonishing than the true story of the ex-
plots OF Marvin, who married and deserted two
estlmable ladies within a month, one in Rich
mond, Virginia, and one in Lakewood, New
jersey. The account recently published of his
Richmond exploit was a surprising history of
successful vilany, but now it appears that with
only change of his first name he played ex-
actly the same game in New Jersey in fact he
carried on two courtships at the same time,
shamming sickness as excuse to be absent
from Lakewood long enough to marry the Rich
mond lady and secure the money of her confid
ing friends AS soon as he had abandoned his
Virginia wife he reappeared in New-Jersey,
had a merry wedding, borrowed a hundred
dollars on the security of the brides father, and
disappeared. He is now wanted for forgery in
one State and bigamy in the other. Clearly the
moral OF this curious history is that women
should beware of plausible and good looking
strangers who are in hurry to marry. wo-
man who marries man after only few weeks
acquaintance, with no knowledge of his charac-
ter, circumstances or antecedents save what he
furnishes himself, is of course an object of
pity, but she owes any msfortunes which NAV
follow to her own want of the most ordinary
prudence