The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-03-18
Editorial Notes.

The Iowa Legislature has adopted prohi-
bition amendment to the constitution, and the
matter now goes to the people for ratification
Or rejection.
-Four petitions, signed b 50, f79 men and
women, haze been presented TO Congress,
asking that all action in regard 10 Utah be
suspended IN regard to Mormonisnl, and ask
ing for commission to investigate affairs
there.
lion. Alexanacr IL Stephens, il is said,
will retire from politics after his present con
gressional term expires. Mr.. Stephens is one
Of the few links between the past and the
presentin national politics and his wisdom
and ability viii be greatly missed when he
deserts the halls of Congress,
On Monday President Arthur nominated
Judge Samuel Blatchford, of New York, to
be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Of
the United States, and John Russell Young
Minister to China. The selection Of Judge
Blatchford seems to have been eminently pro
per, and to have given very general satisiac-
ton.
Sergt. Mason, Of the second United States
artillery, who fired shot into Guiteaus cell
while he was stationed as a guard at the DIS
trict Of sfumbia jail, has been sentenced by
the court-martial before which he was tried to
be dishonorabIy discharged from the army,
with loss Of all pay and allowances now due,
and to be imprisoned at hard labor for eight
wears. Gen. Hancock has approved the sen
tence. and designated the Albany penitentiary
a. the place Of confinement. Petitions have
been forwarded to the President from various
places asking for Mason's pardon. and both
houses of the Ohio Legislature have passed q
resolution to the same end. Mason has writ
ten 4 letter on the subject Of pardon, IN
which he says--sI must say that | do moi
want to be- pardoned by no Guiteau Presi-
dent.
The Anti Polygamy bin has been passed BY
both houses Of Congress, aud we shall no"
see what effect it has The government has
been trying to settle this question for quarter
Of a century or more, and hiss only made i
worse st every turn.
The Senate Democratic cauens has selected
Hon. A. p. German as one of the Senate
Congressional Campaign Committee, to Co
operate with similar committee from the
House Of Representative.
The recent local elections in New York
show large democratic gains in all directions
A case IN point is the city Of 0swego, which
gave republican majority Of $50 in Novem-
Der. and now elects democratic mayor by
200 majority. The New York Times declares
that these results fare not particularly en-
conraging 10 those who are specializing on the
chances Of republicans success this fall. ! The
Tamnanv-repubhean coalition promises g
prove an Improbable barter
Suring opened in the West last week by q
blizzard from the northwest. Snow feh e
the depth Of six inches in Illinois and Wis
eonsin, and drifted 50 badly that railroad
travel was generally impeded.
Reports from the flooded regions Of tbs
Lower Mississippi Valley eontinue uniavor'
able. The waters have begun 20 fall IN some
piaees and 10 rise at others. AT some points
the vast expanse Of water looks ike an INLAND
sea. and many hundreds Of square miles ars
submerged. The loss Of stock, furniture, &c.
is very great % the inhabitants Of the sab
merged region, but the newspapers there claim
thnt the fersilixing benefits Of the overflow VII
more than equal the loss. They claim also
that the waters will recede in ample time 4
put ID crops, anithat the yields nass Be large
Ala conference Of the holders Of the bond
issued by the corporation Of Rahwsy, y j.
and the finance committee Of the city eounail
on Wednesday, the mayor presented state
ment showing that the bonded debt Of the cit
was =, 000, 900, while the assessed value Q
property i something over -. oo0, 600 Itwai
stated thai the city could not pay more thar
- cents on the dollar.
4 truly giant water lily was found IN Lake
NINA. IN Peru. The leaf had eircumfer
enee Of nearly Is feet and weighed betweel
Ia and IA pounds. A flower was feet
inches round and weighed y pounds i
outer petals we're inches long. Issheuldb'
presented TO Oscar Wide