New-York tribune., 1884-01-09

ing rates to other points within htteen miles or
New-York, would have powerful influence in
causing the empty places to be filed up.
S----------s------------s@1-~s
The report that the ROthschilds have offered to
purchase the French railways is denied. When that
sagacious family begins to think seriously of buying
the railways Of a country it will have the sense to
purchase the Government first
Connecticut savings banks now hold deposits
amounting to $21 ,935.41O SO, according to the
annual report of the Commissioners, an increase of
1,494, ,759 over the previous statement 1t is a
mistake to suppose that mere increase in the ag
gregae Of deposits in these institutions necessarily
implies increased prosperity among the working
people, for the accounts liable to be swelled In
times of business inactivity by the deposits made
by men Of considerable means in order to get some
interest with comparative safety. But the gradual
increase in Connecticut may probably be attributed
with safety to the cheering cause. The labOrof
that State has been generally well employed, and at
fair wages.
Now we have the "cheap Judge" cry once more,
Judge McCrary having left the public service to
act for railroad company. 1t is right to urge that
public servants should be fully and fairly paid.
But there are men in this world who would pre-
fer the honest discharge of responsible and honor
promoting the public welfare, even at a moderate
salary in money, rather than to a corporation,
sometimes against the public welfare, for their pri
vate pecuniary gain. The race of men who held it
honorable to die for ones country is not extinct
Neither is the race of men who hold it honorable to
live for ones country. Each man must Judge for
himself whether his family and other duties permit
him to serve the public, and Judge McCrary is not
TO be censured or lightly esteemed because he has
deemed it right to prefer large income to public
usefulness. But it is worth while to remember that
the reward which attends life of honorable pub
lie service is to some men more precious than gold
Here is this Reading Railroad, callOus and cruel,
actually making net profit Of $14,5i7,470 %
last year. against 50, SOS, ,O04 % in 1882. This is
the concern that was called "hopelessy bankrupt"
not long ago.
When Lord Charles Bcresford declares that
Englands commerce is at the mercy of any Power
that chooses to attack it," he only states what
everybody knows. not of Englands commerce only,
but of the commerce of any great nation that de-
ponds much upon trade with distant lands by sea.
Iron-clad cruisers may bemade moro ponderous aud
impregnabe until they sink of their weight,
as some of them have done, and they may be armed
with the most terrible engines of war discOyerable
and yet they will be practically pOwerless to pro-
tect " commerce." in the proper sense, against o
few swift cruisers. Great Britain taught us that
very lesson, when she sent the Alabama from
British port and it is strange if Englishmen Of this
generation have it yet to learn.
A second time Democratic Senator has succeeded
in getting ahead of the Republicans in introducing
Civil Service Reform legislation. Though Mr.. Pen
det0n was not able to do much toward the passage
of the law of last winter, lie must always have tho
credit Of being the first to propose it. lie has suf-
fered for it since at the hands Of his party. How
much can best be judged from the fact that ex-Sen
ator Thurman had to plead for him as a man who
ought not to be " slaughtered" because in long
public service he happened to make ono mistake"
Senator Gibson, of Louisiana, is the second Demo-
crat to introduce a Reform bill which the Repubi-
cans must take up and pass if it is to be passed at
ALL This is the bill repeating the four years term
laws for Collectors Naval Officers, Surveyors, Dis
trct-AttOrneys, etc. This is the measure which the
Civil Service Reform Associations are makingready
to press upon the attention OF Congress 1t is not
clear whether Senator Gibson has anticipated them
or is acting in concert with them. In any case the
bill is approved by the best sentiment Of those who
have given tho subject Of administrative reform
special attention, and it ought to pass.
90 melancholy plight" runs an old song-whch
Democratic Congressman may as well sing Accord
iugto The Sum- "no partycan succeed III this country
on free trade platform during the present genera
ton--it is death to any party now" But this sol
emn warning which comes through that paper from
some disinterestod member of Congress name un-
known, sounds oddly when we read in The Louis
rille COnier-Joarndl that the Democratic party
must make tariff for revenue only "its shibboeth,
or it will 90 to everlasting and unhOnored smash
Then comes The Washington Post, announcing by its
standing motto that either the party or the paper
exists For Revenue 0nly'-we presume the party.
And The Chicago Herald comes forward with the
same PLATFORM as the only thing that can save the
party, and The Aec- York Herald which seems TO
have been called as a sort of spiritual adviser to
the party IN articulo mOrtis solemnly repeats tho
same declaration This is a bad case.
1t is noticeable that coinage at United States
mlnts last year was almost equally divided between
gold and silver; 500 24l 800 gold, and $29, ,245,-
$50 - silver. In addition there 81 go 770 II
| in minor CONS, making the aggregate $GO,O92.-
| 74O az far the vear Tho coinaQe of silver WAS