New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-23
SOME ARGENTINE TOPICS.
NaARRIAGE-FNANCE-T PRESIDENCY
FLORAL FESTIvAL-MISSIONS.

On Tuesday last PRESIDENT Juarez lehman ue-
clarcd the Congress Of the Argentine Republic for
the year 1855 dissolved. There had been some
thing over a month Of the prorogued. in addition
10 the regular legislative period of five months,
the greater part of which time was
occupied in considering propositions Tor
building railroads and opening various
industries. many of which sound very like
gambling schemes. The air is so rife with the
spirit of speculation that. among the many good
things that are being undertaken for the develop
ment Of the resources Of the nation, many wild
schemes will creep in The passage OF the ClvL
Marriage law was the most important act OF the
session. the discussion Of which occupied pro-
tracted period at each reading. Heretofore the
only legal marriage ceremony has been that per
formed under the ecclesiastical formulas Of the
State Church and by its authorized functionaries.
The ecclesiastical charges for marriage have been
made at the discretion of the officiating priest
there being no fixed legal limits. These charges
have been hard upon the laboring class. for
which reason it has not been uncommon to dis
pense with the ceremony among them; and IN
statistical tables the large percentage OF persons
living as man and wife. with families growing
M about them who have had recognized
marriage ceremony. excites no surprise This,
however, was not the argument that turned the
scale in favor of the bill. The immigrant was
thrown into the balance. and down 1t went. Ii
the Argentine Republic invites immigration, de-
carng perfect religious liberty, II must recognize
legal the marriages contracted in all the nauons
from which immigrants come. The marriage law
of the Argentine Republic now requires OF parties
desiring TO contract matrimony declaration that
involves all the points required by the most
strict license system secures the impossibihty of
secret marriages, requires couples, OF Whatever
creed. to submit to the same requirements, apd
be united by the same formula before civil
officer in which formula religion is not alluded
TO Those who wish to be married by religious
formulas have the privilege of having an &c
ccsiastic perform a second ceremony, which does
not invahdate the first. But the ecclesiastical
ceremony cannot be Of any binding effect unless
the civil ceremony has first been performed.
Senator Julio A. Rocs the last ex-President
Of the Republic returned from Europe and took
his scat in the National Senate this month The
present incumbent of the Executive Chair is his
brother-in-law and il is rumored that General
Roca will be his successor BY the fundamental
law of the nation President OF the Republic can
not be his own successor. but becomes again
eligible TO election after the interval of one term
Commenting upon the uncertainty as TO which
party has been victorious in the campaign IN the
limited States as indicated by the cable, The
Buenos Ayres Herald" says; In this particular
the Argentine Republic has the advantage over
the United States. There there must be an in
terval of several days before it can be known
who is elected here it is known as well before
hand as after Although the method OF ballotng
here is presumed TO be identical with that OF the
United States. there is recognized fxity about
election returns that is entirely unknown IN
American politics II is taken as a matter Of
course that each President fixes" upon who shall
be his successor and that such successor Will
be elected without fail. unless there be split IN
the party, which means revolution
The spirit of speculation now rampant has caused
the transactions on the Boloa during the past
fortnight TO resemble the gyrations OF a balloon
without ballast. During the month Of October
gold varied from 14s and a fraction to close upon
100. At the beginning of the present month IL
began showing decided tendency 10 rise, the large
emissions Of paper authorized by the National ana
provincial governments being the ostenslble reason
The opinion current the streets that the Ma
tional Government would not allow it to 60 above
$50 seemed to the bulls and the bears al
ternately A sudden rush upward and as sudden
descent kept financial novlces IN a hot-water
delirium difference of ten points within twenty
four hours marked the extreme OF the gold
gambling mania leaving gold fraction over 1913,
al which crisis in the speculative gymnastics
Government came down upon it." This coming
down was not by the Legislature, nor yet by the
Executive but by the representative of the Ma
tional Rank. which is the financial agent Of the
National Government The Government owns the
controlling shares of stock in this bank In thus
throwing q part of its own gold reserve upon the
market il was doubtless the paterns intent of the
Government to prevent the further depreciation OF
its paper currency, which is the only medium Of
exchange in ordinary business 1t is well under
stood that the Minister Of Finance is devoting his
utmost endeavor 10 the problem of keeping the
paper with which the poor man goes TO market OF
such representative value that market-pasRet
full of it viii purchase vegetables enough for bis
breakfast.
Last Sundey afternoon and evening the Flower
Festival was initiated in Palermo Park, the most
popular Sunday resort of Buenos Ayreans-after
the belgranc race-course. Elaborate preparations
were made. Immense importauons OF arunclal
flowers and ladies' costumes were ordered by deal
ers, and several carriages were ordered from Eu-
rope expressly for the occasion. One OF these
imported carriages cost the asprant for nouce
in the Corso the trihing sum of $1,000 SIN
gle importing house sold French flowers for car
rage decorations to an equal amount. All the
artificial flower artisans in the city were worked
to exhaustion to supply the demand, and failed
In the attempt Arches of gas lights were erected
at frequent intervals across the broad drive In
Palermo Park which is devoted to the Corso, or
carrage procession on festival occasions, OF which
every Sunday and every Thursday afternoon Is
one. A hundred private boxes were erected, all
Of which were taken several days in advance
az $50 each The admission fee for carriages or
equestrians was put at $40.
, The festival opened at p. m. on Sunday, and
closed before midnight The day having been
rainy and raw, cold wind prevailing, the at
tendance was little over 10000 Monday proved
more favorable Some $4,000 persons ATTENDED
and 1000 carriages. The sum netted for charity
was $4,000 The decoration of the carriages
.hoa -. ,.oria,y and much taste Some