New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-11

characters and are ordered in every way TO pro-
tect the companys property and the passengers
whom il carries The companys determination
TO nut an end 10 lawlessness and to transport
persons and property in safety is praiseworthy'
for experience has shown that the ordinary law
officers in those sparsey settled regions are unable
IN do this The frequency and bodness Of train
robberics in the West call for stringent repres-
sive measures
Congressman Harter proposes sugar tax
lie thinks the people are DESTROYS of paying more
for their sugar than they do now, and that
the 500, 900, 900 of new trade' which Recproc-
ity has developed is no longer acceptable.
DR.. w. G.. Burlington, who was accused OF as
soultinr Policeman McGrane on Thanksgiving
Eve. has been triumphanty acquitted in the Court
OF Special Sessions, and is now prepared to press
his complaint against the policeman. According
70 DR. Budngton's statement he was struck in
the face by McGrane and knocked down after he
had been handcured, and when he was, of course,
unable IN defend himself. Taking their clubs
away from members Of the police force cannot be
depended on 10 put stop to DrutaAty so long
az there are brutal and passionate policemen in
the service But the new order Of things will
certainly reduce the quantity of it. IL McGrane
had used n club instead of his fists on DR.. Bud
ington tho latter would probably have Jared
much worse than he did.
Some facts Of our municipal existence are agree
nblc and encouraging few months ago the
city was threatened with invasion by the troly
II not only escaped that danger, but is now ap
parently about TO witness another spirited as
sault upon the overhead wires which have Jagged
cir Ma raj
crusade and upon others which have been stretched
slylv here and there in place Of those which were
pulled down For these evidences of intelligence
and progress let us be duly grateful.
The dovs OF the present Administration in Italy
arc rcported 10 be numbered; and already alarming
discussions have broken out among the ministerial
minority the malcontents arraying themselves
under the leadership of eN-Prime Minister Crispi
THO Iottcr's recent remarkable speech at Pa
lcrmo dcnouncng the Triple Alliance which he
cor+r,huted so much 10 consolidate while Prime
Min3.ter. hn@ been re-eelmed throughout the
length aud breadth OF the Peninsula. and his
condemnation Of the economic war with France, as
more disastrous TO Italy than war with cannon'
has met with widespread approval. IL is par
tcularlv noteworthy MS being in direct OPPOSE
ton 70 the speech delivered by King Ilumbert
If the opening of the Legislature. in which he
announced that the resources requisite for the
increase of the army would be obtained. not by
IN. impositiou OF new taxes. but by means OF
reduction of the number Of universities and
educational establishments Of the Kingdom. Nor
voa Sirnor Crispi's opposition 10 the doctrines
that prevail at court confined 70 criticism oil
the policy of the Cabinet; for he concluded MS
spcrch with an eloquent appeal to the rising
generation to rally to political work. and to re-
member that. according 10 the terms OF the Ma
tional Constitution, the Italian monarchy diff
fcrcd only from a republic in having ian he
rcditary hgurchead'
Tic Republicans OF Erie County evidently are
fully prepared for the work which lies ahead
NJ Them The Buffalo Express says that the
marty in Erie is more harmonious than IL has
been in fifteen years There are no rings or
"antiring4" What prevents the Republicans
Of all the other hfty-ninc counties of the State
from being in condition TO make an equally
gratifying report?
II Is encouraging TO find the Court OF Appeals
in ono of its latest decisions holding that igno-
rance and the absence Of opinoin are not neces-
sary qualifications for II juror in this State The
law on this subject has been variousy construed
al different times At one period an opinion
formed from reading an account of case was
hold To dislualfy the man who had formed 1t
from acting as Juror. This put n premium upon
IGNORANCE that was not calculated TO insure m
tclligcnt vcrdcts. and some notable miscarrlages
OF Justice resulted from this cause. The latest
ruling is that n man is competent as Jurymah,
although he may have formed an opinion, pro-
vidcd he can say with dcinteness that he ia able
70 disregard that opinion and TO decide upon
verdict in strict accord with the evidence. Most
opinions arc made up from newspaper reading,
and the reading of newspapers is so general THAI
if Jurors entirely without opinions were neces-
sty they must be sought for among class OF
men not peculiarly fitted for jury service. his
recent decision is in consonance with common
sense. and will have distinct tendency to place
men of at least fair intelligence in the jury-box.
The bill lust passed by the Swedish Rksdag
increasing both the strength of the army and the
length of the annual training, has been voted
by the classes in defiance of the protests Of the
masses. and has intensified in consequence, the
popular agitation throughout the country in favor
of universal suffrage. As matters stand now,
barely six per cent of the population possess the
electoral franchise, and hence the large body OF
artisans and agricultural aborers, although COM
PEELED to pay heavy taxes are declared from taxi
ing any part in the government of the nation.
Springer the reprcssible-Sprnger, of Illinois
has temporarily abandoned tariff reform in spots,
and turned his attention to revising the Consti-
tuition. When Democratic statesman finds time
heavy on his hands he may be counted on to APP
ply himself to Constitution tinkering Mr..
Springers hole-punching system of reforming the
tariff has gone out of commission temporarily or
permanently, and to fill up his leisure he is adj
vocating tie election of President and Vce-Presi-
dent by popular vote and the extension of the
Presidential term TO six years That there is
something to be said on this question is obvious
enough; the singular thing is that man Of Mr..