Year: 1874

Almost every year, at the close of the Sum-
mer, there are sporadic cases of yellow fever
announced along our seaboard. Several Of
the Gulf ports are thus affected this year, but
to what extent the official report from Wash
iDgton does not say. SO far as Northern ports
are concerned, it is only found at the quaraD-
tine of this city and Of Baltimore. The circular
from Secretary BristOw orders prompt meas
ures on the part of the officials, which may
be expected to prevent further spread of the
disease.


The work of the Massachusetts Democratic
| Convention, as foreshadowed in our dis
patches, seems to be all arranged in advance
and no opposition is anticipated. The plat
| form is to be definite in its advocacy of return
to specie payments, and is to express desire
| for q tariff for revenue purposes only"
whatever that well-worn phrase may mean
The responsibility for disorders at the South
| is TO be laid on the shoulders of their oppO-
nents. 1t is expected that the ticket Of last
year will be nominated by reclamation. At
present it looks as though the assemblage may
be regarded as a happy family.


A letter from the Department of the Interior
addressed to Gov. Pennington of Dakota sets
| forth in very precise terms the obstacle which
| lies in the path of the numerous expeditions
| to the Black Hills region that have been pro-
jected in our Western Territories. Our treaty
| with the Indians is an absolute pledge that
| only the accredited agents of our Government
shall enter upon this reservation, and not only
is it not open to settlement even applications
| for permission to visit it must be denied. No
doubt it will seem very hard to the free citi-
zens Of the West to be refused the privilege
of trespassing on the lands of other people,
and it is very tantalzing to read in Gen.
Clusters glowing dispatches about gold in the
roots of the grass. But there seems to be no
legal or honorable way to open the Black Hills
to settlement until the treaty We have made
is annulled by consent of both parties.


A great Temperance Camp Meeting is in pro-
gress at Portland, Me. Our dispatch contains
q long list of the delegations from various
bodies, and already there appears to be an
unusual display of interest, not to say
enthusiasm The address of Gov. Dingley
was an appropriately temperate review of the
advance of the principles advocated. The
facts cited abundantly prove the posi-
ton assumed, which few will question,
| that there has been a marked improvement
| in the habits of the people in respect to the
use of intoxicating liquors. Drunkenness has
long since ceased to be q fashionable vice;
temperance is the rule, intepperance the ex-
ceptOn. But he points out that the work of
the friends of the cause is permanent; he
does not expect to see the day when intem-
perance has ceased in the land; and he
regards the labor to be performed as compar-
able III persistence with that of Christianity.


The failure of the Grand Jury to indict
Charles Barnard for fOgging the little char
ity patient at the Five Points House of In
dustry will at once be accepted as disposing both
OF the wholesale allegations against the school
and the charges against Mr.. Barnard. At the
time of the little fellows death we expressed
the hope and conviction that the reports of
cruelty and neglect were grossly exaggerated.
The COroner's Jury subsequently so found,
and the Grand Jury now discovers no cause
for presentment The charity is one which
has been generally well conducted and well
supported, and the public confidence in its
management ought to be restored by the
result of these inquiries. Mr.. Barnard has
been a sufferer from the misrepresentation Of
the case, and from the singular severity of the
Coroner; but his reputation is now so well
restored that he can be accused hereafter of
nothing worse than an innocent unfitness for
the post into which accident temporarily thrust
him.


The indirect action of last Winters panic is
long continued. Although nearly all our lead
ing industries have shown signs of revival,
and some of them are enjoying fair prosper
ity, the temporary check that was Occasioned
to many trades and the continued dullness in
Others seems to have produced some effects of
remarkable permanence. The impression has
gained ground abroad that emigration to this
| ........,. No toDror tba h;yh rood fo xraoltb