THE DAILi rtVENINU TELEGRAPH PHILADELPHIA FRIDAY, MAI 5, 1871.
SriHIT OF THE MESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OP THE LEADING JOURNALS
TJPON O0BBENT TOPICS OOMPILKD EVEBY
DAT FOB THE EVENING: TELEOBAPH.
BOASTING OF BONES.
From the N. Y. World.
The rhiladelphians are greatly elated be
cause of the discovery of a deposit of dry
bones in the neighborhood of the city.
Hitherto the peaceful dispositions of these
amiable provincials have been disturbed by
the successes of other cities. New York has
Badly annoyed the rhiladelphians because it
has surpassed the Quaker City in population,
trade, and political importance. Boston has
been a beam in the Philadelphian eye because
that really thrifty New England community
laasjproducedanuinberof comparatively clever
literary men. Chicago has outstripped Phila
delphia in the commission of crime, and Cin
cinnati has beaten it in point of pigs. Envy
and jealousy have thus tormented our other
wise mild and excellent noifhbor. Now,
however, there is a change. Henceforth the
Philadelphian calmly confronts the world,
and, strong in the possession of post-pliocene
remains, cries out exultantly to the inhabi
tants of less favored cities, "Bring out your
bones." And since Boston can boast no
more important bones than the charred and
useless skeletons of departed witches, and
New York can show no mortuary remains
more interesting than those of casual Phila
delphia roughs slaughtered by hasty but well
meaning metropolitan murderers, Philadel
phia resigns herself to the cheerful crowing
characteristic of the contented mind.
The post-pliocene remains concerning
which the provincial press prints columns of
ecstatio description were recently discovered
in a cave opened by the labor of nnscientitio
quarrymen. A horde of soientiflo persons
flocked to the spot, and carefully collected
the frail skeletons that strewed the floor of
the post-pliocene cavern. Among these were
found a vast variety of organic remains. The
blood-thirsty beetle was numerously repre
sented: no less than twelve specimens of his
kind rewarded the spectacled search of the
kneeling savants. The fierce field-mouse
and the ferocious frog, the wild wood
rat and the terrible turkey, the san
guinary snipe and the carnivorous cat
all slept the sleep of death in an emi
nently bony condition upon the bottom
of the wonderful cave. The scientific per
sons gathered these priceless relics together
with rapturous joy, and carefully carried
them to a safe place, there to remain nntil
Philadelphia should build a suitable museum
wherein they may be exhibited to the amaze
ment and discomfiture of visitors from other
and boneless cities. Meanwhile each scien
tific person is understood to be writing at
great length, and in the most elaborately
scientific style, upon the subject, while every
Pennsylvania paper trumpets forth the
praises of its capital city and its contiguous
bone-cave.
The effect of all this upon the unpreju
diced metropolitan mind is twofold. At first
we are prompt to perceive the strong resem
blance between the Philadelphia of to-day and
the Philadelphia of the post-pliocene period.
The harmless and truly rural character of the
population seems never to have changed. It
is true that a considerable aggregate of
human beings has been added to the cats and
field-mice of a former period, but the essen
tial nature of the average Philadelphian has
not been greatly modified. If some species
have diminished, others have taken their
place. The blustering beetle has vanished,
but in his stead the fierce Quaker roams the
rectangular streets. The wild note of the
musical snipe has ceased to eoho in the lonely
wastes of Chesnnt and Walnut streets, but
the strident shriek of the female medical
student seeking to enforce her natural right
to dissect her fellow-creatures breaks often
upon the listening ear. What Philadelphia
was in the post-pliocene period she still is to
day. Only in earlier and happier days no
vain phantom of direct trade with Europe
mocked and maddened the eoleopterous and
ornithological inhabitants.
The other reflection which will oocur to the
cool and impartial reader of the reoord of
these Philadelphian wonders is that, after all,
these boasted bones may not be of extreme
antiquity. The very ae assigned to them
by the scientific persons is a possible equivo
cation. Are we not all living in a period
subsequent to that known as the pliooene?
Is this not, therefore, really a post-pliocene
period? And then, are there not field-mice
and cats and beetles still living upon the sur
face of the earth? We would not for the
world dash the delight of the Philadelphians
by assuming that their post-pliocene bones
are wholly modern; but it is our duty to cau
tion them, lest in their inconsiderate joy they
canonize the cat of yesterday and the turkey
of last Thanksgiving, under the delusion that
they are paying honor to bones of incalcula
ble antiquity.
TIIE LAST DEMOCRATIC GODSEND,
From the A'. Y. Tribune.
The most talkative of our generals ba been
making a little speech in New Orleans, in
which he said just what might have been ex.
nected of him: that is, that he knew more
about the state of the country than anybody;
that he had more legislative capacity than the
whole of Congress; and that if they would
drop their attempts at government and give
the charge of affairs to him, he would restore
order and harmony in no time. This is no
new theory of the gallant soldier, lie has
always believed in the government of the
eword. He has never affected to conceal his
contempt fot men who wear black coats, and
who paid for tnjjr own education. He did
noble and glorioti work during the war, when
the fighting grew Uid enouin to tame his
flightiness and keep L&m down to his paoe,
but he never had a poetical idea which was
not absurd and fantastic; mj his convention
with Johnston.by which he 8treniiered all the
results of the war, was a most hfotesque illus-
m ; ii a
tration 01 ou incapacity to appuciate a poll.
tical principle. Mr. btanton neve rendered
the country a greater service that by his
prompt and decided repudiation of th ,,-
render, and the vast personal popularly Qf
General Sherman was not enough to protect
him fr jm the general condemnation bis ao
tion reoeied. He outgrew this blunder,
serious as it was, because every one recog
nized his gallantry and his good intentions,
and merely smiled at his innocent ignoranoe
of public affairs. During the fur years
which preceded the inauguration of General
Grant as President, his distinguished friend
and comrade was kept from any glaring indis
cretions, partly by the strong influence whioh
Lis chief's good sense and prudenoo exerted
upon hiiu, and partly by the natural hop and
Anticipation of succeeding him in command
of the army, ia case of his promotion to the
Presidency. This brilliant prospect helped,
at least, to make General (Sherman a partisan
of Grant, and consequently ssund ana saf in
But now that the General has attained the
legitimate summit of his aspirations, it is only
natural that bis nneasy activity, of mind
should sting him into occasional outbreaks of
eccentricity. Asllichelien thought himself a
better poet than statesman, and so wasted his
leisure in wooing an ingrate Muse, our san
guine soldier is not satisfied with the com
mand of the army, but itches to show the
world what a statesman Is disguised in his
uniform. There is something fascinating
about theGeneral's political utteranoes. They
are so honestly and naively ignorant, bo des
titute of any connection with known facts, so
confident and cock-sure of his own powers
and his own sagacity, that they have the same
charms as the theoretical campaigns and con
spiracies of a loquacious school-girl. "Let us
soldiers have charge of the matter,"
says the outspoken chief, "and we will
soon settle everything in a satisfactory man
ner." How wonderlully this sounds like a
young lady's "If I wore President," which
is always followed by some deliciously absurd
misapprehension of the executive sphoro and
function- General Sherman does not seem
to remember that the army only numbered a
million of men, and that this was not a ma
joiily of the nation. He is equally unmind
ful of the fact that more than two-thirds of
that army disagreed with him, and held the
tame just and wise views of government that
were sustained and put in practice by Lincoln
and Stanton and Grant. The glory of that
army was that they were citizens before aud
after they were soldiers; and General Sher
man is a soldier, with no clear perceptions of
the dignity and worth of the citizen charac
ter. In view of these patentand notorious facts,
the General's speech a.ight have been passed
over with an indulgent smile by the country
winch Knows and Honors mm tor what he is,
foibles and all. But it has been given a sin
gular and unaccountable prominence by the
organs of the opposition. One morning paper.
which changes its favorites oftener than Ila-
roun or Brigham, seizes upon the General and
makes him a candidate for the Presidency
upon the strength of this speech. As the same
paper will nominate a dozen or so more bo-
fore the election, we cannot pause to discuss
its merry-andrew performance of yesterday.
But we feel bound to give one word of candid
caution to another paper, which assumes airs
of leadership in the Democratic party, and
which, as it only chauges position radically
two or three times a year, may be considered
as having some regard for its reputation
for consistency. It also makes this
rattling speech of General Sherman's the
occasion lor delighted editorials crediting the
speaker with more than human sagncity and
integrity. It does not nominate him for
President, but, on the contrary, timidly sug
gests that he had much better stay where he
is, at the head of the army a good perma
nent place, etc. It holds up to him his pre
decessor in the command of the army as an
awful example of what generals come to when
they begin to think of the white House.
But these gentle homilies will have little
effect upon the ambitious and arrogant mind
of the brilliant soldier to whom they are ad
dressed, lie win oe nicely to accept as
genuine all the praise which is lavished upon
his political sagacity, and will reject the rest
as impertinent. "The White House gad-fly
crazes when it stings," and the dilettante
schemers of the Manhattan Club had
better beware now they mate a
candidate of Tecumseh Sherman. We
think he would make a bad President for all
ef lis. He does not know enough of the first
elements of political science to keep his des
potic and eccentric impulses in check. But
he would be an infinitely worse candidate for
Tammany than for us. His rigid honesty,
his flighty notions of personal honor, his
overweening self-confidence, utterly unfit him
to be the servant and figure-head of that gang
of grovelling rogues. He would smash into
splinters any platform they could frame be
fore a month of the canvass was over; and if
by any improbable luck he came to be Presi
dent, we would expect, before the Cabinet
was formed, to see Boss Tweed kicked down
the 6teps of the White House, slate, diamond
breastpin, and ail, by tne rasn and splenetive
soldier, whose civil policy the ring could no
more predict or follow than the flight of a
meteor, and whose hard integrity they could
no more mould to their scoundrel purposes
than they could knead granite to their daily
bread.
MARSHAL BAZAINE.
From, the AT. Y. Times.
The testimony of the only newspaper cor
respondent who contrived to remain in Metz
during the whole of the siege of that fortress
was given to the world some time ago. It will
be remembered that it was antirely adverse to
the supposition that Marshal Bazame had
acted in good faun, either tor the interests or
Napoleon 111 or of l ranee. J. he correspon
dent, upon whose views we toon occasion to
comment at some length when they were first
published, was convinced that Bazaine did
not wish to ureas through tne uerman lines,
and that his policy was shaped purely by con
siderations of personal profit. His plan, as
surmised, was one of "masterly inactivity." As
matters stood when he was first cooped up in
Metz, something seemed likely t happen
which might be turned to his advantage. If,
as seemed probable, the Empire fell with the
army of MacMahon, Bazaine would beoome
the first, or, indeed the sole, French military
authority. As commander of the largest
body of trained troops remaining to Frauoe,
he might make either peace or war, and not
improbably in either case beoome dictator.
Nearly all the evidence that has hitherto
reacbed the pnblio eye confirms the belief
that Bazaine could, if he would, have burst
throngh the toils that only imperfectly sur
rounded him; and, granting that he had the
power, there is no rational way of accounting
for bis failure to do so, except upon the
theory of selfish treachery,
We are not sure how far the statements of
the Vicomte de Valoourt, who delivered a
Dublio lecture in London, April 17, on this
subject, are to be acoepted concerning the
Question. This gentleman was, however, on
the staff of Marshal Bazaine, and was after
wards Private Secretary to Gambetta. He
escaped from Metz, some timo after its invest
went, bearing despatches from his com
mander. These were written in cypher, aud
were fastened by "a top-dressiug of gutta
percha into a hollow tooth. lhe Yiojuita
was twice capiurea ny me enemy auu seat
Sack their policy being not to take p30ple
. .51 A.L. - 1 A.
ot of Metz. but to send others in. 11 a ue-
cla at he was "a poor Atuerioan jour
nalisi ailTiou8 to return to his own couutry,
The Inibhians, however, thought it wore
importau that he should contiuue to
diminish the provisions in the be
leaguerea iVJX than add to the popu
lation oi '-ha United States. Now,
on these ooomiion8 the Vioomte paisei
through many mtrt 0f the Prussian works,
and saw, to his struriMe. that tuay were far
less btroug than lHzmne was continually, at
bis Headquarters, declaring them to be. Be
fore M. oe alcourt lawda his final esoDs
pews reaped. Jjeta of tlw lewills HmUii
that had overtaken the army of MaoMahon.
and finally of the surrender at Sedan, and the
departure of Napoleon III as a prisoner for
Germany, lhe Vioomte asserted in his lec
ture that, on the arrival of this intelligence,
Bazaina publioly exclaimed, "Thank God,
that imbeoile has gone at . last!"
which certainly sounds like an
expression of anticipated satisfaction.
Hesides this, the leoturer corroborated other
statements in declaring that the two
sorties, of 27th September and 7th October,
were almost of necessity failures, and im
plied that they were designed to be bo. Ba
zaine, said the Vicomte, being a man of
essentially ambitious character, and thinking
he held the army in his hand, hoped to be
come powerful enough to deoide the future of
France. The word "traitor" was in fact
openly applied to him all over Metz, both
before and at the time of the surrender. It
will be remembered that when the tidings of
the proposed step was first communicated t o
the garrison, many of the officers resolved
not to surrender. A general discouragement,
however, succeeded, sinoe none could tell
who was fit to be trusted, and theprojeotof
holding out was abandoned.
Opinions may differ as to the weight to be
attached to the testimony of this fresh wit
ness, and some may decry it on the score of
M. de v alcourt s subsequent republican asso
ciations. We must recollect, notwithstanding.
that it is confirmatory of rjrevious reports.
hns been made public before a very large
audience in a way to invite criticism and chal
lenge contradiction, and was given as the first
of a Feries of lectures on Biruilar themes that
will afl'ord an opportunity for close scrutiny.
It Feems, on the whole, but too certain that
Bazaine proved false to Lis trust at one of the
most trying emergencies in the history of his
country, and that the terrible disasters which
have fiin ce overtaken her are thus, in a mea
sure, to be laid at Ins door. Unless a better
defense can be offered in his behalf than any
that has so far appeared, hardly a man has
ever carried the baton of a Marshal of France
whose name will go down to posterity asso
ciated with so dark a stigma.
ARISTOCRACY THE KNICKERBOCKERS
From the A Y. Sun.
Pride of birth is a natural feeling, in which
men of every nationality partake, but in dif
ferent degrees. A man conscious of having
had respectable ancestors has a stronger in
ducement to do honor to their memory by
reputable conduct than the son of nobody or
one whose parents have a bad character.
But in this country we have, thank God! no
aristocracy, or, at least, no ordor of society
that corresponds with the landed aristocracy
of England and the continent of Europe.
It is true we bavo a spurious kind of aris
tocracy, founded on money, whose character
istics are lavish expenditure, extravagance,
and tawdry display. But people of culture
and refinement laugh at their pretensions.
Then we have in some of our large towns,
especially Boston and Philadelphia, an aris
tocracy of talent and education, whioh is not
to be laughed at. But society is not so di
vided among us, nor are the lines of demar
cation so distinct, as to prevent classes of
people nominhlly separated by some social
differences from running iuto one another.
so that it is difficult to determine which is on
the most elevated social plane. There is also
here and there an American family which can
boast of an illustrious lineage, but people of
this sort are usually inditlerent to ancestral
distinctions, and never obtrude their claimi
to social eminence. Persons of similar
tastes, and about the same degree of intelli
gence and refinement, naturally seek each
other s society, and usually without inquiring
whether blue blood or the common fluid rau
in the veins of their ancestors.
There has been a great pretense of high
birth and exclnsiveness among the descend
ants of the Kuickerbockers, as the Dutch
boers and burghers are called who came from
the Old World and settled New Amsterdam.
Probably, if they were familiar with the his
tory of their ancestors, and knew their social
status in Holland, and the circumstances
under which they came to this country, these
Knickerbockers would come to a more
accurate appreciation of their own claims
to aristocratic descent than is now enter
tained among them. Indeed, the idea has
generally obtained that there was a strain of
the best blood in many of those who came
here from Holland. The truth is altogether
otherwise.
The separation of New Netherlands from
the mother country took place more
than a century earlier than that which took
place between the colonies and Great Britain,
or about two hundred years ago. Soon after
the change of dominion all family intercourse
ceased between the two countries. There
was, it is true, considerable inter
communication for a few years after the
English conquest, but upon the decease of
those then living correspondence between the
members of the families on the two sides of
the Atlantio dropped off, and finally cea3ed
altogether.
The American Dutchmen, therefore, con
stitute a body totally severed as regards
social relations from their brethren in Europe.
They may regard Holland with filial, pious
love, as the home of their ancestors. I hey
may cherish a pride in the military achieve
ments of the mother country, lhe commer
cial enterprises, the prudent thrift, the laws
of freedom, all of which distinguished the
early days of the Dutch republic, they may
appropriate to themselves as a part of their
patrimonial inheritance. 13ut this feeling of
attachment is not at all reciprocated or under
stood by the Hollander. The people there
have no relationship with ours. They have
no pride in our growth and prosperity. They
are generally ignorant of our history, and
those who know something of the ancient
colony of New Netherlands are wholly indif
ferent in regard to this eountry. The out
rages, ljncuings, and general immorality
which our newspapers report to their readers
are reproduced in the journals of Paris,
Brussels, and London, with abusive com
ments, and thus form the staple of informa
tion on the United States to be found in
Dutch newspapers.
The simple truth is that the great majority
of the Netherlander who settled perma
nently in America belonged to the so-called
lower or laboring classes. They were farm
ers or mechanics. The most distinguished
Knickerbocker families those whose ances
tors filled the most important positions in
the new settlement, as well as others were
from the great body of coalmen people.
The ancestor of Peter Stuyvesant was a
humble olergyman in Frlesland. The only
patroon who settled upon his estates on the
lludwon was a diamond-cutter of Amsterdam.
Although the republic of Holland conferred
no titles, it protected the old nobility in their
estates, and they and their families were oon
tent to leave distant enterprises in the hands
of the other classes and remain at home.
It may be asked, not unreasonably, how
men of inferior pobition and devoid of wealth
or influence in Holland could obtain grants
of large tracts of land from the Government.
Tk wer is ey and couipUU
was the settlement of the country. The laud
had no market value, and manorial rights to
any extent were conceded to persona of enter
prise who could take out settlers in propor
tion to the amount of territory granted them.
Besides, the island of Java offered a more in
viting field of adventure, and the younger
sons of the gentry Rought their fortunes ia
the East Indies. There were fabulous stories
current of the sources of wealth in that
remote region, which was represented as a
golden Cathay; and the dashing young fellows
of Holland were attracted thither, as the
enterprise and aotivity of our day were drawn
to the Pacific slope on the discovery of gold
in California.
The Knickerbockers have nothing more to
be proud of on the soore of tbeir desoent
than the Yankees of Connecticut or the tobacco-growers
of Virginia. '
TIIE "COMMUNE" AS A BASIS OF' GOV
ERNMENT. From the Fall Hall Oazette.
It is a strange and significant sign of decre
pitude when an old man forgets the lessons
of his long years of busy and active life, and
reverts by preference to the scenes and asso
ciations of early youth. And a similar dis
eased senility appears to attach to political
philosophy when it goes back for precedents
to the examples afforded by a less advanced
stage of society. But though this kind of
retrospective wisdom is a pretty sure sign of
weakness in political philosophy itself, it is
not nnfrequently a token of rude vigor in
the individual minds which indulge in it.
The fashion of mimicking the language
and demeanor of classical republics
which prevailed in the French demo
cracy of 1793 was ludicrous enough,
as ludicrous as the contemporary mode among
ladies of dressing, or rather undressing, in
classical tunics, and facing a Parisian climate
in winter with stockingless feet and very ex
posed shoulders. But the men who thus
modelled themselves after an extinct type
were, many of them, neither foolish nor
weak. Mistaken as they were in supposing
the lessons of antiquity directly applicable to
their own day, they could themselves appre
ciate what was great and what was wise in the
recollections of ages gone by, and regulate
their own conduct to a certain extent in
unison w ith such guidance. They were utterly
mistaken in fancying Sparta and Athens
models for France; they were not themselves
the worse, but the better, so far as they were
in earnest, for acting the parts of Spartans
and Athenians.
These reflections are v'. ; "naturally occa
sioned by the singular uiiuchronism which is
now attempted we cannot say perpetrated
by the extempore government established for
the nonce in Paris. Of course, the majority
of its leading spirits are simply of the anar
chical or destructive character; but there are
thinners among them men who have formed
an idea of a possible State, such as Europe
for many generations has not witnessed in
actual existence. There have been times and
countries in which the cities and their
indwellers were almost everything the mass
of mankind who cultivated the earth nothing.
Inside the walls, affluence, education,
comfort, luxury; outside, a multi
tude soaroely removed above bar
barism, subject to a number ' of
feudal lords who no doubt defied the citizens,
and plundered them when they were able,
but whom their own lawless habits and pau
perism placed in general at the mercy of the
burghers whom they affected to despise.
Such were the Netherlands at one period;
such more especially was Northern Italy. "In
every other part of Europe," says Macaulay,
"a large and powerful privileged class tram
pled on the people and defied the Govern
ment. But in the most flourishing parts of
Italy the nobles were reduced to comparative
insignificance. In some districts they took
shelter under the protection of the powerful
commonwealths which they were unable to
oppose, and gradually sank into the mass of
burghers."
Such is the preoedent, if pnblio rumor is
correct, which the few thoughtful spirits
among the Red rulers of the Hotel de Ville
have before their eyes. They dream of a
France consisting of a number of confederate
cities, exercising in harmony with each other
all political power, and a multitude of be
nighted agriculturists obeying the laws which
the cities dictate and paying the taxes which
they impose. Such is the theory whioh Assi,
the chief of the International Sooiety, is said
to have drawn from the pages of the only
book which he admits having studied M.
Quinet's "History of Italy." Whatever may
be the deficiencies of Citizen Assi's political
education, he is evidently a man who
thinks for himself, and who possesses the
leader's faculty of expounding his thoughts;
and, if it be true that he is already under
proscription by the merely anarchical section
of the Commune, he. has evidently earned
the ordinary reward of one who thinks for
himself in troublesome times, but has not
strength to enforce his thoughts either
neglect or martyrdom. The ideas of such a
man are generally more worth investigation
than better instructed but more common
place personages are apt to suppose.
Let hb portray to ourselves for a moment the
features of an Italian civic commonwealth of
the Middle Ages, and with the guidance of
safer authorities than M. Quinet's epigrams.
At the time of its greatest development in
the fourteenth century, republican Florence
was a city with soma ninety or a hundred
thousand inhabitants. In theory, its Consti
tution established a government of trades'
unions. There were twenty-one or twenty,
three guilds; the greater and lesser "arts"
lawyers, notaries, wholesale dealers, bankers,
etc, belonging to the former; retailers,
shoemakers, butchers, tailors, and the
like to the smaller. Each of these com
panies had its own council and its own
executive. Each excluded the competition
of privato traders by the most jealously
exclusive laws. United, or rather federated,
they constituted the common wealth with its
general executive, composed of members
chosen by a constantly changing series of re
fined contrivances; its two elected legislative
councils; and its device for occasionally re
sorting to a plebiscite, a "resolution," in Hal
lam's words, "of all derivative powers into
the immediate operation of the popular will,"
when Florence was technically said "far si
popolo," to make itself people from whioh
"people, however, not only mere proletaries
but citizens not enrolled in the trades were
carefully excluded.
Such was the general outline of Florentine
Government for nearly two centuries, but
subject to perpetual variations of detail and
interrupted by periods of anarchy and ty
ranny. Nevertheless, it secured an amount
f wealth, comfort, social retluoiueut such as
was only approached in tha times of which
we are speaking in a few other communities
similarly circumstanced. The difference be
tween tie life of a citizen of l'loieuoe, even
of the meanest, and that of the vassal of soma
fesdal lord in the neighbor In valleys of the
Apennines was almost as Rreat as that be
tween a townsman of an AlUutio city in the
United States tad a slave tm the estate of a
planter while slavery existed. And the
nobles themselves were gradually drawn
within the magio oirole of city influence.
They were greater men outside the wulla, but
hsppier within. At first they honored the
Commune by taking a leading part in its
affairs; then they were content to piny an in
ferior part; finally, the jealous spirit of demo
cracy so far prevailed as to exclude them
from power altogether, and with many
circumstances of contempt. In the mean
time the vassals of these lords the tillers
of the soil within the Florentine ter
ritory found tbeir position muoh im
proved from what it had been nnder mere
feudal dominion. Though absolutely without
political rights, the Florentine contadino was
protected by the great Commune, improved
greatly in physical condition, and attained a
sort of rustio quasi-independence. But Flo
rence had only about 200,000 country sub
jects; her dominions were hemmed iu by
those of other Tuscan towns Pisa, Arezzo,
and the rest; these again forming only a
minor cluster in the constellation of Italian
cities, which included such mighty States as
Venice and Genoa all reproductions, , with
many differences, of the type of which Flo
rence furnished the most "advanced'' or de
mocratic specimen.
In Italy, therefore, the politioal dream
which is attributed to Assi was to a oertain
A L I 1 1 . A.
extent reauzeu. Ami ner civlo coniuion-
wealtLs were strangely short-lived all but
the two last named, which had a large ad
mixture of the aristocratic element. And it
is very noteworthy that their disorganization
and fall were not in general the consequence,
as might have been expected, of any "ugly
rush" from the excluded lower classes or from
the rejected nobility. They commonly pro
ceeded from one or the other of two causes.
The fiist was the bitter jealousy entertained
in democracies of all who achieve power by
mere popular favor jealousies far more in
cutable than those which are excited else
where by recognized prerogative: jeal
ousy, which is just as operative and
as injurious at Washington now as in the
Florence of Dante, though kept in control by
greater solidity of institutions and national
character. And thus the history of Florence
during these two centuries discloses little
more than a succession of short r6igns of
popular favorites, energetio and wealthy
citizens, foreign military adventurers, and
now and then a plain man of the people, such
as Michael Lando, the honest wool-comber,
who was chosen "gonfalonier" in a wanton
freak, because he happened one day ti be
carrying the standard of justice, and who
governed for a short space more sensibly than
any of his distinguished predecessors. For
such inveterate disunion there could
be no external cure, because it aroso
from the very nature of democracy acting
within a small sphere. The next and equally
insuperable cause of failure was to be found
in the mutual jealousies of the several neigh
bor cities. They never could agree for any
object of common benefit, although separate
leagues could be formed from time to time
for the purpose of tearing each other to pieces
as Gnelfs and GiLellins. The wheel of
change was continually going round; in one
city the multitude would rise against a self
imposed chief, and "make themselves people"
once more; in another, tired of popular
wrangles, men would place themselves once
more nnder the foot of a "signore;" but, in
the long run, the bias towards absolute gov
ernment was sure to prevail, and one after
the other these noble cities fell nnder despot
ism and consequent decay.
It may be scarcely worth while, for pur
poses of political instruction, to draw the pic
ture of a past state of things which no power
on earth could reproduce in Europe under
the reign of newspapers and standing armies.
But something may be learned by observing
tne innate and incurable defects incurable
because deeply rooted in the propensities of
men which beset the ideal of a country oom
posedjof a cluster of civio commonwealths,
even were it capable of temporary realization.
EDUCATIONAL.
JJ ABVARD UNIVERSITY,
CAMBRIDGE, MASS.,
Comprises the following Departments:
Harvard College, the University Lectures, Divinity
School, Law School, Meilcal School, Dental School,
Lawrence Scientific School, School of Mining and
Practical Geology, Bussey Institution (a School of
Agriculture and Horticulture), Botanlo Garden, As
tronomical Observatory, Museum of Comparative
Zoology, Peabody Museum of Archaeology, Episcopal
Theological School.
The next academic year begins on September S3,
1S71.
The first examination for admission to Harvard
College will begin June 89, at 8 A. M. The second
examination for admission to Harvard College, and
the examinations for admission, to the Sclent! flo
and Mining Schools,; will begin September 23. The
requisites for afcUslon to the College have been
changed this year. There Is now a mathematical
a'ternatlve for a portion of the classics. A circular
describing the new requisites and recent examina
tion papers will be mailed on application.
UNIVERSITY LECTURES. Thirty-three courses
In 1870-71, of which twenty begin In the week Feb
ruary 12-19. These lectures are Intended for gradu
ates of colleges, teachers, and other competent
adults (men or women). A circular describing them
will be mailed on application.
THE LAW SCHOOL has been reorganized this
year. It has seven Instructors, and a library of
16,tuo volumes. A circular explains the new course
of study, the requisites for the degree, and the cost
of attending the school. The second half of the
year begins February 13.
For catalogues, circulars, or Information, ad
dress J. W. HARRIS,
S 6 3m Secretary.
JDGKHILL SCHOOL
MERCHANTVILLB, N. J.,
Four Miles from Philadelphia.
The tension commenced MONDAY, April 10,
ifn.
For circulars apply to
Rev. T. W. CATTELU
MILLINERY.
Tjyj K 8, R. DILLON
NOS. 833 AND 831 SOUTH STREET,
FANCY AND MOURNING MILLINERY, CRAPB
VEILS.
Ladles' and Misses Crape, Felt, Gimp, Hair, Satin,
Silk, 8traw and Velvets, Hats and Bonnets, French
Flowers, Hat and Bonnet Frames, Crapes, Laces,
Silks, Batius, Velvets, Ribbons, Sashes, Ornaments
and all kinds of Millinery Goods.
OOAU
ALBERT HTKKKTVjrilARF,
SNOWDON 4 RAU'S OOAL DEPOT, CORNER
DILLW YN aod WILLOW Streets. Lehigh and
Schuylkill COAI prepared exprij for family use
at the lowest prlvM. 1U
iV ARDfiN AND- FLOW3R SS.EDS.
1T A Full Assortment
- OUR OWN GROWTH.
COLLINS, WETHKKILL A CO..
' 8Kttl UKOWKU3,
4 tufa tf K0 1111 fl1 1113 UAlUtLT burect
FOR 8 ACE.
F O R SALE,
Jin Slegant XLoKidsnce,
WITH STABLE,
AT CHE8NUT HILL.
Desirable location, a few minutes' walk from depot
D. T. PRaTT,
No, 108 South FOUhTII Street.
8S4Sm
F
O It
L 12 .
SPRING LAKE."
An elegant country seat at Chesnut Hill, Philadel
phia, ten minutes walk from depot, and five hundred
yards from Falrmount Park; lawn or nearly nine
acres, adorned wilh choice shrubbery, evergreen,
fruit and shade trees. A most healthy location,
views for 40 miles over a rich country, modern
pointed stone house, gas, water, etc., coach, Ice, and
spring houses, never falling spring or purest water.
(la kb for boatiku), all stocked with mountain
tront, carp, etc., beautiful cascade, with succession
of rapids through the meadow.
Apply to J. R. PRICE, on the premises. 4 25
FOR SALE,
HANDSOME RESIDENCE,
WEST PHILADELPHIA.
No. 8243 CHESNDT Street (Marble Terrace),
THKKE-STORY, WITH, MANSARD ROOF, AND
THREE-STORY DOUBLE B&CK
BUILDINGS.
Sixteen rooms, all modern conveniences, gas, bath,
hot and cold water.
Let 18 feet front and 120 feet 8 inches deep to a
back street.
Immediate possession. Terras to snlt purchaser.
M. D. LIVEN3ETTER,
413 No. 120 South FOURTH Street
5 SALE OF THE ATSION ESTATE.
AliOUT 23,000 ACRES OF LAND, TO BE SOLD
AT PUBLIC AUCTION, AT THE WFST JEKSSY
HOTEL, CAMDEN, N. J., ON MAY 6, 1811, AT
1 O'CLOCK, P. M.
TO SPECULATOHS IN LAND. PROJECTORS OF
. TOWNS AND CAPITALISTS GENKRALLY, A
RARK OPPOHTUN1TY FOR INVESTMENT IS
PtthSENTEDM
A FAltM of about 700 acres, with extensive Im
provements, Is Included.
SEVBKAL MILLS and additional mill and manu
facturing Bites are on the property.
RAILROADS traverse the entire length of the
tract.
ATSION STATION the point of Junotion of
two railroads.
TOWNS and SETTLEMENTS may be favorably
located.
TIIE CEDAR TIMBER is of considerable value.
CHAN BERRIES, GRAPES, SWEET POTATOES
nors, etc., can be very successfully cultivated.
GOOD TITLE will he made to the purchaser.
SEND FOR A PAMPHLET containing particu
lars, and apply personally, or by mail, to
GEORGE M, DALLAS, Assignee,
8 84 S7t No. 829, S. FOURTH St., Philadelphia.
FOR SALE VALUABLE FARMS SlTU-m
ill ate in Montgomery county, Pennajlvaala,L
on the Bethlehem pike, eighteen miles north of
Philadelphia, near the North Penasylvania Railroad,
containing 266 acrss. The Improvements are large,
consisting of stone mansion, with bath, water-closet,
range, ete. Two tenant housos, two largo barns,
stabling for 100 horses and cattle, and all ether ne
cessary outbuildings. The farm Is aador good fonce
and well watered. The avenues leading to the man
sion are ornamented by two rows of large shade
'trees. There are large shade trees around the man
sion, and a variety of fruit trees. About 31 acres of
timber and about 80 acres of raoaaow, the balanca
all arable land. It Is well adapted to grata, brood
ing, and for grazing purposes; while its sltaatioa,
fine old treeb, fruits, and modera Improvements,
commend It as a gentleman's country seat. If de
sired, oan be dlvldoa Into two farms. There are two
sets of farm buildings. Apply to R. J. DOBBINS,
Ledger Building, or F. R. ft CHEER, en the pre
mlsea. 5 3 wsntt
FOR SALE LOW. AT CHESNUTW
! Hill, an unusually attractive and complete zSz.
Country Seat, live minutes' walk from Chesnut liul
Depot; six acres of beautiful grounds, fruit, shade,
stables, grapery, green-house, fish-pond, etc.
Modern pointed stone residence, is rooms: fine
views. RICHARDSON JANNEY, No. i!06 S.
FOURTH Street. 4 2T thatnaw'
NINETY-THREE ACRES FARM FOR
-LiiiBale or exchange for city property, or good
merchandise, situated In Richland towrshlp, Backs
county. R. J. DOBBINS,
4 27 12t Ledger Building.
OFOR SALE HANDSOME BROWN-STONB
RE8IDEENCE, with side yard, BROAD and
MASTER Streets. Lot SO by 200 feet deep to Car
lisle street. R. J. DOBBINS,
4 27 12t Ledger Building.
FOR SALE NBAT THREE-STORY BRICK
DWELLING, with side yard, No. 1413 ,N.
EIGHTEENTH Street, or will be exchanged.
R. J. DOBBINS,
4 2T12t Ledger Building.
FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE ELEGANTLY
located COTTAGE, at CAPE MAY, furnished
throughout. R. J. DOdBINS,
4 27l2t ?er Building.
FOR SALE ELEGiNT FOUR-STORY
brown-stone RESIDENCE, No. 1917 CUES-
NUT Street, with Bide yard. Lot by 173 feet.
R. J. DOBBINS,
4 27 12t Ledger Building.
ft TO RENT, FURNISHED DESIRABLE
Liiil Summer Residence, Township Line, near
School Lane, Uermantown.
JUSTICE BATEMAN A CO.,
Sltf No. 122 South FRONT Street,
TO LET A LARGE FURNISHED MAN
lion, with stabling, ice-house, lawn, etc., well
ed. Apply No. 1312 LOCUST Street. a 3 3f
TOKcNT.
FOR RENT,
STORE, No. 339 MARKET Street.
APPLY ON PREMISES.
4 22 tf
J. B. ELLISON A SONS.
WHISKY, WINE, ETC
CAR&TAIR8 A McCALL,
Ho. 126 Walnut and 21 Granite Sts.,
IMPORTERS OF
Br an die i, Wines, Gin, Olive Oil, Eta,
' WHOLESALE DEALERS IN
PUI1E RYE WHI8KIE3,
' IN BOND AND TAX PAID. 2S(
HATS AND CAPS."
Tff WARBURTON'S IMPROVED VENTILATED
dSJ,and eaay-huing DRE&S HATS (patented), in all
tlie improved fashions of tlie seaawu. (JHEdNUT
Street, next doortojfto ost Ofl! oo. rp
2
F K I ME HEAVY
I lvr E h
KKKT tATM.
COLL1SS, WlaaUERlLL A CO.,
t-i (irowers,
Noa. nil aud 1113 MARKET Street.