ysv ""-' y ' g-3'a W.iT.V 'VSS-.'- .-cFVT.rF rr'&iviz,? - t . '&?" XV"V - J -x. iT - w rs ' .- v a. .5 r - - " v.rt n f i'i : . - "--. " LANCASTER DAILY INTELLIGENCER; WEDNESDAY, JiLNlARYR, 1880. V- JLancaster intelligencer. - "WEDNESDAY EVENING, JAN. 14, 1880. Mr. O'Coner's Convictions. Charles O'Coner has broken a long silence en political matters in a way te attract universal attention te what he has te say. Mr. O'Coner has all his life been held te be a Democrat of the strict est sect, and while he still considers him self te be the most democratic of democrats, he abandons unre servedly some of the chief doctrines of the Democratic party as well as the party itself. lie became finally disgust ed with them after they nomi nated Herace Greeley, their open, -notorious and life-long antagonist, as their candidate and the champion of their professed ideas. Very shortly after this event, Mr. O'Coner declares, his "convictions became settled" and caused him te withheld from both parties bis " confidence and sup sup pert, hoping for the ultimate expul sion of both from power and the - total overthrew of party government." DTe charges the troubles of the country upon the "trade of politics," an art " by which the masses are controlled for the personal benefit of their rulers." He pro poses remedies for the evils he sees, which are certainly radical enough te be very effective if there is any healing power in them ; which is the question. He does net expect that the present gen eration of men, or any number of them, will see the virtue that he sees in what he proposes ; and in this expectation he is net likely te be disappointed. The startling changes which he suggests in our method of government are net likely te receive assent, though the troubles which they arc devised te cure are obvious te all men, and the result of the criticism which will be attracted te Mr. O'Coner's most novel prepositions will de great geed te the country and may eventually secure is such safeguards as will make its government democratic in substance as well as in form. The en lightened wisdom of this age ought cer tainly te be sufficient te devise some means te secure the government of the United States te the people te whom it belongs,and te whom it is net new given, as the whole world has been of late years advised through the notorious failures of the ballet box te secure obedience te its award. Mr. O'Coner gees deep te the bot tom and turns the nation upside down in a wreck with the intent te rebuild it from the foundation. That may be the way in which our needed regeneration will come, but it will only be after we have passed through a violent revolution and the people have been aroused te a forci ble resistance te usurpers who have changed the republic into an empire. It is net likely that the states will be abol ished, as Mr. Coner wants them te be, by their own unceerced act ; but that would be the inevitable result of the abolition of our democracy, and only when it is restored again can it be determined whether Mr. O'Coner is right in charging - upon our state organizations the dissen sions and civil war that have been our chronic afllictien. The empire bids fair te come upon us, as Mr. O'Coner agrees with the popular apprehension in believing, through Grant's elevation te a third term ; which he considers will be suicidal te the lie publican party, in depriving it of the inter-state issues which have been its stock in trade, and destructive te its leaders in transferring the control of the spoils te a chief magistrate seated for life and independent of them. Mr. O'Coner considers it absolutely impossible tliat, " anyone called a Demo crat ' should succeed in the coining na tional election ; and bases his conviction upon the belief that the Xew Yerk Leg islature will take care te secure the clec teral vote of the state for the Repub lican candidate, as it has the power te de by cheesing the electors itself or by causing them te be chosen in the congressional districts, a bill te which effect has already been introduced into the body. Mr. O'Coner may be right. If lie is, and the people submit te this legal means of depriving them of their presidential choice, we may readily as sent te Mr. O'Coner's ether declaration that the elected candidate will claim the plaee for life. Things will then ripen towards that revolutionary stage when the general overturning will take place that will give Mr. O'Coner's radical ideas a chance for adoption, if their wisdom is approved by the patriots of this revolution of the next century who survive te deal with it. Why is this Thus ? There is a notable subsidence in the demand of the Xcic Era and its faction of the Republican party in this county, upon the chairman of the county com mittee and his associates, te call a pri mary election te elect delegates te the state convention, according te the rules of the party. There is no question that under these rules there is'ne proper au thority te elect these delegates except a primary election ; nor is there any doubt that after the call of the state committee sufficient time was left for the county committee here te be assembled, and for a primary election te be ordered and held. It is net te be assumed that the Xew Era's editor gives up the contest for the law of the party as a hopeless one ; since he cannot forget hew, some dozen years age, when the county committee usurped the power of electing state dele gates, the sharp and strong opposition of the Ex)ress dislodged the enemy and forced him te take the field. Wherefore then are it and its party silent while the rules are being strangled in the county committee ? Twe explanations are offered for the matter. One is that the chairman of the county committee and his associate Bull Ringers threatened that if they were forced into calling a primary election new they would provide for the nomina tion of the whole county ticket; the ether faction, which objects te being called the Heg Ring, net being prepared for this, agreed te abandon the demand for a primary election. The ether sug gested explanation is that theCameron theCameren theCameron peeple,being desperately in earnest about capturing th e state convention, have en- forced their old claims upon the proprie tor of the Xew Era and made his paper keep quiet regarding the violation of the rules that is te take place in his county. In any event the JVeie Era preserves unwonted quiet, and will no doubt cheer fully tell the reason te the "inquiring friends " who send their conundrums te the INTELLIGENCE!:. The Philadelphia Times continues its researches into the depths of presidential sentiment among the newspapers of the state. Te-daywe are favored with what the "thoughtful and influential leaders " of " independent thought " think con spicuous among them being such power ful journals as the Litiz Sunhcnm, the IJryn Mawr Heme Xacs, the Zelienople Valley Xeics. and the Glen Reck llera, A fatal defect in the Times list is the lack of reports from the Wajfcnlese Wecchter, the Cliristlkher KiirvUdinftcr, and 'Squire Kafreth's Farmersville Slnr. Timid people need net be alarmed at the preposition for a change in the mode of electing presidential electors m .New Yerk by which the Republicans are said te contemplate capturing two-thirds of them. Such a thing may be seriously proposed and strenuously attempted, but it will net be carried out. The abatement of the riot losses te less than two million dollars affords pre sumptive evidence that the lobbyist was right who said the four million dollar bill contemplated " two millions for the cor porations and two million for the boys." PERSONAL. Hasxibal IIami.in has returned from Maine te "Washington a sadder and a wiser man. The new St. Dotelph club of Bosten has Fuaxcis Paukman for is president. Pre fesser Alexander Agassiz is one of the ex ecutive committee. The widow of the late Landgrave of Ilessc-Philinsthal and daughter of the Duke of Wurtemberg lias been declared bankrupt. Senater Lama it's illness is new believed te be vertigo rather than paralysis. His condition is considered " serious but net dangerous. " The wife of General Ciiksti:ii A. An num, of Xew Yerk city, died en Monday night. She was a daughter of the late Captain W. L. 1 lemon, of the United States navy. Senater Antheny, Isaac W. England, of the Sun ; Whitclaw Reid, of the Tribune ; General Graham and Ex-Governer Rice, of Massachusetts, were among the pall-bear-cars at the funeral of Fuank Lesmk, in New Yerk, yesterday. The name of Mr. R. A. Malexk, of this city, is included among the prominent gen tlemen occupying scats en the platform at the monster meeting in Music hall, Cos Ces Cos ten, en Monday evening, at which Messrs. Parnell and Dillen made their plea in be half of the Irish tenants. Mr. Malenc is new engaged en a large contract is Bos Bes Bos eon. A Maine gentleman, at present residing in Bosten, and claiming an intimate ac quaintance with the private and domestic life of Dr. Gaucei.ex, pointedly denies the statement (reported te have been made in a Springfield prayer meeting) reflecting upon the moral character of the ex-gov-cruer, and alleging that he married another man's wife while her husband was in Cali fornia. ClIAKLHS X. VAU.AN-DIOI1AM, tllC SOU of the late Clement, has introduced into the Ohie Assembly a bill te create a pardoning beard, which shall consist of the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor, treas urer and attorney general. It is proposed te give the governor power te disregard the recommendations of the beard. There is likelihood that the New Yerk Legislature also will consider the establishment of such a beard at the present session. Yeung Vallandigham, by-thc-by, is the only Democratic member of the Ohie Legisla ture who voted against Thurman, because he charges that the latter swindled his father out ef'the scnatership in 18G7-G8. Riciiaku A. PitecTOK, the astronomer, takes a shy at an American fashion in this style : " Doubtless there arc geed reasons for eschewing here the rule which makes evening dress essential in European opera houses and in the stalls and dress circle of all the better order of theatres, though for my own part I think a house deprived of nine-tenths of its beauty when ladies arc in bonnets and hats. But if in a free country ladies must go as they plcase te theatre and opera, se far as bonnets and hats arc concerned, might they net devise a headgear of moderate dimensions, se that, for instance, a lady should net hide mere of the stage from these behind her than a man net exceeding, say, seven feet in height and proportionately bread ? A hat adorned with white ostrich plumes (and doubtless very beautiful) reduced mc last Thursday evening te the abject necessity of rolling my overcoat into a cushion, by which I was enabled te sit some four or five inches higher, a proceeding which I frankly admit would be perfectly repre hensible save in self-defence. My friend, who sits no higher than myself, had no occasion thus te elevate himself, though he was sitting behind a tall and pertly man." Lucky Oil Explosion. Several workmen were engaged in filling one of the large oil tanks at Pratt's astral oil works, Williamsburg, X. Y., when there was a terrific explosion. The top of the tank was blown off, its contents burst out, and the oil, of which there was a large quantity, was quickly spread ever the whole premises. The men who were employed at the works had a miraculous escape from death. Three men were slightly injured and all came very near drowning in oil. The works arc se well constructed that any escape of oil through leaks or bursting of pipes cannot come in contact with fires. The force of the explosion and the report was very great. Windows of all the houses in the vicinity were blown out, and in these near the corner whole sashes were shattered te pieces. People asleep in in them were nearly thrown from their beds, and they fled from their apartments te the street in their night clothes, sup posing there had been an earthquake. An Important Discovery. New Yenl Herald. If the Republican voters de net wish Grant as a candidate they have it in their power te send up anti-Grant delegates. MINOR TOPICS. 'S ist kalt. Atheks, Greece, has thirty-four news papers, and in the provinces there are twenty-two. An enterprising cigar dealer has get out a "Franklin and Marshall " brand. They are " two-fers, smoke well. but are guaranteed te When a Denver man shouted that he wanted the Utes se that the crowd might lynch them, a blue-coated soldier, who was en guard, said, " Why don't you go up into the mountains and get them, as we did?" Sexateu Ingalls, of Kansas, is an in neccnt man. The telegrams by which it was expected te prove his guilt have been kindly burned up by employees of the Western Union. Nobody ever doubted that Senater Ingalls would compare well with the generality of Kansas politicians. The Xew Yerk Herald finally " tum bles te it" that Grant seeks the Republi can nomination, and hopes and wishes te get into the White Heuse again. But in all this the Herald sees nothing te make people lese their heads though it nearly lest its own ever " Csesarism," a few years age. The term of collectors of internal rev enue, unlike that of most federal offices, is indefinite. It is new proposed at Wash ington te change this. Commissioner Raum has already suggested that it would be a geed plan te fix the tenure of inter nal revenue collectors, and the matter was discussed in cabinet meeting en Friday. The Xew Yerk Times thinks the proposed change would be a step backward, and de clares its true inwardness te be the motive of the politicians, who regard with jeal ousy any position that is net open te their assaults at least once in four years. The late Bishop Gil Haven was once of fered the editorship of the Xew Yerk Inde pendent, and though he declined it, he was pleased with the offer and se warm a friend of the paper that " after his death, he wanted it sent te him in the ether world if there were any ' mails that would reach there.' " The Independent, with an idea of coming as near te the boundary as pos sible, premises te send a copy te the " Ha ven normal school, Wayncsboreugh, Ga., for the use of colored students." A reli gious contemporary suggests that if the Independent ever gets across the line, its able, genial, but perhaps tee lihcrel editor might emit the advertisements, and espe cially the prominent insurance department, as it is believed no previsions against death and fire arc needed in the land te which Bishop Haven has gene. The Senate of the United States cou ceu sists of 7G members, and of this number 59 arc practicing lawyers, 8 busi ness men or merchants, 1 doctor, 1 editor, 2 planters, 2 farmers, 1 banker, 1 mine owner and operator and 1 .of no pro fession or buiiness. Senater Hamlin is the eldest member of that body in years, and the eldest in point of service, count ing from the time of his first election. Senater Antheny has been longer in con tinuous service than any ether senator. Besides the 219 lawyers in the Heuse there are 25 merchans, 5 bankers, 3 capitalists, 2 inventors, 5 manufacturers, 2 teachers, 12 farmers, 0 physicians, 1 architect and builder, 4 editors, 2 ministers, 1 stone cutter, 1 insurance agent, 2 millers and 3 owners and operators of transportation lines. The eldest member of the Heuse is Mr. Wait, of Connecticut, who is sixty-nine years of age, and the youngest member is Mr. Frest, of St. Leuis, who is twenty eight years of age. Fernande Weed has been longer a member of the Heuse than any of his associates, and next in point of long service is Judge Kellcy, of Pennsyl vania. Mr. Stephens, of Georgia, is generally spoken of as being elder than any member of the present Heuse, but Mr. Wait has about one year the advantage of him in that respect. NEW YORK'S ELECTORAL. VOTE. A 1'lan te Make it Sure fur tlie Republican Party. In the Xew Yerk Legislature last even ing was introduced a bill for a radical change in the electing of presidential electors. If it becomes a law the people of Xew Yerk next fall will elect their presidential electors by congressional dis tricts. The bill provides that two clecters-at-largc shall be chosen; that is, each electoral ticket placed in the ballet-box next fall will bear the names of three electors. There is no doubt about the inspiration of this bill. It is said that the men who prepared it have done se because they regard it as likely te meet much less opposition than the suggested election of electors by the Legislature. It is also believed that should it become a law at least twenty-three of the thirty-five electoral votes of the state are certain te be cast for the Republican nominee for president. It is also certain that many of the leading members of the Legislature were consulted about it. It was known some days age in Washington that this bill would net only be intro duced, but that every effort will be made te secure its passage. The General liraggs. A singular mistake took place in Wash ington en Xew Year's day. An cx-unieu and an ex-rebel officer met, and were con gratulating each ether en the happy man ner in which they were bridging the bloody chasm, when the union officer speke in most complimentary terms of Gen. Bragg, et Confederate, as well as Mexican, war fame. He said that although General Bragg was still a bitter rebel, he rather admired him for his gallantry at Buena Vista, and was glad he had te-day met and s'aaken hands with him. "Shaken hands with him te-day !" said the ex-rebel, con temptuously, "why our Bragg has been dead several years. Yeu must have met the ether fellow who is less of bullets and mere of a braggcr, who fought en your side during the war, but has been wiggling areuud ever since te get en ours. He is from Wisconsin, a member of Jee John John seon's sub-committee en military affairs, and our fellows regard him as a small tail te a very big kite." A Most Unkindest Cut. Philadelphia Times. Jelly Jack Hiestand, ex-naval officer under Grant and prospective something-quite-as-geed under the restoration, lacon ically says " Grant for me !" He regards Blaine as a little weak en the Chinese question that most vital issue in the county of Lancaster and weaker still en the force bill of 1872, but probably forget te mention that Blaine is weakest of all en naval office expectations. ODB HOTCH-POTCH. Prospective Mid Perspective. "Cry, Trojan, cry, a Helen and a wee.' Mrs. Grant is quoted as having said the happiest period of her life and the general's was when they lived in Galena "in a small brick house and kept one servant." Why was that the happiest period of their lives '.' There must be some geed rea son for Mrs. Grant having said what is at tributed te her, or she never could have been "quoted" as having said se. Gen. Grant has net only been a brave soldier, but also a fortunate one. There have been many soldiers in the world as brave as he, but few, if any, that have been as fortun ate. He has placed his name high en the column of military fame, and has been lav ishly compensated, and yet neither he nor Mrs. Grant are correspondingly happy ; and therefore, we, the common people, would like te knew the reason why? The following excerpt, which we quote from the same journal from which we quote the above, may faintly foreshadow the why : Three eminent drinkers turned down their glasses and did net take a drink of wine during the dinner, and have, taken nothing since. They were General Grant, Senater Matt Carpenter and Senater Cam Cam eeon. That sounds very much like the lan guage that temperance lecturers usually apply te broken-down or damaged topers and soakers. "Three Eminent Drinkers" we don't consider ourselves very fastidi ous in regard te our social and moral status, but at the same time it seems te us that we would as seen be considered one of three eminent blacklegs, or three cmi cmi rewdies, as "three eminent drinkers." Xew, these arc net Democratic cogitations, for our " quotations " are from the news columns of a Republican paper, and the cogitator himself voted for Gen. Grant, and his vote was one of the great mass that made Gen. Grant our president. But we did net then knew that he was an " emi nent drinker." Xe wonder Mrs. Grant and the general were happier when they lived in a " small brick house in Galena with one servant." We are by no means in harmony with all the "fuss" that has been made about the "third term." We accept the propo prepo sition that the aspirations of the friends of Gen. Grant or Gen. Grant himself te the presidency, cannot be fairly deemed a "third term " in the sense usually applied te such a contingency heretofore ; but, not withstanding all that, we think it would certainly be impolitic te elect him a third time ; if for no ether reason than that of giving him an opportunity te come out from among these eminent drinkes, in order that Mrs. Grant and the general might again enjoy their aforetime happiness in their little brick house, with one servant, in Galena. Mrs. Grant is a sensible woman and doubtless fully apprehends both the prospective and perspectie of her hus band's career. Gen. Grant is legally, pe litically and socially as eligible te the presidency as any ether man in the Union, but he is net se prndentially, patriotically, or demecratical!y. "When went there by an age in Reme when there was but one man ? " Is there no ether name " that can start a spirit as seen as Csesar?" Gen, Grant's ability and his renown as an exec utivc officer of our Union were nothing te brag of the Imaum of Muscat and the Mikade of Japan, te the contrary, netwith standing. What de these potentates knew about the qualifications necessary for an American president? If we are te take our cue from the monarchists of foreign countries as te the fittest man for our pres ident, then we might as well abandon self government, or " sell out " at once te seme enterprising political adventurer. But, we don't believe he really wants the presi dency another term. If he does, then we admonish him that he will net only vie late the law of common prudence, but also that dignified retirement which was se becoming te a Washington, a Jcllersen, a Madisen, and a Jacksen. General Grant is new a private citizen a fellow American republican. Had he been placed in the presidential chair without the prestige of having emerged from a success ful and victorious war career, his adminis tration would have been regarded as a fail ure ; as it is, his military fame has barely covered his civil inadvertencies, aud these latter, in a very few years, would have been forgetteu, or obliterated through the splendors of his military reputation. " The Empire ! " Well, we don't think that any one, whose opinion is entitled te respect really believes that wc shall ever, or "hard ly ever," have an empire ; at least net in name. As it is, our laws arc se per verted, or se defective, that it is neither impossible or improbable that imperial powers will be exercised yea, and have been, especially in the matter of succession. Whether Gen. Grant is new or ever has been an " eminent drinker " wc knew net, from personal knowledge. Mrs. Grant knows mere about that than any ether per son in the world, but the apparent yearn ings after the happiness of the little brick house, with one servant, in Galena, seems te indicate that he has at least filled the measure of his own glory, and any further honors conferred upon him would only ac crue te the benefit of these who desire his elevation te power again te these eminent drinkers with whom he would again find himself associated. Gen. Grant has mere at stake, and mere te sacrifice, than any ether man in our entire country, and his followers arc sure te involve him in politi cal demoralization if he listens te their siren songs. Wc think his friends are sad ly mistaken when they say his call te the chief magistracy of the country is the spon taneous wish of the people. If it is, then the people arc mistaken. Hew different it might havebcen for Ca;sar and Reme, or Xapoleen and France, had they stepped in their career at the proper time. General Grant ought te profit by their example. Wc have often heard of these indeed we have known these who have eschewed the cup by " swearing off" for a year, six months, or longer or shorter periods, and, although it is better se than drinking te excess, yet the very act of swearing elf shows a state of previous abandoned man hood, that is likely te return as seen as the "tabooed" period of abstinence ex pires. Turning down their glasses and refusing te take wine during a dinner, with these who were previously in . the habit of taking it, indicates that they took it tee freely, and felt the necessity of mildly swearing off. We would never feel exactly safe in delegating such per sons te transact important business for us, and it is questionable whether wc ought te trust them with the execution of civil or political power. This perspective of Gen. Grant, in our estimation, does net present a favorable prospective for our victorious here nor for his country. Mrs. Grant, no doubt, foresees that an elevation te the presidency might be as fatal te her happiness, the reputation of her husband and the geed of her country,as Helen was te Trey ; and hence, like peer, demented An An deomache, she practically cries, "'A Helen and a wee," abandon all aspirations te the presidency, let us keep our glasses turned down and return te our little brick house and one servant in Gelena again." It is all nonsense te suppose that no ether man is competent te administer our republican form of government. If there is net, then give it a lerm anu a head, which will be mere.permancnt, and abandon republican ism entirely. It is humiliating that se many, who themselves are seemingly con- petent for president, should be willing te play second fiddle, or even the bass drum te General Grant. Our government, wc had thought, was founded upon principles and net en men. Principles are eternal, but men are ephemeral. It lived without Grant long age ; it lives without Washing ton te-day, and may live without either a century hence. Sylla-Bvu. We use the word" democratically "here in its broadest and most catholic sence mid net at all in a partisan sense. t Thi term we also use in its catholic s-ense and net politically that is, wc mean it as cen-tradistiiiKui-lied from these who were mon archists and federalists. LATEST NEWS BY MAIL. Cincinnati has fixed upon May 18 te 21, inclusive, for the annual musical festival. A strike among the operatives of the Aquidneck and Perry cotton mills, at Xewpert, R, I,, is threatened. Henry Green shot and killed W. Stubbs yesterday at Ilunten station, Ky. The cause is unknown. Green lied. Mark McCandless, of West Elizabeth, fell into the river from a skiff and was drowned. The Augusta, Ga., factory and ware house was totally consumed by fire last night, with 1,500 bales of cotton. Less, $80,000 ; insurance, $GO,000. A special dispatch from Assumption,La., reports the killing of W. Parker, jr., col ored, by Allan Ilite, a justice of the peace. Rite escaped. Richmond, Va., had its iirst snow of the season en Monday night and in the twelve hours preceding sunrise yesterday the thermometer fell 150 degrees. The collections in Richmond for the re lief of famine suflercsin Ireland aggregate of date about $2,500 The fund by the Duchess of Marlborough new amennts te nearly 7,000. A coroner's jury in the case of the cellu loid accident, which occurred at Xewark recently, returned a verdict that the ex plosion was the result of natural causes . Edward Dowd, another victim, is dead. Gen. Garfield was yesterday formally elected United States senator te succeed Thurman. Thurman was supported by the Democrats but was defcatee by a vote of CG te 44 in the Assembly and 20 te 13 in the Senate, The Xatienal Metropolitan bank, of Xew Yerk, has deposited $2,200,500 in the sub-treasury at Xew Yerk for the re tirement of the same amount of its circula tion. The bank withdrew $2,450,000 in four per cent, bends. The brig S. P. Smith, Captain Trim, Xew Origans, for Providence, with molasses and cotton, struck inside of Brenten's Reef Rhede Island, en Monday night, during a heavy snow-storm. She lies in an easy po sition and has net yet bilged. If the wind remains favorable she will fier.t. Wreckers have gene te her assistance. The Heuse committee en elections met en Tuesday and took up the case of Mc Cains vs. Orth, Xinth Indiana district, en the pending motion te dismiss the appeal of the contestant. After some discussion a vote was taken, resulting : Ayes, G ; nays, 8. The committee adjourned until Tuesday next, pending a motion te take testimony. The Senate military committee failed te obtain a quorum en Tuesday, owing te the occupation of several of its members en ether committees ; but subsequently, by common consent, the chairman was au thorized te appoint a sub-committee te consider the bill for the relief of Fitz Jehn Perter and report upon it te the full com mittee at a future meeting. STATU ITEMS. The Pettsvillc Daily Chronicle died with poetry en its lips. Craycraft writes te the Pittsburgh Tele grapli that Tem Scaright was defeated for census supervisor in the Wise-Coffroth dis trict, though the congressmen were for him, by Senater Wallace's opposition. Jehn Cully, 80 years of age, who has been missing since Friday, was found by Lieutenant Tayler, of the Thirteenth police district, Philadelphia, in the kitchen of an old beuse en Queen's Lane, Roxbury, sit ting upright en a chair in front of the stove (lead. In Philadelphia this morning there was a big fire at Xew Market and Pollard streets, just east of Canal street. It started in Scott's spring works, took in Ofil's cabinet manufactory, Withington's machine shop, Pluckcr's furniture factory, and Buckley & Ce.'s spoke works. Total less, $80,000. The Philadelphia Times recapitulates the presidential preferences of 11G independent papers in this state as fellows : Fer James (!. Blaine, 24 ; anti-third term and any body te beat Grant, 10 ; for U. S. Grant, 8 ; for W. S. Hanccck, 8 ; for Themas F. .Bayard, 7 ; for Samuel J. Tilden, G ; for Jehn Sherman, 5 ; scattering, 10 ; no choice, 82. The llefermcd Church Messenger's edi tor confesses that he is anxious te edit a paper fit for the Eastern penitentiary of tins state. It may be sufficient explana tion of this, for the present at least, te say that no journal is 'admitted te that institu tion that contains bleed -and-thunder stor ies or sensational records, which exalt criminals te the standard of heroes. Charles La Ferest, the property man at the Pittsburgh opera house, en Tuesday met with a singular accident that may prove fatal. While steeping ever a mortar, pestle in hand, mixing the materials which make the "blue fire" used te light up tab leaux en the stage, the chemicals exploded. Beth eyes were burned terribly and his face was tern until his features are net recog nizable. The shipments of coal by the Philadel phia and Reading railroad for the week ending with Saturday last were 102,435 tens, 5 cwt., which was an increase of 15, 397 tens, 15 cwt., ever these of the corres ponding period of last year. The tonnage since the beginning of this year was GG0, 175 tens, 5 cwt., an increase of 272,471 tens, 8 cwt., ever that for the same time last year. The McKecspert sportsmen's association have contracted for five hundred quail the first let of which was received from Mem phis en Saturday. They havebcen bought at a reasonable cost and will be forwarded during the season as fast as the firm at the Seuth can get them in. The first installment came en in most excellent condition and about March 1 or perhaps later, the whole number, it is expected, will be received and when all danger from deep snows are past the fleck will be set free en the terri tory of the association in Allegheny and' Westmoreland counties. Twe or three thousand acres are included in their terri tory and trespass notices are nailed te fences and trees in all quarters of it. (iKKAT FLOODS AT T. K1TTS. Terrible Disaster in tlie AVcst India Archipelago Inundations AVashing the Rich Valley of Basseterre Twe Hundred Lives Lest. Xews has just arrived of terrible floods en the island of St. Kitts, by which 200 lives have been lest, prepc. I v te the extent of $250,000 destroyed, anil the whole island wasted. The land sweeps up from the shore, slowly at first, through a rich, fertile and cultivated soil, and then mounts abruptly toward the central mass, the rugged peak whereof is known by the name of Mount Misery. The eleva tion of this summit is nearly four thousand feet, and it overhangs the broken walls of an old crater the last lcmnant of an inner cone that has been washed away. The mountain is clothed with pasture and woodland, and at its skirts, in the rich val!eyef Basseterre, is the arable portion of the island, which is mainly devoted te sugar. The island itself, known as the " Mether of the Antilles," is twenty-three miles long, five miles bread, and covers an area of sixty-seven square miles. The floods occurred en Sunday last. The temperature had been unusually high for the time of year. The winds were blowing from the south at early morning. Toward neon they changed te the north east, and the temperature fell suddenly. The streams en the mountain side rapidly became torrents. Congregating into a gulch at the feet of Mount Misery, they rose from their narrow channels aud poured down upon the arable land in a resist less stream. The inhabitants were at once alive te their danger. There was a general stampede toward the coast. The confusieu was terrible. Blacks and whites, natives and English, all made for the nearest point of safety The torrent rolled en into the town of Basseterre, among the newly built houses and public edifices, carrying with it roettrces, timbers and branches of trees. Landslips added te the terrors of the scene. Sugar tields were levelled te the ground or tern up in masses, deep gullies were washed in the reads, sugar houses and dwelling places were borne bodily away, and the waters rushed headlong te the sea with their freight of drowned cattle and struggling human beings. The scene was pitiful. The whole pop ulation of the island does net exceed twenty-five thousand, and of these two hundred perished and many of the rast were homeless. People huddled together en the reefs, wild with terror. The au thorities went immediately te work te relieve the distress. But the task was tee great for them. Large quantities of pro pre visions and all the sugar ready for ship ment has been swept away. Earnest ap pcalshavc been made for help. St. Kitts has known no such calamity since 1722, when a terrific hurricane nearly destroyed the island. But it is singular that en July 8, 18G7, Basseterre was destroyed by lire, all the business portion of the town and most, of churches and dwellings reduced te ashes, and five lives lest. A movement is being set en feet for the relief of the devastated island. St. Christopher, or St. Kitts, was settled by English colonists under Sir Themas Warren in 1G23, was held afterward by the English and French, and finally ceded te Great Britain by the treaty of Versailles in 1783. In 1872 it joined the confederation of the Leeward Islands, the legislature of which sits at St. Jehn's, Antigua aud Basseterre in alternate years. It belongs te Great Britain, and is governed by it president, an executive council appointed by the crown, and a legislative assembly, half of whose members are elected. In 1SG1) the imports were valued at 198,712 ; experts, 222, 712. Maine. Acting Governer Lamson sent a note te Majer General Chamberlain asking whether Chamberlain was prepared te recognize his authority as governor of Maine? General Chamberlain replied that he was acting under the order oL'Ge!ior Garcelon "te protect the public priferty and institutions of the state until his (Garcelon' s) successor shall be duly quali fied." He could net recognize Lamson as governor, unless bound te de se by a de cision of the supreme court. The Repub lican questions te the supreme court will be submitted te-day. -m iw The City of Brotherly Leve. Editor Mcl'Iicrseii en Editor McClure. The Times needs te be mere honest and mere truthful, that it may be mere useful. The Press has only contempt for its disre disre putable editor and his dishonorable methods. And with this we dismiss him. LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. THE DKA3IA. "Oefty Geeff at Fulton Hall. Last evening Augustin Daly's " Under the Gaslight," was presented at the opera house by "Oefty Goeft" (Gus Philips) and a dramatic company. The audience was of very geed size, the gallery being crowd ed. The play is very sensational and is full of thrilling scenes. Mr. Phillips ap peared as Snarkey, the German messenger. He is a geed actor of that kind, his dialect being especially pleasing. The characters of Laura Ceuitland and Pearl were well taken by Missscs Adelaide Thornten and Grace Reth, both of whom are pretty young ladies and painstaking artists. The impersonation of Hay Trafferd by W. II. Southard was deserving of praise. J. R. Spackman, in the character of liyke, "the heavy villain," was very natural and his make-up was appropriate. Miss Alice Wren, asPeactblossem, was very lively and her singing was clever. Ed. Clcary made a geed Irish apple waman and his neat jigs assisted in making him a favorite. Miss Bessie Cliften, as Old Judas, was very peer, the character being entirely outside of the peculiar line of talent. Most of the acting, especially that of the here and the heroine, was loudly applauded and there were enough sensational situations te fill a dime novel. One of the best features of the show was the introduction of the train of cars en the stage, but this was greatly marred as, in making the trip, the train came in contact with the scenery and a piece of it was car ried across the stage by the little engine. Octoraro U. I. Church. The Philadelphia presbytery of the United Presbyterian church (secedcr) is in session in Philadelphia. A call from Mount Pleasant and Evansburg congrega tions for the pastoral services of Rev. David Andersen was presented and de clined. A call for his services as stated supply was also received from the Octerara charge, of Bart township, this county, late Rev. Win. Easten's. The following constitute the committee te visit Octoraro this year : Revs. James Crewe and H. A. McDonald and Elder J. C. Ken-. Sale of Ileal .Estate. Henry Shubert, auctioneer, sold at public sale last evening, at the Leepard hotel, the property belonging te T. B. Ircdalc, situated en the north side of East Lemen street, between Duke and Lime streets, Xe. 135. Te Jehn II. Metzler, for $2,410. NEIGUnOKHOOl) XBWS. Events Acress the County Line. Dr. K. B. Ewing has been re-appointed surgeon for the Baltimore Central railroad in Oxford. The McCullough iron works at Row Rew landvillc, Md., started in full blast en Monday of last week, Hen. R. A. Lambcrten, of Harrisbur", has accepted the presidency of the Lehigh university. The Xerth Cornwall furuance has chilled, causing a cessation of the casting process for about two weeks te come. Judge Pearson en Monday filed his for mal decree quashing the remaining in dictments made last August in the riot bribery cases. Xew bills will be sent in next Monday and if found the trials will begin en Tuesday. Seven new ice houses are te be built en the Susquehanna river, near Havre de- Grace, by J. C. Peisel & Ce., of Philadel phia. Tlie contract for building them has been awarded te A. M. Carrell, of Balti more, at a bid of $13,700. The fifth or sixth death by accident at the Valley Creek improvement of the Pennsylvania railroad, occurred a few days age. A bank of earth fell upon Merris Ladda, the boss of the gang operating the htcam shovel, killing him instantly. The store of Felix Fluhrer of Yerk was broken into by burglars yesterday morning and robbed of $225 worth of pistols, a $50 gun. a keg of powder, and a quantity of ammunition and and small amount of money. Minnie Voght, of Yerk, who bail just been released from jail, broke a large pane of glass from the front deer of a store en Geerge street. She stated that she broke the glass that she might be sent back t jail, having no place else te go. J. Rollins Abrams, very worthy and highly respected citizen of Cecil county. Md., residing near Brick Meeting Heuse, died en Friday last at Xettingham station where he had taken a lead of poultry te be shipped te market. Jehn S. Pennell of Little Ilritian town ship, Lancaster county, has sold his pair of fine bay horses te Moses Moses of Bal timore, for a high price. These horses took two or three first premiums at the Oxford fair, for best pair of carriage horses. The Conowingo bridge company made 12,781.11 last year and declared a dividend of $1 per share. The old beard of directors wcie unanimously elected, viz : James t Bell, president ; Richard B. McCoy, of Har ford county, Hen. Jacob Teme, of Cecil county, Levi K. Brown and .Tames S. Pat terson, of Lancaster county, Wilmington Krcry Etcniwj announce "officially" that last year's Peninsular peach crop was 8,031,228 baskets, and that the net profits were mere than $1,000,000. Every Keening suggests that if northern papers would step talking about a matter they de net understand and wait for its. spring estimates of the crop they would find themselves lacking in material for their threadbare joke about the Delaware iseach crop. Mayer Tyson, of Reading, sent his first annual message te councils Monday even ing. The debt of the city is stated te no ne il, 134,700, of which sum $522,500 is the debt of the water department. During the past year the debt was reduced $17, 450. The credit of the city is reported geed, the 5 per cent, lean commanding 1 per cent, premium. Xever was there mere hunting of foxes in Chester county than new. The sport has been increasing iu popularity steadily for the List five years, after having gene almost out of vogue for awhile before that. In and around West Chester there are new several packs of fox hounds,seuiK of which are daily in the field, and en almost every morning of the sueular week a party of bold riders may be seen setting forth in the gray light before sunrise for a chase. It was no wonder the colored man Jehn Xewman was burned te death at the Cam Cam eeon furnace, Middlctewn, yesterday. A large barrel filled with oil was located en top of the feeding house, or tunnel head at the furnace. While Xewman was in the act of filling his lamp with oil from the barrel, while the wick was burning, the fire came in contact with the oil, exploding the barrel. The blaze which followed the explosion lit up the sky for many hundred yards around the furnace and set fire to te the frame work of the feeding heuse and a. portion of the inclined plane. CKIMIKTAL " IlVSINKhS.' A Lint of Duplicated Canett. A correspondent writes that in leek- Ill" ever the list et cause ler trial next week,atthu January quarter sessions, he was amazed at the number of cases du plicated for no ether purpose than the costs. Th following are a few of them. One indictment, if it would have te con tain two counts, ought te be sufficient in these cases : J. L. Winters Wciler, seduction. J. L. Winters Weiler, fornication bastardy. and Jehn T. Warden, seduction. Jehn T. Warden, fornication and bas- tardy. Gee. Wall, felonious assault and battery. Gee. Wall, malicious mischief. Gee. Wall, surety of the peace. Michael II. Kauffmau, false pretense. Michael II. Kauffmau, larceny as bailee. Jehn Dichm, assault and battery. Jehn Diehm, surety of the peace. Jas. F. Dalten, seduction. Jas. F. Dalten, fornication and bastardy. Jacob Rcsscl, seduction. Jacob Ressel, fornication and bastardy.. Jehn Grau, desertion. Jehn Grau, surety of the peace. F. Hildebrand, adultery. F. Hildebrand, enticing a miner.. Leonhard Scheenbergcr, assault and bat tery. Leonhard Scheenbergcr, surety of the peace. Milten Shultz, felonious assault and bat tery. Milten Shultz, surety of the peace. J. B. Dennis, conspiracy. I. B. Dennis, dissuading a witness. W. F. Brcndel, violating liquor 1 aws, four cases. Conetteza Circle Ne. IIO. At a meeting of Couestega Circle Xe. 110 B. U. (II. F.), of Pa., the treasurer submitted the following report : Amount In Treasurer's hands July 1, Received from July, I,1KT3, te July 1.18S0. 213 SO Invested in Building Association fiO 00 .letili. -" Paid out for Pick llcnellts Funeral Ucneflts ferwife Fer Kelief of Widows and Orphans. Donations and ether expense .:si : .$ 13 00 . C5 00 . HOt . 13S 0-2 8224 0.7 Total assets of Circle, Jan. 1, 1330 $3 31 The Circle wa.s organized in 1874 and lived through the hard times, during which it encountered very heavy Iesses.but is nevc in a flourishing condition. & t