THE TELEGRAPH AND LOUISIANA some flaw or contradiction, hoping to POLITICS.-The Attakapas Register, pub find some plausible ground on which to lished at Franklin, St. Mary's parish, reject it, and thus confirm their worst La., cites repeated instances of misrep- suspicions. True, this public character resentations of the Associated Press re- may have stood before the public gaze a ports sent North from New Orleans. It score of years without a blemish or a also alleges that the reports from Wash- fault; but a single breath of slander deington are highly colored in behalf of stroys in an hour the confidence which the McEnery faction. The conclusion years of honorable toil have inspired. which it draws is that if the telegraph This is wrong! A good reputation was owned by the Government, and the should be a shield to the man or woman rates of telegraphing reduced, such par-, who wears it. It should entitle them tiality and partisanship could not be to the fullest measure of public confisuccessful, and the Union men of the dence, until rumor assumes the form of South would stand a better chance. facts. We should not call upon them to During the late Presidential canvass we prove a negative, but demand from the noticed the same hostility on the part accuser positive proof that what is of the Associated Press All the Gree-charged is true. Nor should respectable ley meetings were "great outpourings of journals circulate this miserable gossip the people," "large and enthusiastic," that is born of envy or malice. A single while Republican meetings were simply reported as having taken place without comments; and if for any reasons a Republican meeting was not numerously attended it was pronounced a failure. We are fully convinced that the next Congress will cause to disappear both the Western Union and the Associated Press monopolies.

RUMORS.-Madam Rumor is a very unreliable creature, yet she has more believers than the Christian religion. Her faintest whispers are to tens of thousands the trumpet blasts of truth. It is strange, but as true as it is strange, that the more extravagant and unreasonable her reports the greater is the confidence placed in her word. There are tens of thousands who believe every bad report, and shake their heads with grave suspicion over every good one. They are quick to place rascality and hypocrisy to the credit of their neighbors, but are slow to cancel them when facts disprove them. We see this illustrated daily. The tongue of idle gossip starts a base slander about some public character. It is caught up and retailed as truth. Not a particle of evidence goes with it, yet it is believed, and when evidence to disprove it follows, people handle it cautiously, and look over it for

line in type may effect an injury that can never be repaired. Better ignore all rumors that affect personal character than to be a party to a wrong. If a rumor is true you can afford to wait for its confirmation. If it is false, it should never be strengthened by your voice or influence.

THE Democratic leaders are in a sad condition. They affect a high-toned morality in political affairs, but fail to convince the public that they are really converted from the error of their ways. They have preached honesty so often, and practiced it so little, that no one has confidence in their sincerity. The shortcomings of a few Republicans have been eagerly seized upon by these disconsolate politicians, and they have tried their best to convince the people that an exceptional piece of rascality was the rule of the party. But they have made slow progress in the work. So many Democrats have been mixed up in the corrupt schemes that have been exposed through the vigilance of the Republican party, that a blow aimed at the head of an opponent is sure to kill one of their own friends.

It is very perplexing to have their eloquent sermons on the necessity of political purity marred by the indiscreet action

159

of their friends. If they could only en- | its publication may be considered to have
force honesty among Democrats for a been exceedingly opportune.

repudiate its dishonest followers. The The Republican party can afford to official that wears its garments must toe the mark of honesty or take a back seat. The great body of the American people were never more in earnest on this point than now. The grade of statesmen that come into power hereafter will be a trifle higher than in the past. The Fortysecond Congress has had its full share of honest and noble men; but it has also

few months, they could then point to
their followers as models of political
excellence; but to enforce an impossi-
bility is beyond their power, so they are
forced to accept one of two alternatives-
the repudiation of their own rascals, or
their defence for the sake of the power
which they wield in the very element of
strength which makes Democracy possi-
ble. To repudiate, is self-annihilation;
to justify or defend, is to disarm them
of the only weapon which they can wield | had a class that failed to live up to the
against Republicans.

THE PUBLIC DEBT OF THE UNITED
STATES.-Secretary Richardson's work
on the above-named subject appears to
have attracted the attention of the Lon-
don press.
The following notice is
clipped from the European Mail of
March 15:

true standard of Republican morality.
The people weighed these men, found
them wanting, and have sent better ones
to fill their places. The lessons which
have lately been taught by the press of
who come up fresh from the people.
the country will not be lost on the men
Recent investigations have done good in
more ways than one. They have brought
the eyes of the people to the necessity of
our true men to the surface, and opened
sending as their representatives the very
best men that can be produced.

"The position which the author occu-
pies as Assistant Secretary in the United
States Treasury has enabled him to per
form satisfactorily what, on the face of
it, appears to be a Herculean task. Not
only has he given every detail of interest
to the commercial world in reference to
the national debt, but he has added to
this information a digest of the national
banking laws as they apply to banks,
bankers, brokers, bank directors and in-
vestors. Information is also given on
the bonded debt; debt which has ceased
to bear interest; coin certificates; certifi- risking a choice from among the army
cates of deposit; debt bearing interest in of Democrats who are at present tender-
currency; United States notes and frac-ing their "honest services" to Uncle Sam.
tional currency; distinctive paper; ex-
change of mutilated and defaced notes;
the mode of transferring registered and
coupon bonds; the issue of duplicates in
case of loss or destruction; coin in the
Treasury; sale of gold; redemption of
bonds, and no end of practical informa-
tion on kindred topics.
should find a place in the library of all
This work
our merchants and financiers."

late. It has in its ranks men who dis-
The Republican party is not immacu-
grace their manhood by acts which no
Republican can justify. But we have
enough sterling honesty left to fill all
the offices in the land, and to keep them
filled for some years to come, without

The definite and accurate information which this book will put within the reach of the moneyed men of the principal financial centres of Europe will be likely to facilitate, to a considerale degree, the negotiation of the new four and a half per cent. loan soon to be placed upon the market, for which reason

Montpelier Watchman and State Journal
THE CANADIAN DOMINION.-The
has the following summary of the
Canadian provinces:

the Dominion, with a comparative ac-
"A summary of the public accounts of
count of the liabilities and assets for
the different years since the confedera
ed in the Canadian papers. From them
tion of the provinces, has been publish-
we gather the following facts: The re-
ceipts of the past year amounted to
nearly twenty-one millions of dollars.
Ten years ago, for the old province of
eight millions of dollars. The customs
Canada, the receipts were but little over
receipts of last year were more than

twelve and a half millions. In 1862 they for the paternal Cæsar to take the oath amounted to but $4,652,000. Only three and read his address can allow the same years ago, for 1868-9, the customs receipts were but $8,272,000. The follow-young officer to enter the White House ing year they exceeded nine millions. and sit down at the same table with the From that point they took a leap in the chief of the nation. Let Schurz strike following year to over eleven millions. the big drum and alarm the nation! The Now they have exceeded twelve and a President's son was in Washington on half millions. The total receipts of consolidated fund, which, for the past the 4th of March. He made free with year, reached nearly twenty-one millions, his father's cigars. He stood amid the amounted, four years ago, to only four-crowd at the east front of the Capitol, teen millions. Nothwithstanding the large sums constantly required for public works, the net debt has remained at a stand-still. The postal service shows a prosperous statement in the face of heavy expenditures for the improvement of postal facilities. Altogether, it seems as if our neighbors of the Dominion have good reason to congratulate themselves on the rate of progress they are making toward becoming a first-class nation."

IN keeping with the silly comments of the Democratic journals on the staff assignment of General Sheridan are the comments from the same source over the considerate action of the Secretary of War in ordering Lieutenant Grant to report at Washington on the 4th of March. We can hardly conceive of man so mean and selfish as to begrudge the President's son the slight pleasure of seeing his father inaugurated for the second time. A soldier has feeling, sympathy, and affection, the same as other men, and to deny the exercise of either, when the gratification affects no public interest, would be as unjust as it would be unreasonable.

66

We presume our Democratic neighbors will carefully nurse this little item for the next campaign. It will make a respectable sized plank in their platform, and as they are sorely pressed for timber, they should secure this one to illustrate the personal government" over which they have shed tears since the overthrow of their impersonal model, the Southern Confederacy. Think of our modern Cæsar" allowing the eye of his son to rest upon him on the 4th of March. What next in the way of imperial government? The same authority that allowed the young lieutenant to nearly freeze in his saddle while waiting

66

and was seen to smile when the Chief Justice vainly tried to protect his venerable head from the sweeping wind that played havoc with the locks of great

men.

Here is the outcropping of a conspiracy to overturn our Government. Our opponents have another opportunity to regain their former power. If the visit of Fred Grant to Washington to see his father inaugurated can't save the Democracy, it can never see political salvation again.

THE CENSUS OF CANADA.-The census of 1871 for the Canadian provinces gives a population of 6,951,467. In 1861 it was 6,187,122, which is an increase of 764,345 souls. Considering the great disadvantages under which Canada labors as a dependent province, this is a very respectable increase. Annexation would add a million of inhabitants to Canada within five years; and there are many indications that the people across the line begin to perceive the immense advantages they would enjoy as equal partners in the Government of the United States. Canada has its destiny in its own hands, for it is generally conceded that England would not try to hold it by force, and that the United States would welcome it, provided annexation was demanded by a majority of its people.

AN M. C. who earnestly opposed the extra pay amendment to the appropriation bill, has withdrawn his objections and accepted the money. He gives as his reason that he is too patriotic to oppose the laws of the land; and as this extra pay measure is now one of them, he feels under patriotic obligations to give it his hearty support.

PRESS PHOTOGRAPHS OF OUR COUNTRY.

Frequently have we been tempted to undertake the execution of the laborious and well nigh impossible task of presenting, in photograph pictures, the life of the American people, mirrored in its press from week to week. If the currents of the atmosphere are deemed of sufficient importance to be noted and reported by telegraph at vast expense, so that the weather may be foretold for twenty-four hours, of how much greater service would a carefully and judiciously selectled picture of the thought, society, and life of the country be to the states-"back pay and bounty vote" cannot man and philanthropist? In the hope that the present partial attempt of a review of our exchange list for the week ending March 25th may lead others to undertake a similar work for their States, Congressional districts, and counties, we herewith present a microscopic view of American life for that period, arranged by sections.

great service to our country; when it is a question of our common welfare; when then there are no opinions, no parties, it is a question of our sacred institutions, no divisions; we are all friends; we are all brothers; we are all more than thatwe are 'citizens of the United States.""

Some of the Maine papers urge the appointment of our jolly old friend, Hon. John A. Peters, of Bangor, for an appointment on the Supreme Bench. His competitors are Artemas Libbey, of Augusta, and Washington Gilbert, of Bath. Peters is one of the few men whom the

NEW ENGLAND STATES.

hurt. He made a very useful member.

The Presque Isle Sunrise has the following interesting facts concerning Maine journalism:

"An interesting address was delivered recently before the Maine Editors' Association, at Augusta, Maine, by Joseph Some notable facts were given. Maine, Griffin, of Brunswick, a veteran editor. for instance, has produced 472 authors and 1,340 books and pamphlets. This does not include editors or literary men MAINE.-The Portland Advertiser con- writing books after leaving the State. tains the proceedings of a banquet given Only seven among fifty editors have reto the Hon. John A. Lynch, a most faith- ceived a college diploma. More than ful representative from that district for 200 periodicals have been started in the State, had their brief day, and disapthe last eight years. It is a great wrong peared. With one exception, (The Jourto the State and to the nation that faith-nal of Education,) no literary or scienful, honest, industrious, and capable tific magazine has obtained a permanent footing in the State."

men like him are rotated out of office.
No matter how capable his successor
may be, it will take him four years at
least before he can hope to enjoy a simi-
lar influence. Mr. Lynch, as might be
expected, was welcomed home by his
fellow-citizens without distinction of
party.

Don Thomas Lozano, consul for Spain,
made a brief speech, from which we clip
the following:

"Without party distinction;' and now what is the meaning of these beautiful words for a foreigner as I am? The meaning is this: We, the American people, have-as you have in Europe our different opinions in political matters, but when it is a question of paying compliments (as we now do) to a distinguished gentleman who has done

The Calais Advertiser bears the following testimony to the zeal of the revenue officers in that vicinity, to which we call the attention of the Treasury Department:

"We understand that a few days since information was received by the deputy collector on the Canada borders that a certain man had brought over the river a quantity of dry goods, and that he had put them into a bed in his house, in the front chamber. Acting on the information the officer went to the house and informed the man that he understood he had been smuggling, which the man stoutly denied. The officer (a very mildspoken and polite man) told him it was of no use to deny it, as he had positive information that he had, and that they were deposited in a bed in his front chamber. The man found that he was caught,