davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-11
OUR NA1YONAL DiSGRACE.

The fact that barely twelve weeks Of An
drew Johnson's Presidency remain to be en-
dured should console us under many Affections
and reconcile us to many hardships. Plead as
we fairly may that the great party which he has
betrayed never meant to make him President.
while the party he has treacherously served
and fawned upon despised him too heartily to
think of accepting him as a candidate, the
Republic has been sbamed as well as scouTgcd
by him from the hour wherein he Teeled into
the Vice Presidency, and will be till the place
that knows him shall know him no more. We
have had bad men in high Office before yet
We are confident that 10 man but Andrew
johnson was ever chosen Vice President of
these United States who could have provoked
the scOrn of Christendom by such an exhibition
of native depravity as is made in the following
portion of Johnson's last Message:
oar national credit should be saeredy Observed but
In making provision for our creditors we should not for
get what due to the Of the people IL may be
assumed that the holders OF our securities have already
received upon iner o1nes larger amount thsn ,hsr
Upon this statement Of facts u would but just aud
equitable that the six cent interest paid by the
Government should DO applied to the reduction o. tho
principal In semannua lstailments, which In sixteen
tional debt Six per cent in gold would at present
rates be equal 10 nine cent IN currency and equal
ton less than seventeen years ThIs connection with
the other advantages derived from their investment
To- e Of eSs i" ana S With trial
they SHOULD be satisfied The lessons Of the past admOn
ish the lender that II IL not we'll 10 be xious
sxactng from the borrower rigid compliance with the
letter OF the bond"
Comments BY The Tribune.
Mr.. johnson has probably borrowed money
in his day, and may have done so when his
debts were SO heavy, and his prospects SO bad,
that his note was not worth half its face. Let
us suppose him drawn into difficult law suit.
which involved all he was worth. He applies
to thrifty neighbor for $1,000, being in alb
solute want of that sum to prosecute his suit,
TO judgment. The prudent capitalist inquiries
as to the security, and is pointed to the estate
in litigation. "Yes, but if you lose the suit,
:" you will have no estatc.' "Wel,n he re-
spends, if lose tho suit, you must lose the
debt; but if | win it, will pay you double"
Agreed says the capitalist; IL will take the
risk" So he borrows the $4,000, and with it
wins the suit. How much docs he owe How
much ought he to payf Your answer decides
| whether you are honest or villain.
SO far, we have admitted tho truth of John.
sons fundamental assumption; but that assunlp-
| ton is false. What the nation owes its cred
itors is precisely what 1t agreed to pay them
no less, no more. But the great mass of them
paid for their bonds the full sum specified ON
their face-often more. True, they paidin green.
backs; but those Grcenbacks had cost them their
full amount in gold 1t was the Debtor, not
tina Creditor interest, that profted by the de-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-11
RESCNPIION-NI HONESTY.

S. ID. d. processes inability TO comprehend
the bearing of our proposition that Truth Is
preferable to Fasehood on the question OF Re
sumption. We will enlighten him.
Livery Grecnback Is a promise of the United
States TO pay dollar several dollars.
A dollar is a specific tangible, material
thng-as clearly so as is a pound, gallon, or
O bushcl
The promise Was made at a time when its
immediate fuliillment was understood to be i'm
possible, yet no day was named on and after
which il would be made good. The fair intent
and meaning OF the promise-that which was
understood by tho parties ut the time of max
twas: "f1e United States gW pay 10 bearer
one dollar Tor the specified number of dollarsl
"junt 90 soon as IL shall! be ABLE 10 do so.p
Now it is seldom so convenient for debtor
70 pay as 10 leave unpaid. His convenience,
however, l. not the measure of his obligation.
The fair understanding of debt is, wiH pay
al. agree though IL should be inooHrenieRt TO
" do so"
Now, when 8. ID. ID. undertakes TO argue
that we should not resume payment because 1t
would be more convenient TO us not to pay,
he sets not only morality but decency ut def
ance. We owe the money; our creditors want
THEN pay; we ought TO pay just so soon as we
edn And this obligation takes precedence OF
all considerations OF convenience or advantage.
1t cannot be really profitable to refuse to pay
our honest. past.due obligations.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-11

preciation of our Currency. Hundreds Oh
thousands paid Off in greeLpacks their
hort.aian and other debts which were
contracted when the Currency was at
mar with Gold - paid them off with
money obtained by the sale of their products
or their labor at prices greatly enhanced ny
our currency depreciation Every one can call
TO mind instances where farmers and Others
who had for years been struggling to meet the
interest on the mortgage given when they
bought their lands, were enabled to wipe out
that mortgage by the proceeds OF two or three
crops sold during the latter years of the war.
Creditors complained (nOt unjustly) thai they
were thus paid off too easily, and were answered,
"Lend YOUR money to tho Government, and
"you will be paid your bonds in gold so
"what arc you grumbling at " They did
lend it-not Millions only, but Hundreds OF
Millions-and thereby was the Union saved
And now a President of the United States tells
the public creditors that if they are PAID
seventeen years interest, they may think them
selves lucky, though they never see cent OF
the principal
The man who makes this suggestion is
villain--a brazen, reckless, shameless villain
Ho has sheepish confcderates who share his
knavery but lack his effrontery. The People
have set their heel hard down on the whole
tribe in indorsing the Republican Platform OF
1868 through the election of Grant and Colfax.
Reputation will gain nothing by Johnsons
indorsement-it will rather receive darker
smirch from his well-earned infamy. How
naturally a traitor to those who trusted and
honored him lends himself to every form OF
baseness was already known; but the truth
has received fresh illustration in JohnsonS
crowning infamy.
1t is exceedingly desirable that we should
begin forthwith to fund our past-due Five
Twenties at lower rate than six per cent;
but Johnson and his fellow rcpudiators seem
resolved that we shall never be able to do So
This Message will compel our People to pay
many Millions in six per cent. interest which
they could have saved had our President been
content with the pyramid of disgrace he had
already so laboriously erected. Only twelve
weeks more and the country will be rid OF him
forever. 1t is hard; but we can endure him
twelve weeks longer. Thank Heaven that he
has power only to disgrace u.s.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-11
! SBIDDLED LEGISLATOR.

Chiyalry in this nineteenth century, confined
mostly 20 pedigrees and titles, has been 20
modified that IL Ia now pretty well understood
that nobemen everywhere can expect no honols
which they do not win 10y honest aud honora-
bic demeanor. Old Major Pcndennis once re-
marked TO his nephew that n man might have
"doosd good pedigree, and yet he Il con-
founded blackguard;' rmd Of this sage state
mcnt the Marquis OF Hastings, just dead in
England, is an unusual eIemplifcation. In adj
dition to his Marquisate, this wrctched youth
was the twentieth Baron Grey DE Ruthyn and
the fourteenth Earl Of Louloun. He had for
tune of about 1900 year (nominally 100000,
and he had also, as The London Spectator adj
mits, some brains lie died at tho age of
twenty six, aud the best that the newspapers
can say Of him is that he was rather good
naturcd blackguard, and that he ruined the
house of which he was the representative with
great courage aud energy. lie was three times
an Earl. lie was twelve times a Baron. OF
bis ancestry were princes, scholars, sol
oilers, statesmen, and gallant cavaliers and
gentlemen Yet only five years ago he was
convicted Of fighting d main of cocks IN his
dining room On Sunday, both fowls being
cruelty killed, and was fined 8J. Tho prnci
pal business Of his life was horse racing, and
even In this department OF human energy no
was proclaimed blsckguard and swndor.
So died o gentleman whose ancestor was en-
nobled by Henry l., who was Ito use the we'll
known words OF Burke) like His Grace of
Bedford, swaddled, and rocked, and handled
Unto legislator
The English newspapers, in commenting upon
his Lordship's early ruin and death. speak very
plainly of the responsibility to society which
high rank and immense fortune entail. Tho
career Of the Mar luis is declared TO be "a
"lesson to the Ipglish pecrage." "Few politi-
zeal pedantSy says The Saturday Rerie,c,
"grudge the peers their place so long as they
"Gl it with such general credit and distinction,
"as they dor But Burns's rule of Judgment
which when he propOunded IL was thought hereti.
cal enough To prove him revolutonist and lev
elcr. is recognized now as something very like
political gospel! "A prince can max n belted
"kniplt. A marquis, duke, and o. that; But an
honest mans aboon his might, Guild faith he
"uauna ia that Even Mr.. Carlyle, who be-
loves that there must DO dukes "and a that"
does not believe in dukes who race horses and
keep mistresses, and set their estates upon n
a cast, and having drained tho cup of vulgar
dissipation TO tho dregs. die, worn out and
ruined In mind. body, and estate, at tho age of
twenty six Theoretically nobleman may be
both the decus and the presidiun,-the ornament
and tho safeguard Of the realm; but whom hs
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-11
IN, T;m,, shall NOT escape in this way =:

TIE TRIBUNE complains OF our Excessive familiarity"
with tho internal affairs OF New York and OF the
troublesome questions have been putting about Them
In tlOn with the operations OF Mr. Fullerton aud
wants us 10 answer It's query las 10 tho authorship Of
tho yarbled letter OF Mr. Eyarts which WAS given 10 the
public az coming directly from the Attorney General
given by The TRIBUNE" We VIII do this with the
pleasure We cti ne letter opi Tie Erenino
seen ne oihsr rersio 10 ukch THE TRIBUNE refers bn
hare redson 10 ocIiers u any more aeetdas ha" Me
other
Letters don't get into newspapers without
some direct human agency, and we presume
that The Eronag Post printed what was
called letter from Mr. Eyarts in good faith.
IL was certainly copied by one Of our reporters
in good faith in the next mornings TRIBUNE.
Bat a careful reading, and especially the use
that was made of il by certain parties in the
city, led us TO refer it TO our Washington cor
respondent, with directions TO inquire Of Mr..
Evarts if it were n true copy. In response to
that inquiry the Attorney General furnished
him with q copy, and it was printed IN our
columns. This Is how we came TO print = the
"other version We certainly could have no
better authority for letter written 10y MIR.
Evarts than that gentleman himself and we
regret that The Times should not be satisfied
with his evidence.
Now, who did garblo this letter. and what
arc we to think of men who cndeayor to make
public opinion by garblcd correspondence 7
We don't presume that The Times can answer
this question, but some of its friends may be
induced TO do so.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-11

The difficulty between the Provisional Gov
eminent of Spain and the Republicans, in
Cadiz, is of a more serious nature than the
first dispatches Indicated The Republicans
hold possession of one part of the city, and an
arnistice of two days has been granted them
for removing the women and children. After
that, the Government troops will make an attack
upon them. We have as yet no explanation
of the origin of the difficulty; but the two men
who now govern Spain, Serrano and Prim,
have of late so thoroughly disappointed all the
hopes entertained with regard to them-tle
former by his lack of energy and statesman
ship, the latter by his unbrdled ambition and
dctatOrial conduct--that the outbreak of a
civil war was almost unavoidable. A later
dispatch says that the insurgents have asked
for an armislice.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-11

On Wednesday the new English Ministry had
an audience with the Queen, and formally ac-
cepted their appointments. Several more
appointments in the new Cabinet are an
nounced. Among them we find the names OF
James Stansfeld, jr., member for Halifax, and
one of the most advanced Radical politicians OF
England, as one of the Junior Lords of the
Treasury +; and the Right Hon. William MOnsel.
member of Limerick County, as Under Secro-
tary for the Colonial Department. Mr.. Monscll
represents the Catholic population of Ireland
which has never had any representative in the
Tory Cabinets. The new Parliament was also
opened on Wednesday, the usual speech from
the Throne being omitted. The Right Hon. Mr..
Denison was reelected Speaker.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-11

Mr.. Sumner has introduced bill for the
reconstruction of Georgia, which with the ere
dentials of Mr. Hill. Senator elect from that
State. were referred to the Judiciary Com
mittee. We do not see how that Committee
can find that the XIVth Amendment to the
Constitution has been lawfully adopted by
the State Legislature of that State, when
thirty of the members who voted for it are held
by the State Legislature itself to have had no
right to hold Office, and when large pro
portion of the remainder, sufficient in all, ii
their votes are rejected, to defeat the Amend
ment. were ineligible to Office by the terms OF
the Amendment itself.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-11

Now and then The Times excels even itslf
The last example is 50 refreshing that we mus,
certainly print it:
when n thing Is 10 be done az a. glsa 10 a,
10 well done. We think may fairly gratuaie fHs
TRIBUNE the success OF It's enoFt 10 satisfy Gen. Grant
that he ought not offer Senator DOOttle place In
Cabinet This success due TO the earnestness An,
certify OF the effort Our neighbor did IN this as Braums
tried to do IN tying his crayat-gve hs mind wholly
the work such devotion 70 great and worthy Object
seldom goes unrewarded III The TRIBU NJ WI! nov bend
ITS energies to similar protest against ,he appointment
country may escape great calsnitS, ~ can myentaa
excuse for an arglmentaye protest IN taS case quito
easily 1t found one for the other ana We peseneh
can make IL quite as eogent ana Conclusive
We did not endeavor TO satisfy Gen. Gran.
"that he ought not to offer Senator DOOlittlea
"plaee in his Cabinet" nor to make any ag.
gestion, directly or indirectly, to the Presiden.
elect in reference to his advisers. Thbhi
matter that rests solely with Gen. Grant him.
self, and we have not the least anxiety as 10
his intention, feeling sure that lie will be gov
erned in this, as in all other cases, by a desire
to do as seems best for the country. What We
did seek to 90, however, was to put upoa
record the ingenious aud disingenuous attempt
of The Times to regard the probable appoint
ment of a man like Senator DOolitte in the
same light as that of Mr. Lowe by Mr. Glad.
stone. We demonstrated clearly that between
Mr.. Lowe and Mr. Doolittle there was no re-
semblance, although The Times claimed tia.
they occupied substantially the same positions,
and argued in effect that an appointment Ike
that of Mr.. Doolttle would be just as proper
on the part of Gen. Grant as it was that Mr.
Gladstone should give Mr.. Lowe the control q
the English Exchequer. The fact that TA'
Times avoids our argument and thoroughly
misconstrues it, shows that in this ease, surely,
it was not altogether without effect.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-11

The Government of Turkey has sent 40
ultimatum to Greece on account OF the attitude
assumed by the latter with regard to the Insaf'
rection in Crete An answer is required wltihu
FIVE days. England and France, as usual sup,
port the Turkish Government. II We were mol
accustomed to receiving sensational dispatches
of this character concerning the Eastern ques-
ton every few months, the aspect oil inc
question would be really alarming Russia OF
course will very emphatically decline to ag'e'
with Turkey and its indorsers, and on tla'
account it is improbable that the Turkish
ultimatum will have any serious consequence
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-11

A reconnaissance in force was made by the
respective bellgerents in the Erie war yester-
day, the forward movement on the part OF
the Erie forces being apparently designed to
precipitate general engagement on the spot,
while the opposing belgerents were anxious
to postpone a general engagement until re-
endorsements should arrive. 1t was finally de-
termined, however, to keep up gentle picket
firing over the affidavits until the heavy artll-
lery should come up, after which lively work
may be expected. Hospital supplies have been
sent forward, and Sanitary and Christian Com
missions are organizing.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-11

The arrangements for the inau guIation Of
Gov. Hoffman are printed. There will be q
very pretty display and this is the nature Of IT.
He will he escorted by the list Regiment, which vii
leave this city for Albany Thursday, Dee 81 ey ths
Hudson River Railroad The 7ls VIII bs escorted to TIE
Thirtietl st. depot BY the cad Regiment and Will be 70
ceycd their arrival at the state capital by the Burgess
Corps, one OF the finest military ORGANIZATIONS 10 ns
State The list Regiment will turn out about 100 strong
beside their band and drum corps. The uitary VIZ eep
the Deavan House They viii return home on che
OF January, and VIII lie received on their arrival ~ as
18th Regiment"
This is all beautiful and thrilling, and the
stalwart defenders of the public peace, as they
march into Albany, will strike terror into the
hearts of the KnickerbOcker madens. What
is this display that it should accompany the
proceedings that, We presume, it is courtesy to
call "The Inauguration of John L. Hoffman
las Governor Of New York T. Let him enter
upon his new Office with proper h0nors. Let
him be accompanied by regiment OF repeateTs,
recruited in the Sixth Ward and a company
of bruisers from the haunts of Mr. John Allen
and Kit Burns. Is it proper to altogether
overlook the dog-fightersi Are we to have no
representatives of the multitude OF dodgers
who found resting places through the hosp
tality of Mr.. Tweed and Mr.. Brennan in the
houses kept open by the Tammany Ring just
about election tmesf Is no honor to be paia
to Judge Barnard and Judge McCunn for Their
eminent services in "electing" Mr.. Hoffman,
We protest against il as injustice Let John
+. Hoffman go to Albany surrounded by us
men who have made him Governor, and wo
shall be content; but it is not fair that ID
these displays they should be omitted.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-11
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND THE
TELEGRAPH

The Herald publishes copy of the notice
given in August last, by the Western Union
and the American Telegraph Companies, of
their desire to terminate the present contract
with the Associated Press of New York. That
paper alleges that the reason why notice is
given is that the Telegraph Companies wish
TO control the Press of the United States, and
also wish to increase the rates now charged for
news reports. We never heard before that the
Western Union or the American Telegraph
Company wished to increase their rates or that
they have an ambition to control the Press OF
the country; but, on the contrary, the
utmost harmony has existed between
the Telegraph and the Association as body.
The actual reason why the Telegraph gave the
notice was because OF severe structures against
the personal integrity of the managers OF the
Western Union Company, and they did not
deem il their duty to be bound to the Associa-
ton by contract while one of the members OF
the Association felt at liberty to impugn the
personal character of the officers. They did
not complain OF criticism of their general man
agcmcnt, but they were not willing TO he
called thieves and swindlers. The Herald has
now Withdrawn its reflections upon their personal
character and business integrity. Yet, in the
article making this retraction it attributes their
action in respect TO the notice to other than
the tiHc motives.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-11

The unconditional resignation OF Comnssioner ho , in
now rendered take effect tue Slst inst ~ "a.
motion all the old aspraIss for tho lssuon
Is again confident, Yeaton is not without nope VIEW
may again loom up. &c, DO, NC. ,.A Time,
Washington Correspondent OF Inc i''"',
Probably this genial correspondent VINO u''
votes his energies to writing for The I'me''
and, as was shown on the Impeachment report
telegraphing news for tho gold gamblers ~
Wall-st., would bo satisfied with the appo'n'.
ment MS one of the lusty, vigiant opponents u
tho Whisky Ring of New-fork who nave 'as
ceeded, after enormous efforts, in allowing '"Y
members of the Ring TO steal only one hundie"
millions of dollars.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-11
Committee is very conclusive arg,n,.-.
our rniSSS for transferring the Indian R"". |"
TO the War Department ''a
We have further news about the Ala.t.
chase. The Worcester Spy prints st,ts, put
which we condense as follows. "'ht

which we cOndense as follows. '"I
OF the n. 100000 In gold voted for A,..,.
Ills now Reported Russia actually got 90 a. snt asnouh
about one million pounds sterling IRIS so
TO be accounted for But with regard 20 ths
.ns snra nSussne press editors. aud eorrsseoSs.ns
among them Mr. Riggs, banker here IL ssS was ,eas
obtained from the Secretary of the Tress,y hav
close of the dshates. &c. which Terminated lu. at he
chase Of Alaska, a loan OF the snonnt 49, the pm.
That loan was Gf IL had any real SPECIFIED
% iaue puDe Immediately on the rs.s,,
Lobbyists, were the owners OF drafts OF nosn
on the treasurer OF the United States, which %Vela
declared Cen. Spnners books pU sLs,s vV ~..on u
Among the SUMS specified in these o,o cashtd
such items as NEw.YoEk TRIBUNE. s2oSS. ivports an
nss, sos o 6eoM 5000 publisher Of FasSsag
World Boston Journal, Philadelphia Isss Ibish .,
inc Boston Adeertser Ereniag Posi- aud Others i'A
set down as having been paid various sans 80 are al
$500 upward Some Of them are anxIonsIv iron
what has become OF the money as il has qunus
40 no zach hn, ,Sis OF member from Chic ~
back Robert j. Walker eot 100 I'm god T sees
Gates Ior t,is amount were believe, stolen irom Nm
taner from the Russian Government lie aVnss 10
have been aching professionally Jor his o, Go,p so
into his hands" ' Hs"A
Here is very direct story, and the sd,o,
Tho Worcester SPY is in position to kno.
something whereof he speaks. Congress vo,oa
q certain amount of money in payment g.
Alaska. The Barring Brothers, as onr aoon,'
according the London papers, sent a great d..,
smaller sum to st. Petersburg, and We want r.
know what has become of it. The twcn,,
thousand dollars put down to THE new Yop.
TRIBUNE has certainly never come TO hand ana
if Gen. Spinner has cashed check for fla,
amount, he can very readily bear tes,imon,
The five thousand dollars (which lie mapses,
"of the Washington Bureau is credited with
has also disappeared. If all the other parie,
have been treated as badly as The NEW Yoa.
TRIBUNE and the manager of its Bureau. Ii .
has been some foul play. We are painful,
anxious to know the whereabouts of hi,
twenty five thousand dollars. Let MS have
look at Gen. Spnners books.