davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-04
aevsrn.sas Control Of Railroads and

Government Control Of Railroads and
Telssraphs.
A cable despatch informs US that the British
government intends during the parliamentary
recess to consider the desirablity of purchas-
ing the Irish railways. Another cable despatch
has 1t that a company is organizing In London
to lay telegraph cable from the north Of
Scotland via the Orkney and Farce Islands to
Quebec, and that there is q probability that
the line when completed will be purchased by
the government. These are steps in the right
direction. We cannot have too many tele-
graphic connections with the Old World. The
more the better for US all. The sea is bar
rier and we cannot have too many bridges
The other matter, the probable purchase of
the Irish railroads, Is significant feature of
the times. Time was when private companies
conveyed letters and thus did the work Of the
Post Office. The postal system has become the
property of the governments all over, and the
fact is general good. The telegraph is but
an improved postage system, and the convic-
ton is universal outside the ring Of the mo-
nopolists that the telegraph should be incor-
porated with the Post Office. It Is difficult to
discover any good reason why railroads should
not come under the same category. They are
quite as much a public necessity as ore the
telegraph and the Post Office. We shall re-
joice to see the time when the Post Office, the
telegraphic lines and the railroads shall be in
each nation under one central government
control. In each Of those departments we
have found out that while government control
might be q blessing, private enterprise has
been, If not entirely, at least almost, curse.
All the world over we have arrived at the con-
clusion that great public necessities should be
under government control. Governments
ought to be useful. In each Of those three de-
partments utility insists upon government
control.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-04

event do more than repeat the barbarity Of
the former bombardment, she has refused to
make peace, and no other reason can be con-
ceived than the treasured purpose to avenge
herself for her very impotency by other acts
Of Spanish brutality on that coast. Such Is
the attitude between the several allied South
American States of the Pacific on the one
allied States observe that Spain is building
feet Of war ships in the yards Of this country.
They hear Of course, the conclusion to which
the people jump-that these are for use in
Cuba but their regard for their own safety
requires them to scan things more narrowly
and in view of their own experience Of the
treacherous indirection with which the Spaniard
always moves toward his object In this posi-
ton of affairs the Peruvian Minister has laid be-
fore our government what reason he has TO fear
that the Spanish fleet constructing here Is for
use against his government and Its allies; and
thus moved by nation with which we are at
peace the government, in the observance Of a
true neutrality, has no option but to take efi-
cient action to prevent the sailing of the ships.
We cannot regret that the first effect of this
action is to establish sort of moral equality
between Spain and Cuba In our tribunals. Our
law has restrained the Cubans, and now It re-
strains Spain. Nor do we regret that good
reason thus appears for OBTAINING ships that,
if the Peruvian Minister should happen to be
mistaken, might be used with terrible
effect against that fight for freedom in
Cuba with which every man, woman
and child in the United States sympathizes;
for, while in obedience to our duty as neutrals,
we have embarrass the Cubans in their
efforts to use the United States as an arsenal
and recruiting ground, we should have
seen with pain that their enemy was free to
use all our resources against them. IT. indeed,
It should finally appear that our government
has even stretched the point Of good will
toward Peru, why that is an offence that the
nation will forgive with rousing three times
three for the man who committed it. Such
step once taken commits the government to
policy of progress in all it's relations with
these our neighbors 1t will put us before the
world, whether we will or no, as the defenders
of these feeble ones, and when it is once
felt with what hearty readiness the
people accept that character, the government
must find in that fact the warm support of
popular will it may deem necessary for such
step as the recognition Of Cuban belligerency.
The President, by the act we chronicle to-day,
shows to Spain that she cannot wage war in
this hemisphere without our consent. and this
points directly towards the end the people
would force, the cessation Of the butoheries ia
Cuba
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-04
The Revolution In Spain.

The territory Of Spain proper is still con-
vulsed by the consequences of civil war and
its inhabitants distracted by party dissensions.
1t appears as If, with excellent cause it were
very easy to effect revolution in that coun-
try, but exceedingly difficult to consolidate the
effects Of the governmental change benefcially.
individuality Of aim and interest seem likely
indeed, to extinguish the nationality of they
people. We are informed from Madrid that
the Captain General Of the city yesterday
addressed letter to the Regent Serrano and
General Prim, in which he asserts that during
ten months since the accomplishment of the
revolution greater abuses, widespread immo-
rality and deplorable anarchy prevail" and
that he took part in the movement hoping
for morality, law and Justice" but has
been disappointed. This gentleman asserts
that the cure--the only remedy--is to be found
in the immediate choice of king, and con-
cludes by announcing that if the existing gov
eminent does not Immediately take action in
this direction he will abandon all hope and re-
tire to private life. lie is evidently a ''mon-
archy man and has, no doubt, royal candi-
date in his minds eye this moment. The
existence Of such state of affairs is to be
regretted; but 1t may be that the revolution
has not had fair chance even within year.
Let the people have trial
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-04

The reforms contemplated by Napoleon are
now 80 far known to US that we can speak Of
them with some degree Of intelligence. The
draught of the Senatus Co,ssultuns has been
made public. Without going into details we
may say at once that Napoleon has accepted,
as nearly as possible, the English constitution
as the pattern Of his new government. If the
outlines furnished us are correct the only
difference between the new French govern
ment and the government of Great Britain
consists in the fact that the Emperor Intends
to be his own Prime Minister. This is in per-
feet harmony with all that we have said on
this subject. The Emperor, we have
always said, would never let go the
reius. This we think is great mis-
take. The beauty of the English system
is that The @QRarQh can never, except BY sheer
folly, take any part In political conflict
The position which Napoleon reserves for him
self will bring him into perpetual conflict with
the Corps Legislatif and the Senate. 1t will
not be wonderful If after short session we
should fnd the houses in collision with each
other, and one Or both in collision with the
Emperor. In such circumstances the Emperor
will have no choice but appeal to the people.
He has now, by conceding so much, fully re-
cognized the power that made him. He cannot
90 back without making direct appeal to the
army. Is it impossible that on the occasion of
the first appeal to the people the people should
go against the Emperor In France the
moneyed classes rule, as they rule all the
world over. If the moneyed classes 90 against
the Emperor universal suffrage will not save
him. We require but some such illustration to
convince the world that universal suffrage is
q mockery, delusion and snare.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-04

SuU~sass0o ~ Ouy SOukooSos
We repubIlsh to-day an Official table show
Ing the gross receipts from sales or subscrip-
lions OF the various newspapers printed In
this city for the past nine months The table
is compiled from the returns of the Internal
Revenue Department, and may, therefore, be
regarded as legal testimony of the facts therein
stated. The figures will show that the HERALD
nearly doubles the circulation of any other
daily journal. 1t may be noticed that many Of
these papers which appear to make return of
their daily circulation print not only weekly
editions, but semi-weekly and even tri-weekly
issues, which are all included in the return Of
their general circulation. We need not say
that the HERALD prints only daily and
weekly editions. The weekly papers,
with two or three exceptions-and the excep-
tions are chiefly those journals devoted to
stories or pictorial attractions-have very
limited circulation; but 1t will be observed
with satisfaction, as an indication Of the in
creasing taste for newspaper reading among
the people, that nearly all the papers show an
advance in their circulation for the last quar-
ter over that ending on the 3lst of December,
1868. We may conclude that those papers
which exhibit no advance are behind the age,
and do not ill the measure Of the public de-
sire for knowledge concerning the vital inte-
rests Of the day.
A glance at the table published in another
column will suffice to show that however easy
II may be for newspapers to boast OF large
circulation, and exhibit figures Of fabulous
dimensions to prove it, the legal evidence
found in the Assessors Office would be the best
thing after all, If the statements were only
correctly made in all cases but we know that
they are not. For example, the circulation Of the
Sun is not more than one-third Of that ascribed
to it in this table. In fact, its circulation is
limited almost exclusively to the city, and 1t is
hardly known or heard of outside of it. A
more truthful return is, probably, that of the
World, which shows falling off Of nearly
one-half, or thereabouts, within the past six
months. Of the weekly papers Bonner's
Ledger and Hd,per's Weekly maintain very
marked supremacy, for the reason above
stated, that they possess two most attrac-
tive features which harmonic in great mea-
sure with the prevailing taste Of a large class
sentimental tales and fairly executed pictures.
Upon the whole these internal revenue returns
furnish very curious commentary upon the
mode by which some newspapers create a fic-
titOus circulation
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-04

HSt. DomingO-The American Gibraltar. -
| If Secretary Fish Is at all ambitious of imi-
tating Mr.. Seward and surprising him in use.
fnlness he has now good opportunity. The
Dominican government is at this moment in
great Notwithstanding new, by the way
and President Baez is prepared to enter into
negotiations with our government for the
lease Of the Bay Of SANTANA. This bay is
forty-fve miles long and about eight miles
broad, and, in addition to being one of the
finest harbors In the world, might be made,
with q very little assistance from art, one of
thesafest and most impregnable. The posftionI
IL holds in reference to the various inter-
oceanic routes to the West Indies, the Gulf of
Mexico aud Central America, would make it
invaluable not only in a commercial point of
view, but in case of hostilities it would COM
mand the island of Jamaica and the Wind
ward Islands to the east. In 1867 special
envoy was sent to Washington to offer the
of dollars; but Mr.. Seward was at that time
so engrossed in the question of purchasing the
island of st. Thomas that he would have but
little to say to the proposal. Alaska and st.
Thomas, the two extremes, seem to have
filled the measure of his ambition and yet the
Bay of SANTANA, though less pretentious,
would have been more useful purchase than
both. This proposal, like tempting bait, has
been dangling before Pierce. Buchanan and
Seward, and nibbled at more or less by all
three, but has been left to Secretary Fish at
last to swallow 1t. SANTANA Bay once ours, by
lease or otherwise, the complete annexation Of
the island would soon follow as matter of
course.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-04

Seizure Of the Spanish Gunb0ats-GeueraI
Grant Comes Out with Vigorous Ameri.
can Policy.
Thirty gunboats the property of the Spanish
government, were seized yesterday by the
United States authorities. Fifteen of these
vessels were at Mystic, Conn, and fifteen
here. They were in different stages of con-
struction, but some were nearly complete, and
at least one was to sail from this port on a
bellicose errand on Thursday. It is evident,
therefore, that If our government holds neu-
trality to be more than name, and does not
concede to Spain the right to use our terri
tory as base of operations against her enc
mics, its action in regard to these vessels could
not have been longer delayed with safety.
For it would have been impossible in the
future to plead ignorance in regard to these
craft, since from the laying their keels to the
present time it has been notorious that they
were war vessels, and it has been repeatedly
published that they we're for Spain, though
exactly what use she intended to make of
them was not so clear. Nations, indeed, seldom
explain themselves on such subjects, the more
especially when popular fancy is conveniently
ready to cover up real purpose by assigning
one more obvious to the general thought It
is noteworthy that this seizure was made by
the direct order of the President to the United
States District Attorney here, and we under
stand that the government ia 30 sure of the
ground upon which it moves that there is no
probability whatever that the ships will be
bonded, or that by any means or contrivances
they will slip through the meshes Of the law
and get away at last. Thus, thanks to the
positive attitude of the President, we shall not
stand before the world as lending our great
naval capabilities to crush our neighbors in
the interest of contemplate tyranny beyond
the Atlantic. Here certainly we see the Presi-
dent looming up as the representative Of a
prime and grand American idea for sympathy
with the peoples near us in their struggles is
declared in all our platforms, and even our
metropolitan democrats are clamorous on this
theme.
But on what ground Is the seizure made
Will 1t not complicate our relations with Spain,
| and is it not practically concession of bel
| ligerent rights to Cuba Such are the queries
that naturally follow the fact Practically
this action may lead to good results with re-
! gard to Cuba; but in its origin and in it's
| legal aspect this step has no relation to the
contest waged by the Cuban people. 1t may
be remembered that her war with the Cubans
is not the only one that Spain has on her
hands in this hemisphere. Her war with
Chile and Peru will long be remembered for
that barbarous fact in its progress--the bonn
bardment of Vaparaiso--in which Spain sent
her naval forces on wanton errand of destruc-
ton that could accomplish no legitimate pur-
| pose of war. She has obstinately persisted in
keeping that quarrel open. Although she could
not send armies thther, though she could
secure over those South American republics no
] honorable triumph, though she could in no
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-04

Coop FOR CUBA.-From London, by way Of
Paris and through the French Atlantic cable,
comes Intelligence to the effect that ''strong
rumors" were prevalent in England yesterday
poinsingto the factthat the Spanish government
had arranged the prelimuaries of On agreement
for the sale Of Cuba to the United States. This
news, which is highly important, has an air Of
credibility about 1t. If confirmed in its main
particular it will be good news for Cuba good
for Spain and good for the American people.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-04

II DUBLIN public meeting of very respect
able proportions demanded the release of men
confined for.Fenianism. That sort of agitation
will perhaps have more effect on the fate Of
The prisoners than great many similar meet
ings in New York, and we recommend agita-
tors on This subject 10 change their base.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-04

THROUGH the old Hospital Green there is to
run street that will continue the line of Pearl
street to Thomas street. We hope that who
ever stands sponsor for streets in our munich
pal system will have the grace to make the
name Of this street memorize The old hospital
In some sense.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-04
THE HERALD IN BROOKL YN.

Notice to Carriers and Nevsdealers.
BROOKLYN CARRIERS AND NEwsMEN will in
future receive their papers at the BRANCH OFFICE
OF THE New YORK HERALD, No. las Fulton street,
Brooklyn.
ADVERTISEMENTS and SUBSCRIPTIONS and all
letters for the New YORK HERALD will be
received as above.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-04

SEVERAL A No. l SHARKS were caught In
the East river the other day; and this fact in
the papers might be very interesting reading
to the hundreds of ten year old shavers who
swim at the dumping place by Roosevelt street
ferry-if only the said shavers ever read the
papers.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-04

ANOTHER CABLE is to be laid. The cry is
still they come. And still they come in British
hands, too. It is said this last cable is to 60
from Scotland to Quebec. British America
has its full share of these enterprises; bat we
cannot wonder, as they are all English. II
there e any Wonder It's that this latest Eng
lish enterprise, the so-called French cable,
never touches British territory.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-04

REMOVE THE Duty FROM CoAL.-Not out
of reciprocity" or good will towards Nova
Scotia or any such nonsense, but because it is
an intolerable burden on the people and taxes
them for the benefit Of those wholesale plum
derers. the coal men in Pennsylvania.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-04
TRIPLE SHEET
New York, Wednesday, August 4, 1859.
MONTHLY sUBscRIPTIoNs.

The DAILY HERALD viii be sent to subscribers
for one dollar month.
The postage being only thirty.nve cents Q
quarter. country subscribers by this arrangement
can receive the HERALD at the same price it Is
furnished in the CITY,
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-04
The Administration Thanking the Tammany
Democrats.

The Administration FIank1ng the Vammany
Democrats.
We had full report yesterday of the efforts
of the TammaEy democrats to make new
political platform on the Cuban and Irsh
questions and to make capital out OF these for
electioneering purposes and future operations.
Scarcely was the ink dry recording this fact
before the surprising news came to US that the
administration had taken bold action In way
decidedly favorable to the Cubans--that IL,
an order was issued by the President, through
the Secretary Of State, to seize all the gun
boats or other war vessels now being con-
structed for Spain in this country. This ID
putting Spain on the same footing as the
Cubans, aud in an indirect way recognising
the latter as belligerents. 1t Is evident that
the administration is taking new start onthe
Cuban question, and that it has fanked the
democrats on this political ISSUE This ID
glorious news for the Cubans but not so good.
for Tammany. There is but one course lett
for the democrats, as we said yesterday, and
that is to construct broader and more COM
prehensive platform on some great national
questions and to make their party thoroughly
national in Its organization and policy.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-04

enters for the prize and wins It she win draw
white elephant that can be neither loaned,
kept, sold, exhibited nor made any other use Of
except at the sacrifice of her honor, her credit
and her now marvellous advancement to I'M
exampled commercial greatness and opulence
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-12-25

w o. ths rulsg leassH II Yeuth AID Barly NalAesd,
With eelt hele t We esrtnG and unAwtuaate A6arsss
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-12-25

A shool visitor lately gave teacher the fol.
lowing sentence to spell: Robert Wright the
beautiful writer of Wri.htville, down in Tor
rington, claims the exclusive right to write the
rites and ceremonies Of his church. and has Sc
cured u copywr.ht FOR his writings; bu, Henry
Wright. the writing master, also writes those
rites; now is it honorable for the Right Honor
able Henry Wright boldly to write himself up
right in the pre'eucs of the right-hauded wheel
wright, Robert Wright"
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-12-25
Bupgct of Finn.


'Gus' writing to the Cincinnati Gazette, says
Here is a little story for You. 1t happened in
Utica Restaurant. A man entered tie other
day and called for dinner. His orders were of
the most elaborate character and fairly stagger-
e0 the resources OF even Utica restaurant keep
er' lie fingered long at the table, and finally
wound up with bottle Of wine. Then lighting
q cigar he had ordered, leisurely sauntered up to
the counter and said to the proprietor
very fine dinner landlord just charge it TO
me; l havn't pot a red"
but don't know you,' said the proprietor,
Indignantly
"Of course you don't. II you had, you would
not have let me have the dinner"
"Pay nae for that dinner, | sayw
And | say can't. L havn't got the blunt"
I'll see about that, said the proprietor, some
what furious at the blk Then snatching a
revolver out of a drawer, leaped over the co,,n.
ter, colared the man, exclaiming as he pointed
IT at his head "Now see if you'll get away with
tina dinner without paving for it, you scoundrel"
Nv hats that You held in your hand," said
the getter away with free dinners drawing back.
THAT sir is a revolver
ooh, that's revolver is il don't care a
d--n for a revolver; / dioD,ght IL ros a stonach
pump!
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-12-25

The first American teacher employed in Sitka,
Alaska, is Miss Addle MesSer, OF Dixon, Ill. She
was set TO work in January last, at salary of
$50 month. So satisfactory = her admins
ira that the city council at its t meeting vol
unfairly raised her salary to % per month.
This Of course is in gold.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-12-25

A little girl got to school in Danbury,
Conn, the other morning. Just as il com
menced and her teacher said, You are just
in time, Susie Then, turning to the other
scholars she asked 'ln time for what, 81 il.
dren!' \ hand went up, and an intelligent
boy thus signlied he had solved the problem.
"Well, Thomas inst in time for what 2
"Lsnagan's bali" shouted the promising
youth.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-12-25

little boy of cur acquaintance recently at.
tended church and after listening attentvelv to
the parable OF the wise and foolish house build.
srs, said to his mother on the way homo Il don't
think that man was 50 wise after all
And why not, my son ?"
why, il hi. house was built on a rock, where
would he find place for his cellar"
Sure enough sonny. where could he..'
That idea never struck rs before.