davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-09
A Modest Demand,

The Republicans of South Carolina since
the overthrow of slavery have the good for
tune largely to outnumber the ex-slavehold-
ers, who for so many years controlled that
State without any regard to the rights and
wishes OF the people. Being now in the ma
jority, they have very naturallyelected State
officers and legislature pledged to the prn-
ciple of the Republican party. The State
government is therefore in Republican hands.
This OF itself is grievance not patiently to
be borne by the priviledged class of ex-slave-
holders, who believe they possess the "di-
vine right" to rule.
But in addition to this humiliation. they have
been subject to considerable burden of tax
atoms by these Republican parreaues, assessed
to support system of free schools, and for
various other public objccts-educational
benevolent and charitable. Owing to large
appropriations for these objects, and very
likely to acknowledgement, if not to some cor
rupt practices on the part of the authorities.
the State debt has been largely increased
This has excited tenible cOmmoton among
the small and aristocratic minority, and they
have sent committee to Washington to
present demand to Congress for the over.
throw of this Republican government elected
by an overwhelming majority of the people,
and to restore them again to power:
They come here as Taxpayers" to enforce
upon Congress the doctrine that all laws
should be for the protection of pyope,ty. and
that the people have no rights except as prop
erty-owners. Having held a majority of its
people in slavery and kept them in poverty
from the organization of the Governmct, thew
now claim that the privileges of American
citizenship should be denied those who are
not property-holders. Perhaps Congress will
comply with this modest demand.
New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-09

its expenses. And yet he is in favor Of free
trade. This, Mr.. Field thinks, is literally
killing the goose that lays the golden egg.
1t will throw at least two millions of labor
ing men out of lucrative employment and be
an annual loss to the wealth of this nation of
at least two thousand millions of dollars.
This sum will be taken annually from our
own people and given to foreign capitalists
and laborers. Even if they are driven into
agricultural pursuits to avoid the poor-house,
the value of agricultural products will be de-
creased in proportion to the increased supply.
Farmers will, therefore, suffer from this
runous excess Of supply over consumption,
almost as much as manufacturers and labor
ers.
We give elsewhere at length, the over
whelming arguments, fortified by an array
of facts, that leave no doubt of the sound
ness of his position, to prove that duty on
foreign imports is not a tax on the American
consumer, but on the contrary, that it is paid
exclusively for the foreigner, who avails him
self of our market.
New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-09
Opposition to the centennial,

The narrowminded, illiberal, and Jealous
disposition the proposition to celebrate the
One ilundreth Anniversary of our National
independence in the city where it was pro-
claimed, has developed in the press, amongst
members of Congress, the Legislatures, and
on the part of public men of other States,
which does them no harm and exhibits our
people in most unfivorable light. Of all
the leading papers of other cities, the New
York Times is about the only one which has
The patriotism and liberality to sustain the
proposition.
Jealousy Of Philadelphia, and penurou
spirit, is at the bottom of opposition. One
of our exchanges, in commenting upon this
dog-in-the-manger disposition, says it re-
minds him of the n'ggardly relgionist who
boosted that he had enjoyed religion for
garter of a century and it had not cost him
cent. "God bless your stingy soul :" said
his pastor; and in applying that prayer to
the gentlemen alluded to we may be excused
for adding fervenL "Amen ~
New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-09

Sumner, and the donations stimulated by it,
to be swallowed by the rapacity of the So
called Sumner monument association, OF
which the bounty broker is the head.
1t is admitted on all hands that large sums
of money contributed to the Washington
Monument were made away with in some
mysterious manner, and an unfinished shaft
in this city bears testimony to-day to the
fact that white men differ as widely about
monument to the memory of Washington as
colored people are accused Of doing about
monument to Sumner. Surely they don't
desire that we should initiate their example
in selecting bad agents, even if We are led
into a difference of opinion to avoid the
effects of that example,. They have made
failure so far, because they did not insist on
getting sufficient security for the funds con-
tributcd, but we are determined not to be
frightened into the same pathway of failure,
even by the bugbear of ''negro disunion."
New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-09
HUMBOLDT, Tenn, March p, 1874.

uUMBoLDT, Tenn, March -, 1874.
III. Editor
Will you please allow me to say something
through the columns of the Ne,c National Era
with regard to the destroying of your valu-
able journal. say let her float on, and /
would to God that those parties who are try
ing to destroy this valuable paper would at
tend to their own business. From what |
know of it they had as well chase Butter flies
for living, or paint moonshne for cloudy
night, as to destroy this paper. l say let her
float on. have a promise of over fifty sub
scribers for the incoming year; we have
just found this paper out, or we should have
been taking it long ago. 1 am living about
one hundred miles east of Memphis, and |
have spread the name of your worthy paper
all through Kentucky, for which good many
expect to subscribe. Publish any paper you
think will be benefit to our race, and will
offer myself to act as Agent for you, and a
good many more will do the same towards
helping you out with your undertaking.
Yours for good Cause,
HENRY HUME.
New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-09

have done better - frame into charges. No
matter who he means in the use of his
inuendoes, they can only work harm to the
author who has already been convicted of
malicious SANDER against a man who had the
power to reveal to the people the shallow
ness and bitterness of Downine's preten-
slons.
Downing, in his letter to us, SAYS, 81 am
not an inebriate, / am not debauchee. -
sc. Whenever man puts himself on trial,
and then is forced, in the absence of better
testimony, to bear witness in his own favor,
people have right to be suspicious of him.
He either believes that people believe him
to be scoundrel, or he knows himself to be
one but, in either case, it would be a little
more modest and little less suspicious, to
let some one else sound the trumpet of denial
for him.
1t may, however, be that Downing has
fallen into his usual confusion of ideas in
trying to impeach the honor of another man,
and makes his own language turn public sus-
picion upon himself. We suppose il would
be charitable construction to put upon Mr..
Downing's language to say that he, in a
bunglng way, attempts to refer to his victo-
rious enemy, Mr.. Sella Martin but, if this
view is accepted, Downing becomes wilful
destroyer of his .own family, into the very
bosom of which he has ever invited this
"drunkard and debauchee' up to the time
that Martin rebuked him in the public prints
for his impertinence in dry-nursing the col
ored members of Congress.
Let every reader Of this Journal peruse
Downing's letter this week.
1t is the best mental and moral likeness of
the man we have ever seen. 1t is drawn
by himself too.
New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-09
George II. DOwming's Letter.

In another column Will be found a letter
from George T. Downing addressed to the
manager of the New NATIONAL ERA, In
that communication he states two grounds of
his grievance against us. First That we
published the Hon. Gerrit Smiths letter 10
him without putting in his (DOwning's)
name. This has ever been our custom in
publishing reprints, unless we thought the
person addressed as important as the person
subscribing. In this case we didn't think
SO. We were thinking neither of Mr.. Down
ing nor of Hon. Gerrit Smith at the time we
copied the letter, which, by the way, was
sent us by Mr.. Smith, but we were simply
intent on laying before our readers the
weighty suggestions of great man on an
important subject. But, as Mr.. Downing
seems to think that the letter has lost much
OF its force by the omission Of his name, we
make haste to inform our readers that Hon.
Gerrit Smith has written e.. T. Downing a
letter.
The other ground of complaint against us
is that we choose to follow our preferences
and spend our own money in hiring and pay
idg the writers who assist us in making up
our editorial columns.
Mr.. Sella Martin has written for this jour-
nal almost every week since the "young
men" retired from ''thc 'front.' and il would
have been scarcely fair for us to have told
him we could dispense with his services SIM
ply because Mr.. Downing had forgotten what
was due to good breeding and race affinity,
and branded Mr.. Martin as drunkard be-
fore the world, especially as we knew the
charge was false. When this journal was
assailed by those who tried to destroy it,
Mr.. Sella Martin offered us his sympathy
and money; but, when we were talking about
meeting for the first trial of legal strength
between ourselves and our opponents, and
our great enterprise hung in the balance,
Downing said to another person in our pres
ence, in the most hippant manner, "Let us
go and see the fun"
Is is wonderful that we have not gone
ont Of our way to seek a man who has not
only stunned US in time of need, but who
thought our life-and-death struggle subject
for merriment?
The remainder Of Mr.. Downing's letter is
disgraced with insinuations which he would
New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-09
:. ii. SMOTHERS.
Mr. PIEASANT 0nyn Anil y 1871

MT. PLEASANT, ONO, April 3, 1874.
fres'erick Douglass, Jr:
DEAR SIR: Yours informing me that my
subscription to the "NEw NATIONAL ERA"
had expired, and desiring that should renew
the same, &C., is before me. When received
was confined to my room, and have not
been able to get out as yet but as soon as l
am, rest assured | will attend to it immedi-
ateiy. am interested in the New NATION
AL ERA, as a medium through which my
people can most eflectually reach the nation
al ear in presenting their grievances, and in
petlllonlng for their redress-with or without
the Citizen.
Very respectfully, yours for the right.
JOSEPH l.. CHAMP.
New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-09
How Investigations are Got Han

Nearly every investigation, of the forty Or
fifty that have been ordered in the last three
years, originated in pure demagogism, and
is authorized out of sheer cowardice on the
part of Congress. Some small potatoe noli.
ticlans, either in Congress or out. conscious
of his own insignificance, resolves to oct his
name before the country as a reformer- Ue
therefore, trumps up some charge against a
public officer and demands a committee of
investigation. Congress does not refnse the
demand, though not the slightest evidence be
presented in support of it, lest they will he
charged with an attempt to cover up fraud.
SO committee of investigation is ordered
and hundreds of thousands of dollars squan.
dered in trying to find something to Justify
the malignant accusations. One session If
Congress, three years ago. appointed fifteen
such committees, not one of which discoy-
cred single fraud or corrupt act of any kind.
Altogether they cost the people over a mil.
lion of dollars,
New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-09
AUGUSTA, GA, March %, 1874.

Domg'asa Brothers:
send herewith an account of public
meeting held in this city, and trust you will
get it in your valuable paper next issue. /
am trying to extend the circulation Of the
EAR in this vicinity, and hope to be able to
get several subscribers for you. Send me
few papers and will try to put them to good
use.
With best wishes for your success,
VIM. j. WHITE.
New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-09
DENVER. March &c, 1874.

Der Douyldss Brothers,:
Since writing my previous letter, have
read your article headed "An Explanation"
and was sorely panied at its purport. And
l now think see why your paper may not
have been issued on the 10Th inst. Oh! how
| regret the bad faith and shortcomings Of
some of our people, from whom we have Il
right to expect better things.
| hope your explanation and appeal may
have the desired effect of bringing substan-
tial encouragement and material aid. hope
soon to get out of the woods Of my financial
pressure, and then will devote more of my
time to the aid of your paper which has done
so much forthe freedom and elevation of our
race in this country.
Your Friend and Brother,
ii. o. WAGNER.
New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-09

Treasury could be applied, and it was deemed
advisable to make ample provision for this
fund by taxation in order to secure the ex-
tinguishment Of the whole debt by the gen.
Grafton that created it." The wisdom of
enforcing this policy so soon after the dread
full loss of life and productive labor, and the
vast destruction Of property North and South
during the war, has been questioned by many
thoughtful persons. The policy of drawing
now upon an overburdened and exhausted
people the means to liquidate great debt,
created to benefit and bless not only the
present generation but succeeding genera
tons of the Republic for all time to come, he
thinks at variance with the well-settlcd prin-
cIples Of political economy; besides, the pro-
position is unjust and wrong.
He therefore suggests that "the large pay
ments now required for his sinking fund might
be postponed. This would relieve the Treasury
of about a25 100000 per annum. If this be
done, and wise adjustment of the tariff be
made, the entire internal revenue system
can be abolished within two years."
We are not yet prepared to indorse so
sweeping policy as this, and are in favor
OF gradual reduction Of the public debt,
though it be ever so small. We think this
ne cessary to convince the world that we
mean to pay ii and to sustain our public credit.
But we are willing to let Mr.. Field speak for
himself We certainly most heartily agree
with him that the debt must be moyhed out,
and that therefore the policy Of tightening
the burdens of the people to the utmost prac-
teal extent, and encouraging the labor OF
The country by all possible means, should be
r!gidly enforced. TO this end we are with
him, heart and hand, in his efforts to re-
move the stamps from matches, on pre-
scriptions and medicines, and every other
tax Of the kind that serve rather to en-
barraSs and hinder Than to benefit the
Treasury.
Mr.. Field enumeratea articles the stamp tax
on which amounts to about $4,000, 900
| annually, which he proposes to ubolish, and
make up the deficiency by restoring the tax
on foreign products which was removed by
the act Of 1871. On this subject Mr.. Field
asserts, what every intelligent observer
knows to be true, that the revenue derived
from duty on imports is paid almost wholly
by the foreign manufacturer and laborer, and
that ii is a gross error to call 1t tax on the
American people. The revenue derived from
imports is wrung from the hands of the for
eign producers. When they approach our
markets with the products ofthcir labor, they
are required to call at the captains office
and settle the duties which cur tariff requires.
II is like the toll which is sometimes paid in
crossing bridge that leads to market.
That toll comes from the person who seeks
that market, the producer, not the consumer.
And so with the products of foreign labor
Before they can be laid down or sold to con-
sumers in our markets, the producer Is
required to call at the custom-house and
settle duties, and the receipts into the
Treasury from this source during the last
fiscal year have been $lSi,929, O4l.
New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-09
THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1874.
INDUCEMENTS.

Any one sending us $3.50 will receive
the New NATIONAL ERA and Woods
Monthly Magazine for one year, to-
gether with beautiful chrome of the
Yosemite Valley, or fine photograph Of
either Frederick Douglass, Esq, or Tous-
saint L'Ouverture, as they may choose.
This chrome is fine copy Of piece Of
natures grandest work, and is not presented
in the usual limited style-its dimensions,
14x20 makes picture of very desirable
size
New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-09
Take Notice.

Our friends should be particular in address,
ing letters to publishers of this paper not to
add "AND CITIZEN" 1t is possible that
letters intended for us have fallen into the
hands of those whose attempt to destroy the
paper has led them into all sorts of annoying
Gamers,
New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-09
MARSHALL Texas March 3o II
BrOlher,
III. O. WAGNER.

MARSHALL. Texas, March 80. 1874.
Frederick Douglass Jr.,
DEAR SIR Your circular letter informing
me of tho effort Of certain parties to break
up the "New National Era" is received, and
respond by renewing my subscription, and
promising to get as many more subscribers
as can. Times are hard, but think can
get some Of your old patrons, at this place to
renew, and add also some new subscribers.
L became subscriber to Frederick Doug
lass Paper" at New Garden, Indiana, in
1858, and have ever since been true friend
to the Douglass family; and have done what
little could to encourage their noble efforts
in elevatng the race. We cannot afford to
let the NEW NATIONAL ERA 90 down, for
we need Just such an organ at the Capital.
With my best wishes for your success,
remain your true friend,
New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-09

Repeating the duty on iron, salt, coal, and
other American products in 1871, for the BEN
eft of foreign labor and capital, cost the
United States Treasury $4,000, 900. And
now the present Congress proposes to make
up the deficiency by dismissing a few clerks
and stopping all public works not already
under way. This is craftsmanship with a
vengeance.
New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-09

IN lifty-two years we sent to foreign mar
kets less than ai75, 100000 worth of wheat,
or zoos, coo a year, while our farmers sold
in our own markets half that amount, or
over two hundred and thirty million dollars
every year. Yet free traders affects to be-
lieye Il foreign market is much more valuable
than a domestic market.
New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-09
OPINIONS OFOUR SUBSCRIBERS
ERIE, March 81, 1874.

ERIE, March 81, 1874.
+. Douglass IT,,
Your favor reached me last week, am
pleased to renew my subscription, and am
more pleased at being fortunate enough to
send the name of new subscriber to your
valuable journal, Mr.. John Hicks, whose
name / enclose with my own.
Respectfully,
Mrs. III. II. hurley.
New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-09

W. Now is the time for delin-
quent subscribers to renew their
subscriptions.
New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-09
New YORK, March 80, 1874.

Mr.. Douglass:
Dear Sir: have enclosed two dollars and
fifty cents and wish to renew my subscription
for another year, and shall do all | can to
help your paper.
Yours truly,
New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-09
Rates Of Postage.

For the information and convenience of
our readers, we publish the following abstract
Of the postal laws of the United States. We
advise our readers to cut this out and pre-
serve it for reference:
Postal cards, one cent each, so without
further charge to all parts of the country.
All letters to all parts Of the United States,
three cents per half ounce.
Local, OF ''drop" letters, that is for the
city or town where deposited, two cents if
delivered by carriers, and one cent if there is
no carrier system.
For newspapers and magazines. regularly
issued and sent to regular subscribers, the
following rates per quarter of three months,
payable in advance al the Office where re-
paix,ad
Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-24
AMATERIALIsTIC JOKE.

A lecturer on Materialism and a city
missionary met the other day in England
to discuss before an audience the question
of responsibility. ''Science," said the phi
losopher, s'has proved beyond doubt that
at the end of few years not particle in
my body or brain remains; every atom has
passed away, and the new matter forms a
new man, who cannot be held accountable
fol the conduct of another" The audi
ence seemed enchanted. Then arose the
city missionary and said: "Ladies and gen.
tlemen, it is matter of regret to me that
have to engage in discussion with man
of questionable character, with one, in fact,
who is living with a woman to whom he
is not married" Up rose, in wrath, again
the materialist. ''Sir, this is shameful, and
l repudiate your insOlent attack on my char
acter. l defy you to substantiate your
charge. was married TO my wife twenty
years ago, and We have lived happily to-
gether ever since. This is a mere attempt
at evading the force of my argument"
"On the contrary" replied the city mission
airy, 81 reaffirm my charge. You were
never married to the person with whom
you are living. Twenty years ago two
other people may have gone to church,
bearing your names, but there Is not one
atom in your bodies remaining of those
which were then married. 1t follows in
evitably that you are living in concubiuage,
unless you will admit that yod are the
same man who was married twenty years
since" The philosopher was compelled,
amid great cheering, to allow that, some
how or other, credit and discredit for past
actions must be granted even by Material
lists
Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-24
ORCHARD GRASS.

The Ohio Farmer says: "Orchard
grass is one of the most valuable
grasses; it is as early as red clover, and
is therefore the grass best adapted to
SOW with it. For hay it is productive,
yielding very heavy crop on rich land.
1t is very nutritious, and very palata-
bic to all kinds of stock. 1t makes
early pasture, viii bear close and con-
slant cropping; it blossoms with clover,
and gives as large or larger burden Of
hay. 1t is somewhat inclined to grow
in tufts, and to remedy this it is well
to harrow and roll it in the spring"
As some of our neighbors are sowing
orchard grass seed at this time, We re-
mark that it should be sown thick, if
not accompanied with other seeds, to
avoid punching and being very coarse
IN the stems, like straw. The better
way is to mix clover seed, timothy or
red top, if for meadow. Many farmers
SOW two bushels of orchard grass seed
to the acre.