davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-09-09

A spectator Of the Souer-Smith rencon-
ire informs US that as many as dozen
or more Of the "large-minde chivalrous
gentlemen" among the bystanders had
their revolvers out ready to shoot Souer in
case Smith fell. BY special interposi-
ton of Providence New Orleans was
spared the disgraceful consummation.
Souer fell, and Smith, unconscious of
having been hit, reported himself unhurt.
Everybody thought Souer dead and Smith
all right, and there was great satisfaction
among the broad-minded, chivalrous gen.
tlemen who had but a moment before pre-
pared to do one of the most brutal and
cowardly deeds that ever stained the an
nails of mankind. Souer's tempora ry
paralysis, no less than Smiths uncon
seriousness of being wounded, prevented
great crime such as has, unfortunately
been too frequently committed by men
calling themselves honorable, and Chris
tians to boot.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-31
The Real Estate Pool.

The friends of the Washington Ring
made n vigorous but unsuccessful effort ON
Tuesday to get HALLETr KuBoURN out Of
JAIL on the plea Of an indictment found
against him for not answering various
questions propounded by order of the
House OF Representatives.
Mr.. KAssoH and Mr.. GARFIELD were most
active and conspicuous on behalf of KIL-
BoURS, though both stand recorded in
other cases of far less merit in favor Of
pushing the power of the House to an ex-
treme extent. For example, when PAT
RICK WOODS, in Richmond. quarrelled with
POTTER. n carpet-bagger from that dis
trict, and punished him for an insult, he
was taken out of the hands OF the Court,
carried TO Washington, and held as pris-
oner long after the adjournment of Con-
grcss. for an alleged contempt Of the House
in knocking down member one hundred
and twenty miles away from the capital,
who had grossly insulted him. The anus
Ing part Of the recent performance in the
House, was that GARFIELD, after arguing
with the zeal OF counsel on behalf of Kill
BoURN, voted against his own speech when
compelled TO face the music on the record.
During the investigation of District nf-
fairs ia 1874, KILDoUES and LATTA were
both examined and both refused TO an
swer Thus far LAIrA has not been sum-
moned by tho present committee, nor the
junior partner, OIMsrEAD, both of whom
are equally ircriminated with KUBoURH
in the real estate pool. There is no good
reason why they should be excepted, and
the failure OF the committee to call them
excites comment. II is a mistake 10 sup
pose that this pool" only consisted Of Ave
persons besides JAY COOKE x Co. That
was the original combination, but it was
subsequently extended, and included some
Of the highest porsonages in public life,
whose names are concealed behind myste-
r.ous deeds of trust to KLBoURN and LAT
ia, and from one TO the other Of them.
II lie said KuBoURN is inclined TO give in
and tell what he knows. That rumor is
only partially true, and doubtless applies
TO the first pool, the subscribers to which
are wei known. The real secret is in the
lnrger pool, and is believed to affect MEM
bers of the Cabinet, Senators and Repre-
sentatives, and persons in the Presidents
household, If not the President himself. II
these transactions were honest, there
would be no hesitation in answering the
committee. The papers required have
been specified, and may be selected by
KILBoURS himself, no indiscriminate
search having ever been proposed.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-31
A Duty OF Congress.

Some Of rCongressional flnanciors have
a wonderful proximity toward lying and
cheating, and have become so callous or
perveI ted in their moral sense that they
even openly advocate the practice, pro-
vided 1t is done within limits defined by
legislation. Take this silver business as an
illustration. When il is argued that II
silver should go on falling, after its substi-
tuition for the fractional currency, until ID
became worth no more than seventy
Ave or nifty cents on dollar we should
then havea debased currency just to the ex-
tent that the coins are Issued, il is replied
that that Is q matter OF no consequence.
II is alleged that our fractional silver coins
are but counters any way, and that it makes
no difference what their intrinsic value is.
Although In such case, the stamp and
impress Of the United States on each piece
of silver would be fraud and falsehood,
yet 1t would be perfectly proper TO put 1t
on, and all the injurious and damaging
effects of the imposture and the lie could
be controlled by legislation, which could
always keep the quantity in circulation
down TO the limits Of the public demand
for change.
THIS Is TO say, in effect, that II would be
perfectly proper for the Government to
issue coinage of lead or of iron, and afllx
q wholly arbitrary value to It, and then
say 10 the people, "Take that or nothing.
You must have something to answer your
purpose in your everyday dealings, and
you shall have nothing but the lead we
offer you" Now, Congress eau exercise
such power until it is stopped by judi
oial decision as flagrantly unconstitutional;
but In lis essence, the exercise of such n
power would be no more improper aud no
more unconstitutional, except in degree,
Than TO declare by law that half or three
quarters of dollar in silver shall pass for
dollar; aud tho morality OF one action is
on level with that of the other.
Congress has really nothing whatever TO
do with tho matters IL is attempting TO
regulate, aud has undertaken to regulate
ever since the day IL issued the first green
back and stamped 1t us legal tender, THIS
act, only excusable on the ground of i'm
perative necessity, has been the fruitful
parent OF the frauds and lies which now
bsAat ~ at every step in this currency
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-31

business. Because we were driven to do this
outrageous deed 1t has come to be generally
held, we hope thoughtlessly, that Con-
gress may perpetrate any other scandal
lous and dishonest act that holds out any
promise of being convenient aud profita-
BILE for the moment Hence the idea
is openly advocated In Congress by lead
ers Ia that body, like MIR. RANDALL, for ex-
ample. that we may debase the silver cir
cuation as much rs we like, and that so
long as we do not issue an excess of it, or
more than the people are compelled to
have and use, IL Is all right, honest. decent,
constitutional, and statesmnnlike.
We protest altogether against these loose
and dcnoralizine ideas as the basis of leg
islation. In the first place. they are dis
honest and immoral and In the next, they
exact n perpetual aud damaging inter
ference with subject with which Con-
gress has rghtfully no concern. All
that the Federal Government is con-
additionally empowered TO do is to "coin
money and regulate the value thereof"
IL is their duty TO establish minis, to say
how much gold shall make dollar and
how much silver shall make n dollar; and
having done this, It is their duty to throw
open their mint doors and receive all the
gold and all the silver brought to them,
and coin II into money Of the nation.
Now, here we are, great producers OF
silver and great producers OF gold, propos-
Ing TO shut up the doors OF the mint 70
everybody having silver TO be coined, be-
cause 1t is, or may become, necessary TO
create bastard currency, and put silver
into circulation at a rate beyond its value.
At least this is the idea in the minds OF
some of our Congressman, aud this the
thought expressed in the House discussion
Of this general topic.
We beg gentlemen on oil sides 20 stop
and consider, and before they tinker the
currency any further to try and look a
little beyond their noses, and frame con-
sistent and stable policy that will cover the
whole question at issue, and put our finan-
cial legislation back under the guidance OF
liked principles and legitimate constitu-
tional limitations.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-31
In a had Way.

IL does really seem that the Adminstra-
ton is in a very bad way. AT the recent
State Convention OF New York, the most
marked feature of the proceedings was the
vigorous denunclation OF the frauds which
have crept into every branch of the Gov
ernmeut And to-day we reproduce a life
like portrait of Grantism. drawn by the
master hand OF the NelU York Times, the
leading Republican paper Of the United
States, and this portrait is anything but
fattering.
The Times makes out GRANT as just rs
unfortunate in his brothers-in-law as M
other man, much known ut Albany, in this
State, is In his half brother. The other man
10 whom we refer is Mr. A. d. BARRIER. Mr..
BARBER s a man of worth-estimated AT a
quarter of n million received from TWEED.
His misfortune is to have for half brother
NOAH DAVIS.
The celebrated DR.. JOHNSON, when he
was afflicted with the govt used TO rejoice
that II was not the stone; and, when he
had the stone. that he did not have the
govt and the stone both at the same time.
Great rs Mr.. BARBER's misfortune is, he
maystill congratulate himself that DAVIS is
not his full brother, and does not bear the
same name; and II he were his full
brother, he might stlil feel glad that lie
had only one such
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-31
A Sad Exhibition.

II was n sorry sight, that Of Gen. ScHENcK
before the investigating committee. He
told the story of his shame without ever
so much MS once perceiving that il was not
a tale of honor. He stood self-convicted
by the very testimony which he thought
exonerated him. He was like man color
blind. There are many persons who can
not see red. SCHENCK could not see the
red in his statement. He thought it was
all white, when, alas, there was no white
in II.
Mr.. HEWITT showed himself not only a
ready mathematician but quick witted in
his cross-examinntion of Gen. SCHRNCK.
By dissectng the figures furnished by the
witness he completely exploded, aud in
only few minutes time, the whole theory
set up by Gen. ScHENCK that he had been
great loser by his Emma nine invest
ment. Gen. SCHENCK does not appear 10
have understood his own accounts before.
We confess that II affords us no satisfac-
ton to see Gen. ScHENCK appear in so un-
favorable light. The one consolation
left Is that as an authority on poker play
ing his reputation is beyond the reach Of
cavil.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-31

WASHINGTON. March 90. 1t is about
time the House OF Representatives took some
OF Its oficers In hand and gave them lesson In
duty and propriety The Committee OF Appro-
priations have brought in bills to reduce the
public expenditures and to redeem the pledges
upon which the ajority we're elected yet Mr..
Adams, the clerk, and!other ofhcials, chosen by
this same majority, may be seen during the ses-
sioDs buttonnoling members and soliciting
votes to defeat the Legislative bill, In which
their large salaries are properly out down.
This spectacle OF selfish characterization Ia
not only disrreditable in Itself, but Ia cause OF
just reproaoh to the.Dem ocratic majority, who
should no longer tolerate It, During Republi-
can rule the officers about the House were null
tiplied and the contingent fund was enormously
patronage and to squander the public money for
partisan objects
Salaries were put up under the most flimsy
pretexts, and without the least regard to the ser
vice rendered until the abuse became monstrOus.
These officers average about nine months of
actual duty in a Congress OF two years, and they
are paid for each full year bv the month, as II
every day had ia share OF service. They have
been among the most favored class In the whole
Government. and even under the proposed re-
form they stand out exceptionally when COM
pared with any other department.
THIS conduct Of the Clerk ~ the House and
his associates Is made more rerrehensiole from
the fact tnat there are thousands CT competent
men all over the country out OF employment,
who would gladly MI these places at large re-
auction OF the rates OF pay In the new bill, and
who are ready In good faith to assist In carving
on the work of retrenchment.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-31

| railroad iron, and some railroad bonds and
continued the foreign navy account with
| them.
The time for new remittance on their
account arrived about the first of October
| 1873 and in the course OF that month, and
| the following month Of November. what
| DO wo find the Secretary Of the Navy
| doingi He actually RENTS TO this failing
house additional sums amounting to over
| one million and sixty-six thousand dollars,
receiving as additional security from the
| firm some old railroad iron, aud some new
| railroad iron, aud some claims and &c.
counts.
1t matters nothing that, according to the
statement of Mr.. RoBEsoN, the President
OF the United States and the Secretary OF
the Treasury were consulted about this
most unwarrantable transaction-nothin
further than possibly to change what
would have been high crime and INSIDE
meanor in one man alone, into "a conspiracy
by three.
And then Mr.. Secretary robson goes
on to tell how, having converted the Gov
eminent Of the United States into pawn
brokers' establishment, he has brought
suits here and suits there, suits to the right
of him and suits to the left of him, TO try
to convert some OF the assets of the de-
funct banking house OF JAY Cooke, Nc
CULLoCu & Go. into cash. uo might as
we'll have said, in briefer terms: 81 am
deserving Of impeachment, and will plead
guilty rs soon as the articles against me
can be presented" There can be but ono
opinion in the business world and among
those versed in public affairs respecting
the official conduct OF Mr. Secretary ROBE
soN. He Is rs bankrupt in character US
Messrs. JAY COOKE, McCULLocH * Co. are
In funds.
The admissions contained in Secretary
RoDEsoNs letter are the very substance Of
the charges made against him years ago by
THE SUN. We have them now vouched
for by his own signature. There are better
names for most purposes. His sign manual
is good for this.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-31
The Mischief of the La,e., Fashions.

LucV Hooper N Ae IhltlislDhd Ire0rdph
Were | not peculiarly moral person,
should say for nv own part, Drat the fashions -
For | am not Venus. and the incoming modes
will, unless am much mistaken, he pitiless 10
those who aTo anything else. The Old Princesse
or q ,briolle cut for dresses IL to be revived
nay, is revived and threatens TO become the rage
Now, in old days. with hoops and full skirts
these gOTed, all In one dresses, were not SO bad .
but now, what with tied-back skirts and glove
hitting dresses, women who are either too thin
or too stout nave hard time ofit. or course,
divine In such attire, but how many women have
figure like that OF Croizettc, l should like to
known Not one form in a hundred can stand
the total absence of drapery And so, fat and
forty, or thin and thirty, must he turned into
guys, In order that tue sweet and shapely may
have a cnance to stun the world with q reyela-
tion OF loneliness.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-31
Portrait from Friendly Hand-Grantism
ms IL Has Been and IL.

Yesterdays evidence before the Clymer
committee Is not very satisfactory reading tor
those who imagined that tue lowest depths had
been reached OF the diserdceful system of jnb-
berry In post traderships. j. T.. Barrow, formerly
suter at y urt Union, New Mexico, is not exactly
the KIND OF man whose testimony aries with
IL amy intrinsic weight, but II is too clrcumstan-
tlal and too well fortified by references to
actual correspondence TO be judged solely on
the personal character OF the witness. Even
II partially true, II goes far To deepen the
impression that the President has permit
ted some not very reputable family rcla-
lions To drag his good name in the mre, and has
done 80 with AN amount Of knowledge OF their
operations which should long ag0 have COM
PEELED him To discard them. President Grant
has suuere not a little from the dubious trans
actions OF his brother and brothers-in-law, but
II we can accept the genuineuess Of a letter
read by Barrow he allowed, when still the Gen
eral Of the Army. his brother-in-law's brother
in-law to get an appointment for the avowed
PURPOSE OF making money by improper means.
OF course, all this evidence will need careful
sitting, ind may only be good I'LL the other side
Is heard. As II stands 1t will leave a very disa-
greeahle impression on all VINO have held TO the
belief that the President of tho United States
was at least free from the charge VI dell oerdtely
conuiYlng at petty JObbery,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-31
Secretary Robe-on's Plea of Guilt,


Mr.. Secretary robson takes nearly two
columns to say what he mi ht have said in
two syllables: Guilty.
He gives no reason whatever for the
withdrawal OF the foreign navy account,
In 1871, from the old, established, undoubt-
ed house OF Barring Brothers & Co., who
had had It since the year 1885, who had
performed the duties OF their agency faith
fully, punctiliously, satisfactorily. and by
whom the Government had never lost a
cent, and for transferring 1t 10 the new,
mushroom Arm of JAY COOKE McCULLocH
4 Co. Ii the absence of any reason for
such step, which met the unqual led
condemnation OF every intelligent and
sasdcious business man In the country,
81. picion at once attached 10 the transac-
6on, in its very inception; and this sus-
picion is now changed into certainty
Mr.. Robson makes n point OF the cir
cunlstance that whereas Barring Brothers
L Co., when they were appointed foreign
agents for our navy, had given n bond for
the faithful performance Of the trust In
the sum OF $4,000 only, JAY COOKE,
hcCULLocH & Co., when they were APP
pointed gave n like bond for 100000. We
think this point, so far rs II has any bear
tug, tolls against robson and against JAY
COOKE, McCCLLoCH s. Co. 1t shows that
he treated with them on the basis that they
werea weaker house than that which they
supplanted, and should give greater Sc
ourlty; ana they conceded that they were
less trustworthy house by submitting to
give the larger bond. But what right had
hr. HobEsoN, holding the high trust of
Secretary OF the Navy, To leopard in this
way large sums of money that had been
wrung from the people OF the United
States by onerous taXatiOu2 Aud must
those not be very credulous persons who
will believe that man who has made
such free use Of the public money as he
has made on other occasions for private
ends, could commit this great breach OF
apubllc trust without any pecuniary con-
stderatiou personal TO HIMSELF
After while JAY COOKE, McCuLLocH <
Co. were found TO be, as was to be OK
peoted, In condition Of great pecuniary
embarrassment. Their correspondents in
this country, JAY COOKE & Co.,-very
nearly their alter e3o-had made most
disastrous and discreditable failure; and
everybody knew now, not merely that the
mousse was shaky, but that II must GER
tA'h'y go to pieces Still, under such DIR
onmsIances, Mr.. Secretary RosEsoN took
A09 'aA' t0Itsiins arm nledge Of selas
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-31
WASHINGrON DOOMEn-
Friahtfnl Epidemic the Probable Result
Of Hos shepherd's Kn.cnIItr.

WASHINGTON. March 20.-Those terrible
scourees, typhoid aud typho-malarlal fever,
Throat rot" and dlphtheria are now prevailing
to an alarming extent In this city. and are daily
increasing In intensity and fatality. These de.
strUctivc complaints are the natural results and
consequences entailed upon ia by the "comrre.
hensive system Of improvements" originated
and prosecuted by Boss Shepherd and bis Ring
OF thieves during their rascally reign.
The sewers constructed by that plundering
crew are VIGOROUSLY inadequate for even ordi.
nary drainage, and during heavy rain storms
their contents back up and discharge into the
cellars ana Easements OF buildings on Pennsyl.
vania avenue and two adjoining streets In fact,
dwellings on NJ street, northwest, the most ele-
vated portion Of the city, are subject to the
same nuisance.
The main sewers and laterals are rapidly fll-
Ing with excfementitious matter. This fearful
accumulation OF putrd, decomposing animal
and vegetable substances Ia gradually appro ach-
Ing every building that Is connected with the
main sewers. The deadly gases generated by
houses and are inhaled at every breath. II we
attempt to yentilate by open doors or windows,
we are met by an atmosphere charged with In
fictitious spores arising from the decay and rot
tenness Of the wood pavements.
with these strrtline facts before us, our ex-
cessive and increasing death rate Is OF easy sou-
ton, and we have strong reasons to expect a
terrible epidemic during the coming summer
months that will destroy hundreds, IL not thou
sands, Of our citizens
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-31
The Presidents Illness.

The following statement was telegrnphed
from Washington and published in the
Herald Of yesterday:
the President was suddenly attacked with illness
during the OF last evening" and his symptoms
res - a nsInlns nat sne family Ph,sicsn was sum
nsn OF ths night 70 administering the means OF relief
sst for airing in MS carriage TINS afternoon. TIE
tresi eni's Hines. I. triouei TO occurrence OF an
sls s 'e'0i''' gwen his friends no little 'OPF'hsn
The circumstance of the Presidents suf-
fering from o dangerous attack of illness,
gives rise to reflection on the manner In
which tidings of his death would have
been received, had his illness resulted
finally.
Condemnatorv ms the feeling now pre-
vailing is against Gen. GRANT, the news OF
his sudden decease would have covered
the whole land with sorrow. The disap-
rroval OF his civil administration has not
blotted out the appreciation of his mill
tary services, nor eradicated the gratitude
which is felt for them.
At the same time those who would have
COMPOUNDED the tributes Of respect to the
soldier into n sanction OF GRANTS admin.
etration, would have made great mis-
take. Impartial history will intertwine
with his wreath OF military success the
record Of his shame as the great promoter
Of corruption In the national Govern
meut.
Nor would the death of Gen. GRANT
have softered the host lily toward those
who, in positions OF power and trust sub
Or-' 'ate 10 M, have been the more lmme-
eiste agents ana nstrumentalitiei OF We
nalliy in ofice. Neither would It have
exercised any lasting influence on the
politics OF the day. The determination to
purify the general Government is too
deeply rooted TO be changed; and even
che shock which would have been pro-
duced by the sudden death OF the Presi-
Dent and the mourning that would have
succeeded, would not have concilated the
public sentiment in favor Of any OF his fol-
lowers.
tits not strange that Gen. GRANTS brain
should be affected by tho troubles which
gather thick and fast around him But we
trust that he may be permitted to live to
the close OF his term. and to pass many
years in that retirement TO which he will
GO without obstruction, aud in the seclu-
sion which one would suppose would be
more grateful than the kind Of notoriety
he has at present.