davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-17
MERCHANTS ANO FARMERS.

The Dallas Herald says ''that although the
merchant may ostensibly pay twenty-five
dollars year occupation tax, he quietly,
and perhaps properly, transfers its payment
TO the farmer by a small additional per cent.
on the price of his goods. Thus the pro-
ducer pays 1t after all. the merchant being
but the medium through which this tax is
collected. Merchants pay to the govern
ment larger duties on tobacco, coffee and
sugar, but the consumer eventually foots
the bill, and the merchants are simply the
agency through which this tax is gathered.
The Herald should have added that the
farmer or producer not only refunds the
tax to the merchant but pays interest and
profit on the tax which is added to the
prime cost of the goods. Therefore it is
commonly argued, since all taxes fall finally
on the producers of the country, that it
would cost them less if all taxation were
direct and none indirect. Then produ-
GERS should alone eXpend govern nent rev
enues, and this is certainly true in munlci-
pal governments in which the State and
iIo SOullo plOlcCI llle anu TIRnC anu llDeTLy
while the local government deals only with
property. And yet here m Texas the nom
taxpaying rabbe constitutes the balance of
power in towns and counties and here, as
In the older States, demagogues so shape
legislation that principle and right are vio-
lated and the whole country is plundered
by adventures that appeal successfully to
the prejudices of this nomadic voting mob
Demagogues are compelled to confess the
presence of the evil; but are always amend
ing charters and pretending to inaugurate
reforms in municipal institutions conscious
that there is but one recourse which consists
in making those rulers who pay the cost of
maintaiHing municipal systems. Such is the
uselessness Of the privilege of suffrage in
city or town, where the rabble is potent,
that decent people set no value on it and do
not exercise it, and thus the condition of
towns, once prostrated, grows steadily
worse. The new Constitution perpetuates
these progressive calamities, and patriots
and sensible people will vote it down.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-17

THE laxIty of political thinking is con-
formed to that of moral reasoning of our
time. Even that staunch, old, strict con-
structionist, Reverdy Johnson, who fell
dead the other day at Annapolis, believed
that there is constitutional authority for the
government to appropriate money for the
Centennial Exhibition in that portion of the
Constitution which gives it power to levy
taxes, etc., and to borrow money without
limitation as to amount to pay debts, and
provide for the common defense and general
welfare. This authority, if shackled with
nice distinctions, would deprive the gov
ernment of powers most essential to Its
wholesome operation. The legality of an
act appropriating money for the Centennial
must rest, he thinks, not upon express, but
implied power-the same implied authority
which enabled Congress to appropriate
money for the relief of those whose prop
erty had been destroyed by an earthquake,
and to establish and support an Agricultural
Department, for which no express provision
is made in the Constitution. He further
says, that if the latter instrument were to
be literally interpreted, the United States
would be without powers essential to its
prosperity, and be reduced to the dimen-
sion of petty municipality.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-17
NOW WE WILL HAvH Fun.

The Corsicana Iader, referring to the de-
clara,ion that Governor Coke is to be re-
elected on the express condition that he
would not accept the United States Senator
ship, says that such a concession was ex-
pressly repudiated by his Excellency before
the nomination at Galveston was made;
Governor Coke saying that no one had the
right to require him to make any pledge
having reference to his retention OF the
Goveraor,s Office. Governor Coke is alwsys
doing something sensible, except when he
gets too much interested in the $ iccess OF
the Rutabaga Constitution. But the milk
IN that cocoa-nut becomes dimiy visible at
last, even without an lndez from COrsieana-
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-17
The woodhuII-What ST. Louis kinks
and she said.

The woodruff is a woman Of command
ing presence, and when she lectured last
week in St. Louis she was sttiied in an
elaborate toilet pulled far back, with roses
at her throat.
She held the New Testament in her hand
and read from /. Corinthians; chapter y;
verses I6 and IL:
know ye not tha. ye are the temple OF
God, and that the Spirit OF God d"eiieth
IN Youi
..If any nan de6le the temple OF God.
him shan God destroy; for the temple oi
God is holy, which ye are
The speaker first considered whether OF
not history proved THE Human Body the
Temple of God" There once inhabited this
country q race people called the Mound
Builders, but they bad passed away and
left behind not even . tradition OF who they
we're, and the present race would become
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-17

THE Leader says the STATESMAN is sold
to Huntington and is his paid organ, and
that itself is not the paid organ of Scott.
The lawyer that accepts fee and is in dead
earnest on either side of a case Indifferent
ly is, then, neither better nor worse than
the STATESMAN, with this d ference, mark
you, that the lawyers action affects indi-
viduals; the STATEsMAN's may affect the
fortunes of the commonwealth. The law
yer might be blameless, when the STATES
MAN would be tearfuly culpable. Sooner
or later it will be known, however, that it
is only the compatibility OF the STATEsMAN's S
enemies that suggests the charge that it is
bought by Huntington, even as It was al
legged, even by Grange meeting and Col.
DeMorse, that we were the hirelings of Tom
Scott. If the STATESMAN gain money lille
Ultimately it is sure to leak out, and we are
willing to bide our time, and the time is
not distant when every Texan will know
that it were better for the State t. have the
whole California system of roads discharge
their wealth at Galveston than in ST. Louis
and Philadelphia. So plain is this propo-
sitlon that it can only be answered by the
outcry, corruption! cOrruption!" 1t is Tom
Scott who captured Rutabagaism by guar
anteeing the adoption of the new Const1tu-
ton, and thus he seized its exponents by
the throat, who, for time, were delighted
with the propositions of the powerful Cali
fornla and Texas corporation, the richest
and most potent in America, and, therefore,
capable of doing all that it proposes.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-17
MEXICO AND TEXAs.

The condition of Mexico can never be
learned, it seems, from Mexican newspa-
pers. They have editors distinguished
mainly for their excitability and devoted to
most exalted sensationalism. "a revolu-
ton" in Mexico, the most terrible Of the
last ten years, is hardly more destructive or
exciting to actual participants than the re-
cent revolts and strikes IN the coal mines of
Pennsylvania. A tprOnunciamiento" is moth
ing more terrible than speech from Dick
Hubbard or railroad message from Gov
ernor Coke, and while Dias and Cortina are
awful and imposing when viewed at dis
tance, the revolts in which they may figure
are, in fact and on the spot, the veriest
trifles. Lerdo is a wise and temperate and
just ruler. He is anxious for peace and
would promote by every possible means the
prosperity of his people, and while his gov
ernment is undergoing the sure process of
regeneration and reform, and his people
are slowly educated in the art of self-gov-
ernment, no irrepressible raider like Cortina
and no bands of thieves, however annoy
ing, could justify the United States in
making war in order to dismember Mexico.
We may yearn for cotton and gold and
silver and sugar and coffee fields, but until
we have digestei Cutfee would imbibe no
Mexican aguardiente. 1t Is we'll enough to
accept as an admixture progressive popula-
tions of Europe; but as few saestizOs as pos
sible should be injected into American pop
ulations. AS American States, those of
Mexico would be intolerable; as provinces,
they would corrupt thoroughly and hope
lessly our Who'll, system of republican gov
|
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-17
AUSTIN CoLLEaE has a lively time getti

AUSTIN COLLEGE has lively time getting
location. Denison made the best propo-
sition but the people repudlated it, and
Sherman has no competition unless our
proposition be considered. We are still of
the opinion that the college can well afford
to give Austin twenty or thirty thousand
dollars for the privilege of settling down
here. But we won't charge it single
cent. Sherman is built of boards in a
boundess level plain; Austin of brick and
stone on beautiful river, in the midst OF
M urt.in>. Leave the question of location
10 'h"sc who must send boys to college and
there will be perfect unanimity in behalf
OF Austin.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-17

a slight study Of the working Of the rev
enue system shows that very deep errors
lie at the bottom of it aud tend constantly
10 make it Ineffective. To our personal
knowledge Comptroller Darden has time
and again laid facts before the Legislature
and asked for the passage of such acts as
would place it in his power To make the
system more effectual, but as yet the re-
quired legislation is lacking. Coming leg
islatures will do Texas great service by
giving this subject earnest attention, and
acting upon the advice of those who have
made the subject u matter OF careful and
even official study.
Below We give some points Of interest
touching directly and indirectly upon the
subject of reforms:
OCCUPATION TAXES.
The iBsufhciency of the present revenue
system Is shown in the fact that the occupa-
tion tax Ia 1874 was over $50, 600 greater
than IN 1915. Too much authority Is taken
cut OF the hands of the Comptroller. and
until there is thorough reformation in the
management of the revenue system very
great evils must prevail. Il should De the
object of the Legislature to pass such laws
as TO give this officer more authority, rather
than % be continually curtailiDg IT. Al
present he has about as much power oveI
the acts OF revenue officers as any privste
individual has. he Can sue the bondsmen
Of delinquent officers, and this is the extent
of hIS control over them. He can call on
] them for settlements and they respond -
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-17

WHES fellow gets to be sort Of head
devil of the party, it Is then that he begins
to roar about party lines, and whipping
voters into the traces and keeping the line:
straight. It's so comfortable for the driver,
you know, to have a well broken team.
They tote him along so comfortably. Peo
pie have no right to think. in matters o.
Politics. They must follow blindly tho the
file leader. Nothing else is so sure to in
vest these leaders, whether they deserv'
them or NOT. with hoHors and offices.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-17

THE Democratic party of the Sixth Dis
trict of New York say, in their resolutions,
that the party everywhere, inoprimary as
semblies as well as in State and district con-
ventions, should announce its preference
for some candidate for the Presidency. By
no other means can a national convention
SO accurately determine the course of popu-
lar opinion and the preference of the party.
The same policy should be adopted in
Texas. This Sixth District of New York
nominates Tom Hendricks for the Presi-
dency and S. S. Cox for the Vice rresl-
dency. The latter because, as the conven-
ticn asserts, ''he would be the best presid-
ing officer the Senate ever had" The
STATESMAN thus finds its assertions of Mr..
Cox's worth, when we wished to make him
Speaker of the House, approved by those
who know him best.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-17

THE New York Herald sticks to its belief
that Grant will hold the next Republican
National Convention in the hollow of his
hand. 1t says:
cit is just as sure this day as it will ever
be that Ulysses S. Grant will be re-nomi-
mated for President at Cincinnati on We'd
nesdsy, June IA, 1876, if he wishes, and we
challenge the production of any evidence
that his wish is not fixed and firm
How can it be otherwise, The South,
represented in the Republican National
Convention by carpet-baggers and blacks,
will give the solld vote of fifteen States for
Grant in the nominating convention, and
then the sixty-fEe thousand offceholders
and twenty-three hundred banks and Orton's
telegraph lines will do the rest. Grant holds
the Office of President. to tbs extent that
the people have lost control of il, in the
hollow of his hand, and, as he chooses, will
either be nominated or designate the nomi-
nee of his party. Whisky, offices, blacks,
the army and the banks now have absolute
control of the Republican party, and the
good that is in it is impotent, aud Grant is
supreme master of its destinies. Then the
Democratic leaders seem incapable of wise
action. Blaine has surely carried his point
and managed to inject false issue into
the coming contest. The exclusion of the
rag money question seems impossible, and
the people will forget disgust, through
WEAKNESS of the knaveries in crooked
whisky; and if there be not wise manage
ment and proper issues presented, the good
nant Repubicanism, and the Republic, in
Its hundredth year, becomes the Empire.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-17

THE proposition made NOT many days ago
in Washington to hold another ChattAnoo-
ga bloody-shirt convention has been 50 bit,
terry opposed by the decent Republicans
and by several blacks in Congress that the
scheme has failed, greatly TO the disgust of
agents of the extreme wing OF Texas Radi-
calism.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-17

Pacific should be made known everywhere,
and this copy of the STATESMAN sent into
every town and village east of the Missis-
sippi would do infinite service to Austin
and Travis county
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-17

The Galveston Hslcs. referring to.e ex-
tent Of the whisky ring aud its pre- NC IA
Mobile, New Orleans and elseW -
.sIf there be one thing for whie no,hy nsky
ring j. more distinguished rhg s;','.e, u
Is ramifcations.p We thoEL sS nc
Kes's convicrion that IL Be n u .boss
other nice fellows ramif p,sn Aii' Is
would be in very lant
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-17

Macon. Gs., and PhIisdelphia.
Your valuable medicine, simmoas's Liver Regula
tor. has saved me many doctor bills. u,e It for ev
erything IL is recommended aud knew Il to fail
have used 1t In collie and grubh- with my mules and
horses, giving them about half bottle at time. 1
have not lost one that gave 1t to. You can recon-
mend II to everyone that has stock being the best
medicine kaown for all complaints that horse aesh is
heir IA. L. 4. TAYLoR,
Agent for Grsngers % Georgia.
ly9T dooiNwiv
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-17
GOVERNMENT ITEMS.
Comptroiler,s once.

Hon. S. A. DARDEN, Comptroller.
W. A. PITTS, Chief Clerk.
The annual report of the Comptroller is
now in press. After its publication we will
be enabled to give some interesting matter
concerning his department. By an accurate
investigation we are at present able TO give
the following general statistics:
Total value of taxable proper
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-17
OVER 1000 INSTRUMENTS.


The peculiar charm OF this Piano Il it's Adaptation
TO the human voice an accompaniment oTg ; 70 ~,
sympathetic, mellow yet rich ana Po"eii'''
Sn- From personal acquaintance with this firm, I'VE we
can ndoree them worthy OF the fniiest c0npuehfe
~ the nubtic Ne are uring the Bradbury Pianos In
our families, and they give entire satlrlacton' d
Persons at distance need feel no IN teho
ing for their prcelis and ordering rom
or 10 order secOnd-hand Pianos or OigAAS' lucy mt
reliable. ,r-.,,-.,.
Gen o. e. BabcOck. Washington;
Gen W. II. Belknap, Secretary OF war;
Chief Justice ). T. Chase;
Admiral u. ID. Porter, Washington;
columbus Delano seere oy Of ihe inerof'
Rev o. II. Tiffany, Wa. hington;
Robert Bonner. New York.;
ST. Nicholas Hotel. New York:
Gen o. o. Howard, Washington;
Bishop z. s. james, New YORK
Dr. James tammius, Connecticut;
Rev W. Nor Punshon L0ndOn
r. s. Arthur, Philadelphia;
Dr. John Chambe ., Pniladelphia;
Rev. X NJ. Hatfield, Cincinnati;
Rev. L. b. Bugbie, CincinRati
DR.. G. NJ. sims, Baltimore, Maryland;
DIR H. b. Rldgaway, New. York.
Philip Phillips, New York;
Rev. Alfred Cooklhan, New York;
Rev. j. 4 COOkman, New YORK.
W. G. Fischer, Philadelphia;
Chaplain McCabe, Chicago
Rcy Daniel Curry, ID. D.;
rev W H HeP1y d D.;
Thomas Guard, BaltimOre
DR. Daniel Wise. New Ork;
Sands Strcet Church. Brooklyn;
Bishop Ne rrill, 81. Paul;
Bishop |. ". Wiley;
Rev j. $. Inskp, New York;
Rev Luke Hitchcock. CIncinnati;
Rev. Il. y. Haven, brooklyn;
Gen. Alvord, U. s. Army.
n, n Dewitt Ia mage: "Fri md Smith:sa Method
st but pianos all orti oiox; you ought to hear
mine talk and sing"
Rshop Amer aays: "My Bradbury Piano Is fOund,
after severe test and trial, to be equal To all you
promised and in all respects, In richness Of tone
and ng auat every thing that could be desired
''Yuurs truly h. X. AMEs.
Baltimore Md, January, 1874
Dr. T. o. iia, en- says: :. My Bradbury Piano con
tinues to grow betr every day. aud myself and fam
iIy more aud more In love with it,"
'3shop Simpson says after trial in his family
for years for beauty Of finish and workmanship and
splendid quality OF tone, our Bradbury cannot be
equaled"
gatherings, the Sabbath schools, and all kbds ef mu
sic ii entertainments, give me, in preference to all
others, the sweet-toned Bradbury Piano. 1t excels
In singing qualities"
Dr. James McCouley, Carlisle, Pa: my Bradbury
Is splendid"
Pianos to et AID rent applied II purchased monthly
instalincnts received for the same old Pianos taken
In exchange; cash paid for the same. Secondhand
pianos at great bargains from $50 10 $780, Pianos
tuned and repaired.
organs aud melodeons Sabbath schools and
churcnss rupplied liberal discount. send for
illustrated prlce-list,
FREEBORN GARRETTS0N SMITH,
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-17
R IL g. u is a IL q -E
PURELY VEGETABLE.

OASASLA NA06 AoL6s
Is harmless,
IL no dras c violent medicine
IL sure To cure " taken tegulArly,
l. no inioxic Il z beverage,
IL faul ess family meuclne
Is the cheapest medtJ inc In the world,
Is given wi safety and the ppiest results to the
most del cate infant.
DO not interfer. with Business,
Docs OF d range the system,
Takes the place VI Quinine and Bitters OF every
kind,
Contains the simplest and beet r. NEEDLES
ASK the recovered dyepcptics, iliOus sufferers,
victims OF fever and ague the mercuril dseaHed pa
uent, how they recovered health, cheerful spirits and
good app t'te-they viii tell you by taking simmons
Liver Regulator,
The Cheapest. Purest and Rest Family
Medieioe in the w. rid!
II contains four medical elements never united in
the same happy ,ropor on In any other prepa alton,
viz: gentle CAthartic, wonderful Tonic an unex-
cepuonabe Alternative and cert ain Corrective of
impurities of the body Such signal success has at
tended its use, that 1t Is now rig iraed as the
EEEEsCTUAL SPECIFIC
For all diseases Of Liver, stomach and pleen.
As a Remedy IN
HILARIOUS FEvERs. BOWEL COMPLAINTS
DYSPEPSIA, MENTAL DEPRESSION, RESTLESS
NkS e. JAUNDIUE, NAUSEA. SICK HHADACuE
COLO, CONSTIPATION and BlLIoUsNESS
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-17
The Cheapest. Purest and Rest Family
Mcdlclue IN the w. rldi
EFFECTUAL sPECIFIC
It has no Equal.

As there are number Of limitations offered to the
public, would caution the ccmmuni 10
Buy NO Powders or PREPARED SlMMUNs'S LIVER
RtGOLAi OK uni - IN our engraved wra per with
Trade Mark. stamp aud Signature unbrok n. None
other l. genuine.
, 1876-10-13

Il, another column will DO found the pro-
caedings Of Tie Boven Republican Legislative
Conventions which wero hold yesterday.
Among tho nominees will bo found tie names
Of sovaral good, capable mon, Of number
Of indinorcntly good ones, md Of several
who are quito unfit for the positions for
which they hnvo been selected. The fegisla-
two ticket, taken MS whole, is bester than
TINT put up by tho Democrats, but one
might ca1l It very nucl, better, mud then no:
say much In It's fnvor, since tho Opposition
chose a perfect lot Of scalawags,
with three or four exceptions. Wo
had hoped TINT tho Republican Conventions
woul.t haye n,mle stronger nominations, but
they do NOT seem to havo rcnlizcl tue needs
Of the public or tho imperative necessity Of
sending 10 Springfield competent men will, a
lively appreciation Of the requirements Of
this county. They have, however, fallen
short Of tho marl;, al,a given us candidates
who. whilc generally fair men, arc not up TO
tho standard. It is understood TINT the
Democratic leaders aro going to bounce 4
number Of tho scalnwngs of the;r ticket If
thoy do, It will set Nh Irresistible example,
and ind,co tho Republicans to strengthen
their ticket by resorting to similar process
Of publication.
, 1876-10-13

will succeed to tho leadership vscatea by the
election Of Mr.. blaine to tho sonato. Not
less to be rejoiced Mt Ia tho signal defeat, in
tho Cleveland Diatrict, OF PAYNE, tho Demo.
critic member who entered Congress as an
honost-rnouoy man md played the part Of a
domagogue in STOPPING Ia dandle Tho rag
baby. lie Is nslcceoiled by AMOS TowSsESp,
leading business man of Cleveland, o
mnn Of ability, With sound views upon
tho currency question. In tho dcfcat
of HUM, the Ohio Democracy lost
their best representative II, Congress.
But, to compensate for this, thoy re-
turn from the Columbus District Con.
Ton Ew1so, who. barring his ananc'at
vagaries, IL pretty good Republican. md is
n n,an Of decided ability and high character.
Tho triumph Of common aeuso and common
honesty over political donsagogucry and
fragrant dishonesty in the election Of MonroS
9. HUNTER in the Terro Hauto. Indiana,
District, Ia also matter Of rejoicing. No
wllcro in tho United States Ind the rag-baby
itliocy been developed to such degree rs In
ttiat district. Tho faot tint ho Ind tho cour-
age aud manlncss 10 squarely combat 1t wns
by tho managing politicians Of tho State
generally sot down ns fatal to his chnnecs,
aud his election Ia cheering evidence TINT
the rag-hahy dolusion IL not proof against
argu,nent,-in fact, that, whore It is worst,
all TINT Is necessary Is to fairly meet and
,fiSc,,sa H.
, 1876-10-13

ut $4,000. With characteristic crooked
srnarsness, in violation Of tho law, ho refused
to make return Of his income, and lot 1t boas.
sessed at but 1000, Oh which hc paid his
25 por cent poua1ty with alacrity, in ortlcr to
client the Government ont of tho
tax On tho residue of his income.
There Is no question about tho facss
as to this particular piece Of crooked
smarsnsss. Tho records Of tho Peninsula
onl Of tho Northwestern Companies will dis
close how ho pluckod tho Company for
whiol, 10 was Trustee, counsel, and Di-
RECTOR and tho records Of the Internal Rov-
enue Bureau will show how be ohoatod the
Government out Of the tax on tho $174, 46o
ho mado By tho Peninsula operation. Is the
"crooked snlnrtucss that has onablotl Mr..
T11DEN to amass fortune Of seven millions
in such fashion tho kind Of smartness that
qualities him for the Presidency?