davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10
THE GREENBACK IpI0cY.

! The COD.tng Struggle, the paper we men
toned last week as having been started in New
York as the organ of the Independent Green
back Party" puts forth the following as the
grand aim and crowning aspiration of the par
! y 1t represents,
Give industry an impetus, dilute bonded
debt, flush the land with greenbacks, and start
rising market! The effect would be magi-
cal The clouds would disperse--mens hopes
would rise-every energy would be unlocked
the spindles would hum and the FORCES would
ring-buildings would go up-felds would be
enclOsed-roads would be opened-the life
blood would thrill and bound through every
avenue of trade-the merchant would regain
his old elasticity ofstep-the light would return
to wOman's eyes-the struggling tramp would
be caught up as treasure-the artisan would
sing at his bench, and the farmer at his plow-
a pean of joy would ring through the land
such as man has not heard since the morning
stars sang together
is this dream? Men of America-it is
sound political economy The nation and it,
God ever gave to man. Utilize and enjoy il.
Embar imports, abolish your internal revenue,
meet governmental expenses by mining pa
per and you will start the nation on a career
of prosperity such as the world has not SEEM
lsit a wonder that party that endorses such
rawlings as sound political economy" is by
general consent stigmatized as party of id
otsy Certainly none other than an idiot, un-
less he be IA knave, (Which we strongly suspect
is more the ailment of the writer of the above
than idiocy) would put forth such utterances.
If merely increasing the quantity OF paper
money so as to reduce its value, at the same
time making it legal tender, is to produce
the above happy results, what is the use of in
curing the expense OF printing more paper?
Why not pass n law declaring that every green
back and bank bill and silver and gold dollar
now in existence shall be received and accept
ed as legal tender for double, or thribble, o.
auadruple its face? Enable the man, for in
stance, who owes thirty dollars to pay ii of
with Il ten dollar greenback, or ten silver or
gold dollars, and don't put him to the trouble
of hunting up three ten dollar bills worth 33lj
cts on the dollar That would be quite as son
siblc and practical rs the above project, besides
that it would save expense and immensely en-
large the quantity Of the circulating medium
by including gold and silver, coupled with the
blessing of specie payment, which with like IA
cilty could be made part of the arrangement.
We respectfully submitthe plan" to the consic.-
Grafton of the various independent greenbacs
clubs" of the country.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10
THE BLACK HILLS,

Certainly not all the reports from the Blach
Hills are gloomy and discouraging. The Chs
cago Tribune gives the following interview
with Capt ID. G. Nichols, Black Hills mine
who had returned to Chicago to purchase &C
di,ional machinery. Said the interviewer;
How are things in the Black Hill"
They are lively" said the Captain.
How many people are there now
From G,000 To 10000 in the viclhl'y '.
DcadwoOd'
Are any out OF employment
None that want Ia work.
Are there many coming in .
Not very many. ,...
Can one still find ground Tor a claim
The claims are about all taken up. Or
might find a vacant spot, but | think every
tbinp i located on that mineral belt
:. fra many of the claims PAYING
..Ycs thc Hidden Treasure. Keats. Alpha,
Golden Terry. Golden star, llomestake, an
o,hcrs arc having well. About 400 stamps aye
runninT with success. Some yield more AMI
How much is turned out in a week.
We'll. To give Won IN idea, one of the hans
;r, houses ships about $4,000 week in re-
,oIf gold. That's pretty good. isn't it, for 4
camp not six months olds'
"You spoke of the gold-bcli bcing prc-empt-
ed. Are there no gulch claims LEFTY"
An the gulches run down towards Deal
wood, and this gold belt runs scross them.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10

A noted and respected writer in grea
American Journal The Popular Science Month
w. in discussing the labor question, pacidl,
asks:
How many mechanics waste their mean.
on such unnecessary means as tea and coffee
How many spend their dollars on pastry, rar,
fruits and vegetables? y - i Consider, too
the number Of mouths he is himself the caus,
of having to fill, and the number of backs tC
ClOthe."
| Working.mcn of America Has il come tC
this? Is it indeed a matter of reproach for 9
poor mechanic to sip his frugal cup of tea
Are such luxuries as pastry, fruit and vegeta
bles to be hereafter reserved only for the rich
Has 1t already become a crime in the working
man to seek that sweetest solace that the crush
ed heart knows,-the sacred ties of wife and
child that link him to his humble home
COmiag Struggle
1t is no matter of "reproach for poor me
chanic to sip his frugal cup of tea" or to in
dulge in the luxuries of pastry, fruit and vege
tables, yet poor mechanics" who indulge
largely in such things are apt to remain poor
mechanics" There Is no surer road out OF
poverty than the way of rigid frugality. There
are very few Of the men in this country who
now rank among the rich who did not attain
their riches in just that way Look around
you Single out our rich men and trace out
their early history and struggle In nine cases
out OF ten-yea 90 cases out of Il hundred, they
gained their foothold on the first rung of the
ladder that leads up TO riches by the exercise
of the most rigid frugality-by abstinence
from the frugal cup of tea," coffee pastry,
cigars, &c. We recall man. now one of the
millionaires of Chicago who, with his wife
and child, thirty Years ago, during his first
year in Chicago, lived on So cents day, incud.
ing house rent. Ii is right for working men
to get the best wages they can-just as it is
right for the farmer to sell his produce for the
highest price he can get and for the capitalist
to invest his money so as to get the best re-
turn But whether the working man gets one
or five dollars day, or whether the farmer
get high or low price for his grain, or the
capitalist high or low rate of interest, neither
can increase his wealth unless he exercises
frugality and spends year in and year out less
than he makes The man who will thus
economist always becomes your "bloated CAPT
talist'' in the end, whether at the beginning he
worked for one or five dollars a day. 1t Is the
only condition on which man can become
" rich" unless he has streak of luck" and
none depends on luck but a fool. The writer
in the PopUldr Science WoHthly, quoted above,
stated hut an every day truism, and doubt
less meant no disrcspect whatever to me
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10

The New York Sun publishes a letter writ
ten in February last by Hon. VIM. Strong, OF
Pennsylvania, one of the judges of the L. >
Supreme Court that sut upon the presidential
electoral commission and voted for Hayes, in
which letter Judge Strong writes to Hon. g.
W. Jones, of Tennessee, that he shall vote toi
Hayes on the purely technical ground that
neither the electoral commission or congress
has any constitutional right to inquire into
state elections for electors though he is satish-
ed that great wrong was committed by the
Louisiana returning board. In other words,
Judge Strong defends the commission of a
great moral wrong by pleading that ii was
technically right. Altogether it was very
curious letter for Judge Strong to write
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10

Cardozo, state treasurer Of South Carolina
during the happy reign Of the carpet baggcrs,
has just been tried for stealing the peoples
money, found guilty, and will go to the peni-
tertiary. The negro congressman Smalls, of
the same state, is on trial for taking bride of
$4,000 and other rascalities while member of
the South Carolina Legislature, and will doubt.
less share the same fate. Smalls is so CON
scious of his guilt that he has not had the
brass to take his seat in the house of reprcsen.
tatives at Washington. Two indictments have
been found at Columbus against Senator Pat
terson, of South Carolina But the senator
takes good care TO keep at safe distance A
pretty senator he makes, not daring to set foot
IN the state he represents for fear of incarccra.
ton in iclon's cell. And what must be said
o. 'hc sense Of decency orr Of sclfrespcct of an
augtist parliamentary body which tolerates
the presence Of such man in Its midsty
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10
THE NEW YORK CIGAR MAKERS

One of the most noteworthy strikes this
country has witnessed among all the labor
commotions ofthe past year is that of the New
York Cigar makers. 1t involves about $4,000
operatives many of whom have families to
support. The claim Of the employers is that
they lay more than is paid for the same work
in Philadelphia, and the attempt is To reduce
New York wages Ia the Philadelphia standard
1t should bc bornc.in mind, however, that
living is cheaper in Philadelphia than in New
York. Besides, most Philadelphia cigars are
made OF Pennsylvania grown tobacco, and are
of a cheaper and lower grade than most of the
cigars made in New York, and require less
care and skill. The Philadelphia cigar max.
ers, also, have Ia compete with hundreds of
family cigar makers throughout the eastern
part Of the state, where many tobacco growers
have got into the way Of curing their tobacco
and have it made up into cigars IN their own
families.
Public sympathy in New York is evidently
ON the side of the cigar makers and general
indignation is expressed against the employers,
who largely own the dwellings their operatives
live in, because such employers Me now warn
Ing the strikers Ia yacate their tenementS. The
cigar makers association started out with n
large fund in their common treasury. but il has
already been largely drawn upon, and unless
the general popular sympathy in their behalf
shall lcal To substantial pecuniary aiG i'm their
behalf. the doggedness of the employers threat
ems 20 triumph in the end.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10
MORTON.

The funeral of Hon. o. p. Morton at Indi
annapolis on Monday was one of the most i'm.
posing pageants of the kind ever witnessed in
this country Over fifty thousand persons were
present, with a large array of bands, military
&c. Many of the most noted men of the nation
were also present, including Assistant Post.
master General Tyner, Governor Baker, Sena-
tors Davis, Burnside Bayard Cameron; Repre-.
sentativcs Banks, Cobb, Townsend, Burchard
Davidson, Hanna; Secretaries of the navy and
of war; Attorney General Dcvans, Burcharl
Hayes, son of the President; Governor vii
liams, Cullom, Young, John NJ. Harlan, etc.
Congress adjourned over for the day, and the
President issued special proclamation taking
official notice of Mr. Morton's death and order
ing the executive offices to be closed for the
day The senate also appointed II special
committee to attend the funeral The relig
ious services at the church, to which the body
was conveyed, consisted of such as are usual
in Methodist church on such occasions the
Rev. Mr.. Clcaver preaching sermon which
is severely criticised as a political harrangue in
of the church, pronounced a glowing but fit
ting and appropriate eulogy Of the deceased
The remains were deposited IN the vault of the
Odd Fellows chapel at Crown Hill cemetery.
The day was wet, raw and chilly, vet the
whole country seemed to be in the streets dur
ing most of it.
1t is understood that Mr.. Morton, notwith.
standing the many high positions he has held
and his vast personal influence dies poor, his
estate being worth less than $4,000. 1t is evil
dent, whatever may in other respects have
been the grade of his political morality, he was,
so far as it touched peuunlary matters, rigid
ly honest. He may have been ready for almost
my deviltry to gain political advantage, but
he was dangerous man for corrupt lobby 10
and that class of vultures at least
are said always to have fought shy of him,
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10
THE MOST RAscALLY sCHEME OF THE AexI

4 bigger rascalty than even the proposed
. Tom Scott steal in behalf of the Southern Pa
cific Railroad is the Jay Gould robbery pro
posed the other day in congress in the name OF
the Union Pacific Railroad. That road was
built for about *32 100000, every dollar OF
which was raised on L. 5. bonds loaned to the
company. But in addition to the $32 100000
thus raised the company borrowed $32, 100000
on its own bonds and raised about $lOOOO,OOO
by selling stock, these latter S42OOO,OOO
representing exactly the amount that was stol-
en- by the officers and managers Of the compa-
ny through the famous Credit Mobilier fraud.
As all the stockholders shared in that steal,
they have no right to count any part of these
St2,OO0,OOO as cost of the road, having the
money already in their pockets However us
the whole ownership of the road is represented
by total issue of $200OO,OOO of stock, on
which it Is probable some $lOOOO,OOO were ac-
tually paid in, the cost of the road is usually
put at Sj2, 100000 counting the debt to the gov
eminent and the stock. The net earnings ofthe
road during the past year were SS,3l1 ,0915S-
an increase of 81 $50 920 lG over last years net
earnings. This sum would pay the interest on
the government bonds loaned to the company
($l 100000 also Il like sum as interest on the
money borrowed by the company and stolen
by its own members under the name Of credit
mobilier, and still leave S4671 81, or over
stock, which never cost the company anything,
for all the money realized on stock sales was
stolen by themselves!
This is truthful statement of the actual
financial situation of the company. Yet in the
face of it they not only refuse to pay the inter.
est on the government bonds that were loaned
them, lin which, by strange decision that
they need not do so until all the bonds are due,
the Supreme Court Of the L. S. sllstains them }
Jay Gould now has Il bill presented inI
congress, and is backing it up by powerful
lobby, to release the company further from
providing sinking fund to pay either prin-
cipal or interest of the $32 100000 loaned it by
the government, when they become due In
other words, the company asks congress to re.
lease it Of its debt to the government, 50 that il
can divide 30 per cent. year on stock that
never cost anything, and have no debt to take
care Of but the $32,0O0000 borrowed on the
companys own bonds and which its owners,
and stockholders divided among
by the credit mobilier machinery
at the time it was borrowed
There is but one decent way in which con-
gress can meet such mpudence, and that way
is, to take torciblc possession of the Pacific
railroad, run it in the name and under the au
thority and management of the government Of
the L. $. until all the debts itowes the govern
ment as well as individuals are paid, and then
turn it over to some corporation under such
limitations and restrictions as will secure its
decent management thereafter.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10

A correspondent Indignantly writes from
Shanghai AS follows:'1 do not know how far
it will feed the vanity of the manufacturers, or
ifitwll excite thcrindignation, as it did mine,
but the noble British merchant is flooding the
market in this country with cheap Manchester
fabrics, which he has the cheek to call Amcri-
can drills When expostulated with on the fraud
they frankly confess they cannot make them,
cannot afford the genuine article, and that the
Chinese will buy none other; 50 they counter
felt our best brands and thank God they are
not rs other mentor example, Americans"
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10

TANNTIoN.-Our state taxes, which for the
last two years were ~ cents on the 800, arr
increased to 30 cents; the county taxes art
raised from 10 cents on the 500 to 80 cents;
our city taxes arr increased $4,000 and the
town taxes are doubled. 81 that the territory
embraced within the town of Ottawa has about
100000 taxes to pay this year against about
$4,000 last year. Is there Ia be no limit TO
this oppression! No wonder the people begin
TO groan. This matter of taxation can he car
rcd to Il point where danger turks.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10

Although some $70OOO,OOO of United States
per cent. bonds were sold in less than q
month last summer when they were offered TO
the people, the movement did not suit the syn.
dicate, who were not making enough by the
operation, and the bonds were Withdrawn.
Nevertheless they are still quoted as at and
above par in gold in the New York market
and in London they are quoted as firm at 1872
Just now, therefore, would seem to be the time
for Sherman to put more per cents. on the
market and from the money realized from their
sale redeem government six per cents, and
thus save large sums in the way Of interest
But Sherman is said to have 50 bound him
self up with the syndicate that he is unable To
move. The fact suggests that il is about time
congress looked into the matter The right
way would be to burst the syndicate and offer
the bonds as a popular loan, payable in green
backs at not less than par and for as much
more as they would fetch This would rive
the people ready and safe way 10 invest their
small savings at Il moderate interest without
running the risk of savings bank failures
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10

Ii Is estimated that after the STATE debt Of
Illinois shall have been cNtinguishcd the tax
assessed against the Illinois Central Railroad
Company will alone he sufficient to dciray the
entire EXPENSES Of the State government
The above is having IN extensive circulation
IN that vivacious class of newspapers, that are
printed upon thrown aside stereotype plates Of
last years patent medicine almanacS. Probably
four or five years ago, when the paragraph was
originally penncd, some honest people may have
thought that the day might come when the /;
per cent. from the gross earnings of the Iii.
nois Central railroad nigh, some dav he sui.
tcient to dciray the expenses of the state gov.
eminent, But when it j. borne in mind that
the highest sum ever received from the rail.
road in one year was les ihan half million
and That the sum j. annually diminishing,
while the appropriations Of the last Illinois
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10

er, intended To facilitate navigation between
st. Louis and Chicago by way Of the Ill. &
Mich. Canal, is now completed The work
has been in progress some three years and its
completion was retarded only by the slowness
Of the Legislature in making appropriations
Canal propelers, drawing four feet of water,
can pass freely between Chicago and St Louis,
and "a vast gram, lumber and grocery trade
that the railroads took from the river on nc
count of the difficulties Of navigation, ought
now, and doubtless next season will, return to
that channel. The first propeller from Chica-
20 passed through the Copperas Creek lock
last Monday on its way TO St Louis.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10
Senator David Davis, IN letter declining an

Senator David Davis In letter declining an
invitation to address mass meeting OF work
men at Baltimore, wrote "The suffering con.
dition Of labor is n subject deserving the larg.
est sympathy and demanding the best efforts
Of craftsmanship in seeking remedy for the
causes that have led to the present prostration
Of industry and enterprise and saddened so
many thousands Of households. As legisla.
Tor it will be my earnest endcavor, ms it is my
imperative duty, to aid in every proper and
practical way to secure labor its just reward, TO
elevate its condition., and to attain those rights
by which harmony with capital, so essential to
the interests of both, may be assured and the
general prosperity be promoted"
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10
ILLINOIS.

ILLINOIS.
The elections throughout tins state, rs N
this county, were for local officers only, and tn,
results generally are without political signifi
canoe. In Chicago the democrats were defeat
ed from 1900 To 5000, coniessedly because III,
othcTperty had the biggest bar'l.-in other words
because the republican candidates panked up
the NEST money McCrea, republican, beat
Lynch, democrat, for treasurer G,9S1 votes. On
county commissioners the republican majority
dwindles down TO about 2000. There was no
grecnback ticket, but the disconnected element
that elsewhere went by that name were called
communists or working mems party" and
they polled about G00O in vote of about
GO.OO0
In Grundy county the straight republican
ticket was elected by about 400 majority In
Will county the democrats elected Donahoc
treasurer, W. II. Farley clerk and Perry school
superintendent over Mrs. Mcintosh; Olin, in,
dependent candidate, beating Pinny for Judge.
The state house appropriation appears la
bc defeated throughout the state by a large
majority. This was expected, and the present
architect and commissioners are to blame
for H. The people arc no, unwilling to vote
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10
THE ELECTIONS.
General Ignoring of Politics in ILL
nois and the Best Man Ahead.
Pennsylvania Sheds ITS Cameronism and Don,
Democratic Apparel.
New York Democratic Wisconsin Republican :
New Jersey Elevates Little Mac,
.n. &C., &c., &C., &c.

Elections were held on Tuesday in dozer
or more states, but in a few only state officers
were voted for and in none congressman SC
that the results, except in two or three cases
have no political significance We give tn,
general outcome below.
In this county the contest was on local Off
GERS only, and excited so little interest as bare
ly TO draw out half vote. Mr. Miller repub
lican for county judge, had no opposition ex.
cept from the grecnbackcrs, and though many
democrats voted for Mr.. Gilman, Miler's ma
jority is some 2700 Mr.. Raymond was OPP
posed by regular republican nominee and a
popular man, yet the result is another proof of
the uselessncss Of trying TO beat old Sam"
His majority is over 1900. Mr.. IIanlon, the
democratic nominee for school superintendent,
was beaten, we imagine, mainly on account of
the doubt that was raiscdias TO his eligibility
While we are satisfied there was nothing in it,
too little pains were taken fully TO clear the
matter up. The vote Of the grccnbackers is
larger than was generally anticipated. TAX
ing Perry's vote as the taircst test, they must
have pollcd some 1900 votes. The heavy vote
polled by Mr.. Stocksleger shows the signal adj
vantage of carrying an armlcss sleeve and can.
not fail, in the next war, to cause general
rush among the politicians to the front to OBJ,
lain like desirable ornamentatlon.
We give the figures of this county below.
Though not official, they show the general re-
suit with sufficient accuracy for all practical
PURPOSES:
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10

Methodist Church He started in life no a
shoemaker and studied theology while WORKING
on the bench, and has been an editor and n
pastor in New York. He is nearly blind and
is said to know the bible and the Methodist
Hymnbook almost by heart, his want of eyesight
being compensated by a wonderful memory.
Congressman j Randolph Tucker, of Virginia,
was converted under his preaching. lie has
been in the ministry fifty years
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10

Bishop McLaren, of the diocese Of Illinois,
has issued a call for primary convention ofthe
new diocese of Quincy TO meet in that city
Dec. II, to organize the new diocese, and, ifthc
convention so determine to elect bishop.