davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03

NARROW gauge railroads have made
rapid progress, 5000 miles having been
already built in the United States.
The latest is in Tennessee, connecting
Columbia and Lawrenceburg. Its
length is twenty-one miles, and the
cost of construction was $500 per
mile. At Corpus Christi the cost is
less than $4,000 per mile, iron and ma
terials at that point escaping the heavy
cost of land carriage. Here we must
needs pay the cost of transferring the
materials of construction from the coast
to the capital. The fate of Austin de-
pends so palrably upon the retention
of the trade of northwestern counties
that there can be little delay in the
execution of task demanded by every
necessity of the city.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03

THE steam street cars in Paris are re-
ported to be unqualfedly successful,
although they run along the grandest
boulevard in the city, and through
some of the busiest streets, turning
sharp angles and climbing and de-
scending perceptible grades. The en-
gines draw crowded cars from the Arc
de Triomphe to the Bastlle, distance
of seven miles, at speed of eight
miles an hour, and no one has yet been
hurt, nor are horses frightened by the
sight of the engines. The latter are
like the dummies on Market street,
Philadelphia, noiseless and smokeless,
and steam power is said to have proved
much more economical than horse
power.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03

THE rush to the Black Hills IN search
of gold nuggets continues. There is a
strange fascination about this passion
for mining. Constant examples of sue
cess occur, but experience has shown,
as in case of lotteries, that the blanks
are more numerous than the prizes. If
our young men would engage in the
common pursuits of industry with the
same zeal and earnestness and submit
to the same sacrifices which are the
necessary accompaniments of mining
enterprise, they would, as rule, be far
better off in the end. The risks, ply
sical and moral, incident to this sort
of enterprise, are always large and toe
seldom taken into account. Money is
not the principal thing; if it were,
there is ample room for enterprise in
less doubtful and hazardous fields than
the gold regions of the West. But
everybody is going to the Black Hills,
and this summer more Texans than
ever before will see the wonders OF
Colorado and the West and explore the
gold mining districts In the Black
Hills.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03
WHAT THEY say OF TEXANS.

One of the most sensible, practical
letters ever written from Texas fills
three columns of the Troy, New Yolk,
Daily Times of the twentieth instant.
1t was written by F. D. Curtis, recently
in this city. The writer is pleased to
say, and ,rnthfully, that there is a
greater degree of cosmopolitanism and
liberality of opinion and les, prejudice
growing out of sectional antagonisms
in Texas than elsewhere in the South,
condition properly ascribed to the
fact that there is not village or
neighborhood which has not represen-
tstiye citizens of every portion of the
United States. The people of Texas
have learned at last, despite the deeds
of carpet-baggers and their base uses
of the helpless negro, that honesty and
personal virtue and patriotism are not
facts of latitude or longitude, and that
the relative number of knaves, to the
whole population, average popular in
telligence being equal, is the same
everywhere the world over. Texans
have also learned that partisan preju-
dices and convictions and theories of
government, to a great extent, are mat
ters of early training, and that un-
happy events brought about by unwise
and violent party leaders have driven
men, of the North and of the South
alike, to adopt prejudice and hate
rather than reason and logic in shaping
partisan creeds and action. Among
the more intelligent people of Texas
RepHblicsnism is widely separated
from Radicalism, and the liberal De
mocrscy of Douglas, Houston and
Throckmorton from that copsti-
pated, fevered, red headed, handy
shsnked and run mad impersonation
of .red-eyed and red-handed Democ-
racy which would frighteu fools by
denuuclation and strut into office by
invectives hurled at those who prefer
country to party. The moderation and
conservatism of the State, as distin-
guishcd from radical Republicanism and
from radical red republicanand chain
lightning Democracy. will shape, in
coming years, the political fortunes OF
the commonwealth of Texas. The
knowledge of this fact, diffused ovel
the North and Europe and over the
Middle States by writers ike this ad-
mirabIe correspondent of the Times,
will do more to indVce immigration
than ell maps and specifications o.
physical attractions ever printed. How
ever exuberant the soil of country ol
attractive its homes and farms anC
ranches, or however fat its focks ol
rich and delicate its products OF WOO
and cotton, no intelligent population
will seek abiding places there unles
public opinion be as well taught and
thoroughly hberalized as its fields al
productive and winds full OF deliciou
perfumes. Therefore it is that vio
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03

Col. R. w. LoUGBERY, who is q
thorough master Of the art of journal
ism, says that of all the pursuits in
which men engage, that of the faith
full journalist is the most self-sserific-
ing, unselfish and ennobling. Proper
ly understood and appreciated, his mis-
sion is one OF unbounded generosity.
The demands of country, society, and
all that promotes individual happiness
and the general welfare. are inexorable.
There are no compromises, no stopping
to count the cost; the path of duty lies
open before him. He must pursue it,
lead where it may. 1t is seldom that
fortune smiles upon him; rarely, even
after life of unremitting toll, does be
find himself blessed in old age with q
competency. Bat his reward is none
the less because it comes not in the
manner in which men usually look fol
it. Life is full of its compeHsstions,
and there Is none greater than the
grateful sense of having earnestly striy
en- to accomplish its mission Of good,
in which journalism offers field 80 ex
panslve and gratifying.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03
THE New York World talks bravel

THE New York World talks bravely,
and honestly no doubt, of the reform
its party in New York City has under
gone since Tweed was ''the boss Ii il
all very well, but there are forty or
fifty thousand voters in New York
City who, however honest themselves,
are peculiarly subject to victimization
at the hands of knaves, and the knaves
can't resist .he temptation, aud deeeney
and honesty will not deign to cajole or
buy such a mob, and there is no other
means of controlling it. Should such
people be suffered to desolate such a
city, would such people be wronged if
made incapable of wronging them
selves and the great metropolisl Ought
not suffrage, in municipal elections,
to be restricted North as well as South?
Tweed and his insatlate ring of rob-
bers we're the products of the "sav-
age suffrage" of the East even as
we have our Tweeds, of tie same
paternity, everywhere down South.
The politicians and party organs are,
of course, afraid TO discuss this ques-
ton. The leaders do not approve,
and the press, In leading strings and
daring not to call its soul Its own, even
here in the South, eyades the question.
But IN New York, as in Texas, the ne
cessity for the exemption of towns
from the ravages of these 40, 900, and
of other tens of thousands like them in
all cities, impels the New York legisla
ture to declare that mo money shall be
voted out of city or town treasury
except by a vote OF the taxpayers. !"
In New York City a commission
Is to be elected by taxpay-
ers alone, without whose assent
the taxpayers money cannot be with
drawn from the treasury. This is
oowardly device by which the 40, 900
san cullOttes are indirectly "disfran-
chised," the party leaders being too
cowardly to do it directly. The same
sort of miserable avasions were fast
ened on the face of the organic law of
Texas. But here the expenditure Is to
be made at last, if approved by tax
payers, by the chosen representatives
of tramps and roughs and of the igno-
rant and incapable, and it follows that
taxpayers, willing to invest in rail-
way or bridge or work house, are not
willing to suffer men chosen by the
rabble to make or control the invest
ment, and therefore the paralysis of
Texas towns and cities and counties.
The people dare not, however indispen-
sable to progress and prosperity, i'm
pose public burden or undertake, in
a corporate capacity, any public work.
And Texas is "ham strung"
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03
II is stated that all prices which are

IT is stated that all prices which are
directly fixed by the wholesale opera
tiens of trade, su; ;h as wheat, day Ia
bor, pork, prints, iron or books, have
yielded easily to the inevitable pres
sure, but prices which depend on indi-
vidual bargaining still hold their own.
Thus the servant girl still receives the
same wages, while the railroad hand is
paid little more than half of the old
price; flour is down, but the price OF
bread is unchanged; the cloth i:
cheaper, but the coat no cheaper, and
canned goods in the grocery undersell
the market-men. The explanation oi
this apparent contradiction is found in
the unwillingness of the American tc
haggle over a trade, to beat down the
price of dealer, or to make an issue
of trifling overcharge. There is nc
nation in the world which thinks more
of the dollar than we do, yet there i:
no nation which despises the cent, OF
even the dime, more heartily. But the
shoe is beginning to pinch; the aver
age American is beginning to grumblt
over the petty expenses, and if he con
tinues long in his present frame o.
mind, there are great many prices
which are bound to be lowered before
any prices will go higher.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03
THE Sherman Register says that Gov,


THE Sherman Register says that Gov
ernor Richard B. Hubbard has heart
as large as his popderous frame-a
heart that throbs with love of the
South, and IN sympathy with its peo-
pie, as evidenced by his graceful mes
sage transmitted to Governor Nichols
on San Jacinto day. His Excellency
saidI
81 am here in Houston to-day cele-
brating San Jacinto's anniversary day,
the deliverance of Texas from tyranny
and oppression. l congratulate you
and the people OF Louisiana upon your
approaching San Iacinto-the removal
OF Federal bayonets."
The Sherman Register forgets, while
properly ana gracefully congratulating
Texas that she has such Governor, to
congratulate the whole country that by
the sublimity of luck and without the
voluntary Intervention, either of Radi-
calism or Democracy, we have a
President to whom the chief magis-'
trate of Texas was indebted for the
opportunity to indlte such a message.
Why may not our excellent friend of
the Register be little expansive in
generosity to partisan enemy and
laud the President as we'll as the Gov
ernor? We don't know that Mr.. Hayes
feels very badly when he sees how he
is forgotten by these good people; but
the injustice is marked and palpable.
But then men forget the Author of all
good, and the Bible inveighs against
them for it, and when we properly
praise Governor Hubbard and Cover
nor Nichols, we may we'll forget the
courage and benefcence of him who de
fes Morton and Blaine and Phillips and
memories and pledges of the bloody
shirt campaign, and strikes down
Packard and the army, and, in liber-
sting Louisiana, liberates the South.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03

lent denunciatory and extreme radical
Southern Democratic organs should
be suppressed. They do infinite mis-
chief by disappearing the intelli-
gent people. They make Hayes re-
sponsible for the acts of the commits
sion, which, fortunately for the South
and for the whole country, made him
President. They can see no good in
his converting Louisiana and South Car
olina into States; they discover nothing
TO admire when he incurs the
hatred and active hostility OF
Blaine and Wade and Wendell Phillips.
n fact, because Hayes is not labeled
Democrat" he is without virtue or
patriotism, and the newspaper that
claims for him these qualities is not
Democratic. To tell the truth is not
Democratic. To perpetuate partisan
hates and malignIty and misconception
IS Democratic. Such are the theories
of poor Martin and Of rotund, fat and
greasy Dan McGary. These two pro
nounce the STATESMAN the latest new
convert to "Republicanism" when the
STATESMAN has only declared that the
South. with one voice, should approve
the Presidents conduct and uphold
him in his declared purposes and pol
icy.
Those who would make farms and
homes in TIE South valuable, who
would attract riches and numbers and
railways and schools and churches, will
be foremost in promoting this novel
and admirable species of 'Republican-
ism" illustrated in the Presidents pol
icy, and in causing its appreciation by
the whole people of the South. Now
that the freedom of States is restored,
the writer for the New York paper,
whose letter we discuss, is especially
wise in asserting the growing freedom
of Texans from accursed narrow local
prejudices, and from that base trucu-
lence and moral enslavement to party
which heretofore consolidated the
North against the South and impover-
I-hed the country we inhabit.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03

GEN. SHERMAN, when interviewed,
said that neither Russia nor Turkey
ever had larger or better disciplined
armies than now. They have, said he,
all the advantages of many improved
arms and modes of warfare, and the
result will be that the world will wit
ness the greatest battles ever fought,
so far as the destruction of life is con.
cerned. l believe this struggle is
going to cost a million of lives, and
they will not all be Russians and Turks
either. / can hardly believe that the
Turks can withstand the shock. They
may save Constantinople, but if they
lose every other point what good will
it do them3 Gen. Sherman also took
favorable view of tie effect on this
country. He added:
1t will keep our people at work day
and night to provide for Europe, if
there should be general war, and that
now seems inevitable to me. believe
all the great powers will be directly
or indirectly involved before the year
is out. In the parts of the country in
which the field fights will certainly
take place half million men on either
side can and will be used. The Rus
slams will have to pull along very fast
through the summer; for they get all
their supplies by their railroads, and in
the winter these are rarely available.
Gen. Sherman said he was in favor
of allowing some of our army officers
to visit either army without pay and
serve on staff duty.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03

Coon horses can be bought at Cor
pus Christi for $15 and ponies for s.
and yet such animals are worth in the
East from $50 to $50. Some enter
prising gentleman should charter q
dozen sleeping coaches and the like
and send 1000 Texas steeds to the auc
ton marts of Philadelphia aud New
York. We are curious to see a specta
cIed, bony Ichabod Crane astride {
bucking mustang in Central Park
How the dry bones would rattle, anc
now keenly Bonner or Beecher o.
Tram would enjoy the "ups anG
downs" of Southwestern life.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03

SHERMAN baBquetted Hon. S. s.
Cox, and he was welcomed with ad'
dresses and civic honors. He has
never faItered In adhesion TO right and
justice, and though steadfas. Union
ist, never went mad and never failed
to concede honesty of purpose to the
people of the South. If the people
of the South would make the Speaker
Mr.. Cox would be the next presiding
officer of the House; what the politi-
ticians will do nobody can tell.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03
II has been wisely written that mer

IT has been wisely written that men
judge policy by its results, the tree
by its fruits. If these are wholesome
and of good report, it will be acqui-
esced in, and it will none the less be
approved because it may give the po-
litical management of States to one
party or take it from another. Ana
tional administration, conducted in a
national spirit, must first consider
what will be the best for tue people,
what is best for the preservation Of
peace, what is better for the general
contentment. Let it be conceded that
the withdrawal of troops from South
Carolina and Louisiana means the sur
render of those States to the Demo-
cratic party. The people there have
the same right to be Democrats that
the people of Vermont or Massschu-
setts have to be Republicans. Allthat
is insisted upon is, that they shall
respect the rights of those among
them who differ from the majority in
political opinions. That is what Pres
ident Hayes asks, and that Is what
Hampton and Nichols and the people
have proposed to do.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03

The California Farmer thus describes
q new kind of mash for horses now
coming into use: II is composed OF two
quarts Of oats, one of bran, and half 3
pint of faxseed. The oats are first
placed in the stable bucket, over which
is placed the linseed; add boiling
water, then the bran, covering the
mixture with an old rug and allowing
it thus TO rest for FIVE hours; then stir
the mass up well. The bran absorbs
while retaining the vspor, and the lin
seed binds the oats and bran together
greater quantity Of faxseed would
make the preparation too oily and less
relished. One feed per day Of this
mash Is sufficient; it is easily digested,
and is especially adapted 70 young ami
mails, adding 70 their volume and CIV
ing substance 70 the frame.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03

HAYES, thus far, is patriotic and
not fanstical Republican. In his Of
fetal acts he has been all that the
South hoped and more than it expected
of Democrat. Hostility to Hayes,
therefore, Is only significant Of our de-
votion n partisanship rather than to
truth and country. But we advise
those who are afraid of the party lash,
and whose souls are not their own, 10
avoid the discussion Of this subject.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03

IT is very needless for Dan McGary
and Martin to attempt the organization
of party IN Texas to compel return
to old practices and to the old policy
of partisan and sectional hate. But if
the fag ends of parties, North and
South, are resolved to sting themselves
to death, we see no special reason for
discouraging them. 1t is their pretty
funeral. They and the people have
parted company.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03

SECRETARY SHERMAN declares that,
If Congress will leave him alone, ht
will bring about specie payments by
the first of January, 1879. He may rec
ommend such action as will facilitate
funding operations. He has no infor-
nation that the pending European wal
has affected the demand for four and q
half per cent. bonds. Sales of "foul
and half's" now amount to one mil
hon daily, and Secretary Sherman con.
templates suspending their issue and
placing four per cents. on the market.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03

If President Hayes have not carried
the party leaders and their organs with
him, he has certainly won the whole
country to his support, and if Phillips
and Morton and Blaine on the one
hand and Martins and Brick Pomeroys
on the other still wage war against the
President he will encounter no difficult
ty, if the end be desirable, in creating
for himself an irresistible party. Just
now the whole country, its intelligence
and courage and true manhood, CO.
operate in approving the conduct and
wise and sturdy conservatism of the
administration, and people forget parti-
sanship IN common sense and common
patriotism. But if the President choose
to organize party there are men, who
showed their patriotism IN the fight
over the electoral commission, who
would be glad to join the combination.
There is Q common ground for Mr..
Conkling and Mr.. Lamar, Dir. Hoar
and Mr.. Watterson, Gen. Sherman and
Gen. Gordon. Let the policy be one
term, civil service reform, justice and
protection to the South, reform in the
finances and the tariff, limitation of
powers of the Senate. On a platform
representing these ideas all good men
can meet. We shall then have a gen
uine reconstruction of the sections, be-
cause it will be reconstruction spring
ing from mutual respect and affection.
We will then have once more an era OF
good feeling like the green and sunny
oasis in the early part of the century
which came after the strife attending
Jefferson's election and the troubles OF
his reign.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03

The Fort Worth paper says that hell
is no worse than the dance houses OF
that sweet place. Whisky, most vii
lainous, and women to tempt and de-
stroy are the agents employed by vice
and chartered by horrible city govern
ments in Texas. No wonder storms
desolste and lightnings blast and
locusts desolate the land. Gods
heaviest curse should rest upon popula-
tions that create and maintain such in
fernal systems of pampered legalized
iniouity.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03

WHERE judges are worthless and
drunken, and juries corrupt or timid,
mob law must be invoked now and
then to make property of any valu,
and give life a share of security. Kill
ing people on any pretext must have
an end, and the people should assert
their purpose, in public meetings il
some counties, where life is unpro
tected, to hang every murderer. Pts
tolls and knives should be punishable
as death, since he who carries them
cOntemplates murder.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03
mORGAN AND DODGE.

1t is great outrage to deny the
benefcence of Morgan to Texas. He
has made money for himself but in
6nitely more for Texas. There is not
tradesman in a southern village or
city, or farmer in any county along the
coast or along the line Of horgan's
railroad who does not owe Morgan
hundreds or thousands of dollars. The
suns he has drawn from Texas are
trifling compared with those he
has added to property values in Tex
as. He is q great man, and would
have bean the foremost among states
mer if he had not been the greatest of
merchants and fnanciers. The people
OF Texas should never forget our pvv-
erty, until railway builders came to
convert useless acres into money and
- into railways until wealth and
population are absolutely qusdrupled.
Base ingrsutude or gross wrong and
forretfulness must actuate those who,
now that ve have induced strangers to
invest their wealth in Texas, would
denouRce them because they differ
from US in prejudices, even as they
were born under influences which can
only become imperative when death
reconciles Us even TO intimacy with
elsmmy clods and repulsive worms.
These Eastern capitalists were impslled
by selfish considerations when they
built our railways; but the fact re.
mains that they trusted Us and oul
lAwgivers and invested enormous sum.
in Texas. They have for their money
bonds that are slow to pay interest and
lands unstable and railways paying Nc
dividends. Let Us not forget tha
Morgan, and especially Eastern raul
way builders for Texas, have invested
millions here which we use and enjo,