davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-02-21
PREJUDICE IN PARTIsANsHIP

The unstudied, or, at least, the un-
written, speech of Alexander Stephens,
telegraphed from Washington, is evil
IDENTIFY full of errors, but the drift of
the argument is readily comprehended,
and the people, whatever party-leaders
may think of it, will accept the philos-
ophy of the moribund statesman.
Each State of the South. through its
own convention, abolished African
slavery, while LincolR's proclamation
only assured freedom to the negro if
the master did not lay down his arms.
Lincoln's purpose was to save the
Union, and to this end he subordinated
the purpose of freeing the negro. Af-
ter the war each Southern common
wealth abolished slavery through its
local organic code, and Mr.. Steph-
ems speaks the truth when he
says that ex-masters would re-
main as they are, freed from
responsibilities and cares more burden
some than slavery seemed to the eman-
cipated race. Beyond all this negro
labor costs absolutely less to-day than
when its owner was req1ired to clothe
and maintain slaves from the cradle to
the grave. But the strangest confes-
sion made by Mr.. Stephens is that even
when war ragged between the States he
never believed that the co-existence Of
two unions on this continent was either
possible or desirable. Such sentiments,
expressed in the Souihtiuring the war,
would have called forth the vengeance
of the provost marshal, and yet Alex
ander Stephens stands to-day applaud
ed for these utterances on the floor of the
House by forty millions of his people.
The man who is wisest and honest in
asserting truth or, because of mis- en-
dowment with capacity to see and
think, condemns error, is often the vic
tim of ignorant, unthInking "preju
dice" against which Mr., Stephens in
Weighs with much earnestness. The
party-leader must not differ from the
party even if the party be wrong aud
unwise. There Is no forgiveness for
right thinking or for wisdom of con
duct if in this the individual diverge
from paths defined for the party. Will
not this speech of Alex. II. Stephens,
evidently unfinished and imperfect, be-
cause of his growing physical in6rmi-
ties, induce each individual, recurring
to lessons taught by the recent for
tunes of these Southern States, to ac-
cept its sound philosophy Mr., steph-
ens's sincerity and truthfulness and
wisdom were never questioned.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-02-21
NEwSP APERS AND THE POST
MASTER GENERAL.

Demagogues in Congress, Ike those
that have figured in a narrower arens,
even in the Legislature of Texas, have
sought to render themselves conspicu-
Gus by apparently defying and seeking
to rob the newspaper press. They
haye, now and then, descended to the
meanness Of prohibiting advertisements
by State officers at living rates to pub
fishers. They compel established
newspapers, if they would PRINT any.
thing for the government, to accept
terms that must be worse than profit.
less. The journal printing only three
hundred copies of an advertisement is
suffered to compete with one publish
ing two thousand daily and FIVE thou
sand weeklies. The lawgiver having
done this figures beautifully before the
mob. He is a ''watch dog of the
treasury" and the dear people love to
hear the hero attacking the newspa-
pers and protecting the treasury
against the rapacity of the press. To
such an extent had demagogism gone
in this direction that W hen Postmaster
General Key, not many weeks ago,
sent Us advertisements for insertion
in the STATESMAN, to be paid for
at rates fixed by law, we declined
to print them. The Postmaster GeI
eral in his private letter confessed
the propriety Of our conduct and the
gross injustice sought to be done the
newspapers, but stated that he was
just then helpless in the matter. He
added that it was believed Congress
would reform the abuse when the mat.
ter was properly brought to Its atten-
ton. The result is that the following
bill ls now considered by the House
and the newspapers of the country
should exert their influence to have it
adopted:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
Of Representatives. Of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, That
hereafter all advertisements, notices,
proposals for contracts, and all other
forms of advertising required by law
for the executive and judicial depart
ments of the government, may be paid
for at the commercial rates, and no
more, charged to private individuals
but the heads of departments. or their
authorized agents, may secure lower
terms at special rates whenever the
public interest requires 1t.
Sec. 2. All newspapers or other
publications in which said advertising
shall be inserted shall file with each
department certificate of their COM
mcrcial rates as aforesaid, and all ac-
counts against the United States for
advertising shall be audited and paid
in accordance with the certified rates
on file; prOUided, that all advertising
in newspapers since the twenty first
day of May, 1877, shall be audited and
paid at the above named rates. And
all laws or parts of laws inconsistent
with this act are hereby repealed.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-02-21

ARMY officers are terribly indignant
that Congressman Banning proposes so
TO reduce the army that it will consist
almost wholly of officers. It is the
duty of the country to maintain these
army officers. The country. we are
told, owes them salaries and sInecures,
and it is a great outrage il Banning
force them to make a living like other
people. They are the salt of the earth,
and were born with golden spoons in
their mouths. They constitute an
arlstocracy like the late slsveholders,
and live upon the fat of the land. Such
is the purport of speeches now made.
But when war comes, we should not
forget whst dangers they incur and
invaluable services they render. West
Pointers won the brightest laurels in
the South and in Northern armies, and
whatever prejudices against them may
be invoked in time of peace, their
learning and peculiar skill are invalua-
BILE when the couutry's needs are great
est. 1t Is moreover true that as citi-
zens and patriots their conduct and
conservatism is faultless, and we are of
those who believe that now, when
there is danger of world wide wars, in
which this country sooner or later may
be involved. sound public policy
would sustain the army as it is that it
may constitute a nucleus for an lnvin-
chile force in any conflict with any
country.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-02-21

ENGLAND, the telegraph wires being
down between Constantinople and Vi
emma and Paris, did not know through
twenty-four hours whether the Car or
the Sultan held Coustsntinople. Eng.
land was crazed about it, But six
million pounds were voted by parlia-
ment for war purposes, and this and 40
endless impeutrable fog and drizzle
have cooled Eneland's rage, and even
il Turkey and Russia, as seems posi-
BILE, form an allisnce offensive and de-
fensive against the rest of mankind,
EOgland will probably assent. John
Bright, perhaps the greatest of living
British statesmen, is for peace at
ell hazards, and to this it viii
come at last. England has every
thing to lose and nothing to gain
by another rupture with Russia, and
an island Of shopkeepers is apt TO con-
template each act of statscraft from 3
commercial standpoint Englishmen
hold 400. 900. 600 of Turkish bonds,
but it were wiser to lose these than 9
thousand millions in lighting Russia
only 10 be beaten in the end. A slug
gish, indestructible inertia moves Rus
siaa armies over the East, and Eng
land resists in vain. II the steady sd-
vance Of the Cossacks were hindered
to-day it would be renewed with the
morrow. The same forces that over
whelmed Italy and Greece, and the
same swarms from the same hives.
must finally crush the Burmese and
! Hindoos- England can ,ntsrpose No
insuperable barrier.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-02-21

EVERYBODY having home should
now be adorning the front yard ana
highway in the vicinity with shade
trees. 1t will soon be too late to
transplant them. In city like this,
where houses are painfully white VIII en-
built of stone, and where the white
limestone is often left bare in the road
ways, and the summers sun shines
with a degree of brilhancy uupar-
alleled, when the air is dry and clear.
Life's comforts depend greatly upon
the successful culture of flowers and
shade trees. The umbrella china tree
grows luxuriantly on hillsides and in
valleys, and roses bloom perenpially,
and every tree of the temperate zone
may be made to flourish here, and yet
there are pretty homes teads in deep
valleys and on lofty hills wearing an
aspect of nakedness that is shameful
to the occupants of places that might
be rendered most delightful and beau
tiful. Let every inhabitant of the
capital plant at least one shade treee,
and posterity will have the greater
reason for recognizing the good deeds
of those now inhabiting the capital.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-02-21

THE purpose of the bondholders, ac-
cording to Mr.. Schleicher, is the re-
duction of the interest on our public
debt two per cent, or forty millions
per annum. The people have already
lost five hundred millions or more by
confessed known bankruptcies caused
by contraction, and thousands of mil
lions more in deprecated property
values, and all that we may make
forty million dollars per annum on oul
interest account with bondholders. But
do we gain by paying the less sum nom
inally, in gold? If the four per cent.
interest in gold cost us as much toll
and labor as six per cent. interest pay
able in paper or silver, which is the
fact, why not adhere to the original
contract and pay six per cent. in silver
or paper? Mr.. Schleicher's argument
is a mathematical demonstration on
the surface of things, as it affects mere
numbers, but when we reflect that it is
easier to pay SIX per cent. in paper OF
silver than four per cent. in gold,
avoiding all the ruin wrought by the
terrors of contraction, even Mr. Schlei-
cher mvst confess that his conclusons
are illusory.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-02-21
THE NEWSPAPER PRESS OF
TEXAS - WHAT 1T ACCOM-.
PkISHES.

People would hardly learn to read,
and the inducement to Instruct chill.
dren in letters and the necessity for
schools would not be confessed, were
1t not for the ubiquitousness of news
papers. The frontiersmsn must have
his newspaper snd six shooter. He
must be conversant with the course of
events in his own county, at the State
capital and at his old home. He must
know something cf Federal and State
political events, and, seeing how his
nefghbors acquire information, he bor-
rows or buys the newspaper aud teaches
his children its uses. The log court
house and country printing office are
contemporaneous products Of Western
progress, and the newspaper, to the
extent that il is civilized, Is the civil
izer Of oar race. The time was when
stump speakers discharged these tasks
Of the press, but leisure was neces-
sity for listeners :. and followers Of
speschmakers, and the extinction Of
African servitude has put period to
popular idleness and lessened Gudi-
ences of popular disclaimers. The news
paper Is the stump speaker Of to-day,
il is the pulpit and the hussings.
There are q fourth more newspapers
than counties in Texas. and il these
average . circulation Of i've hundred
each there are I've million priused
skeets distributed annually among the
500, 900 houses Of the State. There
are twensy-fve dailies. of which
four million printed sheets are difused
in towns aud villages and along rail-
ways and through the postofices OF
Texas. We have no means Of esti-
mating the number of newspapers
from older States following pioneers
and eaigrss from the East aud from
Europe. but the world, saying OF
Texans what il will. csnnot ssy We
are not = newspaper seadlng people.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-02-21

THE opinion is expressed by very
many newspapers that if there be no
compulsory legal necessity for the
prosecution of the Louisiana returning
board knaves 1t were wiser to suffer
by-gones to be by-gones. Everybody
knows that the returning board was
instituted to define results of elections,
and not simply to count votes. The
infamy of perjury must adhere to its
members forever, and what signifies
this prosecution2 1t can only re-excite
sectional animosltles and solidify
Northern Radicalism. It avails the
South nothing of good and only evil.
Perhaps the prosecution is made nee
essary that Tilden's rights andswrongs
may be made conspicuous and memors
BILE. In fact, it has been alleged that
Tilden is the instigator of the work.
The people have the right to prosecute
Wells and his pals, the laws and facts
justify it, but we have read of the
man who had the right to shear wolf
and exercised it because il was his right.
Southern people are inflsmmable, ex
cltable, scorning suggestions of pru-
dence for fear it may have the aspect
of cowardice. Their boasted chivalrous
spirit brooks no restraint at the hands
of sound policy and wisdom, and this
prosecution, which can do no conceiva-
BILE good and only prove that Tilden
and not Hayes was really chosen Presi
dent by the people, should probably
be abandoned. AS question Of policy
there is only one aspect of the ques-
ton; as question of naked right
there is no objection to the conduct of
Louisiana courts and politicians. But
the success of Hayes's administration,
the defeat of Conkling, the final tri-
umph of the Democratic party and
freedom of Louisiana and of the South
all suggest the abandonment of these
prosecutions which the North deems
the persecution of Wells and his asso-
eiates.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-02-21

WE are much inclined to believe
that the next contest for the presidency
will turn upon the simple issue wheth-
er we shall have, as for twelve years
past, a cestralized plutocracy or a
Union of republican States. The en-
actment of the silver bill drives down
great wedge between the East and
West. Next comes the proposition to
substitute greenbacks for bank notes,
and the conflict is direct and irrepres-
sible between the banks and the peo-
pie. Even now another and precedent
proposition draws the line of demarca-
ton very strongly and deeply between
the rich and the poor, the East and
the West. A bill before Congress
would tax net incomes over $4,000 in
amount. This proposition adopted by
the Democracy, or that to substitute
greenbscks for bank notes, will relieve
the party of Mir. Tilden's blessed pres
ence and leadership and tend greatly
to the production of new issues and
elevation of new men. Revolutions
never go backward, and we are much
inclined to believe that Tilden and
Lamar both will be stranded on the
same breakers. The life boat of La.
mars political fortunes was wrecked
on the last hangman's day. When he
smote silver he should have resigned
his Office. 1t is pretty story to tell
that Democratic Senator defies the
unanimous instructions of his Legisla-
ture, and yet lauding his constituents
for virtue and wisdom, still clutches the
delights of Office. When in the Legisla.
ature Throckmorton disobeyed instruc-
tions, he resigned, went home and was
reelected. But Lamar, like Throck-
morton, claims to be a Democrat, and
believes, of course, in the right OF
electors to instruct the elect; but the
duty to resign or obey is not part of
the decalogue of Senator Lamar. The
money question is above and beyond
.he reach of principle. The people SO
re gard it, and so does the facile and
eloquent Mississippi Senator. Parties,
sooner or later, will be wrecked by it,
even as the Senator de6ies the creed of
his party, when he defies the Legisla-
ture of his State and votes against the
silver bill. When money is at stake,
principle is forgotten, and when, par.
ties are defined by the necessities of
the poor. as plundered by the rich, it
will be observed that politics will be
come matter of business, and not of
principle, OF local or sectional selfish
ness. The West will forget the negro
when the almighty dollar is interposed.
and there is every. reason to believe
that the conflict now inauguratsd be-
tween capital and labor will be contin-
ued until the Federal government is
wholly removed from the grasp of
those who have used it for years past
in creating an aristocracy as terrible to
taxpayers and to the many as it has
been remorseless in plundering the
country's industry.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-02-21

THE proposition to charter CON-
pany to build Q bridge across the
Mississippi at, Memphis, subject to the
same restrictions as those spplied to
the structure at St. Louis. Was before
the House last Wednesday. The
scheme had origin in 1851 and has
never been abandoned. This bill, now
considered, Was written twelve years
ago. But It seems that the Northern
der Of States are not only unwilling to
deal fairly with the South and give US
= genuine SoHth9a Pacific Road, but
will not cOscede rights when our rail-
ways would cross the river, that are
granted TO those Of Northern State
This bridge bill was referred to the
COMMITTEES Of the whole where 1t may
sleep through another decade.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-02-21

A SPECIAL dispatch from Washing
ton to the Western newspaper press
states that the President is so much
disgusted with this prosecution OF
Wells and the rest that he ''coDtem-
plates a change of policy towards the
South" This is sheer nonsense. He
will hardly stultify himself, and such
threat would be SO absurdly wrong
full and uDwise that no credence will
lie given to the dispatch. Mr.. Hayes
will hardly become the defender oi
four rogues. Very probably the Presi-
dent would have all these causes oil
dIssension and violence and disorder in
Louisiana forgotten, and perfect order
and peace established.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-02-21
THE woRLD-wIDE WAR.


Russia will not suffer England TO
monopolize the benefceuce Of protect
ing Christians in Constantinople, aud
this is the pretext for the presence Of
the English fleet in the harbor of Con
stantinople. 1t will serve as we'll to
justify the entrance of the Christian
army of Russia into the city itself.
Both England and Russia are almost
crazy to protect Christians. They are
two eminently Cody governments,
and the whole world looks on admir-
ingly while Christianly affection and
kindliness furnishes two good govern.
ments excellent reasons for collision.
The British Parliament has voted
$50, 5000, 900, and the whole fleet of
the Empire, from all quarters of the
globe, is moving like c4rrion birds to
their prey, to Constantinople. To-
day, while Russia is exasperated by
the British press and threats made in
Parliament, there is every probability
of fatal collision. l. would be the
signal for worldwide war. Every
leading civilized country on the globe,
except this, would be speedily in
volved. Germany would be neutral
while France is neutral, but when
England is heavily stricken, Bismarck
could not resist the opportunity, and
Holland and Belgium would be appro-
prlated by the Prussian Emperor.
Prussia so needs seaport and navy
that Belgium is doomed, and Ams.er-
dam and Brussels, if France and Eag-
land do not prevent, will become
Prussian naval stations and Prus-
sian doorways to the ocean. Then
there will be arrayed against one anoth-
er inland and sea. Russia, Turkey and
Germany on the one hand, and Eng
land France and Italy on the other.
The smaller States of Europe would be
forced into the conflict and then we may
have at last tie great battle between
Cog and Magog, of which prophets
dreamed. People curious IN such
matters should read Daniel and
Ez.kiel, and study closely the
course of events in the East. Our dis
patches of this morning indicate the
coming of a conflict, the end to which
no man can foresee and the beginning
of which seems almost unavoidable.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-02-21

Across the broad, deep chasm which
separates science from religion we are
told that the two parties of controvei
sialists haYe not yet shaken hands; but
the day is not distant when there will
be perfect accord. They will raise
their voices in a common song pralsing
HIM who pronounced the Sermon on
the Mount and the God who pervsdes
the universe. Science has only served
to illustrate shadowy passages in the
Bible, and if the teachings of human
wisdom were smore readily accepted
there would be less in biblical lore to
stagger credulity. The license Of
oriental poetical imagery would not be
mistaken for grave recitsls of fact, and
God would hardly be made, as ancient
Jews pronounced him, vengeful mon
ster.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-02-21

Friends of the President say that, at
the beginning OF bis administration. he
told bis Cabinet officers TO make all the
appointments for their individual de-
partments themselves. The Presidept
is beginning 70 regret bis action N 50
doing. He finds Il takes away good
deal Of bis po yer, aud, in noIs than
Ins .Is.snce; place. nim 70 eacsso.ns ...es..
sion was the blunder Of Secretary
EVsrts in placing the English mission
1t the disposal Of the Pennsylvania
delegation and the Berlin mission at
the disposal Of the Illinois delegztiaa
without Mr. Hsyesis knowledge o. con
sent. The President is inclined 20
break this rule Of allowing his Cabinet
officers to farm out appointments
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-02-21

In the Etruscan Vase Room in the
British Museum Is to be seen the skele-
ton of one Pharaoh Mykennus, decent
ly encased in Its original burial clothes,
and surrounded by fragments of the
coffin, whereon the name of its oc-
cupant can te easily read by Egyptol-
ogists, affording conclusive evidence
that it once contained the mummy OF
the king who was reigning in Egypt
more than a century before Abraham.
The proof is thus explained in the Gen.
tlemdn's Masazine. April, 1906: about
two years ago Herr Duemichen, Ger
man explorer of the monuments OF
Egypt, following up the indications
pointed out by M. Mariette, distin-
guIsbed arcb9ologist, discovered on the
buried walls of the temple of Osiris,
Abydos, large tablet containing the
names Of the ancient Pharaohs from the
time of Nizraim, the grandson OF Noah,
and founder OF the Egyptian monarchy,
to that of Pharaoh Seti l., father OF the
weIl known Rameses the Great, includ-
ing thereby the chronology of nine CEN
turies, viz. from b. y. 2300 ta B. @.
400. This tablet, by far the most i'm
portant yet discovered, has been CON-
pared to the sculptured figures Of the
kings Of England at the Crystal Palace
from the Conquerer 20 her Majesty
Q Ieen Victsria. Astronomical evil
oence, moreover, enables US to deter
mine the time OF two important epochs
of Egypt, one Of which is connected
n. a 2 -
Herschel has fixed the age Of the Great
Pyramid of Gizeh to the middle of the
twenty second century B. Q. The tab
let of Abydos shows that the Pharaoh
whose bones We now possess succeeded
the builder Of the Great Pyramid with
only two intervening kings. We are
therefore warranted IN assuming that
the remains OF Pharaoh Mykerinus be-
long TO the age to which we have as
signed them"
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-02-21

TowNs and cities only destroy them.
selves by local selfishness and railways
terminating at city must be suffered
to have perfect inter-communIcation.
The depots of all roads, at the same
terminus, should be on contiguous
squares and trackways must be pro-
vided for the Interchange of cars.
Several towns have been destroyed by
their own local sel6shness and narrow
ness of perception. IL is no great task
to build a railway around little cor
poration. But boards Of sldermen
have often wrecked growing city by
refusing to concede . privilege which
they have no real power to deny.