davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31
THE PICTURE QUESTION.

The presentation to Congress of
Carpenters famous picture of Lincoln
in the act of signing the emancipation
proclamation will cause the delivery of
many eloquent orstIons. Mr.. Stephens,
of Georgia, has declared his purpose
to pronounce a speech on the occasion,
and the novelty OF the incident will
induce many gentlemen to air their
eloquence and exert ingenuity to de-
fine the state of feeling dominant in
the South and the measure of our re-
spect for the name. memory and deeds
of Abraham Lincoln. Southern gen.
tlemen, conscious that the opinions
once entertained of LiDcoln's worth
and character, as diffused by partisans
in 1901, have been wholly changed,
will assent to the acceptance of the
painting and thank the artist, and yet
the question will arise which Charles
Summer once discussed with rare lib
CialIls auh WAouOm. 1iO Solu bnob
Northern pictures of battle scenes
should not. adorn the walls of the Fed
eral Capitol. Such pictures, Mr.. Sum-
ner thought, would wound at least the
self love of his Southern fellow-coun-
trymen, and admiration for genius and
art, illustrated in manner to delight
the people of one section and offend
those of another, was not to be
tolerated by the Congress of the
United States. While we must
commend Mr.. Summers good taste
and good sense in this behalf,
the question remains whether, by ac-
ceptiug Lincoln's portrait painted while
he is engaged IN striking the shackles
from the slave" we may not do greater
violence to the STAKEHOLDER and his
children, when commemorating his
divestiture of property, than by ap-
proving picture that simply questions
his heroism. We are inclined to be-
lieve that Congress should accept tae
painting. 1t is perfect picture of
Lincoln and, therefore, possesses a con-
fessed historical value. 1t is faultless
work of art and Congress should hold
it as lesson to genius. 1t simply
states historical fact with rare force
and fidelity. If there be those who do
not approve what Lincoln did they
cannot the more object because the
painter co-operstes with the historian
in asserting truth. After all 1t is the
artists work and it is not nece ssarily the
story it tells, which Congress accepts
and which the people value, and it is
quite as well for the country's honor to
have Lincoln before us, Pen in hand
and gravity on his brow, as with
tobacco quid rolling within his jaws
while he expectorates rude jests and
racy anecdotes.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31
The reEa. Pralrlss.

At the moment you start westward
on the "Sunset route" the Landscapes
salutes you in all the loveliness of
olossoming prairie in its first lrxuriance
of green under the tender carly sun.
Tho flowers are numberless. When
you have counted q couple Of dozen
varieties. you find you have only begun.
Here the palnted-cup makes the great
reaches gay; here yellow indigo stars
them, and presently lends them its
color, leading away into the boundless
horiz IN. field of the cloth Of gold;
here it is scarlet with the scarlet, ,phlox.
here blue with the verbena; here the
lilies, with their long snowy iilaments
wonderously alive, whiten all the wind
ings Of an unseen brook; here clothed
in the priceless small clover, and greater
than Dante's freshly broken emeralds,
beneath vast and hollow heavens, and
moulded in colossal calm, pthe naked
prairie rolls away, league after league.
unbroken to the gulf.
Obi the glory Of Texas prairie
under vertical sunl the light, the
color, the distance, the vast solitude
aud silence. the limitless leyel, the
everlasting restl A flock of white cranes
rise flashing in the light and soar away;
a mirage lifts the lofty timber that out
lines distant river and shows you the
stream shining beneath, shaking silver
yapor at his feet; in the creek beside
you, fearless blue ducks dip aud dive
and swim away, scattering the water
drops; a drove of horses rising from
beds of sunfowers, with flying names
and tails, go bounding into space; vast
herds of cattle crop the clover without
lifting their heads as you sweep by
riders are rounding up their drovos.
hawks are lowering, birds are singing,
winds are blowing, and what seemed
only solitude and silence is full Of life
and action and music. Now the forests
of Brazos begin to rustic; cypress and
magnolia, linden and locust and beech
and elm, hickory and blackjack, dense
to darkness, yet trembling with dew
and sun, laced with gay vines Of trum-
pet and passion flowers, ard with huge
ropes of blossoming grapes slung from
tree to tree, with undergrowth of dog
wood AMI redbud, wild peach, cane,
and their great dark liveosks wrapt in
the fantastic webs and standing wlerd
a1d awful in their Druidical heafd
Harper's Magazine.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31


PAPERS here and there oppose the
appearance of members of the Cabinet
on the floor of the House to explain the
needs of the departments and furnish
information to Congress. British Cabi-
net officers appear each lay in Parlia
ment and whether concurring with the
majority or not are not overwhelmed
with denunciatIon and ndicule. This
is the fate absurdly predicted for
Schurz, Sherman and the adroit and
eloquent Sec' etary of State. A British
Cabinet resigns when its measures ar"
defeated, but they would resign much
oftener If they were not permitted to
appear in the House of Commons and
expound their purposes and defend
their policy. We can see no good rea-
son why the British plan should not be
adopted, even though our Cabinet do
not resign when voted down and out.
We have q substitute for designations
in the quadriennial recurrence of presi-
Dental elections. The presence of the
Secretary of the Treasury, subject to
interpretations by the Ways and Means
Committee, would be infinitely servicee-
BILE when an appropriation bill was
considered and so when the tariff un-
derpoes transformation. and the sun-
posed purpose of the President to ask
for the induction of his Cabinet into
the House will be very generally ap-
proved.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31

SECRETARY SHERMAN has his eyes
fixed so stesdfastly upon the money
market and financial condition of Eu-
rope that be never sees American facts
affecting the fortunes of our own coun-
try and people. What signifies it if
European bankers suffer, if we do them
no moral or legal wrong, and our own
countrymen prosper and grow rich?
Why not then reproduce the state of
financial facts that obtained four and
five years ago2 Sherman ssys that the
agitation of the silver question has
unsettled everything. 1t has alarmed
hoarders of money, no doubt. If the
bill become the law, and there be no
restriction upon the coinage of silver,
the prospective abundance of money
will cause it to seek investments in
houses and lots and farms and mills
and railways. Our bonds may lose q
share of value in the worlds eyes, but
this signifies nothing if progressive
ruin that oyerwhelms towns and vii
lagos and farming districts be arrested.
The country needs more money and a
corresponding advance in property val
ues is assured. With sales and pur-
chases and the opening of farms and
reproduction of business activity and
of railway progress it will not concern
us that American securities have risen
or fallen in European and Eastern mar
l.. "a
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31
,irh arched ceilings decorated w;.l

high arched ceilings decorated Miss
graceful frcscoes aud illumipete5
gold and brilliant c.,lo-s: ;.s ls-,.
p prospective ex
two long tTanSyerss aaiiesis-, eaca
richly adorned As tue mala hAll Re
who.e displaying line of over half
mile Of magnificent paintings. Whiia
in the recesses are shown coliectior5
Of costly and royal presents /; vases Of
malachite, porcelain and alabaster.
mosaic tables, cabinets Of enamel..
carvings in ivory, aud Rumberle,s
other precious objects OF art There
is no visible suggestion that these
halls are q library. Nowhere is q book
to be seen. Yet these galleries
hold more than 125 600 books
and manuscripts, comprising many
OF the ranest literary treasures
of the world. But all are locked up
in gilded and decorated cabirets, and
seem to be made rs difficult Of access
IS possible. Only the small 90, cnro
room is assigned for literary work
and this is open but three hours in
the day, and from these days are ex.
cluded all the numerous church iesti-
val days. The Vatican library is q vast
tomb of books the tomb is splen-
did one, but its decorations and exter-
nal beauty by no means compensate
for the entombment OF the treasures
which it shuts up from public use.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31
GROSS WRONG TO JOHN IRE
LAND.

The Sherman Register says that they
are insane who propose to attach John
Ireland to the Throckmorton kite !;
that the touch of ireland is contamina-
tion and foul leprcsy. The Register
proceeds to say that "Hon. John can
not thus air his dirty linen" and he
''must run on his own hook" We
merely print these rawlings of the Reg
lister to amuse our readers and show
how necessary becomes the soothing
influence of the telephone in stilling
to repose the nerves of that excited
fantastic newspaper. 1t is true that
John Ireland has violent enemies
among sane people. He is self-willed
and exacting and proud as Lucifer,
and needlessly wounds the vanity
of others. But none of those who hate
him most have ever accused him of
dishonesty of action or purpose. The
STATESMAN, when Judge ireland was
before the public and legitimate sub
ject of criticism, was accustomed to
portray and even exaggerate his foibles,
but if never occurred to us to question
the stainless purity of his personal
character. The Register does itself
gross wrong in thus assailing Judge
Ireland. He may have been nd:screet
as politician and party-leader in seek
ing to serve friend, but nobody in
Ireland's district, or where he is per-
sonally well known, will fail to con-
denim the assertions of our violent and
voluble Sherman contemporary. But
we give no credit to the report that
Judge ireland or his friends would,
under any circumstances, push the
question of his candidacy for any po-
sition.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31
Ths vallesn Llbrarr.


Passing down the right colonnsde OF
St. Peters the visitor reaches the chief
entrance TO the Vatican, the Scala Re-
gia, . gigantic and highly adorned
staircase leading TO the audience hall.
After trayersing various broad and in
terlacing passages. one comes into .
corridor 1000 feet long, in the walls OF
which are set 5000 slabs, covered with
ancient inscriptions. This IL the
famous LapidsriAn gallery. The
fragments ct pagan origin on the
riCht sre confronted on the left
with early Christian epitsphs. While
walking through this gloomy corridor
topsrd the heavy iron doors near the
further end, one can bur feel that the
striking contrast between the pagan
and Christian epitaphs forms . 6t ap-
proach 70 the halls winch entomb that
vast collccfion Of heathen and Christ
ian hteratures, the Liraxis Haficgna.
The scene bursting upon the view -
the visitor enters the library is one Of
IDEAL splendoF. Imagine . grand bah
over 200 feet in1g. divided bg seven
Iarge srnzneuted pillars; r. walls and
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31

WHO was it that sent the dispatch to
Mr.. Hayes, at Columbus, Ohio, Prior to
his Inauguration, advising him to place
a Democrat IN his Cabinet2 The dis
patch was signed by two or more Texan
Democrats. The st. Louis Republican
says they were ''cheap adventurers"-
political tramps we suppose and not
really citizens of this State. But who
were thew
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31

narrow gauge consists in the fact that
1t will become part of the road already
extended more than three hundred
miles south from Denver. The whole
wealth of Colorado and New Mexico
would find its cheapest and nearest
route, If the proposed road connect
this city and El Paso, to the exterior
world through Austin. Let Us build
wisely for the future. The Colo
RADIO system of roads extending
from Denver in all directions
to the mining districts have
the gauge of three instead of four feet
eight and q half inches, and to this
Colorado system of cheap highways
ours should be conformed. If bulk be
broken at Austin, Austin will not be
harmed and the three open routes from
this point to the sea would still make
rates of freight very low, and when the
Chamber of Commerce, as it proposes,
considers this subject 1t should not be
forgotten that Austin is contemplating
the majesty of Pixies Peak and the
riches of Denver when considering the
ways and means of building a narrow
gauge to Fl Paso. The Denver road
will anticipate ours IN reaching north
western Texas, but thither the high
way, of which our people dream, will
be steadily directed and the day is not
distant when the vas. wealth of a
bnundless district of the West must
have this nearest route to the ocean
opened by railway line through Aus
tin. But when will new life be in
fused into the capital of Texas by the
Inception of the task of constructing
the Northwestern Narrow Gauge!
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31

THE story is now told that the trial
of the question of Hsyes's title to the
presidency by the Supreme Court and
its reference to this court for trial was
prevented by the refusal of Southern
Congressman to approve this scheme
concoctsd by Tilden and those
expecting offices at his hands.
Southern Congressman, like Southern
people, were content to have Hayes ad-
minister the government as he pro-
posed, and utterly condemned any dis
turbance Of the country's repose. The
South, they insisted, especially wanted
peace and no conflict involving the title
Of two claimants Of the presidency.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31
AUSTINsS GREATNESS LIES IN
CHE NORTH ST.

The people of Austin should not suf
fer themselves to be betrayed into the
construction of broad gauge road to-
wards El Paso. Railway share and
bond holders and cities south of Us
will always assert the folly of construct
ing 3 narrow gauge. But their wisdom
is not ours. Not only will the narrow
gauge cost one-third less than the
broader highway, but it viii last q
third longer. Light cars and loc0mo-
tives do not destroy iron trackways,
and there is less necessity for steel rails.
Cars and locomotives cost less and en-
dure longer service. Curves may be
shorter, and thus high hills and deep
valleys may be avoided The cheaper
rad does all that the costlier can sc-
complain At less cost to the people and
roAdbuilders, and then, il Austin build
and own b narrow gauge. Austin has
the right to 6x here its terminus and
make 1t an extension Of no one, but Of
three trunk lines converging here from
the south and casa. But the great end
TO be gained by the construction OF
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31


Hon. j. r. CHALMERS, NJ. G. from
the lOwlands of Mississippi, has COM
piled and published the "Opinions of
the Fathers of'the Republic" as these
affect the power of the general govern
meut to make internal improvements.
The purpose of the distinguished gen.
tleman, of admirable taste in letters,
is the promotion of two great schemes
of Southern benefcence; the one, the
construction of genuine Southern
Pacific Railway; the other, of Missis-
sippi levees. 1t is refreshing to read
honest arguments and unbought sp-
peals to the people made by Albert
Gallatin, Madison, Monroe, Calhoun,
Clay, Webster, Jackson, Douglas and
others whose purity and patriotism
we're as uDquestioned as their splendid
abilities. These last and many states
men of later periods, rvru Mt. J-ffvr-
son Davis, approved the proposition to
give subventions 10 Pacific railways
and promote the navigabllity of the
Mississippi, pronounced an "inland
sea" by John c. Calhoun. The pam
phlet of GeH. Chalmers is a valuable
to literature as 1t must be
to the practical progress and develop
ment of the resources of the country.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31

A CONGRESSIONAL committee is going
to count the gold and silver and things
IN the Treasury. There ought to be
$l39. .51s. 4o5 in gold In the vaults, but
their contents have not been counted
since the Radicals came into power. II
the gold can be weighed and there be
no fraud in the process, 1t ID belieYed
that deficit Of several millions will be
discovered. Rich banking houses may
have been based upon gold earted away
from the Treasury buildings. Who can
gainssyiti MccuIlOch and Jay Cooke
and Others became rich when they had
access to these heaps of countless coins.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31

SAM Houston SAID if Texas seeded
owls and bats would occupy the Capl-
tol. Very certainly, the bats have ap-
propriated the old rookery, and we
suppose it will be retained for their
use till it is filled, and then the vener.
able structure will be sold as valua-
Bile depository of guano for enough to
rear proper structure for the common
wealth on the spot selected by the fa-
theirs of the Republic.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31
RUsTLING OF BONES.

The special to the Galveston Nees
from Austin stating unar oruvKuaTe
would play second fiddle to Hubbard
also places Ireland down for the second
position on the Throckmorton ticket.
Governor Stockdaie speaks for him
self, and we do not believe that Ire
land is thinking about running for any
Office, though he worthy of all conf
dence. Ireland, We are inclined to
think, desires to settle some little
scores on his own hook, without the
present aid of party, and when he does
undertake to do so there will be some
rustling even among the greasy bones.
But while Ireland will probsbly not
put himself forward at this day for
preferment, there remains not
q doubt that his sterling worth will,
erelong, lead him into the highest
places. Hubbard's ungenerous attack
upon HIM has only temporarily land
him aside, but we are heartily afraid
that Hubbard's retirement will be per-
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31

The Augusta (Georgla) Chronicle
straight Democratic -pronodnces Mont.
gomery Blair's (snother straight Dem.
ocraD resolutions questioning Hsyes's
title to the presidency and looking to
mis- impeachment. as "pestilent agits
tion." These agitators, fortunately for
the country, are very small potatoes,
and they represent but very small
element in the Democratic paIty and
a much larger one in the Republican
Darty.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31

PHILOSOPHERS and statesmen every
where adopt the proposition so per-
sistently discussed by the STATESMAN
for years past, which contemplates the
government of municipalities by tax
payers. The tramp, the universal
bankruptcy of towns and villages, and
the insolvency of great cities, wrought
by those who pay nothing and steal
everything, who build bridges and dig
bitches to enrich spectators and to
pay for votes with taxpayers money
this class of people, by their num-
berless enormities in municipal offices,
have made the press at last con-
fess the necessity for reforms, defeated
by the ignorance and prejudices of ru-
tabagaism in our late constitutional
convention. Last week admirable pa
pers on this subject were read before
social science convention in
Boston. Mr.. Potter stated that
III LOU CllleS tue local luU0Oleuu6Ss mas
been increased $42O, 900, 900 since
1867, and the aggregate of this munic-
ipal Indebtedness is now about 700,-
600, 900, constituting a mortgage OF
sixteen per cent. on the taxable munlc.
ipal property. The State debts amount
to $3.50, 900, 600 more; making, to-
gether with the municipal debts, an
aggregate Of over $1,000, 900, 600.
Outside of this are the national debt
of So, 100, 900, 900, and the funded rail-
road debt of So, 900, 600, 900. These
last will be bereft of share of their
weight by the reconciliation of silver,
and, later, by the augmentation of the
volume of paper currency; but the
only remedy for intolerable evils of
municipal administration and finance
insists in the lnvestiture of those who
pay taxes with the taxing power.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31

The proposition of Congressman
Mills, of this State, to devote 80, 600
acres of public land for each Con-
gresham and Senator to the purpose
Of establishing an university for the
women of each State, will be uniyer-
sally approved, and make Blr. Mills
the most acceptable Of all Congress
men to the women of the United
States. Aside from this generous and
just proposition, Mr.. Mills is perhaps
the bandsonest gentleman on the floor
Of the House. In any event. ssRob-
erts," of Don Piatt's Capital, says
Mr.. Mills is most fascinating, and Rob
oerts Is keenest eyed of her sex. These
two facts make it palpable that Mr..
Mills win rule the tide of women's
hearts as the moon does the oceans
pulse beafs-
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31

REPRESENTATIVE MILLS, of this
State, introduced bill into the House
Saturday which provides that there
shall be granted to the several States,
for colleges for education of females,
public lands, equal to $4,000 acres for
each Senator and representative IN
Congress. Interest on money derived
from the sale of lands shall be appro-
priated for endowment, support and
maintenance of at least one college for
female residents in such State.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31

Mr.. Hills, Of this State, il credited
with saying, on the floor of the House
the other day, when . member sent up
Tilden's letter-written during the last
eampaign-so be read st the clerks
desk as an argument against the pas
sage Of 3 bill 70 pay claim for mill
property seized in yuxinia By the
army. that "Ehe gentleman need not
be dIstprbed about the letter Of Tiideu,
as be will never again be Democratic
candidate for the presideney."
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31

SOME ignoramus pronounced tie
STATESMAN Radical sheet because ii
asserted its unwillingness to have Til
den supplant Hayes; but now the st.
Louis Times aud many other organs of
Democracy assert the same opinions,
and the STATESMAN doesn't seem to be
as crazy as it used to be. The pecu-
liarity of the STATESMAN Is that it
thinks for itself and asks the privilege
of asserting its faith of no one, and it
doesn't borrow from anybody.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31
TIE New York Herald saws /:

Luther Martin, one of the greatest Of
American lawyers, used to say ''cotch"
for catch, and ''sot" fo- sat.
Gen. Bedford Forrest, as great a
natural man intellectually as Luther
Martin, wrote an order to Col. Starns
on the battlefield, when Forrest as
saulted Murfreesboro: "Fetch up y'r
battery. Civ 'em hell" ''Forrest."
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-31

The Austin correspoudence of q B.
Galveston CiOiliaR says Of Tom 0eeI s
tree, on some ons's sz5 tBs 20 DIN
wish l had yonr cheekip u 74
mad, " quietly responded the AsI4E.
s'without baTipg ny brains. Tou HepIa
be kicked out Of compsny twenty tinte
. day. Speaking 20 his friends siier
bis visit 70 Europe, about what George.
John and James said, be Eas SIX g
their other names. ssWhy, doD't son
know ] am speaking II George. Prince
Of Wales, James, Duks Of Areyle, art
Lord John Russell o. On brinK ialEos
duced 70 . stranger 10 a salooa. she
inquired: s.Afe yon tie fans us la
Tom Knocked him doen, Hiss ~
fellow expostulafs1. fafisx = m<ea
no insuii, and vs. -. psia
golden-hsired warrios's F-pf5
you bsve taken pfEFsf sr ee4
c0E3ed 70 ny lngsl l4lils4.e is.l -.