davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-03-28
PAY UP AND SHUT UP.

Uncle Sam should stand up like 8
little man and bravely pay that debt OF
honor to Great Britain. 1t is just ten
times more than we should pay, but
we selected our arbitrator and sub
mitted the case, and are bound by the
award. We made a good thing of the
Geneva business, which Mr.. Secretary
Evarts managed most adro,tly, and
when we won Great Britain never halted
or hesitated, and the fifteen millions
were given us without grimace.
We have said that at least one-third of
the extravagant concession should have
been refunded to England. But Grants
government was not over nice in
matters of conscience, and Mr.. Hayes
is 10th to administer the re.
proof to Grant involved in prof
fering that which his predecessor re-
fused to concede. Great Britain evil
IDENTIFY thought that the excess of
the extravagant Geneva award should
have been returned, and there.
fore, when this misunderstand-
ing about the fisheries occurred,
coolly calculating John Bull proposed
to submit it to another high joint com
mission, and resolved not to be cheat
ed or outwitted even by the courtly
Mr.. Eyarts. Therefore, arbitrators Sc
lected to adjust the matter in dispute
were especially looked after. In fact,
the sum conceded British claimants is
so eXtravagant that it might be shrewd-
ly suspected that the umpire in the
case had reason to believe he would gain
a round sum by the unjust adjudica-
tion. This there is no reason to believe,
and If it were true the government of
the United States SO greedily accepted
and so shamelessly retained the whole
of the sum won at Geneva, that it
would be absolutely disgraceful to hes
itate in executing the liberal terms of
the agreement affecting the fishery en-
broglio. When, in future years, we
tackle dried cod or John Randolph's
effervescent 'mackerel by moonlight,
let US not forget that they stink of dis
honor to the country's fame, and shine
as gilded with gold from the Federal
treasury. There is no ''moonshlne"
about it.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-03-28
DEFECTS OF THE PROHIBITION
LAW.

There are counties and villages in
this State in which such reprobates
live, controlling courts and juries and
officers chosen ID enforce the laws, and
there is such demand for whisky in
these localities that the prohibition act
cannot be enforced. Then it is we'll
enough to rescind it. Public morals
and decency cannot be made worse.
Referring to these facts the Gonzales
Inquirer says:
Let US vote for local option and rid
ourselves from this odious partnership
in the destruction of the lives, bodies
And snnls of eur follow men. If men
VIII sell and drink, let them do it ON
their own responsibility, and not by
our authorization or the licenses given
by our county officers. Let us desert
the dram drinker and dram seller and
leave them alone in their dark dens
dispensing distilled damnahon.
Counties and towns that adopt and
enforce the prohibition law should ad-
vertise the fact. 1t will make them
rich, not only because an average coun-
ty would save a quarter of a million
dollars worse than wasted annually In
whisky guzzling, but because decent,
prosperous, money-making classes of
immigrants will seek homes in such
towns and counties and evade those
that persist in the maintenance of the
license system. The result will be
that those towns and counties
which cannot adopt or enforce the law
when adopted will grow steadily worse
IN morals and constantly more murder
Gus and brutal and the true and wise
and good will as steadily move towards
the more enlightened and moral and
Yirtuous community. The Inquirer il,
wise in advocating the adop-
ton of the prohibition act II the law
did not prohibit the retail sale Of native
wine and lager every county in Texas
would adopt it. If men must have
these mild beverages they can be kept
at their homes. To this German social
habits win not assent and, therefore,
the Law may De 80 modified that it will
be finally approved By all good citizens.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-03-28

By what right docs Grant travel at
the cost of the government in govern.
ment ship? Is the government engaged
in the show business? When the King
of Greece dimes with Grant on the
Vandalia, and the wine costs SO pei
bottle, does Grant pay for the grease!
Monroe died a pauper and filled a
pauper's grave, and Jefferson was forced
by creditors, in his old age, to sell part
of Monticello and even his much-loved
books; but Grant has been loaded
with wealth and honors because he
swan to power across Hell's-pont of
blood. He has his virtues and moral
and mental endowments that are ad-
mirable, no doubt, but this show bust;
ness in Europe should be conducted by
Barnum and not under the auspices of
President Hayes or st the cost of the
people. 1t is time that the govern
ment, in its habits, in its simple tastes
and purity of conduct, in its unwaver-
ing devotion TO the laws and Constitu-
ton and to duty defined by them, had
retraced its steps. Like the Vandalia
1t should be reanchored at its old moor
lngs and money should be expended
only when the law authorizes it and
the law should not authorize it till the
people who pay have approved the
expenditure. Mr.. Hayes and his Cabi-
net forget that they are the servants
and agents of the people and may ex-
pend their own, but not the peoples
money in Tokay and London Dock for
the delectation of Grants palate.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-03-28
Kv,l spirit. AMONG ,he sIalay..


A curious custom existing among
the Malays in cases Of dangerous Ill
ness, which are attributed TO the influ-
ence of evil spirits, is mentioned in tha
medical History of tho Laroot Field
Force" by Surgeon Major Davie, OF
the English Buffs, printed in the ap-
pendix to the British Army Medical
Department Report for1Ss6. The Ma
lays imagine that, il they can remova
the evil spirits, they are all right; so.
with this object, they construct a min
iature prahu, or war boat, Of wood.
complete IN every way, with mast, rlg-
ging, black flag, paddles and rudder-
The boat is filled with various articles,
bag of rice at the stern, and lamp
made out of the cockle-shell nj tho
PROV the body of the boat is stuffed
with cups made of leaves, containing
liquors of various sorts, entrails of
fowls, sweetmeats of all kinds, tobac-
CO, flowers and copper coins. Thn
boat is supported by a slender square
bamboo platform, surrounded with
pendent grass, to the ends of which
are tied all sorts of eatables, and Mt tho
corners the legs and wings of chick-
en-. About Is inches below the boat
are figures of turtles, crocodiles and
| lizards, made of rice, resting on a
plantain leaf, the whole being support
ed by four straight branches about
seven feet high (the top leaves form-
ing canopy, stuck into raft made
of plantain trees. Ships of bamboo ara
stuck round the raft, with partially
burned red rags tied to them. The
raft is set afloat, and it Is supposed
that the evil spirits, enticed away by
the food in the boat, leave the patient
and attach themselves to the boat
Should any Malay by accident, or 9th
erwise, touch this raft, after it has
been set afoat, he or she becomes afllic-
ted with the disease from which the
person for whose benefit the raft Was
set adrift suffered.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-03-28
a Snake story.

Editors Democratic Statesman See
ing a piece in your paper from the pen
of Mr.. Berry, about the overflow OF
1852, recalling instances that hap,
pened years ago in the old Burditt
prairie, will relate an occurrence that
happened to me a mile distant from
the old Rowe place that Mr.. Berry
alluded to. / was born and raised in
that nelghborhood, and, like all small
boys are wont to do, very often went
rabbit hunting with my dogs. Now.
Mr.. Editor, for the snake story, for
snake story it is, but verify true one.
In the bottom, or woods below the
Rowe place, there were some largo
cottonwood trees that had been felled
or burned down, and one day myself
and some other boys living ON the
same place with me were passing near
those trees, when the dogs jumped a
rabbit, and the rabbit run up the hol-
low of one of those large tiees, and |
concluded to go up the hollow after
him; so in l went. l had gotten
about twenty feet in the hollow of tho
tree, when all at once l heard the
dogs set up terrible barking
on the outside, and / heard one Of
the little darkies cry out, "Dars great
big snake coming in dar whar you is. y
l raised up as well as l could on my
hands and knees, and looked back be-
tween my legs and sure enough there
was avery large rattlesnalSe coming
right along up the hollow towards me-
with his tail raised, making his rattles
fairly sing. ] fortunately had presence
of mind to remain perfectly still, and
the snake passed between my knees,
and on his passing between my hands
he had his tail crooked around little
and his rattles touched one Of my hands
and l jerked it back, and as / did 30
he jumped into coil as big seemingly
as a bucket, and darted his tongue out
at me and played some sort of tune
with his tail. thought there was no
end to the variations. Tremained per-
fectly motionless for some little time,
/ would not undertake to say how long
it was, before he moved on up the hol-
low, but l will undertake to say, Mr..
Editor, that l got out of that hollow
tree quicker than you could say Jack
Robinson with your mouth open. II.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-03-28

THE speech of Gen. Chalmers in re-
ply 10 that of the sdroit and facile Mr..
Garfield, of Ohio, has been widely dis
tributed and approved or condemned
by the newspapers. The tone and tenn
per of Gen. Chalmers's utterances arc
admirable, and his honest, fearless In.
genu9usness commends the production
to conservatism everywhere. 1t is now
and then alleged that we have nothing
to gain by replying to speeches made
by men like Garfield and Conkling.
Whatever may be said In the South
and for the South by Congressman and
newspapers never reaches the audience
which Northern party leaders address,
and their assertions of fact cannot be
corrected when constantly full OF false
hood. Discussion, therefore, only
gives notoriety to their declara-
ti0ns and causes their speeches
to be sought after. For this reason
alone has Gen. Chalmers's admirable
and able argument in reply to Garfield
been criticized. 1t is not the Grafton
or its rhetorical dress that men disap-
prove, but the fact that a Southern
statesman responded at all to an assault
upon the South by one of the North.
Gen. Chalmers was pleased to say of
President Hayes that he is Gan honest,
upright, patriotic, high-minded gentle
man." Since the General is neither a
liar nor blackguard, an exchange says,
ne did Lot choose to utter faIsehood
or deal in bilingsgate, but has been
guilty of the heInous crime of doing
justice to political opponent"
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-03-28
THE CeUNrRY AND THE TOWN

To make American securities valua.
BILE in Europe We need only create q
demand for them in America. Their
conversion into postal certificates of
deposit and the utilization of post
offices as savings banks will cause q
greater advance in United States bonds
than any decline in their value made
possible because of the remonetization
of silver. II certificates for all silver
deposited 1t the mints be issued for all
sums above $40 and all silver offered
be accepted as basis for such certlfi-
Gates transferable by delivery, the re-
suit will be practical augmentation
of the volume of currency equal in
amount to the whole value of all the
uncoined silver in the country. The
coined and uncoined silver viii greatly
enlarge the volume of the countryis
currency. Add to this the postal GER
ti6cates Of deposit, which viii spsedi-
" exceed the sum Of deposits in sll
bsniza and We discover that the vol
upe Of currency, silver, gold and pa-
per, wiz Be steadily, slowly but enor-
@eRSly sincrensed. II Congress could
be induced 70 lesislate promptly and
enact laws prscip:.aslng these results
kSanders Of money would at oncs in
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-03-28

be high and If the cost of liv-
ing advanced, it can never become
relatively grea. in country in which
bread and beef are so abundant that
they do not refund to producers the
cost of transportation to the great Gen.
ters of the country's population. 1t is
not the cost of living, but impossible
ity of securing employment that be-
gets popular distress and poverty. Such
is the inexhsustible abundance of
wheat, corn, bacon and beef in the
United States that these prime neces-
saries of life are always relatively very
cheap. Abundance of money will
induce comparately little advance in
the price of food or clothing, but the
advance in prices of all else will be
rapid and great. Land which produces
only bread, bacon and cotton will not
advance faster than its salable pro-
ducts, but other species of property
will grow in price suddenly and per
haps enormously For this reason we
have often sten city property tluc-
tuate suddenly and greatly in prices,
while good farms, like good corn,
potatoes and beef, remained al
most stationary. We viii. soon
see these facts and revulsions repro.
duced in the city and country about
Austin. People need fear nothing.
Slowly enough public opinion drives
selfish, unthinking Congress from the
arena of partisanship into that oi prac-
tical beneficent legislation. Stray sun
beams now and then penetrate 'Rob-
erts's" Fog Bank - that deuse pie of
white marble that dams up Pennsylva-
mia Avenue, even as the old roolery
and cave of bats intersects Congress
Avenue in Austin. Before midsum-
mer's heat crisps the blossoming woods
measures here defined will be enacted
and abundance and lctive industry,
such as has no; been known for eight
years past, will bless these tax-bur-
dened States and cities.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-03-28


We are told that two-thirds of the
town of Salado is on tract of land tc
which the certificates are forged, and
now some one, discovering the fact,
has covered $500 acres in and about
the place with International certif-
Gates. This land was patented in
1856. The process of forging land
titles, if these last locations be good,
was extensively prscticed twenty years
ago. Other defects in titles like these
at Salado have been discovered in
Williamson, Burnet, Llano and Travis
counties. Several tracts in these
counties have been covered during the
past week with international certIfi-
Gates, and people who owned fine
farms will soon discover that they are
in hot water.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-03-28

TIE colored people of Texas should
know that under the instructions of q
court, organized TO acquit, Gen. How
ard, the great lover Of the colored
population and manager of the Freed
maa,s Bank when It exploded, was re-
Iieved Of all responsibility. The suit
brought against Howard by the unfor-
tunate negroes was to recover $3.50,
$3.50 of Freedmsn's Bureau funds.
Howard's defense was that the funds
were embezzled By Balloch. one OF his
subordiaatss, and thar he CHoEard) ls
net responsible; also thzf he had been
exeulPated after trial b. military court
nar.ial.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-03-28

The sense which of all others is most
deficient in tho cat IL that Of smell. In
this she differs most markedly from the
dog. It is said that piece OF meat
may be placed in close proximity to a
cat, but that, il II be kept covered up,
she will fail 70 distinguish il. This
want Is, however. partly compensated
for By an extremely delicate sense Of
touch, which Is possessed, TO remark
able extent, by the whiskers, or Vi
brisse, as well a. by the general sur
face Of the skin. These bristles are
possessed TO greater or less extent by
all cats, and are simply great deyei-
oped hairs, having enormousIy-swolsen
roots, covered with layer Of muscular
hbers, with which delicate Reryes are
connected. BY means OF thesc lat
ter the slightest touch on the ex-
tremity Of the whiskers Is Instantly
transmitted TO the brain. These or
gans are OF the greatest possible value
20 the cat In its nocturnal campaigns.
When II is deprived OF the guidance
Afforded by light it makes its way lly
t5e sense Of touch, the fine whiskers
touching against every object the cat
passes, and thus acting in precisely the
same manner as . blind man's sick,
though with infinitely greater sensIbiI-
ity. Imagine blind msn with not
one stick, bat 6 couple Of dozen. of
exquisite fneness, and thess not held
in has hand, but imbedded IN bis skin,
20 that his nerves come into direct con-
tact with them instead OF having 9
layer Of skin between, and some notion
may be formed Of the way in which :
cat uses its ahiskeFs.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-03-28
Texas Politics.

The Gonzales Inquirer SAYS that
"Capt. VIM. G. Walsh, of Austin, is
being faYorably mentioned as a suita-
bic candidate for Commissioner OF the
General Land Office. Capt. Walsh is
good man and thorough business
man. He was chief clerk of the House
of Representatives during three ses-
sions of the Legislature; is well posted
in land law, and well acquainted with
the details of the Land Office. He is
fearless and outspoken Democrat, and
would as faithfully serve the people in
time Of peace as he did in time of war
when so efficient member of Hoods
brigade"
The Gonzales Inquirer says that mot
unfrequently we see it alleged by the
press IN some portions of the State that
Hon. j. w. Throckmorton is but the
tool Of Tom Scott, the railroad mag
nate, and that all of Scott's influence
IS being used to secure the election of
Throckmorton tn the gubernatorial
chair. We have ever considered
Throckmorton a pure statesman and
honest gentleman. True, he was in
the employ of SCOTS railway COM
pany, as attorney, but did he, in the
furtherance of the interests of his
clients, ever go beyond legitimate busi-
ness channelsl We know OF no such
record. II he brought to bear all his
ability and energy for the protection
OF the interests of his clients he only
deserves honor for it.; TO have done
less would have been less than honest.
III elected to the governorship we do
not believe that the interests of the
State would be sacrificed that Tom
Seotts interests might be subserved.
We do not wish to be understood as
championing the cause of Hon. ]. w.
ss our choice for Cover
nor. We have been quoted by the
press as having pronounced in hrs ia
yor, but IL was an error. Whether
Throckmorton is elected or even NOM
mated for Governor, be is q represen.
tatiye-1 faithful one, too-of Texas
IN the halls Of Congress, and We dis
like to ses such aspersions upon bis
character unless they can be substan-
.iated."
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-03-28
PERvERsE SELFISHNESS OF
CAPITAL.

Already the proposition is made to
retire a sum in greenbacks or legal
senders equal in amount to silver certi-
fcates of deposit issued from the mints.
1t is insisted that tie volume of eur
rency shall not be augmented and on
this issue will arise the next exciting
contest in the Senate and House.
While the United States have not SIS
of every description of currency for
each inhabitant of the country,
France has $S5, and thus money
hoarders absolutely own the United
States and have crushed the life out of
the people and filled the land with
idlcness and beggary. Bondholders'
selfishness still asserts itself and value
must not be given to property at the
cost of the value of money. The less
the money OF & country the more prop
erty this money will buy; the more
money that exists, the greater the rela-
tive value of farms and railways and
town lots. When currency abounds
people build houses and industry
and trade and speculation are
active. Bondholders and bankers
of the East are most unwilling 10 see
this change wrought in the country's
Their money will begin to
lose, as they confess, share of Its
unnatural purchasing power though
the United States will be blest in I6-
produced prosperity and active indus
try of the people. There are Congress
men who represent the few and not
the many, and therefore this PROPOSE
lion that the sum of greenbacks with
drawn from circulation shall be equal
to the amount of certificates of deposit
issued by the minis. The sllyer bill,
as enacted and restricted in operation
by representative of the bondholders
in Congress, is shorA of its capacity TO
serve the people as it was designed,
and the necessity for remedial legisla-
tion is immediate and ahso'ute.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-03-28

solid growth of that lovely city. It
cannot be the Venice OF Texas. But
If, as the United States engineer re-
ports, the expenditure of the paltry
sum of $500, 600 will give twenty-five
feet water on the Brazos bar, we defy
the most visionary to exaggerate the
charms of the country along the course
of the Brazos, or the attractiveness
of a coming city having an hsrbor
more perfect than that enclosed by Cape
Cod. The river itself, overshadowed
by majestic live oaks, constitutes such
a haven, and the country along its
course is very paradise.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-03-28
from Round Rock.

Business dull.
Wool Is beginning to arrive.
A new lumber yard is being opened.
The Odd Fellows will picnic April
26
Election for mayor and one alder
man will take place April 2.
All the saloons are closing. The
druggists have it all their own way.
Eleven miners, bound for the Llano
silver mines, passed through this town
Monday last.
The Georgetown maroon gauge road
is dead, and the brOad gauge road is
born-fnale(0
Julius Newman, of the firm OF New
man 81 Co., Austin, passed through
here Thursday.
Prohibition was carried again in this
county by a small majority. Travis
county will be the gamer.
An incipient FIRE was extinguished
last Tuesday evening, in wardrobe in
one of the rooms OF Smiths hotel.
Mr. Jake Fetterly, OF Elgin, has
purchased a residence In town, and
proposes to moye here with his family
Mr.. Rayold, agent OF the New York
Life Insurance Company, and resi-
dent OF st. Louis, visited This town
last Saturday.
Mr.. Brunswick, OF st. Louis, and
one of the firm that manufactures tho
Brunswick billiard table, was also in
town last Saturday.
L. L. Simon's bar room was robbed
by several unknown parties Of several
hundred dollars worth OF liquors and
cigars. The robbery occurred be-
tween twelve and three O'Clock, We'd
nesday morning.
FATHER GRuHDY.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-03-28

Az ole Austin complaint has brokea
ont in Vicksbarg. The Hauld OF that
city says:
whenever a fellow attempts to use
one q the p4ppzs here and can't do Il.
ne genelAlly zlarts new one, lust -
nli "a want long felt
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-03-28

Mime. Oviedo, nee Fanny BARTLETT,
the widow Of Senior Don Estaban dc
oT1edo, whose marriage in New York
seme yezrs ago created q great sociaI
sensation and inspired Stedman's f.
nous poem, 'yThe Diamond Weddine. .
il building church on her sugar e.
tate N Cubs, and the corner stone va.
recently laid with much ceremony.
her marriage with the wealthy Cuban
10 said 70 have been 9 happy one. the
young wife deyoting herself 70 the in
terests and comfort Of her husband
who, IN turn, and to show his appre.
cation Of her tenderness and patience,
LEFT her, without restriction, the man.
Agemsnt and control Of her vast e.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-03-28

rsFloral hail. on the Houston fair
grounds. has been removed under the
opezztion of meeaanie,s lien.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-03-28

L. Stewards dry goods palace in
New York gold, silver and paper mon
ey srs COW used Indiscriminately il
making change and payments.