davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-03
Food For Reflection.
Sun RIVER CROSSING. Nov. /. IS;

Sun RIVER CROSSING, Nov. 1, 1880.
To the River Press:
ldont like to impose upon your good ma
ture, but | know your paper is a dissemination
OF truth, facts and information. The Sun
klYer boys are 9 queer set, anyhow. But the
qualification Of their curiosity and TO the Civ
ing OF desired information being my motiYe,I
know you will pardon me. Last week,
while one Of our boys, whom we will call
eBen' for short, (Who IS q callow youth by
the way, and who parts his capillary fila
ment SO near the polarity Of his cerebrum
that it is feared it will cause an emlnolles-
cence Of the cerebellum, went all the Way to
Fort Shaw to telegraph John Healy at Fort
Benton TO find out the meaning Of 'sDeuter-
oscopied.' Now said youth, (Whose early
education was somewhat neglected., in trans
hitting said dispatch, misspel1ed the word,
which mistake was not discovered by MI.
Healy until he had got the word copied in
large letters on several strips Of paper and dis
trlbuted among his constituents. The effort
having so signally failed, for their special ed
ifcation, and lest their dedolency causes de-
bachation, / will say the word is Q dichoto-
nous word, dictatorially speaking, whose
cephalous is nothing more nor less than dlco-
tyledonous, diatonically speaking, and that's
| all there is about it. Yours, Max.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-03
The RIVER PRES
wednesday, November 3, 1880.
THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION.

By the President Of the United States Of America,
proclamation.
Atno period in their history since the United States
became a nation, has this people had SO abundant and
so universal reasons for joy and gratitude at the favor
of Almighty God, Or been subject to 80 profound an
obligation to give thanks for HislovlEg Kindness ana
hambly to implore His continued care and protection.
Health, wealth and prosperity throughout all our
borders; peace, honor and friendship with all the
world a firm and faithful adherence by the great body
of our population to the principles OF liberty winch
have made our grs atness as q nation; wise llstltu-
tions and a strong frame of government and society
which will perpetaate it-for all these let the thanks
of q happy and united people, as with one voice, as
cend iii dcvout homage to the Giver Of all good. !
therefore recommend that on Thursday, the 25th day
of November next, the people meet in their respective
places of worship to make acknowledgment to AL
mighty God for His bounties and His protection, and
to offer to Him prayer for their continuance. In wit
ness whereof l have hereunto set my hand and caused
the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this first day of
November, in the year Of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty, and of the independence of the
Uuited States the one hundred and fifth.
RUTHERFORD B.. HAYES, President.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-03

THE National elections have resulted in
the most crushing defeat the Democratic
party have sustained since 1864. The De
mocracy have been favored with the most
fragrant mismanagement by the opposing
party and have met it by mismanagement
still more fragrant. The Republican party
had become corrupt beyond any precedent
in our history, and the Democracy by fair
promises Of reform were placed in control
of two branches of the government, and
with every prospect Of getting control Of the
other. But while the one was corrupt the
other was dangerous, and this danger be-
came manifest when the letter of Samuel
y. Tilden against the recognition Of South
ern war claims drove the Southern wing Of
bis party into opposition against him. 1t
was dangerous when the house attempted the
obstructive measures Of two years ago. 1t
was mistaken when it attempted to create the
issue Of fraud on the events of '76 and then
to sacrifice the man who was defrauded. 1t
was mistaken when it raised the cry of mill
tary rule while Grant was President, and
then placed a soldier at the head of it's
ticket, as its representative to-day. Its en-
tire career has been a series of plumbers,
which even the plumbers and corruptions
Of the Republican party could not nulify,
and the result is SO decisive that if the infer
ence therefrom is not sufficient to convince
the Democracy, and especially the Southern
wing, that their policy Of isolation is hope
less, we must conclude from the tenor of our
dispatches that the American people have no
use for the Democratic party. Read them
carefully and then mend the error Of your
ways, 0 Democracy!
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-03
THE RIVER PR S.

Of it that the one must endure as long as the
other while our government is q mere pollt-
zeal expression, coming and going, fulfilling
the voice Of public opinion but not disturbing
it, and hardly affecting it at all. This could
not be possible with any other nation under
the sun. for with no other has the result Of
initial forces been left to their natural devel-
opment, and without disturbance by unto
ward circumstances, as IN ours, and the re-
suit of them all has been the production of q
people who, however much they may differ
as to the method of the application Of prin-
ciples of government, are a unit upon the
principles themselves. 1t has often been as
serted that other people were, from their
temperament, unfit for free self-government,
and the nations on the continent of Europe
have been accused of instability and a lack
Of cohesive organization in matters political,
but we think unjustly. We believe that un-
der similar conditions all people are capable
Of self-government, and the only reason it
has failed in Europe is that, owing to the in
termixture of races having different religions
and radically different political traditions,
the parties which agitate political questions
differ on the very fundamental principles Of
government, more than on the methods of
applying them, which have all from the force
Of necessity become thoroughly centralized.
With US the republican idea is the sole and
only one There is no division on this point
worth noticing, and our parties have only
to consider the best methods of applying re-
publican principles and even these methods
have settled into grooves so deep that the
government" may be abroad indefinitely
and still the social machinery will move on
by the very force of habit, and the
tum of previous association. But let us have
the overcoming elections, with all their
quadriennial hubbub and excitement. We
need it to keep us from getting thoroughly
stagnant and unappreciative of our interests,
and we need it to inculcate the idea and prin-
cip!e Of local organization, and the influence
Of local organization on government, which,
without it, would eventually sink into the
condition of passive despotism.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-03

The striking off Of the initial number of
paper was witnessed by a number Of the
most prominent and respectable citizens Of
Benton. Nearly all trades and professions
were represented. Merchants, mechanics,
bankers, doctors and lawyers were present.
We Thank these gentlemansfor their kindness
in participating IN the event,5sa q assure them
that we feel aggrieyed that On our account
they were.nade the target for the abuse of q
paper, which, according to itssoWn declara-
ton, is itself tie offspring Of charity Of the
people of this town.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-03

We have no desire to represent the debt
Of the county one dollar more or less that
what it actually is, and we will cheerfully
correct our figures whenever it will be proven
to US that such correction is just and proper.
we do not intend to state anything to the
people Of this town or county that we do not
believe to be true neither do we propose to
remain Silent upon any matter of public i'm
port to please this man or that man. The
RIVER Press cannot nor will be shackled by
personal interests.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-03

There has been considerable misunder-
standing existing relative to our statement in
last weeks issue of the amount of the
county's Indebtedness. In that statement
we asserted the amount Of Indebtedness a,
this date was, in round numbers, $43, 900.
We had no intention whatever to mislead
any one in this matter, and presumed it
would be received as We understood it. as it
was a matter of almost universal comment.
Among the items which has had the effect of
misleading the public from the actual indebt-
edness, as represented by the records and
vlsed by the County Commissioners up to the
first day of March, 1880, was a publication
OF a sale OF county warrants amounting to
$1,000. These warrants have not been sold.
and, consequently, are not a part Of our il.
debtedness to-day. A contract has been
made to place such warrants when the money
thereon is needed, but they may not be used
before the beginning Of the next fiscal wear.
The amount represented by them, while it
will be an addition to the county debt when
placed, does not properly belong to the
statement OF March, 1880. The other item
of difference is the fees of county officials
which, when summed up to date, aggregate
the amount to about the Ii ures given by us
last week these, also, do not properly be-
long to the statement of March, 1880. which
gives as the county Indebtedness, 1924, sos IS.
We regret that the figures given should
have been SO misunderstood as to reflect, on
the management Of the County Commissions
ers, and to seemingly imply that they had, in
making their statement, grossly misrepre-
sented the condition Of the finances. 1t was
from . m%isconception il bringing the county
expenses up to date, instead of up to last
March, that the apparent discrepancy of our
figures with the records exist.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-03

IHE scalpers Of decent language, who haye
been ironically introduced to the public as
the illustrious and classical editors Of the
harm door journal, seem to have been over.
flowing with their Insulting remarks last
week. The merchant who prefers Major
Maginnis for Delegate is termed by them
Hypothetical business men," Classics, did
You say? Shades Of the departed Webster
crush them not! After this we want you 10
remember that the business men Of benton
are practical. real business men, and you
cannot insinuatingly lower them il the ea-
TEEN of their fellow citizens.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-03

How would 1t Go to let everything stand
and haYe DO election? The country was
never 50 prosperous. What say our Republi-
can friends? Yet it is without a govern
ment. The President is away in Oregon
drinking tea. General Sherman is ia attend
ance, and the army Is without a head. Sec
rotary Sherman is il the West. and the
Treasury runs itself. E7arts is reviewing the
Boys in Blue parades and the world is at
peace. We have no Senate, no House, no
Supreme Court. The only federal officer who
seems to be alive is Supervisor Davenport,
and We might, under pressure, spare him.
Yet how prosperous we are, all the same. IF
we can get along so we'll without a govern
ment, why not go a step further and have no
election? 1t would save money and trouble
and temper and time.
This excerpt from the New York HerGzd
may nave been intended only as a pleasant
reflection. but q more pungent satire on the
weakness Of our government, or a more CON
elusive argument on the strength Of our So
cial Institutions has not yet been penned.
Weakened by an excessive division of its au-
thority among the several States, and para
lyzed by the system Of s'checks and bal
ances,' which seldom allows q concert of ac-
ton Of its various parts, eYen when they are
controlled By the same party, and utterly
worthless when divided between the two
dominant parties, the United States presents
the anomalous spectacle Of a nation without
9 practicable governing factor, yet at the
same time exhibiting not the slightest tend
ency toward anarchy, but, OF the contrary,
in 9 state Of profound peace, and enjoying
the fruits Of a splendid prosperity. This
condition OF public insensibility to political
changes Is due to the thorough homogenity
Of our social and commercial structure, To the
habit Of discipline, and the similarity Of
thought which are the result of our public
schools, to the splendid ability Of our people
for organization, and to the ~thoroughness
with which our political system is entwined
! with our social life, and become such d par
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-03

At the extra sessi on Of the Legislature
some very important public laws were enact
ed. We have failed to find a copy of these
laws, and believe that none have been fur
nished to the respective county officers. AS
some of these laWs-such as the license and
fee bill-are in operation, We think that
it is only proper that official copies should be
on file for reference by the general public.
We resp sctfully suggest that the Commits
sioners take the matter il hand.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-03

RETURNS from the various precincts come
in slowly, and indicate q probable majority
for Maginnis of not less than four hundred
with a possibility Of more. Col. Sanders has
made Q much stronger opposition than il was
expected, even by his friends, was possible.
In Benton, the elections passed off quietly,
the interest concentrating OF the delegate and
sheriff. Maginnis's majority is estimated
from $50 to $50 and Mr.. Healy's from 10 to
so. Full returns will be given next week.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-03

OUR readers have probably all read Of the
boy who set a turkey, and came IN and told
his grandmother that he had put about thir-
teen dozen eggs under her. She said, fsNThat
did you DO that for? Do you suppose she
could hatch thirteen dozen eggs? .sOh, no.,
said he, Il knew she could not hatch4them;
but ! wanted TO see the old fool slreaa her
self. We knew when We wrote cur last
weeks articles that the editors Of the short
horn pictorial could not reply e them ii i
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-03

appointment, and like the Wandering Jew
he is destined to walk the earth in sorrow,
getting a brief respite only when he is in the
act Of placing his neck under the passin,
wagon. He will probably not make his ap-
pearance until the next presidential election.
when be will do service as the Democratic
nominee for Vice-President.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-03

The RIVER PRESS is an Independent paper,
in politics and in its expression, but our read
ers may feel assured that WE will never sully
Its pages with language such as that used by
the classical writer's Of the Record;' language
chat would be forbidden among respectable
DeOnle,
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-03

NEWSPAPER discussions are always profit
less and often disgusting, and as the Record
has taken the initiative in referring to us in
language SO indecent that reply is impossible,
we shall, in future, be silent in so far al any
notice of tina publication is concerned.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-03
Il hemp were spun
And wove in silken gear,
In spite Of art ."".. .u .

It's coarseness would appear.
And in spite Of the silken cloak Of respecta-
bility with which their position as editors
they are composed has been clearly and
plainly shown by the so-called classical writ
ers Of the Benton Record.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-03

metto IS ounces; the Hunsberger 17.49
ounces: the Vanderbilt IS. "a ounces, and the
shGo Fly SO 80 ounces. All these give q per-
centage of lead which will more than repay
the cost of working them.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-03

decent or respectable manner, but we wanted
to see them spread themselves ''classical!y
which they have done evidently to their own
satisfaction.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-03

An old goose at New Albany, Ind, with
one leg and one wing broken, and that had
been deserted by the balance Of the flock,
deliberately threw its neck under the wheels
OF a wagon and allowed itself to be run over.
Eli. This paragraph has been following
the rounds Of the press for the past fifteen
years, and makes him appear il this startling
role every fall just after the sea serpent has
departed for the Pacific coast. It was not an
Indiana goose in those days, but an old, mat
ter Of fact Dutch goose, and was probably
imported BY Hendrick Hudson's marauding
crew, else be could never withstand SO many
applications of the oVerrunning process. He
is q broken spirited and melancholy old
goose, probably from repeated failure in get
ng the nomination for the presidency, and
left for Indiana with the hope that there
he would find q fellow feeling and sureease
Of disappointment in the flock of others who.
like himself, had gone there to restore THEN
political fortunes. But the unexpected
movement OF Weaver has again brought dis
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-03-09
Ii A r Z / E d

ua Maeh a sso Il the s,s;sss # John
GIYBERRY G. sMgL fer Of scrtele H0 aonntv NJ
Va. to Miss MARY b. MYERS, daughter of
VIM. Myers. decd. of this county
On the 25th of February, 1880, in Martinsbnrc
At the home of the bride 8 father. by Rev 81 L.
C4ller; Mr.. 7. GROVE and Miss MARY C.
MUrH, both of Martinsburg..
On tho 9th of February, ut the resi1enca If
EDMARD s.. HOLLIS to Miss ISABELLA
REED, both of Msrtinsburg.
At tho 8. D. Parsonage, Nartinsbur-, February
c. MILLER. ~ ~
At the y. 3 Pa5sonsge. Msrtinsburg, Feb
NARY Y. TAYLoR. ''''A 81 a 'A' and Miss
rustv Tx sss u B. 6E% e Feb
SARAH JANE PlrsER both Of Beri eley eon Mtys
On the Goth of February. at tho PARSONAGE Of
Sis =; ch n S1; by RsT. j. ESTin Amos: FRAN
OF Msrtinsburg.
Is hsrtinsburg. the goth of February. at
tho residence of the brides Esther, bv Rev. J.
E fa Hmns; JACOB d. COPENHAYER to
Dorm. ''N -
February sstb, by Rev. c. s Linga fe,tor.
At he resId enca of the brides father, Mr. CHAS
E.llaBERLAKE. of Jefferson county. W Va,
county, Virginia. ''''
GER. JOHN W: SMITH. Of Fresoriok eon mIy-
Va, to Mira SARAH J. CLARKE, of Win hester.
hI"c 3cSIeT, + eDrnaFy 18th, 1850, by Rev.
) g Gardner. at the brides residence, MIR
SoliH w; PIFER. of Frederick county. Va. TO
MISS MARTHA f. LANGLEY. of Winchester.
90 the s4th of February. 1850. by Rev. Geo.
W Anderson, at the residence of The officiating
ee!e.6Symnn, JOHN +. FUNK and Miss MARY G.
CAREER both of Frederick county, Va.
In Winchester. February I9sh. 1850, by Rev.
- 3: Gardner. WV. }. DARR and Mrs HEN
iEiiA DECLERK, both of Frederick county,
:, March I 1850, at Knoxville. Nd. in the NJ. T..
S S4GT 6y Rev. w. C. Campbell, CHARLES A.
EMMA j. REILLY, of Knoxville, Nd.
On the Bridge near irper'S Ferry. W. Va
on the 18th OF february. by Rev. P. r Hall l.
please copy. if
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-03-09
COL. R0BINsON'S LETTER.

1t might we'll be worthy of consideration
By the citizens of Morgantown and Monon.
gala, whether they can afford. to patronize
and encourage in their midst an organ that
deals in unreservcd abuse and elimination
OF the Governor, Legislature, Regents and
every other Democratic authority that cxer-
cises any control over the fortunes of the
West Virginia University. This question
becomes moro significant under tho recent
unprovoked and gratuitous attack made by
the Morgantown Post on Hon. JOHN a. Rob-
inson, which effsctually disposcs of the ca,
luminous insinuatious and open charges Of
the local organ:
Editor Of the Ne,1 Dominion:
DEAR SIR-Au editorial in the Morgan,
town Post of the 7th attempts to convey the
impression that had sought to prevent the
detail OF an army officer as instructor of mill
tary tactics at the University, because the
position is filed at present by my nephew,
Maj. Ison.
l denounce the insiruation ns unjust and
false, and no one knows the injustice and
falsity Of it better than President Thompson
himself
The record of the Board of Regents will
sho" that resolution was adopted on nv
motion, authorizing tho President of the
Board to take any action he deemed neces
sary to secure detail
President Thompson made special visit
TO Washington last May, trying to secure
detail, and he Informed me on his return
that he was convinced that no detail would
be made. This was months before Mai. Isop
was appointed, and before he or his friends
ever thought of him in connection with the
position.
am not aware that single member of
Congress knows that have relative at the
University in any capacity, and 1 am sure
that mono of them know it from me. That
Democrat, and as the Post kindly saws, "an
sx>ConfedeEate SOLDIER" would have sufi>
oient Influence with tho present administra
ton to neatralizs the efforts of President
Thompson and the Hon. George c. Sturgi.s,
Is an absurdity.
Maj. Ison will doubtless feel thankful TO
tfe Fost for the insinuation that he holds
his position under such circumstances, and
may we'll Pray, "save me from my friends"
Respectfully, j. a. RoB1NsoN.
Patterson's Greek, February "a 1880
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-03-09
COMMUNICATED.

Mr.. Ro1itor.-The l. o. G.. T. of Mt.
Hope gave an entertainment on the evening
of the 10th ult., for the benefit of the Lodge.
The evening was pleasant. and the, house was
filed some time. before 734o,clock, the hour
for the exercises to begin Upon the prin.
ciple that "a little laughter now and then is
relished by the wisest men," the performers
had selected such plays that, while innocent
In themselves, were highly amusing on ac-
count of the burlesques upon human iuge.
nuities which they contained. The first play
was entitled, marrying Fortune" and was
we'll rendered; the next, 1.-THE Intelligence
Office" in which "Jack Milier,v the Irish
clerk, had chance to show his wit, was we'll
played; the next was a farce, "The Limer.,
lex Boy" in some five or six scenes, and SO
well played that it convulsed the house with
laughter. 1t is but justice to mention Mr..
VIM. McNuIty in particular, who, as "Pat>
ty," acted to perfection, both in costume and
voice, his part as "Son of the Emerald
Isle" Equally MS we'll played, and fully as
amusing, was "The Virginia Mummy" in
two scenes, both lengthy. The Mummy
being negro in representation, who would
be "mum" when any one was near, but cx-
ceedingly mouthy when left alone in his
glory. Having succeeded in kicking over
an lrishmsn for attempting TO cut off his toe
as relic, and knocking down an arts. for
dr0.ei"g little too near, he at length comes
forth as the dead brought to life, much to
his own amusement and vanity at being SO
much reversnced, and much to the purcha-
ser's delight, who thought he had brought
back life that had been extinct for five
thousand years. Mr.. Albert Moore, as the
Mummy, could no. have played better The
entertainment closed with "a Scene in
Backwood's School," good selection, and
well played. The Lodge gives many thanks
to Messrs. Hammond, Webster and johnson,
members of the String Band of Charlestown
whose music added much to the pleasure of
the evening. We have not heard what
amount of money was taken in, but know by
the audience that the Lodge was repaid for
their pains. The members of Mt. Hope
Lodge deserve much credit for the masterly
way in which they have carried on their
Temperance Order, which though but six
mouths old, has large membership and is
doing good work. We wish them we'll and
ABUNDANT success. J. NJ