davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-01
A CONGRESSIONAL POEM.

Decidedly the most remarkable literary
event of the day has just occurred at
Washington, of all places in the world,
and, still more singular, in Congress. The
facts are as follows; The delegate from
Wyoming Territory, Mr.. Stephen J.
Downey, is a gentleman of eccentric tend
encies A short time ago he introduced a
bill to appropriate $50, 900 for paintings by
living artists concentrating the life,
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, his
idea being that these paintings should be
hung on the walls of the Capitol, which he
thought were already sufficiently enriched
by representations of scenes from heather
mythology. As the House was not in the
humor to listen to his remarks in support
of this curious bill, he found no
difficulty in obtaining leave to print
what he was pleased to call an "argu-
ment on the proposition. Next morning
the House was astonished out of its pro.
priety by the discovery that the Delegate
from Wyoming had caused to be printed
in the solemn pages of the Congressional
Record poem in blank verse and rhyme
intermixed, numbering 200 lines, and
entitled "The Immortals." The poem
itself is most extraordinary production,
and must convey abroad the impression
that the cultivation of esthetics has been
sadly neglected by our Congressman. It
is not only bad verse, but it is nonsense of
the most pronounced kind, and betrays
in the author literary incapacity only
surpassed by his towering self-conceit. So
absurd an incident has never before oc-
Cured in Congressional annals, and while
good deal of anger and vexation has been
exhibited, and some talk has been had of
expelling the too enthusiastic poet,
it is probable that the exclusion of his
masterpiece from the permanent records of
Congress is all that will come of it. If
this ridiculous affair should move Congress
to put an end to the extravagant and mis-
chievous custom of giving leave for the
printing of undelivered speeches, it would
not have been without its usefulness, but
we fear this practice offers so easy an
escape from long. winded and uninspired
harangues, that Congressman win not be
induced to relinquish it without much
pressure Meantime Mr.. Downey is the
first poet who ever could say that the
United States of America had been his
publishers, and though he may make this
claim we do not think the United States
have any reason to be proud of the cir
cumstance.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-01
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA.

1t is always very difficult for those who
live in country to appreciate its capabil-
tiles. They become so familiar with its
general features that they fail to realize
their significance, and thus it is often left for
strangers, coming fresh to the inspection,
to point out the possibilities of the future,
and to predict the greatness of the land.
It may be alleged that there has never been
any lack of self-appreciation about the peo-
pie of California, and that it has been per-
haps rather appraised than deprecated.
But for all this it is true that the full capa-
bilities of this State have never yet been
realized, and that though many loose ex-
pressions have been employed about it, no
conception of the future which even its
smallest beginnings indicate, has been at
all generally formed. At this moment a
change is taking place in the condition of
Southern California which few years
hence will have been forgotten in the
rapid growth of that region. This change
has been brought about entirely by the
building of the Southern Pacific Rail
road. That is the truth, and it
ought to be known. Southern Cal
ifornia has languished and grumbled
and dozed and done nothing, for quarter
of century. With splendid natural re-
sources she was too isolated to prosper.
All the efforts of her people, to establish
colonies, to introduce irrigation. to encour-
age settlement and cultivation in various
ways, have been most difficult and dis
couraging enterprises until now. 1t was
not that they failed in practical parts IT.
rigation was never more successful. Orange
and lemon-growin and wine-making, were
followed with highly satisfactory results.
But everything was so far removed from
market that the people seemed to be labor
ing against hopeless disabilities, and SO
they fell into peevish, disconnected, dys-
peptic mood, and lent themselves to all
kinds of subversiye and mischievous doc
trines. They were particularly bitter
against railroads, which they sdeclared
unmitigated evils. They SO arranged the
Constitution that it was no longer pos
sible to carry freight to Los Angeles at
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-01
GRANTS CAIRO SPEECH.

General Grants speech at Cairo, Illinois,
has taken the Stalwarts between wind and
water, and they do not know which way to
look for relief. They have endeavored to
Justify the third. term movement by assert
ing that strong man" was needed at
the helm because the South meditated an
other rebellion, and because the condition
of that whole region called for the most
drastic measures. Now General Grant has
recently made flying trip through the
South, and, as he himself says, he has seen
bit of every State that was in the re-
bellion. Wherever he went he held recep-
tons and made speeches, and talked freely
with the leading citizens, and when he got
to Cairo, in his own State, he addressed
the people and told them what impress
sions his Southern tour had made upon him.
He said, speaking of the Southern States ::
" 1t is gratifying to me, and know
g it will be to you, that in every one of
them scenes, decorations and speeches
were much the same as we see and hear
to-day. The stars and stripes were
floating everywhere. a great portion of
" the speakers in every instance were men
who in the conflict wore the gray and
g the speeches which they made show their
"present devotion to the flag for which
''we fought, and which is all we asked of
them - that they should respect and
honor the flag and become good citizens,
and hereafter, if it should be assailed by
"a foreign foe, that they should unite with
''us as one people From the assurances
they give 1 believe they are sincere,
8. and l hope they expressed the senti-
"ments of the majority" It is i'm
possible to see how after this the
friends of General Grant can pretend that
there is anything in the Southern issue.
In fact their mouths are closed on that
issue, for they certainly cannot repudiate
or dispute his authority on such a ques-
ton, and yet this was the only plausible
feature in his candidature. If, as he him
self now declares, there is no basis for the
strong man" theory, it follows that his
candidature must rest upon the record he
made while in civil office before. What
that record was We have heretofore shown.
1t is one which would fatally handicap any
candidate. And it is necessary that this
collapse of the "strong man movement
be pointed out now, since after the nomi-
nation it would not only be still more sig
nifeant, but still more impossible to meet.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-01
HAmLEr's PHYSICAL DISABILITIES.


Mr.. E. Vale Blake has paper in the
May Popular Science Monthly, in which he
undertakes to argue that Shakespeare
meant to draw, in Hamlet, a character in
which the physical weight OF adipose tissue
overcame viii energy, and SO produced in
trinity of purpose and abortive action.
The observation Of the Queen concerning
Hamlet, in the fencing scene, "Hes fat
"and scant of breath, appears to consti-
tute almost the sole foundation for Mr.
Wales hypothesis. He conceives Hamlet
as a Emphatic, sluggish person, capable of
powerful emotions under strong provoca-
ton, and then volcanic in his outbursts
but always prone to procrastinate and tenn
porize through the enervating effect of his
az too, too solid flesh. This idea is worked
out with great deal of force and ingenu-
ity, and it must be said that it has the
special merit OF making ineligible and
coherent many things in the play
which have perplexed commentators
for generations. There is of course
one consideration which demands no.
tice, namely the consideration that
Shakespeare may not have had any such
profound and subtle purpose as nearly all
mis- commentators insist on ascribing to
him. The mistake of reading new mean
ings into great authors is one of the com.
monest, and we are by no means satisfied
that much of the literature of Hamlet
criticism and exposition has not been Of
this character. Meantime we are free to
say that Mr.. Blake has produced very
well arranged and plausible argument, and
that in several respects it has more force
than the conventional conception of Ham
let, as lean, saturnine, and sallow youth.
Mr. Blake regards him as fiorid and cor
pulent blonde-and blonde he certainly
ought to be, being Dane-and attributes
his general tendency to vacillation to his
superintendent fat.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-01

to quarters promptly, and the brave captain
fought this overwhelming force for seven
hours, when the Chileans gave up the con-
test and withdrew, leaving the Union but
little the worse for her terrible encounter.
Not satisfied with his splendid achievement
up to this point, the captain of the Union
determined to obey his instructions literally,
and to return to Callao in the teeth of the
blockading squadron. Having finished
coaling he accordingly steamed quietly out
of the harbor, and on nearing the enemy
put on such burst of speed that he fairly
ran away from them before they could
realize what was happening. The
Union can steam fifteen knots, and Is,
therefore, well able to show her heels to
any ordinary vessel, but there are few
pluckier or more completely successful
deeds than this in the whole annals of
naval warfare, and the famous Admiral
Cochrane, after whom the Chilean ironclad
has been named, would have recognized a
kindred spirit in gallant Captain Manuel
VilIayicenciO
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-01
CHINESE BELLIeERENcY.

1t is not very easy to ascertain whether
China really contemplates war upon Rus
STA, or whether the latter Power is seeking
to create that impression for purposes of
her own. It is however certain that the
Chinese Government is extremely i'll salts
fed with the cession of Kuldja, and that
it is DESTROYS of regaining that province,
principally because its possession gives
control of important passes to whatever
Power holds it. China does not regard
Russia as safe neighbor. and that
is probably the reason of her uneasiness.
1t is also possible that the Beaconsfeld
Government may have supported the
Pekin Government in its resistance to
Russia, though we observe that this has
recently been denied upon Russian
authority. China is no doubt capable Of
giving the Russians great deal of trouble,
and of involving them in war which
could not but be protracted and expensive,
and of which the ultimate gain would be
doubtful, even if the Muscovite arms were
successful Neither country has any real
interest in such conflict, and it is toler-
ably certain that under the new Liberal
Government all the influence of England
will be exerted to preserve peace and to
settle the outstanding difficulties between
the two mowers amicably.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-01

such as religion and the relations of the
sexes, labor and capital, and several
others. There is no doubt such pressure
brought to bear in many regards that men
often find it easier to conceal their opin-
ions, but we cannot believe that this tyr
amy is not far less than it was quarter
of century ago. If no marked change
has taken place in England, assuredly
such a change has occurred in American
society, and it is one of the most notice
able features of the times. 1t is desirable
that there should be even more freedom
than exists, but it would be absurd not to
recognize the extent of the gains which
have been already made.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-01
SAN FRANCISCO ITEMS.


From San Francisco exchanges Of April soth.l
The imports of treasure by the Panama
steamer yesterday were $l27,3l9
The United States steamer Lackawanna
will leave port tomorrow ON a cruise.
At 4:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon
Sheriff Desmond took l. NJ. Kalloch, held
to answer for the murder of Charles De
Young, from the City Prison to the County
Jail, where he will remain pending trial in
the Superior Court.
Yesterday noon eighteen boys confined
in the Industrial School escaped from that
institution by scaling the south fence by
means of ladder, which had been care
lessly left standing near the fence by car
penter while he was at dinner.
Counterfeit half dollars are numerous.
and are chiefly dated 1857, 1875 and 1877.
The counterfeits are well executed, but a
close scrutiny will reveal flaw under the
talons of the eagle and an imperfection in
the letter ST /" in the word "half.
An applicant for papers of citizenship ap-
peared before one of our Courts few DAYS
ago, and among the questions asked by the
Judge was this: We're you minor when
you came to the UNITED States 7" sNo.
your Honor" replied the applicant, 81
was a carpenter.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-01
THE GROWTH OF LIBERTY.

Mr.. James T. Mackenzie discusses the
question of the growth of social liberty in
the Contemporary ReUieac, in opposition to
Professor Max Muller. He is OF opinion
that within the last twenty years liberty
has rather been curtailed than extended,
and he thinks that had John Stuart Mill
been alive he would have repeated all his
warnings and reproaches with added en-
phasis. He takes the ground that the ex-
tension of freedom of opinion has been
more ostensible than real, and that there is
powerful and despotic conventionalism
which still prevents men from expressing
their views candidly on many questions,
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-01
A GALLANT NAVAL Acr1oH.

The most brilliant and daring feat Of
arms during the war between Chile and
Peru was unquestionably the running of
the Chilean blockade of africa by the Pc
ruvian steamer Union, commanded by Cap
tain Manuel yillavicencio. The Union
entered the port in the dusk of early morn
ing, passing between the Chilean ironclad
Huascar and Amazones, and at once began
to discharge her valuable cargo of munitions
of war, and at the same time to take in coal.
When daylight showed the Chileans how
they had been circumvented they at once
prepared to avenge themselves by destroy
ing the audacious intruder. Joined by the
Chilean ironclad Almirante Cochrane, which
carries six three hundred pound guns,
the cruisers entered the harbor, and disre-
garding the fire Of the batteries, and OF the
Peruvian monitor Nance Capac, concen-
trated their fire upon the Union. As she
was laying broadside on to the shore,
discharging her cargo into lighters,
she could only work her starboard
guns, and they were but seventy
Founders. Nevertheless her crew went
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-01

And these, with other matter for the general
reader, including poetry and anecdotes, make up
ll2 columns. They embrace the proceedings of the
Republican State Convention, account of the Kali
loch-De Young ARRAY, accounts of the Eastern tor
nadoes, reports of Eastern political Conventions
etc. The UNION is sent prepaid for q per gear, and
has no superior as family and general news and
IterarY Journal
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-01
WHAT IT CONTAINS.

The WEEKLY UNION for the current week consists
OF two parts, issued Wednesday aud Saturday.
Each part contains eight pages. Total, 16. The
following is general account OF the variety Of mat
ter it contains, the figures representing columns
.rJ fractions ~ rolnmne
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-01

But the instruction of the delegates for
Blaine was not the only significant incl
dent in the State Convention. The speech
of Mr. Pixley, in which he asserted that
he had been unable to represent his own
ward in San Francisco because he had re-
fused to put himself at the disposal of a
professional manager, . called public at
tention once more TO kind Of political
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-01

Human nature will under all conditions
inevitably struggle to adapt itself to its
environment, and consequently there are
no conceivable forms of government or So
cial leagues under which men cannot live
or have not lived Given an inelastic
machinery or framework of any kind, and
the community will quickly mold itself to
it, and thereafter be guided and shaped by
it. Now in the United States it is as
usual the system, not the people, that
stands in need of reform. Civilization, so
far as the expansion of a higher culture,
the development of loftier aspirations, the
abandonment of barbarous customs, the
spread of humane and teuder feelings, the
demand for esthetic pleasures, the cultiva-
ton of public hygiene, the general i'm
provement of all the methods of living, and
the elevation of most of the theories of
life, is progressing encouragingly. The
people are growing better in many ways.
But in governmental affairs corruption and
usurpation and trickery are rife and uni
versal, and the danger to society proceeds
from political sources. Nor can these evils
be attacked with any success by Mr.. Ju-
lian's remedies. His diagnosis of the dis
ease is all wrong, in fact, and his panacea
would merely heighten the public SEN
sitiveness and impotence without at
all weakening the hold of the corrup-
tionists whose practices it is so necessary
to put stop to. Mr.. Julian thinks there
is danger that organized wealth in this
country may support political abuses
through fear of the justice and intelligence
of the masses, yet he can propose no better
mode of avoiding such danger than that of
RELOCATING all power to the masses. The
truth is that as the case stands organized
wealth is liable to support political abuses
through apprehension of the masses, and
that this constitutes the greatest peril of
the republic, and brings forcibly to the front
the rock on which all the republics of the
old world went to pieces. And it is idle
to blink the truth that unless we can de-
wise way of escape from this rock, this
republic too must follow in the old path.
Wherever in the history of mankind DEM
ocratic community has reached the stage of
development at which rich class and a
poor class are distinguishable, a tendency
has arisen for the latter to make war upon
the former, and this tendency has
always sooner or later ended in the agree
ment of the rich class to secure protec-
ton by surrendering the freedom of the
State. That is what every Republic has
ended in heretofore. and that is what we
must avoid to be saved from the same fate.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-01

the low rates dictated by ocean CON-
petition. But the Southern Pacific was
pushed forward rapidly, despite this i'll
temper, and presently they began to realize
that wonderful thing had happened (; a
market had sprung into existence for all
they could produce. A year ago there was
no sale for anything in Los Angeles. To-
day the demand for home produce is so
large and constant that it cannot be sup
piled. And this is the work of the rail-
road. 1t has brought the trade of Arizona
and New Mexico to the door of Southern
California. 1t has found the latter a per-
manent outlet for all her productions. 1t
has, as with the wave of magic wand,
substituted prosperity for stagnation,
brisk commerce for sluggish, inducements
to settlement for discouragements, every
thing bright and cheerful and beneficial
for everything gloomy and depressing and
injurious. Los Angeles and all the south
ern counties are about to be lifted out of
the Slough of Despond and put forever
upon their feet, and this sudden and per-
manent improvement is the work of the
Southern Pacific Railway, which this ben
Gifted section has been cursing and snarl-
ing at for years.
Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-12-02
Body Snatching.

Nashville lBanner: Williamson
county is in q state of fermentation
seldom witnessed. A body snatcher,
from somewhere, visited the neighbor-
hood and did his dark deed week or
ten days ago. So soon as that was
discovered, every one who had recently
lost friend or relative, suspected him
OF having tampered with their graves.
Some went 80 far as to examine the
graves, and in two or three instances,
the body was discovered missing.
When this was announced, it created
a perfect storm of Indignation, fury
and horror. Persons who have lost
relatives for a year past believe the
graves have been desecrated, fear to
verify it by actual examination. One
maD, whose wife died last winter on
digging down, found an empty coffiu.
That body-snatcher Is closely watched,
or man suspected of it, and it would
be q very risky matter, just now, for
him to return, or he will save the doc
tors the trouble of digging for, at least,
one subject.
Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-12-02
HEAVY SNOW STORMS.

New YORK, Dec. All mail trains
due here this morning experienced
more or less delay in consequence of
the snow storm. The trains at the
Grand Central depot were detained
from thirty minutes to two hours.
Over the Pennsylvania road the de-
tention of the trains was much
greater. The mails for New York
leaving Boston at 6 p. m. and landed
by the steamer Maryland at Jersey
City, arrived there three hours late.
The great southern mail arrived at
Jersey City over the Pennsylvania
road at 7:20 a. m. instead of 6:21, it's
advertised time.
The mails from the west were de-
tanned while coming ever the Penn
sylvania road one hour and six min
utes. The mails from Nsw England
failed to connect with the south
bound trains. This last is the fast
mail whose southern connections
were first made on Sunday last. All
the railway officials reported this
morning that the snow was binding
in their run to New York.
RoUNDoUr, N. Y, Dec. There is
beating northeast snow storm rag
ing in this city and back county. Snow
is now s inches deep. This storm,
it is thought, will end all river navi-
cation between Catskill and Hudson
and this port. It probably will not
make much difference with the river
from Roundout to New York.
CONCORD, N. H., Dec. IA heavy
snow storm is prevailing, six inches
having already fallen. It is drifting
badly IN the country and trains are
delayed.
New YORK, Dec. IA special from
Boston states that heavy snow
storm is prevailing throughout New
England. Three inches of snow
have fallen here. Snow was about
four inches deep at Catskill this
morning and the ice blockade almost
impossible.
Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-12-02
A Good Citizen Gone.

Another correspondent, " "A. ]. NJ"
writing US from Greeneville, gives
fuller details of the horrible death
which overlook Mr.. Ambrose Easterly
in Greene county on Monday, 22d
inst. An account was given by us, and
1t will be remembered he was thrown
from mule, became entangled in the
gearing. and was dragged to death.
This last correspondent closes as fols
lows: -
"His body was badly mutilated; his
ribs being literally torn from his body.
Mr.. East9rly was one of Greene coun-
tg's best citizens, being man beloved
by ali his neig hb bors. His sad death
caused great excitement in his neigh
bOrhood. He was al old member of
the Lutheran church, and a Free
M sson. His remains were inferred in
st. James burying ground with Ma
sonic hOnors on Wednesday. The
whole community joins In with SYM
patty for the family and friends of the
deceased