davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-07-02
Political Religion as q Party Factor.

There is something instructive in the
fact that Garfield and John Sherman
and politicians of that type are more
powerful and popular than the class
represented by Conkling. So far as
bitter and unreasoning partisanship is
concerned, both types are objectionable,
but when they are compared there is
rather q heavy balance against the
former. COnkling's faults are many
and prominent, but he has the redeem
ing characteristic of being outspoken
and courageous, and of never affecting
moral sentiments for political purposes.
He is opposed to shams, and does not
pretend to be representative of the
religious element. On the contrary.
the President and Mr.. Sherman and
others we might name, are remarkably
fond of sentimental illusions and as
sumo a devout and reverend air with
much JUNCTION and address. 1t is an ar
gument in favor of n man if he be a con-
sistent and modest Christian. 1t would
be an Improvement. no doubt, if we
could secure an increase in the number
Of such men in public lite, as it might
conserve the interests of Civil-service
Reform. But political religion has gem
orally a strong flavor of cant, and we
regret to say that our President and his
friends too often suggest this kind of
adulterated piety. The President drops
so often into poetry and moral and
philosophical speculation that he seems
to confuse history. Is the report of the
Poland Committee a dream, or does it
really exist on the records of Congressp
Were the DeGolyer fee and the Credit
Mobilier idle inventions or boyish Of
lenses long ago repented OFF These
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-07-02
A Dangerous Plaything.

A dangerous weapon has made its appear
ance, which passes for toy pistol, and is
being sold to small boys by the gross. 1t is
intended to be used in firing blank cartridges
for Fourth of July amusement, but will take
in a cartridge loaded with ball just rs easily,
and it does not require prophets vision to
foresee that such cartridges will be frequent
ly used, by accident or purposely. Some Of
the boys are filling up the barrels of these
dangerous playthings with sand after having
loaded them with blank cartridge. No bet
ter means of blowing out eyes could be de-
vised. Should pebble happen to find its
way into the barrel with the sand, life would
be endangered. The pistols arc marked
80 Army but do not have the manufacture
er's name upon them. Two dozen of them
have been sold by a single groceryman in
Southside. Ex-senator Lord, impressed
with the dangerous character of the So
called "toy,' filled one of them by placing
buck shot in the barrel after loading it
with blank cartridge. When fred off the
buck-shot was imbedded in a board to the
depth of three-quarters of an inch. So dan
gcrous a toy should net be sold. Its sale
ought to be suppressed by the authorities.
IL certainly comes within the meaning of the
statutes forbidding the carrying of conceal
ed or dangerous weapons. A long list of
casualties will be averted il the "toy" is
suppressed. -Ctncinalati Commercial.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-07-02
A Disgruntied Fayorite on Ex-Presi.
dent Grant.
"Did Grant know of the fra,,ds?n

Ibid Grant know of the frauds?"
ale did. 1 paid Babcock Grant s
share of the spoils in the White House.
and would always notify Grant of it in
person. He would invariably reply,
All right. Whatever you do with
Babcock is the same as with me. l
have him to attend to the details. -
How much did you pay Babcockp"
II paid him $4,000 il money. be-
side diamonds, horses and shipments of
game"
Have you seen Grant since your
pardonP'
"Yes. I met him at the Chicago re-
union. The papers had it that I adj
not say a word. He looked me in the
face a moment, then, dropping his eyes,
said to Sherman, on whose arm he was
leaning, Don't you think we had better
move on little?' Mutual friends tried
to bring us together, but 1 refused to go
to Grant unless he wrote me n letter
requesting it. He never wrote.'
"What is your object in putting this
book before the peoplcF'
at is to vindicate myself. and to fur
nish a bit of unwritten history that
could not otherwise be supplied. The
Courier-Jour7sat and other papers have
pronounced upon the book. L am not
afraid to let it 60 before the people. 1t
beat Grant for third term, and it will
beat him forever. 1t has never been
denied. "-InterUieU IN Macon (No.)
TELEGRAPH.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-07-02
RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL.

The African Methodist Episcopal
Church claims that it has 1877. 566 mem
bers and probationers, against 215, 900
| reported in 1879.
-According to church paper, the
Christians of America gave last year TO
foreign missions 81 for every $25, 900
worth OF property owned by them.
The United Brethren in Christ have
q membership in Iowa of about 159, 900.
Last year they paid preachers salaries
to the amount of 1866, 600.
Trinity College, Dublin. has for
the first time conferred the degree of
Doctor of Divinity on a Presbyterian.
The recipient is Professor Murphy, the
commentator.
DR.. McCosh, of Princeton. will use
the revision of the Bible in the college
chapel, but President Porter, of Yale,
will read from the old Bible for the
sake of the association.
During the session of the Universi-
ty of Edinburgh of 18S0-8l no fewer
than 3, 80 students were in attendance.
The greatest proportion of these studied
in the medical classes.
Prof. Moses Colt Tyler some months
ago gave up his connection with the
Congregationalist Church and was con-
III lhCu III OhC 4EOlCStdnt LDlSCODal
Church, and since then he has become
a candidate for orders in the same COM
munion.
A gift of 800. 900 has been made
to the Theological Seminary of the Re-
formed Church in America by Colonel
Gardner A. Sage, of New York City.
This institution is situated in New
Brunswick, N. j.. adjoining Rutgers
College, which is of the same religious
denomination.
of the 1856, 1885 received in the
last year by the American College and
Educational Society, 1929, 851.37 was
given for the use of colleges and to
help needy young men in preparing for
the ministry. OF this latter sum $685.
$50 was given by Mrs. Valera G. Stone,
of Maiden. Mass. In the last year $40
young men have been assisted.
The new Manual Trimming School
in st. Louis promises to TOR very Sue
cessful. 1t has a serviccable building,
an income of $4,000 guaranteed for five
years, and $4,000 was raised by the
purchase of necessary appliances. The
school now has about 60 pupils. many
of them belonging to prominent st.
Louis families. A tuition fee of $24O is
charged for the course
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-07-02
questions hre perpetually suggested

questions ire perpetually suggested
when we read Mr.. Garlield's remarks
on certain interesting occasions.
John Sherman is not quite so &c .out
in tone rs his former associate, but he
frequently deals in outbursts of moral
enthusiasm calculated to keep him in
good standing with people who are very
religious but not very reflective. At
the Ohio State Convention he lectured
finely on party purity, and. although he
refrained from naming Conkling. he
threw his brand at him by denouncing
all " bosses and leaders who assume
to dictate. There is not a more cold
blOoded, selfish partisan in the country
than the said Sherman, nor one more
capable of every trick and device to
forward his particular interests. but
when he mounts his high moral ideas
he becomes the picture of n serene
Christian statesman. This is the man
who went South and helped to concoct
evidence to effect the Electoral fraud of
1876, who has never fair nor Just
word to say of the Southern people or
the Democratic party, and who did not
hesitate to use all the influence of his
Department and to misrepresent the
facts of resumption for his personal
honor in order that he might strengthen
his chances for a Presidential nomi-
nation at Chicago. We do not mean to
say that both of these men are pure,
unmitigated hypocrites, but we do
mean to say that there is vivid
and derisive comparison between their
uttered sentiments and the facts of
their public records. But they are ex-
ceedingiy shrewd. They know how
extensively men are influenced in the
West by religious connections and
ideas, and they utilize this knowledge
to maintain and extend their political
regulations. Thus Sherman sees at
glance that popular sympathy is with
York Senators, and in his speech to the
Convention. he takes sides strongly
against the latter. He was furious with
Gartield's action at Chicago. He felt
then and probably believes still that he
was euehred out of his chances for NOM
ination by his deeper and more astute
colleague. but now that Garfield
is President he proposes to keep
on the side of success; SO he goes for
Conkling with an air of virtuous
Indignation that is highly edifying and
entertaining. In one aspect of the
matter this mixing of morals and re-
ligion with politics is n favorable sign,
because it shows that the general senti-
ment of the country is on the side of
these mainstays of society. The only
thing to regret is that it sometimes ex-
cites violent and vivid contrast be-
tween the protest. of our statesmen
and their official and personal records.
Conkling evidently made mistake
when he neglected to cultivate a more
devout and Christian air. He is too
naughty, too satirieal and too over
bearing. Mere talent will not do in
New York any more than in Ohio.
There must also be flavor of religious
responsibility or else confidence cannot
be maintained. In ignoring this factor
in political career, Mr.. Conkling has
sadly imperiled his chances of success.
st Louis Repu6licoN.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-07-02
The Right Way to Go A.Fishing.

A Republican reporter was standing
on Fourth street yesterday morning.
engaged in casual conversation with
gentleman who frequently goes fish
ing, and generally brings home a fine
string of fish. just then, two we'll
known citizens passed along with bas-
kets on their arms, tishing-poles over
their shoulders and broad brimmed hats
on their heads.
"Just look therer' said the reporters
interlocutor. ''there goes two. fellows
the least thing about it, at least in this
latitude"
But they always bring home good
strings of fish"
"Of course they do; but we all know
how that is done. They are just like
all the rest that don't understand their
business. They go and sit on the bor-
ders of the lake in the broiling sun all
day, don't catch fish, and then on
their way home buy tho best string
they can in market or at a fish stand"
:. You go fishing yourself, sometimes.
don't youP"
"Yes, but don't do il that way"
you know some better plan, l sup
posep'
"You bet 1 do! When 60 fishing l
send my baskets and rods out to some
farmhouse where there is boy who
knows how to catch fish, and then ]
go out at my leisure and sit in tho
Barn with the old man and play poker
all day while the boy catches the fish,
and then have string of fresh fish TO
carry home that there is no suspicion
about. But some men can never learn
to do anything the right way."--Sk
Louis Republican.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-07-02
A Pretty Little Romance Of the Penn
sylvania Flood.

There Is quite romantic story told in
connection with the land slides on the Bal
timore 4 Ohio Road. A McKcesport pa. }
young man named Gardiner was engaged to
be married to a West Newton (Pa) Young
lady named Miss Nellie Downs, and the
wedding had been arranged for Thursday
evening, and accordingly the ardent lover
boarded the Uniontown accommodation on
Thursday afternoon, with tine intention of
reaching West Newton in time for the cere-
mony. As fate would have it, however, lust
as the train reached Scotthaven large land
slide was encountered, and as a matter Of
course further progress was barred, and, to
make matters worse, when the train was
run back to Armstrong another landslide
was encountered at that point, and thus the
train was held on both sides by great bar
riers of earth.
This was not the worst, however, for when
the young man bethought him of telegraph
ing to his lady love he found himself in q
still greater dilemma, upon making the dis
coyery that the heavy masses of earth and
rock which fell from the hills had broken
down number of telcsraph-poles and, of
course, carried the wires with them, thus
cutting off all telegraphic communication.
But even under these adverse circumstances
the young man did not give up, for he
procured a torch, and. together with
nine or ten other male passengers and
two ladies, was piloted over the
mountainous obstruction by the train
hands. who supplied the party with torch
to light them on their way, and, after a he
roic and wearisome trudge oyor ten miles,
reached the residence OF the lady late at
night, and, although muddy and weary,
arrived in time to have the ceremony per-
formed, and at eleven O. CLOCK that night the
happy couple were made man and wife.
The lady is said to possess equally as much
nerve as her husband, as she was at the
time night operator at McKeesport, and
during the long hours of the night sat with
a very pretty little revolver by her side, pre-
pared to defend herself against all iutrud-
Pittsburgh (Pa.) Dipatch to Cincinnati
Enquirer.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-07-02
POLITICAL ITEMS.

As the Star-route'' thieves are
giving signs of falling out. it may be
hoped that honest men will now get
their dues. But what is chiefly to be
desired is that dishonest men may also
get theirs.
1t is such bliss to be ignorant
about that "bar L." which is doing such
hefty work for Depew, that we are not
surprised that the s. God and morality"
section of the Republican party in New
York should show unyielding determin-
alton not to fall into the folly of wisdom
about the sinews of war.-St. Louis Re
publican.
TO assist in making the Kilkenny
fight in the Republican party tritle
more interesting, if that is possible, we
direct the attention of Messrs. Gar
field, Conkling, Blaine and the rest to
man in the matter of possibilities. and
in the universal dirt throwing they
ought not to let him go unsmirched.
He is as cold rs ice; but if he is as
spotless as snow he is Il strange phe-
nomenon for Republican Politician
EIchange.
THAT man Hayes came out
uncommonly strong in his description
of Conkling. Few thought that 1.-THE
old man. from Fremont =. had SO much
blood in him. but when he compared
Conkling to an asylum lunatic fancying
himself Napoleon, the Gar. and even
Jesus Christ, the ex-Prcsident was not
SO very far from the mark. Conk-
ling's followers have evidently been
taught to regard him as repetition of
the Founder of Christianity.
change.
Now the Administration are grow
ing ashamed of their bargain with Ma
hone, and want to repudiate it. They
tell Malone that they can recognize no
organization in Virginia but the Repub-
lican party, and coolly advise him to
join the Republicans as the only means
of securing Administration countenance
and patronage. Malone is considering
the matter, and, in the misery to which
he has been reduced, will no doubt &C
cept the hard terms that are offered
him. In fact he has no other resort.
His own Readjuster faction is rapidly
melting away, and there is nothing left
for him but to merge what remains of it
in the Republican party. The two
elements will make a most delectable
political admixture. Harrisburg (Pa.)
Patriot.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-07-02
How Uncle Sile Run q Caucus.

When poor Old Uncle Siias Patterson
went to his grave the other day not a
mourner followed, and never will a tear
moisten the earth above him. In by
gone days he aspred to be political
leade-, and there are plenty of men
who remember how he once run a wal d
caucus. Knowing his ambition to be-
come power in the ward, three or
four. old jokcrs put up plan to make
him Chairman of the caucus shortly to
be held, and they visited him in body
and explained:
Everything will depend on how
you run this caucus. Be calm. Be
dignified. Don't let any one ride over
you. One will move this and the other
that, but you must refuse to enterta n
any motions until you have ascertained
the pleasure of the meeting"
Uncle Sile was delighted and pulled
up, and he could hardly was for the
hour which was to witness his triumph.
He was called to the chair, as planned,
and after a few remarks to prove his
gratitude, he called for order and said:
NOW, then, what is the pleasure of
the meeting?"
|. A citizen rose in reply and began:
Il move you. MIR. Chairman, that we
now prO-
"Order! Orderr' called Uncle Sile.
81 am in order"
"You are not! Take your seat or
I'll have you put out"
The astonished elector dropped back
to second fiddle, and Uncle Sile con-
tinued:
NOW, then, what is the pleasure of
the meeting?"
Il move that we proceed to bal"
1t was another electOr, and lie had
only got thus for when the Chairman
cried out:
Il call for order! If we can't have
order we might as well adjourn. | now
ask you for the third time: What is the
pleasure of the meetingT
The electors were dumbtounded for
time, but one of them recovered a
little sooner than the rest and asked:
Is this a caucus?"
you betr' answered Uncle Sile.
care we here to nominate ward Off
cersp"
1--WE are"
"Then, sir, move that we pro"
s.Order! order!' yelled the Chair
man. That's the third or fourth time
that trick has been tried here, and the
heve found out the pleasure of the
meeting will be put out! Now, then, is
there any pleasure in this meeting? If
SO, where is it and what is it?'
He soon discovered. About twenty
men rushed for him at once, and he
went out of the window like a bag of
sand, and before he had come to, the
caucus had transacted its business and
adjourned. The incident not only
cured Uncle Sile's ambition to be a po-
litical leader, but il is doubtful il he
ever cast another vote. Detroit Free
Press.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-07-02
FACTS AND FIGURES.

I'm the Smithsonian grounds, Wash
ngton, $4,000 bedded plants were set
out last year.
The sum of 81, 2GO was offered for
ram exhibited at the recent sheep
show in Australia.
An average of 1000 postal cards
are daily mailed in this country without
address on the face.
--Laborers' wages in Mexico under
the railway boom, have advanced from
eighteen to forty-three cents per day.
If man of $50 pounds weight were
as strong in proportion to his weight rs
as a beetle he would be able to move
one hundred tens.
Two hundred and ffty-nine deaths
were caused last year in the United
States by boiler explosions, and 555
persons were wounded.
An alligator known to be twenty
two years old was caught recently in u
steel trap near Talbotton, GA. He was
five feet four inches long, and in 1861
escaped from a pond belonging to Levi
b. Smith.
The Union Passenger Depot at
Cleveland is now illuminated by four
teen electric lamps, using the Brush
light. In the car sheds seven of these
lamps displace $50 gas burners, and
give far more brilliant illumination.
The Chicago & Northwestern COM
pany is laying track upon its various
branches and extensions in course of
construction at the rate of a mile and a
half every twenty-four hours. The COM
pany will probably build $50 miles of
new road in 1881.
The largest pasture in the world is
on the border between New Mexico
and Texas. The Indian Territory
bounds it on one side and Colorado on
the other. On one side there are forty
miles of perpendicular rock fence, and
yet it will require 200 miles of fencing
to inclose it. The owner, Taylor
Mandolin, has sown 1000 tons of oats.
He will feed on it 100, 900 head of cat
tie.
A lecture recently delivered by a
Parsee milling expert, Mr.. NJ. +. Patett,
b. A., gives a good deal of information
about spinning and weaving mills in tho
Bombay Presidency, India. The first
mill was started in 1854, and since that
time 80 in all have put in operation TO-
900 looms with 1000, 600 spindles, Civ
ing employment to 30, 600 persons. The
total capital invested is about $50, 000,-
600. Besides the Bombay mills there
are in all India IS others, with some
1900 looms and 100000 spindles. in
volving a capital of about 5000, 000.
The industry employs in all India an
average of 1000 hands to each mill.
The highest number of spindles in one
mill is 100, 900, the lowest 1890. The
average number of looms in u mill is
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-07-02
How Stage Coach was Robbed.

One Of the boldest and most daring rob-
berries ever perpetrated in this State took
place few miles this side of Pagosa Springs
on Thursday night, the passengers on San
derson & Co.'s stage being the victims.
From an interview held with all the passen-
gers who were on the stage at the time the
road agents captured it we learn the follow
ing facts:
Sanderson & Co.'s stage coach. Charley
Gates, Of this city, driver, left Amargo, New
Mexico, the present terminus OF the Denver
& Rio Grande Railroad, at the usual time
on Thursday, with seven passengers aboard.
At about eight O'Clock in the evening the
coach had passed through the rough gulch,
about three miles this side of Pagosa
Springs, and was just entering the park
when four horscmen came up the road and
halted, two hOrsemen on each side. When
the coach was nearly opposite them
the leader called out: Hands
up, there Is man inside we
want" They then rode nearer to the
stage and commanded the passengers
to file out and stand in line, at the same time
covering the passengers with eight Colts
No. 45 revolvers. When the occupants of
the coach were in line, the robbers compli-
mented them on their soldier-like appear
money, watches and chains and jewelry.
They managed to get about 81 goo in cash,
s., 800 in drafts, five watches and chains, four
finger rings, and diamond pin. After Civ
ing up their valuables the passengers were
allowed to resume their seats in the coach,
and when the coach was about to start, and
the road-agents were turning to leave the
scene Of their operations, one Of them sud-
denly made up his mind that there was
better horse attached to the stage than the
one he possessed; SO the party returned, and
the fastidious highwayman embarrassed the
horse that seemed to take his fancy and re-
placed him with little broncho he was rid
ing. When the passengers arrived at this
place they were Z" fiat broke" and some of
the commercial men remarked that if their
houses wanted to do any more business in
this part Of the State, they could do it through
the mail durango Colo Record.