davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-20

party programme, for the proposed pro.
hibition law was defeated by over 40, 600
votes. It is q fair assumption that this
majority included great many thousand
Democrats who would not publicly re-
pudiate their own platform, but who were
determined that it should not carry with
their help. Butthe mostremarkable feature
in the whole business is that the Demo.
cratic Legislature of a State like that of
North Carolina should have thought it
either polite or practicable to get law of
this kind enacted. Had the Legislature
been Republican it would not have been so
astounding, but for Democratic Legis.
lature to propose such law is indeed
phenomenal. Of course the presumption
would be against the probability of get
ting it Endorsed, moreover, which seems to
indicate that the DemocTatic leaders were
somehow deceived as to the real state of
public opinion. For both the natural pre-
sumption and the actual outcome were
against them, and the result proves lust
what would have been concluded without
test, namely that there was not the
remotest chance of passing such law in
North Carolina. The Republicans have
got themselves in rather an awkward
position by their advocacy, by implication,
of :" free rum" and the Democrats must
feel quite lost at finding themselves op
posed to that principle Altogether it is a
very curious conglomeration of affairs.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-20
THE SUFFRAGE IN ITALY.

An Italian correspondent of the Nation
says that the recent passage by the Cham
Der of Deputies of the suffrage bill, which
adds some three millions OF voters to the
registers, is of very questionable usefulness,
the fact being that though hitherto only
five hundred thousand out of population
of 100000 coo have possessed the right Of
suffrage, not more than fifty per cent. of
them have cared enough about it to ex-
ercise it, the highest percentage ever cast
being sixty-two. As to the causes of this
abstention, of course there are many and
various explanations, but it seems to US
that it is unnecessary to seek abstruse rea-
sons for such a state of things. The fact
is that the habitual exercise of the suffrage
can only be taught gradually, and that
save in the most exceptional cases, even in
thoroughly trained voting communities
like those of the United States, it is found
that % per cent almost invariably stay
away from the polls. That in Italy, where
the whole political process is new and un-
familiar, the abstention should be twice
as great as our normal ratio, is in no
way surprising, and we do not think
the inference can be drawn from it
that the new Italian suffrage bill will
not be availed of by those to whom it gives
the right of voting. No doubt there is in
Italy considerable element of half-civil.
lied peasants who cannot be expected in a
single generation to learn the uses of free
institutions No doubt the suffrage has in
many respects been conferred prematurely
upon men incapable of using it intelli-
gently. That is always the case where
nations insist upon applying to themselves
without preparation the institutions which
their neighbors have slowly and naturally
evolved after complete and gradual politi-
cal education up to the level of those insti-
buttons. Italy and France, and all the
Latin countries which favor democracy,
have failed to realize that it is a form OF
government demanding above all others
popular apprehension and enlightenment
Italy is certainly not prepared intellectu-
ally for universal suffrage, but unless
Clericalism makes mischief between the
stupider peasants and the Government, she
may by degrees fit herself for the bold ex-
pertinent she is essaying.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-20
FLIPPER.

Poor Flipper, the whilom colored cadet,
about whom so much fuss was made, has
fallen from grace. and apparently taken
and used company funds, and then tried
to desert to Mexico. 1t is to be observed,
however, that if any other officer in the
army had done the same, the probability is
that the matter would have been kept
quiet. As it is Flipper, the colored cadet,
the rumor is at once given to the press,
and he is gibbeted as thief all over the
country. 1t is to be regretted that he
should have fallen under temptation, not
only because it is to be regretted when
any man occupying a respectable position
forfeits his reputation for honesty, but be-
cause the malicious will attempt to infer
from the event the general badness of col.
ored cadets, linking Flipper with Whit
taker
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-20

disrupted, and civilization has been extin-
guished, new and better order of things
will somehow be evolved from the ruins.
But of course this constitutes no justi6ca-
ton for their pessimistic creed, which is
from beginning to end the wild dream of
homicidal maniac There is no possible
good to be got out of such speculations as
they indulge in. Their theories and their
logic are Anticipated and obsolete. The
doctrine of justifable assassination could
not now be promulgated by the Church that
first formulated it. It is impossible for
secret society which has no objects which
are not sinister and atrocious, to revive it.
Hartmann has mistaken the temper of the
American people. He will find neither
sympathy nor following here. 1t is only
in such exotic localities as the beer-cellar
of Justus Schwab that his kind of argu-
ments are listened to approvingly, and the
habitues of such places are the dregs of
the slums of European capitals.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-20
THE PRESIDENT.

The President still lives. The doctors,
who have become appreciative of the incest
shades of improvement in his condition.
confidently assert that he is better. There
appears to be so much truth in this that he
yesterday was able to swallow some sixteen
ounces of milky mess called koumiss, and
as this stuff is of kind TO make a healthy
person unwell, perhaps it is decided sign
of improved tone in his stomach that he
should have been able to retain it. The
mysterious swelling in the parotid gland is
said to have nearly subsidized, without pro-
duoing the abcess for which DIR. Bliss was
looking with so much hopeful anticipation.
At present the doctors appear to have
reached that state of mind in which they
are prepared to say that they have been
expecting whatever may happen. This
declaration saves much trouble, and at the
same time gives them an air of prescience
which is encouraging to the public Mean.
time the President continues to be in a
most critical condition, bulletins and in.
terviews to the contrary notwithstanding.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-20
STATE AND COAST.

Ukiah is to have a large wool warehouse.
The loss by the Covelo fire was from
$50, 900 to $4,000.
A rich gold bearing quartz ledge has been
discovered near Covelo.
The San Luis Obispo Tribune has en-.
tered its thirteenth volume, and is in a
fourishing condition.
Peaches, apples and pears are unusually
high, and IN consequence our friends and
neighbors are prosperous.-[So noma Index.
The San Diego Union thinks if sugar
cane can be cultivated in the Sacramento
valley that it will flourish like green BAY
tree In San Diego county.
Four cinnamon bears were killed at Web
Der Lake by sheep herder ON Sunday last.
In the course of his meanderings through
the woods he ran across an old she bear
with her three cubs, and be managed to
dispatch the whole gang.
Hay is unusually plentiful in Napa this
season-the result of wet winter and the
prevailing being from SIS to $40 per ton.
The corn crop in this county is reported
good, both in quality and quantity.
Thus the Cotton Semi zropic boasts:
Eastern visitors stopping in the valley for
a few days are completely captivated with
our fruit, and as for peaches, say we have
the largest, inest-looking and favored
fruit they have ever found. They say the
Eastern peach cannot begin to compare
with the article we produce here.
An Alameda Postmaster refused to send
postal card because the message was
written In telegraphic characters, on the
ground that he was not permitted to for.
ward any postal card which he could not
read. The Department at Washington d.
rected him to forward the card, and not be
SO Jealous in the performance of his duty
in the future.-[San Jose Mercury.
= Mr.. Husselman, who lately visited the
Calaveras grove of big trees says the seeds
are exceedingly hard to gather. They
grow in cone not bigger than small egg
and fall before the cone does. The i'm
mense hight of the trees forbids any plan
for gathering them. Seed is worth $50
per pound. One man there makes good
wages shooting cones out of the tree tops
with his rifle. He brought some down for
our informant. The seedlings grow in
numbers, and are dug up and taken away
by nurserymen.
There was large fire one mile north of
Plymouth on the 18th instant. A strong
breeze blowing, it spread over 200 acres
in short time, cleaning everything before
it except the green trees, and killing large
quantities of them. Mr.. Matthews is the
principal loser, the fire destroying large
quantity of wood, one-half mile of new
plank fence, 500 new cedar rails, all of his
dry feed, and his buildings were barely
saved. The fire if supposed to have origi.
mated in blasting timber by an Italian EN-.
ployel by John Daveggio, chopping wood
IN j. e. Pettit's land.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-20
GAMBErrA's BID FOR POPULARITY.

Gambetta has been initiating Bismarck
in his speeches to the workingmen. He
has declared himself in favor, not only OF
the complete freedom of association for
operatives, but in favor of systems of Gov
eminent life insurance, accident and crop
insurance. The strong tendency on the
part of Gambetta and Bismarck to pro.
pitiate the working classes by proposing
governmental arrangements CT this kind
shows how rapidly the growth of Paterna' :
ism is proceeding in Europe. The truth is
shat both in France and Germany the
State is afraid of the working classes, and
is willing to purchase peace with them
at any price. The student of history will
be apt to recall the policy of the Roman
rulers in the decline of the empire, when
the populace were habituated to the
panem ct circeuseS policy, and when in
consideration of these largesses they al
lowed the Emperors to do as they pleased
with the liberties, property, and lives of the
classes above them in social and intellect
ual position. Bismarck and Gambetta are
playing dangerous game. They are of.
fering to the working classes distinctions
and special privileges which are calculated
to debauch both the donors and recipients,
and which will probably have little or no
effect in restraining the restless Socialist
movement which aims at utilizing the brute
strength of the masses in appropriating for
their enjoyment whatever of good the
world contains.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-20

MILITARIsM IN EUROPE.

The Austrian Liberal leader in the
Reichstag, Herr Herbst, struck the key
note of the time when he told his con-
stituents the other day that the malady
from which all Europe is suffering is mil
itarism. He said: st is unknown in
America, and therefore the United
estates will soon have no national debt,
and will by degrees become the creditor
"of Europe, at the same time disposing
" of its immense resources" He further
observed that g the prospect of milltarlsm
+" was causing constant increase of emigra-
" ton to America from Austria and Ger.
"many" This is all true, and it is, as
Herr Herbst remarked, very serious. The
continental powers appear to have entered
upon policy of colossal military estab-
lshments from which there is no retreat.
As one increases its army the others are
compelled to follow the example, and it is
impossible to see any end to this costly
rivalry. II this were all, however, the
situation would not be so intolerable, but
it is equally clear that the growth and
maintenance of these great military estab-
lishments tends strongly to encourage war.
When the armies have been raised it is
necessary to do something with them, and
the very peoples whose revenues are being
drained to keep them up are apt to en-
courage their employment in schemes of
conquest. The war spirit once raised
carries away the national Judgment, and
war brings in its turn wild speculation,
corruption, and all the vices and evils
which disrupt society and impoverish it.
The peasantry of Europe, however, are
coming to understand that they have one
means of escape from the drill.sergeant and
the tax-gatherer. They have found in
emigration solution of their life problem,
and they are embracing it more and more
eagerly year after year. Prince Bismarck
long since perceived this danger, and he
has made one Intellectual attempt to stop
emigration. But it was found to be i'm.
practicable, and so the stream continues to
flow to our shores, and to swell as it flows.
Ii the continental governments do not see
the risk they are running soon, and if they
do not choose between the DISARMAMENT of
their huge armies and the depopulation of
their provinces, the question will settle
itself without them, and some day in the
not distant future it will be made clear to
them, after costly war, that they no
longer possess the power of rehabilitation,
and that they have ruined their systems in
their ill.judged endeavois to protect them
selves against aggression from outside.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-20
NO COUNTY ELECTIONS.

The State Supreme Court rendered de-
cision yesterday to the effect that no county
elections are to be held this year, outside
of San Francisco. The decision was rem
dered by Justice Sharpstein, Justices Nc
Kee, Thornton and Myrick concurring,
Justices McKinstry and Ross dissenting,
and Chief Justice Morrison expressing no
opinion. This decision will save great
deal OF trouble and expense in the interior
of the State, and will no doubt be accepted
with entire satisfaction by the present in
cumbents of offices. San Francisco will
nave all the politics to herself for the re-
mainder of the year, and the rest OF the
State can look on and get instruction from
the methods of her highly respectable po-
litical managers and "bosses."
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-20

tervals that all houses shall be properly
drained. In addition to such sanitary reg.
ulations every community could erect pub
lie baths and wash. houses, and ought to.
There is nothing in which modern civiliza-
ton is contrasted with ancient SO greatly to
its own disadvantage as in this matter of
cleanliness. The Greeks and Romans did
literally believe that cleanliness was next
to goodness, and they purified themselves
abundantly. The sums they expended on
public baths put to shame the requests of
our rich men to colleges and libraries and
museums. There are few of our most pre-
tentious buildings fit to compare with the
noble structures which were erected by the
Roman Consuls and Emperors for the free
use of the people all over Italy, and in fact
wherever the Roman eagles few. But we
boast of our civilization, and yet tolerate
an habitual filthiness of person among our
masses which is alike disgusting and un-
healthy.
Public baths and wash houses have been
tried in London and Paris, and with most
encouraging results. They have proved to
be genuine educational agencies. They
have led to the abandonment of scottish
habits to the cultivation of self-respect
and personal pride; to the growth of
domestic tastes and ideas to the building
up of homes where before there existed
only kennels; to the retaining of the
fallen; to the decrease of crime to the
elevation of the poor in every respect.
Show the poorest people how they may
live decently and in comfort, and they will
be glad enough to free themselves from
squalor and wretchedness. Enable them
to earn fair subsistence, and they will
cease to glover upon the possessions of the
more prosperous. Give them self-respect
clean rooms and skins food fit to eat
air fit to breathe and they will cease to
crave after gin. Make life endurable to
them, in short, and they will no longer
seek forgetfulness of its miseries in the
brain-soddening liquor, or the Supplying
opium. Depend upon it that the tendency
to chronic alcoholism almost always I'M
plies deep-seated and constant wretched.
ness, and that the least endurable evils of
life are those which grow out OF natural
conditions, and are in the majority of ia
stances amenable to treatment. Those who
desire to aid in the intimidation of
crime should first analyze its producing
causes, and then they will understand
that even so tangible an evil as intern
perance may often be most successfully
attacked indirectly.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-20
STEADY DEGENERAcY.

The Democracy of San Francisco degen-
crates steadily. 1t has this year sunk
lower than ever, having fairly turned over
the command OF its columns to the Sand
lotters, who constitute the worst and least
intelligent element in politics. But there
Is nothing surprising in this decline, for
the National Democracy has been exhibit
ing the same general symptoms ever since
the rebellion. The Democratic party, as
an organization representing principles and
convictions, ceased then to have any rea-
son for existence. It mas been engaged
ever since in turning itself inside out. 1t
has, that is to say, been gradually Kidding
itself of all its respectable and intelligent
elements, and supplanting them with DEM
agogues, greedy office-seekers, and advent
urers OF all kinds save the honest kind
The course of the Democracy in the last
Presidential campaign showed how COM
pletely it had ceased to regard principle in
its management, and with what an entire
absence OF scruple 1t employed base and
infamous methods. The Endorsement
which these methods received from the
Democratic press bears testimony to the
Generalization of that press, and the San
Francisco managers are now showing them
selves to be fully abreast of the National
Committee in corruption and shameless
ness. The Democratic party now more
than ever represents the most backward,
the least moral and law. abiding elements
of the country. Whether it will ever rep
resent anything better may be doubted,
but it must be conceded that the elements
referred to are quite strong enough to
possess an organization Of their own.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-20
THE THREATENED WESTERN RAILROAD
WAR

Ii 1t be true, as stated in the dispatches
yesterday, that formidable railroad war
Is threatened in the West, between jaw
Gould's combinations and those of the Cen.
trail and Southern Pacific, the Chicago.
Burlington and Quincy, and the Denver
and Rio Grande Companies, the probabil.
ity is that the movement will do much to
stimulate the tendency towards consolida-
ton, which is already so marked. Great
combinations of capital are often very
daring, but at the same time thew are
usually controlled by broad business con.
siderations The wealthy men who appear
about to engage in this struggle have no
intention OF war outrance. They may
be prepared to carry it on to considerable
lengths, but they are not the men to lose
sight of the ultimate purpose of railroad
construction, and the farther they proceed
the more likely will they be to accommo.
date their differences in the end by combi-
nation. Again, the very disposition
which at this stage of railroad development
seems to be setting the managers of the
trunk routes against one another, must
operate to promote consolidation for pur-
poses of protection and offense. There are
now so many railroads either completed or
In course of construction that it is an easy
matter to make new and strong combina-
tons IN almost any part of the country !;
and where such combinations are made
there will be tendency on the part of
those who control them rather to divide
the business than to fight for it indefinitely.
Jay Gould has hitherto accomplished a
great deal by mastery and unexpected
combinations, but if he has made up his
mind to war with the Pacific Coast rail.
roads he will discover before long that he
has encountered his match. Capitalists do
not often enter upon contests of this char
acter merely for amusement, or to crafty
ambition, and Jay Could is not the man to
sacrifice his material interests to any such
sentiments. If he cannot gain his ends by
strategy or audacity ne will probably con-
clude that the war is not justifable In
any event, however, these movements
must tend to hasten consolidation, and
thus to produce general situation which
will be in many respects guarantee
against suicidal competition in the future.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-20
A CURIOUS REVERSAL OF POLICIES

The late prohibition election in North
Carolina deserves to take rank as one of
the oldest freaks of politics on record, and
it shows how completely the traditional
policy of party may be reversed in response
to political exigency. The prohibition
law, which was of the most rigid type,
was, singularly enough, proposed and sup
ported by the Democrats. Whereupon the
Republicans, regardless of their past policy
as the friends of temperance and order,
flung themselves into opposition, and de-
nounced the proposition vehemently. The
negro voters went with the Republicans,
and against prohibition. There was no in.
timidation at the election, but on the con-
trary, the negroes were invited and even
assisted to come out and vote. No doubt
the Democratic private sentiment was
quite emphatically against the Democratic
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-20

robbing and beating and starving her three
years together, the Court thinks three
months in the House of Correction quite a
sufficient punishment. Is it to be wondered
at that while such comparisons and con-
trasts are possible, the men who go to
State Prison should regard themselves as
by no means the worst in the community,
or that it should be hard to reform them
If the moral standard were employed in
ascertaining the criminality of offenders.
this rutfisn Leslie would be sentenced to
life imprisonment or else the horse-thief
would be dismissed with an admonition.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-20
Committed for TriaI-Death OF n Pioneer
Physician aud a Young Lady-Trip for
Hcalth-Military Change.

PORTLAND, August 10Th Alfred Saunders,
charged with indecent assault on Jessie
Fernandez, little girl aged years, had an
examination to-day. Defendant was held to
await the action of the Grand Jury in 81
800, and was committed In default
DIR. A. NJ. Belt, one of the old pioneer
physicians of the State, died at his home in
Independence, Polk county, to-day, after a
long illness. Deceased was aged IS. He
leaves large relationship in the State. DIR.
Belt came to Oregon in 1851.
Miss Dera Creitz, q young lady employed
as one of the teachers in the public schools at
East Portland, died quite suddenly this
afternoon at her home. Up to few min
utes before her death she was in apparent
good health
Rev. j. A. Cruzan, pastor of the Congre-
gational Church in this city, and wife leave
tomorrow, en- route to the Sandwich Islands,
where the former will assist Rev. Mr.. Hallen-
back in revival services. The trip is made
also on account OF the poor health of Mrs.
Cruzan.
Colonel Amos StickueY, now stationed at
Keokuk, Ia. has been appointed to succeed
Colonel Gillespie as engineer in charge of
this Department, and is expected here by the
middle of September.