davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-31
Strange Charges of Bribery.

The Albany correspondent of the
New York Times says: "a genuine
sensation has been created in polit-
ical circles by the statements con-
tanned in the editorial columns of
the Evening Journal and the Argus
yesterday and to-day, relative to the
attempted bribery of Governor Cor
nell to sign the Elevated railroad tax
bill by Jay Gould or his agents, ex-
Senator Roscoe Conkling figuring
by inuendo as one of the latter. The
article in the Journal bears marks
of having been inspected by some
one very near the governor, if not
by the governor himself. The ref
erences to the governors relations
and interviews with Mr.. Conkling
during the senatorial contest of last
year are so explicit as to war
rant this belief. Mr.. Conkling's
friends declare that this attack
is not only libelous Git being
reported that Mr.. Conkling
will at once bring a libel suit),
but that it renders Gov. Cornell's
denomination impossible. They say
that at the conference on the Ele-
waited railroad tax bill, at the Fifth
Avenue hotel, to which the Argus
refers, Mr.. COnkling appeared SIM
ply as the paid attorney of the ele-
waited roads, and presented regular
lawyers brief in favor of the meas
ure. They have advised the ex-sen-
ator to publish a statement telling
exactly what took place at that time
To an interviewer yesterday Mr..
Conkling said that he had not been
in Albany, and that it was incredible
that Gov. Cornell could have been
privy to the circulation of such
charges. He said that until he had
read the charges, as he would try to
do in the course of week or SO, he
could not say anything further"
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-31

ton to the schemes and jobs of those
worthless, but to the contrary, all of
that stripe have heretofore appeared
as the most active adherents of the
Robeson-Keiferc combination. Most
certainly there is no assurance, nor
even hint, that the future Mahoncite
in the federal legislature proposes
to display any more virtue than he
has IN the past, but it is quite certain
that the principles of the Indepen-
dent faction, whether its rep
resentatives come from Vir-
ginia, Georgia or Mississippi,
will be identically the same, viz
The spoils; that the universal motto
of that faction will be: ave are
for Arthur because Arthur is for
| u.s."
Our New York contemporary
therefore is radically wrong in its
conclusion that independentism is
on the boom in the south. The
southern people are not only too
wide awake to be willing to devote
their entire time to the study of
"the Kentucky resolutions or the
notification doctrines OF Mr.. Cal
houn," but they are also not to be
caught mapping by so flimsy Radi-
cal disguise as independentism.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-31
The British Navy.

Great Britain has not only a strong
navy but great one and costly
one. A parliamentary return" or,
as we should say, treasury report,
shows the amount of tonnage built
annually by the government in her
majcsty's dock yards and by con-
tract between 1866 and the present
time. Including all kinds of ship
ping-ironclads, and ordinary iron,
wooden and composite vessels-the
total is 49,, 900 tons, and the cost has
been over $75,000,000. AS compared
with the money which the United
States has spent on its navy
to no purpose, this is a small
amount. In 1867 there were
built 1880 tons, in 1868 $1,000,
In 1877 the construction of $4,000
tons cost 100000. During the last
fiscal year, which ended March 81,
there was spent $2,700,0O0 in build
ing 10000 tons of armored ships. No
armored vessels were built by con-
tract, but of unarmored craft 800
tons were so built, at a cost of about
81 100000. In return for all tins ex-
penditure the empire has navy that
can float and can fight; the United
States, though spending more money
OIL its naval establishment, has moth
ing whatever to show for it.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-31
Testing Varieties OF Oats.
1Prair1e Farmer.1

Though oats are commonly con-
sidered a rather course article of
food, the plant itself is delicate in its
habits. 1t is very sensitive on the
point of soils. Winter oats have
been seen to yield forty bushels per
acre, when spring oats, on the same
soil, and in the same season, yielded
only five bushels. Tartarian oats
will give heavy crops in fields where
the potato oat is a failure. The
Hopeton variety is liable to a dis
ease called sedge or tulip-root, which
so limits its range of favorable
growth that it is going out of culti-
walton. The red rust-proof oat
is one of the safest and most popu-
lar varieties, but that it is thorough
ly rust-proof is q mistaken impress
sion. The last report of the depart
ment of agriculture contains a state
ment from South Carolina that this
variety had rusted in certain parts
of the state; nevertheless it was con-
sidered the only oat possible to raise
in that country.
The Chinese Hulless is a new and
much advertised variety, whose
merit and popularity is the absence
of chat. Why it is called Chinese
is q solemn mystery, known
only to seed dealers. The same
oat il known in Ireland 1.-THE
Skinless oat), and has been grown
in England for centuries. Hender-
son says: "The Naked or Hulless
oat is AUend nudd, found growing
wild IN many parts of Europe, and
considered merely a degeneration
of the common oat. A very fine
variety of this species has been in
troduced from China, but it's merits
as farm crop have not been fully
tested" Another prominent variety
is the Washington. which is said to
prove very satisfactory in the north.
ern states. The department of agri.
culture reports give this account
of its origin: "Three years since
Tor in 1879 this new white
oat was received by q grower In the
northern part of New York state
1t was first discovered growing in q
wheat field in Illinois, which was
sown with wheat imported from
OCEiuSuy. AtS appearance WAS 81
distinct from other sorts that it was
deemed advisable TO keep it for fur
Their trials. Notwithstanding the
unfavorable season, it produced
oats weighing forty pounds TO the
bushel."
An interesting experiment, direct.
ed toward an estimate of the COM
narrative value of three Varietlea M
oats we have mentioned, has recent.
ly been made. The three varieties
were sown broadcast at the rate
of four pecks per acre, on ad-
joining plats, on April 2. The field
had been in wheat the year before
and its soil was very poor, sandy
loan. The plats were one-quarter
acre each, and were dressed with
200 pounds of fertilizers per acre
The Rust-proof were cut July 5, the
Washington and Chinese Hulless
July 8. The results were as follows
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-31
A shetland Pony Ranch.

The Texas WoOt Grocer has the
following concerning novel feat
ure in the ranch business of this
state: GAS many Of our readers do
not know that there is a Shetland
pony ranch in the state, we will give
them bit of information. Baron
Won Raub, Leon Springs, Bexar
county, has 5000 acres all under fence
properly subdivided and stocked
with beautiful Shetland and spotted
ponies. His breeding stock consists
of seven stations aud forty-five
mares, all thoroughbred, and 200
small spotted pony mares. He is
breeding race of striped and spot
ted ponies to please the children. lie
sells the increase to persons all over
the world and the supply is not
equal to the demand. These little
ponies range oyer the prairies like
sheep or goats, and present a novel
appearance, very gentle, every one
is as docile as cat and can be caught
anywhere on the range
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-31
Southern Independents.
Savannah (Ga.) News.1

In short editorial article under
the above caption, New York Herald
of Saturday, expresses the opinion
that the political situation IN the
south this year is full of hope.
Strangely enough, however. it attri-
butes this hopeful condition of affairs
to the appearance of a large number
of independent movements in this
section, and this, it thinks, indicates
that the southern people are divid-
ing on live present issues, and that
the solid south-solid because ofliv-
ing Gin the dead and dreary past"-
is melting away. 1t reasons that the
prospects are that the next con-
gress will contain more indie
pendent representatives from the
south than at any period of it's his
tory, and that these same indepen-
dents may hold the balance Of pow
er IN the federal legislature, and
keep in check "the Robesons and
Keifers who are bringing so much
disgrace upon the country"
Our New York contemporary is
wholly and entirely wrong in it's rea-
sonings and deductions. In the first
place, as far as observation in this
section of the solid south goes, the
independents are in more than un-
usual disfavor. In this state they
have made feeble efforts on two or
three occasions to effect an organi-
cation so as to secure to themselves
something like the dignity of a polit-
ical party, but all their efforts have
fallen still-born, and proven signal
failures. What little life there ever
was in the independent movement
in Georgia was most effectually
crushed out when Mr.. Stephens re-
fused to be the nominee of that mon
grel faction. and declared himself a
straight-out Democrat and nothing
else. In the next place Mahoneism
has given Independentism black
eye in the south generally, because
be has exposed it in its true colors,
and shown it to be nothing more
nor less than Radicalism IN disguise.
AS he did in Virginia, so the Inde-
pendents are doing throughout this
section. They all invariably form
coalitions with the Republicans, rely
mainly for success upon radical
votes and substantial aid from the
federal government, and, of course,
under such circumstances, they are
under obligations to become good
enough radicals for all practical pur-
poses. In short, the southern prople
recognize the frozen fact" that Ma
honeism in Virginia, Feltonism in
Georgia, Chalmersism in Mississippi,
and independentism everywhere,
are all one and the same thing, and,
as a rule, they do not take kindly to
any such doctrines.
In the third place, how the INDIE
pendents can be relied on to hold the
Robesons and Keifers of the country
in check IN congress is hard to under
stand. We have not so far seen
Malone in the senate nor any of his
henchmen in the house display any
very extraordinary zeal in oppos.-
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-31
TOAsrING TEXAS.
A social Gathering at tho Rrun.-
wick.

Major John 7. Breckenridge enter.
tanned a number Of his friends at the
brunswick hotel, yesterday evening. in
fue Texan style, aud for a brief season
.ne.e was "a feast Of reason and flow of
soul The entertainment partook, per
maps, more of the character of A lunch
man banquet A hungry newspaper
man, as was the SrATRsNfAN chron.
lcler VINO was honored with an invita-
uon 20 oe present. would certainly cali il
banquet. The table extended across
the full length Of the hotel dining.roon
and fairly groaned beneath The load Of
good things spread upon il. His excal-
lency, Governor Roberts, occupied the
seat at the head of the table, with Jndye
Ihos. j. Devine, of San Antonio
as his risa-ris at the foot
Among those occupying positions
on the right and left of the gsntle,
men named, the following distinguished
citizens were noticed: Hon. George
Pteuifer, Of New Braunfels; Willis r.
wallace, ESQ., OF Castroyille; Fred. ].
locke, Esq, B. l. Boone, ESQ, Mai. 10.
Dwyer, Maj. Hank Adams, of San An
tonic; Col. John T. Coffee, Judge 7. p.
hughes Judge John N. LYLE, Capt. A.
p. FISHER, George w. Logap. OF William.
son Captain G Q. Callan. of Fredericks.
e''s' Judge J. Q. Matthews, A. McFar.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-31

One man has returned from
the Arctic regions who was almost
given up by his friends. The find
ing of Mr.. Leigh Smith in Nova
Zembla was certainly an unexpected
event. He was accustomed to 60 on
an exploring expedition in his yacht,
the Ezra, every summer, returning
home about September. In 1880 he
went as high above Franz Josey land
as latitude 50 degrees, and came near
being wrecked on reef on his re-
turn. Heleft In July, 1881, as usual.
to make more discoveries, taking six
months supply of provisions,an not
a word has been heard of him until
the present announcement of his
rescue. The Ezra, which was a
steam yacht 1S5 feet long, TWENTY
five feet beam, was crushed in the
ice, but Smith and his crew man.
aged to escape with food and tents,
and with the game they shot they
managed to get along until licked
up, . year after their departure
The Arctic ventures of the past few
years have proved so disastrous that
it might be supposed a damper
would be put on Arctic exploration
but two or three more expeditions
are fitting out with prospect Of
disaster.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-31
Money Mt Elections.
New York Journal of Commerce

New York Journal OF Commerce
In our notice of the political as
scssment levied to provide a cam
D. ign fund, we called attention to
the fact that few who discussed it
laid any stress upon the use to be
made of the money. The hardship
TO the poor clerks and laborers who
were thus made to contribute very
considerable percentage of their sal
aries, and the Generalization certain
to result from such pressure upon
the officeholders, formed the burden
OF the indictment drawn up against
the practice. Some have gone a
little further and traced a connec-
ton between the levy and those dis
honest schemes by which men in Of
flee sometimes seek to fill their
purses outside of their legitimate
income. The past records have been
searched to see which party is most
responsible for this method of filling
the campaign treasury, and charges
have been hurled back and forth be-
tween contending factions as to the
comparative thorOughness and Sc
verify with which the old or the new
executed the work.
In the meantime a vast sum of
money, said TO amount alreaiy to
more than a million dollars, has been
received from this source, and is to
be used by the dominent party in
the coming elections. Who protests
against this scandal? For what
purpose will tins money be expend-
ed? The legitimate expenses of an
honest election require no such
heavy disbursements. 1t is no ex-
cuse to say that the Democrats also
use all the money they can get for
the same purpose. If that is so, it is
no defense of the practice. The
Republicans are in power, and
have the whole weight of Off
cial influence on their side. If in
addition to this they levy ON those
in the public service million or two
of dollars, and use this vast sum
corrupting the fountain ofauthority,
what hope can there be of a pure
administration
1t is difficult to tell where the foul
ness will end. If it is not arrested
in time, it will lead to universal
rottenness in all political life. Per
haps this will be the consummation.
Corruption endsin decay and disin-
tegration, and thus opens the way to
new forms of life out of the decom-
posed elements. The party doings
are already a stencil in the public
nostrils, and it may be that the final
change is near at hand.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-31
GENERAL MATTERS.

England's standing army numbers,
counting all ranks, 130,2l0 men.
Burleson county can take Holman
straight, but if he is mixed up with
Wash Jones they will repudiate him.
More than four times the average
annual destruction of lite by light
ming has already occurred i'll the
United States this season.
Ontonagon county, Michigan, the
largest and richest county in the
state, has no telegraph communica-
ton with the outside world.
A mass meeting was held in Chi
cagO on the 23rd of August, for the
purpose of obtaining money for a
monument in honor of John Brown.
Of the 1913 cases of smallpox in
Chicago last year, 1116 proved fatal.
These statistics suggest an impor-
tant field for scientific investigation.
From the LIST of March to date,
Chicago packers have slaughtered
and sailed 1,225,0O0 hogs, against
100000 for the same period last
year.
The reputation of Lord Campbell
for politeness was amusingly illus
trated by a remark made by the
crier of the court. His lordship had
said with great suavity OF manner,
"Let the prisoner be accommodated
with a chair" "He means to hang
him." said the crier.
London's latest is a burying
ground for pet birds and animals,
A company has been formed called
the Geological Metropolis Compa'
ny, limited" 1t will erect a tomb
and reception room for defunct
household favorites, and will set
forth their virtues upon neat mar
BILE tablets.
The new station of the signal SER
vice on Pixies Peak is to be of stone
44x29 feet in size. The work OF
construction will not be easy, fol
everything which goes into the
building, excepting the stones, must
be packed" up the trail distance
of fifteen miles covering a rise Of
5000 feet. The station will cost
about $4,000.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-31

Ir is mentioned, as if it were an
act of genuine liberality, that the
Bank of England has granted three
months leave of absence on full pay
to two of its messengers, who came
recently out of the Guard and went
to the Reserve, and were subse-
quently called upon to join the COL
Ors. 1t is further said that the bank
will extend the leave and the pay, if
necessary. In war that is so largely
a war of usurers the Bank of Eng
land can afford this.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-31

land, Esq, of Lampasas; John c.
Randolph, Esq Col. James E. McCord,
Of Coleman; Maj. II. NJ. Holmes, of
Mason; Messrs. A. p. Woodbridge, j.
NJ. Murch, ID. G. Wooten, Will Lam
bert, Joe ii. Stewart, J. p. Kirk and
several others, of Austin.
After ample justice had been done TO
the choice dishes of tempting solids, a
champagne cork enfilade was opened all
along the whole line, and toasts were in
order. The first was proposed by Major
II. b. Andrews, who offered: Heres
to Major Tom Breckenridge (; better
soul never lived"
In replying to this sentiment, Major
Breckenridge spoke his thanks, re
ciprocally, concluding with a bump
er to "Texas undivided, now
and forever" and asked Governor
Roberts to respond. In doing so, the
governor concluded his remarks by pro
| posing the sentiment of "San Antonio
and Austin-twin sister members of III,
great Texan family. There should bt
no jealousy in their commercial or socia
| relations"
Judge Devine responded to the toast
and took occasion to say he endorsed
Il ulOst HEARTILY the scuIlIuduJ CApICooCu SN
beautifully by the governor. He hope(
the two cities would ever remain bounC
together in fraternal bonds, ant
that their people would continue to cult
vate social and friendly relations.
Mr.. Wallace proposed "West Texas,
and in the course of his reponse Majo
Dryer offered ''the whole Democratic
ticket-from governor to constable. A
inithe past, so in the future will ives
Texas continue to roll up her majoritie:
for every man on the ticket"
Captain Fisher proposed New Braun
fels and Comal county-the connecting
link between Austin and San Antonio"
Major Breckenridge responded in al
appropriate manner, after which thu
flowing bowl was filled once more ant
tossed off TO the health and happiness o
all present, not forgetting the tradi
tional toast to ''the press, the grea
lever" etc. After an hour or more thu
pleasantly spent, the guests quilted tn
banquet hall, many of them to take tn
evening trains for home.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-31
LEAD VS.. LAW.
A Florida Mob Murder Two Negro
Prisoners.


JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Aug. 25.-
AS train containing two colored
prisoners named Savage and James
reached Madison this morning, it
was me: by one hundred persons,
twelve or fifteen of whom rushed
into the train and riddled the pri-
soners with bullets. The agent of
the railroad did not suspect any vio-
lence until a short time before the
arrival of the train, when he attempt
ed to telegraph each way
but found the wires cut. He
then ran up the track and
signslled the conductor not to
stop, but some one had boarded the
train and uncoupled the two rear
cars. The prisoners had been con-
victed of the murder of Frank Pat
teIson, which occurred on the 9Th
of February, 1881, at Madison, in the
room where the testimony was being
taken in the contested election case
of Bisbee vs.. Finley. A new trial
had been granted by the supreme
court and they were being convey
ed from Tallahassee to Jasper to un-
dergo that trial when they were
murdered as detailed above. There
is great excitement in Madison over
the outrage.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-31

The congressional canvass between
j. G. s. Blackburn and w. T.. Owens,
in the Ashland district of Kentucky,
promises to be exciting because of
its extremely personal nature. MIR.
Blackburn, tor instance, hints at a
part having been taken by Mr.. Owens
in the recent state gerrymander.
Mr.. Owens, from the same platform,
asks indignantly if he is to be con-
sidered in anywise responsible for
it. To which Mr.. Blackburn replies
evasively: "Ii ] could read your soul
L might answer the question" In
the debates which have thus far
taken place, Mr.. Blackburn devotes
himself to exposing the shortcom-
ings of the late congress, while Mr..
Owens applies himself with great
persistency to laying bare the wick
edness of Mr.. Blackburn, both polit-
zeal, moral and physical. Thus far
no blood-letting has occurred.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-31

The hoodlum spirit still continues
to suggest a variety of methods for
driving the Chinese from California.
The latest is the act of the san Fran
cisco supervisors, who passed laun-
dry ordinance prohibiting John
from carrying on the washee bust
ness. Its constitutionality being
questioned, a test case was taken
into the United States circuit court,
and an opinion was obtained from
Judges Field and Sawyer declaring,
among other things, that "the busi-
ness of laundry is not against
morals; it is not offensive to
the senses: it disturbs not the
neighborhood where conducted, nor
is 1t dangerous to the public safety
or health" The San Francisco CAL
now says that there may be rehear-
ing of the case. Protests have been
presented to the supervisors declar-
ing that opium is smoked in the
Chinese wash-houses, that their
proximity increases the rates of in
surance, and that in many cases IN
surance is refused by reason of their
presence, and that they are, further,
a nuisance by reason of the noise of
pounding clothes and the noxious
smells issuing from them.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-31

The Coreans, who recently so
cruelty resented the treaty-making
proclivities of their king, have al
ways been known as foreign
hating race. They object not only
to the inroads of foreign merchants,
but they object to any attempt of
Christian missionaries to change
their faith. The Jesuits who entered
the country about twenty years ago
made few converts, but their sue
cess was followed by a massacre of
10000 people, who were suspected
of being remotely contami-
mated with the heresies intro
duced by the Jesuit mission
aries. The best thing which could
happen to Corea would be its annex
alton to the Russian Aslatic posses
sions. The Russians own large
amount of former Corean territory,
and these outposts have been for
many years looking into the little
kingdom. Russia needs COrea, with
its five harbors, timber and rivers
and favorable climate, for naval sta
tiOns, and that she will one day take
possession of the country is almost
certain. 1t will be very profitable
movement for Russia, whose Asiatic
naval station at the mouth of the
Amoor river is too remote and in
too cold climate.