davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-06-29
One Thousand Millions.


A thousand million dollars is the
sum which the arrears of pensions
bill will cost, as it is now estimated.
AS the tendency has been to UNDER
estimate, the chances are that the
sum will be found to be larger rather
than smaller when the cost is finally
ascertained. The old roll, estimat-
ing at a low figure, would require
an average expenditure of about
$20,000,000 a year for twenty-five
years. That is half billion more,
so that the total sum which in the
next twenty-five years will be ex-
pended in the payment of pensions
is not far from the colossal figure of
one billion and a half, or more
than one-third of the cost of the
late war. The adoption of that
clause in the legislative appropria-
ton bill providing for increasing
the clerical force of the pension
Office by 1900 clerks, indicates that
the house is ready to go with those
who have laid out the Republican
programme. That programme is to
rush the payment of the arrears
through as fast as possible. The
men who are managing this thing
estimate that the additional force of
clerks will make it possible to grant
applications for arrears in the
next fiscal year amounting to $780,
100000, and this sum is already
fixed in the pension appropriation
bill. Next they think that this large
force will have cleaned the decks in
the fiscal year 1884 Cor the payment
of $l50,O00O00, in the succeeding
year 100000 600, and the next year
$75,000,000. This programme in
wolves the payment, therefore, on
account of arrears, of $425, 100000 iu
the next four years. 1t is estimated
that in the next ten years the sum
required will be $740,000,000, and
that not until 1898 will the annual
payments fall below $50,000.000, and
not until 1904 will they be below $27,-
100000, the sum which was paid in
the year prior to the passage of the
arrears act.
This enormous business is some
thing the like of which wins never
known by any nation before, civil
lied or uncivilized.. We have
by this bill practically added
to our debt almost the sum
by which we have reduced it
since the war. The government, SO
far as Indebtedness is concerned owes
about as much money as when the
war closed, and this debt was de-
liberately created by bill whose
effects nobody seemed to realize
when it passed congress. 1t is prob
able that very few members of con-
gress to-day realize what this arrears
bill is going to cost. The de-
bates and speeches thus far
do not show that they do. If
they did, some effort would be
made to guard against the frauds
to which this bill gives opportunity.
The late commissioner estimated
these fraudulent claims as equal
to ten per cent on the whole sum. If
his estimate be correct, and there is
little doubt of it, the country must
contemplate the payment of $780,
100000 from the treasury obtained
by fraud. The house passed the
clause increasing the clerks, but not
one step has been taken to put bars
up against further frauds. Again,
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-06-29
secret Of solar Hent.

DR.. Siemen's speculations upon
solar energy, as lately set forth be-
fore the Royal Society, are O little
too abstruse for ordinary mortals
to be able to form all opinion AZ TO
their probability. 1t is. however,
satisfactory to find 20 respectable an
authority expressing q conviction
that there is no probability of tho
suns light going out, for DIR. Sic
mems theory is that the light and
heat of the sun are produced by the
power of the great orb TO at-
tract to its polar surfaces certain
OF the heavier gases with which he
conceives the stellar spaces to be fit-
ted. 1t sucks in vast quantities of
hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and
other gaseous bodies, which, as they
approach the surface of the sun, are
condensed to degree which rend-
ers them intensely hot, and finally
causes them to burst into flame.
There is nothing lost in nature, and
the combustion Of the gases merely
combines them into aqueous vapor,
carbonic oxide, and other compound
bodies, which centrifugal force.
would first carry to the SUMS
equator and thence fling off
again into space. Here they would,
become attenuated, and under the
influence of the suns rays would be-
resolved into their original elements.
ready again to be drawn into the,
polar suriaccs.of the mighty lumin-.
airy, and begin the process all over
as before. Thus the solar light and
heat are explained to be the out
come of never-ending process,
moving in q circle. and must go
on while the sun spins upon his axis.
DIR. Siemen thinks that II this hy-
pothesis should prove 10 be cor
rect, we should no longer DO i'm
pressed with the idea Of prodigious
waste through the dissipation of
energy into space, but rather with
the idea of q well-ordered, self-sus-
tanning section, capable of perpetu-
ating solar radiation 10 the remotest
future. We are thus in no danger
whatever of suddenly finding that
the sun has gone out, and as we have
been already treasured with regard
to recent intimation that we were
all about to be roasted, there seems
really no reason why we should not
enjoy our sunshine this spring with
calm serenitV.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-06-29
Humorous.

Food for reflection: Eating a
large supper and going to bed 10 lie
awake and think about it.
Advice to wives.-Man is very
much like an egg-keep him in hot
water and he is bound to become
hardened.
Nature has given us two ears, and
but one tongue, in order that we
may repeat but one-half of what we
hear.
Mark Twain remarks that all we
need to possess the finest navy in
the world is ships for we have
plenty of water.
1t is said "FOrtune knocks once at
every mans door," In most cases
it must have been when the man
was out.
A lady on being asked why she
called her two canaries Wheeler and
Wilson, replied: Because neither
was Singer"
Sophronia: "What is philoso-
phy~ 1t is something that enables
a rich man to say there is no dis
grace in being poor.
Jones says that after trying for
years to photograph his girl upon his
heart, all he got from her i'll the end
was a negative.
A Western editor once apologize
ed to his readers somewhat after
this fashion ave intended to have
a death and marriage to publish
this week, but a violent storm pre-
vented the wedding, and the doctor
being taken sick himself, the patient
recovered, and we are accordingly
cheated out of both"
A country doctor was sent for to
see a laborer who had received a
conclusion of the brain. He told
his wife to apply leeches, which he
promised to send. The next morn
ing he found the man worse and de-
liriops, aud asked the wife whether
she had used the leeches. She an
swered that she had given him one
whereat she was told by the indig-
nant doctor that she had risked her
husbands life. The poor woman
pleaded that she had done her best
II cut un up small. vinegared and
l peppered un; but "a said 'a'd liefer
die nor take smother"
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-06-29

on q silver tras in the hands of ser.
want. The. lady acknowledges the
invitation in the same way, and if
she accepts, which she is probably
most likely to do, she appears at
the door of lis apartm ents at the APP
pointed hour, in bridal costume,
escorted by one or more of her ladies
in waiting. These then retire. The
husband receives her at the door,
leads her TO little table, where he
treats her to chocolate or tea, cakes,
fruits, etc. In the midst of mis- apart
ments he has a room, furnished in
the most exquisite way he is capable
of, which he holds sacred to his
lady, and never occupies unless she
is present. This room is his pride.
He spares no expense to make it as
unique and charming as possible.
They remain with one another until
the following morning after break
fast, when they again separate, to
meet only at the table, in the nur-
sery, or IN the court. When the
gentleman has received his lady in
his apartments it is not proper to
leave her one moment until they
have breaktasted, which does not
usually occur until nine o'clock.
After the lapse of some days-I do
not know how many-etiquette re-
quires that the lady shall return the
husbands compliment by sending
him a similar invitation, nicely seal
ed in perfumed envelope on sill
yer tray. He acknowledged the in
vitation with many thanks, and ifhe
accepts, which it is presumed he is
quite sure to do, he first INDUCES
i'll the bath, prigs himself up In his
best array, patroniZes his perfume
bottles and his pomades, and at the
appointed hour appears promptly at
the door of his lady's apartments.
She is there to receive him, dressed
like queen, wearing orange bios
SONS in her hair and on her bosom.
She conducts him to a little table,
where he is offered wine and cake.
or chocolate and cakes and fruit.
After this pleasant repast she regales
hun with song and music on the
guitar. She also has, in the midst
OF her apartments, room which she
holds sacred to her husband, and
Which she never occupies unless he
is present. 1t may be supposed that
this sacred room is her PRIDE above
all things. and to adorn and watch
over it the chief occupation and joy
of her life. They remain together
in the lady's apartment until break
fast, after which they again separate.
Tins there is continual interchanOe
of courtisies and a perpetual court
ship. They tell me that this pretty
way OF doing continues as long as
they live, even if it be one hundred
or more years.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-06-29

CONKLING's late reported prefer
ence for Cornell for governor over
Folger, or any man President Arthur
feels disposed to favor, is explained
in this way: Cornell will be nomin-
ated tor governor and Senator Lap
ham for lieutenant governor. The
latter will, thereupon, resign, and
Cornell calling the legislature to-
gether, it will be so manipulated as
to secure Conkling's return to the
senate. Innocent Democrats, who
do not understand what wire. pulling
means, will read this and learn, and
going to the primaries they will look
ont for the man who does not want
anything, and understand that he
will take all, if he can only get il
offered.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-06-29
A BANEFUL PERSONALISM.

The STATESMAN. two years ago,
was earnestly in favor of Governor
Roberts for denomination. Under
present circumstances, and Gov
ernor Roberts has largely shaped
these, the STATESMAN is not for his
nomination for the third term
There was nothing of personalIsm
in our former advocacy of the AL
calde, and there is nothing of per-
sonalism in the present position of
the STATESMAN. Had Governor Rob-
erts not made the declaration that
he would not be governor again, and
had not this declaration been imme-
diately supplemented by his most
intimate friends with movement
for his nomination, we might have
waived the popular antagonism to
thir6-termism, and submitted to his
candidacy in an open and fair field.
But the conditions under which he
is pressed are not such as the STATES
MAN may, under any circum-
stances, accept. 1t might have
been for an open and
bold fight, but it is not for secre
and a cowardly one. To be so would
degrade a record it has made for
honest purposes; and, besides, it
would, in such event, give aid and
comfort to a demoralizing influence
in politics, which, so long as the
STATESMAN exists, it will not SUBJ
nit to without dissent. Governor
Roberts could still make as wise a
governor as he has made, but there
being other Democrats in Texas
capable of making wise governors,
we desire now to see one of these
elected. Had Governor Roberts or
his friends, as the case may be,
made an open contest for the
nomination and thus secured it, he
could then have been elected with
all ease by a very large majority
Sincerity is a priceless jewel, and
we do believe there are many Demo
Gratis in Texas who would rather see
Governor Roberts buried out OF
sight forever as public man than to
have the Democratic party held re-
sponsible for any sort of insincerity
If the Democratic party endorse in
sincerity, then it becomes insincere.
and perilous times await it. If it dc
not endorse insincerity, and thus
remain sincere, it will maintain its
wonted confidence; and to such an
end,the STATESMAN proposes to hold
it. We are for the Democrat party
because its doctrines are honest, and
unless it adhere to honesty in al
things, it must decline in worth and
in influence. The STATESMAN pro-
poses to enter into no contract to
load Democracy in any way, so al
to destroy its power to drag thii
country out of its present politica
position. To load the party in Texas
is to weaken its power in a fedora
sense, to disrupt and to weak
en- it beyond influence even il
Texas. We assume no posi-
ton, endorsing the act of a powerful
official in shaping the politics of thu
state in his own interest /; we are op
posed to any one man, who holds
power, crowding another to thu
wall, because more than ont
man in Texas is held to be fl
for an exalted state position
When personalism in government
must rule, then the STATESMAN with
draws. Governor Roberts has per
formed splendid service for the
state, but his friends, to say the
least. have taken false step in his
behalf, and it would be suicidal te
The Democratic party, and therefors
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-06-29

THE New York Herald accounts
for the mediocre talent on
the tariff commission by saying
"The reluctance on the part of able
and distinguished gentlemen to be-
come members of the commission is
not surprising. In the first place
the proposition to create it was a
job in the interest of those manufac-
turers who opposed to any reform of
the tariff, and who will defeat, if
they can, every effort in that direc-
ton. In the next place, it is safe to
predict that no scheme which it may
suggest will be acceptable to the
country"
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-06-29

every night is a question which we
leave nurses to explain for them
selves after they have tried the sys-
TEN. In the meantime, until that
trial has been made IL is only civil
to believe the testimony OF Drs.
Bourgeois and Vigoureax, who In
two French papers of some author.
ity declare that such is the invaris
able result. This is not, however,
the only advantage to be expected
from the system. The bran Is sup
posed to have a warming and stimu-
lating influence superior to any sort
of cotton or cloth, and TO allow
children of the more sickly kind TO
develop more quickly and to be
sooner able to use their limbs. The
inventor of the system declares that
they delight in their bran beds, and
always "quit them with regret"
when removed at the age of two to
one of a different kind.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-06-29

Il does not seem to have occurred to
members that the payment of this
sum Is sure, by and by, to have q
very serious effect upon the treasury.
The payment of $100,000,000 next
year can be made probably without
great difficulty, but it will be tight
pinch in 1884 10 pay the $150,O0O.000
and not make the sinking fund suffer
for it. AT all events, the probabili-
ties are that after next year there
will be very little reduction OF the
bonded debt until these pension
payments are made. Then come
next year the Geneva award, SIS, 000,-
600; public buildings, say $5,000,000 ;
the new navy, $1O,O00,O00; and the
repairs of the monitors, $5,000,000.
If these appropriations, amounting
TO about S3O0,OO0.000, are made, the
secretary of the treasury will proba-
bly, have to do some very skillful
tinanciering to prevent a deficit in
the sinking fund, even If customs
duties run as high as they have this
year, and the internal revenue is not
decreased. The arrears of pensions
bill in the near future will be the
center around which the financial
policy of the treasury must be at
iracted, and yet few members of
congress seem to realize it.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-06-29

The worst defeat ever experienced
by Prince Bismarck was in tho vote
of the Reichstag on his tobacco mon
opoly measure, which received only
forty-three votes out of 319. This
vote means, In very unmistakable
manner, that the Germans are get
ting weary of the cbancellor's GEN.
traliZing measures aud insufferable
indifference to popular rights.
Many Germans oppose the tobacco
monopoly measure because IL is
based upon the plan of the govern
ment tobacco monopoly in France, a
country which Germans dislike ex-
cessively, aud one, indeed, which
they fear. Bismarck's tobacco bill
would throw 100000 workmen out
Unemployment and close about so 900
shops, the government remaining in
complete control of the tobacco
business. This is Objectionable, al
though the revenues of the govern.
ment would be appreciably in
creased. The German Liberals,
however, see that if Bismarck is al
lowed to have his own way they
cannot expect, in his lifetime, GER
taiDly, 10 see parliament in SEES
sion which can legislate for the
people. This the German reichstag,
certainly does not do and has not
done since the establishment of the
empire eleven years ago. Bismarck
is enraged at every effort to cross
his purposes. His remedy IS q dis
Inissal of the reichstag, and q new
election controlled by the gov
ernment-bullying and defiance
of popular rights, Thus in
Germany there is no education
of the people in parliamentary
freedom. They are suppressed
treated as serfs of William, who dis
tinctly claims the "divine right" to
prevent the development of liberal
government, which is as obnoxious
TO him and to bismarck as it was to
Frances of Austria or to Metternich.
Bismarck and William hold that
such a government is necessary in
order to keep up Germany's military
prestige, so that she may overawe
the neighboring nations. Such q
state of affairs cannot last. The
fabric Of government which Bis
marck has erected will, upon his
death and that of William, be dis
solved, aud it is very probable that
in its place will appear parliament
monarchy with responsible min
istry.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-06-29
HOW WE STAND.

Governor Roberts makes timely
personal representation through our
columns to-day. His declaration to
a representative OF the STATESMAN,
two months ago, was positive that
he would retire at the end OF this
term. The STATESMAN had been
his friend, a friend when he needed
one, for when other papers closed
their columns against truths as to
his administration, it gave them,
and, refuting false charges with
facts, aided in convincing
the people that the gov
ernor had been grossly misrepre-
sented. 1t had therefore reason to
expect sincerity from Governor
Roberts, when he was consulted as
to his course. and his declaration left
no doubt that his name would never
be before the coming state conven-
ton. But many of his friends
have asserted, to the contrary,
that he would be nominated in
spite of this declaration. Had
they not persisted in directing
public attention to such conclu-
sion, Governor Roberts nomination,
through an honest lock in the con-
vention, might have resulted there
from; but the fact that his over
jealous friends have made it appear
that there was insincerity in
what he said leads to his
possible nomination becoming
an utter impossibility. Since the
governor reiterates, in some
what of a qualified sense, his
former declaration, it would be
wise for these friends to let his name
hereafter rest in peace. 1t is foolish,
positively offensive to intelligent
minds, to declare that Governor Rob-
erts is the only man who can fill the
executive office with that ability
which is now required. The decla-
ration by these friends that other
candidates can not be nominated,
and that they ought not to be nomi-
mated, is pressing the thing too far.
The STATESMAN occupies ground
upon which it can handle
the name of Governor Rob-
erts rightfully. IL has endorsed his
administration, not the man, and
hence there has been no personal
ism in its endorsement. 1t was
eminently satisfied with his official
course, and has been the governors
decided supporter. But it has never
been blind enough to admit that
there are not great many men in
Texas who would have made Just as
good governors, some probably bet
ter, than the Alcalde. We are, there
fore, not afflicted with a case
of Robertson, but have
been led by pure desire
to see Texas wisely governed.
Governor Roberts has done well, but
when he said he would retire, his
most intimate personal friends had
no right to continue insisting that
he would be the nominee. We have
tried to believe they have acted with
out consultation with him, and were
it not that the governor leaves, even
now, ioophole to creep out of, the
STATESMAN would be ready to as
sert it in his behalf.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-06-29
THE SOUTHERN STATES.

The Shipment of the lemon crop
has commenced at Tampa, Florida.
A wedding between deaf mutes
was novelty at Chattanooga, a few
days ago.
Pineapples go begging for buyers
at Cedar Keys, Florida, at ten cents
apiece.
Not death has occurred among
the white population of Madison,
Georgia, this year.
New Orleans thinks of establish
ing Castle Garden for the accom-
mediation OF immigrants.
Valuable mineral springs, pos
sessed of great curative properties,
have been found at Salem, Virginia
"Aunt Anarchy" a colored wo-
man, who died recently i'm Florida,
was the mother of twenty-eight liv-
ing children.
Walter Johnson, white boy, aged
fourteen years, has been found
guilty of murder at Natchitoches,
Louisiana, and sentenced to hang.
The candlestick Stonewall j Jackson
used in camp, made from a three
pronged oak knot, was on exhibition
at the Atlanta Art Loan Exhibition,
just closed.
The Rockdale paper mills, among
the finest and most valuable prop
erty in the south, and located at
Convers, Georgia, are 10 be sold at
sheriff's sale July IL.
At Augusta, Georgia, a boy named
George Haney ran under the canal
bridge to escape a hail storm, and
striking his head against a rafter
was stunned, fell into the river and
drowned.
The grapes grown by the stock
holders of the Georgia wine COM
pany, located in >Cuthbert, will this
year make 20,080 gallons of wine,
which is the present capacity of the
company.
A j. Boiling, an Indian, just SEN
fenced to a term of two years in
the Virginia penitentiary for bur-
glary committed in Scott county, is
the first one of his race ever impris-
oned in the penitentiary of thai
state.
A man living at Simmons Gap,
on the Blue Ridge, in Virginia, who
is eighty years old, is living with his
ninth wife, and is the father of fifty
three children. At a recent family
reunion 800 of his descendants were
present.
Madison, Florida, has its sensa-
ton. A party of five children, while
out berrying heard noise in the
air above them, and, looking up, be-
held a man sitting astride a huge
fowl which flew slowly along. The
wonder was also seen by two ne
groes.
While blowing in field in Faulk-
ner county, Arkansas, recently,
George Smith saw a ravine which
had been washed by a recent over
flow OF the Black Fork, and in which
reposed large number of human
skeletons, lying in natural positions,
together with several earthen bowls,
shells, arrows, leaden bullets, etc.
The skulls were all incased in yes
sells made of clay, while one, with
handsomely engraved ornaments,
denoted that the skull belonged to
an unusually important parsonage.
The farm has been under cultivation
over forty years, and relics denoting
the existence there at one time of a
prehistoric race have been frequently
found.