davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmingtonian., 1885-09-05
General B. f. Butler.

Benjamin f. Butler has again placed
himself in an ungraceful position before the
people. He has chosen to champion the
cause of the cattlemcn in opposition to the
Presidents order that they vacate the Indi-
an lands.
General Butler is pecuuiarily interested in
the Western cattle business. That fact will
explain his position to certain extent.
But then it also exhibits General Butler as
one of class, the most reprehensible in the
country, who, despite the better example
their prominent position as public men
should afford to the mass of their fellow
citizens, use the advantages incidental to
that position for personal aggrandizement
and are totally blind to the effects of degra-
dation and vitiation upon the masses such a
course of action hasin a reflex manner.
When can we expect standard of public
or private morality to exist when our prom
inent men not alone transgress, but make it
their diligence to ascertain OF discover some
loophole, or fiction of the law by which the
Presidents direct proclamation may be
voided? Surely we cannot consider such a
state one of pablic morality, when it is con-
sidered "smart" TO take advantage of some
quibble by which the law of the land is dis
obeyed.
No man in the United States knows bet
ter than Benjamin F. Butler that the spirit
of the order in which President Cleveland
demanded that the Indian lands be vacated
is righteous and just and was issued as the
result of the weight of public opinion, long
maturing and now finding vent in the Pres
ident's manifesto In moral sense Gener-
al Butler is in the Position of a premedita-
ted disturber of the public peace and an in
stigator of opposition to public law.
Whatever bubble of the law General But
ler may successfully raise, the people see
only that grievance existed, that these cat
tlemen by their own admission ave trespass-
ers, that the Presidents order is just one,
long looked for, and demanded by the peo-
pie of this country. Public opinion thor
oughly endorses the executive upon the
principle involved in this Indian ques-
tion.
When General Butler announces his in.
tenton of suing the President he only gives
to his countrymen smother gratuitous in
stance of his record " public folly.
The Wilmingtonian., 1885-09-05
PRICE TWO CENTS.
The Panama Canal.

Nothing can be more scaudalous than the
extreme divergence of scientific assertion in
regard to the Panama Canal. What at
tracts the public attention is not the con-
trast of hypothesis but the contradictoriness
of figures and statements handed in by the
most eminent engineers of the world.
We have been taught to consider engi-
neerlng one OF tho exact sciences. Yet the
most prominent American and French engi-
neers contradict one another fatty upon the
figures and measurements in connection
with the Panama Canal project.
What is the public to believe? There was
never at any moment any other supposition
but that the cost of the project is to be de-
frayed by private enterprise. When great
national authorities differ upon vital points
such as measurement aud cost, where can
there be any hope of pecuniary support
from the people. America and France thor
oughly recognize the fact that the Canal
question will never be allowed to be trans
formed into problem of national value. 1t
must be restricted to commercial and inter
national lines.
Against deLesseps' first estimate of a to-
tai cost of $120, 0,OOO, 900, recent estimate by
an American engineer gives the figures $40O,
100000 Mr.. Wilfred Nelson, the engineer
in question, says ''to complete it would
probably cost from s4eO, 900, 600 to $500, 600.
600 such fabulous sum that no existing
tonnage would pay interest upon it."
1t seems that Mr.. Nelson is a sufficiently
capable engineer, who has made his calcu.
lations with every detail of care and labor,
going over the works personally, and every
figure he gives is afforded as result of In
dlvidual observation.
Contradictoriness of data such as the
above must in time have its effect upon the
ehief supporters of the Panama scheme, the
French people themselves. Probably to as
sert that in the minds of the more intelligent
of that nation the project is already looked
upon as speculative sentiment would moi
be outside the range of fact. The French
have put their foot in it, and, national hon
or compels them to assert belief in the un.
dertaking.
AS the matter stauds now the majority o.
American and English engineers condemn il
as a commercial undertaking, while leading
French engineers still stand by De Les
seps.
|
The Wilmingtonian., 1885-09-05
The Meaning of a Word.
j Che following q
tlfSOfficer DIR. SmftiI

"oooi Di' pih'" o'h-
plished in one day, examining every lndtvld-
ual on board each ship,
Tie New York Herald after referring to
many of the difficulties and distractions
purposely put in the way OF the Health Off
Ger, proceeds to describe his mornings work
thus:
''The first ship he came aboard was the
stately Ems, with 1900 passengers-oabin
and steerag e-packed into her innermost re-
recesses; then British liner, with grst of
900 Paddles from Paddyland; three freight
steamers from various ports; steamer from
the Mediterranean, with 400 "Macaronies"
on board, that you can smell mile away,
and handful OF ships barks brigs and
schooners from everywhere. This is no ex-
traordinary list for a summer morning, but
what mountain of labor it suggestsl At
rough guess, 1000 human beings to look
over, and every one in the LOCO containing
this inspection must be an encyclopedia of
sanitary information. He must be posted
on the condition of ports in all parts of the
world, so that he may know where to exer-
else peculiar vigilance. He must be 'fly'
and wary, for willy men of the deep are full
of deceit, and it is no uncommon thing for
them TO swear John Smith was buried at
sea of bilious fever when J. S. had Yellow
Jack of the worst kind. He must know the
signs of smallpox, yellow fever and other
diseas IS. so that he can detect them at a
glance. He must be good judge of human
nature, for he deals with all sorts, and per-
sonally handles every immigrant who comes
into port. He must be man of extraordi-
nary tact, for he runs across all sorts of
cranks Yet he must be of infexible firm
ness. Few people know what hand-to-
hand contest DR.. Smith has wased with
many Of the steamship lines, which insisted
| Ou putting bhSh Sihal'POA hoslIbalo III thV
middle of their steerages, but he had the
backbone to win and he brought the most
obstinate to terms"
During the day the quarantine officers
have to keep the sharpest lookout for ships
trying to run the blockade of the quarantin
laws. American sailing ships and coaster;
from the Atlantic ports are more trouble
some than the large European steamers will
thousands of immigrants aboard. Steam ii
kept up without cessation day, night, auG
Sunday. There is no intermission or res
whatever, so viglant are the health authori
ties of New York.
Some of the most aggravating times thu
quarantine men have are with the "Dowl
Easter" skippers. These shrewd fellow
are always on the alert ready to slip off oil
the first slant of fair wind, This they do il
the hope that they can get sufficient OF al
, offing to preclude the quarantine tug at
tempting to follow them. The Health Off
GERS never refuse the challenge but steau
straight after the coasters, usually run ther
down and make them pay the quarantin
fee. II the skipper is discovered to be a
: old offender his fine is trebled.
The Wilmingtonian., 1885-09-05
An ENJOYABLE Sight.

The large crowd that gather at the foot of
Fourth street, each evening, to meet friends
aud relatives as they come off the Steamer
Brandywine, presents an interesting study.
You will notice those in waiting on the
wharf intently scanning face after face of
the multitude of passengers until the sought
for one is discovered, then an involuntary
exclamation of recognition is heard and the
expression Of anxiety is instantaneously
changed to that of joy, and as the gang
plank is passed the cordial greeting attests
the pleasure and happiness of the reunion
after the temporary separation.
The Wilmingtonian., 1885-09-05
Miss CleYeland's Book.

We must own up to the fact that it is the
present custom, though more of hidden
than public one to sneer when a woman
steps upon the RESTRAIN to talk to the world.
Miss Cleveland has spoken to us upon the
subjects "George Ehot's poems and other
Studies"
In regard to the peculiar cast of genius of
different poets there will always be wide
range of contrasted opinion: but we invite
reading of the chapter on monachism as
an instance of an unusually fine display of
logical arrangement of thought, planned
and furnished with weighty argument to a
most purposeful end. The author tells the
story of the monastery in a chain of capti-
waiting anecdote from the commencement OF
that institution by Antony in the Libyan
deserts, to its increase and growth under
Athanasius, Benedict, Jerome, Dominic,
and Augustine, and in Asia under Buddha
points the distinction between the teachings
of Manicheeism and those of the Nazar.
enc.
Miss Cleveland says "over and over again
will wretched phantasy of conscience bic
the conscience-stricken turn bis back oil
homely, present duty in the battle plain o.
life, and make the same old experiment o.
self-salvation i'll unhallowed reuunciations
The spirit of mouachism has survived th,
medieval monastery, Its profitless expert
ments, its unavailing renunciations are no
now confined to convent walls Not among
those luminous figures which emerge from
the modern convent to carry the comfort o
the cross to battle field and prison cell d.
we find the painfulest examples of its sal
misleading, but in the selfish segregation
of the fashionable cliques, the complacen
hypocrisy of social ostracisms, of scientif
unbelef, of sated soulIess culture, Of MOI
The Wilmingtonian., 1885-09-05
An Auditing Board that did not
Audit.


The experts authorized by the Board of
Education to disentaugle the accounts of
the late Treasurer Of said Board, have made
their report, A deficiency of $1,000 was
not only discovered but the defalcation is
shown to have extended through a series Of
years.
Who is legally responsible to this city for
II. B. Morris shortage is an important is
sue raised by the report of the expertsP
VIII the bondsmen of Morrow, or will the
Auditing Committee of the School Board be
called upon to liquidate the 81 200 legacy Of
the decamped Treasurer?
Independent of the law upon this point it
seems just and rational that the bondsmen
should only be held for the deficit from the
date of the last audit, up to the time of the
deoampment.
An Auditing Committee is a presumable
safeguard to bondsmen, and if the Auditors
are misleading in their reports they and
they alone should suffer-
If the Committee on Accounts in th,
Board of Education had done their duty
the defalcation could not have exceeded s10t
before It would have been detected, and al
they we're unmindful of their obligation
they must face the responsibilities of thei
acts,
The Wilmingtonian., 1885-09-05
THE ARMY AND THE PEOPLE.

Among all nations, since the records of
history have been extant the fact has been
recognized that he who holds the army uu-
der his direct power is the de facto king.
European history sufficiently well indicates
the automatic truth of the assertion. I'm
mediately Cromwell had succeeded in work
ing his way to tie chief command of the
parliamentary forces, Charles rule over
England was irretrievably lost, his reign
was over, and the scaffold had already cast
its dire shadow upon the l2ckess king.
Again, at the Restoration, after the landing
of Charles II, that kings throne was not
assured to him, until General Monk, the
commander in chief, gave in his allegiance
to the new king.
Our standing army though not of great
extent, is of great political Importance, ard,
as in the historical incident Of 1876 perhaps
the most serious crisis of our recent his
tory, of most significant importance. The
coup d'etat by which the republican govern
ment of France was overthrown by Louis
Napoleon was an undertaking made sue
cessful simply by posting few regiments
of regular soldiers at strategic points around
the government buildings and in the streets
Charles too, attempted to overawe tue Eng
lish parliament by introducing armed SOL
diers into Westminster Hall. He did it
once, but thereby raising such storm of in-
dgnation among the members that with
pallid face and trembling voice he gave the
order for their withdrawal.
There was somewhat similar incident in
our own country, in the Kellogg affair in
| New Orleans.
1t cannot be denied and it would be
extremely impolitIc to hide from view the
fact that an army, during any moment of
national or political disturbance is factor,
which in the hands of INSCRIPTIONS men,
can be used for the worst purposes, not
alone of individual aggrandizement, but for
subverting the government itself. Should
the commanding general be an ambitious
man those moments of political perturba-
tion are only intensified by that fact.
II should not be necessary then to de-
mand, that in our country OF democratic in
stitutions, the distinctive ultra-political
status Of the general of the army be thor.
oughly understood. Yet at this moment in
Washington there is squabble between the
Secretary of War and General Sheridan as
to who has final authority in military af
The Wilmingtonian., 1885-09-05

pointing power that the endorsements are
only diplomatic and not intended to be tax
en- in earnest and acted upon.
1t is about time to call halt in this mat
ter of indorsing everybody who asks for an
Endorsement. In short, there is crying de-
mand for the cultivation of some good, old
fashioned, pig-headed obstinacy in the mat
ter of signing office seekers petitions. The
petitioners themselves will think man who
says no with an emphasis about which there
is no mistake, a very mean man, no doubt.
The meaner the average man is in the esti-
nation of a great many office-seekers the
better citizen he is likely to be however,
and this should determine him to his duty,
no matter what the petitioner may say OIL
think.
II is currently rumored that Secretary
Bayard has recently endorsed petition fol
Federal appointment by calling especia
attention to the 'eminent fitness of the pc
titioner" when as matter of fact the sale
petitioner has never had an iota of the train
ing and experience which are not only es
sentisl, but absolutely necessary fora prop
or fulfillment of the duties which appertaii
to the office above referred to-and no on
in the city of Wilmington knows this bettel
than Secretary T. f. Bayard.
The Wilmingtonian., 1885-09-05
French Creek Falls.

In replying to numerous inquiries concern
ing the date of the next special excursion to
"French Creek Falls" we are authorized
to state that Thursday, Sep 24th will be
the appointed day. Those interested in
preserving leaves will find "French Creek
Falls" a field especially rich in variegated
foliage. This excursion will be largely pat
ronized by ladies, as their love of the beau
tiful is proyerbial.
The Wilmingtonian., 1885-09-05
Following up a Conclusion.

A recent issue of the EUery Eoening in re-
fering to the enactment of some anti-mono-
poly legislation in the neighboring state OF
Pennsylvania says:-
''That the attorney-general of that state
is preparing bill in equity, asking for an
injunction restraining the Pennsylvania rail
road from buying, or by any means, direct
or indirect, acquiring control of the South
Pennsylvania and Beech Creek roads, be-
cause it is violation Of the provision Of the
state constitution forIidding the
consolidation of parallel or com.
peting lines. If this provision can be
maintained against railroad kings it will be
good thing to have in all state constitutions
and might be extended so as to embrace
other transportion and telegraph and tele'
phone lines. The people through their repre-
sentatives have been seduced too often into
fostering lines which promised to be compe,
their franchise, into the grasp of somt
monopoly, to continue to contemplate sucf
transactions with equanimity."
That is just what we need here in Della
ware. Wilmington would be bettered by
healthy and even-handed competition be
tween the Pennsylvania and Baltimore ant
| Ohio Railroad lines. There should be nj
opportunity for one company to engross o
absorb all traffic either by leased lines o
subsidiary steamers. We are all glad to Sc
that the Wilmington and Brandywine steam
ers are enabled to hold their own againS
the FELTON,, representing as she does th
powerful Pennsylvania Railroad Corpora
tion,
The Wilmingtonian., 1885-09-05
Day for Delawareans.

p6hy fellow townsman, ex-Sherif
&. Clark, will close the excursion
TO Cape May and the Breakwater on
1y, September 18th. Save for the pur-
pose of bathing, September is the most pre-
ferable season of the year for making this
trip. During July and August the heat is
so intense as to necessitate keeping in the
saloons of the steamer, but during the pres
ent month the hurricane deck is the most
inviting spot The writer on last Wednes-
day felt the need Of days respite from la
Dor, and trip to Cape May was decided
upon via the Steamer Republic.
Soon after leaving the wharf of the Will
mington and Northern Railroad, the exhil-
arating effects of the atmosphere, rarified by
the ozonic Influences of the deep, were most
perceptible. The blood coursed more freely
through its accustomed avenues, and we re-
turned from the days trip refreshed and re-
juvenated.
Mr. Clark did well for the comfort and
enjoyment of his friends in selecting the
middle of September as the day for his an
nual excursion, as not only is the journey
ing to and fro most delightful, but also
strolls along the beach can be taken at this
season with great deal more of enjoyment
than when the sun is toying with the ther-
mometer at 1000 in the shade.
An opportunity will be given those so de-
string, to visit the Breakwater and as the
steamer returns from the Breakwater spec
ial arrangement has been made by which
the excursionists will be taken abreast OF
Cape May proper, giving magnificent view
of the large Iron Pier with its pavilion and
also of the large hotels of that CITY,
The Wilmingtonian., 1885-09-05
building.

building. p
1t concerns the publicto know why the
Building Inspector did not assert his prerog-
atiye in this matter before the building
neared its present stage of completion9
The Inspector has plenary power in all
cases of this kind and if he deemed the new
High School structurally weak he exhibited
culpable tardiness in not earlier calling at
tention to its defects. These after-thoughts
on the part of the Inspector will cost the
city $1,000 for additional studding to
strengthen frail walls, which would have
been unnecessary had proper attention been
given to the plans by him.
The popular verdict is that the walls ol
the High School are structurally weak-the
architectural design is weaker and the
Building inspector is weakest.
The Wilmingtonian., 1885-09-05
Puritan and Genesta.

1t is probable that the Genesta's American
rival for the yacht caps will be the Boston
cutter Puritan. Tho decision will not be
announced till September LIST, but it is gen.
orally believed that the judges will make no
other choice.
The following are the authoritative meas
urements of the rival yachts:--
PURITAN.
Length over ALL 93 feet; length on the
water line, so feet; extreme beam, % feet 7
inches, and draught of water, feet. Her
mast is rs feet long, with topmast of "A
feet; main boom, 76! feet, and gaf, Al feet;
bowsprit outboard, 3s feet. She carries 81
tons of ballast ON her keel and II tons more
inside, all of lead. She is sailed with ten
men before the mast, but carries extra hands
when racing.
GENEsTA.
Mast SO feet from deck to hounds, and
her topmast Az feet from fid to sheavehole.
Her boom 10 feet and the gaff "A feet long.
The bowsprit outboard 80 feet aud inches.
She carries spiunaker boom 67 feet long,
and the spirit to her gaff topsail 60 feet long,
aud the club AZ feet
As an addendum to the above we quote
flom Captain Cofin's recently published
book upon the Americas cup, the follow
ing description of the two boats. The Cen
esta was built on the Clyde by Henderson
Bros, and launched May, 1884. She is
composite built-that is steel frame and elm
and teak panking. She was built for rae
ing pure and simple, and her rails are very
low. Her measurements are 30 feet long
over all, 81 feet on water line, IS feet ex-
treme beam, II feet 0 inches depth of hold,
and thirteen feet 6 inches draught of water.
Her English measurement is 81 tons.
with the wind light and abeam," Captain
Cofiu says is the Genesta's weakest point
on the other hand her strongest hold is
weather work. Iu addition 10 what has
heen said above in reference to the Puritan
Captain Coffin gives the figures for the Bos-
ton yacht of 23 feet beam, and feet 2 inch.
es draught.
The Wilmingtonian., 1885-09-05
Equatorial Africa.

Equatorial africa.
Samudu has had most successful career
In annihilating whole Kingdoms and sub
verting dynastes. This enterprising color
ed genius is Mahometan, and like his great
prototype has declared to all whom he met
that their only alternative for life was to
Join Islam. Samudu also initiates Mahomet
in ph!lanthropic ideas by enioining upon the
conquered people the necessity of not inter-
fering with the trade and caravan routes
that pass through their lands.
Mr.. Lewis gives Samudu credit for being
both philanthropic and wise. This great
horde of 100000 is stated as having already
arrived within few miles of the north.
western frontier of Sierra Leone. Should
| Samudu offer Mr.. Lewis and the residents
| CT the British settlements the same oondi,
tions of life as he has given others, our en-
terprsing Consul resident would undoubt.
edly find it judicious opportunity to EN-
brace Islamism himself.
| 1t is probable that the whole settlements
could not raise an even thousand as from
| tier police Sierra Leone is only occasion
| ally British military station, The only
protection afforded is the accidental pres
ence of British warship, so that there
is practically nothing in the way of Samudt
exercising momentary savage whim anC
ordering his 1OO,O 900 Arabs and Negroes t.
loot the settlements and destroy man.
|
The Wilmingtonian., 1885-09-05


not had experience in th ~
ness to readily distinguish the bad cattle.
An ordinary man will belvery often deceiv-
ed. Those who go to hrlset to purchase
meat for the table are also often deceived,
and do not discover their mistake until next
morning, when taking the meat to cook
they find it decayed through and
through.
At this critical time when the public
health is threatened by variety of causes
both here and from abroad, the question
suggests itself should there not exist pub
lie official whose duties are those Of a meat
Inspector An official who has thorough
experience in the provision and butcher bus
mess is what is needed, one who can discern
diseased cattle at sight, whether ''on the
hoof," that is alive, Or when slaughtered.
An official is required who can tell immedi-
ately the difference between properly killed
meat and that, to use the trade phrase,
''that never was stuck"
This official would not be needed SO much
among the markets, or along King street,
but in the more obscure parts of the city, in
the poorer quarters, where his experience
would suggest to him that the irresponsible
traffickers in diseased meat find their har,
vest.
1t may not be necessary that this meat in
spector be the Clerk of the Market or an
official of the Board of Health, but it is alb
solutely necessary that he be an experienced
butcher, well informed in all the customs o.
this nefarious trade. He must know the
practices of the trade and the articles re
sorted to by which it is maintained, and
above all be possessed of the ability to dis
Germ any unhealthiness in cattle intended t.
be slaughtered for human food.
The Wilmingtonian., 1885-09-05

AN INTERESTING game of base ball will
be played at Union Street Park this after
noon, between the Columbia of Brandywine
and the Printers B. B. Club of this city.
All who would enjoy good laugh will dc
well to purchase a ticket at the low price OF
ten cents. Game called at o'clock,