davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-04-22

Others followed naturally All the little
vigilant committees in that part of the
State became known as white caps, and
there became a compact organization,
all acting together along tho same line.
So notorious became their outrages upon
those Who excited their suspicion that
there was general distrust in all that
part of the State, every man being sus-
picious Of his neighbor who was not a
member Of his W organization. Their
punishments were brutal and they had
an entire disreg gard of the laws Of the
State. Another rival organization
known as the black caps" was the re-
suit and it reached the point Of civil
warfare. Acting on the Attorney Cen
erals report the State authorities took
steps to destroy the organization. Evil
dence was finally procured against the
principal participants. They were tried
and punished, and that ended the white
caps as an extensive organization in
Southern Indiana.
The reports Of the outrages by the
Indiana white caps were no doubt much
exaggerated by sensational newspaper
writer's. The private secretary Of the
late Governor Hovey has been investi-
eating these stories for q year past, and
he says that in most instances he found.
that the white caps were reputable citi-
zens-persons of property-and not law
less in any sense, except in protecting
what was their W by methods outside
of the courts. On the other hand, he
found no case where reputable citizens
had been molested. One report o: mis-
treatment of a woman was given wide
circulation in the most sensational man
ner, to make it appear that the white
caps were most rufflanly. The truth was
that q vile woman who had been put off
an Ohio River boat took up her quarters
in a school-house and sought to corrupt
the youth Of the neighborhood. Ordered
to leave, she refused to go. A company
OF men and women took her from the
school-house, and the women gave her
a switching. She was not injured. It
Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-04-22

Usher F. Under, James w. Singleton,
VIM. C. Cloudy, John T. Stuart, VIM. j.
Allen, John II. Eden, VIM. +. Thornton,
John Doughcrty, David NJ. Woodson,
Silas l.. Bryan, Chauncey L. Higbee,
VIM. II. Morrison, Stephen A. Hurlbut,
Don Morrison, James C. Robinson, VIM.
ID. Anderson, Zadoc C~asey-all of whom
ha:! a State reputation, and some of
whom became known to the country ut
large.
Conspicuous among the Republican
speakers We're Abraham Lincoln, Lyman
Trumbull, Leonard SWEET, Isaac n.
Arnold, Joseph Gillespie, Richard j.
Oslcsby, Norman b. Judd, Shelby NJ.
Cullom, Gustavas koerncr, E. NJ.
Haincs, Casper Butt, VIM. B. Plato,
Thos. J.. Henderson, Cyrus Eplcr and
John Woods.
1t is enough to say of the standing of
the gentlemen whose names are given
above that more than forty are en- the
roll of membership in Congress, and
many distinguished themselves in the
great civil war, whilst others have been
governors, judges and representatives
of the government abroad.
OF course the press took a Jealous
part in the great campaign. Long
John" Wentworth of the Chicago Dem
ocrat, @Dcacon" Bross of the Tribune,
Andrews and Shuman of the Journal,
Baker and Phillips of the Spring.
field Journal, Bailachc of the Alton
Telegraph, Niles of the Bcllevillc Advo-
cate, Morrison OF the Quincy Journal,
Foote of the Bloomington Paragraph,
We're am tng the principal editors, while
the Democracy was represented by such
Journalists as Sheahan OF the Chicago
Times MIR. Douglas home organ>
Lanphier and Walker of the Springfield
Register, Bond OF the Carlyle Democrat,
Brooks of the Quincy Herald, Geo. 7.
Brown OF the Alton Courier, and many
others.
Soon after his return to Congress,
after the Mexican war, Col. Bissell, in
eulogizing the Illinois soldiers, offended
Senator Jefferson Davis, who construed
Bissell's remark to apply sarcastically
to the troops from Mississippi. Davis
commanded the First Mississippi Rcgi-
ment and Bisscll the Second Illinois at
Buena Vista. Davis regiment fought
with u%nquesticn ID bravery in the en-
gasement and was severely cut up, Da-
Wis himself being somewhat seriously
wounded, but Bissell with. as was sup
posed, the Mississippians in his mind,
made reference to the comparative valor
of the Northern and Southern volun-
teers in a way, to say the least, that did
no injustice to the Illinoisans. Davis
promptly challenged Bissell and Bissell
as promptly accepted. The c%orrespon-
dence was short, sharp ard decisive.
Being the challenged party Bissell had
Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-04-22
VILLAGE COURT OF LAST RESORT.

had been heard Of such an organization
in that State until Nov. IL, 1858. Sud.
denly on the night Of that date a band OF
about thirty horseman appeared in Sar.
DINA, Brown County, and proceeded to
administer punishment to a resident ac-
cused of immoral conduct. The local
authorities taking no %cognizance of the
affair, an appeal was made to the Cow
ernor. An investigation was immedi-
ately instituted, by which it was dis.
closed that there was an oath-bound
organization of citizens, some of them
quite prominent in the county, and IL
was their purpose to regulate all such
affairs as did not appeal directly to the
courts. Their crimes were petty, but
unlawful, and prompt steps by the au.
thorities broke up the organization.
The more influential members agreed to
procure the disbanding of the %organiza-
ton, and no prosecutions were made.
These were the two organizations OF
white caps" that attracted investiga.
ton by State authorities. There were
many other smaller vigilant committees
in other States, but there was no evi.
dence of a confederated relation be.
tween them to warrant the belief that il
was n organization.
The White Caps have been more
heard of i'll the East in the last year,
not so much because there is fresh i'm.
pulse toward the old idea of regul1rhSa
and vigilance committees as beG\lW
they have taken up the Western name
and adopted it. 1t has been heard of in
New Jersey, New York, and all over
New England. 1t is a convenient name
to use when two or three neighbora
wish to warn another that his conduct
is unbearablc. They have always done
this, but they have not used this name.
But White Caps have no terror to the
country. 1t is seldom that a lawlesa
organization is found in a country with
law, except in the petty affairs that can-
not be dignifled in the courts.
In New Jersey the White Caps seem
to be composed in equal parts of bigoted
churchmen and rough hoodfums, for,
while the latter regarded it fun to an.
noy a dude pastor, fresh from Yale Col
lege, the former r equally p~rejudiced
Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-04-22

the choice of terms and weapons. He
selected muskets ut twenty PAGES, for in
a quarrel growing out of a question of
courage he was determined to leave
nothing undone to show his grit. Col.
Bissell was brim full Of pluck and Davis
was no less brave. Both would proba-
bly, have been killed had the duel been
fought, but the seconds interviewed, fur
ther correspondence ensued and arbi-
tration resulted in the withdrawal of the
hostile notes in the order of their dates.
The full details of this affair of honor
were given to the public; the mat
ter was quiteed and soon forgotten. Now,
the Constitution of Illinois contained u
provision requiring every executive off,
cor, before assuming his duties, to take
an oath that he had never sent or ac-
cepted a challenge to fight a duel. Some
active Democrat who had been burrow-
ing in that document had run against
of the Chicago Times, to apprise him of
the big find, but was surprised to rear
the editor already knew of it. Judge
Douglas pooh-poohed the whole matter.
He likened the ease to that OF Judge
Trumbull, who had been elected to Con-
gress and taken his seat the year before,
Notwithstanding by the State Constitu-
ton he was ineligible, on account Of he
term for which he was elected Judge Of
the Circuit Court not having expired.
The Constitution said he was not eligi-
bic for any office during his term as
Judge, nor for one year thereafter, and
that any votes cast for him were null
and void. There IA the case, too, of
Gen. Matteson, who had sought t. be
elected to the United States Senate UNI
der substantially similar circumstances.
But behind all this were two other I'M
portant points; first, that the challenge
and acceptance having been withdrawn.
and the case left as though no belligcr-
ent correspondence had taken place, it
was purely a matter of conscience with
Col. Bissell whether he could take the
oath or not.
AS the day Of election approached the
excitement gained In intensity. In the
previous Presidential contest, 1852, the
vote had stood: Pierce, Democrat, So
597; Scott, Wing, 64,934; Hale, Aboli-
ton, 1896. 1t was generally assumed
that the Abolition vote would go to Bis
sell for Governor. But the great num-
befDf Virginians, kentuckians and Ten
nesseeans who had been "old Wings"
and who had now attached themselves
to the fortunes of Douglas, made the
contest exceedingly doubtful IRON n na-
Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-04-22
Politicians.

NV
The year 1857 was a most remarkable
year that the present Republican party
was organized, with Fremont and Day
ton at the head of its electoral ticket.
Tho Chairman of the Senate Commit
toe OF Territories, Judge Douglas, and
the Chairman of tho House Committee,
Col. William A. Richardson, were both
I!inoisars, both IL long time in Con-
grcss, whecl-horscs in all campaigns,
and each with IL great and enthusiastic
following. Fcarlcssness wa, Il trait
COMMON 10 both. They determined to
meet The issue suuarcly AMI without
t%linching. AT Cincinnati Col. Richard
sn headed tio Democratic delegation,
and with it worked earnestly to secure
.he Presidential nomination for Douglas.
Enough receiving IL tlattering support,
INN. diatcly on MI. Buchanan's vote
reaching u majority the Senator tclc-
graphed y withdrawal OF his name and
Immediately entered the can ass in adj
voeacy OF the ticket.
by one accord tho Democratic nom
ination Tor Governor fell to- Col. Rich
urslson, and with almost equal uilanimity
the Republicans nominated Wiz. II. Bis
sell, the Former residing III Quincy, tho
latter N Bcllevillc. Richardson was Il
powerfully built man, %raw-boned, with
kocn gray eyes under shaggy eyebrows,
somewhat careless i'll dress. IL strong
grasp, and IL manly mans smile. Bis
sell, in his Congressional days, was as
complete II contrast as one would or
dinnrily see. Ho was of medium size,
ciean-shsven, except Il tuft of black
beard coming down an inch or so upon
his cheek. natty in his apparel, straight.
active in movement. and of very pleas
Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-04-22

ing address. In speaking he was pro-
else, narrowly escaping affsctation, all
WAYS Rhetorical, and sometimes Crntori-
cal. At the Bcllcvillc bar, where he
practiced With such legal luminaries as
John Reynolds, Lyman and George
Tru,nhuli, Gustavus Kocrner, Jchu
Baker. w. III. Underwood, HI. X. S.
O'Mc!vcny. Joseph Gillespie, Murray
Morrison, James Shields, w. III. Snyder,
Philip u. Fouke, aud others of like dis
tiEgu she'd character, he was held in the
highest respect and admiration. At the
tilMc OF his nomination., however, and,
indeed, through the remainder of his
career, he WAS IN almost helpless IN
valid. But IL speech was delivered by
him in the canvass. and that was from
his chair at IL meeting in B%cllevillc.
Richardson was IL ~Kentuckian, about
Al years of age. He WAS eight o. ten
years Il member of the Legislature, and
III 1874 was S%pcnkcro of the House. When
the Mexican war broke out he raised IL
company, served as Captain, and Oh the
field OF Buena Vista was promoted by
Returning, he was, in 1S47, elected to
Congress. where he served until nomin-
atcd for Governor, when lc resigned.
Col. Bisscll was IL New Yorker, born
in 1911, and therefore about tho same
age as his competitor. He was educated
for the medical profession, graduating
in Philadelphia in 1884, and practiced in
Illinois till 1910, when he was admitted
to the bar. Like Richardson, he went
to the Mexican war as IL Captain, was
promoted on tho field of Bucnn Vista,
and returning was ~ member of Con-
gress from 1S49 to 1855.
These, then, were tho generals: For
President and Governor. Fremont and
Bissell Oh one side and Buchanan and
Richardson on tho other. The lines
were closely drawn, and the campaign
opened. From Galena to Cairo, from
the Wabash to the Mississippi, resound-
cd the dreadful note of preparation"
Soon the State was II conflagra-
ton of enthusiasm and excitement.
Dinna ye hear the slogan? IT'S
the Douglas and his men!" was in
scrihcd on tho banners of the Democ-
racy. Free States, free speech, free
dom and Fremont" rang out from
amidst the clangor of the Republican
brass bands. Clubs were organized;
public documents were in demand. The
exploits of the great Pathfinder, y
his hardships in exploring the
Western country, We're printed in
pamphlets and scattered broadcast. The
life and services of james Buchanan, the
old public fnnctionary. found equal cir
culation among the pc pie. State COM
mittce looms of both parties exhibited
the greatest activity. and at frequent
sessions The details of the anvas were
Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-04-22
Giant squids Arc Good Eating.

Giant sluids or calamaries are
eaten. They are ferocious creatures
and it is Of them that so manystories
are told as to their attacking boats
and even ships. They weigh some.
times many thousands of pounds,
having two enormously long tentacles
with which to seize prey and eight
shorter ones to hold it, all armed with
enormously powerful suckers. These
animals possess al approach. to a
brain, inclosed in a cartilaginous
skull. One Of them would furnish
food for n fripate.
Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-04-22

will continue to argue that tho end JUS
titles the means, and try to make the
punishment fit the crims. As the old,
world has had the pillory and the stocks
for men, and the duckihg stool and the
bride for shrewish women, all of which
were barbarOus, so has America had
barbarities less severe to fit the petty
Ofenses that could not be carried into
the courts. And as the parish priest Of
ten gave the order to use the ducking
stool in England, so the circuit rider has
often figured in the band of regulators
in small American communities.
AS the seriousness of the offenses or
supposed Offenses against a community
increased the severity of the regulators
has been more marked. The white caps
were al advanced order of the village
regulators. They stepped short of the
Ku Klux Khan and vigilance committee
Of the ranchmen and the miners where
Judge Lynch presides.
The first appearance of the white caps
under that name was in the southern
part Of Indiana. 1t was an organiza-
tion OF vigilantes and its first idea was
to band against the negroes coming into
that region from Kentucky.
In this it resemb.ed the old Ku Klux
organization, but did not go to the on
tremes of the Ku klux, in that it stopped
short Of murder. 1t gave warning to
ngroes that they could not live in that
community. These warnings we're fol-
lowed by whippings and other outrages,
until the negroes gave the section a
wide berth. Then the white caps as
sumed to themselves the enforcement of
the unwritten law which exists in every
community. They were a band Of reg
ulators who assumed to be q court, jury
and prosecutors, and every man who
was not a white cap was subject to their
courts of inquiry regarding his conduct
as a citizen. They wore masks of white
muslin when exercising their authority
to whip or duck or ride on a rail any
man who had offended against theirlaws.
From that they were named white caps.
The counties of Crawford, Orange,
Perry, Harrison, Spencer, Dubois SUI
fered SO much from these outrages and
they attracted so much attention in the
newspapers that the Governor of Indi-
ana requested Attorney General Niche
ner to make an investigation. Gen.
Kitchener made a tour CT that part of the
Statesand made a very full report. He
found that the first organization was in
Crawford County. and from this the
Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-04-22

having his horse painted and stabbed in
the pulpit, his buggy housed on top Of
the church, and other inconvenience to
himself which more or less amused some
of the people in the neighborhood. The
young pastor was college bred, had
studied baseball curves as we'll as the
ology, and had practiced in the gymna-
stun as we'll rs in the prayer-meeting.
He refused to submit to petty outrages,
hunted down the white caps" who
warned him to be long-sufering if he
would live, and sent some of them to
the penitentiary. This seems to have
been the principal means of exposing
him to a church trial where he faced
all kinds of charges. And these white
caps are in New Jersey, within an
hours ride Of New York City, nearer
to that resort of fashion, Long
Branch, and almost within hearing
of the camp-meeting hymns at Ocean
Grove. Still there are people in the
East who seem to think that white
caps" only thrive in the wild and woolly
West. They shiver at the outrages per-
petrated by the new organization of
outlawry and wonder if the West will
eve become civilized. 1t is true that
the white caps made their first appear
ance in the West under that name. The
West is rich in nomenclature, and never
allows anything to go namcless. So the
white caps mad a name and that name
has travelled far to worry many people
about the West, and get itself in the
encyclopedias. Even learned English
men visiting America ask who and what
are the white caps; i'll what condition
of society they thrive; what causcs
such outbreaks in civilized countries;
and what is the remedy. Bless the
souls of these learned philosophers, the
spirit behind the white caps is as old
as the world.
The spirit of democracy has always
had its place in mans nature, and it will
not down. 1t will not wait for red tape
and slow justice. 1t prompts a man to
knock down the fellow that insults him
or wrongs his family. 1t fires commu
mites where some one in the society de-
flies the moral code that has become the
unwritten law. 1t inspires vigilance
committees and regulators to take
charge of many things which the courts
might better handle. and when courts
Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-04-22

are generally infested with the most die.
reputable wharf rats" to be found In
the country. There are chicken thieves,
drunken l~oafers, vile women without
any respect for decency OF Law, and all
kinds Of tlackguards, who are q general
nuisance. These people might have been
punished II caught in some act defytng
the law, but the white caps concluded
to lock the stable door before any md
horses were stolen, and drive out tn
dangerous and d%isreputable without
waiting for them to offend against the
strict letter Of the law. In doing thia
they did q good service to the com-
munity, but Of course they did not fol.
low the properly defined methods named
in the laws of their State.
One other organization Of white caps
became so notorious as to call for In.
vestigation by the State authorities.
This was in Southern Ohio. Nothing
Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-04-22

gone over with tho utmost caro-, reports
received from the different districts and
counties, and public speakers assigned
to the several localities where it was
supposed they would do the most good.
Mr.. Douglas placed himself wholly at
the disposal of the Democratic commit
tee, and no amount of physical tension
was too great for his massive. t~ireless
constitution. The home talent engaged
on the Democratic side embraced the
eleven candidates for electors, among
whom We're A. NJ. Harrington, Charles
H. Constable, Samuel NJ. Moulton, Or
lando b. Ficklin. VIM. A. j. Sparks, and
the then rising young orator, John A..
Logan, together with a host of speak
ers, many of whom have since reached
more or less distinction. The Repub-
lican electoral ticket was made up Of
like John NJ. Palmer, Leonard
ewvtt, Wil!:.a. .. Kellogg, Henry p. 4.
Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-04-22
are slow and uncertain it leads to mobs

are slow and uncertain it leads to mobs
and riots.
The world has never been free from
these as it has never been free from this
spirit in man to regulate things himself,
without waiting for somebody else to do
it, says the Chicago Inter Ocean. There
have been riots in France and in En-.
gland as we'll as in America, but in
America there have been more regula-
tors and vigilance committe cs than in
the old world, because we have had no
parish priest to whom we carry all the
petty grievances that are beneath the
dignity of the courts. The regulator has
his place in almost every country COM
munity. He usually belongs to the
best and most law-abiding part Of
the community. He obeys the law
himself and proposes that others shall
do likewise. The most common
subject of the regulator is immortality,
which he prefers to deal with rather
than give it an airing in the courts. II
n man in the community is unfaithful
to his wife, If he is cruel and unjust to
her, If he beats his children. or treats
them like cattle, his neighbors in the
country do not call in the constable or
go to the Justice Of the Peace and swear
out a warrant for his arrest. They give
him warning to correct his habits. II he
heeds the warning the regulators will go
no further, but II he does not they will
treat him to a ride on q rail, or dip him
in the mill pond, or hold him under the
pump spout, or roll him in a snow drift,
or test his qualities as q Splinter and
strip him Of all clothing that his action
may be freer. If it Is an aggravated
case, or II he has repeated the ofense
after these attentions, he may be paint
ed with tar and given q coat Of feathers
to keep him warm, or he may have to
run the gantlet while every regulator
spurs him on with a whip. These are
barbarous customs, but man will never
got rid Of all his barbarous nature. He
Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-04-22
Names of Plants.

Tho number of countries which
lave contributed their quota to the
nom enclature of English plants is
legion. Beginning with France we
have the dent de lion-!ion's tooth
whence we derive. our dandelion.
The tlower-de-lucc, again, which MI.
Dyer thinks was a name applied to
the iris, comes to us through the
French flour de Louis-tradition as
serting that this plant was worn as IL
device by King Louis VII. of France.
Bucxwhcat is derived from the Dutch
word Rockwell. and adder's tongue
from a word in the same language,
adde stong. In like manner the
name tulip is traccable to the word
thonlyban i'm the Persian language
signifying q turban. So, too, our
English word lilac is nothing more
than an angliciZed form of another
word in the Persian tongue, namely.
lilag.
A large number of plants owe their
names to those 10y whom they we're
first discovered and introduced into
other chimes. The fuchsia stands in
debted for its name to Leonard Fuchs,
an eminent German botanist, and the
dahlia was so named i'm honor of
Swedish botanist named Dahl. :.
long list of plant names might be
formed which bear what might he
termed animal and bird prctiXes-as.
for example. horse beans. horse chest
nuts, dog violets and dog roses; cats
faces, a name applied to the plant
known to botanical students as the
viola tricolor; cats eyes, veronica
~chamndrys; cats tails and catkins.
The goose grass is known to the
country people in Northamptonshire
as pig tail, and in Yorkshire a name
given to the fruit of tho oratagus
oXyacantha. is bull horns.
Many plant names have been sug-
gested by the feathered race, particu-
larly goose tongue, cuckoo buds (men-
toned by S%hakspeare), cuckoo flow
ers, stork's bill and cranes bill. One
of the popular names of the arum is
"parson in the pulpit" and Il Devon
shire term for the sweet schbriosis is
"mournful widow" The ,cASmpion is
not infrequently called ssskylm pud-
ding" and in the neighps tod of
Torquay it is not unusual to hear fir
cones spoken of as oysters"