davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15
A HOPELESS FAILURE.

Japan is striving desperately to follow in the wake of Caucasian nations. Her people are very initiative and have sue ceeded in copying most of the outward and visible signs of civilization.
 But the cabinet crisis now threatening the Milado proves conclusively that the Japanese are hopelessly incapable of at taining the highest forms of civilization
 Count Ito the prime minister and the brains of the nation, has resigned, simply because he was created a marquis with out his knowledge, and because none of his colleagues were similarly honored.
 Fancy an American or European statesman declining an honor thrust upon him, or insisting that there must be pie enough to go around before he will accept slice.
 We repeat: Japan is unable to rise to the heights of modern civilization. Let her take as models hereafter the repub- lies of ancient Greece and Rome.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15
BIRMINGHAM DAY IN ATLANTA.

It has been suggested by the directory of the exposition that one day be given up to Alabama's iron city and called Birmingham Day" This recognition of the activity our city has shown in lending a hand towards making Atlanta's big enterprise a success is gratifying to her public spirited citizens. especially to the members of the Commercial Club, who have worked early and late to make good the promises made in the city's name.
 Birmingham takes no undue credit to herself for her share of urging Alabama forward in the matter of an exhibit; she realizes that good action may be spoiled by the play of too much atmosphere upon it, yet to be commended and appreciated According to her deserts cannot fail to bring to her and to even her humblest citizen a feeling of honest pride.
 So Birmingham Day let it be. Every man, woman and child in town, whose circumstances will permit will surely Vis- it the exposition, and if the greater num- Der could be there to make the home day a ringing success it would do much 10 convince people that we really possess what for twenty years we have been talking about-the most enterprising, solid and reliable city in Alabama-our hats off to our sister cities in the mean fine
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15
"A CASE OF HrTEREPHEMY. ]"

That is the heading of an editorial in the Atlanta Constitution. "Heteroph- emy" is a word coined by the late Rich ard Grant White to enable that emil nent purist and prig to get out of a very uncomfortable hole. Stripped of it's high falutin Greek it means speaking Cor writing) of one thing and having an- other in mind.
 The Constitution made a bad break when it said that James R. Barrick sup piled the places of Prentice on the Con- rier-Journal when Henry w. Watterson secured the control of and consolidated the two Louisville papers. A compass sionate friend writes to the Constitution that John E. Hatcher was the man. The Constitution makes the correction and says 1t was a case of heterophemy, pure and simple-a neat way of getting out of it.
 The Age-Herald trusts that the Consfi- tuition will not let heterophomy drop out of it's vocabulary. Next year, when the free silver craze is dead and buried, the Constitution can draw the broad mantle of "heterophemy" over it's ed- itorial vagaries and insist that it has always meant to advocate sound money.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15

more Irresponsible, and therefore more corrupt and dishonest. The different branch banks, by exchanging their notes, and each issuing only the notes of other and distant branches and refusing to pay any but their own (which they thus keep far from home), actually can al- ways maintain a virtual suspension of payments, even when not directly shield ed by the law in refusing to pay. And this, the most conemptible of their eva sions of the obligations of law and non esty, has been availed of extensively ana with entire efficacy.
 And yet more fraudulent and more lh- furious is the banking system or Flr- ginia than in general because the penal ties ostensibly imposed on the illegal acts of banks cannot be enforced, ana were not intended to be enforced.
 And all the general and also the pecu- liar fraudulent principles of the banking system of Virginia are rendered more effective and more malignant, because the government is partner in trade with the banks, and thus foolishly attempts to share in the dishonest profits of the banks, made by cheating both the gov- ernment and the people. And the at tempt always results, as must do leagues for pillage concerted between knaves and their dupes, as joint operators and shar- CTS. The stock gambling and borrowing interest (not the simple and honest stock holders) get all the benefit of the league and the cheating, and the government and the people pay the cost and suffer all the injury."
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15
SETTLEMENT THE EXHIBIT.

If our foresight" had been as good as our "hindsight," unquestionably Ala bama's exhibit at the Atlanta exposition would have been better and more compre- hensive.
 Fact is, managers of the exposition have builded better than they knew. The enterprise has outgrown their own con- ception.
 Without wishing to detract an iota from the credit due the citizens of At lanta for the enterprise and sagacity which they have manifested in formu- lating and carrying out plans for the exposition, the Age-Herald insists that the success of the exposition is the fruit age of interest in the South, felt not only in this country. but throughout Europe.
 But Alabama's exhibit, while not what it should have been, will be very cred itable It is the duty of Birmingham, as the chief city of Alabama and the in- dustrial exponent of the South, to supple ment that exhibit. We can do this in many ways-by the dissemination of printed matter. by the presence of active and intelligent agents and by arranging for excursions to Birmingham. All this is clearly within the province of the Com mercial Club. The Age-Herald believes that magnificent body is capable of carrying out anything it may take up, and commends these suggestions to it's consdera ton.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15
THE MESSAGE OF THE ENVELOPE.
Sound Money Doctrine of the fifties- a
 Curio.

MT. Robert Nelson of South Highlands
 has yellow envelope assued about 1850,
 and on one side is bit of printed mat
 ter that indicates the financial discussion
 going on at that time. The money ques-
 ton then, as now, was live issue. In
 1923 the legislature incorporated the State
 bank, with branch banks in Huntsville
 and other cities. Into this bank went all
 the state funds. In 1850 the State bank
 was so prosperous and it's profits so large
 that no taxes were collected for six or
 seven years. In 1887 came the financial
 convulsion. Specie payments were sus-
 pended. A loan of $5000000 on state bonds
 was authorized. Bad management caused
 loss, and the banks went into hquida- tion. Hon. F. s. Lyon was put in charge as trustee, and made a report to the leg islature showing the bonded debt of the state to be $9,232, ,555. About 1850 Hon. Joshua Martin, father of Hon. John NJ. Martin of Birmingham, ran for governor on platform opposed to state banks and was elected. He was a sound money man, as his on is today.
 It was to this period that the matter on the envelope refers, and Virginia is nstanced as the most fragrant example of the evil effects of the irrepressible state bank system. The matter on the envelope reads as follows:
 "The paper banking system is essen tially and necessarily fraudulent. The very issue of paper as money is always
 a fraud; and must operate to rob the earnings of labor and industry, wild
 speculation and knavery-and to cor
 rupt private morals and degrade national character. The object as well as the effect of the paper money system is to enable those who have earned or ac- cumulated nothing by labor to exchange
 their nothing for the something earned by the labor of others
 But worse and more fraudulent in eff l feet than the general paper money sys- | tenn is that of Virginia, because that the latter adds the feature of branch banks which, alone, would serve to render banks
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15
THOSE eARN1sHMENr CASES.

The communication signed More Light" printed on another page of this issue asks some very pertinent questions with reference to the alleged violation of the garnishment law, as amended by the last Legislature. If the law is being violated, it matters not by whom the charges were brought, the effect will be the same if upon examination the parties are found guilty as charged. The good name of the justices demands that an in- vestigation be had, and thorough one at that If they have been violating the section which prohibits the issuance or a writ of garnishment for less sum than $5 under a misapprehension, the lnvestl- gation will set them right and stop the wholesale issuing of writs for lesser amounts than is warranted under the law and the accumulation of bills of cost that are simply outrageously damaging to the poorer classes.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15
The State Normal College, Florence. Ala,
Fixed the Jurx,s Attention.

Here is a lawyers story that is just starting the rounds of the court rooms in Chicago:
 It was in Texas. A negro had stolen pair of pants. The case came up in the regular course of things, but the negro could get no lawyer At the eleventh hour one of the village characters who had had sign and an office for ten years and hardly as many eases in all that time consented to appear for the negro. The court room was packed, all the towns people knowing that the eccentric and brief1ess barrister would furnish enter tainment of one kind or another When it came time for his address to the jury he strode heavily across the court room and took his stand directly in front of the twelve good men and true.
 He began in tones that fairly rumbled in the depths of emotion: Gentlemen of the jury" he thundered, gentlemen of the jury, on lonely sea coast the gale had burst in all it's dreadful fury. The storm beat against the towering cliffs and the waves battled in mad tumult upon the ~rock-bound coast. And the sailor far out on the raging sea fell upon his knees and prayed God that he might be spared that night. The storm rose higher and the winds grew fiercer. The night grew darker and the stanch ship trembled in every timber. And that ship, with precious burden of human lives was driven nearer and nearer and nearer on towards the merciless rocks. And from the summit of a lofty cliff the ligths shone out from the sailors humble home. There his wife and children were praying together that the life of the loved one might be spared. But when the storm had passed and the morning sun broke through the clouds they found the sail. or's lifeless body lying bruised and bleed ing on the rocks. Gentlemen of the jury, aTp-- 1n al a c1f nt-stole-those-pant They lie"
 Then he sat down.
 After the prisoner had been duly sen- fenced one of the lawyers fellow citizens came to him, and in his manner there were suggestions of deep perplexity. That was a great speech you made to the jury just now, great speech, wonder full word picture, but what did the rock bound coast and this sailor of the deep have to do with this nigger that stole the pants?"
 The lawyer drew himself up. My friend," he said, "the great point in a closing address is to fix the attention of the jury. I did it."
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15
THE AGE-HERALD READING ROOM.

The Age-Herald has fitted up neat neat reading room adjoining it's business office, where daily papers from all east, east, ern. southern, western ana noa he,iotit enot r r and information of the public. Papers from r the following cities can always b be found there: Boston, New York, PnIla- ma delphia, Baltimore, Richmond ChafIes- ton. Savannah, Augusta, Atlanta, ;Iia S5n .einnati. Louisville, St. Louis, Nashville, Chattanooga. Montgomery, Mobile, New Orleans Galveston, Houston, Dallas anu many other cities not named:
 Citizens of either of the cities above named or any party desiring to read are night or day, as the reading room will always be open.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15
THE YALU FIGHT.
Secretary Herbert Says the Lesson Is Not
 Against Building Batteships

During his recent visit to Birmingham Secretary Herbert referred in conver- sation to the naval battle between the Chinese and Japanese warships off the Yalu river. He also embraced his ob- servations in an article to the North American Review. This battle is the first that has taken place between mod ern iron-clads, and naturally interests all who feel an interest in naval affairs Some of the papers have argued that the Yalu fight demonstrates that the days of battleships are ended. Secre- tary Herbert takes the opposite view He contends that our navy should con- tinue to build battleships, and congress agrees with him, for appropriations were made for two immense battleships. Sec retary Herbert also disagrees with those who have reached the conclusion that the naval battles of the future will be won by swift and unarmored cruisers, armed with powerful guns and fighting at long range. He holds that the lesson of Yalu is not against the building or heavily armored vessels. Superiority in battle rather than swiftness of move ment is desirable Successful battles are fought by ships in line, so that they can cooperate. There has been a long con- test between those who lay stress upon the armor and those who depend on the gun. The gun has the advantage. The small caliber rapid-fire guns are desira- ble. In battle the armor has the ad- vantage over the testing ground, for on the ship it is constantly shifting. The future will see all cruisers protected with light armor like the New York.
 Commander McGiffen of the Chen Yuen agrees with Secretary Herbert in several of his conclusions. He thinks the battle of Yalu demonstrates the value of rapid fire guns of small caliber. He lays great stress on the value of armor. The Chi nese vessels were struck by numerous shot, but not a shot that struck the ar nor penetrated more than inches. He believes that the armor should be at least inches thick.
 Captain Maban also comments on the Yalu battle. He is impressed with the great effect of rapid fire guns. He at tributes the victory of the Japanese part ly to the fact that they kept their ships in line and in cooperation, and coin cides with Secretary Herbert in the value of such tactics. The heavy guns, he says, failed to get through the armor. He con- cludes that the Yalu fight strengthens the argument of those who favor the battleship, and in this he sustains the position of Secretary Herbert.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15
A Miniature Railway System.

One of the most interesting models perhaps ever made, in a popular way, has been prepared by an English cler- gyman, the Rev. H. l.. Warneford of Windsor, England. Dr. Warneford has small yard in the rear of his house, surrounded by an ordinary brick wall, in that distance, overcoming the incon- veniences of the ground, which usually require the mechanical ability of railroad builders. The road runs from a little station called Chicago at one end to small station at the other end, known as Jericho It is complete in every detail, and as thoroughly so as if it were one of the great lines that run across England. The stations even have advertisements pasted over them, as any ordinary sta tion does; though they are small and simple, are in their way as complete as in any full size railroad.
 The track is over 80 feet in length, with a guage of 25s inches; and in order that he might get it in all the different forms of railway construction, Dr. Warneford has made the track so that it runs over some of the uneven spots in his yard, and in this way, in the place where bridges are required, he has constructed that form of bridge which would be best suited for the particular formation of ravine or cavity over which the road is to run.
 One of the prettiest of these bridges is a thoroughly constructed cantelever bridge, bn the form, of the great Forth bridge Retween Scotland and England, which passes over little excavation immedi- ately after the train has come out of a long. thoroughly constructed tunnel. An other bridge is perfectly constructed skew arch which the train crosses a few feet after leaving Chicago. Then comes the model of an American trestle, and after passing over this the road runs through the tunnel, over the cantelever bridge, through a cutting, and finally over a steel tubular bridge into Jericho.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15
A CoLoNEL's cowARDICE.
An Interesting Case in Mexican Military
 Circles,

J Circles.
 Lieut.-Col. Joaquin Vazquez of the
 Fourteenth battalion of infantry, says
 the Mexican Two Republics, has come to
 this city in the custody of an officer, in
 pursuance of his request to be present at
 the rehearing of his case upon his ap-
 peal. He was tried in the state of Sonora some time ago for cowardice, and the
 facts alleged against him were these: On the 18th of March, 1894, a party of
 from eight to ten hostile Indians made an
 attack upon the canteen man or sutler of
 the encampment of Batute, and upon his
 two mozos, taking everything of value they had upon them, and likewise eight burros loaded with stores.
 The chief of the encampment imme- diately dispatched Lieutenant-Colone Vazquez with 100 men, of whom twenty five were National Guards, to attack the rebels. Vazquez sallied forth, came quickly upon their train and followed
 them to place called Huchori, which is very rocky, where the IndianS who were
 in ambush, attacked his force, and, after
 fight of an hour, compelled him and his
 men to retreat, leaving their dead with
 their arms and ammunition, upon the
 spot. One of the main causes of the
 disaster was that the National Guard
 men, who were in front, turned tail and demoraliZed the rest of the force. Vaz- quez made a report to the chief of the camp, in which he stated that one officer and fifteen men had been wounded, one officer and twenty-three men were miss ing and five men had been killed. and that TAG cartridges had been expended in the action.
 But Gen. Luis E. Torres, in command of the district, ordered a vigorous inves- tigation of the action, which resulted in his trial by court martial upon three counts-for cowardice, for failure to do fc 11yfx in fa1 n aprQi ir1-f surprise in a dangerous territory, and for making a false report, since the dead left upon the field were actually an off, cer and ten men. Witnesses testified that during the combat Vazquez re- mained hidden, that he made no effort 10 rally his force. and that he abandoned the ground and the dead without any ef- fort to carry off the latter. The court martial lasted two days and on the 10th of March delivered it's sentence, which was that he should undergo a term of imprisonment of fifteen years, with five years additional; that he should be dis missed from the service, with loss of all clain, to pension. etc., that hs should be
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15
IT IS A CONFESSION.

The avowed purpose of the conference of free silver men at Washington is to capture the Democratic national conven- ton and shape the financial plank of the platform.
 The popular idea is that national con- ventions express the will of the ma dority. This action of the free silver ele- ment is paramount to a confession that they despair of having majority of the convention, and must, therefore, re- sort to artifice, not to say trickery, to at tain their end.
 Chances are that their well laid plans will gang aglee," and that choice lot of spavined politicians will be turned out to grass after '96.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15
SYNDICATE ACTING IN GOOD FAITH

The action of the syndicate in coming to the support of the treasury has knocked away the underpinning of the alarmists.
 The stock market that most sensitive register of commercial feeling, was un- deniably influenced by the gold scare for several days. Then sound, com mon sense stepped in. Leading finan- ciers discounted the alarm, and the op- erations of the market latterly have ig- nored the matter of gold shipments.
 It is true that the rate of sterling ex- change is high. but there is no combina- ton which can resist the movement of the crops.
 As said heretofore, whatever apprehen- sion may have been excited is allayed by the action of the syndicate It has as- sured the country that it will stand in the breach until the tide reaches its flood and turns.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15

stultify itself. ThIrty-od years ago there were so-called rebels in this country who showed themselves able to keep an army in the field. They did not avoid war. They met the all that. they were not recognized as bel ligerents.
 The world, like Brother Jasper's sun, do move,n but if Uncle Sam recognizes the belligerency of the Cubans for no other reasons than those foregoing blush should mantle his cheek.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15
THE QUESTION OF RECOGNITION.

According to the New York World the Cuban patriots should be recognized as belligerents. It says: 1.-The Cubans have shown themselves able to keep an army in the field. They have not avoided open war. They have met General Campos and defeated him. They have done all it was possible to do to establish the fact of their belligerency. They have estab- lished it. There is no longer reason to doubt that they are belligerents within the meaning of the term as it is employed in international law"
 This may be sound reasoning. but if this country recognizes the belligerency of the Cubans on any such grounds it will
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15
Cold Weather Gone.

Wards coal yard can furnish coal and wood on short notice. They have the best coal for summer use in the market Buy from them and you will not com plain. Will also put coal in for winter. Telephone 4S7 7-19-tf
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15

Another one of our diplomatic corps has come dangerously near talking him. self out of SIT, 1000 salary, if newspaper reports be true. A diplomat and a re- porter make a dangerous combination Houston Daily Post.
 The above reminds us of an incident in north Alabama. An individual who was given to shooting off, his pen wrote himself out of a place to eat once.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15

No wonder poor old Mississippi went for free silverl She repudiated her State debt and nobody will lend her any money. She had to go for something, and it might as well have been for free silver as free brass, though the latter is more plentiful.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15

a5~The present management o- .he AGE-HERA has no GlaiiiA acainst advertisers or subscriO- ---s ,,rtortc February 11th, 1Soo. r.-,.x .,acrea of court accounts up to that date nave and transferred, hence as between the debtor anu paper.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15

rho Baltimore Sun wants to know "where is the line to be drawn on the bloomers?'' That editor is bound to get into trouble unless he stops his proJlchlns right here.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15

n-g EXCLUSIVE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATED pPFss. UNITED PRESS, NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATED PRESS, NEW YORK Asso- GATED PRESS, CABLE NEWS FROM ALI DARTS OF THE WORLD AND A SUPERB SPE- cIAI STATE SERVICE.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15

G. w. Murray, the negro politician who is contestng the seat from the South Carolina Seventh district, refers to his native heath as "a tough little State" but he very sensibly adds: "The time has come when our white friends have done enough for the colored race, and what remains to be done toward perfect citi- zenship must be done by ourselves
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15

MT Cleveland says don't bother him ,,,o,,+ third term. The third baby is just as much bliss as he wants.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15

Nr,ssonri has already spanked Dick Bland when he cried for congress u now remains for Uncle sam 10 lhtefNie" him in the back shed at walloping pee when he howls for the White House.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15

Tn Missouri a woman is sheriff. The new woman is evidently coming at break neck speed.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15

eIt is always best to lie on the right eide" says medical journal. The re- mark was not made in the sense It IS used bv the Opelika Evening News.