davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29

two or three years old a gentleman from
Virginia, thoroughly well educated, DR..
Robert Walker Withers, came with his
Inheritance of slaves to the vicinity of
Greensboro and bought some of the rich
prairie land He took up, indeed, the all
lctment of a Bonapartist, who had failed
to make profitable his part of the
French grant" 1t is difficult to con-
ceive a more interesting life than DR..
Withers lived. His energy was immense
He was not only a. cotton planter, he was
a miller, breeder of blood stock, no
ran stage line to carry passengers and
the mail, he was one of the founders OF
the Alabama Historical association, he
was a positive force in his church, and
as a gentleman who gave private dinners
lie was unexcelled among his neighbors,
who did likewise. The WitherS mills
were on the Black Warrior river, grist
mill supplied with corn from st. Louis,
flour mill and a sawmill. The products
found a market from Tuscaloosa to Mo-
bile.
Now we come to the historic Importance
of tfA mills The wheels were turned by
water from seven artesan or bored wells
located along a hilltop encircling the
building. The water from all was trained
into one aQueduct. AS far as can be
learned this was the first use of subterra-
,ican water to move machinery, not only
In America but in the whole world. Our
state geoiogist DIR. Smith, has discovere
that Alabama possesses subterranean
water courses, from boundary to boun-
dairy, of inestimable value and in greatest
abundance.
Benjamin Sherrod, a cotton platner OF
Lawrence county, set In motion the work
OF building one of the first railroads n
America, or the world as to that matter,
and became practically the owner of 1t
tba road from Tuscumbia to Decatur.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29

land of the brown man. This self-con-
seriousness is simply an intellectual IN
depreciation and an emotional impression
of this entire conditioIl. The indian talks
and writes in his many vernacular news
papers regarding the lEnglishman in In
ola. Apparently no phhze Is omitted. Inc
English papers are almost if not quite,
as free in the same racial, personal ana
governmental discussion The discussion
seems curiously akin to the editorial writ
Ing on slavery printed in the southern
papers of the United States in the decade
preceding the civil war.
But to the permanent causes OF the IN
evitable unrest in India.
The first and more evident cause lies
in the natural desire Of a people for self
government 1t has been said of the
Coreans that they desire to be in sub1ec-
ton to some superior power The remark
is probably false. If at all true, Corea Is
the first nation of Importance which de-
sired to be subject nation. india,
through its hundreds of tribes and clans
desires to rule itself. The desire is HUI
man, natural, inevitable. The desire has
leen increased by the study of English
constitutional and political history. This
study is among the more common sub
iects of the schools and colleges. England
las not been afraid to teach the truth
regarding the growth of political freedom
to this subject race. | have heard the
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29

men built towns every few miles ana
fortified many of them. Between these
towns were farms cultivated in corn,
beans peas, pumpkins. So responsive
was the virgin soil that the yield IN
crops was abundant and sure. The for
est was SO rich in grasses, vines and
cane that the game which supplied meat
was always fat and in abundant sup
ply. The effect of good, wholesome and
full and regular quantity of food In the
Africans, in the period of bondage, was
wonderful upon the mind, morals and
physical development of that, the lowest
of the races. The effect OF the same
conditions upon the Indians In Alabama
was most pronounced.
In the colonial American history no gov
ernor has left to these times more
captivating story of his official life than
Bienville. governor of Louisiana" in
GLIDING Alabama. l am to go no 1ur-
Their here with the theme. Before nm,
the native chief, Tuscaloosa, was most
imposing figure, and gave the opahiaros
the greatest battle OF all the history OF
Indian wars on American soil, at Man
VILE After Bienville, Pushmataha OIL the
Choctaws, rose up to great influence anu
merit. He lived to great age and md
ing his days growing to close, ne eH-
claimed that news of his death Wouiu
sound to his tribe like the fall OF DIG
tree when the wind is still.
Great events have moved into the brief
,,4riod of one or two generations over the
course of our state. Be the cause what ~
tpay. little attempt has been made TO cui
;ivate love of high entes prise in our peop'e
Of today by setting UP stones 10 hlarN
what was done by the predecessors. Not
onlv so. but studied neglect and unworthy
Recommendations have been admitted as
public school instruction in our midst.
l will try to find room for Few ehar-
acters in private life, or public hfe' as
.he case may be. When the state was
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29

was built in Mobile and invented there
1t blew up the first war vessel ever so
blown up.
Thousands of years ago Leonidas and
his 300 defended the mountain pass of
Thermopylae. I am going to tell of a
feat of arms which rivals the Grecian
glory, In which an Alabama boy was one
of 16 to achieve. The press has published
the name Of John Allan Wyeth, Jr, of
New York in commentator of his pre-
cocious literary talent. This youth is
grandson of Judge Wyeth, a distinguished
jurist of Alabama, grandson of DR..
Marion Sims, cousin of Mrs. Joseph Il.
Johnston and is additionally connected by
blood in Alabama. In 1862 his father, now
one of the eminent surgeons of the world,
left La Grange college at the age of 16
to enter the Confederate army. Return
ing to his home at Guntersville the youth
mounted young high-bred jet black
mare, which his father had given to HIM
two or three years before as a colt. Fa-
milar handling had made her as gentle as
pet fawn and as intelligent as a trained
pointer. No matter how wide the pacture,
at the whistle of her young master she
would throw her head In the air and gal
lop to his side. Young Wyeth irst en-
listed in John III. Morgans scouts. After
several months service there he found
his comrades in that hazardous duty re-
luctant to give him the place he aspired
to. The black mare was faultless, but
the rider was too little, they said. His
weight was only about 100 pounds.
Russell's Fourth Alabama cavalry was
then forming and Wyeth enlisted In one
of the companies The regiment was as
signed to General Wheeler. When Bragg
fell back from Tullahoma. in July, 1868,
lust as this regiment had crossed Elk
river, it received orders to defend the
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29

fat iron bars, laid on wooden stringers,
and the cars were drawn by mules.
Michael Turney, a professor In the Uni
versity of Alabama, was among the ealry
teachers of the science of geology in the
United States. His surveys of the mineral
regions of Alabama immortalize him and
enrich the state.
Dr. Marion Sims invented in Montgom-
cry, where he lived and practiced his
Profession, the speculum, which bears his
name and the silver wire suture. In the
use of both certain branch of high sur
gerry was revolutionzed the world over
and a monument erected in New York to
his memory.
DR.. Josiah c. Mott of Mobile ranked high
among the pioneers in the study of ethnol-
cgy. His published works exerted ire
inendous influence upon the question or
alnalgamation of races, to arrest the
sweep of the fanaticism of the day in
England and this country which tended to
break down the wise laws of nature or
daining the separation of the races. Space
here does not allow the narrative, but
Motifs literature or the substance OF II
had a great deal to do with enlightenlng
the King of France, In 1S4d-45, to prevail
with him to withdraw from an alliance
With England to prevent the annexation
of Texas to the United States.
The Southern Confederacy was born at
the capital of Alabama by generalization
Of the leading southern statesmen, in
compliment to the long established leader
ship of the state in the movement. Ala
bama was the first state to formulate the
Platforms of principles for national party
acceptance, calculated to protect the
rights of the states of the union In their
federal relations. This was done In tho
capitol at Montgomery in February, 1854,
and the doctrine there laid down Is the
doctrine of today in the maintenance of
which the state leads.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29
THF POLITICAL PROBLEM IN LOUlSIANA-By John l. SIMS

won't rbere Ia no doubt that the most
fragrant frauds were committed IN tne
last two primaries by the democratic ma
chine and 1t is a principle appncaole
to politics as well as to law that fraud
yitiates a contract from its beginning,
and absolves the injured one from his
contractural obligations. The democratic
voters In the primaries pledged themselves
TO support the successful nominee, but
the condition of their pledge was fair
election. They did not agree to support
anyone who might be foisted upon them
by fraud or theft. Some. have endeavor-
ed to stife the cry of political fraud on
the ground that party conference and
unity demand that all shall remain loyal
under all circumstances, and remedy any
defects that may exist within the party.
But it will be noticed that this pernicious
doctrine is only invoked by those who
have in hand the accomplishment OF some
unworthy end, and who have In their
heart the betrayal Of their party's most
sacred ideals The dominant party which
is seeking to do the right needs no such
specious appeal to maintain its power.
1t can fearlessy stand for Endorsement
upon its record; for the people are as
quick to appreciate good administration
as they are long-suffering in enduring
bad one.
1t is encumbent upon those democrats
who hold good government and pure poll
tics above blind party allegiance to
support MIR. Henry N. Pharr, the repub-
lican candidate for governor, and give
him a chance to vindicate his promises
to the people, 1t does not call for
surrendera of party principles, but the
assertion of party independence and per-
sonal decency. The republican party In
Louisiana is unique in that 1T IS in this
instance worthy of the confidence and
support of the people in its struggle for
reform The fundamental principles
which divide the two great parties should
be laid aside for the nonce in the interest
of pure politics; for the issue at stake
Is greater than party or creed; 1t is the
fundamental question of self government
which is in the balances. The political
temple of Louisiana needs cleansing. IL
doesn't matter who does the work; but
It does matter if that work is left un-
done.
The people cannot trust Mr.. Sanders.
he his motives ever so good and benevo-
lent, he is powerless in the hands OF his
.'friepds'' to effect the will of the bet
ter classes in Louisiana. He is too deeply
indebted to that base and unworthy ele-
ment. who connived at. and are RESPONSE
bile for, his nomination. He is slave
10 their interests, and their interests are
inimical to social purity. to political IN
tegrity, and to decent government
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29

January /, 1867, or at any date prior
thereto entitled to vote under the con-
stitution or statutes of any state of the
United States, wherein be then resides
and no son or grandson of any such
person not less than q years of age at
the date of the adoption of this constl-
tuition, and no male person or foreign
birth, who was naturalzed prior to the
list day of January, 1898, shall be denied
the right to register and vote IN TINS
state by reason of his failure to possess
the educational or property qualifications
prescribed by this constitution, etc.
Sporadic attempts have been made since
1875 to redeem the state from the vicious
rings that have dominated 1t, and the new
constitution inspired new hope. How
ever, each campaign finds the people the
apparently hopeless victims OF unprin-
cipled democratic bosses, who fatten upon
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29

fords from Rosecrans, pressing on in
pursuit of Bragg. A detachment of Rus
sells command was sen to Bowls's ford.
Upon arrival there a part of the men
We're posted on the east side of the ford
along the river. where there was no pro-
lection except some scrubby forest
growth. On the west side, where the re-
mainder went, a gully was found entirely
convenient for the purpose. The 16 men
at once stepped into it. It was long
enough to hold all and deep enough to
protect their bodies except their heads.
Presently the enemy planted a battery
of two guns in the road across the ford.
Then brigade of infantry took position
in the thick woods. A terrific fire was
promptly opened on the Confederates
guarding the ford. The unprotected men
on the east side were soon driven off.
Not so with the 16 in the gully. Among
those in the gully was Wyeth. The two
guns and the brigade of Infantry kept
up their firing necessarily for three hours.
AS fast as attempt was made to approach
the ford the men in the gully picked off
the file leaders. At length a voice from
the blue side asked for a truce. The
grey jackets consented. Considerable talk
was exchanged across the narrow stream.
Suddenly the blue coats rushed to their
arms A Confederate battery had gal
loped into position on the brow OF the
hill on the south side of the river. This
battery opened fiercely and drove the en-
tire force of the enemy away.
Certainly it is long step from the
gully to New York and a momentous
change in life from the ragged Confed-
crate private to the top Of the profession
of surgery. So much for an Alabama
born and reaered boy.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29

ryHE strength and security of our
system of government lies In
i its power for self redemption.
Therefore, politics is an Increasingly
important subject with the American
people, and we are now aware as never
before that to acquire the highest So
cial and economic efficiency we must
have the purest politics. This convic-
ton is urging the people to greater
vigilance and a more Intelligent par
ticipatit n. in the selection ana coaSroi
of tn cir servants. We must work our
our political saliva ion with fear and
trembling, lest we do ourselves an in
Justice: but wa must also work with
q oonyiction for the right as God gives
us to see the light, and our sense OF
right should rise. superior to the dic-
tates Of any sect or party.
The American character is at the
same time conservative and vigorous.
It is not the dupe of every innovation.
1t talks and suffers much before II
acts; but once aroused to sense OF
its wrongs, It sots about vita un-
finching zeal to correct them. me
Americans first political duty Is to
civic righteousness: his second duty is
to his party. The people are beginning
to realize that an nones. EXPRESSIVE
of their will Is moro imDortant Jn our
country's salvation than pet party
measures or political faiths; and to this
end they are determined that the gov.
eminent shall be vested In its educated
citizenship and that each electors bal
lot shall be counted as 1t is cast.
The south is just emerging from The
throes of a political struggle which
would have staggered less courage
Gus and intelligent people. Louisiana
revolution will be effected in the CON-
monwealth which has 1ot purged itself
81 election frauds and government w
the corrupt few; but 1t seems that the
poliiical situation. even here. has
reached a crisis. and that peaceful
revolution will be effected in III ecom-
ing election of state officials on
April FL
Perhaps no state suffered more from
the abuses of the carpetbag republic
an regime than Louisiana; and the
very term republican" therefore, was
hcre, as in other parts of the south,
anathema in the minds and hearts OF
the better classes. New Orleans In
particular was the victim OF republic
ON rapacity, insolence and misruie
from 1862 when northern haired
crowned the INSCRIPTIONS Den Butter
car. until the forcible overthrow OF
The carpetbag Governor Kellogg in 1874.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29

In the year 1884 Henry Clay at one
time and John c. Calhoun at another VS.
tied Montgomery after visiting elsewhere
in the state. Mr. Calhoun spoke at the
city. But until Yancey made his historic
tour of the union, north and south, no
great public demonstrations, demonstra-
lions at all comparable to what he re-
ceived. had ever transpired in honor OF
a visitor. The Rev. DR.. Hawthorne, HIM
self a master Of oratory, says Yancey
was the only man who ever combined the
four essentials of the art, naming them
Yancey was we'll educated for his gener-
alton and his people, but he was not as
well educated as Mr.. Bryan. If Mr.
Bryan reaches the presidency, as seems
probable soon, he will be the best edu-
Gated man, not excepting John Quincy
Adams, who has filled the office. But IL
the speeches of Yancey and Bryan DE
critically read, 1t will appear that the
power of condensation lies with the for
mer orator. In style of delivery Yancey
though never boisterous was more We
hement and persuasive than Mr.. Bryan.
He converted on the spot. In Illustration
the moment he closed his speech in the
Charleston convention, Delegate Ben1a-
min f.. Butler, later General Butler, from
Massachusetts, sprang to his feet, waving
his arms and declaring, II will lead a
regiment to the support of Mr.. Yancey!
No woman In the United States pos
sessed a higher influence in society than
Madame LeVert. She was one OF the rev
American women Of her time presented
at the court of the Queen of England
Half a century from now the novels Oh
Mrs. Augusta Evans Wilson VIII perhaps
faxu current that VIII
then survive. In the great war Emma
SAMSON of Alabama won name imper-
ishable.
The first of submarine torpedo boats
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29

abandon it. And the inclination was
mot without its opportunity: Unlike her
sister southern states, Louisiana has an
additional disturbing element in her po-
litical problem--the foreign rabble, which,
like the negro, is servile and easily con-
trolled. This tempting morsel was ever
before the leaders who framed the con-
stituton of 1898, for it promised wrong
in high places balance of power which
insured an effective hold upon the state
government. While the ignorant and
venal negro vote was being extracted,
the equally ignorant and venal foreign
vote was fostered and preserved. And
so cunning were the trainers of this con-
stituton that they skillfully Incorporated
the foreign-vote clause with the more
meritorious grandfather clause to cloak
it's infamy:
Section 5.-No male person who was on
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29

nisa nnropriated funds and the whips OF
the lowest order OF henchmen among the
saloon and dive interests. One glaring
misdeed follows another, and the bosses
contempt for the people is evidenced by
scandals ranging from the repeated pill
fering of public funds to murderous as
saults by an Inspector of police and
his deputies upon critical newspaper ed.
itor. and the virtual encouragement of
robbery and murder by a failure or re-
fusal to ferret out the marauders. The
people are forced to pay taxes with no as
surance that their money Will be legiti-
mately used. And thus far they have
been impotent.
On January % last the primary plan
was first used to select the democratic
nominees for state offices. The machine
interests were represented by Jared Y.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29

~ LORIOUS ALABAMA! coal Us
power; iron is strength" In the
~ time of this apothegm and its
happy realization steam was a convertipie
phrase with power" Henceforward we
shall have electricity as power. Water Is
thenceforward power. Alabama Is equal
to the translation. The capital city OIL
our state is already abundantly suppneo
with electricity, generated 20 miles away
bv the flow of the Tallapoosa river The
Coosa is near enough to Red Mountain
to supply the electric power in aDund-
ance for any demand the developing IRON
industry may make on it. The Tennes-
see could supply electric power to spin
and weave half the cotton crop OF Amer
lea. The water supply in other sections
is phenomenally abundant.
1t is not malapropos to associate the
material wealth of the state with the
political and moral influence, past and
prospective, of the people upon the gov
eminent of the United States. For this
occasion, however, 1t is proposed merely
to recall some OF the examples OF infiu-
ence Alabafnians have exercised in the
history of the country, to excite the rising
generation to a logical effort.
When the present area of Alabama was
IN course of settlement by whites, two
centuries ago. the red race found here
were a superior type of their race. APP
proximately 400 years ago De Soto found
the aborgines here IN great numbers.
Greater numbers than lived on the soil
Of any subsequent time. The populous-
ness of the land In Indians and the re-
markable attainment of those people in
nra- historic times in many of the essen
tials of civilization, must have been the
result of enjoyment of material bench
cences of>nature about them. Foiiowing
NC Course of the great rivers the red
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29

The simple fact is that India is still q
nation of illiterates. Now illiteracy is not
in itself so bad thing as is commonly
believed; but the significance of illiteracy
is an even worse thing than Is commonly
thought. Illiteracy stands for narrowness
OF intellectual outlook, prejudice, super
stition, unreasonableness. Such condi-
lions obtain in India as results of her
liliteracy and allied deficiencies. Such re-
suits in turn become causes of unrest.
To illustrate. If there be one element In
which England could justly be happy It
is her endeavor to promote the health
of this people. Plaques and 1.-The plague
she has sought to stamp out, and has
largely succeeded In this suppression
she has built many hospitals. In one city
In which a plague hospital was built ana
to which the victims of the disease, to
prevent its spreading. were brought, the
people got the Idea that the English doc
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-29

some of them of an architectural I'M
pTessiveness-such as Muir college at Al
lahabad, and the Martiniere college at
Lucknow-which is seldom seen in the
United States All that education repre-
sents England is giving, directly or In
directly, to India. The gift bears larger
knowledge, increased intellectual discip-
line, enlarged judgment, more facile
Lower of concentration. Receiving thess
richest advantages, the leaders of the
people realize their enlarged ability for
lf-government and are restless at the
closing of the door of pportuunity for
exercising It,
A still further reason exists, Which Is,
in way, the very opposite of the cause
lust named: the general and profound
ignorance of the people. How general
and how deep this ignorance still is seems
1ncomprehensible. In round numbers, out
Of midas more than 300,000,000 of men,
not more than 10 in 100 can read and
write, and Of the women, not more than
seven in 1000. This NOSE significant fact
is made yet more impressive by a state
ment of the illiteracy in the several prov
inees.
No. of persons per 1000
able to read and write
Province or State Males. Females.