davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-23
oncluded)-By John Witherspoon DuBose

the amended state constitution was in this, that every adult white man, not a felon, had his vote, whether rich or poor. literate or lliterate and, further, in this. that each political community, the coun- ty, stood as an equal in the Senate. Ev- cry county had its senator, but Charles ton had two
 To digress, if in Alabama we propose to find a better way than the party pri- mary now in use the nominating con- vention, which destroyed itself by irregu- larities practiced would 1t be practical to substitute the county and state nominat- ing convention. organized on, the general principle of Lowndes' amednment? The principle Is undoubtedly the foundation or representative government for progress sive and free people. De facto. the party, in Alabama. is and must remain the gov ernment. Party regulation at once typ flies government
 So much for state example in the Con- federacy. State example in the United States, at that time, was less democratic. Rhode Island entered the Union with a government established under the charter of Charles II and had not amended it in 1860. Dorr was suppressed when he and his following sought to reform it In the forties of the nineteenth century. The suffrage was limited and the opportuni- ties of corruption great. The constitution of Indiana in 1860 forbade the entrance of negroes into that state. The state of Wisconsin maintained a similar regula- ton and in 1860 that state was defendant in a case trying the right of it's own courts to set aside the decree of the fed eral supreme court. The federal supreme court had held, Justice Story pronounce ing the opinion in Prigg vs. Pennsylvan- ia, that the owner of a fugitive slave might re-capture the fugitive wherever found in the jurisdiction of the United States under the self-executory provision of the constitution. Sixteen of the eight cen states which voted for MT. Lincoln had in force for several years. prior to his election, statutes of their own nulli- flying this decree, nullifying the constitu- tlonal provision and the act of Congress of 1850, intended to enforce the constitu- ton These statutes were known as lib erty laws" In Massachusetts a fine of S5, 900 and Imprisonment for one year was the penalty affixed for serving on the posse of a United States marshal In the arrest of fugitive slave. In 1850 a Unit ed States marshal arrested in Boston a fugitive slave, Sims, from Charleston, s. C. mob entered the United States conn missioners court, seized the prisoner and turned him loose. President Fillmore in- formed Congress of the riot in grave message and asked for a remedy, but no notice was taken of 1t by Massachusetts and nothing availed to recoup the master for his loss.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-23

displays it in a manner too plain to be mistaken. They had for more than a century heen regarded as beings of an in- ferior order, and altogether unfit to as- sociate with the white race, either in so- cial or political relations and so far in- ferior, that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect; and that the negro might justly and lawfully be reduced to slavery for his benefit He was bought and sold. and treated IS an ordinary article of merchandise and traf flc, whenever profit could be made by it. This opinion was at that time fixed and universal in the civilized portion of the white race. It was regarded an axiom in morals as well as in politics, which no one thought of disputing. or supposed to be open to dispute; and men of every grade and position in society, daily and habltually, acted upon it in their private pursuits, as well as in mat ters of public concern, without doubting for moment the correctness of this opin- ion."
 That such was the state of public opin- ion throughout the country at the time of the ratification of the constitution of the United States was what Judge Fancy affirmed. He distinctly declined to say whether people ought to have thought thus; but he said that they did think thus If any one doubts that that was the general opinion, even in New England and in the lifetime of Aaron Burr, let him read that very interesting book, "The Ministers Woolug," by Mrs. Harriet Buchanan Stowe. Mrs. Stowe, in that work, says that men of high standing in orthodox churches in New England were engaged in the very lucrative and, at the time, perfectly respectable bulsenss of importing slaves from Africa to be sold in this country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-23

1t has became history in the minds of larger proportion of the reading public in these United States.
 An almost insignificant minority how ever, who have taken the pains to read the opinion" actually delivered by the chief justice in the famous Dred Scott case, know that the stigma which Mar cia' has seen fit to attach to the eminent name of Fancy is based upon a false and ignorant conception of what the great jurist said on that memorable occasion.
 In the reports of decisions of the su- preme court of the United States. by Samuel F. Miller, L. L. D., an associate justice of the court" we have Yancy's opinion" as 1t was delivered in the cele- brated Dred Scott case. This "opinion," which runs from page ? to page 57, of vol ume 3, I have carefully read from the first to the last word. and so I am pre- pared to speak by the book in denying
 'Marcias'' charge. What Judge Yancy did say was this:
 Tt Is not the province of the court to decide upon the justice or injustice. the policy or impolicy of there laws. The decision of that question belonged to the political or law-making power; to those who formed the sovereignty and framed the constitution. The duty of the court Is to interpret the instrument they have framed, with the best lights we can ob- tain on the subject, and to administer it as we find 1t, according to it's true intent and meaning when 1t was adopted" Page S. And again. at page 10: "It Is difficult at this day to realize the state of public opinion in relation to that unfortunate race, which prevailed in the civilized and enlightened portions of the world at the time of the Declaration of Independence, and when the constitution of the United States was framed and adopted. But the public history of every European nation
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-23

I consequence they competed with grammar schools and high schools for pupils. The result was ito degrade the college and to kill the secondary schools The student being wholly unprepared for collegiate work has done high school work In the college, and young men ignorant of the principles of grammar and arithmetic, slow, inaccurate, without power of con centration," have been sent out upon an unremonstrating public with so-called degrees
 The determination of the Alabama col lege presidents to require fourteen units of work for admission. in tme will hap oily end this pitable condition that has so long hampered us educationaly. But what of the boy or girl who does not go to college? What of the training given the average child In Alabama? Can he read inteligently, write correctly, and spell well? These are the questions that should concern the patrons of our schools even more than what the colleges require These are the questions that concern the English division of the Association of Ala bama High Schools.
 Some pertinent queries suggest them- selves to the student of educational con ditions here in the south. Why Is 1t our southland has but two institutions that can be rightfully called universities? Why have we but two girls schools that can be called colleges? Why can we not sup port first-class magazine? Why have we but two names that can be called among contemporary men of letters? Why can not the graduates of our high schools even stand the examinations of the east ern colleges of Annapolis, or West Point. without very strenous coaching? Let him who will think on these things.
 The fact remains not to be denied that
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-23

| far too many of our children stay in
 school ten or eleven years and at the end of that time cannot acceptably read. write or spell. Now, the entire blame for this lamentable condition cannot be put upon the teacher So long as a child hears slovenly speech at home, he will use it; so long as he reads nothing he will remain
 a poor reader Here is where the respon-
 sibility goes back of the school into the home; here is where the teacher is pow
 erless. Individual pride alone can meet this phase of the question. But public
 sentiment can do much. very much. to- wards improving the output of the En- glsh teaching in the schools of Alabama
 It can demand that the teacher be better than merely to possess a flrst-grade cer- tifcate it can sit in judgment our schools and make it's verdict so pronounce ed that no teacher will dare neglect the mother tongue it can provide libraries for our schools 1t can demand the best in results and the best will come. If the children of Alabama are to derive bene-
 fits at all commensurate with the magnt-
 tude of her educational appropriations there must be created a public opinion that will become mandatory upon the schools. And this public opinion will come through the work of the individual. Let every citizen of this state inform himself as to the teaching done in his
 school Let every citizen see that intelli- gent efforts are being made to teach our
 children the mother-tongue-that most certainty. Thus may be easily created "a public opinion so interested and alert as i to form an educational public conscience
 as will see to it that the schools every i where arc being maintained upon q con-
 tinually rising and ever forward move< ment."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-23

day, and 1t was Allison, and not Michael C. Kerr, that made the first speech for tariff reform in Congress after the pas sage of the Morrill, tariff of 1862, but he supported every protective tariff of his party including the Mckinley bill of 1890 and the Dingley bill of 1S97 No doubt he did it against his better judgement, but Allison, more than anything, than all things else, was a party man.
 Ben Harrison was a far abler man than William B. Allison, but Allison would have made better president. Leaving out matters of party and of policy. and relat- ing only to the administration of things, in time of tranquility believe Allison would have been the best of president. He was naturally benevolent. He loved to confer favors. His patriotism embraced the south, all of it, even South Carolina, and while he would have remained a party man the south would have found a sim cere friend in him.
 James B. Beck, of Kentucky, was a more intellectual and more forceful man than Allison, and democrat from crown to heel They were chums, and Beck was Allisons pair in the Senate. Both were members of the two great committees of the Senate, Finance and Appropriations. Both were gluttons for work, and it Is perhaps true, that Allison and Beck with out assistance from any other Senator could have formulated and brought into the Senate every one of the annual ap-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-23

of the north, inflicted by Admiral SemmeS and other sailors under the Confederate flag on the high seas. At the beginning of the war, the merchant marine of the United States was greater than that of any nation except England and was near ly as great in tonnage as England's s. Semmes and his fellow sailors completely destroyed and drove it off the waters, and to this day it has never been restored The flag of the United States Is rarely if ever seen at any wharyeS of the na- tions. We pay foreign bottoms about $150, 100000 year to carry our sea trade, whereas before the war we carried not only our own, but much that was for eign.
 The Confectionery in the logic of con- temporaneous effects and causes in the affairs of men, should have succeeded. The motive of the attempt was consis tent with the philosophy of the Amer- ican idea. The federal constitution framed at Montgomery was the latest well as the highest refinement of free government ever invented. Let us consider it's pro- visions for one moment only. Under the identical form established by the consti- tuition of 17S7, the operations of the gov ernment was purified. To illustrate, the President was chosen for six years and was ineligible to succeed himself Pres- ident Cleveland, in an annual message,
 
 of the United States. To insure an equal disbursement of federal revenues in the sources of production, Congress could ap propriate to the improvement of a har- bor no money which had not been paid in from the trade of that harbor, but if !, for example, the port of Mobile needed improvement of its harbor in excess of the net customs receipts there, then the states of Alabama Georgia. Florida, Mis- sissippi and Tennessee, contiguous might decide and appropriate the sum to be ex- pended by federal engineers. Free trade to limit was the general purpose of the Confederate constitution. To locate re- sponsibility for appropriations by the Congress, the head of each department of the government must make the call for funds and he might go upon the floor of the House to argue his demand. Congress could appropriate no money not called for in this way except by two-thirds ma jority. The Confederate government in- troduced the Department of Justice" and the United States after the war cop led it. Turning to consider the state gov ernrnents of the two confederacies re- spectively those of the southern were far more conservative and secure than those of the northern. As the state of South Carolina led the great movement of secession, we will refer very briefly to the nature of her state government. the pur- est democracy that has thus far existed in America.
 Immigration to the state was of s two
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-23

Europeans, but now, for the second and third year. we have executions, execu- tions unceasingly"
 The methods of revolutionaries are to the great reformers as hateful as the methods of the Russian government. What he stands for are those fundament- al principles of Christianity which have never yet been enforced by any country or any government There will yet come a time, however, when the utterances of this great prophet crying in the wild erness will be recognized as the true basis of Christian government,
 The Kings striking speech to the peace congress has been a note struck in the right direction, and one which must bring gladness to the hearts of all who believe that the era is not distant when univer- sal peace among civilized nations will eventually be recognized as the true meaning of that misused word
 War is unChristian-that was the note of the congress. The world Is spending four hundred million pounds a year on preparations for war. Four or i've hun. dred people assembled in Caxton Hall ia declare that war must end It sounds futile protest but it is the grain of mustard seed which will eventuallv spread to a great harvest.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-23

of Representatives and declined a re-elec- tion in order to run for United States Senator against George w. Wright. James w. Grimes had resigned the seat in the Senate after he had voted mot guilty in the impeachment trial of Andy Johnson. A man named Howell was ap- pointed to the vacancy, and Allison con- tested for the succession. He was beaten by George w. Wright, the one and only defeat of his long career, and that was in the caucus of his own party.
 In 1873 Allison took his seat as Senator from Iowa, the successor of James Har- Ian, and was five times reelected by the legislature Last spring he defeated Gov. Cummins in a blanket primary for the term in the Senate beginning in 1909, and that election would have been ratified by the legislature had he lived few months longer. His service in the Senate was more than 35 years, thing unprecedent- ed in the history of that body.
 On December l, 1873, Allison took the oath as Senator. A few minutes later John James Ingalls, was sworn in for the first time. Edmunds and Morrill, were there from Vermont Sumner from Mas sachusetts, Conkling from New York, Ba- yard from Delaware, Logan from Illinois, Morton from Indiana, Carpenter from Wisconsin,, Schurz from Missouri, Sher-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-23

truth, but His own disciples called Him the Son of God. He raiseth the dead and cureth all manner of diseases. Man of stature somewhat tall and comedy with a very reverend countenance. such as the beholders may both love and fear; His hair of the color of philbert full ripe, and plain almost down to His ears: but from the ears downward somewhat curled, and more orient of color, waving on Ills shoulders In the midst of His head goeth a seam, or partition of Ills hair, after the manner of the Nazarites; Ills lore head. very plain and smooth; His face. without spot or wrinkle, beautihed with a comedy red: His nose and mouth so formed as nothing can be reprehended; :; His beard somewhat thick, agreeable in color to the hair of His head, not Of any great length, in the midst of an 1nno- cent and mature look; His eyes gray, clear and quick. In reproving, he IS ter rible: in admonishing, courteous and fair spoken; pleasant in speech, mixed With gravity It cannot be remembered that any have seen Him laugh, but many have seen Him weep. In proportion of body, well shaped and straight; His hands and arms right and delectable to behold; in speaking very temperate, modest and wise A man for singular beauty surpass- ing the children of men
 The judge asks for an opinion as to the authenticity of the statements contaIed in this advertisement. l do not hesitate to pronounce the whole thing to be un- mitigated trash. utterly unworthy of the respect of any scholar who has looked into the evidence. This so-called letter of Publus Lentulus has for ages been published, printed hawked and heralded | throughout Christendom from Beersheba even unto Dan. A few very weak and l ignorant people may have swallowed the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-23

preached the late A. c. Caruth in 1886, when that lovable fellow was a candidate for Congress- and said: "Asher, yer wrong but I'm wid ye." and such was the loyalty of William B. Allison to the G. o. P.
 Or a more classical illustration can be had from that most readable of all Hives" "Campbelrs Lord Chancelors:'
 A body of Presbyterians made applica- ton to Lord Thenlaw to assist In repeal ing certain statutes which disqualified non-conformists from holding civil of fees. He received the delegation with great civility and hearing them out, said: "Gentlemen, I am against you, and for the established church, by G-d. Not that I like the established church a bit better than any other church, but because 1t is established. Whenever you get your d-d religion established, I'll be for that too. |"
 And what the republican party es- tablished Allison was flor that too" though in polter speech than "the stern and hostile" chancellor ever employed They say out in Iowa that Allison was the pupil of Grimes. That may be; but he forgot his teachings. If Allison had held Grimes seat in the Senate in 1868 Andy Johnson would have been convicted. Allison supported all the reconstruction measures of Stevens, Butler and Morton, not that he favored them, but because the party favored them.
 Allison entered Congress more of a free l trader than William Jennings Bryan Is to-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-23

man and Thurman from Ohio. From Ken lucky were Garrett Davis, a very superior man, and Thomas c. MoCreary, the sill ver-tongued sluggard of the Senate" the first orator of that body.
 The day Allison entered the Senate, the following gentlemen subsequently eminent in parliamentary life, entered the House of Representatives; Joseph G. Cannon, Julius Caesar Burrows, Richard P. Bland, J. D c. Atkins, and Roger Q. Mills. Alex ander H. Stephens and l.. Q. c. Lamar were also sworn in as members of the House that day, but they each served in Congress before the big war between the States.
 Allison was not brilliant man, but a useful one. In debate, contrasted with Conkling or Bayard, Carpenter or Lamar, Thurman or Vest, he was as Dobbin to Bucephalus. He was no orator, but a ready and sagacious debater, and what was greatly to his advantage, he never made speech without careful and ex- haustive preparation. He was far from a garrulous man, and he never said word until he deemed 1t necessary to speak. If all our solons would follow his example the Congressional Record would be de- creased in bulk at the least 80 per cent.
 The public considers Allison as con servative, and so he was, by nature and by impulse with the man-but first of all Allison was a party man. Mike Shea, an Irish saloonkeeper, at Louisville, Ky, ap-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-23

lative complications that somebody dubb- ed him "Old smoothing iron" When the rate bill was up in the last Congress, and the debate had been furious for months and everybody predicted that 1t would fail, one morning Allison without ado pro- posed an amendment that the president and Aldrich agreed to. Tillman kicked; but the amendment was adopted, and the bill was carried with but three negative votes-Foralker, of Ohio and Morgan and Pettus, of Alabama. He was constantly doing such things, and that is what made him so invaluable in the councils of the nation.
 Of all the men in national public life when Allison entered the House of Rep resentatives, in 1863, not one remains on the political stage. Politically, he sur vived them all and of all the men in pub lie life when Allison was sworn in as senator, in 1873, but three remain on the political stage-Joseph C. Cannon, Julius C. Burrows, and Isaac R. Sherwood.
 After all it Is the man of solid endow- ments and attalnments who are made for government Ingalls Allisons col league in the Senate IS years; but he only dazzled while Allison delved. and yet your man who can pick a bill to pieces is, in many respects, as valuable to the coun- try as he that can put 1t together. Either would be of little account without the other.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-23

ONDON, August 22.-These thank
 God are days of international in A terest, and as in mirage has come to us across the water the ref1ec- tion of the triumphant beauty of Que
 bees great pageant. the reception of the nrince and the welcome accorded by the
 beautiful city. Under the happiest au- spices did this welcome take place, for no more charming host could be imagined than the present governor general Of Canada, Earl Grey lifelong friend of the prince, and one who comes from a long line of those who have been asso- ciated with the royal family for many generations; genial, kindly, without un- affected interest in men and things, which has remained as fresh with him as when he was but lad. He Is a man who inspires a joie de vivre in all who come near him, and gives you sen sation of hope which few others can so well convey He has been an idealist all his life. a man who although belonging to the governing class, had yet strong instinct which led him to feel that there must be wide and perfect understand ing between the workers of the world and those who have hitherto governed