smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

The Medical Recorder of this city says that
the ayidity of the educated classes IN selzng
upon scientific facts is such that they are will
ing to listen to the vilest pretenders who folst
upon otherwise sound understandings all sorts
of special practices and quack nOstrums, but it
confesses they are not to blame, for the medi-
cal faculty has refused to impart the proper
knowledge. 1t says, also, that medical men
have been so accustomed TO treasure up their
legends, and to hand down their watch-words,
as to be oblivious of the changes wrought
around them. In every other department OF
science, the public have been educated to dis
criminate between true and false doctrines; but
in regard to medicine. the faculty stands In the
same relation to the people that lt did a
hundred years ago. 1t is urged. therofore' INA.
tbe peOple should be educated IN the generai
principles lsunlcient to enable them to
Judge between true science and quackery, and
this notwithstanding it has been said that
"a little learning is dangerous thing" for
it is conceded in these days that true
knowledge, upon all subjects. must be good; nor
need it be feared that persons 80 enlightened
will depend upon themselves, and not call upon
physicians when ill. A case is mentioned of
French blacksmith, who showed such aptitude
for surgery that means were supplied for his
education, but when he discovered how many
blood vessels and other organs are contained in
tho human structure, he became frightened Mt
his temerity, and returned to his anvil. The
best way to begin the reform according to our
authority, is by having physiology, elementary
anatomy and hygiene, become part OF the
regular study in our schools aud academies;
nd NV xuau


through the popular lecture system. IL this
should be properly done, there need be no
"fear that tho dignity of our calling will be
"compromised!n Already has this course been
adopted in few schools with great success,
and it is noted that where college students in
their undergraduate fcourse have received
medical instruction they have mot only at
tanned practical knowledge in regard to the
preservation of the Ihealth of tho body and
"mnd but they have become nationally con-
"yinced of the utter absurdity OF all exclusive
"systems, and OF innnitesimal dilutions."


TO all this we agree, and we hope the pro-
posed plan will be put in execution throughout
the length and breadth of our land. In addition
to the advantages named it is to be hoped
that people will learn enough to decide when
doctor is needed. and whether he is fit to be
sent for at all. Whether, again, an educated man
may undertake to prescribe for himself, aiter
having acquired some medical knowledge, the
same us he may pettifog case before a Justice
of the Peace, or partake in the exercise OF a
weekday prayer meeting, will probably depend
upon circumstances, but at present this subject
had better not be discussed. Perhaps the fling
at "infnitesimal dilutions" is little ungener-
GUS on the part of those who formerly carried
ponderous saddle bags, but who now instead
carry small case in the vest pocket, and who
formerly lot out with the lancet rivers Of blood.
Year: 1869

To fhe Editor or The fIrtOhUe


SIR: l would like your comments on the
following for preventing crisis


Let Congress provide for the issuing OF bonds bearing
six per cent and exempt from taxation In amount
sufficient to raise two hundred millions in gold at home
and abroad Make fifty millions OF these bonds payaDie
I'm gold in one year from their date. and like amount
payable yearly thereafter snch noPuS s. WI" %


mon 62Os worth about S5 cents IN gold ana te
bonds IN question wonld surely DO th ~ & hnds and
the Government win then hold three hundred millions N
gold Let this gold be loaned TO the national banks ana
et once resume by law dollar eenback will then be
worth gold dollar. Let the national banks be closed 10


year or so in the mean time the State banks VIII
open aud give us sufficient currency.


Then provide us with Tariff, so as TO insure tnas
our exports shall be Fifty Millions greater than our
i'HpOi''' anu ." wan SUBSCRIBER.


IThe above is, in our view, suicidal nonsense.
The present obstacle to Resumption is he pop
uIar ,UIt-that is, the repugnance OF debtors
Who if not the largest, are the most Jealous
and clamorous portion of the community. III
there were a general desire to resume, it would
be effected at once.


Piling up gold anywhere is the certain way
TO pyerent and postpone Resumption. What is
needed is that gold shall cease to be needed,
or an object of eager desire. If we were Sec
retary of the Treasury and anxious to resume,
we should first call in the gold certificates and
make those who want gold hold it for them
selves; next, we would pay out nearly all the
gold remaining in the Treasury, so as to make
il a drug in the market. We should WISH in
doing this, to buy up and cancel Forty or Fifty
Millions of Government Bonds, so as to make
them scarcer and scarcer in the hands of bank
ers and dealers. Next, we should put on the
market an American Consol or long bond, pay
able principal and interest in coin, and untax-
able. at the lowest rate of interest at which
it could be foated Having this in good de-
mand, at par or over, we should simply re-
sume-that is, offer any one who was not sat
isfed with Greenbacks the gold for them
obtaining the gold by selling Consols at the
market rate We are confident that not tenth
of the Greenbacks would be presented for re-
demption. They would be withheld exactly as
the Gold Certificates now are-because they
are equal in value to geld and more conye-
nient to the holders.


In this way, we would reach Resumption
surely, speedily, and without shock. There
is no difficulty and no mystery in the premises
The only serious obstacle is the popular pref
erence of a false to true standard OF value.
| But of all wild delusions ever propagated, that
which contempIates Resumption through the
heaping up of gold in the Treasury is the
widest and saddest. Ed.l
Year: 1869

The indications at Washington point to re-
fusal by the Senate to abandon its modification
of the Tenure-Of- Office act. and to growing
sentiment in favor of the act in the House.
The readiness with which all manner of people
have been setting up as spokesmen and cham
pions of Gen. Grant i'll the matter seems to
have dsgusted the President himself, as wen
as his judcious friends; and he is now quoted
again as quite ready to accept the Senate DILL
and decidedly anxious to be rid OF the subject
Meantime, the delay already caused has so
hindered necessary business that an ad-
journment is not now expected before the mid
die of April. 1t will come too soon, even then,
if it come before the passage of an effective
bill to prevent the corruption of our elections
by the enormous issue of fraudulent naturali-
ZatiOn papers.
Year: 1869

The news from Japan which has just reached
San Francisco does not confirm the announce
ment recently made by the diplomatic agents OF
the foreign Powers, that the civil war is at an
end. On the contrary, it is reported that the
Admiral of the late Tycoon now holds posses
sion of the whole of the Island of Yesso, the
second largest and nOrthernmost island OF
Japan; that his forces are rapidly increasing
and that the Mikado will find it difficult TO
overcome him unless the exiled princes be al
lowed to return and the Tycoon be sent to
them as their ruler. The Mikado had recently
been at Kioto, where he was married; but a
difficulty occurred between the two most
powerful of his partisans, in consequence OF
which several streets of the city were purheu'
and the Mikado fed to Osaka.
Year: 1869

Between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
there now stretches continuous line of rail,
with only single gap of twenty-six miles, in
the entire distance across the Continent But
it is omnous that, with the arrival of the dis.
patches making this announcement should
come also the message from Gen. Warren,
warning the Secretary of the Interior that be
regards the Western end Of the line as no bet
ter than the Eastern in point of honest con-
struction. What he thinks of that we know.
His declaration ought to be suficient-though
we fear it will not be-to spur Congress into
tardy effort to preserve yet some safeguard
against loss from the failure of these roads to
fulfil the contract on which the bonds are
,a1
Year: 1869

Just before the last Parliamentary election in
England, a newspaper was started at Windsor
to serve the interests of the Tory candidate foi
that place. 1t was fraud from the start.
having no circulation, and no visible means of
support except liberal allowance of Govern
ment advertisements. 1t was even an illegal
publication, its proprietor having failed to COM
ply with the law of registration. When it was
discovered that this make-believe journal had
been fed from the public treasury the affair
was deemed so scandalOus that it actually
staggered public credulity. We manage such
things better in America. What would the
British public think of our New- York Trans.
cript, and similar swindles, which are not only
established for the sole purpose of drawing
pay for Corporation advertisements to which
they are incapable of giving publicity but are
owned by the very officials who vote the pub
Lie money to sustain themf
Year: 1869

A bill has been reported favorably in the
Assembly authorizing the Board of Supervisors
to hire room, at a rent not exceeding $1,000
per annum, for the use of the Exempt Fire
mems Association of the City Of New-York
This is very small swindle. and it might az
well be nailed. Why should the Exempt Fire.
men ask the public to pay fora club-room for
their comfort We shall next have provision
in the tax-levy to furnish q smoking room.
card-room, bowling-alley, and hquor-shOp on
Broadway for the use of ex-members of the
Common Council, and then bill authorizing
the Supervisors to pay all the expenses of the
Americus Club
Year: 1869

While we have opposed the bill proposing a
new School Commission for our City, we
have not been insensible to the defects of our
present machinery for School management,
especially Of those so forcibly depicted in the
letter of Peter Cooper, printed by US months
ago. 1t is true that our schools cost too much.
1t is true that their expense increases too fast.
1t is true thar we are paying enough to edu-
cate all the children in our City, while
not educating much more than one-half OF
them. 1t is true that our School Officers are
not, in the average, of so high character as
they should be- 1t is true that the people dc
not take sufficient interest in the choice oi
Commissioners and Trustees and that the
elective system has thus proved not success
1t is true that we ought not to be taxed to
give a few children collegiate education.
But will the new bill give us better
guarantees for the requisite efficiency, economy
and integrity in our School manage
ment? As it stands, we fear it will
not; yet it might be so amended that it
would. The political minority ought to be
clothed with power at least to veto needless
and wasteful increase of expenditure. They
should have power to prevent the dismissal of
teachers on political grounds, and the leyying
of political contributions on them for any pur-
pose whatever. Give tile minority power, if
not to effect positive good, at least to prevent
evil. and we think the proposed Commission
would be an improvement on our present sys-
TEN. Let us see what shape the bill may
assume before approving or condemning it.
Year: 1869

The time has been when the duty Of Grand
Juries was to discover criminals and indict
them. Now we find, however, that they are
expected, within the jurisdictions of Democratic
Judges, to discover and indCt people who tell
the truth. Not long ago our commission of that
offense against his Honor led New-York
Judge to call on his henchmen to find true
bill against us. Now comes the Grand Jury of
Atlanta, Georgia, directing its attention to our
Southern dispatches. We wish it JOY Of the
Year: 1869

The petition of the Life Insurance Compa-
mics in favor of having the next census taken
throughout the United States in sin
gle day accords with views already urged
in these columns The difficulties are
undoubtedly great; but we still trust that
some method may be devised, if not for COM
pleting the work in one day, at least for
greatly reducing the allowance of time from
that now contemplated by the Census Com
mittep
Year: 1869

The news that three more vessels have been
ordered to our West India squadron will be
welcomed by the Country. The rights of our
citizens nowhere else need protection now as
they do in Cuba. We hope to avoid cause of
quarrel with the Spaniards who are continuing
the vain struggle to put down an insurrection
in the name of Insurrection; but they must
know that it is equally important for them to
avoid cause of quarrel with us.
Year: 1869

The sudden and sweeping reversal of the
order concerning the relations of the Staff
Officers in the War Department to the General
of the Army, with which the accession OF Gen.
Sherman was recently signalized, is remarka-
Bile. What is its meaningf
Year: 1869

bill are imperfect or defective, let it be properly
amended but we protest against It's peing
smothered Perhaps no Pacific Railroad can DE
built without Government subsidy but here
is Company which proposes to do just that
and we insist that it be afforded chance
Should it fail, there will still be time to sub
sidze a road but let us first see if we cannot
hove ono without
Year: 1869

\ HAIR IN A wATCH.-A good story is told
OF two boys living in western New York
many years ago, whose father, on returning
from a visit to the East, brought them as a


present a silver 80 bulls eye" watch There
was a warm discussion as to which Of the
boys should carry it; but it was finally de-
cided that one boy should carry il one dav


should carry it one day and the other the


next, and that the one not carrying the watch
should always have the KEY in his possessi N +.
This watch was the only one in the settle
mcnt and the display Of even the key was an
enviable ornament. One day the elder of
the brothers was to make a journey to the
city to be gone two days, and after long
and serious consultation it was determined
that he must maintain the dignity OF
the family by wearing the watch; but the
Younger was to retain the key. 30 they
bethought them to give it a good winding,
that it might run for twice It's usual period
of twenty four hours The key was applied
and twisted vigorously for fifteen minutes,
when they found to their CONSERVATION that
the little machine no longer % ticked. They
shook and thumped but no signs OF HE ap-
peared. So diagnosis was determined up
Year: 1869

Parton, the nagaZinist, has we'll
written article in thecurrent atlantic
Monthly, about the doings of the
"lobby" of Congress at Washington,
the gist of which is to urge that, on
the whole, Congress is composed Of
pretty good men, as honestas average
humanity or more SO, and represent
ing our nation pretty fairly; and that
much of what we hear of "the cor
ruption in Congress" is pure false
hood, manufactured by the lobby and
its numberless adhsrents.


Taken by itself alone, the article
sounds very strong and clear; but we
observe that some leading Journals
make heavy discounts on it, and in-
sinuate that Parton is whiteWashing
without being an adept in the use OF
the brush. Some certain Members
of Congress would not only need to
be whitewashed, bpt painted, even
silver-plated, over and again, many
times, before we could think them
the true metal. Nevertheless, we
desire to believe as far as possible in
their honesty, patriotism and other
virtues; but the point still comes up
Why, when certain villainies are
fully shown and proven, does Con-
gress merely pass them by?
Year: 1869

The current Democratic Platform
for 1869 in this State is given in full
in another place. When thing is
got up so evidently for nothing, and
when nominations are made so absO-
lutely for nothing more than merely
"going through the motions and
serving as aids to help elect some
County tickets, it seems almost idle
to comment on them. The tone of
the "Whereas' seems curiOusly to
imply that the Resolutions are an
nounced, not as the actual beliefs and
opinions of the candidates, but as a
credo to which they must conform.


The first Resolution is nothing
more or less than a rebel howl over
the defeat of slavery, the rebellion,
and the rule of Southern chivalry.
1t need not be discussed; for the in
exOrable logic Of events has settled
the decision. AS to the second and
third Resolutions, theirdoctrinesc cam
not be considered any longer as pc
culiarly party principles, for the rea-
son that the parties do not now take
distinct issue on them. Many radi-
cal Republicans hold just such views
as these two Resolutions announce,
while many hold just the contrary.
The points are to be argued, there
fore, not as special party principles,
but as questions of policy on which
individual opinions may differ with
out regard to party.


The animus of the next Resolution
is the main fault we find with it.
Were it not that those who have been
tried by Military Commissions were
rebels, or Of rebel actsand sympathies,
this Resolution would never have
been presented. And as to the Yer
ger case-at which mainly we sup
pose it to have been aimed-it will
be remembered that this case Is to
come before the Supreme Court next
October.


The Economy and Accountability
Resolution is all right, and tallies
very we'll with the I'd and 9th planks
in our own State Platform. The
next one, referring to the National
Debt, is so vague, pOintless and alb
surd that we question very much
whether anybody in the Convention
knew what it was driving at. 1t
sounds to US like pure and unmitiga-
ted buncombe. And the next ResO-
luton certainly has something of the
same weakness. OF course, we all
unite in welcoming to our shores the
oppressed of every nation, and in
"making the home of their adoption
free to them" with no other restric-
tions than those which our own
safety requires. What, then, is the
special point Of this Resolution?
Year: 1869

And as to the last plank, we are
glad that it-or at least the first part
of it's announced SO plainly. The
earnest and candid Temperance men
of the State can now see where to
look for aid, or rather, where not to
look. And we commend this matter
to the special attention of some of
our friends in this County. What
the "stringent license law" might
be, which the Democracy would have
instead of Prohibition, of course nu
one can tell; but the spirit of this
Resolution may be inferred from the
fact that it was accepted as substi-
tute, by Mr.. Murphy, for the follow
ing, which he had offered:


"Resoived, That in the opinion of
this Convention, the sO-called Maine
liquor law, that now disgraces the
statute books of the State of Iowa
ought to be repealed at the earliest
pOSSiblo moment"
Year: 1869

The following are the Resolutions
passed by the Iowa State Democratic
Convention, held in Des Moines July
IA, 1869:


WHEREAS, Upon the eve Of po-
IiticaI canvass, the time-hOnOred
usage of our party requires that a
platform of principles be announced
for the government OF those who may
be elected to Office:


ResOiced, That the Democratic par
ty view with alarm the action Of an
INSCRIPTIONS majority in Congress in
their attempts TO absorb the powers
of the executive and judicial depart
mcntS of the Government and to an
initiate the rights and functions of
the State governments.


Res0tUed, That we favor reform
i'm the national banking system, look
ing to an ultimate abOlishmcnt of
that pernicious plan for the aggrand-
izement of few at the expense of
the many.


Res0lued, That now, as in the time
past, we are opposed to high pro-
tective tariff, and that we will use
every effort to prevent and defeat
that system of national legislation
which would enrich Il small class of
manufacturers at the expense Of a
great mass Of producers and cOnsum-
ers; and that we are in favor of such
reforms in our tariff system as shall
promote commerce with every nation
of the world.


ResOlred, That the pretended trial,
conviction and execution Of persons
not belonging to the military or ma
val service of the United States, by
military commission, is in direct
conflict with the Constitution, and
we denounce the same as unworthy
Of a free people, and disgiacefui to
the American Government.


Resoiyed, That we demand no more
and will submit to nothing less than
the settlement of the Alabama claims,
according to the recognized rules Of
international law, and that we de-
clare it to be the duty of the Govern
ment to protect every citizen, Wheth-
er naturaized or native, in every
right of liberty and property through
out the world, without regard to the
pretended claims Of foreign nations
to their allegiance.


ResOIred, That we are in favor Of
and insist upon an economical admin
istration Of the national and State
Governments; that the people may
be speedily as possible relieved from
the load Of taxation with which they
are now oppressed, and that public
officers should he held to strict ac-
countabiIity to the people forall their
official acts. .-.--..


ResOlred. That n national debt is a
national curse, and that while we ia
vor the payment Of our present in
debtedness according to the strict
letter of the contract, we would rath-
er repudiate the same than see it
made the means for the establishment
of an empire upon the ruins Of con-
stitutiOnal law and liberty.


Resolred, That we cordially invite
to our shores the oppressed Of every
civilized nation, and we pledge our
selves to make the home of their
adoption. free to them without any
other condition than that of residence
and allegiance.


ResO1red, That we are in favor OF
the repeal Of the present prOhibitory
liquor law. believing it inadequate
to accomplish the purpose designed
by it; and as a substitute for the
same, we are in favor of the enact
ment Of a stringent license law.
Year: 1869




The Dear. Nixon letter of Gen. Sam
uel F. Cary is left entirely in the shade
by the following extract from a speech
delivered by Gen. Cary in October,
1867, at Troy, New York, a report of
which we find in the Troy Times. At
the close of an eloquent speech of three
hours duration, he addressed the young
men who were about to cast their first
vote in the following fsrvid appeal:


"Young men, with which party do
you propose to identify yourselvesi
Will you enroll your names with the
party Of freedom and progress the
party that stood by the four millions of
freedmen in the struggle for the rights
of man; the party that voted supplies
and poured out its treasures to sustain
armies and navies such as the world
never saw, the party that gave Lin
coin the second time to be inaugurated
IS commander-in-Ohief; the party that
throughout the long and terrible con-
fict never fatSred; the party that has
written for the admiration of mankind
the brightest page of history in the
worlds annalsi Will you sustain that
Congress that proposes to secure ma
tional citizenship to every native born
man, woman and child of whatever
color or nationality, that hereafter the
declaration 4 am an American citizen
shall be passport 10 favor throughout
all lands, a. to the expression will en-
body allthatis suggestive Of liberty,