smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

A correspondent writes us from Port Glib
son, Miss, under date of December %, 1877,
and says: THE time of year has come in
which we hear of the infamous frauds prac-
ticed upon the colored people by way of pur-
chases and the settling up of yearly ac-
counts" In this expression we are remind
ed that there are two periods each year in
which the colored man in the South be-
comes the victim of deliberate robbery and
wrong. One is when he settles his annual
account with his employer, or him whose
land he works on shares, and the other
when he attempts to exercise his rights MS
citizen at the ballot-box. In the first in
stance he is despoiled of his property or
wages by system of fraudulent and
trumped up charges on book account
which are grossly dishonest and unjust, and
to which he is forced to submit by the pre-
pondeance of prejudice and concerted
action against him. He works like slave
during the summer, and when the day of
settlement comes he is robbed like a slave
of the greatest portion of his hard earn
ings. This is the policy of the land-holder
to keep the colored man in poverty and
consequent dependence.


Then again, when the season arrives for
the colored man to exercise his right of
suffrage, he is to great extent despoiled of
his freedom Of citizenship, and not unfre-
quently of his life, if he attempts to exercise
his right of suffrage independent of the die
tation of his Democratic neighbors.


These are simple facts, and they show
how poorly the colored citizen fares under
the existing policy of reconciliation and
pacifcation. Such things disgrace the
country, and we trust the fine will yet
come, and not very far in the future, when
American citizenship will find a common
respect and protection in every portion Of
our country.
Year: 1878

The Columbus Miss Inder says: "The
question has been asked, How does Mr..
LAMAR stand in regard to the financial
measures now before Congress? 1t is init
mated that he is leaning toward New Eng
land, Wall street, and the bond-holders 1t
is further suggested that he will vote against
the silver bill and the bill repeating the re-
sumption act. Should he do so, he will have
an account to settle with his constituency
that will be difficult for him to meet. We
can assure him that his hold upon the peo-
pie of Mississippi is not sufficiently strong
tOjustify him in the assumption, if he should
make it, that he can curry favor with the
East, and in doing so compromise the inter
ests of his own section with impunity. No
matter what purposes he may have in view
in endeavoring to cOnciliate the North, the
people who have elected and trusted and
honOred him have no desire to become par
ties to them. He has been made by them
their representative, and he should appre-
ciate the fact They have generously over
looked some of his shortcomings, and if he
il wise he will make their welfare, and not
his ambition, his guide in the Senate"
Year: 1878

AMONG the fhrces in the State of Missis-
sippi is that of drawing jurors for the sew
eral courts. Under the law the names of
the entire adult male population are placed
in a box, and the panels are drawn at
hazard therefrom. There was a recent jury
drawing in Lauderdals County, Mississippi,
under this law. In that county the white
and colored population are of about equal
numbers. The drawing of three panels of
twelve each show but two colored jurymen
drawn in each panel, making thirty whites
70 six colored out of thirty-six jurymen,
with about an equal number Of each in the
box. 1t Is a little peculiar that the same
number of colored jurymen should have
been drawn in each panel if there was any
chance about the drawing. Chance is
usually more fckle than in this instance,
and it looks as if there was great method
in her fckleness. We merely cite this,
which we CLEAN from Mississippi paper, to
show the chance given to the colored citi-
sen in that State.
Year: 1878

upon the scene. The poor are growing
richer, as fortune after fortune are thrown
on the shore of the commercial sea In
wrecks; and the wretkers are those who,
protected by their bonds and boarded gold,
have nothing to do but to gather in the val
uables that are washed OH the strand Of
common disaster.


If this Government is for the people,
so long as it is not strictly Of and by
the people under existing policies, we ap-
peal to the Congress of the United States
and to the Executive to so shape the ad
ministration of public affairs as to bring
some early relief to the business interests of
the country. There is an impending crash
in commercial circles, and the falling tim
bers betoken more general and wide
spread disaster. Individual credit is being
wrecked constantly, showing that no busi-
ness extension under existing contraction
and stringency can long endure the strain
without breaking 1t now devolves upon
the executive and legislative branches of
the Government to afford relief The
people have nowhere else to look or go for
succor. Thesc disasters are the legitimate
consequences of the existing policy of
contracting and boarding money for
resumption, and the Gordian knot
should be unloosed at the earliest
possible moment after Congress re-
assemblies. We have not been an en-
thusiastic advocate of repeal Of the re-
sumption act, but now that it is clearly re-
vealed that between this measure and the
cruel avarice Of the money power, the mer-
camille, commercial, and industrial interests
of the people are being crushed in ruin, we
say cut the cord that binds us to resump-
ton in 1879, and let us float lcisurely again
until the country and the Government are
prepared to resume. 1t is folly for the
Government to attempt an impossibility,
and the attempt at resumption within
twelve months, under the existing coin vol
ume of the country, is as indiscreet and
hazardous as DoN QU1NoTTEs assault
upon the windmill.
Year: 1878

statement of BURGESS be true, 1t appears
that he skulked away from justice at the
time in very cowardly manner and per-
mitted his friend MuMFoRD to propitiate
an offense of which he was himself guilty,
and now he comes to the front to emblazon
his own preserved infamy. The mistake
that General BUTLER made was that he did
not hang BURGESS, CANTON, and MuMFoRD
in row, like three candles in a tai
low-chandler shop and then he would have
fully secured the ends of justice
Year: 1878

THE Cleveland Herald says: Miss RAN
BON, who has long been known as an artist
Of unusual merit as well as originality,
whose great painting of General THOMAS
attracted so much attention at Washington,
has recently finished some portraits of un-
common excellence. Those of Colonel
WHITTLEsEY and District Attorney LEE
are almost beyond criticism. Miss RANSOM
Is painstaking, devoted worker and lover
Of her art, and we are glad to see these evi.
dences of her success
Year: 1878

GENERAL BUTLER made good point, in
his speech before the Banks Club, on the
quotation from DANIEL WEBsTERs speech
to the effect that gold and silver were the
legal-tender money of the Constitution, and
that any interference with them, as legal
tender, was wholly unconstitutional. Mr..
WEBSTER was an excellent constitutional
lawyer, and his opinion should be dear to
the Massachusetts heart.
Year: 1878

THE New York Herald is somewhat solicit
Gus lest Mr.. BEEcHER shall relinquish his
argument against the existence OF hell be-
fore he makes out case. 1t will be very
happy when it comes to believe that there
h no future punishment.
Year: 1878

1t is rumored that the Metropolitan Ele-
waited Railroad contemplates consolida-
ton with the old New York and Boston,


now known as the New York City and
Northern Railroad Company, which is to
complete It's road through Westchester and
Putnam counties with double track from
Kingsbridge. The report arose from the
fact of mortgage having recently been
given by the latter company, and al
though one of the mortgages denies
any knowledge Of an immediate con-
nection with the rapid transit road, the
policy would be SO evidently advantageous
to both companies and to the public that it


is no doubt contemplated and ought to be
Carried out. Westchester and Putnam
counties will soon be simply the outskirts
OF New York, where the residences of
wealthy citizens will mainly be located,
and the public benefit Of rapid transit will
be great in proportion as it affords facili-
ties for reaching the territory beyond the
citys northern limit. The extension Of the
elevated road through Westchester and into
Putnam county will open up beautiful
country to our now overcrowded popula.
ton Mt n less distance from the business
centres in point of time than the Central
Park was before the elevated roads were
constructed. This will give the city the
relief it needs and will, moreover, by largely
increasing the valuations of real estate for
taxation, lessen the rate of tax for each in
dividual. This, in short will be the real
rapid transit desired by the people and
required for the growth and prosperity Of
the city.
Year: 1878

On Western railroad tipsy straggler
detached locomotive from the train before
which it stood, started it at high speed
we're equally torn to pieces by the newt
able jump from the rails at o curve But
suppose it had occurred to him not to de-
tach the locomotive and to run away with
the train just MS it stood while engineer and
fireman and brnkemen were away swallow
ing their hasty dinner. All the passengers
do not leave train that stops for dinner,
and he must have taken many with him.
There might have been some one in the
train TO discover how the case stood and to
90 out and overcome the tipsy driver be-
fore the accident happened; but it is moro
probable that he would have made a
fearful tragedy of what now seems a
mere wild whim fatal only to himself.
Perhaps q little reflection on the possibil-
tiles Of an occurrence like this may teach
the persons in charge of railway stations
the necessity of some vigilance in regard to
the safety OF trains even while they are
waiting at stations Some governments in
Europe are nOW Stuuyiub HoW
many railway accidents arc due TO the de-
fective eyesight of the men whose duty it is
to signal trains or to stop them for signals
of danger. 1t is topic worthy certainly
all the attention it receives. As safety and
danger are indicated by the color of signals
| it follows that man afflicted with color
blindness would be just as likely to
90 ahead when Egnalied to stop
through mere defect OF knowledge
that there was danger. But man
with color blindness is SO apt to find
1t out before he becomes an engineer that
the danger is remote. Yet this remote
source of danger is very assiduously
studied by governments that are not popu-
Lar governments and yet seem to regard II
ss IN important part Of their duty to care
for and protect the lives Of the people.
What would be thought in countries like
that of system SO free and easy that 0
locomotive left with its train on the rails
could be run away with by any strnggler?
Year: 1878

The Board of Apportionment refuses to
direct the issue of any more bonds for the
Brooklyn Bridge until the question as to
the constitutionality and Interpretation OF
the law of 1875, requiring the city of New
York to raise and pay over to the bridge
trustees one-third of the sum Of eight mill
ion dollars, shall have been decided in the
courts. The Corporation Counsel has given
an opinion that the law is constitutional,
clearly for city purposes; that the amount
of eight million dollars for which it calls,
of which Brooklyn is to raise two-thirds
and New York one-third. does not include
expenditures prior to the passage OF the
act, and that it il the duty of the Comp
troller of New York to issue the bonds
and pay over the money to the amount
Of 81, 666, ,666 &c on the requisition OF the
Bridge trustees, the law being Imperative.
The Board of Apportionment, nevertheless,
considers the matter of sufficient importance
to warrant it in refusing to be guided by
the Corporation Counseps opinion and in
insisting on Judicial decision before any





consequence is that work on the bridge has
ceased, six or seven hundred workmen are
thrown ont of employment, and the city is
likely to become involved in o long litiga-
ton.


Opinions differ widely as to the wisdom
of the undertaking but it is now too late
to argue whether New York ought or ought
not to have embarked in the construction
Of the bridge. The two practical questions
are, first, whether New York is bound to
pay it's quota Of the eight million
dollars called for by the law of
1875, and next whether it would
be wise to refuse to do SO even if there
should be defect in the law by which pay
ment may be evaded. The sum of nine
million dollars has been already sunk in
the work and in the purchase OF property
for the approaches to the bridge. This rep
resents at six per cent an interest of five
hundfraed hnSdfrae 4 and forty thousand dollars yearly,
or nearly fifteen hundred dollars day.
It ttlis.anticipated that the revenues Of the
brids &c will more than pay the interest OH
the whole cost If it would not be good
economy to throw away what has already
been invested and to abandon the work it
certainly must be desirable to complete it
and secure its revenues as speedily
as possible. Besides, If New York
is legally bound to pay the money
there will be no disposition to
quibble about the matter We suggest,
therefore, that friendly case be forthwith
made, involving as little expense as pos
sible, taken to the courts and promptly
decided. AS the cost Of litigation must
fall in some shape or other on the public,
and as everybody, in interest must desire a
speedy settlement of the Question involved.
We do not see how any objection can be
made to this proposition.
Year: 1878

Why should there be SO much surprise
manifested ut the fine house and elegant
surroundings in which the just captured
Brooklyn burglars lived? II the propensity
to steal tended to debase the tastes of
thieves society would soon lose some Of its
brightest ornaments. When q man pro-
poses to steal railroad or the contents of a
savings bank he first pradently establishes


himself in q handsome house in IN
elegant neighborhood, and there is no
reason why those who operate only upon
isolated safes should not do likewise to the
best of their ability. 1t disarms suspicion,
for there is an insane idea abroad that
stealing is only done by the poor and des-
perate. The only trouble with the Brook
lyn cracksmen was that they we're too mod
est They should have set up a fine car
riage, purchased pictures, given parties, en-
tertained Congressman and subscribed
freely to benevolent purposes. Above all
things they should have owned and occu-
pied q pew in fashionable church, for
there is nothing like religious professions
to blind o credulous public to the doubtful
morality of the ways by which man earns
his money. Had they dome all this thar would
Year: 1878

As the public is most interested only in
what is most talked about it is likely to be
almost ignorant of the fact that very i'm
portant transaction in Indian affairs has
just been concluded. The government and
the Sioux have agreed upon q transfer Of
the great nation Of the Northwest to what
promises to be permanent home and one
where the Indians may reform themselves
without much fear of annoyance from the
. whites. 1t is so natural to estimate
the size of a body Of Indians by that
of the military force which fights or
watches it that most people will be sur
prised to know that the Sioux nation num-
bers about fifteen Thousand of men, women
and children, and that at least half of this
number is able to fight. What they can do
when aroused was sadly learned by the
borderers in 1862 should they take the
warpath now five thousand soldiers would
be none too many to operate successfully
against them. Like all our other Indian
wards, they have been swinded, robbed
and insulted in almost every possible way
until their grievances have accumulated to .
degree that would rouse any body ofwhites to
war even to the point of annihilation; yet
to-day their principal desire is to be let
alone and become civilized. They intend
to raise cattle, plant farms and live upon
what the whites can be KEEP. from stealing
from them. Such victory is worth more,
and hundred times cheaper, than any
that could be gained by force of arms, but
in dis, ributing the credit for it large
share should be given to the Indians them
selves and their leading statesman, old Red
Cloud, for they have exhibited degree OF
patience, forbearance. seli-control md hon
orable ambition which should forever set at
rest the disgraceful but almost universal
sentiment that Indians are tit only to be
killed.
Year: 1878

not now be in Jail, even if detected in their
peculiar financiering; they would be the
centres of groups of sympathizing friends;
there would be explanations volunteered to
the press by their admiring neighbors, if
not by their pastor, and they would 80
openly and peacefully to the mountains or
citement caused by the arrangement Of
their business interests. It is to be hoped
that when next they leave prison doors be-
hind them they will pay closer attention to
the precedents established by more skilful
operators. who are morally no better than
themselves, and yet in no danger of seeing
the inside of a Jail except in the capacity Of
benevolent visitors. aMsh
Year: 1878

One of the reasons for the nearly complete
breakdown of the liberal party in England
is that the great liberals are disinclined to
generally through the possession of earnest
convictions on subjects of public impor-
tance ; they supported the party whose pol
icy was in accordance with their conscien-
tious views of the right, and their support
gave it the vigor, the bold spirit and the
elevation of purpose that commanded great
and intelligent popular approval But
men who support party out of conscien-
tious considerations are an uncertain de-
pendence for merely party schemes, since
they will apply to these also the same rigor-
GUS test of conscience. They will not sup
port measures that it is merely "expedient"
party should take up, and they COM
monty repudiate all party attempts to con-
troll their individual actions and utterances
In that spirit Gladstone declined to be even
the leader in his party, and many others
have acted with him and Mr.. Fors. or
refuses nomination because it is associ-
ated with condition that looks to the ap-
plication of party pressure in the control Of





the individual opinions Of representatives.
There is no doubt that the caucus system is
bad enough. BY parties society is SO di-
vided that but little more than one-half
makes laws for all. BY the caucus
system the dominant party is divided
SO that little more than half of that deter
mines the party action. Half of party,
which itself comprises perhaps half the
voters really makes the law. One-quarter
dominates all in governments founded on
the will Of the majority. But the repudia-
ton of the caucus leads to party disin-
tegration and helplessness and paralyzes
now the great liberal party in England,
which. as it is going on at present. will
leave the country entirely to the tories till
their abuse Of power shall make an issue on
which moral revolution can be based.
That issue may arise out of the Ministerial
contempt Of the authority of Parliament.
Year: 1878

This time it is Ottawa which is disgraced
by religious riot = in which two sets Of
men in the name of the founder Of the
Christian religion pull out pistols and fire
at each other in the streets each propos-
ing to do God service by numbering
the other. The police in Canada seem
always to be promptly on hand after
the rioting has ceased. In this way
at least these defenders of the peace ''may
live tn saa another dAv-" 1t Ia but fair
Year: 1878

i'fllE PREsENcE of the New York Yacht Club
feet IN the waters Of New Bedford has thrown
new life INTO that ancient city. In the s!oop
race which came of yesterday the Vixen wns
the winner.
Year: 1878

ACCORDING To an official statement in the
English Parliament last evening the deaths
rom famine in India run up to the Appealing
figures Of million three hundred and fifty
thousand and it is very probable that this is
rather below than above tue actual number
who have died.
Year: 1878

unenforced. President Hayes pursues a
wiser and juster course, and in this case
he deserves the especial thanks of Southern
men, for in enforcing the laws he will show
the country not only where there have been
offences committed, but how limited in
number and extent were these offences.


AS to that wing of the republicans who
call themselves ''stalwarts, they will have
to put mp with disappointment. The
President is not going to ''hoist the
bloody shirt" On the contrary, he is
doing that which we apprehend will
contribute in very important degree to
put quietus upon the Southern question.
1t is to be regretted that SO many mere par
tisans among the republican leaders accept
this result with such evident regret. The
disposition of party which has long held
power to keep alive old and wornout
questions rather than march on to new
ones is natural, but it is, nevertheless, in
furious to the country; and we hope there
will be wisdom enough among the republi-
can leaders hereafter to see this, and to in
duce them to drop the old and disturbing
issues and place their party on fresh ones,
on which they may justly appeal to the
country for support
Year: 1878

An outcry is raised against the New York
police because they have not yet succeeded
in discovering the Manhattan Bank burg
lars and the robbers Of the Stewart grave.
Such great crimes are probably planned for
months in advance, and the sharpest,
shrewdest and most experienced criminals
exhaust their ingenuity in devising means
of escaping detection before they are COM
mitted. 1t is unreasonable to suppose that
any police force in the world can rush
into. the streets and track robbers on the
instan. whose untiring efforts have for
weeks, and perhaps for months, been
devoted to the business of ccver-
ing up their tracks. The detection
Of crime under officers whose genius
has become world-renowned and whose
resources have been exhaustless has always
been q work of time and Of patient, cease
less labor. The police Of New York are
entitled to a fair trial in these great
criminal cases before they can be justly
pronounced incapable Of running down the
guilty parties.


There is one grave faut in our detective
system which strips the officers in great
measure Of their efficiency and seriously
embarrasses their work. When crime of
any magnitude is committed the announce
mert is made that the case has been
placed in the hands of Detective
Brown or intrusted to Detective Smith
or Jones. This at once enables The
thieves to act as detectives on Brown,
Smith or Jones, instead OF these officers
acting as detectives on the thieves. The
detective ought to be unknown to the pub
lic His name should be secret, his fea-
lures unfamiliar, his means of disguise and
of concealmcnt ample. just as soon as an
offender knows what particular detective
is on his track his chances Of escape are in
creased fifty per cent. We are in great need
OF reform III our detective system, but SO
tar as the force is concerned many of it's
members are capable officers and all are en-
titled to fair play ut the hands of the press.