smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878




NatiqnaI Finances.


Gov. Robinson, in his message
to the legislature of New York
sums up the financial condition
of the country as follows: 81:
seems to me manifest now that
if the credit of the federal gov.
ernment can be maintained at
the point at which it stood a
month or two ago, SO that its
bonds bearing low interest are
freely sold, the Treasury will be
able to resume payment on or
before January 1, 1879, without
distressing the community. We
have, in fact, passed through all
the suffering involved in the re-
duction Of prices which inevi-
tably followed the false values
of a period Of great imitation.
Prices both of wages and prop
erty are, with few exceptions,
lower to-day than they wsuld
have been if we had never de-
parted from the coin standard
and I do not doubt that the re-
sumption Of specie payments
will at once increase the eX-
changeable value of property
and the market price of labor.
They are in error who suppose
that prolongation of the pres
ent uncertain condition of things
| will bring relief to those who,
owing money, hope to realize
more for their property, or to
that large class Of men which is
looking for better rates of wa
ges. With the present want OF
confidence, property does not
readily find purchasers at any
price; capital is timid in invest
ing; enterprise is checked. Un-
til confidence Is restored our
wonted activity in the exchang-
ing Of property will not return,
and until the present tendency
to inactivity and almost morbid
caution ceases, we will look IN
vain for higher rate of wages
No financial device, by way ot
renewed imitation or debasement
of our money, will compensate
for the disastrous effects of the
additional loss of confidence
which any such device will bring
about. Relief is near at hand il
we seek it by the straight road
and it would be great weakness
now, when we have paid the full
cost of success, to take single
backward step.


"Any waverlng on the part of the
Federal government in respect tt
this question must have the effect o.
prolonging indefinitely and intensi'
flying the unhappy condition o
business and of industry unde,
which we have suffered for severa,
years. There can be no confidence
in private transactions if the gener.
al government set an example of 9
want of good faith. And it must al
ways be borne in mind. in reference
to the present discussion as to the
precise meaning of the government
obligations, that the government
debt cannot be enforced; there is nc
arbiter or tribunal to decide between
the government and its creditors
the debt is purely debt of honor
in such cases the debtor cannot keep
himself clear of the imputation o1
ibad faith, except by ruling all
Year: 1878

The following very apt re1ec-
tions upon the pardoning power,
made by an eminent writer in a
book just published, are worthy OF
serious consideration by those upon
whom the duty devolves of max
ing or executing the laws relating
such matters:


le there is no reason for revising
the verdict by new trial, there
may be fair claim to some miti-
CATION In the time or other cir
cumstances Of the penalty; or there
may be some new evidence, which,
after the term of punishment is
begun, shows it to be inequitable.
For these and other reasons par
don or dlminution of penalty Ia
sometimes necessary; but the prac-
tical abuses of the pardon
ing power have been such
as to make it evident
that, as at present conducted in


most communities, this evil Is as
bad as the one it seeks to cure. In
general /. may be said: That some
judicial report giving the reasons
for its exercise ought to be necessa.
ry before any pardon be granted;
that no political chief ought to
have the power lodged in his hands;
that no one man ought to possess
II, for he will be almost sure to
swerve towards indiscriminate
pardon; that not even the slightest
consideration Of the disgrace to the
family of the criminal and OF his
position Ia society ought to be al
lowed. On the contrary. 1t throws
lustrs on the law when it is seen
to be equal toward the highest aud
the lowest, and even more severe
towards those who break the law
against the greatest light. Wheth-
reformation and general good char
acter during confinement ought to
be rewarded with pardon will de-
pend in part on the evidence of Its
genuineness. If criminal is re-
ally reformed, so that as he goes
forth, he breaches by his conduct
the law that snce he destroyed, he
Is one OF the best helps OF society
against transgression; but If the
hope OF reform acts In such q way
rs to whiten his extrrior only,
there 10 small advantage to society
IN letting him out. Special cases
VI pardon, such as loss of health
brought on by prison confinement,
must be judged Of, each for itself.
imprisonment was not meant to
break down health any more than
10 destroy reason.
Year: 1878




Grant will be elected the next
President. The wish is father to
the thought. We have no doubt
that Babcock and the whole brood
of unclean animals who festered
around the White House during
0rnnt's administration think pre-
olsely with Williams, the most
pla usible and unblushing pilferer
Of the memorable crew. We might
stsnd Grant. but the nation would
shake to its centre with Grant sur
rounded again by that unrivalled
galaxy Of bribs-takers, place-mer-
chants, crooked-whisky thieves,
credit mobilier maDipulators,
Washlngton-improvement projec-
tors, who made his administration
unapprcachably infamous In the
annals of administrations. The
elsction of Grant would be the sig
hal for every one Of the rings that
rendered Washington the hot-bed
Of official scoundrelism during his
last term Of four years to re-appear
and hold high carnival. Grant
could no more cut himself loose
from these men than he could trust
to his most sober resolve to curb
his quenchless appetite for the
dery waters Of Kentucky. They
would all be there Haunting again
their infamies In the face of the
mtion. No; the people will never
again heed the plaiHtive appeals
Of the favorites of the court of Grant
to once more place their master In
supreme power, SO that they may
again flourish in their Illicit spoils.
Landaulet Williams, and many
better men, think that Grant
would make strong candidate for
the Republicans-that he would
sweep over the country like tri.
umphant army, and be carried into
the White House amid the loud
ncclaims of millions of people.
But these men have not considered
that the people are waking up to
the abuses and corrupt ions which
have multiplied all over the
country, and that every
body is now convinced that
the deluge Of official immortality
and crime which has we'll nigh
ruined the nation took its source
from the frightful and conspicuous
examples of official turpitude so
unblushingly exhibited in the
highest places during Grants ad-
mipistration. 1t is that admins
trAtion and the examples set by
the wretches who had Grants ear, i,
and flourished under the shadow of
his powerful protection aud patron
age, which nave ueDauchel Inc
country and rendered crime
respectable. No honest American,
no matter what his politics may
be, wishes to see the gross
iniquities which became 50 rife
when Grant was President. again
blazoned forth from Washington;
and we venture the prophecy that
IL the responsible author of all
these official tergiversations be
onoe more rua for the great Office
he so ehamefully dlsgraced, he will
be so completely sat down upon by
the people that he will never rise
erect again.
Year: 1878

The Dead-Letter Office is an interest
ing place to visit; not Mt all like q living
letter office, but large room containing
many tables at which sit clerks examin-
ing, sorting and arranging the piles OF
correspondence that have come to
naught. Some open letters, which are
then passed TO others for examination,
when those containing money are passed
on to clerks whose duty it is to make a
memorandum OF the contents. Then the
whole is freshly reinclosed to return to
the sender; and, ia case it does.'t find
him, it comes back to Washington. It
is interesting to see the contents OF the
moDeyed letters. Small pieces OF silver
and currency are plentiful, and some
times a bit OF silver will have a piece Of
currency wrapped around it, SO careful
ly ! The bank-notes range from 81 to
900, and perhaps higher, but that was
the largest one we saw. Who would be
so careless as to let S2e note go astray ?
1t must have been lovely woman; for the
direction on all the letters we glanced at
was in feminine chirograpby. The many
articles which have failed to find an own


er and have returned To the Dead Letter
Office, such as iewelry. emoroideries,


and all the little things that are sent by
mail, were until recently kept on exhibi-
tion, and formed quite G curious muse
um; but they are now packed away pre-
paratory to being sold at auction


Washington Cor. Of the Hartford
Year: 1878

similar to the chocolate tablets, and
which, indeed, is the shape which the
chewing tobacco of sailors and Yankees
takes, and we have a colossal pile worthy
of being placed beside the third largest
of the pyramids of Gizeh, that of the
My ykerinos, and as massive and as high
as that old regal edifce. Let us grind
all the tobacco into snuff, and let us pic
ture TO ourselves the sad case that an
evil equinoctial wind one fine morning
blows the snuff over the ocean, and
showers it on one OF our German states,
we are certain more than one of the Lili-
putian states would have much difficulty in
recovering its existence by sboveling
away the snuff Cope's Tobacco Plant.
Year: 1878

The post chaplain at Fort Buford has
deservedly earned the title of "the light
ming change attist," by performing the
services of different denominations accord
ing to the wish Of his congregation. It's
said that the rapidity with which lie
changes from the spotlcss robe Of the
priest to the Prince Albert of the Method
ist exhorter is only equalled by Ccrito and
a few other rival celebrities in the light
ming change business.
Year: 1878

Watchman, Tell Us of the Night-Euery


Man at His Post.-The election which


takes place tomorrow is the most important


that has taken place in Manchester since the


gallant Walker triumphed over Wells. Man


chester has with but one exception always


been carried by the Conservatives. Shall
the most ilIustrlous and beloved chieftain
now living be stricken down in the house OF


his friends? This should not be. His sup
porters form large bulk Of the wealth, in
telIisence, and honest industry Of the city.
We have good committee and good
leader. It is true next Tuesday he may be


on crutches; but his head is as level his
brain ss clear, his right arm as strong, aud
his brave heart as unhinching, as on that
beautiful June evening when he shed bis
life's blood in the swamps OF White Oak.
Let every man be at the commlttee-meeting
tonight, and be at his post tomorrow.
Let him vote, and see that his neighbors and
friends vote. II we but do our duty the
Conservative flag will wave in triumph over


every foot of ground from James river to
Swansboro' and from the Petersburg rail-
road to the Falls Plantation.
Year: 1878

LEcrURE.-On Friday, November Sth, at
Mozart HalI, DR.. Welter will deliver his
new and Git is stated on good authority
powerful and interesting lecture entitled
''CinderiIsa Among the Arts" With the
lecture piano recital will be given, and as
the programme is very select one all lovers
OF music may expect an intellectual treat OF
the very highest order. This is probably
the first lecture on music and entertainment
OF its kind ever given in Richmond, and
we can congratulate our citizens that so in
telligent a man and earnest in his proIes-
sion as a teacher as DR.. Welter evidently
is, has chosen our city for his home.
Year: 1878

COsg0N CoUNcn.-The regular meeting
OF the Common Council will be held this
aiterneos at o'clock. There will also be q
Joint session OF the two branches OF the City
Council this afternoon.
Year: 1878

The following are the imports OF dry goods at the
port of New-YoTk for the week ending this date,
and since the beginning of the year. compared with
the corresponding portions of previous years
Year: 1878

The United States under stress of the great
necessity of war took the same step which
many other nations have been compelled to
take in levying forced loan on the country
by issuing non-interest bearing notes. 1t
attached to them legal tender power so
that all persons were compelled to take them
in liquidation of their claims-the working
man for his wages, the capitalist for his loans.
Such an extreme measure is justified only by
the exigency of war. The result has always
been the same; such currency has always
become deprecated and one of two things
has necessarily occurred; namely, the curren-
cy has been repudiated and the holders have
absolutely lost whatever value it had, or it
has become good by slow and painful pro-
cess during which the values of all kinds of
property have apparently deprecated, be-
cause the standard of the value has become
better. The United States, as becomes a
rich and honest nation, set to work in due
time after The close of the war to make its
promises good. Since that time the green
back has been constantly becoming better,
until now it is almost at par with the money
of the world.


This has not been accomplished without
pains and suffering on the part of the people,
which have been endured with remarkable
patience and heroism. They had become
accustomed to value their property on the
bi sis of the deprecated currency and as the
currency has become better they have seen
their goods, houses and lands gradually losing
in their nominal value. The real value re-
malned the same and the purchasing power
of what they could be sold for was as great as
before; but it is difficult for a man to reason
philosophically in the face of an apparent
loss.


The struggle is about over. Greenbacks
are nearly as good as gold. The turn of the
tide is at hand. The crops of the country
are abundant. We are selling great sur
plus to foreign nations. War in Europe has
widened cur market there. Everything be.
tokens an era of great prosperity to our
land. Bat just now comes a threatened
danger. 1t is hard for men to await the
working of natural laws. They have be-
come restless and uneasy under the constant
pressure for all these years. Designing and
visionary men are taking advantage of this
uneasy feeling and have promulgated their
new "American system of finance" Just
as if it were new, and had not been tried by
France, Russia, and nearly all OF the repub-
lies of Central and Southern America to
their great cost and disgrace. They put
forth the cause of our trouble and label it
"cure." They would put us back for years.
They would make Of no avail all the pains
and suffering we have endured in our finan-
cial convalescence. 1t is indeed serious
misfortune that this check upon our return
ing prosperity should be inteyposed. Let the
sound, sensible citizens of Maine hold stoutly
to the true way and not permit themselves to
be beguiled into by and forbidden paths by
extravagant promises of good and beautiful
things which can never be attained.
Year: 1878

We do not read anonymous letters and communi
cations The name and address of the writer are in
all cases indispensable, not necessarily for publication
but as a guaranty of good faith.


We cannot undertake to return or preserve COM
munications that are not used
Year: 1878

THE Ne,u Era must be in hard straits for
matter when it uses typographical error to
help out its statements. In Its report of the
public debt the PRESS by the accidental addi-
ton of figure made the Pacific Railway
debt $646, 1928, SIP when it should have been
$64,623, ,5i2-a very substantial difference.
We call upon the Neao Era to make ample
correction Of the mistake, which it will do
unless it means deliberately to deceive its
readers.
Year: 1878

Every club is invited to send deegate,, and it is
earnestly hoped that large number will be present,
it is desired to make this of the most benefit
cent mass meetings held 10 the State and give
new impetus to the reform work in Brunswick.


The usual reduction on the railroads will be made.
Year: 1878

4 little girl went to visit her grand
mother who lived at some distance from
her mothers and fathers home. She
seemed happy ali day, for she had every
thing, to make her happy. But when
grandmother went to look at her when
she was asleep, she saw teal-,lrops on
her cye-laShes.


"Ah," said the old lady the next
morning, "you were a little homesick
last night, my dear


"Oh no, grandmother Mabel replied,
Il could never h. home sick here.


IL WAS just 50 the next night and the
next At length grandmother thought,
AS the child seemed troubled that she
would SIT in the next room until she
went to sleep Presently, although
Mabel was tucked up she began to rus
tie her quilt, and shake her pillow, and
her grandmother went to her and said


"Mabel, my child, YOU have thorn
in your pillow; what is il |"


Then the little girl hid her face and
began to cry aloud Her grandmother
was very much troubled. At length
Mabel answered:


80 grandmother, when ! am alone, !
cannot forget how sai,, Il won't
mother and / cannot unsay it; and
mother is good and loves me so much,
and was so naughty "


And the tears stremed afresh down
the child's cheeks. Here then, was the
thorn in her pillow, and she could not
withdraw it. And so it will be by-and-
By, with the little boy who is selfish and
unkind at home. When he is away
among strangers, he will think of the
home of his childhood; and the recollec-
ton of some unkind word or action will
be a thorn in his pillow when he retires
at night And the little girl who does
not care to help her mother now, will find
a thorn in her pillow when that mother
sleeps in the grave.
Year: 1878

Why is it wrong to kill the man who
says he told you sol


Why the boys who made the Fourth
of July odorous and hideous with gun
powder from 1910 to 1856, inclusive,
are speechless with indignation at the
depraved and vicious tastes of the boys
who want to enjoy the same kind of
celebration in 1882


Why people always discuss European
politics as though they understood theml


Why a man should always get mad if
you frankly, and for his own good, tell
him he is making an ass of himself


Why it is SO hard to find a man when
you want to borrow money of him


Why it is so hard to borrow the
money after you have found himi


Why man always wishes he had
chosen some other profession


Why a man is always going 10 take a
vacation 'next SummerF


Why man thinks every year that he
wont be as big fool this year as he was
last


Why he is, though, all the same


Why a man never tries to beat down
the price Of railroad ticket


Why everybody affects a profound
knowledge of growing crops and crop
prospects


Why men always lie about the size Of
the fish they catch and the number Of
ducks they shootl


What a girl ever sees in a great, sell
fish, deceitful, hulking animal of man
TO marry him for anyhow !


The much despised cook deserves to
Year: 1878

HABITS OF INDUsTRY.-Habits of in
dustry are Of less account than they
were two generations ago, and as a con-
sequence fewer young men are pushing
forward in power and usefulness. Thur
low Weed says "Why, when / was
journeyman in John street, New York,
more than sixty years ago, with the late
James Horper, we were both emulous
to be first at the Office in the morning,
and at daylight one of us always found
the other ut work cleaning the balls with
which we linked the FORMS" The zeal
and fidelity which made these men eff
cient and successful as printers, gave
them prominence in the craft, and broad
ened their sphere of life. Mr.. Weed
became one Of the leading editors of the
State; Mr.. Harper one of the leading
publishers. Their aim as printers was
not to see how many hours they could
dawdle through, but how well they
could do their work, and how much of
it they could turn of. Their compan-
ions who shirked duty, and sought to
get on with the least effort, came to
nothing. They never advanced a step
from the routine of their trade. The
rule is constant, not only with printers,
but with other mechanics. Habits of
industry, and zeal for doing the best
work and as much of it as practicable,
are essential to success in the humblest
walk of life, and are the conditions of
advance from it to higher positions,
The neglect of manual labor, the dispO-
sition to regard it as degrading, and to
shirk it whenever possible, are causes Of
many of the evils from which the coun-
try is suffering If hard times will
bring back some of the old virtues, they
will not be without their advantage.
Year: 1878

FRENCH PoLITENEss. ss.-The politeness
of Frenchmen to each other and to those
with whom they associate, is really OPP
pressive to plsin matter-of-fact Ameri-
can. He feels as if he were constantly
guilty of some sin Of omission or com
mission, end is uneasy lest he be consid-
cred an unmannerly boor. On meeting
in the morning they raise their hats at
sight, rush together, shake hands and
greet each other with all the cordiality
of old friends who had been long sepa-
rated, whilst they had parted on the pre-
vious evening. If sitting in the jury
room engaged in their labors, and an
absent iuryman comes in late, they all
arise instantly to their feet and remain
standing until the newcomer has passed
around, with his hat in his hand, ex-
changed salutations with each, and
passed the compliments Of the season.
An American juror, under the circum
stances would glance up from his writing
and say; Good morning Mr.. Smith" or
SLOW are you, John, and 60 on with
the business he had on hand. Perhaps
he would joke him on his late arrival,
intimate that be had been on a frolic
the previous night but under no circum-
stances think OF rushing at him and
shaking hands, and welcoming him as ii
he had been long absent brother
Such thing as a gruif Frenchman |
have not met in Paris, though there are
possibly such characters concealed be
hind this obstrusive politeness in their
outdoor intercourse. We have known
some Americans who were as genial and
polite as French dancing masters in then
public and friendly intercourse, and as
grabbed as clears with sore heads, in
their domestic lives They have home
character and an outdoor character
They live two lives and change from one
to the other with great faculty and rapid
ity. However, French family life among
the educated and refined abounds in low
ing kindness.