smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

The advocates of "absolute money" have


Of course clear right to argue and work for


any system of currency they prefer, and


would indeed be subject to reproach did they


NOT stand by their honest convictions. Were


this country to establish a new system


of currency the Nationals would


unquestionably have right to adyo-
cate their theory of absolute money.


But when they insist that notes is


sued by the United States Government long


since, shall never be paid they are advocating


gross injustice to every holder of those


notes, and unwittingly, doubtless, urging the


nation to an act of dishonesty. At the time


the greenbacks were issued they were issued


as notes and received by the public creditors


with the express understanding that they


should be paid in coin. A dollar greenback


bears upon its face this declaration: "The


United States will pay to bearer one dollar


Now at the time the notes were issued paper


was not recognized as money. A dol


lar by the United States statutes was defined
to be coin weighing 25 grains of gold or
2l2 grains of silver, 1t was this amount OF
gold or silver which the United States prom
ised to pay on demand. The Greenback
pretended to be nothing else than note.
The dollar greenback says TN its face: "This
NOTE is a legal tender for one donar' These
declarations are certainly explicit enough.
Whatever system OF currency we may here
after adopt we cannot honestly refuse to pay
these notes We have no ripht now to on 10
work and alter the contract. That would be
an er post facto law, directly forbidden by the
Constitution.


The understanding was that these notes
should be paid as soon as the United States


was able to pay them. No time was set for
their redemption, it is true. But this claim
would not be admitted in suit at law bs-
tween individuals. The defendant would be
compelled TO pay. The United States cannot
be sued, but that is no reason why it should
be dishonest and disregard those obligations
it insists its citizens shall fulfill. We are
able to pay the debt, and every consideration
OF public policy teaches US that the govern


ment should no longer pursue policy which
sets bad example andimpairs the public faith.
The Government certainly is not justified III


making distinction between its creditors.
If it is to pay its interest-bearing notes in


coin it should pay its Notwithstanding


notes in the same currency. 1t is now pay


ing one class of its creditors in money OF


steady value that is current all over the


world, that will buy as much in Paris or Lon
Year: 1878

New YORK, July l, 1878.


The summer has fairly set in, and New York
will be an unwontedly quiet town for couple
of months to come, particularly of Saturday
night, when so many of its well-to-do iuhabi-
tants are rusticating. Congress has adjouNed,
the courts are about entering upon long re-
cess, the leading theatres are closed and things
generally are in state of suspended anima-
ton. About the only matter of public interest
which elicits attention is the Vanderbilt will
case, and even that has lasted so long as to
have become rather bore. There seems to be
no limit to the absurdlties of litigation; but
there can hardly have been in the annals Of
mankind more frivolous, inconsequent ard
futile effort to disturb the succession to an es.
tate than this. The forsy on the Stewart estate
perhaps surpassed it in absurdity, but that
never attained the importance of trial. AS
soon as the attacking parties discovered that
the legal heirs would not spend mill in buy
off the claimants there was sudden end OF the
proceedings.


Bat the endsayor to break Vanderbilts VIII
is followed up with persstenCy which is
simply unaccountable, considering how utterly
the contestants have failed to gain single
point from the beginning until now. To be
sure there win always bs lawyers to sue as
long as there are clients to pay, but, how unaer
the sun anybody can be found credulous enough
to fool away money in the grotesque undertak.
ing to prove that the self-wiled old Commo-
dore didn't know what he was about when he
disposed Of his property, is past finding out.
Every particle of testimony adduced thus far
that has had the slightest relevancy to the sub
ject in hand has tended 10 strengthen the cause
of the proponents. The counsel for the con.
testants have been perpetually Offering in evi.
dence matters so palpably inapplicabls thai
they must certainly have foreseen that they
would be ruled out. Much of the time of thu
court has been occupied 10 listening to and re.
jecting these propositions. All of this wasted
time has to be paid for, and paid for very
dearly too. There are multitude of gentle.
men Of the bar to receive fees and they are not
generally dfident about fixing the value of
their services when there is an ample fund to
draw upon. So that while there is scarcely
room for a doubt that when decision is
reached it will sustain the validity Of the will,
the expenses entailed upon the successful as
well as the defeated parties to the suit will be
very great In this particular instance, of
Year: 1878

THE Shoe and Leather Reporter advises
the tanners to hasten slowly. 1t says: In
the leather-making departments of our trade,
there are some symptoms of recurrence OF
one of those periodical fits Of uneasiness,
which have been sapping their vitality for
years past. The tanning fraternity were
making satisfactory progress toward conva'
lescence up to week or so ago. Then
somebody conceived the idea of buying a
cargo Of hides. Thereupon ensued the Gus
tomary scramble for all there were left, and
great many sales were effected, and the mar
ket assumed firmer tone. There is no tell
ing how long the craze will last, nor how
desperate it will prove. If it continues for
any length of time it will interrupt the cur
rents of the shoe traffic. If hides should
advance materially in price. there will be
sure to be greater quantities imported than
there are legitimate uses for, the supply o.
leather will be correspondingly increased, anc
the manufacturers can take orders with per
feet confidence that they will buy leather
cheaply enough to enable them to execute
them on a remunerative basis. 1t is toe
early to predict the force and fury of the dis
temper as yet, but if it does not soon yield t.
| iudicious treatment, there are more sorrows
| in store for the tanners.
Year: 1878

that they do not desire full, free and fair
investigation. They strongly object to the
production of evidence showing that Louisi-
ana was terrorized in the fall of 1876 by the
White Leagues and Bull Dozers. They are
willing to listen to any wild story about Re-
publicans, but refuse to receive testimony
showing the practice of intimidation by Dem
Year: 1878

CROP reports from the West are very en-
couraging, the present conditions more than
fulfilling the early promise. Appearances
betoken an unprecedentedly large yield.
Since hot weather set in the wheat is heading
out finely. Corn, owing to long continued
cool weather has been backward, but is fast
"picking up" The crops may yet be ruined
by rain or wind storms, but the prospect for
great harvest is unusually good.
Year: 1878

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


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

EVERY regular attache of the PRESS is furnished


with Card certificate couDtersignee by Stanley I.
Pullen, Editor. All railway, steamboat and hotel
managers will confer favor upon us by demanding
credentials of every person claiming to represent our
Year: 1878

don as in New York. It is paying another
class in currency which has no recognized
value at all abroad, and ductuating value
at home. 1t gives one man a dollar that is
everywhere worth 25 grains of gold. 1t gives
another dollar which may be worth % or
20 or "a grains Of gold. This is dealing un-
fairly with the great majority of its creditors.
1t is this unfairness, this inequality which
the resumptionists desire to do away with.
For some purposes greenbacks are as good as
coin. They are as good in the discharge of
debts in this country. The advocates of specie
payments want to make them as good as coin
for all purposes. They desire that the green
back dollar shall buy as much clothing and
food as the gold dollar. Then only will the
bondholder cease to be a preferred creditor.
The Government is discharging in good faith
its contract with him. We demand that it
shall discharge in good faith as well its con-
tracts with its other creditors. We want the
gold dollar and the paper dollar made equal.
That is all resumption means. When the
Government announces its willingness to ex-
change coin equally for greenbacks paper
will be as good for all practical purposes as
coin. There need be no uneasiness about
the supply of gold, for the demand will be
light. Once assured that he can get coin for
his government note the holder of the green.
back will not, except in rare and exceptional


cases, demand the exchange. He will bt


like the fellow in the story who wanted coil
for his bank bill if the bank had not got it
but didn't want it if the bank had got it.
Year: 1878

With reference to the recent hundred
per cent. advance on rates of freight
over the Union and Central Pacific
roads. the Gold Hill Ners pertiuently
remarks as follows: "The doubling of
the rates Of freight between San Fran
cisco and New York. simply means an
Increase in the price Of what We eat and
what we wear. 1t is not the producers.
nor the middlepen, nor the retail mer-
chants upon whom this burden will fall.
They will pay the increased rate. of
course, in the first place. but the differ.
ence will Le added to the price OF the
goods so taxed, and eventually the la
borer and mechanic will pay the toll.
The doubling of the rates means that
for every hundred pounds of inerchan-
disc shipped over these roads. the poor
men of the nation, the consumers, will
pay six dollars more than has hitherto
been demanded of them. We gave
these corporations our lands; We en-
dOrsed their bonds; we raised the men
who control them from an almost alb
ject poverty to aflluence and wealth,
aud here is the return which they offer
To our charity. Not satisfied with the
position which we have given them, nt
n moment when men are starving for
bread to eat. and suffering for clothes
TO wear. they deliberately add one hum
drcd per cent. to tax which was al
ready sufficiently large to return them
great profit. Against such facts us
these, with what grace can we nsk an
intelligent and suffering people to listen
to arguments ON the abstract principles
upon which subsidies are granted in
other lands, aud made to benefit the
nation extending them?"
Year: 1878

4 DISPATCH from Sutro FIR day after
noon says: by measurement yesterday
the Tunnel shows the extraordinary
progress Of l02 feet made since last mea
uring day, July 22d, and "A total length
of 2o.2lO feet from its mouth. The west
wall Of the Constock it is expected will
be cut in a few weeks, after which the
construction Of covered drain To carry
oil the hot water OF the mines will be
commenced. The cutting of this drain
in solid rock, three feet square aud 70 r
miles in length, will probably require
from six TO eight months, and no water
from the Comstock lode can be permit.
ted to be pumped in to it until this
drain is quite completed and covered
over. With the powerful draft sweep
ing through the tunnel. an open stream
OF water flowing through the same At
temperature of 100 would create an ut
mosphere Of steam that would DO fatal
to life.


quartz ledge so feet in width has
lately been travorsed which gives ASSAYS
averaging SIS per ton. 1t As said til At
itcan be extracted and milled at n profit
through the tunnel.
Year: 1878

The scientist Nho lays it down ns
principle that the animal system does
not admit Of two cxcitements at the
same time" has neveo seen small boy
with humble bee under his hat and
another in the slack of his pants.
Year: 1878

TIE Land Agent Of the Union Pacific
Railroad Company at Omaha has issued
an official circular let,or. giving notice
that tho Company will not accept as
final the recent decision Of Secretary
Schurz rs to the right of citizens TO set.
tie and remain in nndisturbed possession
OF lands granted the Union Pacific
Company by the government. and that
any such settlers will be dealt with as
trespassors.
Year: 1878

1t will be remembered that the
steamer Japan, of the Pacific Mail
Company, was burned off the coast
of China in December, 1874. The
scene OF the accident was one hun
dred and thirty five miles east of
Hong Kong. The nearest land was
Breaker Point, twenty miles away,
and the depth of water where the
wreck sank was twenty three faith
oms. The Japan had on board a
hout S35O,000 in specie, and the un-
derwri'ers at Hong Kong immedi-
ately gave nUtice of their intention
to attempt the recovery of the cnin.
They engaged for this undertaking
Captain John P. Roberts, of New
York. A schooner and small
steamer were bought and equipped
with the necessary apparatus, and in
January, 1875, Captain Roberts be-
gan sweeping the oceans bed in
search of the wreck. In the month
OF March he found one of the paddle
wheels, but it was not until near the
end of July that he discovered the
wreck, eleven miles southwest of the
position OF the wheel. From this
time to the 18th of September work
was pushed forward for the opening
OF the treasure tank and removing
the money. The southwest monsoon
blows from March to September, and
1t is only during the prevalence of
this wind that the divers are able to
work at the wreck. On the 19lh
the monsoon ceased, and the work
wa' abandoned, and on the morning
OF that day Captain Roberts believed
that the whole enterprise would end
there and the Japan and her treas
ure be allowed to rest undisturbed
torevermore- But on his last plunge
for the season the diver managed to
push his hand through hole in the
tank and secure black lump resem,
bling piece Of coal. The lump, on
examination, proved to consist of
twenty four American trade dollars,
burned and oxidized 30 much that
they required great deal of scour-
ing to reveal their trne character
But they were much more than $24:
they were valuable as an encourage.
ment to the underwriters TO continue
at their work. The wreckers retired
to Hong Kong for the six months of
the northeast monsoon, and resumed
operations in the following spring.
Since then there has been no serious
obstacle to the prosecution of the
enterprise, and during the summers
OF 1876 and 1877 about $175,O 900 of
treasure has been recovered. It ia
thought that the balance of the mo-
ney will be secured in 1873. 1t is
the first wrecking operation ever
conducted in the open ocean at 30
great a depth, and the instances
where divers have descended 80 far.
even in the still water, are compa-
ratively few. The coin is mostly in
god condition, though nearly all of
it is black and heavily oxidized.--
Some near the surface of the tank
was partially melted by the heat of
the burning steamer, and many OF
the bexes are charred and broken
Some of the dollars are bright as
new when brought to the surface.
but they speedily turn black when
exposed to the air.


----%%N%


IT,
Year: 1878




a BRAVE BoX.-On last Wednes>
day night about dark Azariah Mar
tin or Miller was shot at Due West
by little Robbie Hood while robbinq
a potato bank. The boy is ten or
twelve years old and deserves o gold
medal for his Workmanship. Before
firing at the negro he shot pistol off
three or four times in the yard to
scare him off but Azariah dug away
and filled his sack with plumber. Tho
gallant Robbie then took down his
fathers trusty rifle, slipped into q
house near by and "took rest" The
first shot failed to hit the mark and
Azariah dug away. Then Robbie
drew fine bead and plugged tho
rascal just under the right shoulder
blade. lie LETT at once and the doc.
tors have been probing for the bullet
ever since but without finding it,
The chances are that Azariah will
never steal any more potatoes-he is
going to that other Liberia which ia
reserved for all who break the eighth
commandment. Azariah says that
he was shot by another negro while
he was on bis way home from Duo
West'and we wouldn't be SURPRISED if
this is not the truth about the matter.
Abbeyille Medium.
Year: 1878

including Millinery and Fancy Goods in
all the latest styles and novelties of the
season, such as are generally found in a
hrst-class Millinery establishment. Fan
cy and staple Dry Goods, n beautiful
stock OF newest styles of Dress Goods
Buttons aud
Year: 1878

THE LIBER1AN V1cr1Ms.-No more
colorcd people have come to the
city for embarkation on tho Liberian
ship since the publication in Zhe
Neacs and Courier Of the misfor-
tunes of those who did so. Those
victims are quartered in various
portions of the city, four or five
families being dubbed together in
q house. The mon seem to be
sober, frugal and Industrious. and
have been trying earnestly to obtain
work by which to support them
selves. It is to their credit that
not one Of them has been seen in
the least intoxicated or disposed to
boistcrousncss since their arrival.
They seem to regard their proposed
emigration as q religious pilgrims
age, and conduct themselves
accordingly. A number of them
who arc quartercd at ID and Is
Tradd street, express themselves as
very anxious to obtain plantation or
farm work. .-A'esos and Coayie,.
Year: 1878

From the London World


Never has English statesman, with cynical q
contempt Of anything like artistic concealment,
serted his claim to what is certain to be disputed
political succession as Lord Salisbury. There is no
mystery or disguise about It. At an immense sacri-
ce Of personal feeling dignity and public reputation
the Foreign Secretary has resolved to the
version in the leadership of the conservative party
and the post of Premier. by the light of this rcsou-
tion much that would otherwise be incomprchensble
in Lord salisbnrys conduct during the past two
years becomes perfectly clear. We understand why
he has consented not only 10 forget tho
invcctivc lcvellcd at him by the Prime Min
istcr in the earlier days Of the Cabinet, but
the Prime Minister'S stultincation Of his diplomatic
efforts while he away the business of England
At the Constantinope Conference last year. Since
then Lord Beaconshcld has more than once de-
precated the attacks made nnnn bis noble friend by
Year: 1878

The harvest is over and though large
part of the crop is still in the straw enough
has been threshed to prove that fair crop,
but not an extra one, has been produced.
This is satisfactory but the remarkably
low prices at which it sells is very discourag-
ing to all growers. The crop will not sell
for more than fifteen dollars per acre, and
this is all gone in the expense of growing
it, so that the farmer does not make
single penny off his crop. This is so dis
couraging that many growers would despair
and abandon all efforts at enhancing the
product if they knew what else to do!
Corn will pay no better, and fruit is such
an uncertain crop that there seems to be
nothing that promises any better for the
farmers of the Peninsula. Small fruit
growing has paid better this year than any
thing else, and though, those who have
kept up o regular succession of these, have
made something if all 60 at it, the business
will be overdone. Yet if we were farming
regularly, and wholly dependent upon it
for living, we should most undoubtedly
resort to the regular succession of fruit
crops, with a good evaporator to aid us in
economizing the products, and at the same
time raise wheat, corn, garden stuffs, meat
and butter, for home use, depending upon
my fruit for cash sales rather than adopt
the grain growing system. Those who have
done so, and done it well, in this locality,
have succeeded, while those who have half
done it or relied upon grain growing, have
not succeeded so we'll. Both theoretically
and practically this mixed system of farm
ing we'll planned and performed is and
does the best.


But we set out to say something on grow
ing wheat on the Delaware Peninsula.
have no great word of encouragement for
our agricultural readers in this direction,
yet we can only advise another effort /!
Turn your fallows, compost your manure
and get things in order to try again. Cover
all the crops that you can with manure
made on your own premises, and splice this
out with some good super-phosphate. 1t is





poorly worth while to SOW unless you
manure, and if you can manage to make
two bushels where you formerly had but
one, the low price will not make quite so
much difference with you.


From present reports it appears that the
Clawson wheat has not done well in this
locality, while the Fultz is complained Of as
falling badly. Both these may be the re-
suit of the exceptionally wet season. We
have grown the Fultz now for four years
and have had no trouble on this account
though we were forced to cut earlier than
usual this year to prevent falling There
are very few season in this country wher
wheat will be so liable to fall as this, be
cause of the excessive moisture, and the
resultant rank growth of straw. But We
await further accounts before reporting il
full on these points.-PeninsuJar Ne,cs.
Year: 1878

STRAWBERRY PLANrATIoNs.-The land for
strawberry plantations may be ploughed,
manured, cultivated and put in order dur
ing the present or the coming month and
if the season is favorable the plants may be
put out in August. We would plant some
of the most prolific of the improved varie-
ties. If the weather is veay dry the plants
will perish unless regularly watered. We
do not advise fall planting on a large scale
unless there is plenty of rain. If the season
is dry, better put it off until spring, but
usually the plantation can be made in
autumn.-Pe Peninsular Ne,cs.
Year: 1878

TURNIPs.-Ruta Bagas may yet be sown
on high warm soil well enriched, provided
the ground is moist enough to sprout the
seed. 1t is not wise if you have to SOW
them in dry, hot earth.


The flat turnip may be sown for month
yet and do the best in fresh new land.
Any rich or highly manured soil will
answer but sandy loan is best. An old
COW pen formerly was the favorite spot upon
which to put the seed.
Year: 1878

GROWING DUcKs.--With the common
females cross a Muscovy Drake and you
will get large and handsome hybrid that
will sell Tor much more money and be
twice as good for the table as the ordinary
variety, but they will not breed.
Year: 1878

Any farmer short of grass for hay can yet
sow the German Millet or the Hungarian
grass. Sown during this month, on good
land, well prepared, the German Millet will
give YOU two tons Of hay to the acre, one
fourth of which will be seed. 1t is also
called the Golden Millet.
Year: 1878

A gallon of warm water, poured on
pailful of walnut leaves will make safe
wash for horses and cattle, and save them
the annoyance of flies. We recommend
its use daily until we hear of something
better.
Year: 1878

New York Observer


The money kings of the earth were
never deceived as to the results of the
reconciliation OF silver. They wished
others to be deceived they did all
in their power, through their agents in
Congress and in the press, to befog the
public mind and to spread abroad the
belief that the reconciliation of silver
meant depression Of prices and ruin.
But no sooner had the law been passed
than they-amply prepared because
perfectly aware of what was certain to
happen-began to buy everything they
could lay their hands on which was
worth buying. Especially they began
to buy United States bonds, and as
they had nothing but gold to buy
with, the price of bonds advanced and
the price of gold went down. The
money kings are wise in their genera
ton, but after all they are no wiser
than Voltaire was. That philosopher,
unlike the most of his tribe, became
rich and he once told how he did it
81 had an intimate friend in the Bank
of France" said he "when that friend
told me the bank was about to emit
money in large quantities, L bought