smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878




1t has only been a little over six
months since our city was copvulsed
over the horrible death of the little boy
Carson, from hydrophobia, and now
there is another case at the City Hos
pital which must it is thought prove
fatal. In June everybody was for all
enforcement of the ordinances that all
the dogs in the city might at least be
registered, but notwithstanding that
feeling there are to day scarcely one
fourth OF the dogs registered, and our
streets are full of worthless ours with
out owners apparently, aid OF no
earthly use whatever. 1t is supposed
that there are three thousand dogs il
this city at the least calculation, and
prob bly, not more that one third of
them are registered. There certainly
is some stringent need OF Legislation
upon this subject either State or NUM-
cipal, that the number OF useless dogs
may be reduced and human life made
more safe than it now is. Down ong
Water street it is no unusual thing
to see a dozen dogs at one time
engaged in general fight, all snap
ping at each other, and for ought that
is known some one or two of them
may be suffering with the rabies. We
are aware that the question will be
asked, how would registering all the
dogs in the city prevent hydrophobia
1t would not do it, but it would compel
those vino pretend to own dogs to pay
for the privilege of doing so,ani rather
than pay a dollar every year for that
privilege, they would kill the worthless
ours. That few dogs can be kept by
some people without seriously endanger,
ing the lives OF the citizens cannot bt
doubted, but this is one of the things
which for human safety should only b.
privilege, however strong an inheren
right everybody may claim to have
himself surrounded with dogs.


Ferocious wild beasts tanned by the
art of man and brought into subjectiol
by him, could scarcely be more danger
Gus than rabid dog, and yet were i
known that even tanned wild anima
was at large, the streets of GU
city would be almost depopulatei.
is unfortunate that familiarity wit
dogs blinds us TO the danger We are il
to such an extent that some of the mos
dangerous species of the canine race
hugged to the bosoms OF the most del
cate and refined ladies without a though
of danger. Boys and many men hav
their dog pets which they make the
bediellows at night, and children fol
die and roll over the shaggy coat of


household pet that may the next mt
lrent send the deadly poison-viru
through their systems. The ordinance
should e enforced that only the dog
registered sh0ald be allowed to liv,
and dog that it not worth dollar


year is not worth having at all. fifth
ordinance which We have now are nc
sufficient to compel registration OF th
dogs, we hope our City Council wi
make it more stringent, and if dolls
year tax is not sufficient to reduc
the number of worthless ours that roal
our streets, let it be made two dollars
but under all circumstances let the ol
dinance whatever it is be rigidIy er
forced.
Year: 1878

GOVERNOR WADE HAMPTON, and
United States Senator elect from South
Carolina, is in very critical condition,
and it need not surprise any body to
hear of his decease at any time, hem
orrhages in his case being the most
dreaded.
Year: 1878

In the case of war between Eng
land and Russia, Americans who are
induced by the latter power to engage
in privateering enterprises to the injury
of the former, will, by the terms of the
treaties between this country and
Great Britain, put themselves in the
place of pirates, and subject themselves
to the peril of punishment for piracy,
and Great Britain can be relied upon
to inflict the extreme penalty every
time. That power has never been
troubled with any sentimental affection
of forgiveness or any merciful squeam-
ishness when called upon to deal with
offenders against her authority. So
those Americans who would make for.
tunes at the expense of England's
commerce, will be obliged to take their
lives in their own hands. If they are
fortunate they will live the honored
lives of men of wealth. If they are
unfortunate they will die the ignomin'
ous deaths of felons.
Year: 1878

THE recent earthquake in Dakota
which is said to have brought to view
veins of coal five feet in thickness,
was doubtless local shock occasioned
by the explosion of accumulated gasses
near the immediate surface of the coal;
otherwise it certainly would have been
heard of from some place beyond the
immediate region of the reported phe-
nnmana
Year: 1878

THE Treasury Department at WASH
ington, in reply to an inquiry, an.
nounces that the Mexican silver dollar
is not a legal-tender in this country,
and that person who accept them at
their nominal value, do so at their own
rialr
Year: 1878

and was not fully decided that such a bill
should pass.


Capt. A. Scout was in favor of the silver
bill and would prefer only 10 cts. worth of
silver in the dollar but stamped by the
government 100 cts, and then it would
never get out Of the country. He was also
in favor of using the greenback to pay off
the national debt and making the bond
holders take them instead Of gold.


+. w. Hall thought that while there
were arguments in favor Of the bill more
than at first appeared, that if the whole
th!ng were let alo1ae-gold and greenbacls
being so nearly at the same valuc-the
finance question would regulate itself with
out further legislation.


Col. Geo. II. Raymond and a. II. Stockly
looked upon the Bland bill as a dishonest
measure, and expressed the opinion that
Senator Bayard had the sentiment OF two.
thirds or three.quarters of the people with
him.


John {. Bailey thought Congress had the
legal right to pass the bill, but to do so
would be very dishonorable. A nation
could no more violate its obligation than
an individual, and our government, should
1T adopt this measure might gain a few
dollars, while it would lose character, repu.
tatlon for fair dealing. and finally its credit.
and, nation like an individual, was in a
bad way without credit. The nation could
force the creditor to receive a deprecated
coin las coin was stated, though gold coin
contemplated, because silver was used only
IN subsidiary way, but if it did not wish
to keep its faith with other nations, it
could go further and repudiate it altogeth-
er. In principal, it would be the same
and the civilized nations would so regard
1t. The effect at home between creditor
and debtor would be the same and the re-
suit could only he evil. If the bill should
pass with minority of only one-eichth Of
the members against the bill he should be-
lleve they were wiser than the others. for
they stand upon principal and right. As a
people we must 90 on the principal of right
and justice, if it required the reconstruction
of the parties to do it.


There are other persons whose opinions
we would liked to have obtained, but il
would make our article too long Several
had formed no opion on the subject. We
give enough, however, to show that the
predominating sentiment is for an honest
coin and government with a clean record.
Year: 1878

On Sunday week Bishop Simpson went
to St. Michaels (Md.) NJ. F. Church to
preach a missionary sermon. While in the
pulpit an impression came over the pastor,
Rev.V. Smith, like an inspiration, that now
is the time to lift the debt from the church
of $2500 that had been hanging over it like
an incubus. They have been unable to do
anything to meet the obligation or see their
way out of the difficulty The case was
presented to the Bishop and he readily
consented to devote the day to this pur-
pose, and let the missionary collection 20
until another time. At the close of the
sermon the change of purpose was stated
to the congregation, who, catching the
spirit that promised the proposed relief,
soon raised $3.50, more than enough to
liquidate the church debt and free them
from trouble they had seen no way out Of.
An example that other churches might
profit by.
Year: 1878

SENATOR CHRIsTIANcY has offered an
amendment to the Bland bill to put 434
grains of silver in the dollar. At the
present market value Of silver it will take
this number of grains to make the silver
dollar equal in value to the gold dollar.
Such is the fluctuating value of this metal
that 434 grains Of it are worth no more than
4l21 were when the bonds were issued.
The Wilmington Gazette denounces this as
"the most scandlous and rescally business
we have ever known attempted" Their
condemnation Of silver dollar equal in
value to gold shows that it is not honest
but deprecated money they want to pass
for good money.
Year: 1878

SENATOR BAYARD made one of the
strongest speaches of the session on the
silver bill, on MONDAY, speaking over two
hours in the most convincing arguments.


He said careful, prolonged and con-
scientious examination Of the matter now
before the Senate had confirmed his belief
that the passage Of such measure would
lead the American people to still greater
disaster than they had yet experienced in
their financial policy. He fully appreciated
the present distress Of the people of this
country, and he was anxious to strain every
nerve to secure relief for them, but he
must oppo-e all 'uaa ures like this which
would only revive and expand the very
evils from which the people now sought
relief There wo~a ao troubles rs serious
as those which ..ei false system
OF money. .Iv >rpt.r at some length in
favor Of stable currency, and said we
should have a currency which would crcu.
late everywhere and maintain fixed value
everywhere.
Year: 1878

BEN BUTLER has come to the front as an
acknowledged leader of the silver move
ment. He always had a penchant for
silver, item: the silver spoons lie filled his
pockets with while commanding at New
Orleans. At the other end of the move
ment, or rather at this end, is Sam. Town
send. He has so much more virtue or
thinks he knows so much more than Sena-
tor Bayard that he demands Of him to vote
for the Bland silver bill or resign.
Year: 1878

ted. Peaches and berries must sell low to
find purchasers in these hard times, and
the railroads must carry these products
low, or the farmer will have to cease pro.
ducing for want Of remuneration. When
they look at the question squarely, we
believe the railroad men will see it to their
interest to reduce the freights on fruit.
Year: 1878


degeneracy should sap the vitals Of
free government and make it fall in
solfinficted dishonor. There is all the
virtue in the hearts and aspirations of
the people, and all the reverence for
religion in the church, that there has
been in the better days of our history;
but they slumber while crime sows
ITS tarcs and Generalization harvests
its abundance and the destiny Of q
civilization and government which
have illustrated the noblest possibilities
of man in the enjoyment of enlightened
liberty trembles in the balance. These
new perils impose new duties Of the
gravest character upon you who are
soon to take the places of the actors OF
to-day in Church and State-and the
duties must be performed with meas
ure OF fidelity that has been obliterated
from the present, if these golden treas.
ures are to be wrestod from the slimy
embrace. Of the spoiler Christianity
must be recalled to the active guardi-
anship OF Its civilization. IL must pro
gress as the world progresses in wisdom
and guide the car of advancement in
the ways OF purity and order 1t must
forget intolerance it must learn that
bigotry is not piety that creeds and
dogmas are not inspiration, and that
our civilization presents too many
formidable foes of Christianity for
Christianity to war upon itself. With
the inffdel invading the fountains of
learning and the honors of authority
in every Christian Nation, the church
Year: 1878

CINCINNATI, Ohio, Nov. d. 1873


The Executive Committee Of the Society Of Friends
on Indian Affairs has been in secret session in this
city for the past two days. and closed its abors this
evening. Delegates present from New England.
and from New York Pennsylvania and Western States,
including Iowa and Kansas. They reported some
sixteen thousand Indians under their care at seven
agencies ut the beginning Of the year since which time
three agencies have been taken from them and placed in
charge of agents nominated by politicians OF those
remaining under their fair progress is reported
in education and agriculture and they think their
agents have been efficient. The object Of the
meeting TO protest against the action of
the Secretary of the Interior in taking the
three agencies from the of the Friends and giving
them to politicians They express confidence in their
methods and claim that il continued steady progress
would be made by the Indians toward civilization and
self support
Year: 1878

SHERMAN.


WASHINGTON. Nov. 81. 1878.
General Sherman to-day said, with regard to the
transfer of the Indian Bureau to the War Department
that such transfer not desirable in view Of the
fact that it would entail great deal of extra
responsibility and care the army. He said, how
ever that the whole matter rests the proposition
that either the Indian Bureau must come to the War
Department the army must be turned over to the
Interior Department TO protect the Indian Burcau.
The General thinks that the recent departure of the
Cheyenne Indians from their reservation because
they starving and he is of the opinion that the
problem of controlling Indians rests in the ability of
those who have charge OF them to keep the supplies
appropriated for them by Congress on the ground
near their reservation, and not hundreds of miles
away.
Year: 1878

To the Voters of Lafayette County When You
elected me 10 the office OF comfy clerk four years
ago, 1 assumed its duties with the desire, par
ticipated in by all the officers of the county, to
zealously watch over and guard the interests Of
the people as far as it was possible for me to do
In pursuing this course. while l may have
slienated from me some of my former political
friends. am more thsn gratifled at the indorse
ment have received by my reelection. feel
highly ccmplimented ~ the vote given me by
the republic ms at Concordia and elsewhere In
the county, who have thus manifested their ap-
prsciation of the honest democratic sdministrs-
ton of The Affairs of the county. assure You
that IN the future, as in the past. shall always
be found trying TO discharge the duties OF my
otice in the interest of the entire pc Iple OF the
county. Respectfully,


WA B. STEELE.
Year: 1878

Those democrats who carry their pol
tics where their religion ies-ln their
pocket books-wj.. now see that their
opposition to democratic officers Tor do
ing their duty will not win with men
who have sous larger than dollar
Year: 1878

Every decent person Will rejoice to
hear OF the complete and overwhelming
defeat of Ben Butler fer governor OF
Massachusetts, Ta!bot;'s majority over
him being about 5000. This rebuke
TO demagogism. communism and rut-
fianIy hearneyism Will be hailed with
joy by men OF all parties in the country
Year: 1878

The sole fight in the country at large
wgs for the ,ower house of congress, and
the democrats have won it, despite the
aid furnished the hard money republi-
cans in the east by the insane conduct
OF the greerbackers in sloushing off in
IN q -anlratp marty
Year: 1878

All men who are genuinely in favor
OF more greenbacks and the abolition
Of the national banks. will now see that
the continuance Of the effort to maintain
separate organization vii. certainly
result in a republican success in 1850
Year: 1878

One Of the funniest things of the pre-
sent political campaign Is the opposi.
ton to Mr.. Dean by the Democrats be-
cause he isa Granger, and yet they
have not word of condemnation Of Mr..
Pyle their candidate for Sheriff, who IL
Just as strong Granger as Mr.. Dean is
If being Granger in the eyes Of the
Democracy is a sin, they have q per-
feet right to vote against Mr.. Dean and
try to defeat him, but we really cannot
See how the Democratic conscience can
b quieted by defeating Mr.. Dean their
own candidate, and then elect Mr.. Pyle
sheriff, who is also upon their own
ticket. There certainly must be a wo-
ful want of consistency here, but then
the ways Of Democracy are past finding
ont. Now we are not saying word
a. ainst Mr.. Pyle who we are informed
is very honorable gentleman an a
good citizen and we have no desire to
take any unfair advantage of him, but
as Grangerism has become a grievOus
sin in the eyes of the Democracy as
shown in their opposition to Mr.. Dean,
in our anxiety to keep the Democrats
from SHINING more grisvously, we feel


it to be our duty to tell the Democracy
that Mr.. Pyle too is leading Granger.
How it can be wrong for Mr.. Dean to be
a Granger and virtue in Mr.. Pyle to
b- one is one of those queer things in
Democracy that we cannot reconcile,
and we leave the knotty question with
the elastic consciences Of our Demo.
cratic brethern. 1t is for them to de-
eide the degree Of guilt which attaches
to grangerism. We cannot, however
close this article without helping oul
conscience smitteD Democratic friend,
ont of their dilemma by telling then
that Philip R. Clark the Republican
candidate for sheriff is no Granger, bu
man Of the people, in whom no on
need be deceived, and of course all wh'
cannot vote for Mr.. Pyle because he is ;
Granger will vote for Mr.. Clark because
he is not Granger.
Year: 1878

The OPPOSITION to William Dean
seem, to have fully developed itself.
This city we are told is full Of Demo-
cratic tickets with Mr.. Deans name left
of and the name Of one Of the Republ-
can candidates put on. We do not
objects to the Democrats assisting in
the election of Republican represen-
tatve at Dover but we cannot help
but wonder where that Independence Of
principle claimed for the Democratic
party by their organs and speakers has
gone. OF real true independence, Mr..
Dean is its only true representative on
the ticket and yet ne is the only one
struck at, and in all probability will
be defeated. We have no political sym
pathy for Mr.. Dean, for there is not a
more ardent nor unyielding Democrat in
the county than he and yet we can but
admire his independence and honesty,
yet because of these latter qualities he
is to be sacrificed
Year: 1878

The latest news from Europe looks
as if the labors of the Berlin Confer


ence, which was so elaborately inaugu-
rated, and carried out with so much
pomp and impressive ceremony, are
likely to prove melancholy failure.
When it is considered that Russia was
despoiled of the fruits of victory by the
persistence Of a power moved entirely
by selfish motives. it is not to be won-
dered at that she has been restive un.
Year: 1878

A correspondent signing himself
"Justice" calls our attention to wo-
man from Brandywine Hundred, who he
says is applying to the Government for
a pension, upon the ground that her
husband contracted the disease with
which he died in the army. This he
says is falsehood as she was not mar
red to him when ne got his discharge
nor for two or three years thereafter.
Year: 1878

Ar LAST rHs Epery Eeeaing and the
Gazette have got together on the State
financial platform. The latter at first
condemned it as being too much FOR
hard money and the first condemned 1t
for being toomuch for soft money but As
election day approaches these little diff.
errnces are easily reconciled; both pa
pers shutting their eyes and going for
the ticket, even though his satanic ,aai-
esty might head it in place of Mr..
Hall.
Year: 1878

We are not opposed to the present
assessment and elsction laws because
they are administered by Democrats,
but we would bs equally opposed to,
them II they were administered by Re-
publicans. Enacted for partisan pur-
pose they would be a. dangerous and
wicked in the hands Of one party as In
th. hands of another. The whole Of
the laws relating to that subject are
wrong 80 long as they are allowed to
he used for partisan purposes. The
evil will never cease until the law is
changed and the power taken out Of
the hands Of unscrupulous and schem-
ing political collectors who have so
much power to disfranchise whom they
will. Tn. law should br made
with All eye to facilitate and aid in the
collection OF taxes, rather than Ia create
loop holes to scrsen the guilty. Our
Democratic friends proclaim not only
through their literary organs, but from
the rostrum by their public speakers,
that they are the friends Of the poor
man, but when they say this they cef-
tainlv must mean only Democratic pour
men, and they are only the friends Of
that class so long as they remain Demo-
Gratis. Their friendship for the Repub-
Iican poor men is shown bv disfran-
chisng them if they do not voluntarily
come forward and pay their State and
County taxes, and as soon az a poor
man ceases to be Democrat, then
friendship for him also ceases by that
party. The collectors Of City taxes
pursue an entirely different policy and
they are eminently successful, though
with considerable trouble and some
vexation. They leave no stone un.
turned in trying to collect every cent
due the city from Democrat and Repub.
lcan alike, and this is what should be
done by the County collectors. Through
long series Of years the Office Of
County tax collector has been gradu
ally moulding itself into a political
machine which is now used more than
any other agency in controlling the
elective franchise, and whatever party
is in the ascendsncy has in its power
by numerous manipulations and ways
known only to unscrupnlous politicians
to disfranchise those who only pay
poll tax in the opposite party. 1t was
not until 1873 that the Demo-
Gratis Of Delaware became bold enough
to pass the present iniquitious assess
ment laws which have been used by
unprincipled county collectors in the
disfranchsemen Of about one fourth Of
the voters of the Republican party in
the State. We do not know tn at the
case would be much better whatever
party is in power,so far as the collection
of taxes is concerned under the law.
We hardly think it possible that mani
pulations would be carried on to the
same extent, but there can be no doubt
that if the Republicans were to come
into power the collectors appointed by
them might feel like retaliating in the
same spirit. All this however would
be wrong and yet we can expect no i'm
provement by either party 50 long as
the law which sanctions the wrongs
and injustice collector may perpetrate
is left npon the statute books. None
know the injustice of such laws better
than the Democrats and to them the
people look for the modification of such
laws, when the cup of their revenge is
full, for fancied wrongs which they
imagine they have received from the


Republicans.
Year: 1878

ACCORDING TO the canvass carefully
made by the Republican State Commit
tee OF Massachusetts,, General Butler
is hopelessly beaten, but the Commit
tee will probably wait for the returns
to come in. The report indicates a
plurality for Talbot Of from 80, 600 to
$4,000. The Committee gives large
doubtful vote all to Butler, and then
defeat him by 20, 900 votes They feel
sure of at least Az, 900 plurality for Tai
bot, if the total vote is the same as it
was at the Presidential election of 1875.
This is bad showing for Butler. Can
not the Gazette do something or say
something that will bolster up the wan
ing fortunes of its candidate 1t might
tell its readers that Butler was horri
bly, lied about by the former rebels and
copperheads, and it might swear by
the shades of jeff. Davis, that he nev.
er had cock-eye, never stole a silver
spoon, and that it is foul slander to
to call him the hero of Dutch Gap.