smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

The bill for the appropriation of one hum
dred and fifty thousand dollars to defray
the expenses Of the representation of this
country at the Paris Exhibition of 1878
passed the Senate yesterday with some rea-
sonable and proper amendments, to which
there is little doubt the House will agree.
One Of these is that the chief commissioner
shall be appointed by the President, with
the advice and consent Of the Senate. This
is an excellent provision, aad one for which
the President himself should be especially
grateful; but whether he may or may not
see the fact in that light it is one with
which the country has reason to be particu-
larly well satisfied. This provision tends
to relieve the President of the importu-
mites of hosts of incompetent persons,
who would besiege him for the appoint
ment if it were made solely by him. That
system has operated very badly in the past.
It's results have been scandalous and dis
graceful. Indeed, it has seemed to Ameri-
cans in foreign countries that the things we
exhibited with most effect at famous expo
sitions were venality and chicanery-a dis
position to sell ourselves in every conceiva-
BILE way and to cheat the buyer if possible.
With the requirement that the Senate shall
approve this appointment it will not be .
mere piece of Executive favor but the posi-
ton will have tho dignity of IN Office issuing
from the legitimate appointing power. It
has been understood that this appointment
would be given to General Hawley. We do
not know that that could be bettered, and if
that name has been agreed upon it was not
of course necessary to modify the bill in
order to get good appointment. Yet the
modification will have the good effect of
giving more dignity and importance to the
place.
Year: 1877

trampled upon and denied him wa
ter, as towards. At last ono police
man took charge of him who laid
him in an easy position, placed
coat under his head and gave him water
to drink. HE treated me-" said the bravo,
las one brave man treats another" What
a slight change in the revolving wheel OF
fortune might have made such man capa-
BILE of great deeds and have ranked him
among those whose names are sounded to
posterity through the trumpet of famel
How trifling variation in fortunes lottery
might have made Frank Rande of many q
chronicled hero, and graced him at his
death w0h the moose of Judge Lynch in
stead of the laurel crown!
Year: 1877

THE WEATHER.-The small depression which
moved along the Atlantic coast line on Sunday
and arrived off the New England shore on the
during yesterday. The principal depression,
which has been for some days north Of the lakes
and over Canada, is also gradually moving
northeastward, and the tendency to absorb the
minor disturbance is very decided. As result
Of the proximity of the two areas of low press
urc the weather northward of Montaulx
Point, l.. l.. has been. unfavorable. Rains
and heavy SHOWS have fallen from Nova
Scotia westward into the lake region, with
generally fresh to high winds on the Middle
Atlantic coast. In the region southeast.
ward Of Florida the pressure has fallen
somewhat, with very high winds from the north
ward. This indicates that another depression is
approaching the coast from that direction, and
which may travel northeastward But from the
distribution of pressures between ATTITUDES
twenty-five and thirty-fvc degrees we believe
that tho disturbance will take a course more to
the eastward and pass away between the paral-
lels referred to. The highest pressure is now in
the West Gulf States, and diminishcs northward,
northeastward and southcastward within the
ukcss Cuoe VI sHS ANVSny houutuiuS. lHc prcNull-
ing winds are from northerly and westerly
points Throughout the country the tempera-
ture continues very low, particularly in the
Northwest, where it is only degree or two
above zero at many points, and in the Southern
States where it has fallen far below
the mean. Yesterday afternoon it was ut
freezing point and below in all the
districts except on the immediate Gulf coast,
in the South Atlantic States and on the New
England coast. This severe change may injure
crops, but it will effectually remove all dangers
Of yellow fever in the districts where that terri
BILE disease has been raging. Another depres-
sion il now advancing into Dakota attended by
o rising temperature. Tho weather in New
York and its vicinity to-day will be colder and
fair or partly cloudy, and on tomorrow will
probably be cold and clear.
Year: 1877

Mr. Beecher ON Honest Money.


That part Of the Thanksgiving sermon
in Plymouth Church which related to pend
ing financial movements and discussions
was Of remarkable clearness and cogency.
The whole discourse was able, and other
parts Of it would be deemed equally strik-
ing if historical speculations had the same
interest as important contemporary ques-
tions. OF course there is nothing new in Mr..
Beecher's ideas Of the currency but the
truth has been SO clouded by crotchets and
obscured by sophistry that his admirable
gift of seizing the strong points Of q sub
iect and presenting them with lucid clear
ness is Of signal service. There is no fog
in Mr.. Beecher's intellect, and no man is
more capable of clearing away the fog from
the minds of others, and his mastery OF apt
phrases and felicitous illustrations secures
for his ideas ready entrance into the popu-
lar mind. What could be better, for in
stance, than his exposure Of what he calls
suppressed Reputation" and his COM
parison Of it to the measles, which are more
dangerous when they strike in than when
saffron tea or other medicine brings the dis
ease out upon the surface of the skin ?
What he means by suppressed repudiation
is an attempt to cheat under mask of hon
esty by taking advantage of the law TO
eyade just obligations. II hate the devil
hiding under the law" he says, "more
than the devil riding over the law"
An act of Congress enabling men
to cheat their creditors with impunity by
paying them in debased currency blunts
the conscience Of the community. When q
thieving disposition ''strikes in" there is
little chance Of recovery, whereas bold
and open thief is likely to be brought to
shame and learn the error of his ways. Mr..
Beecher insists that there is no more moral
right to change the standard of money than
the standard of weights and measures.
"What if the pound weight should be
changed? What if the quart, the pint,
the yard should be subject to fluctuations,
so that time should come when no man
would know where either stood ?" He does
not object particularly to the reconciliation
Of silver, but if that is to. be done he insists
that the Mint shall coin honest silver dollars


putting silver enough into them to make
them fully equivalent to gold dollars. But
the silver champions have no such inten-
ton. "You cannot make that equal to a
gold dollar" says Mr. Beecher, (which is
not equal. No act of Congress can make
two pounds Of one. No Congress can alter
nature. To enable men to cheat by law is q
high crime and misdemeanor, and if our Con-
gressmen do not know that what are they in
Congress for? When the blind lead the
blind and they both fall into the ditch it
will not help them that it is silver lined"
"Woe be to those men, bull-headed, with
out eyes, who are attempting to palm off on
the integrity and sagacity of the nation
quibbles on the most difficult problems Of
fnancep This is sound doctrine well put
Year: 1877

HUNDREDS OF FARMERS in West Virginia
have been ruined by the late floods, the dam
ages in one county alone being nearly half a
million dollars. With proper system of
weather signals the late disasters could in d
great measure have been prevented
Year: 1877

The PARIS EXPOSITION BILL has been passed
by the Senate, with some unimportant amend
ments, which, it is to be hoped, will meet the
approval Of the House SO that we may get it out
of the way
Year: 1877

THE NOVEMBER FAILURES in this city are
about the same in number as last month, but
the aggregate liabilities-in round numbers two
million dollars-are fortunately only one-half
what they were in October
Year: 1877

The AIDERMANIc COMMITTEE ought to settle
the armory question at their meeting to-day. 1t
is as hard to get q report from them as from the
Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections.
Year: 1877

dication of the effect upon him Of what
goes on about him.


The Senate Yestsrday- - Con Kiln e.


Triumph.


Senator Conkling has, thus far, no reason
to be dissatisfied with the progress of his
campaign against the President. In the
thing which he had most at heart, although
he was too wary tactician to put it in front
and make fuss about it, he has been per-
fectly successful. We Of course refer to the
Custom House nominations The Commit
tee on Commerce, in its meeting yesterday,
decided to report them adversely, and with
characteristic tact Mr.. Conkling managed to
have motion to 60 into executive session
defeated, although he voted for it himself
when he saw that his vote was not
necessary for deciding it accord
ing to his wish. It is not prob
able that there will be another executive
session before the adjournment of the extra
session, and the nominations will fall 10 the
ground with the adjournment Having been
reported on adversely by the committee. but
not acted on by the Senate, they are in pre-
cisely the position in which Mr. Conklng
wishes to have them. Had they been abso-
lutely rejected the President might, in the
brief interval between the adjournment and
the meeting Of the regular session, suspend
the Custom House officers under the Tenure
of Office law and fill their places with ap-
pointees who would be entitled to hold
until the end Of the next session. No mat
ter at what hour Congress may adjourn to-day
there would be time to do this if the Presi-
dent saw his way clear in other respects
The regular session does not begin until
noon on Monday, and the President has
authority under the Tenure of Office law to
suspend and replace the Custom House
officers on Monday morning. It is not
probable that he would do it, but Mr..
Conkling does not intend to give him
chance. If he should undertake to do it
while the Senate had not acted on his nom-
nations questions could be raised which
would get the President into very hot
water. BY the adverse report Of the COM
the failure of the Senate to act the nomina-
tions are placed in such o position that he
is checkmatcd during the interval between
the adjournment and the regular session.
1t is signal victory for Mr.. Conkling, and
has been adroitly won.


President Hayes was subjected to another
and even greater humiliation in the Sem
ate yesterday. Patterson, who wishes to
make his peace with the republican party,
took advantage of the temper Of the Senate
and made speech Of two hours consisting
of o violent attack on the President and his
Southern policy. But when he had sat
down not voice was raised in reply. Among
all the republicans in the Senate the Presi-
dent has not single defender This is o
mortifying contrast to his recent triumphal
professions through the country. But yes
terday he seemed to have applause from all
the world, "now none so poor to do him
reverence" This is terrible humiliation.


After Pattersons speech and the failure of
anybody to reply the unsuccessful attempt
was made to 90 into executive session, when
the party debate was resumed in truculent
spirit, with the prospect that it would con-
tinue oil night.
Year: 1877

Last night General Grant was feasted for
the last time in Paris at the house Of Mr..
Harjes, the banker, where he was at least
not used as he lately was in the same city, in
the way of fgurehead for the crowd of tuft-
hunters who flourish in the edges of the
American colony there and confound them
selves with that colony to the eyes Of the
uninitiated. As the guest Of many distin-
guished persons in the gay capital and o
man honored in all circles he has enjoyed
an unco mmonly brilliant round Of festivi-
ties and has been the subject Of wide and
various criticism, and has stood the fire of
festivities and criticism alike with that i'm
perturbable tranquility which is an insep-
arabic element Of his identity. He is now
off for Lyons and Marseilles, and the
change will be rest to him, if man can
be supposed to be fatigued who gives no in
dication Of the effect upon him Of what
goes on about him.
Year: 1877

A CINCINNATI liquor dealer applied to
n customer for lettsr Of rscommenda-
ton Of a certain brand Of whisky he
had recently sold him. The customer
wrote: 81 have tried all sorts Of insect
poison. and lind none equal to your old
cnbiust whisky"
Year: 1877

from him by the steamboat charges, and he
and his wife we're landed In Troy
without cent and without friend or ac-
qualntance. He had to get to his station,
however, and there was a stage going, 30 he
told his story 10 gentlemen in the street
and asked for the loan of dollar, which
was heartily given. When he got to the
place he found the parsonage entirely un-
furnished, and he went out with the 30
cents that remained of the borrowed dollar
and bought tin basin, in which he first
shaved and then washed. He had only
$3.50 that year altogether, upon which he
had to keep a horse to reach his stations,
and servant girl There was indeed do
nation visit, to which the people came from
far and near. paylng their half dollars.
This yielded Sl30, and the steward came in
the next morning to announce the result,
but said "There is $l00 rent due on the
parsonage, leaving balance of $50 which
will just make up what we owe on your
salary" (Sensation of indignation.) This
was after years hard and successful la
bor. In which he had been the means of
building and paying for church for that
people. He then asked Bishop james to
remove him, or he would have to remove
himself.
Year: 1877

A woman thinks man brave if he only
picks up cockroach with his fingers, but she
doesn't think it requires any courage to swear
off for three weeks.


a Chester County farmer has erected two
story pig-pen, and city young man is going to
visit him to witness the novel sight of several
hogs 'gong up stairs to bed" The city chap
does not know much about: farming, but he is
willing to learn.


The currant crop promises to be large this
season, but it isn't likely that the amount of
domestic wine squeezed from them will be so
great that woman will not be able to tote it
off to some new place as soon as fellow finds
out where it's hid.


Thorough economy: First Toper-"Why do
I come to Higbgate? Because get my drink
a penny glass cheaper!" Second ditto-"Yes,
but it costs you the bus fare to get here!'
First Toper-"True, man, but once here I
drink till make profitr'


"What," asks an exchange, "are the causes
of drunkenness?" Well, we can't answer for
all of them, but we believe whiskey causes
great deal of it, whiskey, sir, resolutely stuck
to, will cause about as large a drunk as any
thing we know of, although judicious mixing
up of various drinks will accelerate matters if a
man is in hurry


What flood of "reminiscences it brings upon
a young mans mind, these balmy, beautiful
June mornings, while he is hunting around the
bureau in the moaning for Seidlitz powder,
to come upon a diary and read upon the first
and only written page, under date of Jan !,
81 will never again touch single drop of any
intoxicating liquor. This day sees me free
from the chains of a habit that'--eto, and
maybe he laughs grimly or maybe he doesn't
laugh at all, but he keeps on searching around
for that Seidlitz powder, all the same.


A student of the Russian language has dis
covered that while you cannot hardly ever
understand the words Russian speaks-they
are so much alike-you can always gain an in
telligent icea of what they are talking about
by watching the motions of their eyes and the
gestures of their hands. We suppose when
they slyly wink with one eye, look wise with
the other, and put one finger up to their nose,
the Russian druggist is to understand that
they want a little good brandy in that soda
water.
Year: 1877

THE Mexican row between Lerdo abroad
and Diaz at home has ripened from wordy
blossoms into very fair crop of throat cut
ting. The recent capture of Acapulco by the
Lerdo Greasers is an event of considerable
moment, since Acapulco, though of only
1000 inhabitants, is the most important
Mexican port on the Pacific coast, and its
capture will give the Lerdists base of opera
tions not to be despised. Daz will hardly
find the Presidential chair of Mexico comfort
able sitting while his rivals are so busily at
yOrl
Year: 1877

EVERY regular attache of the PRESS IS furnished
with Card certificate couDtersigned by Stanley T.
Pullen, Editor. All railway, steamboat and hotel
managers will confer favor upon US by demanding
credentials of every person claiming to represent
Year: 1877

The vote Of the Electoral Commission
on the Florida case gives very general dis
satisfaction to the Democrats. In fact
the ruling out of the evidence taken by
the committees of the two Houses of Con-
gress, and the quo ,oarranto proceedings
before the Supreme Court Of Florida
creates disgust for the whole affair, and
it is only here and there Democrat is
seen who does not give vent to the ex-
preston, "sold out" There are a few
who hope for different result when the
cases of Louisiana ana Oregon are reached;
but even they say their hopes are very
sight.


No decision will ever make the peo-
pie believe Tilden was not fairly elected,
by large majority of the votes of the
people and decided majority of the votes
of the Electoral College also.


The case Of Florida presented an oppor-
tunity which it was thought the Supreme
Court Judges on the Commission would
show their faith in an adhesion to
law and lawful proceedings by at least
examining and giving their views as to
the constitutional right Of the State to
check or put stop to corruption at the
elections. There is little use of talking
about the purity of the ballot; and the
intelligence of voters, if the most open
and audacious frauds ever perpetrated in
The country at elections is to be sustained
by such decisions as that given on Friday
afternoon by the Electoral Commission.


The peoples understanding was that
it was organized to weigh the testimony
and to get at the very right of the case
from the evidence adduced. But theil
ruling excluded all material evidence
and left the Commission precisely where
the two Houses of Congress stood before
they had sent out single committee OF
taken any evidence in either Florida OF
louisiana, viz: Seven Democrats be-
iieving implicitly in the election of Til.
den and eight Republicans ready t.
count" Hayes in whether elected or not


Gov. Hayes, nor any other man ough
10 be willing to take the Presidency witt
50 damaging title.
Year: 1877

day Democrat may have for this doctrine
however il is evidently too strong Tor HIM 10
swallow in the public gaze. After Geheriu
Garfield had denounced the Hooker amend
mcnt as n plan to facilitate another reDeiiioh'
it got but thirty eight votes. We regret TO
say that there is no way of finding out
the names OF the thirty-eight. The debate
was in Committee of the Whole, ana
prudent objection from the Democratic SIDE
prevented the Republicans from taking the
amendment into the House, where yea ana nay
vote could have been demanded. 1t would be in
teresting to know how many OF It's supporters
are Confederate Brigadiers, and how many are
imiators of the Northern douGhfaces VINO
used to truckle to the South before the rebel
lion. No light is thrown upon tins point ny
the report of the proceedings, but Speaker
Randall is exhibited in the attitude OF aldlng
Hooker hy attacking portion ot OaIileiu
speech, while n number Of conservative ooutn-
em men showed their sense and PATRIOTISM Dy
taking the cher side.
Year: 1877

Whatever the result of the conference of
Republican Senators respecting the action to
he taken on the appointments, it is not to be
concealed that the relations of the President
10 his party in Congress are more unSatisfac


tory than ever they have at no time been
nerfectly cordial and they do not improve.
No matter where the blame may lie, the fact
is one to be deeply deplored. 1t is
the ambition of Mr.. Hayes to be President
not of faction, but of the whole country,
and we honor the nobility and patriotism of
his sentiment But ours is, nevertheless,
government of party, as all governments must
be in which authority is shared by coordinate
legislative and executive departments, and
discord between the two can result in nothing
but injury to the nation. Mr.. Hayes, himself,
must be the first to recognize the fact
that a harmonious administration IS neces-
sary to the prosperity of the cause which he
represents, and the accomplishment of the


particular measures which he has most at


heart. He does not imagine that he can rule


the United States alone. BE does not over


look the lesson which the Republicans of


another country have just taught their Pres


ident; and he is sincerely desirOus of


establishing friendly understanding with


the men whose aid is essential to him


in the prosecution of bis policy. On the


other hand, we have no doubt that large


majority of the Republicans in Congress are


anxious to find themselves in accord with the


President, and to act with him in all genuine


reforms; and If they oppose certain Cabinet


schemes, it is because, in all honesty, they be-


lieve them to be impracticable and mischieyOus
Where there is so much genuine honesty on
both sides, settlement of differences ought
to be easy. And the first requisite for this re-
suit seems to be a liberal use Of common
sense That is the one virtue which the Ad-
mnstratiOn of President Hayes has cOnspcu-


ously lacked, and nowhere has the want of it
! been more remarkably manifested than in
! the progress of the quarrel which is
! now agitating the Senate. Everybody, out


side of the Cabinet knew that the
/ crisis of Civil Service Reform would
( come when the President undertook to break
| down the control long exercised by the Senate


over the higher appointments. 1t was essen
tial to success that every step should be counted
| in advance nothing promised that could not
| be accomplished, nothing attempted which the


laws would not justify aud the sentiment of


the country sustain. But Mr.. Hayes seems to


have given this delicate business into the
hands Of set of blundering political
| iourneymen, and let them 30 on from one
! amazing mistake TO another issuing high


sounding declarations and then scandalously


violating their whole spirit, until Civil Service


Reform is In danger of becoming by-wOrd


of reproach. In respect TO the NewYOrk ap-


pointments i'll particular, the tactics OF the
Year: 1877

We have received a second letter from Mr. h. l..
Clinton correcting the statements with regard to
the salaries of Tammany officials, of which John
Kelly Is said to have advocated an increase. As we
have already accepted the contradiction OF these
statements made by The NeW York EJpress, it does
not seem to be necessary to print Mr. Clntons let
ter nor shall we trouble him to furnish us with the
certified copies from the record" with which he
offers to prove his denial. We have no doubt what
ever of the accuracy of Mr.. Chntons account
Of the matter, and regret that we were mis-
led into an undescryed criticism upon the
conduct of the Controller, man whose
honesty we respect, however we may dissent from
his politics and his policy 1t is satisfactory to find
that Mr.. Clinton cOncurs in our judgment that
proper law should be passed to reduce the eXtraya
can't COMPENSATION of coroners and other officers.
This and kindred reforms he says, " have no
doubt will receive the hearty support not only OF
John Kelly but Of the Tammany Hall organization"
We invite the attention of members of the Legis-
lature to this assurance, and shall call upon Mr.
Kelly TO make it good.