smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

No Monday passes in the House without
| the introduction of one or more bills to re-
| fund the cotton tax. There is little hone
that the measure can be got through this
Congress, but its supporters patiently await
the day of Democratic supremacy for their
opportunity to plunder the taxpayers of the
North for the benefit of the South. The
measure will surely become law if Southern
men and Northern men with Southern prin-
ciples ever get full control of the government.
The scheme for refunding the cotton tax
levied in the years 1S65-6-7 is nothing less


than a raid upon the Treasury for hundred


millions, an attempt to tax the whole coun-


try for the beneft.of the cotton states. The


claim has not even the appearance of JUS
tice. The men who are said TO have been
defrauded are not to be made whole, but the
tax is to be refunded to the states where the
cotton was grown. This tax was like every
other tax which we levied. 1t was as con-
stitutional as any of them. The North
would have quite as much justification for
calling for the refunding of any of the special
taxes which it paid, the income tax for ex-
ample, as the South for demanding the pas
sage OF this measure. The tax was the only
one imposed upon the South on account of
the war which its own folly and wckedness
brought on. Furthermore the South did not
pay it. and has no claim for the return of
money paid into the Treasury. The cotton
was bought by the North and manufactured
here, and the fabrics made from it purchased
by Northern people. Ia this case as in all
cases the consumer paid the tax, and the
producer was saved from loss by the added
price which the tax enabled him to de-
nand for his products. Should 1t be re-
funded the North, which bears nearly all the
burden of the revenue would paw twice for
the cotton goods it purchased for three years,
and would doubtless pay besides many fraud
ulent claims for cotton which never grew.
This is one of the measures which the Dem
ocratic party in the interests of ''concilia-
tion" purposes to force upon the country.


Perceiving the weakness of their claim the
Southern leaders make an appeal to Northern
sentiment and promise that the proceeds of
the refunded tax shall constitute fund for
the education of the Southern people, white
and back. That there Is sad need of educa-
ton in the South few will dispute. But who
believes that dollar of the fund would ever
be used for the elevation of the black man?
Until the South gives some assurance stronger
than massacre af its regard for the negro the
North will hesitate long before it takes from
its hard earnings money to be expended under
the control Of the old plantation owners Tor
the schooling of the freedmen.
Year: 1877

IF the suggestion made in the Senat COM
mittee is adopted the silver bill will open the
way to unlimited imitation of the currency.
1t is proposed that the Treasury shall put
out silver for greenbacks, and then reissue
the greenbacks. In this way we should soon
double the volume of our currency, and
double the price of every article of traffic as
Year: 1877

THE Indians have developed new streak
Of obstinacy and absolutely refuse to fade and
waste away when brought into contact with
the white man-that is unless the pale-face
missionary has rife in one hand and a
bottle of rum in the other, when they depart
to the happy hunting grounds with great
speed. But those tribes which are well
treated, as the Creeks, Cherokees, Chickasaws
and Choctaws, flourish apace and show a
large and steady increase in population and a
marked advance in wealth, education and
morals. These facts interfere with that set
tlement of the Indian question based upon
the speedy disappearance of the aborigines.
Evidently Nature cannot be relied upon to
carry out the Western plan, and Art must be
called in that art in which Frlar Bacon and
the Arabian chemists were adopts.
Year: 1877

SILVER will make fine standard of value.
The sale by Germany of some at "a pence an
ounce has so demoralized the market in Lon


don that no quotations can be given. There
is an eutire absence of any disposition to pur-
chase. 1t may be kind in us to relieve other
nations of the silver for which they can now
find no disposal, but 1t certainly will not be
Year: 1877

THE object of the Democrats in cutting
down the army below the legal maximum of
twenty-five thousand men is easily seen. It
was not economy, for experience shows that
a reduction OF the force increases the cost of
transportation much beyond the sum saved
in the pay OF the men. The Democrats are
determined that the army shall not be used
in the maintenance of internal order, that it
shall not act as police force. Finding that
they could not secure the support of the
Texas members unless provision was made to
guard against Mexican outlaws they unhesi-
tatingly interfered with the rights of the ex-
ecutive, and in effect ordered that four cav
airy regiments should be fully recruited and
stationed on the Mexican frontier. That was
strange work for "strict constructionists."
Year: 1877

Webster's dictionary has very brief de
scrption OF ship, hardly any notice of brig,
and not one single word about schooner of
beer. The old man didn't go round with the
bows it seems
Year: 1877

When 1t was announced in Colorado, tbe
morning after the recent election, that female
suffrage had been defeated, every married man
in the state stood up before his wife and swors
an oath, as round and as strong as Limarbger
cheese, that he had voted for the amendment:
but as their protestations and the votes in the
affirmative don't agree, their wives are as yet
undecided whether to keep them under the bed
few days longer, OF briug 'em out and con-
test the election.
Year: 1877

Old Mr.. Meriden had been married forty
three years when bis wife died last week. He
didn't appear to miss her very much until bed
tiue, when he sat down and stack out his foot
for somebody to come and pull off his boot
And then when his son-in- law coldly handed
him the boot jack, the full weight Of the
iIreparable loss he had sustained broke upon
the old man and he gave way to food Of
tears-Haackeye.
Year: 1877

Dramatic author to female frisnd-"Here,
Fifine is box for the first night Of my new
play She-'Ta-ta. But what sort of q
place is it? Is it something a girl can safely
take her mother to see?"
Year: 1877

We hear that the Pacific Railroad lobbies
have appeared in great force and with even
more than their customary brazen impu-
dence of late in the Capitol at Washington.
Only few days ago Speaker Randall found
the floor of the Hall Of Representatives so
crowded and members so annoyed by lobby
lists that he summarily and angrily cleared
the floor of all strangers and ordered that
nobody be admitted. We trust he will
maintain this order in force, and wish he
would add to it another excluding all per-
sons who have no proper and honest business
there from the lobby hall.


We call the attention Of Vice President
Ferry to this matter. The Senate lobby, and
even the floor, has been, we are told, crowded
on several occasions Of late when a Pacific
railroad question was up. Senators have
complained of annoyance, and one or two
attempts to drive away the lobbyists appear
to have had but little effect. We advise MI.
Ferry not to be good natured or careless in
this matter. If the doorkeepers are lax IN
their vigilance let him appoint others but
let him by any means prevent the scandal
of lobbyists crowding the passages to the
Senate and even the floor itself, to influence
public questions in which their voice has
no right to be heard.
Year: 1877

The coming in of Lent upon Valentines
Day this year promises to mix devotions
heavenly and earthly in a manner most con-
fusing to the average intellect. Between post
men and priests the saints celestial will be
brought face to face with the tricky earthly
saint who once year sets the world won
dering, and in many q maiden's heart st.
Valentine will put his heavenly compeers to
flight Valentines and prayer books will go
to church in the same pocket, and the gos-
pei of love will frequently find an unwritten
imitation striving against it. Countless
prayers will be mere lip service, while the
petitioners hearts will play apostate and go
out after the little blind god of the heather.
Of what avail will fasting be, while lovers
food is being distributed in such delightful
profusion? Nobody can say that it is the
lovers fault, nor st. Valentines either the
moon is to blame for the whole trouble.
The moon has been the lovers own planet
from time immemorial, and the Church
should have considered this fact before it
laid upon that inconstant orb the solemn
duty of determining when Lent should
begin. IF this evil cannot be remedied st.
Valentine himself should have his par
ticular day determined by the moon he
would not feel bit hurt about it, for
all days are alike to the god under whom be
Year: 1877

It is curious that an excitement about
smoke should have broken out in two States
at the same time. In Florida the source of
the smoke is surrounded by dense forests
and enshrouded in mystery, but in Mary
land the cloud issued from tho unhidden
lips of naval cadet and it's nature and
origin were accurately determined by the
critical olfactories of tobacco hating profess
sors. In the Maryland case the general
government promptly disposed of the smoke
by expelling it's source, and hundreds of
thousands OF patriots are wishing that
smoke might be made an excuse for the ex-
pulsion of Florida too, for the smokiness Of
the Alligator State is perceptible even in
Washington, and has succeeded in befog-
ging some Of the most prominent intellects
in the land. 1t is not improbable that
Louisiana will soon emulate the example of
Florida and fill the eyes of the Washington
tribunal with smoke; but it is to be devoutly
hoped that the members will endure the
agony like men, rub their eyes indus
triously and prevent the great electoral
compromise itself from ending in smoke.
Year: 1877

From the fair land of Florida. that mys-
terious region in the sunny South, the home
of Presidential uncertainties extraordinary
come to us new tales of wonder as puzzling
as any election return that ever added the
brains of an investigating committee.
Florida has always been doubtful State,
even before the prospects of Mr.. Tilden
became cnveloped by haze. Although SUBJ
divided by county lines and still again
by State survey into sections, the
surveyors were content to project their
meridian lines into unknown spaces with
out venturing to follow them up by actual
measurement. In this way romantic un-
certainty surrounds the selection OF quar-
ter section in the interior of Florida; for the
pre-eInptor and would be settler is always in
doubt as to whether he will need steam
boat or steam plough to break the surface
Of his claim. In the pursuit Of positive
information regarding the character of
the interior our special correspondent and
explorer finds himself at the start face to
face with "what is it" of the first magni-
IuOC' AAuC SAiSu1ut CoiuuiA VI oAhSAS " AASA
he describes must mean something really
extraordinary; for Floridian speculation has
exhausted itself in devising theories as to
its nature and cause. The peculiarities Of
politics in the State have become familiar to
us through the columns OF figures that prove
the positive success Of the Tilden and Hayes
electors, but which varied from day to day
like the changing forms Of the smoke col
umns that rise from couple of burning
pitch barrels. Key West supplies cigars
by the million to the smokers of
the United States, and the popula-
ton of the State seem to pass the
greater part of their time smoking; SO that
really we must not be surprised if the very
State itself, lying lazily on it's coral bed
within tho warm embraces Of the Gulf
Stream, should indulge in an occasional
whiff or two. The mystery lies, however, in
the manner in which this terrestrial fuming
is accomplished, and also in the nature of
the "what is il" whence arise the dense
clouds of smoke that periodically surround
an undiscovered centre of combustion. To
reach this point our special correspondent
and explorer is directing all his efforts, and,
Judging from the description OF his sur
roundings which we print to-day, his task
is one Of perilous adventure.
Year: 1877

A correspondent mentions an instance
where serious injury resulted to number of
children in one of our public schools while
they were being drilled in the art and mys-
terry of escaping from the building in case of
a sudden alarm of fire. This attempt to
make miniature fire brigade out of a mass
of little school children is piece of sheer
nonsense. No one can expect coolness or
Judgment among body of juveniles in an
emergency like that supposed. Such mo-
ments require the exercise of the clearest
sagacity and the utmost self-possession, and
it is rarely these qualities are found in adults
of mature age and experience. What are
needed in tho first place are ample and con-
venient modes of egress from the school
buildings, and, in the second place, teach
ers who have personally sufficient control
over their charges to command their conf
dence, and, while keeping them as unex-
cited as possible, effect their exit with rs
little confusion and delay rs possible.
Year: 1877

Touching the matter of surrenderin2 seats
to ladies in our street cars q correspondent
suggests that American ladies, with very few
exceptions, think they have right to seats
occupied by the other sex, and generally do
not even thank the gentlemen who are kind
enough to give them their places He also
recalls curious circumstance that happened
the other day in street car. wherein man
dressed in female attire had his sex discov-
cred because he thanked gentleman who
offered him seat. All this is rather severe
upon American ladies, and is not very cred
table to American gentlemen. But the fact
is. in the language of Sir Roger de Cover
ley. "a great deal can be said upon both
Sides" If it be an established rule that
gentlemen, no matter how weary they may
be, shall rise and stand in q crowded
car in order that lady may be seated, why
not carry the rule still further, and have 1t.
expected that gentlemen will yield their
berths in ocean or river steamers to such
matrons or damsels as may be 80 unfortu-
nate as to be counted out on the berth or
stateroom question? The ''piggish" point
in this controversy may be put in the one
instance as in the other. In the case of the
horse cars, however, the courtesy point sinks
into plain matter of fact proposition-viz,
the want Insufficient accommodations for pas
sengers. This fault rests entirely with the
car companies. At certain hours Of the day
the cars are so overcrowded as to render
travelling extremely uncomfortable, even if
one is provided with a seat. This has been
crying evil for long time, and ono for which
remedy is imperativcly demanded. That
remedy can be reached by adopting the
London plan (as another correspondent
proposes and as common sense in dorses),
and that is when the seats of car or omni-
bus are occupied the conductor refuses to
take up any more passengers. But we sup
pose our citizens must be obliged to submit
to the present annoyances in local travel,
all Of which arise from the littleness and
avarice Of the car companies, and await the
incoming of the elevated railway system,
when it is hoped that spirit of liberality
and desire to properly accommodate the
travelling public will animate those who
will have the subject in charge.
Year: 1877

How 10 Make New York a Clean


City.


Being convinced that we must rely on the
ability and energy of Mayor Ely for clean
streets in New York city we will persistently
oppose any plan that means the perpetu-
alton Of the present defective system under
any form or pretended reform. The Police
Department, through its Street Cleaning
Bureau, has proved itself utterly inefficient
in cleaning the streets; SO that we must
now make clean sweep of this USE
less and costly encumbrance, on which
abuses have grown like barnacles on
ships bottom. But a duty will devolve
on our citizens in the strict performance of
which they can aid the Mayor in securing
the desired results. If, as it should, the
city is to be subdivided into districts for
the purpose of facilitating the regulation of
the new STRENGTHENING system by contract,
then we mnst have rigid inspection of the
work. The residents of each district should
organize inspection committees who would
report promptly to the Mayor any neg
lect OF duty on the part of the
street-cleaning contractor. The interests
of the people are SO closely related to
proper carrying out of the new system that
unless they are as vigilant as they wish
their officials to be they cannot justly COM
plain if the public service is sometimes
neglected. Every resident of block can,
without any trouble, see that his street is
properly cleaned or not. If thirty residents
of block will take this duty Of volunteer
inspector by turns, say each for week, and
report by postal card to the Mayors Office
when any cause Of complaint arises, then we
can have complete supervision of the
street cleaning throughout the city. No
resident of New York Can object to such q
trihing tax on his attention-for it will
not be on his time-while walking to
the cars or toward his place of business,
and tho beneficial effects on the health of
the city and on the administration of it's
affairs would be immense With the Mavor
responsible to the people and the contract
ors responsible to the Mayor we would wit
ness in few days such an improvement in
the appearance of the streets that people
would wonder why such simple and
effective system was not adopted long ago.
Year: 1877

WHERE Is THAT Clock THE architect of
the new Post Office building devised q place for
q clock the hole in the wall is complete accord
ing to specification, but there is no more time
there than in Third avenue car horse. The
people whose money is to pay for the clock have
long enough gazcd in vain for it, and they would
like to know the reason why the government
does not supply il
Year: 1877

Now WE SHALL HEAR all about it. The lady
principal accused of inficting corporeal punish
mcnt upon pupil hints that another lady prin-
ripal nstigatcd the charge. II both true to
the traditional reputation of their there will
be no chance for questioners.
Year: 1877

DETROIT, Mich August II AT day.
light this morning the passenger train
coming in on the D. and N. Road, struck
a wagon containing man and boy at
the street,crossing. The shock smashed
the vehicle, threw the horses over a
fence into wood shed, the man over
the smoke-stack Of the locomotive Upon
the reof of the baggage-car, and the
boy was hurled through window upon
table just set for breakfast. Neither
man, boy nor horses were disabled, but
in FIVE minutes were gathering up the
remains of the wrecked wagon.
Year: 1877

How hard it is for us to learn the lesson
which is evidently intended in the petition of
our Lords Prayer, concerning eur own tenn
poral want: Give us this day our daily
bread" A petition not for this year, nor
next, not for that vague time we call the fu-
ture, not even for this week, nor even for to-
morrow; but for "this day."


And the gracious promise of strength to
meet what the Father may appoint US, is
couched in the same terms: Gas thy day,
80 shall thy strength be-"


Do not We doubt Gods faithfulness when
We give those anxious thoughts for the NOR
row which our Master positively forbade, as
suring US that "Sufficient unto the day is
the evil thereof"


There is something exquisitely child-like
in the attitude of that faithful soul who, Civ
ing to the wind his fears, lets the horizon of
to-day" bound his wants; who believing
that the Fathers almighty hands are full of
blessings which it would be just as easy for
Him to lavish upon him at once as to give
him from day to day, yet believes His wisdom
is perfect.


"Your heavenly Father knoweth ye have
need of all these things" said the Divine
Word, and it must be in profound wisdom
that He chooses to give US only the days por-
tion at time. And could We but wisely ae-
cept His will about it, how comparatively
light would our crosses seem, for we all know
how many of them are heavier because of the
anticipation of their increased weight, how
many that We anticipate are never laid on
our shoulders, and how many that would
otherwise crush US to earth are upborne by
those tender and almighty hands that are
ready to carry our sorrows.


Again, there is true Christian philosophy
in remembering that yesterdays trials and
crosses are past-they come not back again:
that while it is mournfully true that


I" The tender light of day that is dead


VIII never come back to me,


it is equally true that the anguish and the
pain and the cares of yesterday are dead too,
and if with brave hearts we bury them and
go and tell Jesus, He is ready to give new
strength for to-day'S burden.


After all, what is life worth to too many
Christians but the same vain struggle after
earthly happiness that We condemn in the
worldling, struggle to throw off that cross
which is the mark of the Lord Jesus, and
which He intends us, in His infinite wisdom
to take up daily.


The daily portion, not only of temporal
food but Of spiritual also, will be ours, for
He who answers prayer has taught US to pray
for them. The strength for the day will be
ours too, for He hath promised that. Crosses
will come, trials will beset US, clouds will
cover, but be it ours to bear for the day
Our Heavenly Father "knoweth that We
have need of these things" and He is sour
Refuge and Strength" WAIF.
Year: 1877

1t was thrilling scene when our fellow
citizen, DR.. Sayer, exhibited to q large au.
dience of distinguished persons in London,
his method of treating disease of the spine.
Taking child that had not used its feet for
years, he placed it on the stage, and treated
it where all could inspect the process. In
half an hour it walked. The spectators were
in tears, and cheered, almost weeping. The
distinguished surgeon himself was 80 deeply
agitated that it was many moments before he
could speak. The following day he visited
the hospital and exhibited his method before
great number of physicians, whose enthu-
siasm knew no bounds, as they witnessed the
almost miraculous results.


If such sympathies were stirred by the
healing of the body, if such joy was occa-
stoned by the cure of mere temporary dis.
ease, what must be the enthusiasm of heaven
when the Christian succeeds in winning q
soul from death Perhaps none of US on
earth can picture it even in fancy. We are
still clouded by sin. The wisest mortal can
not begin to estimate the loss of the immor-
tai spirit. The most holy being on earth
CauuOL hUuOT olu do III ueecTVeb. 1u6 uOet
vivid Imagination cannot conceive the wretch
edness of the lost or the bliss of the redeemed.
But those who have passed on before US, to
whom the mysteries of eternity are unveiled,
who are freed from the imperfections of time
and sense, and who see the Saviour in all
His loveliness, must feel more deeply than
we the miserable condition of the impenitent,
and the great victory which is gained when
one sinner turns from the error of his ways.
And We shall join them if We are faithful
Then, if we have snatched others from de-
struction, shall we know for the first the full
Significance of what we have been permitted
to do, and we shall be overwhelmed with
gratitude that we were so highly honored.-
We shall esteem the salvation of single
soul worthy the effort of life; and if it
have cost US suffe:ings, we shall rejoice and
remember them as the means Of such great
blessings.- Watchman.