smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

present system of management Of prisons believe
in the necessity of capital punishment. Until we
shall have prisons where the moral ameioration of
criminals is made sure Of capital punishment will
be needed. Criminals come out Of prison nowadays
worse than they went in for there is attempt
made to classify them and bring the proper in
huences to bear them for their entire reformation
1t may be set down true that more murders
would be committed IL tho death penalty were abol-
ished, rs imprisonment for life would be no great
deterrent. The monks of old used to lock them
selves in cells and remain for years away from the
gaze and society OF men. and they were able to bear
It,. II our prisons more reformatory should
be opposed to capital punishment; but there are in
our midst criminals hardened and brutal that the
common instinct of self-preservation would require
that they should be put entirely out of the way
being past the pale of redemption
Year: 1879

read the poem in q manner that was well
calcu ated to impress its meaning upon every
person present. Audience. orchestra and chorus
alike joined in the recognition of the purpose and
plan of the new national anthem. which his method
of recital had evidently enforced. The orchestra
now repeated the melody, and Mr.. Gilmore mean
while led to the front Miss Emma Thursby, who had
kindly volunteered as q representative American
artist to appear the soloist of the day. she
was received and welcomed with round upon round
of applause. Tenors and bassos began the aria.
then followed the solo, and quickly came the rich
unison of the sopranos and altos OF the
chorus ending with the full effect of the great
band and the four hundred voices in full volume.
The reception of the performance of nature
the warmth of which scarcely be described
The nthusiasm contagious After an encore
Mr. Sullivan again came forward and suggested
that the last "the prayer. should be sung py
the entire audience The thought took instantly,
and three Thousand persons spontaneously rose to
their feet and joining with the orchestra and chorus
rolled out with magnificent effect the stirring strain


Mr.. Gilmore was called upon for some remarks
after the performance. but gracefully avoided the
lnfiction by saying, Ladies' and gentlemen have
already made my little speech. You have heard 1t
and blessed it kindly. can only add my wish OF
Merry Christmas to each and all of you.'
Year: 1879

Fourteen contestants retired yesterday from the
six days pedestrian match now going at the
Madison Square Garden. leaving twenty-four who
continue the struggle. The three who now aspire to
the leadership Hart Faber and Krohne. with the
colored man leading at ten O'Clock last night There
was some enthusiasm as the latter passed Faber at
eight o'clock in the evening. The attendance was
meagre during the morning. but the day on
occasional visitors stroiied in. until the Garden
are still on the track Hughes ana Campana, but
both look considerably worn out. Mckee was
among those who did not appear the track yes
terda!. The following was the score at half-past
ten O'Clock in the eyening:-
Year: 1879

just how clean the streets can most judiciouslJ
be made, and indeed whether 1t will be saf'
to clean them at all. IL Commissioner or
Police Captain should once succeed III making
the American metropolis as decent as London
or Paris, should reach even the layers OF pre-
historic filth lying under the disused trucks
and grocers' wagons nay, should achieve tht
ultimate triumph of the scavenger's art by
safely depOsting the rubbish where 1t would
neither prevent access to the harbOr from sea
nor be cast up among the bathers on Manhat-
tan Beach, there is no telling what influence
such a reformer might obtain over the people
Of New-YOrk or what political changes might
follow his course of innovation.


So the question of allowing Mr.. MacLean to
go on is left, we are told, for further con-
sideratiOn," and it is to be all mixed up
somehow with the general policy of the Board
of Aldermen in the matter of confirming
Mayor Cooper's appointments. The policy OF
the Aldermen with respect to executive ap-
pOintments consists, as it is hardly necessary
to explain, in vigorously requiring to be
taken care of. In a large and imposing way
the legislator of the City Hall insists upon
his claims" and wakes indignant because he
has only been recognized to the extent of
debating the appointment of stray marshal,
or has extOrted from Mr. Cooper the promise
of one or two dog-catchers. Until he is sure
of being taken care of, he is not disposed to
confirm any of the Mayors nominations, and
until the nominations are disposed OF the
streets must not be touched. We look at
the carcase of dog fostering in the
gutter and we little think how many prob
lens of statecraft are involved in It's presence
there-the claims of Aldermen, the discrimina-
ton between legislative and executive func-
tions, troops at the polls, Civil Service Re
form, Ciphers, the Silver bill, and the Elec-
toral Commission. We watch a motley pro-
cessiOn equipped with hoes and water-pOts, as
it marches now and then through the streets,
and we forget that it bears with it the Tor
tunes of ambitious rulers, and represents the
precious privilege of being take care OF,
which is the vital force Of our system OF mu-
nicipal government And if chance take us
to those unique wharves known as the public
dumps, where the dust cart discharges its
burden into the savOry scOw, it never occurs
to us that with the avalanche Of ashes, pota-
to-skins, broken bottles, and street mud may
be precipitated so to speak, half dozen
aspirants for the governorship and score OF
delegates to the next National Convention.
Year: 1879

Notwithstanding the persevering researches
of Commissioner Mclean, it has probably not
escaped the notice of the public that more or
less refuse of various kinds-ashes, for in
stance, dead animals, old boots, and remnants
of the abandoned banquet-hall-still encum-
ber the streets and enrich the perfumes of the
coming Summer. The new police functiOnary
goes forth in the gray dawn and learns for
himself with how little cleanliness the city is
cleaned. He makes voluminous notes of de-
linGuencies, and takes the numbers of unfaith-
full officers. and then, we have no doubt he
reports to his brethren of the Board how the
work is not done, and warns them of trouble
TO come when the sun of July shall have
ripened the accumulatiOns of the Winters
dirt. But with this romantic story of early
excursions the progress of renOvating the
streets seems to be arrested. Captain Gunner
has indeed been relieved of the charge of the
Street-C Cleaning Bureau yet as the Commits
siOners have thus far declined to appoint any
body in his place, the change can hardly be
looked upon AZ Il radical remedy.


There is, in fact, much more intimate con-
nection between ash-barrels and national pol
ItIcs than the unsophisticated voter imagnes.
No sooner did Mr.. MacLean call for sweeper
who would sweep than our municipal states
men discovered the workings of a plot to
sacrifice the honest, faithful performance of
every ash-man's duty to the usufruct of Mr..
TiIden, and it became their part to resist
such manGuvres to the utmost of their
ability The result of the contest between the
Commissioner who proposes to give us clean
streets and the Tammany politicians who
answer that clean streets are all very well,
but not when they are cleaned to crafty
Z" the Unsuitable ambition of one man." will be
watched with universal and lively curiosity.
The Tammany system of municipal admins
tration opens bOundless prospect of difficult
ties and complications. Judge Hilton and
other citizens have supposed the problem OF
public publication to be so simplel But
when garbage contract implies not only the
manipulation of sundry shovels and brooms
buff we may take a liberty with Dr. John
sons famous remark-the potentality OF
making a Presidential candidate. it becomes q
matter of nice calculation of chances TO decide
Year: 1879

Is It the opinion of the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher
that when man is hung. the newspapers shall say
nothing about il 1-that when murder has
been committed, the fact shall not be an
nounced TO the public that when a man
heretofore OF reSpectability commits crime.
his fall shall be hushed upf And generally,
that offences against the laws however fragrant,
shall be concealed from the community rs far as
possible, and thoroughly known only within the
precincts of court and prsonY The business of a
newspaper is TO give the news. This may be done
in different ways but journals agree upon
one pOint-that their readers are entitled
to adequate information respecting whatever
noteworthy thing has happened during the
last twenty-four hours in any part of the
world This may be communicated In o plain and
wholesome way otherwise; but there fastid-
ious people who hold that in large classes OF cases
il should not be communicated at ALL Now, If 1t be
a fact that upon reading account of a murder the
readers are possessed by an irresistible desire to
kill somebody, all homicides should be ignored by


the Press, and all capital trials be conducted
in private But is it so Is man such alcreature OF
imitation Is there no such thing as strength OF
character left? Those who fancy that the
dissemination of intelligence Is dangerous pay
no great compliment TO the integrity and
conscientiousness Of their fellow lnortals. We
take 1t for granted that honest neil and women are
Year: 1879

yet in the majority; but this superficial criticism of
newspapers assumes that most OF the human beinos
about ms are mere chamceons, receiving their color
from surrounding objects. We have n higher onin-
ion of the nobility and Of the muscuiarity of human
nature. Other things being equal, we do not sea
why story OF criminal detected and
brought to retrlbutIou, Of weak man
seduced from integrity by his aupet,tes
OF of a conspiracy to do wrong detected and cir.
cumvented. properly told. should not operate as
moral warning. There is theory that most people
upon reading of some wicked deed, are possessed by
a passion to go and do likewise II this be true.
man has fallen much lower than even the hopsIe.z
cynics suppose.


We are not intending to find fault with Mr.
Beecher, who merely repeats what has been said
often enough before. To certain extent he
is right. 1t is possible to repeat the story
of certain offensive deeds in a noxious and
unwhoesome way. But this method IA
not necessary either to the interest OF to the profit
of any sheet. The narration of a wickedness es-
pecially when 10 has been exposed and its perpe.
traitors cOnfounded, often occurs in the pulpit and
nobody blamed the preacher for using il to en-
force his instructions. The story of An&nias and
sapphira is to this day held TO be valuable warning
against falsehood. If such thing should occur
would it be wise to keep it out of tho newspaper
lest others should follow the example of that we'll
known PAIR There can be nothing more startling.
or we may even say sensational" than the
fall and suicide of Judas; and many like warnings
kept In the recollection of the public by being
read every Sunday in the churches. Alas it is
not the newspapers which have discovered that
men weak and wicked and there criminal
records open to the objections Of these fastdious
critics in the sacred writings in the journals Of
to-day.
Year: 1879




opposed to the Government and to the prose-
cutlon of the war. And those Democrats had
to break away from their party and act win
the Republicans in order to be true to their
convictions and loyal to the Government.


So with the overthrow OF Tweed,
which Mr.. Herman says was accomplished
by Democrats. The Democrats who assisted
in the overthrow of Tweed were very
small minority, and they had to go
over to the aid of the Republicans and
oppose their own party to do 1T. MI.
Herman cannot have forgotten that Tweed
was elected to the State Senate by
an overwhelming majority in strong
Democratic district after he had been IN
dicted and that in the campaign against nm
and his gang, he had all the appliances and
the machinery of Democratic management
and the masses of his party Win
him, and made his fight under the
Democratic banner, while the Republicans
were soldly opposed to him, and honest
Democrats had to leave their party and act
with the opposition in order TO effect his
overthrow Mr. Herman says: "The Democ-
"raey preferred to be beaten rather than to
"hold power with the aid of Tweed and his
Corrupt associates.n There are no facts
to warrant such an assertion. Ihey
held power with his aid until the rob
berries of his gang were so enormous and their
crimes so fragrant that there was danger OF
enough honest Democrats being drawn OIL to
endanger party success, and not till then they
dropped him. 1t was not honest indignation ut
the crimes of the Tweed Ring, but disgust at
their having been found out, and conviction
that he could no longer be useful, that led the
party to Tepudiate him.


Mr. Herman very properly assigns credit to
Mr. Tilden for having been active in the
movement against Tweed. No one will deny
that it is deserved. We concede it most
cheerfully. But there is this to be added to
the statement. Mr.. Tilden had to work out
side of his own party and with his opponents
TO effect his object The movement was so
well managed and so successful that lie
gained great popularity, and his party IN
spite of itself was led into nominating
and electing him Governor. The New-Iork
City emOcracy-eulOgized by Mr.. KEENAN,
opposed his ambition ut every step; and he
works even now through combination OF
minority faction of the party with the Repub-
leans. We cOnccde that he is the best
representative of the honest and decent
element of his party, and how good that is
the disclosures of the Cipher conspiracy too
clearly show. He is SO much better than the
party that they hate him; and yet not too
good to try to bay the Presidency. He has
done some good work. but that isn't to be
counted to the credit of the men who bate
him for it. Mr.. Herman makes great
mistake when he argues from the overthrow
of Tweed by the solid Republican party OF
New York, assisted by few Democrats, that
the Democrats of this city ought not to be
insulted by the presence at the polls of Fed
eral officials to prevent their cheating. The
naked truth is that in this Democratic city
Democratic officials have habituany cheated
at tie polls, and they ought to be watched.
Year: 1879

contributed no money and sent no exhibits
worth mentioning.


Why should the defective organization OF
the Philadelphia Fair be copied for the New
York enterprisef Surely the experience OF
the Centennial ought to suggest some improve
ments. Everybody connected with that enter
prise recognized the lack of simplicity and
concentration of power in the management
as serious fault. The best organzltio
for a Worlds Fair is the least complex
one. There should be a single governing
body, composed of Commissioners appointed
by the President, and this body should have
all the powers exercised at Philadelphia by
the two boards. The Commissioners would,
we may suppose, be selected for their charac-
ter and influence and their ability and will
inCpess to shoulder the financial response
biIty of the undertaking. They would OF
course call to their aid the services OF the
best talent in the country for the work OF
constructing arranging and managing the
Exhibition.
Year: 1879

Doubtless Senator Herman in his speech in
the Senate last Friday, referring to the Tweed
rule and the measures by which the Tammany
Ring was, driven out, intended to be entirely
truthful and candid. But we submit that when
he says-"The Democrats overthrew Tweed"
and 1.-The Democratic party not only turned
"Tweed out of power in the city, but out of all
"power in the State"-he makes the same
mistake that Senator Hill, of Georgia, did the
other day, when he said that the Democrats
of the North, and they only, saved the Union


The ground of truth in Mr.. HILLS assertion
was in the admitted fact that many Demo-
Gratis did join the Union Army. and many
more voted and acted with the Republicans
in supporting the Government and assisting in
carrying forward measures for suppressing
tho rebellion. But no one who is at all familiar
with the history of that time will pretend
that the Democratic supporters of the Govern
ment were anything more than a very small
minority of that organization. or that the
Year: 1879




NO Nassau-st NEw.YORK, May 10, 1871
To BANKS AND OTHERS, HOLDERS OF CALLED
FIvE-TwENTIEs AND TEN-FoRrIEs, IN REFER


ENCE To THE SALES OF FOUR PER CENT


BONDS AND THE REMAINING SUPPLY.


Referring various circulars Of April 2 2S 80 ana
May would call your attention TO the startling fact that
in thirty days from the date OF the hrst circular
issued in reference Final sale OF the -Four Per Cents
only millions remain at this date out OF the S2ooo
600 offered the holders of the called Five twenty ana
TenFoy Bonds In meantime the market for them has
and the demand increased at steadily advancing
prices and this likely until every dollar o the
supply exhausted and leave the holders Of at least SoO
100000 Ten Fortes and FiyeTwenes unsupphed from first
hands win then have depend for their -Four per Cents
on by hoceTs who be tempted to sell 10y e
higher prices that may expected 10 prevail when the
amount in the hands Of the First National BANK ana
Their associates is exhausted.


since circular the 9Th instant 400O000O have been
which Sl5000OOO have gone In one lot TO LONDON
bankers they bid FOR double that amount which could
not be spared puce it is evoent that the
London will absorb further large amounts We stated
in our circular Ap belief that London would take
within the present year We are now convinced
that they vii, $4,000 600 during the next three months
II they can this market at any price within their
reach ana when II is remembered that at lOob9 the Ae
can -Four per Cent COnsos still pay three and half per
cent per cent than British Consols and also
that the pu capital great IN London that is oanng
at per per IL is obvious that our -Four per
Cent Bonds be considered out Of their reach at hVe



We long ago expressed conviction that when the
United states Government should have completed the issue
OF -Four per Cents mont markets of the world would
compete for possession aud that this prediction is re-
eoyiDg literal verfCatOn much sooner even than
expected is apparent.


1t is no longer questioned the credit OF the United
States fully equal TO that OF Great Britain
and ginning be that there reason why the
SHOULD pay cent while the other pays
but three convinced that our Government VIII
rise TO the value of its financial strength aud
credit the sSOOOOOOOO of hves and of 1881 can be
funded into year three per bond and the conv1c
tion that may prove be the result is rapidly growing
in the pubic mind.


must that bonds represent the great
growing country the world that resources and ability
10 ay are increasing with tremendous strides that no taxa
tion in any touch principal or IN
come that prove integrity and good faith as
Nation through strain that tested nations
virtue and credit National Banks Savings Banks
Trust Companies Companies, Estates and the
vast ACCOMMODATIONS OF the people must have Government
Bonds At any price any income that that the GOV
erumeu q time issue bonds the accunuat-
ing and almost deposits Of the Old World w to greater
extent safety ana certainty Of income
in our National securities


Respectfully,


FISK HATCH
Year: 1879

Temperance is at last to be among the numerous
questions considered by Congress- At least. the
House has appointed special committee of nine to
which Gll petitions on the subjectwill be referred
Moreover the committee is TO consider the matter
of q commission to take testimony and to give the
subject Of Temperance a particular investigation.
The temperance men have long been anxious TO Sc
cure the attention of Congress to their favorie
reform, though what 1t can do except put heavier
tariff on imported, and heavier tax on domestic
liquors, is h,rdly apparent. There are grave doubts
whether this expedient would diminish consump-
ton, though it might have effect upon the quail
ity of liquors sold and not desirable effect either.
There is no objection however to the commission.
IS accurate knowledge. rather than sex parte
ton is desirable.
Year: 1879

BY the prompt action of the Senate Railroad
Committee, the new bill to protect Nsssau-st.
and Broadway was favorably reported last
night and ordered to a third reading. The
bill has now reached stage where members
who are ostensibly its friends can easily defeat
it by small parliamentary tricks, unless its
real friends are vigilant. The course of every
member upon this bill will be jealousy watched
10y the business men of this city.
Year: 1879

Mr.. Beecher preached recently upon
the condition Of woman and the house
hold among the ancient Hebrews. In
the course of his remarks he said:


The condition of any people might
be ascertained by the position of wo-
man. There never was a nation where
woman was depressed that rose to
eminence. Was she in those early
days a plaything, a recluse, a nun of
the kitchen, or was she honored 2
Her condition then among the He
brews, though not so good as among
us now, was immensely in advance
of any nation in the Orient at that
time, The primitive law was power.
The august power of nature
suggested deities. First muscu-
lar power, then cunning as an
element of power, then pomp.
Woman was disesteemed because of
her weakness, and all the way down
the weakness of sex had been trodden
under foot. Among the Hebrews that
was evident, but was still greatly in
advance there. She was servant.
ShewassalSble. The father could send
his daugter to market, not as we did,
but actually, 1t was only at late
day that men understood that property
meant inanimate things. A father
had absolute control of daughters
liberty and life. She had no choice
as to matrimony and her father gave
her away for consideration. She in
heritcd nothing unless the estate was
likely to go out of the family, and then
she was Jack at a pinch. Among
the Hebrews woman was not a laborer
but remained at home and did house.
work. She was unveiled and
ate with her husband. A Creek
woman was not allowed to do that A
Hebrew woman was tho companion of
her husband il she was his slave.
She took part with him in all the
great religious services. There was
this remarkable peculiarity also, tho
Hebrew never stood in the way of
genius either in man or woman If
Miriam could sing she was to sing. IL
Deborah could rule she was to rule.
Hudlah wassoughtuhto prophecies,
and there were many things in which
Year: 1879

One Of the hottest regions on the
earth is along the Persian Gulf where
little or no rain falls. At Bahrin the
arid shore has no fresh water, yet a
comparatively numerous population
contriye to live there, thanks to the
copious springs which break forth
from the bottom of the sea. The fresh
water is got by diving. The diver sit.
ting in his boat, winds a great goat
skin bag around his left arm, the hand
grasping its mouth; then takes In his
right hand a heavy stone, to which is
attached a strong line, and thus
equipped, he plunges in and quickly
reaches the bottom. Instantly open
ing the bag over the strong jet Of fresh
water, he springs up the ascending
current, at the same time closing the
bag and is helped aboard. The stone
is then hauled up, and the diver, after
taking breath, plunges again. The
source Of the copious submarine
springs is thought to be in the green
hills Of Osmen, some FIVE or six hun
dred miles distant
Year: 1879

The Paris correspondent of the
London Times writes I" AS to the
marshal, as soon as he had resigned he
was delighted. His old friends had
returned to him, and at the Jockey
Club he was hailed with great rejoic
ings, Nine de MacMahon is more
affected than her husband. She does
not like adieux she says. But these
regrets will speedily pass away, for Of
late the existence led at the Elysee
has been so anxious that the repose Of
the Rue Bellechasse will be ample
compensation for the ephemeral gran
deur which has come to an end"