smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

In his admirable speech, delivered in the
House of Representatives on the 9th of
March, the Hon. Alexander Mitchell of Wis
consin gave his opinion of the business of
redeeming the inconvertible paper of the
banks with the incOnvertible paper of the
Government in the following Words:


The mode Of redemption proposed in Section is such
as feel sure cannot be sanctioned by Congress 1t Is
neither less than to make the Government the
redeeming agent the banks-a position manesty
proper it occupy 1t was not instituted for any
such purpose and the idea of involving 1t in daily busi
ness transactions with nearly 1000 banks Is curious
proof OF the tendency OF legislation in these days.


really wonder what the Government will be asked to
undertake next.


But In truth there has not been and cannot be- any
effective redemption OF bank notes in the present
don OF the currency there is neither object
nor motive to prompt IL. What does this socalled
dempon of bank notes mean and what does 1t amount
tot the swapping Of one kind OF irredeemabe
paper for another kind q no higher value; for the
United States note, representative Of value. in
feror to the bank note and is superior In respect
only by force Of arbitrary law and that nts to
nothing; for the holder Of bank note, after he has
taken the trouble TO exchange 1t for United States
note is no nearer coin value than he before 1t
msnomer to call this redemption, and the operation
farce the performance Of which the business community
and the public will now, regard with utter indifference


Such was the opinion, boldly and clearly
spoken, of man whose abilities and expert
ence entitled his words to authority. What
he foretold has literally come to pass. There
is decidedly no effective or real redemption of
bank notes. Seventeen millions of legal
tender notes belonging to the banks, and the
time and attention of the Treasurer of the
United States, which ought not to be wasted
in doing what is properly no concern of the
Government, are employed in carrying out the
barren juggle of sending back once month
to the issuing banks some ten million dollars
of their notes. Here is Dame Partington N
again at work, sweeping out the Atlantic
Ocean with her broom. Seven hundred and
thirty million dollars of incOnvertible paper,
of which ten millions month are expressed
TO Washington and from Washington ex
pressed back to two thousand banks, to be
put in circulation again Immediately. No
bank has suspended, for wonder, and the
discount on broken promises remains as great
as ever. Seventeen million dollars constantly
employed, and the Treasurer of the United
States commissioned to oversee the dirty busi-
ness, for it is no exaggeration to call it so.
We are compelled to record many
things of little consequence to the
forty million inhabitants Of the thirty
seven States of this Vnioo, and we an
Year: 1874

Gen. Grant has done well to make his
prompt declaration of purpose to employ
every means within his reach to check the
disorders in the Southern States, but he has
chosen rash and unfit minister to carry out
his intentions. In his letter to the Secretary
of War he directed that the troops should be
ordered so as "to be available in case of
necessity but they were only to be used of
course in accordance with law. Sending them
to the theaters of recent disturbance was
timely warning and wise measure of pre-
caution. 1t was not in any way an interfer-
ence with the sovereignty of the States. At
torney-General Williams, however, goes much
further than the President. He takes it upon
himself to assure the Federal marshals
and attorneys throughout the South that
the riots and murders of which we
have heard so much were perpetrated
with the view of oveTawlng and
"intimidatng peaceable and law-abiding cit-
"zens and depriving them of the rights guaran-
"teed to them by the constitution and laws of
"the United States" He treats them as con-
spiracies of the white men to drive the negro
away from the polls and rob him of the equal
protection of the laws. He quotes three





Systematically violated; and he instructs his
subordinates " to proceed with all possible
"energy and dispatch to detect expose, arrest,
"and punish the perpetrators of these crimes.n
Now it is very clear that two of the statutes
which the Attorney General cites have no
application to the present situation of affairs.
The first is the Civil Rights Bill of 1865. That
confers upon the freedmen citizenship and
equality before the courts, with the full and
"edual benefit of all laws and proceedings for
"the security of person and property, the same
"as is enjoyed by white citizens y it has
no reference whatever to crimes of violence.
The second is the Enforcement Act of 1870,
which relates exclusively to fraud, violence,
and intimidation in voting or registering, and
to interference with Federal officers in the
discharge of their duty; this also is evidently
inapplicable to riot, or even to a conspiracy
of white men to maltreat the negroes. The
Ku-Klux Act of 1871, however, does provide
that where insurrection, domestic violence,
unlawful combinations or conspiracies shall
deprive any portion or class of the people of
any of their rights, privileges, or immunities,
ald the State authorities shall fail to afford
protection, it shall be the duty of the Presi-
dent to take such measures as he may deem
necessary for the suppression of the aforesaid
lawless acts


That is all the authority necessary for deal
ing with the present troubles at the South.
But it will be seen that the State authorities
are expected first to do their duty, and it is
only In case of their failure that the Federal
Government is authorized to interfere. Thus far
there is every reason ito believe that the
Year: 1874

The tender, poetic, ideal language of young people
who fondly attached to each other is always in


teresing to outsiders. We are even pleased to hear
of the ancient bridegroom out West who was heard
in railway train to say to hslbrde, also sixty odd
years DID, who's title pet-lambier ~ and who
received the sweet reply Bof of u.s." Romantic
literature is rich n fancful and fairy like express
sons of affection, but the most determined reader,
read he never so widely cannot hope to find any
thing more.wildly loving than this written by q
clergyman of Wales to his landlady's daughter q
young woman so happy as to win his affections and
possess his heart beg of you he says, "to take
some beer every day. and then rising to strain Of
dreamy and pathetic tenderness he adds, a. left my
toothbrush after me; make use of it if you like
till come again" OF course an affection so con-
sderotc aud eloaQent as this was too bright to last
Year: 1874

nounce to them this morning that the Treas
urer now requires banks whose circulating
notes are sent home to them from Washing
ton to send back to him legal-tender notes to
make good the redemption fund, as the law
provides. If the whole business is farce, and
if the public regard it with indifference, did
not Mr. Mitchell say it would be so three
months before the tubs were setf Let some
provision now be made for sending into the
Treasury brass candlesticks and lamps to be
cleaned. Why should the Treasury wash and
scrub for the National banks only, and not
for the public at Target
Year: 1874

A correspondent suggests theory of the
Great Scandal which offers an easy eXplana-
ton of some of the chief difficulties of the
case. TO be sure it creates other difficulties
almost as great as those removes; but that will
not prevent many persons from accepting it
with enthusiasm.
Year: 1874

The letter from Berlin which is published
on our third page gives new aspect to the
acquittal of Captain Werner, the naval officer.
The government which permits persons In his
position to shape its own policy regardless of
the Foreign Office, is likely, in the end, to
find the practice very inconvenient.
Year: 1874

The call for Convention of the Republican
party at Atlanta, next month, is to, some
extent indicative of alarm on the part of the
leaders at the position of affairs in that sec
ton. There is certainly cause for consulta-
ton, and candid avowal as to who should
take the burden of responsibility for misrule
in the Southern States would give the Con-
vention plenty to do, and be of great interest
both inside and outside of the Republican
party.
Year: 1874

The ceremonies at Carpenters Hall in Phil
adelphia stir the popular heart with feeling
of patriotism and pride of country which in
these days is not as common as it might be.
The National Holiday has degenerated into a
noisy nuisance. The lives Of the heroes of the
Revolution have been turned into cheap jokes
1t is well that at least once in o hundred
years, if no oftener, we consent to reflect
seriously for q few moments upon the early
scenes of our history, and compare the states
men of the ancient time with our own. Phil
adelphia was fortunate on Saturday in her
choice of an orator. If all the speeches
inspired by the Centennial are to be even
half as good as Mr.. Browns we shall be unex-
pectedly best
Year: 1874

Performances of Miss Gray of Independence Mo-,
when they tried to marry her against her viii I.
She kicked the minister's hat off, q She Knocked
the young man down. g. She rode off on mule
with one foot on each side Of him
Year: 1874

:
The Democratic Committee of louisiana
promptly repels the censure upon the Con-
servative party implied in the Presidents
letter, and warns the people of the Union that
the purpose Of ordering troops to the disturbed
districts is "to overawe the people in the
coming election" We have no great faith in
the ability of company of soldiers to "Over
"awe" peaceable white men and prevent their
voting; but there is danger that the election
in Louisiana may be nullifed by fraud, and
Mr.. Kellogg doubtless counts upon the pres
ence of the troops to support him in the
installment of the officers whom he may count
in. But we suspect the use of the troops after
all is more for the sake of effect at the North
than for serious work at the South. No doubt
it was the part of prudence to send them
where they may be needed; but they are un-
likely to have much to do.
Year: 1874

A letter from our correspondent with the
US. steamer Tuscarora describes some of the
disappointments and difficulties experienced
in sounding the bed of the Pacific Ocean with
reference to a telegraphic cable to Japan.
Twice the survey detected at comparatively
short distances from the shore, most un-
expected depth of sea bottom - ex-
ceeding five miles. = This will be as
much surprise to scientific men who
have investigated the subject as it was
to the members of the expedition, since it has
been generally supposed, judging from calcu-
lations on the waves that crossed to Cali
fornia after earthquakes in Japan, and the
confirmation of those computations by survey
between San Diego and Hakodadi, that the
bed of the North Pacific was comparatively
shallow. Later advices by telegraph indicate
the ultimate success of the expedition In find
ing a satisfactory cable plateau.
Year: 1874

Another lesson upon the terrible conse-
quences that may follow the practice Of car
rying deadly weapons is afforded in Brook
lyn. A christening party of Germans,
with their wives and children, passing
along the street in the afternoon, are sud-
denly assaulted by man with pistol,
and two of the party, woman and child,
are fatally wounded. We trust that prompt
justice will be meted out to the murderer.
He belongs to that too numerous class of fools
who think it sport to point pistol at by
stander; fools about whom the only thing to
be regretted is that they cannot be the sole
victims of their folly.
Year: 1874

Two horrible stories of police brutality are
narrated this morning. If they turn out to be
true we trust the guilty officers may receive
not only prompt and ignominious dismissal
from the forces they disgrace, but as long a
term of imprisonment as the law will allow.
The value of our police in times of emer-
gency has been brilliantly proved on more
than one occasion; but there is reason to fear
that the personnel has become somewhat de-
moralized while the politicians have been
squabbling over it. and little vigorous dis
cipline is needed to tone it up. Complaints of
the reckless and savage use of the club in
particular are getting to be unpleasantly COM
mon,
Year: 1874

The two German war vessels which have
recently been cruising in Spanish waters have
become involved in an engagement with the
Carlists. Both the cause and the direct re-
suit are unknown. However hostilities hay-
ing been opened, whether the Carlists will
show the same courtesy hereafter to the Ger
mans as they have just done in returning
deserter to the Albatross, is an interesting
subject for speculation.
Year: 1874

Col. Robert Tyler, Register Of the


Confederate Treasury. during the war


has something to say about Confeder.
ate finances and cotton theory. In the


Morning News of Montgomery. Ala.
of which he is editor in chief. we find
the following: T


1T so happened that we, ourself
were at the head of the most import
ant bureau of the Treasury Depart
ment during the war, and are some
what informed in these matters. If
the Congress of the first seven seeded
States, at Montgomery, had been d.
vlnely gifted, it seems to our mind pos
sible that something might have been
done on the cotton question, rim some
other way, to help the South in the
fight. But our Montgomery statesmen
were only uninspired men, and the sit
uation was an anomalous one. 1t is
doubtful, indeed, If mortal power could
have made better defence than the
South for three years made to the thir-
ty millions of people of the United
States, and to the foolish outside world.
arrayed against us by the influence of
British diplomacy on the question of
overthrowing cheap negro labor on the
cotton fields OF the South. African
emancipation meant this and nothing
more; and this is the key to the blood
lest and cruelest fraud of the agel


Certain it is, that it is sensible idea
to put the Southern defeat and our SUBJ
sequent vassalage on cotton. 1t is
good come off. But had Sherman been
well whipped, and many think he might
have been, between Dalton and Allan
Ia, there might have been a different
face on the future of the Confederacy
Notwithstanding cotton. Still these
are all mere speculation. We know
that the defence of the South and its
wonderful glory in arms during the
contest was and is the marvel of the
worlds history. There is nothinglike
it except the defence of the Neither
lands against Philip of Spain and the
ferocious Duke of Alya. 1t is eur
impression that the armies and leaders
of the Confederacy were never surpass-
ed by mortal man in any country or age
But unfortunately, there were too
many men not in the army, and not
leaders, who were anxious to end the
war. They did end it with vengeance.
God pity them"
Year: 1874

Dy TIE uIilI at w usuluSlOu W odl


Tits fearful to see what hold cor
ruption-and that of the basest and
raDkest kind, which debauches voters
and buys votes-has already gained
upon the country. 1t is alleged that
the President has not been as insensi-
BILE to pecuniary considerations as some
other Presidents have been; that he
actually lobbied for an increase of sal
ary. There are those who ought to
know whereof they affirm that the
strange power which our Massachusetts,
Mephistopheles has been lately mani
Testing In the neighborhood of the
White House is due to the services
rendered in that salary business, which
now claim their reward. We know
nothing about the truth or falsehoOd
of these charges-we almost take it for
granted that they are false-but we do
know that it is disgraceful that things
should have come to such pass that
there Is any possibility for such charges
to be made, and we know that it is
quite time for the Christian men of the
land to enter upon an inquisition OF
these matters, with reference to their
own future duty at the polls, and to
take account of them there with a
sternness hitherto unused.
Year: 1874

And / doubt not that the public
revenue on these two subjects will SO
continue to increase that the entire six
per cent on the public debt can in a
few years be raised, and one per cent.
as a sinking fund can be laid aside for
its ultimate redemption.


LII the language of the distinguished
gentlemen, Mr.. Stuart, of Augusta,
the representatives Of the farming in
terest have to look this fact squarely
in the face at this time, for it is either
stamp tax on these subjects or it is
additional taxation on land If the
public faith is to be preserved.


W. p. BURwELL.


RICHMOND, April LIST, 1874.
Year: 1874

AN old Troy river man says be IS
disgusted to hear people nowadays
talk of low water on the Hudson. he
remarks that he can remember well,
years ago, when the river was low.
He asseverates that at one time all the
passengers on the New York boat had
TO else their windows during the entire
passage down. because the steamer s
wheel made such a dust.
Year: 1874

Everybody is wondering why the BAZAAR
is selling their goods SO cheap. The reason Is
they must clear out their Spring and Sum
mer goods to make room for the immense
stock of Fall and Winter goods which they
will soon receive.
Year: 1874

Those who think the church may be
ignored or dispensed with probably
take a. narrow view of the matter.
Though they may be educated and cul-
tivated, the, have little real sympathy
with the great masses they are, per
haps, acute, but they are certainly shall
low. / mean, of course, shallow and
narrow as regards this point. They are
not in fellowship with that human ma
ture which, in all lands and all times,
demands a wolship of the invisible,
which rises always above the seen to
the unseen, which humbles itself be-
fore the Most High and is exaltsL


which finds itself lifted up by casting
itself PROSTATE before the eternal truth
and the infinite beauty. The church is
as permanently founded and rooted in
human nature as the state. It springs
up of itself everywhere, whenever man
begins to rise above the savage state.
ConfuciRs has his church Buddha has
his church; Zoroaster has his church.


They have all existed duting twenty OF


thirty centuries, based wholly on the
need of social worship. They rest Oh
the deep instinct which makes men feel
that they are stronger, better and wiser
for going together to worship before
God. The worst church is better thar
none, just as the worst state is better
Year: 1874

Weary hearts! weary hearts by cares of life op-
Te are wandering in the shadows-ye are signing


for rest
There is darkness in the heavens and the earth is


bleak below
And the joys we taste to-day, may tomorrow turn
to woe.


Weary hearts God is rest.
Lonely hearts lonely hearts this is but land OF
grief;
Ye are pining for repose-ye longing for relief
What the world hath never given-kneel and ask of
God above,
And your grief shall turn to gladness-if you lean
upon his love!


Lonely hearts, God is love.
Restless hearts restless hearts We are toiling
night and day,
And the flowers of life all withered leave but the
thorns along your way;
Ye are waiting, ye waiting, till your toilings
here shall cease,
And your every restless throbbing, is a sad, sad
prayer for peace.


Restless. heart! God is peace.
Breaking hearts! broken hearts! ye are desolate
and lone,
And low voices from the past DER your present
ruins moan:
In the sweetest of your pleasures there was bitter
And starless night hath followed on the sunset
of our joy.


Broken hearts God is joy
Homeless heartsI homeless hearts thu Ou h the
dreary, dreary years
fe are lonely, lonely wanderers, and your way is
wet With tears;
In bright CT blighted places, wheresoever you may
roam,
Ye look away from earthland, and ye murmur,
" Where is homer"


Homeless hearts God is home
Year: 1874

eff we may rely on the observations


of travellers, says the Journal of Men
| tai Science, "there has always been


comparatively little insanity among saw


ages" Admitting this to be the case, it
is not difficult to guess at the reasons
of their comparative immunity. In civ
ilized society there are three principal
causes to which we may trace nearly
every mental, disorder, viz, hereditary


predisposition, intemperance, and men
tai anxieties. Now, savages are almost
exempt from the operation of these
three causes. They do not poison their
brain with alcohol until the white man
introduces it to them. The weak in
mind and body are not carefully attend
ed to and kept alive as among civilized
people; if they are not actually destroy
ed, by natural or artificial means they
are got rid of, so that they do not them
selves swell the numbers of insane in
their own generation, nor increase them
in the next generation by propagating
their kind. Again, savages do not in
termarry in the same family: among
them the prohibition of marriage ex
tends often to distant relatives, persons
having the most distant blood affinity
being forbidden to marry. It can
scarcely be doubted that the reason of
such prohibition was their experience of
the evils resulting from the inter-marri-
age of relatives-an experience which,
distinct as is the lesson which it teaches,
has not yet availed to check ihe inter
marriages of first cousins among civil
lied people.


Lastly, the savage has few and simple
wants spripging from his appetites, and
these he gratifies. With him there is
no eager straining beyond his strength
after social aims that are not intrinsical-
~ worth the efforts they cost, no disap-
pointed ambition from failure to COM
pass such aims, no detection from the
reaction which follows the realization
of an overrated ambitious passion, no
anxious sense of responsibility he has
no lifelong hypocricies to keep up, no
tormenting remorse of conscience, no
painful reflections of an exaggerated
self-cOnsciousness; in short, none of
the passions that constitute the chief
wear and tear of civilized life
Year: 1874

than none. A bad government is better
than anarchy. A bad church is bet
ter than to live without God in the
world, because that is sure to end in
brutality and moral death. The church
is the home of the poor, the comfort of
the sufferer, the friend of the oppressed,
the support of the dying, the hope of
the bereaved. It comes to those upon
whom society has laid heavy burdens,
and takes them by the hand to raise
them up r. Clarke.
Year: 1874

A writer on the st. Louis Globe dis
courses thus learnedly with regard TO
fashionable society Society does not
lack heart, but it needs brains. Alb
stractedly considered, it knows simply
nothing, or if it does, its greatest care
is to Disguise the existence OF its kuowl-
edge. Society people are very pleas
ant to meet. They have no aspeTities,
no edges there are no rough corners I;
every thing is polite and charming, but
to any one hunCeripg and thirsting af-
ter information they are perfectly use
less. affolding nothing. There is a pre-
vailing impression among polite
people that social contact should he
productive OF the same effect that fol-
lows the placing of the magnet under
the paper of iron filings-a general bob
bing around. Where three or more
persons meet, under a roof, one will
evolve music, and the rest will hop up
and down, and that is-socioty. Polite
ness to-day is located in the legs, and
to him or her who cannot 'dance--that
is, Jump up and drop down, slide back
wards, forwards all side vays-theTe is
no society the world is void and with
out form. To all practical intents and
purposes the ladies and gentlemen of
the beau monde might as well be deaf
and dumb as endowed with the power
of speech. The art of conversation
seeing to have no attraction for them.
To them tits lost A gathering to them
represents so much jumping mp and
dropping down, sliding backwards, for
wards, and sideways. They don't seem
to appreciate that mutual improvement
should be an incident, if not an object,
and that they are failing in duty if
each does not do something TO bent fit at
least one of the rest"