smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

Once in a while human justice gets favoring of
that manly indignation that is like fresh breeze in
a sultry zone. curious instance comes from En-
gland where, short time ago, a poor woman was
tried for the murder OF her husband. The man was
a miserable creature who had lived upon his wfes
earnings and rewarded her by the cruele5t bealngs
At last tho despairing woman. while being thus
tortured threw a steel which entered his brain and
killed him. The jury could do no less than find her
guilty but the Judge refused to pass sentence upon
her. "il the real right in this case" said his lord
ship to the prisoner was on your side all the real
wrong on your husbands. and God forbid that |
should punish you. will not allow it to be said by
anybody that you are convicted felon, for con-
viction is not complete until sentence Is passed.
and mean to pass sentence at all" The prisoner
was then directed to enter into her recognzances
to come up for judgment if called upon and
said the Judge in conclusion "nObody in the world
will ever call upon you-God sforbid they ever
should"
Year: 1875

Leading men in the City Democracy have
been in consultation asst the course to be taken
to get possession of the departments which
they do not now control, as aids toward
victory at the next election. The Republican
Senators stand in the way of legislative
effort in that direction, but Tammany Han
threatens that if Republicans make strict
party question of the Reorganization OF
certain commissions, they will fail of
even minority representation in several
departments at an early day. The Democrats
have resolved to make determined effort to
gain the departments which they cOvct. Per-
haps they might make Improvement in them,
but the people would no. be illcOntCnt to see
unsparing, persistent effort for the most eff
cient and most economical administration of
such parts of the City Government as the VIC
torious party now holds, rather than impatient
eagcrnoss to lay hold on what remains outside
its grasp.
Year: 1875

Some days ago we printed feminine sort of letter
from correspondent hiding behind the initlals ID.
c. L., agreeing with THE TRIBUNE as to its general
political position but complaining that wo were not
tender enough Of the President. THE TRIBUNE re-
Piled asking for a single act Of the Presidents that
we had not praised which our correspondent would
like to have us praise and adding that we had been
searching for such acts as with lighted candle,
and giving HIM praise far more generous than either
he or the public could expect whenever he did as
tonish us by doing anything that deserved it. ID.
c. L. now returns to tho charge with much longer
letter. using great many words, but utterly failing
to specify single act which he would like to have
praised Next!
Year: 1875

We have thought fondly. however, that every
thing which c0ald be put into the shape of a Reso


luton had been Resolved. But we have lived TO
read of a Literary Society III Nebraska struggling
with the following Resolved. That the works OF
Nature are moro pleasing to the eye than the works
Of Art" If the proposition had read "sOme works
Of Art" that debate would have been easy sailing
for the Ailrmatives Or shall we say " sOmo eyes e
For instance. if we owned Claude worth never
mind how enormous u lot of money, wouldn't it be
more pleasing to our eye than the loYeest land
scape this continent, or any other Our advice
to the Nebraska young gentlemen is that they
muddle not their juvenile brains by wrestling with
any such cOnundrums. Art is a rum un. Nature is
a rum 'uu Why bother about which is the rum
micst Chalk, take it, is unquestionably chalk,
while cheese is indubitabiy cheese. Wouldn't it be
a waste of wind TO gTapple with this: Resolved.
That chalk is not cheese, that cheese is not chalk,
and that cheese is superior to chalk for EATING,
while chalk is superior to cheese for making
a chalk line" If We bad been in that JAR
ticuar part of Nebraska that memorable
evening, we should have reminded the assem-
blcd sages that without Nature we should have no
Art and without Art we should sometimes have 10
Nature and that the beauty Of both is that we
cannot sometimes tell t'othcr from which The first
thing for a young Debating Society to learn is the
true foundations of comparison. There must be
certain likeness before we can even begin TO weigh
and estimate. Which was tho greater man,
Michael Angelo or Gen. Washington r is not
question in the discussion Of which great many
hours could be proftably expended. AS for the
Nebraska puzzle, it would be necessary to settle
first the exact meaning Of tho word " pleasing"
And then to determine just what Nature Is, and just
what Art is. certain amount OF good might result
from the dispute incidentally; but it is hardly
thing to be settled by a show Of hands.
Year: 1875

William Cullen Bryant, the most eminent living
American will tomorrow be the guest of the Legs-
lature of the State of New-York This, we believe,
is the first official civity ever extended to Mr..
Bryant By any constituted political body magis-
trate in this country. whether Federal. State, or
municipal We submit this extraordinary fact TO
our readers leaving each for himself 10 draw from
it the lessons with which it is pregnant We will
indulge ourselves with the single reflection that
country must be very rich in public servants that
can afford to leave such man as Bryant for three
score aud twenty years To tread tho quiet walks ol
private usefulness unsolicited and undisturbed.
Year: 1875

A generous assembly, orderlya and apprecia-
tive, watched the gladiatorial tournament
last night at the Hippodrome The light
foils of tho fencers hardly showed to adj
vantage in SO large an arena, but the spar
ring could easily be seen, and the usual care
was taken not to hit too hard Joe Co
burn did not succeed SO well in avoid
ing the rain of blows poured on by
his antagonist as he seemed to when
he met Mace or Allen without gloves,
and in all the boxing it was noticeable that
the left hands did most of the work Mr.
Latin swung the clubs well, while Mr.
Messengers performances with the cannon
ball were excellent Only by letting his whole
body yield exactly at the right moment could
any one possibly stand having fifty
pound ball drop fifteen feet, and yet catch
and retain it in the small of his back withal
seeming to enjoy the process. The five
mile velocipede race was sharp and
exciting. But the event of the evening was
the Greco-Roman wrestling, and any Greek
or Roman present must admit that the men
and work were Of the very best sort. Hand
some and stalwart, barred to the waist, with
great layers of muscle swelling everywhere,
they lifted and writhed and wrenched inces-
sanity for a whole half hour in wrestling
that was simply magnificent while the good
feeling evident between them-indeed,
among all the performers combined with
the prompt carrying out of the programme,
did much toward making this inaugural
meeting in every way success.
Year: 1875

We ARE SORRY to see the portrait Of
Comptroller Green adorning an illustrated
newspaper as an election advertisements
Comptroller Green has made his mark too
deeply upon the community to care about
having himself in print. He should keep
quiet. Let him remember the maxim,
" Make haste slowly" He should not allow
indiscreet friends to crowd him TO the front
too early. The history of political obstetrics
shows thousands Of stillborn candidates
who came to their untimely end through the
oficiousness of friends. Mr.. Green should
keep in the background and prevent his
friends from overpraising him. Let his
mayoralty canvass manage itself 1t was this
premature advertising Of personal claims for
Advancement which destroyed Crawford
when he ran against Adams for the Presi-
dency, as well as Cass, Douglas, Seward,
Colfax, Chase and other aspirants for power.
Let our Comptroller spare enough time from
his ponderous books of account and think
Of these facts, and when any politician asks
him for his picture let him resent it as the
suggestion of an enemy.
Year: 1875

in the communication printed in another
column, have too much good sense and
gratitude to indorso the rash words spoken
by one of their number in a recent meeting.


1t is known to them all that the HERALD has
been their truest and most jealous friend !;
that it has spent more money and effort than
the whole press Of all other countries in
making the merits Of their cause known to
the world and enlisting public sympathy in
their behalf and they accordingly disavow
all responsibility for the utterances of ona
Year: 1875

Our contemporary the Times calls attention
to the effort to have its editor and publisher
indicted for libel 1t seems that one James
T. King dummy or o stool pigeon for John
Kelly, has brought complaint before the
Grand Jury against these gentlemen for a
publication originally made in the news
columns of that journal ''over two years
ago" No apology" says the Times, ''re-
traction or explanation was ever asked for. /"
1t seems very clear that the editor, as an
honorable member Of the profession, would
be only too glad to make amends for any
wrong that he might do citizen. Certainly
if Mr.. King had been wronged his remedy
was not with the Grand Jury, but with the
journal itself It is in the power of any well
conducted and influential paper to do far
more toward redeeming an injury than any
judge or jury


But the motive of this is political. 1t is
like the prosecutions that were brought by
the English government during the reign Of
Pitt against independent newspapers who
criticised the acts of his government. 1t is
like the prosecutions of the Emperor Ma
poleon, who would allow nothing to be
printed in France that did not strengthen
his throne. The first movement Of the
tyrant is against the press. Between the
newspapers and any assumption Of absolute
or irresponsible power there i natural an
tagonism. John Kelly in his war upon the
Times is only repeating the follies he has
committed since he came into power 1t
only shows that whatever Mr.. Kelly may be
personally, and however anxious he may be
for the success Of his party and the purifca-
ton Of Tammany Hail. and we give him all
the credit he claims on both Of these points,
he lacks the essential elements Of leader
ship-courage, prudence and patience. His
attack upon the Times is a war upon the
freedom Of the press. As such every jour
nalist who respects his calling, and every
citizen who respects the press as bulwark
Of our liberties, will resent it.
Year: 1875

We like the indomitable energy and un-
quenchable spirit Of the New Jersey fox
hunters; for, while the second meet Of the
season, like the first, cannot be called sue
cess, there was no lack of determination,
and, in a way, plenty of fun. 1t is true poor
Reynard, who had been carefully bagged for
the. occasion, proved only a wretched bag
gage of fox and was killed before his time,
and the wild foxes of the Jersey hills were
keeping their Thanksgiving at home and 50
failed to accommodate the hounds and the
hunters /; but for all this the Jerseymen were
highly pleased with the sport We admire
their spirit and, in rendering our sympathy,
we can only hope that they are yet to meet with
their reward. Notwithstanding Donohues
wall, Isn't this rough luck ?" is to be de-
plored most Of all because of its truth, we
recognize the courage of the man in the
strength of the vernacular, and we trust the
sport will 60 on even if there is not real
native fox in all Jersey. Indeed, we begin
to fear that Mr.. Reynard has taken Mr..
Greeley's advice and gone West If he has
it is not necessary for the Jersey hunters to
follow him. When the proud spirit Of
the Jerseyman is willing to content it
self with drag hunt the exciting
event may as well take place in Jersey as
elsewhere All that is necessary is dead
fox and good start, and these little fore
sight can always supply when the bagged
fox comes 70 o premature end. But we would
not discourage manly and exhilarating
sport, and there may be foxes in Jersey even
after all other resources fail. The bad re-
suits of the previous meets may have been
owing to the weather, and as


A southerly wind and cloudy SKY


Proclaim hunting morning,


we can only hope with the hunters for a
more propitious atmosphere next Monday
Year: 1875

election, and such bin would SO manifestly
strengthen the republican party of the State


by taking the city patronage out Of the dem
ocratic scale, that the republicans will be as
blind as bats if they fail to make this salu-
tary change.


We therefore expect the passage, OF new
city charter next winter, which, besides other
improvements, will change the municipal
election TO the month Of May and


divorce it from State and national politics.


This will also be an important step toward


realizing the democratic doctrine of ''home


rule" 1t will relieve our municipal politics
from the disturbing influences Of outside


politics Small, scheming politicians will
no longer be able to secure their election TO
city offices by the extraneous aid Of State
candidates or candidates for Congress. The
municipal elections will turn on municipal
questions, and crafty oflice-seekers will no
longer receive a boost from their alliance
with men who are running for po-
sitions which have no proper connection
with municipal affairs. The mutual assist
ance rendered between State and city candi-
dates when they share and tighten each
others election expenses will not be given
when their interests are separated Repub-
licans and democrats will both profit by the
change, though in a different manner the
republicans 10y having the local offices of the
city taken out Of the scale in the State cleo
tions, and the democrats by the removal of
one of the worst obstacles to genuine ''home
rule" On the one side the patronage of
great democratic city will no longer be
makeweight in the State elections and on
the other side city affairs will be exempt
from demoralizing outside influence.


We expect a city election next May under
a new and improved charter. The Mayor
ought to have, and doubtless will have,
more power and greater responsibility than
belong to that office at present In order to
make the new charter q popular success the
fittest and ablest man in the city ought to be
elected as the first Mayor to put it in opera
ton and bring out its good points. 1t would
be easy to name half dozen well known
to such duty, as for example,
Mr. Dana, Mr.. Agnew Mr.. Stebbins,
Mr. Green or Mr.. Hackett Mr.. Dana's
success would be resplendent if he
would consent to take the Office His admin
istratiye ability is Of the highest order his
knowledge of city affairs is unsurpassed
his zeal tor reform is conspicuous, and,
however great might be the dignity and
emoluments Of the Office under the new
charter, it would be such a manifest sacrifice
on the part Of Mr. Dana to accept it that no
body could attribute to him any other motive
than the honest desire of a good citizen to
see the city well governed and willingness
to contribute his aid in the critical stage
Of an experiment whose success would be
assured by an able and popular administra-
ton during the first term of new Mayor.
Year: 1875

Our columns this morning attest to a gem
eral observance Of Thanksgiving Day, not
only in this city, but all over the country.
The custom is beautiful one, and, like the
mustard seed OF the parable, from a
small beginning it has spread its
branches all over the land. The Pilgrim
Fathers little thought when they set apart
day for thanksgiving for bountiful harvests
and many mercies and blessings during a
year of trial and suffering that the Thanks
giving Day which they instituted would con-
tinue to gain in favor with the lapse
Of time and be observed by every
sect and creed throughout the country.
Such, however, has been the result,
even the religious features of its
observance being strengthened as the GUS
tom grew in public favor and popular
esteem. The turkey is only one of it's secu-
lar aspects, but by common consent the tur-
key is as much part of the day as divine
worship in the morning and light and inno-
cent amusement in the closing hours
of the day. To all intents and
purposes Thanksgiving is Sabbath
Sabbath without creed and without Sc
verify Sabbatarians might learn q lesson
from it and so make our Sundays more joy
Gus and yet not less religious. But this ma
tional Sabbath has in it elements which be-
long not to the Christian Sunday.
1t is a day when every sect and every
form Of belief can throw wide its doors,
and preachers of every creed speak more
plainly than on other days. The public
welfare is above all other subjects proper
theme for the pulpit and the platform, and
our reports show that many of our clergy
availed themselves Of the privilege
which the day afforded Mr.. Beecher
spoke plainly and to the purpose on


common school education, and even
went SO far as to. be just to men Of other
creeds by the declaration that Protestant
Christians had no right to impose their Bible
upon Jewish or Roman Catholic children.
Such liberality is worthy Of all praise But
Thanksgiving Day has still greater
mission than the preaching of even
such liberal and right-minded doc
trines or the giving Of thanks for
which it was ordained it is day Of enjoy
ment for those who know but little of hap
piness on other days. 1t is in this that the
turkey plays such an important part The
little children in the foundling and orphan
asylums, the decrepit denizens Of the homes
for the aged, the palsied inmates Of
the hospitals, the unfortunate pris-
oners in the Tombs, all Of the
poor, the ill-favored and the ill-fed come in
for their Thanksgiving dinner with the
richest and the happiest, and feel in
the bounties they receive that they are
once more akin to humanity. Thanks
giving Day is a day of humanity,
day Of brotherhood and bountiful repasts,
and we can only trust that the manner Of its
observance yesterday, its sincere worship,
wise words, good dinners and joyous sports
and amusements, will tighten the burdens Of
life for another year and make US all the hap
pier and brighter until the next November
day brings US the Thanksgiving once more.
Year: 1875

We copy the following just and apprec1a-
tive extract from the Times Of yesterday =


To the HERALD belongs the credit of originating the
only root-and branch reform in the matter OF Tam
many, and that s to repeal the charter under which
society has been for years enabled to rule the
democratic party Of this city This is another contest
in which will be great qualification TO US TO be found
working side by side with the HERALD Some OF the
methods by which Tammany has gained its evil power
in the city well known to readers but there
others-chieay connected with the administration OF
justice-whlch would excite mingled Indignation and
alarm II they were fully revealed, Tammany, It s
quite evident, cannot edectualy be parnyzed
Of corruption in politics and justice without s
complete annhilation, and this only be accom-
pshed by the repeal OF It's charter To this great end
hope the Legislature will devote itself at its forth
coming session. and in SO doing it VIII have the support
of the powerful members Of the press The HERALD
has led the way, and shall do best TO further its
Efforts


Now, gentlemen of the Tribune and World
and those other independent journalists
whose profession is their glory as well as
their opportunity, this is the time to fall into
line This is the great opportunity for in
dependent journalists. We can show now
as never before the dignity and the power Of
the press and its respect for the power and
will of the people, against all and every
other consideration. Let the Tribune recall
those glorious days in its history when it
warred upon slavery and the Know Nothing
power in our politics. Let the World lay to
heart the glorious principle Of popular SOW
ereignty which was made part Of the demo-
cratic policy by the illustrious Douglas, and
in defence Of which he gave up his political
fortunes and we may say life itself These
are memories that we may well invoke at a
time when the best interests of the people
are in peril from secret society which ex-
lists in violation Of the sacred sentiments of
freedom which came down to US from our
fathers. We welcome the Times into this
war, feeling that it will show the gallantry
Of the old fight against Tweed and his gang.
and we trust soon to welcome the remainder
Of our contemporaries.
Year: 1875

ANOTHER BROKEN SAVINGS BANK wiz close
its doors to-day. The reasons for the step
will be found recited in another column.
The institution to take this serious step is
known as the Central Park Bank, situated in
Third avenue, not many blocks from the
broken Third Avenue Bank. The suspended
institution may not cause much excitement,
but there are probably many unfortunate
people who will suffer by finding their hard
earned savings gone at a time when
the loss will be felt keenly in these
days Of general distrust. 1t appears that the
Central Park Rank was. like the Third
Year: 1875

allow IL 70 become uncomfortable and irri-
tating- The good time will come when we
shall have our spring elections and the
people of New York will be permitted to
manage their government in a business way.
Then Fifth avenue will be the first to feel the
benefit of wise and prudent government.
Year: 1875

Avenue, allowed to 90 on in business by
Superintendent Ellis when it was notorious
that its affairs were in precarious and very
unsatisfactory condition As this is the
second instance of Mr.. Ellis extraordinary
neglect to do his manifest and bounden
duty the question naturally rises, How many
more rotten savings banks has he under
his protection
Year: 1875

Ir WOULD BE SINGULAR ILLUSTRATION Of
ord if some letter could be found from the
pen of our brilliant contemporary, Charles
A. Dana making his record clear and as
good in his coming canvass for Mayor as
that made by Recorder Hackett in his letter
TO the Tammany Hall organization declining
to submit the independence Of the Bench to
the will of o political cabal.
Year: 1875

We do not know that this is the exact re-
frain Of the chorus which Mr.. Schell and Mr..
Wood and Mr. Hewitt and the rest sing
room, but we have little doubt that the real
proceedings, if they were known to us,
would have as little sense. We can fancy
cadets at West Point, or scholars Mt the uni
versity, or young ladies at a female academy
forming themselves into secret societies and
and passwords and grips. But when we
come to apply this to great political party,
and when this party is governed by
councils inspired by these pranks and
tomfoolery, our only feeling is that of
contempt But even contempt gives way
to alarm when we note how even
as absurd society as Tammany Hall with
its Indian fashions may in time gain the
mastery over great city. 1t is not o matter
for amusement to see man like Tweed in
famous and corrupt, rising into power in
our day, and remember that man like Burr
rose to power in the same way more than
seventy years ago. For three generations
Tammany Hall has maintained its constant,
arrogant dominion over the councils of the
democratic party in New York. Public
opinion has defeated that power, and it now
remains for the people to make their defeat
assured by compelling the incoming Legis-
lature to pass an act vitiating the charter Of
this absurd organization and permitting the
democratic party to reorganize upon the
basis of popular sovereignty.
Year: 1875

REMEMBERING THE DEEP IMPRESSION made
by Recorder Hackett's letter to an applicant
tor political preferment in his court it would
be gratifying to discover some such letter in
the record Of Mr.. Dana This might serve
hins admirably il hrs coming canvass for
Mayor
Year: 1875

THE EASTERN QUESTION seems to bo grow
ing into . greater job than ever, and the
London money market is sadly disturbed by
contradictory rumors in regard to it. All
day yesterday, while the American people
were quietly disposing Of their turkeys prob
lem, poor Turkey was in the mouth Of all the
London spectators. There was a rumor
that Parliament was to be summoned to con-
slider the Eastern question and another that
a feet had been sent to the Mediterranean.


These rumors are 50 veratious and disreputa-
bic that people viii begin to doubt after
awhile whether there is an Eastern question.