smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1870

THE PARTY OF AcrIoN.-No political party in
this country can become or remain a power in
the land, except party of action. The party
that succeeds must not only have principles tena-
ciously held and boldly avowed-it must supple
ment its declarations by positive deeds, and
must neither exhaust its capacities nor cease its
activities The movements, the necessities, the
responsibilities, the opportunities, the resources
of n country and an age like this ARE 100 many
and too vast for any party of mere traditions and
theories TO cope with or control. The party
that succeeds must be ready to comprehend and
ready to grapple with the living present. and
its face must be evermore toward the future and
not the past. Vain regrets over what might
have been avail it nothing. lnacton or indie
cision in the present crisis, whatever be its
character will be fatal alike to its present and
its future and in this country especially, poiti
cal parties that are once dead, do not live again
For party that goes TO failure aud defeat
through its own faults and folies, there il no
resurrection. Common sense or sound philoso-
ply would teach us these truths, but experience
has taught them with all needed emphasis. The
Republican party, still dominant in this nation,
stands just now in especial need of being re-
minded of these truths, forgeifulness or neglect
of which, will bring it speedily and surely to
the close Of its record ms party of success.


The one great, positive, Wit Il fact Of our polit-


cal history, for the last quarter of II century, il
the WOrh VI Tue hepuoilChn purity puih' lH"t
out of the record, if it were possible, and there
would be left only barren negations and s,upen-
dous failures. Why has the Republican party
been able to achieve for this nation more sub
stanta and benfcent progress, within the last
decade, than was ever achieved before by, or for
any nation in century? Because it has been
in the best sense, party of action, and will be
known in history and be judged rather by what
it has done, than by what it has said, or what
may have been said of it. Because, to the clear
ness, correctness and strength of its moral con.
victions and its positive afirmations of princi-
pies, it has added the ready and resolue carry
ing out of these convictions and principles in
positive deeds. Let the Republican party lose
either of these correlaiive elements of strength
and it will die, and die not to live again. In
this direction and this only, lies its danger. 1t
is a fatal political bunder for any party, or ad-
ministration, however strong or securely en-
trenched in the possession of present power, to
presume that it can live on do-nothng policy !;
and vacillation or hesitation, when the moment
for action comes, is rs fatal ms total inacton
There is an inevitable political death in either.
National Agitator.
Year: 1870

ATTACHMENT TO NEwsPAPERs.-The strong at
tachment of subscribers to a well-condu cted
newspaper, as given in the following paragraph
from the New York Journal Of Commerce, is fully
confirmed by veteran publishers. Our expert
ence in publishing bears witness to its truthful
ness


Stop my paper" are words of dread to new
beginners in the business but they soon lose
their force after paper has been established for
term of years. So long as n paper pursues n
just, honorable and judcious course meeting
the wants of its customers in all or most respects,
the ties of friendship between the subscribers
and the paper are as hard to break by any out
side third party, as the links which bind old
friends in business or social life. Occasional
defects and errors, if such there be in news
paper are overlooked by those who have become
attached to it through its daily perusal for years
They may sometimes become dissatisfied with it
on account of something which may have slipped
into its columns, and may stop taking it but
the absence of the familiar sheet at their home
or Office for few days, becomes an insupporta-
BILE deprivalon and they hasten to take it again,
and possibly apologize for having stopped it,
This we believe to be common experience in
the history of all established newspapers No
friendship on earth is more constant than that
connected by the journal which makes an hon
est and earnest effort to merit its continued sup
port.
Year: 1870

CHANG AND Enc, the Siamese twins, arrived
on August H. in the steamer Palmyra from Eu-
advice as to whether they can be safely severed
from each other The decision is that it will not
be safe. About two days out from Liverpool,
Chang was stricken by paralytic shock, deprv-
ing him of the use Of his left side, and he is now
far from being well. Eng continues ia perfect
health. They are now stopping in New York,
but will soon depart for their home in North
Carolina.
Year: 1870

The City authorities who lease the ferries
have been prompt to take the hint which we
lately threw out as suggested by the English
management of street railways. They have
renewed the lease Of the Union Ferry Com
pany of Brooklyn for ten years at nominal
rent, on the condition that the ferriage between
and n o'clock, morning and evening, shall
be one cent instead of two cents. This is
for the benefit of the labOring classes, and is
a wise condition, for which the authorities
deserve thanks. But does the condition apply
only to the passengers who cross on foot 7
Are the poor truckmen who now pay extrava-
CANT rates of ferriage to derive no benefit from
this condition, or is the truckman who now
pays 20 cents fare to be carried during the
hours named at half fare2 We hope the au-
tborities will look to this matter before sign
ing the lease.


And now let us have the street cars regu-
lated in the interest of the public who travel
and not that of the Companies who profit by
them. Working people of New-York are most
uniustly taxed sevcn-cightls Of cent by the
street RAILWAYS in addition TO the Govern
Year: 1870

hocomes n very 9" card and calendar OF gentry
in rolling their titles like sweet morsels under
his toncue. Even the mother, who had lost
three little ones in three weeks, is " q vermont
" pentlewoman.n When he reaches the appoint
ments of the funeral and the furniture OF the
house. however, he positively stammers from
tbe excess of his rapture and emotion we
fancy VIC hear Mr.. Mould himself
assure us of "the unspeakabe depth
[" of affectionate regret No limitation,
"actually NO limitation TO the expense" The
only cause of surprise and disappointment 10
orr reporter is. that "the dead child was wholly
"unmindful of her magnificent surroundings,
" even of the paintings which hung on the
"wall. She-not WAS regardless of the orig
"inal oil painting of THE Secret of Chimbora-
zo'n She was also, itappears, "unmindful OF the
&" authors, the artists, the men Of wealth, and
"women of fashion, This last immobility
which strikes amazement into the soul of
Jeames he apologies for by surmising that
she had gone on ad dstra before" Jeames
has not studied Mr.. Mould on Death in vain
at is the laying out of money" says that
astute observer "that can bind the broken
"heart and shed balm upon the wounded
"spiritn Authors artists men of wealth and
fashion "Why should we call gold dross
"when it can soothe our loss with things like
these n


Seriously, to put the Yellowplush reporters
aside for a moment, there is no place where
the tawdry vulgarity of half-educated people
is so grossly aggressive among us as IN the pres
ence of Death. The natural impulse OF the
refined or nobler nature is to go apart with
its dead, to hide from its fellOw-men where
only God can see its pain. So, doubtless,
it was in this case, dragged, with such vulgar
ity, before the public. But nowadays the
possession of a dead body seems often rather to
be accepted in house as an apology for calling
in the world to see our display OF money and
fashionable acquaintances. Not only is this
the case among the plebeian rich, but the in
fectiOn is spreading among those classes VINO
! have neither money nor the common sense to
keep them from such follies. A poor man has
hardly time to grieve for his dead wife oI
child, in the more exacting anxiety of finding
money to give them snowy funeral 1t Is
one of those subjects upon which sermons
however are useless. The man, rich or poor
who sacrifices his life to Mrs. Grundy will be
comforted in his death if sure Of her approval
of his exit. The only cure we see for the evil
is O few more letters from this Rutland re-
porter. Jeames as mourner would terufy
any man from his coffin.
Year: 1870

The American Unitarian Association, which
has just been in session in Boston, so far
yielded to what is considered the spirit of the
age as to place a woman upon tho Board of
Directors. While we highly approve of this,
and admit that we see no reason why women
should not cooperate with men in all religious
and benevolent work, we beg leave to point
out that changes of this kind have but little
bearing upon the question of Woman Suffrage.
To participate in the work of the churches,
even to the extent of statedly preaching, is
one thing; equal participation in the passionate,
often coarse and very often tumultuous, work
Of politics, Of craftsmanship, and of legisla-
ton, Is quite another. We do not say that
woman may not do this without damage TO
her womanly character and without injury to
her domestic relations; but we do say that
before 80 great change is made its magni-
tude should be understood.
Year: 1870

A story that is more than q thrice told tale
comes from Pennsylvania of troubles among
the miners, resulting, as always before, in a
suspension Of labor more or less general
throughout the lower Anthracite region.
These suspensions, occurring at constantly
shortening intervals, threaten to terminate at
last in the paralysis Of q great industry.
and consequent loss and inconvenience TO the
whole upper Atlantic coast. which is depend
ent upon tho Pennsylvania fields for fuel.
The problem presented in these strikes ia.
therefore, one calling for grave consideration,
with view to the discovery and application
of way to avoid them in the future. The
public is so familiar with all the details of
the troubles in the coal fields that there should
be no difficulty in arriving at just conclusions
concerning them. The miners are doubtless
subject to hardships, which in certain portions
of the coal fields become most OnerOus when
coal declines to reasonable rate; but we
must deny that a strike for the purpose of
raising prices upon millions of consumers, the
vast majority being as needy as the miners, is
the proper means Of ameliOration. The eXpe-
Year: 1870

A correspondent who confirms all we have
published in regard to the execution OF Neyth
and Speakman in Cuba, and who informs us
further, at greater length than we can publish,
that Admiral Poor reported the execution as
an outrage thinks THE TRIBUNE inconsistent
in simultaneously urging the Government to
protect its citizens abroad, and reduce the
army and navy. We beg the writer to think
again, and, when he does, to go below the
surface of argument No government can hope
to maintain menacng fleet in all the ports
and waters of other Powers. No nation has in
fact any moral right to maintain such force
if it could, and Great Britain does not, as
our correspondent claims She does protect
her citizens, however by moral force, and so
ought the United States to do. England jeal-
ously guards her people and her flag from
insult; that jealousy is become a
national trait and no administration in En-
gland could endure day which disregarded
the call of an English subject for protection.
Her demands are prompt, instantaneous, and,
though at times overbearing and often unjust,
they are always respected because OF the
promptness with which they are made. We
have more than sufficient organized power to
enforce any and all demands. The difficulty
is we are not prompt, not positive, not terri
bly, in earnest in our demands. The protest
of an American Consul ought to be respected
as the voice of the American nation, and it
would be, if America was known to be as
ready to demand satisfaction as England Is.
The world knows we are equally able to en-
force our rights abroad and will not hesitate to
respect our wishes when positively expressed.
1t is a fault rather of national character than
of any temporary administration that our prac-
tice in this regard has been heretofore weak
and disgraceful.
Year: 1870

The women clerks in the Departments at
Washington are to have the rights they have
been most persistent in claiming, and are
henceforth to be on an equality, in the matter
of pay at least, with the men. Whereat we
heartily rejoice. And that our motives for re-
ioicing may not be misunderstood, we dis
tinctly state that they are not the same as
those of the ungallant Mr.. Drake of Missouri,
who thought the adoption of the proposition
would result finally in the exclusion of female
clerks from all the Departments" We hope
not, sincerely. The work can just as well
spare the more abe-bodied SEX and there is
harder and better paid work enough for all the
men clerks who object to the alteration of the
payroll in localities where men are always
wanted and need never be idle.
Year: 1870

The Senate wastes money on Capitol en-
largements and North Pole excursions with
The usual profuse hberality of servants spend
.ng from an over-indulgent masters purse. We
had hoped the fact that the enlargement is un-
necessary and the enterprise hopeless Of good
ccsults would have led TO the defeat Of the
Year: 1870

There is a great deal of good sense in the
proposition of Mr.. Reeves to tax dogs, which
the Committee of Ways and Means IS now
considering. Dogs in this country may be
classified as follows: 1. Dogs kept for the
purposes of defense. There are not many of
these, and there is no reason why, as their
owners are usually in good circumstances,
they should not be taxed. 2. Dogs kept for
prize fighting. These should be taxed, and, If
discrimination can be made as heavily as
possible. 3. Dogs kept for shooting purposes.
These are mostly the property of well-to-do
men who can afford to pay for luxuries.
4. Pets, including poodes, King Charles
spaniels, grayhounds, lblack-andtan terriers,
and every animal which goes by the name of
lap-dog. These will bear taxation to almost
any extent. 5. Wandering, worthless and
ownerless ours. These should be exterminated.


We trust that we shall not offend the sensi-
bilities Of Mr.. Senator Sumner by the apparent
ferocity of our last observation for really
there is great deal more humanity in killing
a vagrant dog than in permitting him to live
on without regular food and shelter Moreover,
such creature is the most likely to go mad,
and bite the neighborhoOd and in certain dis
ITlcIS Ills ldSlc lOI luulloH VI ohli hiihiS =
is found to be decided as well as disagreeable
to sheep-keepers. And as to the general pur-
pose of the measure, we may say that dogs
come much nearer to heing luxuries than many
other objects OF liberal taxation. We should
be sorry to hurt the feelings of any proprietor
of a faithful and aflectionate dog Tray, whose


"--breast is white. his touzie back


weel clad in coat o. glossy black;


His gawcie tail in upward curl


Hung DER his hurdles wi a swirl"


1t would be abominably selfish not to he
willing to pay tax upon the possession OF 50
much beauty and intelligence.


1t is usually thought that the complaints made
by sheep-owners against dogs are unfounded /;
but we suspect that the annual loss Sustained
is greater than that reported. In Maine alone,
and in only five counties, the number of sheep
killed by dogs is reported to be fourteen
hundred during the last year. This is a sheer,
unnecessary, and abominable waste of valua-
ble and, we may say, of peculiarly valuable
property. If there is any interest which should
be protected it is that of wool-growing. We
are not, it is well known, in favor of Capital
Punishment for men, but any dog who has
once helped himself to taste of living NUT
ton should be hung at once without benefit of
clergy. The passion for ovine slaughter can
never be eradicated.
Year: 1870

New Mines and 0Finds.o


correspondent Of the London Times, writing
fram Cape Town. Cape or Good Hope, october q,
says


In addition TO the regions already declared GEM
precious Is rumored that the 6eabOard side Of
the Drakensberg Mountains, towards Natal have
al been discovered to be diamondlferous. Yester-
hands by pioneer Of the washing process on the
rubbish in comparison with the bulk OF what have
been found Yet they did not number more than
half a dozenone Of s1S carats-al Of good shape
and excellent water; and the fortunate owner
states that there cannot be less than $4,000
worth OF diamonds per week bought BY the
merchants on the fields. The probably mythical
character OF the report which went home last mail
OF q monster diamond having been found am glad
to be In a position now to state is not romantic.
The actual weight Of the gem Is LOT carats IT Is OF
pure water, octohedrai In iorm and VIII lose but
very little In cutting to render 1t one OF the finest
gems yet discovered. f


Among the passengers homeward bound by the
Norseman to-day IS Captain Rsileston, the cole
brated leader OF the Natal party at the diamond dig
gings. He says 1t Is useless fer mon TO work SINGLE
handed. II they expect success they must work Id
parties lie strongly urges upon oil who may mean
to 90 there not to do so II they are In goed situa
tions or have remuneratlve trade in their hands.
Only they must go whe have the means OF maintain
ing themselves for at least six or eight months after
their arrival at the fields who can bear disappolnt-
ment and sheer hard work and be perseycriDgy
steady at 1t and In their general habits.
Year: 1870

Military Power nnd Resources Of the sultan


Discipline of the Troops.
[From the Irish Times Constantiuople correspond
s encel, Nov. III


In the face OF probable coming events the follow
ing account OF the progress and strength OF the
Turkish army has special tnterest:-It appears
certain to those who have watched for the last
few years the development OF the organization
OF the Turkish army and seen Its various corps In
action and en- sae0Hge, that It has become quite
equal to any troops that Russia could bring against
IT. Even IN 1s53-54 the Russians were unable to
then the military administration OF the Porte has
fully taken advantage OF every modern improve
ment. The whole OF the infantry, cavalry and sci
enlinc corps gre provided with snders, and the
and militia nave as vet only had MIME rifles, but
they will also be armed with sniders shortly.


Another important element OF the new system,
tended to, and the military academies now furnish
yearly about 120 officers, who are employ ed
partly on the stan and partly In the varioQs
corps OF the army. The old plan or employ
so well, has now been abandoned, and their
OF study, both at homo and abroad. have made
themselves masters Of the latest improvements In
the art oil war. The reatiOnS between officers ana
men are still on sort OF patrlarchal footing which,
however, Is rather an advantage when combined
branches Il tie army The 1 o
GERS too, have great influence and authority, and
considerable privileges have lately been granted in
order to induce them to remain In the service. the
clothing Of the army Is very comfortable and practl
cal, and the knapsacks are reduced TO the lowest
possible weight. The cavalry Is admirably mounted,
and the artillery wagons are everything that the
most exacting soldier can desire.


As for the men, they form almost good noate7iel
for an army as any that can be found In Europe.
Patient, obedient and intelligent they endure hard.
exceedingly skilful and quick In all military ma
nRuvre3 - ~
Year: 1870

CIDER BRANDY IN CoNNEcTrcUT.-The Hartford
Times says the extraordinary crop OF apples in Con-
necticut will not produce quite as large yield OF
extraordinary lack or water-a necessary thing In
the work. Many OF the stills have been unable TO
abounding fruit inf0 this fiery dstillatlon because
the ordinary water supply Jailed them. Yet the
make Il largo,
Year: 1870

In the middle of the vast Pacific ocean,
three thousand miles distant from the
nearest continent, rises the mysterious
Easter Island, Astounding with the remains
of remote antiquity, which greatly in
terested and perplexed party of savans
who recently visited them. The island is
about forty miles iii circumference, bar
rem, without trees, destitute of resources,
inhabited by few savages, who lead the
most miserable existence imaginable. But
upon this narrow strip of land, so barren
and unproductive, the astonished eye of
the explorer beholds harvest of gigantic
stone statues, about the origin and mean-
ing of which the race around them knows
absolutely nothing. The smallest of the
statues measures twenty feet in hight, and
many measure thirty feet, and a few at
tain the incredible dimensions of fifty feet.
Some repose upon long platforms, con-
structed in the cyclopean manner; the
greater portion of them wear crowns about
six feet in hight, formed of volcanic tufa,
which have evidently been placed on these
statues after their erection. The foreheads
of these statues are retreating and the
mouths prominent, which indications may
probably reveal the race which constructed
them. AS regards the workmanship dis
played upon them, it is rude and clumsy.
although not destitute of character and
expression. The questions concerning
them, prescribed for solution, are: What
do they represent? whose handiwork are
they? and how came they there? There
no metals on Easter island, or even silex
only few hard species of stone are found
capable of being fashioned into axes, with
which, perhaps, those which they are
formed is found neither upon the island
nor any of the surrounding islands; their
number, dimensions, and character form
ing strange contrast to the narrowness
and poverty of the place whereon they are
constructed. How could this barren IS
land have nour1shed race of men capa-
BILE of raising such monuments? Where
is this race and what country do they still
inhabit? In reply to these speculations,
several scientific men of great authority
hazard the opinion that the island in ques-
ton is only one of the SUBMITS of the
submerged continent which geological
evidence proves at one time to have occu-
pied the whole of the Pacific which is
now called Polynesia. Severals also show
grounds for believing that the statues in
question present Mexican physiognoIny,
and may have been the work of the kind
red races of that peopele. Several of
these monuments are now on their way to
the British Museum, where, it is hoped,
additional light will be thrown upon them.
Year: 1870

parison with them. Therefore, every prin-
ciple of reason, of justice, of interest and
of shame, calls upon us to provide for the
proper education of all the children of the
State. We shall thus, at once, discharge
our duty and relieve ourselves from the
burning reproach which the world justly
fixes upon us. The means are at our COM
mand, the children also, are waiting with
anxious heart and ready talent. Success
is not only certain, it Is inevitable. There
fore let every teacher, every minister, ev-
cry officer, every friend of education and
humanity, use his influence to secure re-
suit SO desirable and so necessary.
Year: 1870

A correspondent of the Worcester Spy
writing from Warren, says: ''One day
last week lad about fifteen years of age
son of Mr.. James McDermott, was attack
ed while in field near his fathers house
in Auburn, by large gray Eagle, which
fastened its talons into the boys legs and
shoulders, and could not be frightened of
by kicks or screams An uncle of the lad
happened to be near by, heard the noise,
and went to the rescue. The eagle turn
on him, and he was obliged to beat it to
death in self defense.


The writer of this was at the house next
day, and saw the ugly bird. Its wings
measured eight feet across from tip to tip,
and around one of its legs was tied bit
of rope, showing it had escaped from cap
tivity.
Year: 1870

A curious typographical error OCCULT
ed recently in a morning paper. In CIV
ing an account of an inquest, it stated that
"the deceased bore an accident character,
and the jury returned verdict of excel
lent DEATH