smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

The country was startled on Thurs
day by the first dispatches announcing
that Gen. Custer and his gallant COM
mand of about 800 men had been ami
hilated by the Indians. Further dis
patches confirmed the report. 1t is only
too true, and, so far as known, not 4
man who was in his immediate COM
mand remains to tell the story. The
details of the battle will be found on
our outside.


The very general impression is that
Custer, smarting under the fact that he
had been relieved of his command and
returned to his regiment, and that Gen.
Terry had been placed in command of
the movement against the Indians. vir-
taally disobeyed orders and rushed upon
q force five times as great as his own:
In a reckless desire to distinguish him.
self and to have the glory of alone
whipping the Indians. Subsequent in
formation may modify this view some
what, but it looks very much like
another of those cases in which hun
dreds of gallant men are sacrificed to
crafty the reckless ambition or the
personal pique Of a military officer.
Custer WAS a brave and pure soldier
beyond doubt, and it is !. pity indeed,
that after passing through sixty battles,
he should plunge headlong into an In
dian ambush and pay the penalty with
his life.


This movement upon the Indians WAS
undertaken at therequest of the Indian
Bureau for the purpose of compelling
the Sioux to remain upon their reserva-
tions. The policy is questioned by
many, and one thing seems certain, it
has precipitated an Indian war which
may last long while.


The fact cannot he disguised that the
Indians are well prepared for a war,
and that the frontier has not been so
much exposed for years as it is now.
However, Gen. Sheridan is confident
that he has asuficient force to protect
the whites, and volunteers are offered
from alldirections.


II this massacre should lead to q
change of Indian policy, there will be
at least some compensation for the loss
Of Clusters command. We have no
doubt the true policy is to turn tho In-
dians over to the regular army, and get
rid OF thu host of thieving agents whose
stealing aud cheating has provoked so
many massacres and wars. All annui-
ties and supplies should be issued by
regular army officers and no arms
should ever be sold to the Indians.


OF; course, there is now much foolish
talk again about determination. But
there are two sides to this rs to all
questions, and Christian men at least
should remember that God is the God
OF the Indian rs well as of the white
man.
Year: 1876

LYING IN SrArE.-Such gorgeous mortuary
honors as the Church of Rome alone knows
how to pay to its distinguished dead are Law
ished on the remains of the great Secretary,
Cardinal Antonelli OF these honors our
special dispatches from the Italian capital
give an interesting description. Well may
the venerable Pope say masses for the soul
of Antonelli; in him he lost a beloved friend
as we'll as faithful servant and astute coun-
sellor. Cardinal Franchi is mentioned a.
the successor of the great Cardinal.
Year: 1876

THE Next HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
will be democratic by majority not SO
large as that at present, but more than
sufficient for all practical purposes. The
Southern States have sent almost solid
democratic delegations, and in New England
and the West the republicans have not re-
covered their losses of two years ago. In
many districts the result is doubtful from
our present advices, but the most important
fact is beyond doubt, and that is the Ger
tainty of democratic majority.
Year: 1876

1t Is not surprising that the credit Of our


foreign peoples when each succeeding day


brings with it the development Of q new


phase of petty rascality among the most


trusted of our public officials at Washington.


The valuable time of the national legislature,


instead of being devoted to the framing and


the interests Of the country and to strengthen


the bonds which unite us as . people, has


been consumed by investigations which only


serve to show TO what a deplorable depth Of


moral degradation an official can fall when he


ceases to regard his Office as other than


merely affording an opportunity for personal
aggrandizement at the expense Of every


principle Of honor and patriotism. General
Dent held . position Of trust under the
President second only in point Of response
bility to that of q Cabinet officer. His duty
was to guard the good name Of General
Grant by strict adherence to the standard
of official purity that AL honest men regard
as governing their relations with their coun-
try and their fellow men. His conduct Is a
member of the Presidents household was
supposed to reflect the morale Of that estab-
lishment, and give confidence to the people
that, notwithstanding the asperitie of
politics, which are believed to be only the
outgrowth of conflicting political opinions
the private regulations Of prominent public
servants were stainless and above reproach.
But, unfortunately, such has not been the
case with General Dent and he figures
to-day before the country in the IN
enviable character of a bribe taker and a
venal traficker in one of tho most important
interests of the nation. We present on an
other page Of to-day's HKRALD . statement Of
facts bearing on General Dents attempts to
manipulate, for his personal profit the
an exposure of the intricate combinations
that have been directed toward securing for
unscrupulous spectators the control of the
large appropriations made by Congress for
such purpose. The art Of squeezing profits
out Of the purchase of government supplies
has been studiously cultivased by number
of officials already amply remunerated for
their services, but who prostitute their po-
sitions in the cause of dishonesty and are at
the same time the oorrupters and the cor
rupted. The evidence furnished in the
HERALD is ample to convict these men Of
disreputable practices, and we hope that
searching investigation will be instituted on
the reassembling of Congress, which will un-
mask every one of these violators of law and
All good citizens should unite in
the effort to purge our governmental depart
ments of the foul stains left therein by these
venal rogues. The reputation of the country
it.
Year: 1876

II Is Nor customary to credit the govern
ment with generosity, but did it keep the
franklin away from apprehension that
Tweed's arrival might have an unfair influ-
ence on the votes of the people? If it did
the consciousness of a great sacrifice made
to good motives is doubtless pleasant to it.
In TACT, virtue is its own reward.
Year: 1876

TIE W8ATHER.-Our predictions Of elec-
ton weather for the thirty-eight States Of
the Union, printed in the HznALD of yester-
day, have proved correct in thirty-two
instances and partly correct in the remain
ing six. This result is extremely salts
factory. as we anticipated all similar
announcements by many hours and
did not have the benefit Of the early
morning weather observations Of the
Signal Service Department. The rain storm
which deluged such large extent Of terri
tory yesterday was central over the lake
region in the forenoon, and made but little
progress eastward during the day. II en-
braced all the country between Lake Nichi-
gan and the Atlantic, and extended
southwark as far as South Carolina
on the coast line. The Southwest
ern, Western and Northwestern States
were favored with generally clear but
cool or cold weather. Another depres-
sion il now showing itself in the far North
west, bat will not influence q large area Of
that country south of the national boundary
for some days, if at all. The steady rainfall
in New York should help us considerably
in augmenting the Croton water supply, as
nearly two inches of rain have fallen here
since the storm commenced. The weather
in New York to-day will Be cloudy and
cooler, possibly with rain.
Year: 1876

THE ENrRY OF THE TuRKrsE FLnxr into
the Black Sea, to be followed by the fortii-
cation Of the coast at Sinope and Trebizond.
shows that the Porte. does not regard the
armistics with very great hopefulness as
leading to permanent peace. This is at
least prudent Russia cannot object to the
entry of Turkish vessels into the Euxine
when she herself has already torn up the
neutrality clause Of the Treaty of Paris. 1t
may put Turkey in better condition to
meet the onslaught of Russia if war with
the Northern Power is inevitable, but at the
same time it is decided step toward pro-
voking such . conflict. The tender of ten
thousand breech-loaders to the Servian mill
tia by the Grand Duke Michael Constantine
is another significant feature of the armis-
tice, and far from promising one. 1t looks
as though the great war had only been post
poned.
Year: 1876

South CARoLNA-In spite of troops and
arrests South Carolina seems to have chosen
Hampton. We congratulate the people of
tho State, and particularly the colored
voters. They have shown good sense, and
they viii now have peace and order,
low taxes and good will So far as we
hear at the hour Of going to press
tho election has been entirely peaceful,
and on this important result we also
congratulate the people of the State of both
colors. General Hampton has solemnly
promised on every stump in the State that,
il elected Governor, he would make the
colored people secure in all their rights.
He cannot afford to do less, and he has
power and influence enough to enable him
to keep his promise. We hope that q new
era Of prosperity begins in South Carolina
with this election
Year: 1876

GENERAL BUTLx1- has often been said
that nowhere are parties SO hidebound as in
Massachusetts,. The reported election Of
General Butler would seem to prove that .
majority Of the people in his district vote for
the regular" republican nominee. no mat
ter who he is or who is opposed to
him. Old Massachusetts, has not been
fortunate in her representatives in either
house of Congress for many years. The re-
publican party has been too powerful there
for its own good. It has fallen under the
control of its worst members, just as the
democratic party in this city was.long under
the control Of Tammany. They need in
Massachusetts, vigorous independent press
to encourage men to bolt their tickets and
vote only for good men-
Year: 1876

The Probable Result In the state.


The result in the State is probably favor
able to Governor Tilden on the electoral
and Lucius Robinson on the State ticket,
although it cannot yet be decidedly
announced that New York casts her vote
for the democracy. The majority for Grant
in 1872, with which the returns Of this year
are compared. was 6fty-three thousand in
round numbers, and from this New York and
Kings county together strike of about thirty
eight thousand, leaving fifteen thousand to
be overcome by the rest Of the
State. There Is steady democratic
increase in the towns and wards of the State,
amounting in about one-third Of their whole
number to nine thousand. The same ratio
of increase in the remaining towns and
wards, exclusive Of New York and Kings,
would give the democrats majority Of
twelve thousand, and this may probably be
about the figure reached. But this result
depends upon the continuance Of the demo-
cratic increase, and hence cannot be pro-
nounced a. certain. At the same time the
democracy may by this time feel tolerably
well satisfied that its candidate will receive
the thirty-ive electoral votes of the Empire
State.
Year: 1876

The MoRAL OF THE ELECTION. MANY q
thoughtful American looked out Of his win
dow yesterday and saw the falling rain, the
dreary sky and reflected upon the greatness
Of the event to be decided before the day
was ended. After hundred years of the
Union the American people were forced
to decide their future. All the past
was entangled in the vote, as the
branches of an oak tree obey the
strength Of its far reaching roots. The
rain fell slowly and steadily, and like
its drops all over the country, from North to
South, East to West. ocean to ocean, the
ballots of the people fell into the countless
polls. 1t was sublime thought that within
few short hours the representatives Of
more than forty millions of American
people were deciding the future Of their gov
eminent. Drop by drop fell the rain, vote
by vote fell the ballots, and as the shower
from the skies fertilizes the ground SO may
the millions of ballots polled yesterday
strengthen the Union. Never before in the
history Of the world was such an important
question more peaceably decided. 1t was
triumph of republican principles.
Year: 1876

THE ExurzMExr 10 not yet over. for now
comes the question of the Cabinet Ina day
or two speculation will be intense, and until
next March the President elect will be listen
ing with patience to the counsel Of the party
which elected him. Mm
Year: 1876

small that il is now certain there will be but
q slight majority in the new House Of Repre-
sentatives-not big enough for party nom
sense-and therefore undoubtedly beneficial
to the country. Those who expected sweep
ing majorities were evidently mistaken.
There is no tidal wave.
Year: 1876

The official report of the Board OF Health says thero
has boen reported TO the Board from August
llth to date twenty-six cases OF yellow fever,
of which seventeen were fatal The disease
is confined TO few squares in the upper por-
ton OF the CITY, Only new case mas been re-
ported since Saturday No apprehension Is felt
OF an increase of the disease meeting OF the New
Orleans Associated Press this evening passed resou
ton requesting the Board Of Health to order the
opening OF the McDonOugh and Laurel schools which
werc closed by order of the Board few days SINCE on
the ground that lhero sufficient 10 JUS
tiy closing and that unnecessary apprehension 10
created thorcby.
Year: 1876

GALVESTON Texas, Sept 26, 1870
Health Physician Blunt this morning notified cap.
Fowler agent OF tho Morgan line, that tho steamer
which Morgan City to-day would be the last OF the
line allowed to into this port between this date
and the enforcement Of quarantine against New Or
leans vessels. II subsequently agreed that the
ship leaving Morgan City tomorrow 27thl could come
in provided that there was no sickness on board.
Year: 1876

party. II the government should pass
into the hands Of the Democrats all the
amendments to the Constitution would be
obsolete and might as well never have
been passed. The intelligent people OF
the country know this.


After the executive session the Senate
adinurnI
Year: 1876

The letter of our Tyler county CORE
spondent, published yesterday, had some
knobs on it calculated to arrest attention
especially that one proposing to abolish
the State Senate. Why would ii not be
a good idea to abolish the Senate? Why
have two houses Of legislation? Why
should our State Senate be whit more
conservative than our House Of Dele
gates? The mere term Of office is small
matter. Is not the Governors veto al
that is necessary to prevent hasty legis
lation?
Year: 1876

We have always contcnded that the
Baltimore 4 Ohio road has pursued u
very mistaken policy in thus taxing her
local trade. It has not been policy OF en-.
lightened self interest, and in the end is


sure to prove, itself losing operation
to the company. The road might just as
well be doing two or three times the local
business it really is doing, had it pur-
sued more liberal policy instead of one
that has kept down enterprise and
production along every mile Of its line.
Year: 1876

We are gricved to see that the edit or
OF the Rellairc Independent is likely to
betake himself to the cemetery OIL the
hill to escape the persistent locals of our
Bellairc correspondent on the condition
Of that desirable resting-place. We trust
that our faithful chroniclcr will let up u
little and not cut Lonslcy oG in the
springtime, before the narrow-gauge is
let nnI
Year: 1876

Philadeldhia, June 10: The conflict of
authority bstWeen the United States
Centennial commission and the Ceuten-
nial board of finance, which has existed
for some time past, is approaching a
crisis. Tne dispute at present turns
principally on the point whether the
commission can compel the board Of
finance to pay salaries TO the president
and other officers OF the former body,
and whether the commission has the
power to appoint the necessary police
force, and Tx its compensation.
Year: 1876

TTIHE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE Elk.


L ecutive Committee of the Democratic and
Conservative party Of Shelby county call q
Convention OF all those who are willing to co.
operate with it In It's efforts to restore honest,
economical and constitutional government
to the people; TO lessen the burdens of taxa
ton upon them; to inaugurate true reform in
every branch Of civil service: to hold public
officers TO a rigid accountability in the dis
charge of their duties; to secure The i'm partial
@ ecution of the laws, and to distribute fairly
and honestly among all classes the burdens OF
taXatiOn-tO meet in the city OF Memphis on
Year: 1876

AS we were coming down town af-
ter breakfast the other day we saw
our friend Fitznozzle standing in his
front yard with hose in hand playing
into mysterious little hole in the
ground. Our curiosity was excited
and we naturally stopped to make in
quiries. Was he irrigating by some
newly invented subterranean process
or vainly trying to squelch an imagi-
nary fire, or working the hydrant for
the fun of the thing, or what? "Only
a gopher hole" said Fitz "and Pm
going to fill it up or flood the whole of
China, or run the reservoir dry or
something He had patiently pur-
sued his task since five o'clock A. M.
(Fitz is an early riser) and when he
first started he thought to drown the
gophers out in about five or ten min
utes. After couple of hours of
steady hydraulicing he seemed hardly
to have made an impression, for the
water ran noiselessly down into the
opening and disappeared forever. Of
course Fitz's indomitable will was
somewhat piqued and hence his dog
ged intention to inundate China, &c.
Fitz didn't go down to his business
that day but staid at home aud took
turns with his wife irrigating the 60
pher hole. When we passed on our
homeward way in the evening the
good work was still progressing,
though we thought Fitz and his esti-
mable wife showed marked signs of
exhaustion. While we stood leaning
on the fence and chatting with our
friend on the prospects of his ultimate
success, Fitz's little boy rushed round
the houselin great CONSERVATION. "Pa'
said he, "the cellars plum full of wa
ter and the barrels N boxes, n things
is floating around like madw


1t is unnecessary to state that Fitz
gave up his malicious designs against
the Flowery Kingdom. He has now
partially made arrangements with
one of the fire companies to visit his
premises and pump the cellar out and
the job will cost him about twenty
five dollars in beer for the boys. Own
ers of gopher holes please take warn
ing.
Year: 1876

From the Gazette of the l3th.l


Census Marshal Quinn entered up
on his duties yesterday afternoon.


A fight occurred near the depot on
Sunday night. During the melee one
of the contestants inserted his hand in
the mouth of his opponent, and as a
result his thumb was "chawed" up in
highly artistic manner.


Several bids have been received by
the Grange Association for the con-
struction of their building at the de-
pot, and the bids will be opened as
soon as quorum of the Trustees can
convene. The building will be two
story one, 30x70 feet, and will be To-
Gated about 400 feet from the depot.
The lower story will be for rent and
the upper story will be used as a
meeting place by the Grange.
Year: 1876

This service has become q necessity o.
peace, as well as war, and the Senate has
passed bill to improve the condition o.
that service. The bill is now before tue
House for consideration. The people Of
the United States are now realizing the
importance of this service. The Signal
Service has been Of immense value to the
country. Let the service be continued and
pushed to the utmost point Of perfection,
and kept on par with those Of European
nation. Any improvement in it's extension
or the efficiency of the officers will be
accepted by the people as movement to
their benefit and interest. Millions Of dol
lars can be saved to the people Of this coun'
try by ea,ly information in reference to
rain in many localities. By the bill only
one extra Office is created and the rank in
the force is raised but a single grade. Let
the House pass the bill and the service be
continued.
Year: 1876

The OPPOSITION which meets the pro-
posal to reduce the Army because we are
in the midst of an Indian war. is only the
plausible Republican side Of the story.
There is already in the field against Sitting
Bull an army Of two or three thousand
men, and add to these an army that is w.
ing idle in the South drinking whisky and
urging negroes to riot, and the army against
Sitting Bull would be six or eight tHous-
and, and then add to this lot of useless
creatures that do nothing but loaf around
the Departments, draw army pay and vote
when the election comes around, and we
have an army Of fully ten thousand
against the Sioux. If it was an army o!
usefulness that we had to keep alive it
would be different matter altogether, but
it does not comprise more than few
thousand fighting soldiers, and the rest are
barnacles hanging to the Government,
The folly of such an army is seen at once.
And if Congress reduces it, it will be- a
great saving to the country.
Year: 1876

JUDGE BLACK in his defense of Belknap
in the Impeachment trial, stated that the
ex-Secretary had only initiated his master
in taking presents. This brings out a
horde Of Republican newspapers, who claim
that there is no law to prevent public
officer from taking presents. There is a
law to prevent him from taking them as
brides. A presentation fund was made to
Grant of an hundred thousand dollars. This
was at the close of the war and when
Grant was made President, as every one
knew he would be at the time the donation
was made, Messrs. Borie and Fisk, who
were principal among the donors, were
given important Offices.
Year: 1876

Good shooting was done by the Key
stone Battery of Philadelphia and the
Hutchinson Battery of Pittsburg, at Cape
May on Tuesday last. A large crowd Of
spectators were attracted to the seashore to
witness the target practice between these
crack batteries. Although the distance
was bat one mile,a and the target fifteen feet
square, neither Of the batteries hit the tar.
get out Of twenty shots each. Fine target
practice this indeed. The judges after q
long and rigorous investigation and search
among the rand hills, we're o. the opinion
that the Hutchinson Battery had ''shol
nearest to the target" The spectators
though disguised, were nevertheless happy
that they escaped being hit, discovering
that the only place Of safety was in from
of the target.
Year: 1876

A WOMAN was killed recently in
New York by the falling Of q telegraph
pole, while she was sitting in the door ol
her residence. Owing to the blame Eav.
ing been placed upon the Western Union
Telegraph company, where 1t did moi
belong all the telegraph poles hereafter will
have the names Of the companies owning
them painted thereon. This is another
argument in favor of underground wires
which have been adopted in many Of the
large cities Of Europe to avoid just such
accidents as this, which has occurred in
New York with such fatal results.
Year: 1876

common possess hisesuntsy as . heritage


from their fore -fathsEs. Where could :
man be found who more nearly approache'
the standard of what the Republicans claim
they wish to see in the South? Yet they
are schemihg to defeat and destroy him
What more base treachery could be found
than this; where Brutus more designing;
where . hypocrisy more great? Peace il
the cloak Of war, and reconciliation the
deceit Of political capital; its grave will
be dug in November, and the corpse low
cred into eternity on the fourth Of March
Year: 1876

The unemployed workingmen Of New
York, have taken Wild and unthoughtfu


view Of the course to pursue in the un


pleasant situation of being without work
and money. At mass meeting held
Wednesday night committee was ap'
pointed to wait upan Gov. Tilden and re-
quest him to remove from Office all those
interfering with or obstructing public
works. 1t looks as though this was as
much of political bug-a-boo, as that
which recently startled Wilmington; lead
on for political capital and factional, pur.