smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

THE NATIONAL Observation-Disclosures


AHEAD.


In the following paragraphs we make brief
mention of a few facts, projects, and events
which seem to us to threaten the future we'll
being and repute of the United States as a
nation. Our object is not to excite prejudice,
or influence the political views Of our readers,
but simply to invite public attention to matters
which we deem of importance.


l. The great influence which the Executive
branch of the General Government has obtained
over the Legislative. With the present enor-
nous mass of patronage at the disposal of the
Administration, and the political power which
the bestowal of so many offices carries with it,
we know not how the scale is to be turned
so that Congress may be again an effective
and willing instrument in carrying out the
wishes of the people.


2 When the members of legislative body
lose their independence and consent to take
subordinate position they speedily become cor
rupt This was the fate of the Roman Senate
once the proudest and most powerful body,
perhaps that the world ever saw. Is there not
lesson which we may heed in the fortunes
which are now expended to purchase a seat in





had in connection with the Kansas Senator
ship? in the Credit Mobilier 7 rr...
3. In view of the observations made above,
of the preponderating influence of the Ex-
ecutive, there is peril in President Grants
guarded suggestions of subsidies in favor of
ship canals and other vast projects Of internal
improvements, in Secretary Boutwell's warm
advocacy of subsidies to steamship builders,
and in the POstmaster-G Generals advocacy of
the purchase of the telegraph lines. We now
know something of the enormous waste of the
public money by the builders of the Pacific
Railroad, and we are beginning TO ask whether
the S6OOOO,00O which the United States lent
the railroads, and which they now enjoy almost
free of interest, will ever be repaid.


a. There is another species of power which
the Administration is asking for, and which is
quite as vast and attended with quite as much
danger as any other. We refer to the reg.
ulation Of the currency, the renewal of
Syndicate operations, and the privilege of
paying in Europe the interest On United
States bonds held abroad. or, in plain English,
of regulating the rates of bills Of foreign
exchange.


s. We have secnIwithin the last six months.
Year: 1873

pearing before q parliamentary body. onaer
the favor which, since 1866 has been extenoeu
by the Emperor TO Prince Bismarck's poiicy OF
Cancellation, he has been obliged partially 70
suppress his feelings; but it has always oeeh
TO him an intoerable reflection that o1iei
classes of the people should have decisive
voice in military matters, or even IN otner
public affairs of the State. The peacefui ue-
velopment of parliamentary government III
Prussia would have made more progress Ia
the last decade if Count Won Room had had no
voice in the legislature of the country. Even
now he is so far from having become recon
ciled to the advancement of the nation IN tne
form of liberal government that, in one OF MS
recent speeches, he gave great Oilense TO the
liberal sentiments of the country.


A very plausible theory to explain the
intentions of Prince Bismarck in this emer-
gency is that he believed when Count Won
Room attempts to carry on the Government
that minister will find himself involved IN
contest with the Chamber of Deputies, and
will be forced to resign; in this way the
Emperor may be obliged to concede the
demands of the Chancellor for responsible
Ministry 1t should not be forgotten, how
ever. that this same course has already been
tried and proved unsuccessful in like attempt
of Prince Bismarck to rid himself OF Count
Eulenburg. The Minister has been sue
cessful in procuring the adoption OF ms
Reform bill at the same moment that
Prince Bismarck has re,inquished portion
of his authority. Although Count Won Room
may not, in like manner, disappoint the expec-
tations in his case by becoming Liberal, the
comparison may hold good so far as Prince
Bismarck is concerned. The necessity for
harmonious action between the Federal and
State Governments is self-eyident; SO that the
circumstances which rendered it possible for
Count Won Room to be made Minister-President
in Prussia may eventually deprive Prince
Bismarck of the remnant of power which he
has retained in the Empire.
Year: 1873

The French Assembly has no reason to be
iubilant over the result of the deliberations in
the Committee to report on constitutional
changes. After six OF eight weeks of discus
sion, a report is now made by a subcommittee TO
the Committee of Thirty, proposing a cumber-
some plan for the President to communicate
with the Assembly. The President is to have
the right to send message, or, after
informing the Assembly of his intention, he
may make a speech. In order, however, that
a minimum of influence may be exercised on
his hearers, the debate must be adjourned to
a future sitting when the President is not III
attendance. A certain class OF laws he must
promulg gate within three days after passage,
unless he demand a fresh debate. If we may
judge from the omissions of the draft, the
measure may be finally adopted by majority
of votes. Another class of laws appears
to be subject to a like procedure change
ing the time from three days to
a month. An anomalous scheme is the propo
sition to give the President the right TO sus-
pend for one month this latter class of bills
on their passage through the Assembly. The
Assembly, when it can no longer hang on to
power, is to pronounce for second chamber
and to have plan ready for this emergency.
President Thiers, badgered as he has been, is
willing to accept the recommendation of the
subcommittee if the executive power be ex-
tended for term of six weeks after the dis
solution of the Assembly. If sufficiently hard
pressed he might also be induced to relinquish
This mint.
Year: 1873

The New-Jersey Legislature has made an ex-
celent beginning. The anti-monopOlists have
elected their candidate for Speaker of the
Assembly, and showed their appreciation of
the advantage of being early in the field by
the introduction of bill for General Rail-
road law, and another for a new railroad
across the State
Year: 1873

We receive from Washington the intelligence that
on Friday evening last in the First Congregational
Church, the Importance of having good editors was
considered, and prayer offered especially in be-
half of the Washington newspapers, though the
journals of other latitudes not altogether for
gotten. We trust that We are sufficiently grateful
for our own share of this benevolent intercessOn
and although we have some neighbors who seem to
be past praying for we trust that they, too, were
kindly remembered. We might make some reason
able objection TO this selection of single class for
special application but upon the whole we are in
olined to take it as compliment. The goodness of
other people s of course desirable but it felt
doubtless that without good editors the world
would not be worth living in. We advise those who
are constantly cursing and swearing at the con-
ductors of the public press to follow the Washing
ton example, especially some of them are in the
religious line, and understand both precation and
mprecation equally well.
Year: 1873

1t has been found necessary for Congress to
come to the relief of the people against the
curious exactions of the Post-Office Depart
ment. The resolution of the House Committee
on Post Offices, that the intent of the law is
opposed to the collection of double rates where
only partial postage has been paid, is in
accordance with the popular understanding
Year: 1873

The report of the Senate Finance Committee
on the power of the Secretary OF the Treasury
TO increase the volume of legal tender notes
in circulation is severely conclusive. The
whole subject of the pretended power of the
Secretary to reissue the $44,0OO,0O0 now in the
Treasury is discussed, and not shred of such
pretensOn is left. The sum and substance Of
the case. it seems to US, is best expressed in
the Committees compact statement that if the
Secretary desired to evade the laws which
limit the maximum of legal tender notes to
$356, 100000 he would only have to receive the
notes in payment of q bond issued, cancel
those notes, and then issue others in their place
In this way it is clear, both notes and bond
would be outstanding. We are glad to see the
Finance Committee insisting that the spirit and
intent of the several acts which relate to the
currency are to restrict the maximum of legal
tender notes to $956,000,000 Over and over
again this has been embodied in the acts of
Congress relating to these matters. That AS
sistant Secretary Richardson acted in good
and the interests of the country or at least of
the Administration demanded the reissue of
the S5,O0O,O00 which he made need not be dis
puted But it is nevertheless true, as the FL
nance Committee sharply say, that such vast
power over the values of the country should
not rest on mere implications or strained con-
structiOn of law of long standing. Whether
it was ever intended that the reissue of last
Autumn should be known or not, it is some
satisfaction to know now that we have prob
ably heard the last of such dangerous as
sumption.
Year: 1873

The Committee investigating the Credit
Mobilier scandals have at last no excuse for
not beginning at the right end of things.
They have before them books of the Com
pany which show how Mr.. Oakes Ames had
243 shares of stock for his private operations.
Let them begin and trace that stock down to
its last holders, and we shall see if it wrought
corruption on its way. Next, Mr. Oakes Ames,
who is to be put on the stand again, de-
clares that he will tell all he knOws. He
is tired of attempting TO shield members
who held his stock. We sincerely
hope Mr.. Ames will adhere to this virtuous
resolution. Let him make one more heroic
effort to overhaul his memory. 1t is excess
lively incOnvenient to be obliged to manage
ones memory, we should suppose so that it
shall only hold just such impressions as are
called for at the time. Mr.. Ames has found
out by this time that he cannot tell the whole
truth and also save all his friends. If he
cleanses his stuffed bosom he will undoubtedly
feel better as well as do better.
Year: 1873

good faith we have no right to doubt, to
abolish Slavery and give autonomy to the
Colonies. If they are displaced before tins Is
accomplished, it will be the worse for Spain
and the world. 1t is TO be regretted that we
have recently furnished, in the publication OIL
our correspondence with Madrid, an effective
weapon for the hands of the reaction.
Year: 1873

DR.. Willet ecturing in Boston the other night,
told droll story Of himself. He said that at one
time, when he was a connosseur in birdstuffing he
used to criticise other peoples brdstung severely
Walking with gentleman one day, he stopped at a
window where a gigantic owl was exhibited. "You
see" said the Doctor to his friend, that there is
magnificent bird utterly ruined by unskllful
stufiing Notice the mounting! Execrable, is MT
itf No living owl ever roasted in that position.
And the eyes are fully third larger than any owl
ever possessed" At this moment the stuffed bird
raised one foot and solemnly blinked at bis critic,
who said very little more about stuffed birds that
afternoon.
Year: 1873

We take great pleasure in saying that the
testimony seems to exculpate Gen. Garfield
completely from any blame in the Credit Mo-
blier scandal. This result may well be made
a subject of sincere congratulation by the
country at large. Gen. Garfield is one of the
most valuable members of the House, and has
been looked to with most regard by earnest
friends of reform. That such man should
have been involved in this disgraceful scan
da1 was bad enough; that he should come out
with skirts clean is what his friends expected
and the country had right to demand.


II the fact that the King of Spain has been
closeted with Marshal SerraDo can be taken
10 indicate that he contemplates returning TO
a Ministry of reaction, it is the worst piece of
news which has recently come from Madrid.
IL the opposition 10 Ruiz ZOrrilla regains.
power it will be on an issue which will make
it impossible to govern Spain with honor or
credit. Ii will mean the triumph of Slavery,
of bigotry, of the rule of the sword instead of
the rule of law. There will be no
moro talk of emancipation. The in
trigues of the barracks tand the Camarilla
viii take the place of open debate. The zor-
rilla Cabinet are now making an effort. whose
Year: 1873

The Rev. Thomas X Beecher is gentleman who
speaks his mind freely and has no fear of digni-
taries in his soul. He was engaged to lecture in
Geneseo n. Y, but the lecture committee sent him


word not to come because of great smallpox panic
in the village Whereupon the Rev Thomas wrote
81 follows: II am amazed that, in this intelligent
nineteenth century, there should be smallpox
panic. If any word of intelligent contempt from me
can be of use to you. please pass the word around
from that cleanly and vaccinated persons are in
no more danger of smallpox than they are of virtue
without etiort The response of the great lecture
committee has not yet come under our observation.
Year: 1873

HIGH ART IN MAssAcHUsErrs.-N
Bedford can claim the championship so
far in modesty. An art dealer, among
his other goods, placed in his window
be found in all the old world galleries,
when a criminal prosecution was entered
against him, and the valiant Marshal
seized the statues. The matter was taken
into the police court, and the Justice
decided that the exhibition of the statue
of Narcissus "manifestly tended to cor
rupt the morals of youth. We advise
our Atheneum authorities to see to it at
once that breeches are put upon the
dying gladiator they so shametully ex.
pose to public view, else some OF on,
virtucus law-enforcers will be raiding on
them.
Year: 1873

WHILE the votes wee beng counted at the
so-called Republican Primary, held here III
Auburn, last Saturday, and it was becoming
evident that one ticket going to have large
majority, we heard promint mt Republican,
whisper to gentleman standing by him. 'Th'
ring have got it by three to one We should
judge from the result of the Convention the
ring had it by about all to nothing
Year: 1873

A FARMER in the valley, informs us that from
n small field of barley, sown on the 9Th of March
and which ha never had but on shower of rain
that amounted to anything, he harvested about
foustet n bushels of good, plump barley to the
acre. That is as good as March barley generally
Yields Earlier soyn grain is better in proper
tion
Year: 1873

:, MNrNo n the upper portion of the county is
nearlv swer for the season Water becoming
scarce, most of the large hydraulic mines have
shut down until next Winter. In some portions
the mines have done we'll considering the short
season of water in other portions the result has
been only moderate.
Year: 1873

The funeral OF Laura Moore. which was
to have taken place yesterday, was post
poned on account Of the uniayorable
weather, until The same hour to-day, when
It win take place from the residence of her
mother, on Commercial avenue between
Ninth and Tenth streets. The young friends
OF the deceased are invited 10 attend.
Year: 1873

RIVER NEws-The mild weather for the
past few days has had the effect to break the
ice in the river to such nh extent As to rer-
der it highly probable that navigation will
be resumed il! 4 very short time.


The Old Dominion steamer Wyanoke will
attempt 4 passage up to-day. Should it
prove successful we may expect the "tow,
which has been hlnckadcd near Drcwry's Bluff
during the late freeze, to arrive here some
time tonight. The schooner Ashland. with
the cargo of coal for the City Gas Works, is
with the tow.


The city tugboat Frank Somers, Captain
Cunningham, was engaged all day yesterday
in clearing the dock and harbor of Ice.
Year: 1873

II vii he seen That none OF these dcn0lnl-
nations except the Mormon and Unitarian
maintain in the last census decade tho rate OF
increase shown in the one prior. The fall
ing of in the case Of the A1ethodistS, the
leading denomination in point Of numbers
in the country, is particularly grea'-as no.
table. in fact, as the rortentous growth of
Mor1nonism. The wealth of the leading de-
Year: 1873

SEEING Is BELIEyING.-lf ladies who do not use
the fragrant SoZoDoNT will compare teeth with
those who do, they VIII see In IN Instant more rea-
SOUS for adopting it than can be composed into q
newspaper paragraph. H.
Year: 1873

Farmers, Mechanics and Laborers Of
Minnesota, to the front Advance! is
the universal order Of the hour, and
the firm, determined tramp, tramp,
tramp Of the toiling masses, who have
hitherto laggedsin the rear, is heard all
over the world in the great onward
march. Shall the 10000 farmers, me-
chanics and ]aborers Of Minnesota fail
to obey the order, or obeying in part
still fail to take their stand in the very
front ranks ? There is no place on the
worlds mighty battle field where the
hosts Of the Monopolists are attacking
the people with greater zeal, determin-
alton and ferocity than in our own
State There is no place on the mighty
line where it is more important that
the enemy should be repulsed, crushed
and routed, foot and dragoon, than
right where we stand. Are we ready
for the work?


The GRANGE ADVANCE will always
be just what it's name indicates. It
will ever be found with the advance
guard and at the head Of the column.
From its pages no uncertain sound will
ever go forth. Based upon eternal
truth and justice, fighting in a right.
eous cause, firmly grounded in the con.
viction Of the greatness and Importance
Of its mission and work, it must and
will prevail.


Let all those who favor the cause of
the toiling millions against oppression
and monopoly: the cause of labor
against extortion and greed, come to our
aid, for we are marching under the
same colors.
Year: 1873

the mental, moral and intellectual ele-
vation Of the masses. being fully con-
vinced that the existence and perpetu-
alton Of a republic form Of government
depends upon the general intelligence
and morality dfthe people


6. It proposes to fight the hydra
headed monster MONOPOLY in what
ever shape, or form, or place it may be
found. No class privileges, no class
legislation, but equality before the law
in all respects is it's motto. -


Z. Finally, it proposes to work
faithfully and work INCREASINGLY for the
advancement and up-building Of the or
der Of the Patrons Of Husbandry, to use
every means at its command to increase
the interest and zeal Of every individual
member, to furnish them with all the
latest news pertaining to the order
throughout the country, to give them
all the latest and best agricultural news,
to post them concerning every hum bug
that we can discover in the land, to fur.
nish them with new songs and music
appropriate for regular meetings, and in
short to be the liveliest, most energetic
and spiciest agricultural paper pub.
lished.
Year: 1873

reported adversely to the road. This,
undoubtedly, seriously impaired the
Of American bond holders,
many of whom have. for some time past
been trying to get rid of their stock.


5. Jay Cooke & Co.; probably the
largest and best known bankers in the
United States, were the most heavily
interested in these stocks, and it was
matter Of immense Importance to them
that the credit of the Company and its
bonds should be maintained. In order,.
therefore, to restore and establish conf
dence, they ostentatiously bought in
the bonds of these timid holders, to
show capitalists they were not afraid Of
these stocks. But the more they
bought, the more they found for sale,
and the more of the bonds they got
upon their hands, the more essential it
was for them to keep up the value.
They had got into fearful current and
were no longer able to control them
selves. They could simply keep on
buying until their money was all gone,
and then in its place lay only heap of
Northern Pacific bonds, almost worth
less.


6. Others, who like them had been
buying up the stocks Of these specula-
tive roads, found themselves in simi-
lar current and were soon, with Cooke
& Co., hurled into the gulf of bankrupt
cy. In this way the panic was set in
motion. People were frightened be-
yond sense or reason. They rushed to
the banks to get out their money, and
in doing this they withdrew it from
circulation. The whole trouble now is
that so much money is lying in mems
pockets, or tucked in corners of bed
ticks for safe keeping, and there will
probably be more money lost in this
way than by the failure of banks


When the panic was once started,
such men as Jay Gould found it to
their interest to keep up the excitement
for they were making the largest por-
tion Of what others were losing.


We see then that this matter has
been brewing for years, and before the
Oranges became, to any extent, inAuen-
tial, and that the crisis was inevitable
if there had never been Grange in
existence.


But amid the difficulties of the hour
we have this consoling reflection. If
any Of these roads must fail, it is better
that it should occur now, than that they
should live on for years extorting from
the poor settlers along their roads every
dollar they can earn to support non-pay-
ing railroads.
Year: 1873

In the course of a very power.
ful article, describing The danger
Gus changes that have been made
IN the government of the United
States since the accession of the
Radical party to power, and the
necessity of preserving inviolate
the writ of liberty commonly
called the habeas corpus, the Pitts.
burg Post makes use Of the follow
ing language:


"The military arm was let
loose upon the people; and with
out information, without warrant,
without authority save the ipSe
di.cit of a Secretary Of State or Of
War, or of single or double
starred General, hundreds of meg
were kidnapped aud incarcerated,
against whom no semblance OF
accusation was ever brought; and
the honest mass of the commu-
nifty were taught to regard it as
"A necessity Of the times There
was no such secessity. There
never can be a necessity to do
wrong. That these were wrong
sul acts-pufe tyrarny-ca can any
further evidence be required than
the expressive fact that az no sol
ltary instance aCaS one Of these
much injured men brought to
trial before a ja.ry Of has country.
To be sure 40 one but weak
helpless woman was ever sent TO
death by one Of those military
courts. Iillegan was condemned
oy another, bat the Supreme
Court rescued him from the fangs
of military tyranny, and it was re-
served to Mrs. Surratt alone to
suffer death, although hel scn-of
whom she was accused Of being
the confederate-was afterwards
tried by a jury and triumphantly
acquitted. In her case the writ
of habeas corpus would have
saved her, had it not been tram
pied in the dirt by the military
power. 1t will save every citizen
from oppression, if left free to
work Its own peculiar service; and
without it there would not be
to-day in this whole country one
solitary free man"
Year: 1873




Keep Il Stiff Upper Lip.
There has something gone wrong,
My brave boy, it appears,
For see the proud struggle
To keep back the tears.
That is right When you cannot
Give trouble the slip,
<Then bear it, still keeping
"a stiff upper lip"
Though you cannot escape
Disappointment and care,
The next best thing TO do
Is TO learn how to bear.
Ifwhen for life's prizes
You're running your trip,
Get up, start again
Keep stiff upper lip"
Let your hand and your conscience
Be honest and clean,
Scorn TO touch or think of
The thing that is mean;
But hold on to the pure
And the right with firm grip.
And though hard be the task,


Keep stiff upper lip"
Through childhood, through manhood
Through lie 10 the end,
Struggle bravely and stand
By your colors, my friend.
Only yield when you must;
Never give up the ship"
But fight on to the last
with stiff upper lip"
Year: 1873

A lady about to marry was
warned that her intended, al
though a good man, was very
eccentric. Well, she said, If
he is very unlike other men, he
is more likely to make a good
husband.