smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873




The inconseQuential result of the Tweed
trial, however disappointing, was not unex-
pected. Certainly it was very clearly fore
shadowed by THE TRIBUNE. We have not
insanely clamored for conviction which we
have always felt the facts fully warranted,
and thus deluded the public with vain hopes
We have not ON the other hand, failed to
warn the people so greatly concerned in this
issue that there was danger of losing It, And
while we have not concealed our suspicious of
the Jurors, we have not failed impartially to
point out the defects of the prosecution. Had
our suspicious of the jurors been more than
doubts of their intelligence and honesty,
they would have found equal emphasis
with our criticism of the blunders of
the prosecution which were patent to
everybody.


Later information regarding the jury not
only strengthens our suspicious of their intel
ligence but makes us wonder how it was pos
sible:to gather such a crew, from all parts ofithe
city, into single jury-box. 1t may be un-
pleasant to them for us to say it, and possibly
policy and politeness alike forbid that we should
say it, but it is nevertheless true that, with
few exceptions, they seem to have been
scraped from the slums 1t appears that three
of them are liquor-dealers, class not usually
credited with too great intelligence or too
much honesty. One was claim agent. On
his mentioning that he was also Custom
house employe, he was greedily caught
at by the prosecution, who, probably, did
not know that he had made him
self busy and obnoxious at Saratoga last
in off IN ha mn had Rar-
nard. One was a denizen of the fifth floor of
a tenement house, who regretted that the con-
clusion of the case robbed him Of his two
dollars day. And one certainly had
been in States Prison, and possibly two
wefe conviictsl The records of the United
States Courts show the Incarceration Of
one in Sing Sing prison; and The accu-
sation against another for cleansing de-
faced stamps is on file. And Of the records
of these men we are assured the prosecution
was well aware before the conclusion Of the
trial. Is the result any longer to be wondered
atf Is it not amazing that in the face of this
knowledge the trial was not interruptedf Is
it any longer singular that under such cir
cumstances of selection of juries the jury
system becomes farce, and justice is laughed
att


We have neither time nor patience to waste
further words on these people. We have had
occasion to comment on the bungling manner
of the inefficient prosecution, and we have
now nothing moro TO add on this point
than that we retract nothing Of what
Sss gone before. The moral of this failure
of the prosecution will probably force itself on
The respot,, hle authorities without suggestion
from ma Mac. ~theless, let them learn this
simple lesson. than an attempt to conduct
yreat trials in court wit little Rings of un-
lodged lawyers 1--WE do NOT l> 'icr 10 mf' ire
main, who was too i'll to do jus., Go 20 NM
elf or tho case) will as surely fbree, oo"h
Year: 1873




1--we cannot credit the rumOr that thus early
the Street-PeyspeRt Rings are again at work
at Albany. We have had enough of their
worthless work in this city and we hope if
legislators have any intention of inficting hny
more worthless patent pavements on any COM
munity of the State, that they will favor such
country towns as clamor for them. The
Metropolis has already wasted too many mil
lions in rotting timbers and sticking plasters
to desire any further legislation of that sort.


For the information of the Legislature and
the warning of property holders, we publish
elsewhere a clear statement of the cost and
condition of the patent pavements laid in this
city. Briefly stated, the cost was enormous, as
compared with that of other pavements, and
their present condition is one of utter worth
lessness. 1t will not only be actually cheaper
to relay entirely with stone the streets where
these patent pavements exist than to repair
the r0tting places, but the relaid pavement
will last three or four times as long as the re-
paired pavement This calculation, which
seems correct, ought to be enough to condemn
the patents perpetually.


There are some streets where, it is urged by
residents, the wooden, concrete, and asphalt
payements are desirable. Possibly, if there is
little or no traffic there. In that case let them
be laid and repaired at the expense of the
residents desiring them. But on the main pub
Year: 1873

There is a clever article in The CornhiU Mag
azine for this month, which has had the effect
of making our women and their m0desty, or
rather their lack of it, the subject for sharp
remark just new by the London press. The
article was evidently by magazine writer who
has made long enough stay in this country
to observe the surface peculiarities of our So
ccial life, and to serve them up i'll dishes of
gossip more or less savory for English readers
The descriptions are meant to be fair. The
stock part of the Sam Slick Yankee, never
seen in America except in an English play, is
therefore not reproduced, the writer not having
apparently such relish for the worn-out bur-
lesque as Mr.. Forster and his friend Dickens.
who found five of these mythical creatures
loose on the high seas with their "Ef l aint
"blarmed," and 81 do expectuate," &c. This wri-
ter however, reminds us of that cOuntryman
of his who, notebook in hand, landed at the
,Cove of Cork in May to be met by snow
storm and quarrel with drunken restaurant
keeper. He left the country in half an hour
to write book on it, which stated sthat sit
dsnows all Summer in Ireland, and all the
"Irish women wear yellow gowns and have
"groggy nosesp


The OornhH writer has apparently stopped
at the Fifth Avenue or Continental Hotel and
surveyed the rest of the country sn tip-toe
from that coign of vantage taking the man
ners and customs of their parlOrs as the
social life of the United States.r The free
dom of intercourse allowed between our young
men and women is for the hundredth time
contrasted with the system of chaperonage in
France and England this is the point, in fact
which has called out 80 many criticisms from
the English papers. We have a word or two
to say in answer. 1t is quite true that in all
parts of the country unmarried men and young
girls in respectable society walk, talk, and
even go to balls and the opera together un-
Year: 1873

One of the causes Of the Alabama quarrel is
contested seat in the State Senate Mr.
Martin is the Democratic claimant, and Mr..
Miller the Republican. The committee on the
case brought in two reports, the majority be-
ing in favor of Martin, and the minority of
Miller. Both admit that Martin had a ma
jority of all the votes cast; but the Re-
publican majority insist that one precinct
should be thrown out on account of infOr-
mality. 1t so happens that the President
of the Senate is a Republican, and when,
for the purpose of moving reconsideration,
the minority report was substituted for that of
the majority, he declared that that action gave
Miller, the Republican, his seat though neither
report contained anything to that effect A
motion to reconsider was denied; an appeal
from the decision of the Chair was treated in
the same way, and so Miller was sworn in on
the mere ruling of the Lieutenant Governor.
1t is hardly necessary to add that all these
violent proceedings, which nearly precipitated
a fight, are designed to send another hopeful
candidate to the United States Senate.
Year: 1873

Lie thoroughfaros, In which tho whole city is
interested, plastering and Notwithstanding
will not answer The paving of these streets
is a matter which directly concerns all prop
erty holders, residents, and visitors, and the
whole Metropolis protests against any substl-
tute for stone yet discovered. A few of the
side streets may be devoted to pleasure at the
expense of the residents who enjoy the noise
less wooden and the smooth concrete surfaces; (;
the main thoroughfares are for business, and
it is neither business nor economy to be ex-
perimeuting with untried patents at immense
public cost
Year: 1873

If the conduct of the officers of the vessel
which cut down the emigrant ship Northfeet,
in the English Channel. was heartless and bru-
tai, their running away from Portuguese
port to escape arrest was most cowardly. 1t
turns out that the steamer that ran into the
Northheet was the MurillO, bound to Lisbon.
The officers must have known what fearful
loss of life they had caused, but they kept on
their course without offering any assistance.
The news of their crime anticipated their ar
rival at Lisbon, and, warned from shore, they
put to sea again. and made for Spanish port,
since they cannot be reached there by any
requisition under British extradition treaty
Under these circumstances it Is not satisfac-
tory to learn that the officers of the Murillo
will be examined at Cadiz. There ought to be
a law of civilized nations covering all the high
ways of the sea, providing for the punishment
of such crime as that alleged against these
men.
Year: 1873

The Senate Committee in charge of the
Harlem Courthouse investigation use strong
language in their report. 1t is briefly said
that the whole business was conceived in
" fraud and carried out in inquity," which is
slightly scrptural as well as strictly true.
The whole fraud is probably one of the bOldest
of those committed by the Ring. 1t was
stealing a great public building
Year: 1873

Some information, or something of sugges-
ton for legislators may be found in the Opin-
ions of prominent persons on the Charter
which we publish on the fifth page. The
opinions are various in import, but they may
help wavering Legislators to decision.
Year: 1873

There is a CLEAN of light in the Louisiana
political chaos. 1t is thought that enough
candidates for the Legislature to form con-
stitutional quorum have received the indorse-
ment of both Returning Boards. If this is the
fact, Just solution of the difficulty is posi-
bic. The organization of such quorum OF
the State Legislature would give certain
legal nucleus around which State Govern
ment worthy the name might form. We can
not guess where acting Gov. Kellogg and So
called Senator Pinchback would fall in case
such a new beginning were made; but the
country would generally accept any result
from the Legislature.
Year: 1873

Something of the style with which the affairs
of the Union Pacific Railroad Company have
bean managed was shown in the testimony given
yesterday as to the fee paid Gen. Dix. When
that gentleman was Minister to France the
Union Pacific managers gave him $4,000 for
his desired influence in the sale of their bonds


The exact amount of this piece of extrava-
gance has been covered up heretofore, although
the fact that Gen. Dix was so retained by the
Company was long ago stated in TIE TRIBUNE.
Year: 1873

On receiving the announcement by cable of
the selection of Count Won Room as Minister
President of Prussia, we expressed our belief
that this appointment indicated a reactionary
policy on the part of the Government of that
country. The letter from our Berlin corre-
spondent, published on the third page, tends
to confirm this impression. The utmost, how
ever, that reactiOnary Government can do
is TO retard progress COR time; the adVan-
Year: 1873

The Seventh Regiment. New-York State


Militia, in their memorial to the Legislature,
applying for an armory site in this city, make
up brilliant and usefal record of their ser
vices. The famous regiment has done duty on
special and pressing occasions from 1925 TO
1873; men, officers, and citizens may well be
proud of such roll. But for all that, we
have too few breathing places in the city to
feel able to give the gallant Seventh slice OF
the Reservoir Park on which to put their ar
mory. Our people would like to oblige the
regiment; but, really, this is asking too much.
Year: 1873

sculpture, IN the form Of a trophy or arms, sur
mounting the saliyport gate on the eastern face
prisoner SON confined on the island many years since
The ordnance yard is TO the east OF the fort and
contains large amount OF old armament, among
which are some oil the


OLD BRASS DOGS OF WAR


that barked vlctoriously over the fields OF Palo
Alto, Buena VISTA Churubusco, Contreras and
toward the South Battery, a bastion mounting nine
guns and commanding Buttermilk Channel and
Duncan's famous battery, bronzed and SCARED
by and service In Mexico, and still looking as
for another brush. Alter examining the hospital
quarters, chapel and barracks and the progress
OF construction OF the sea wall on the south side'
hall an hour was spent In witnessing the evolu-
tions OF the garrison In detachment drill, under
command OF the drill sergeanfs Their efficiency
was worthy OF commendation, but the noticeable
feature OF the parade was the ane physique oil tho
men, who, II those on drill yesterday are fair
average specimens, are much superior to the rank
and file of the best European regiments OF the
line. MAJOR Roy stated that the utmost care Is
exercised In the acceptance OF recruits at present.
in order to keep up. and II possible elevate.


THE MORALE OF THE ARMY,


quality being the desideratum more than quantity.
the party t returned to the CITY We'll pleased with
their visit. Generals Sweeney and Lowell both
served in the Mexican war: The latter-oficer was
service, but is one OF those gentlemen who .sacted
upon honest conviction then, believes the war is
over now and thinks the sooner the gull Is brtdged
by oblivion the better for the nation.n


Governors Island has territorial area OF about
seventy-fve acres, has total armament in posi-
tion OF about 100 guns OF all caliDres is garrsoned
at present by nearly 800 men ana Is the principal
recruiting depot In this department..


One of the cottages on the south side or the
island is occupied by Lieutenant Moore, q soldier
who has served sixIy-one years in the army OF the
United States. He entered a drummer or fifer,
and became fife major At the close OF over half
a century OF service the government generously
raised him to the rank OF second lieutenant and
placed him on the retired list, thus placing him
above want In his declining wears. He is
rounded by family OF children and grand chill
dren, ana awaits patiently the last tattoo,
Year: 1873

A letter from Havana says the people
there would refuse 10 allow any order
from Madrid to deliver up the Virglnius,
or make either reparation for her seizure
and the execution of herscrew tosbe car
Year: 1873

REPAIRS To A PpE.-The water pipe on sixth
street. between Market aud King, was furnished
with two new stops, last evening. While the
work was being done. the water on the eastern
portion OF the city, was stopped off. m.
Year: 1873

the snowy day. In places where trade has
been steady ior years saving has been one OF
the great objects with the majority. Hence,
If the saving institutions preserve their
solvency the want will not be so widespread.
Despite the gloomy outlook for the
present let it be carefully borne in
mind that the country was never actually SO
prosperous. so powerful and SO energetic as
now. The brain, muscle and solid wsalth are
here as they were month ags, with only the
means Of exchange momentarily lacking. We
admit that this fact alone is severe COM
mentary on our financial system, but it Is too
trfling to cause any permanent injury. we
shall come out of the panic with the froth blown
off our finance and mono but the foam COM
panies missing. For whatever want or DIS
tress may be produced the nation is rich
enough to provide when it reaches the poor
man that tolls for his daily bread. 1t Is, how
ever, necessary to see to this at once.
Year: 1873

More advice than assistance will be given
this winter but, unfortunately, people can
not dine on good counsel, and the human
stomach refuses to digest chunks of wisdom.
A family that has not had fire for week
had rather have half ton of coal than a
whole sermon of common sense. Perhaps it
is an approach to platitude thus to insist upon
what is so evident but it must be remem-
bered that the majority Of those who are COM
fortably off behave as though the reverse of
these propositions were true. To-day the pull
pits throughout the land will probably TEEN
with good advice, delivered in generalities.
Dives will be reminded that 'sThe poor We
informed, in very ingenious and roundabout
manner, that if he is virtuous he will be cor
respondingly happy. Perhaps the vagueness
Of these injunctions and condolements springs
from the difficulty that is felt when one faces the
task of alleviating, with limited resources.
the sufferings of a large number Of people.
But, like almost every other difficulty, il
grows smaller when wise and strong attempt
is made to remove it, The duty Of ministers





at present is not SO much to enjoin spiritual
distractions as to devise instant means for
giving practical relief to the poor of their
congregations and the duty Of the respec-
tive congregations is to form instantaneous
and hearty copartnerships with their pastors,
instead Of frittering their souls and their time
in sort Of spiritual voluptuousness which
contemplates the reward Of heaven as the
chief incitement toward intending to begin to
do good on earth. In practical work Of the
kind we propose all creeds can join with equal
zeal People who are starving are incapable
of caring much for the salvation Of their
souls. 1t is their bodies they would keep from
the hell Of hunger. Only those sinners can be
counted upon coming to the fold who
have enough to eat and keep them warm.
Famine and spiritual introspection do not
make their home in one and the same person.
The man who lives upon crust because he
cannot get more is not apt to trouble himself
about the sin against the Holy Ghost. We
have no desire to underrate the excellent in
tentioGs of the ministry, as class, or the
Year: 1873




viduals, but of congregations but the ardor
of the one is too apt 10 have an exclusively
spiritual bias and that Of the other to evapo-
rate for want of good leaders and practical or
ganization.


At this hour there must be in New York
hundreds of families who, in a peculiar sense
may be said to deserve aid. They belong to
the class of people who have become reduced
through no fault Of their own, and whom
pride or sensitiveness prevents making their
want known in quarters where, perhaps, it
might be relieved. If this pride or sensitiveness
is foolish the foolishness has trait of moral
beauty in it which few of MS will refuse to ad-
mire. Such people are the ones to suffer the
most in times like the present. They drop
silently from the places which used to know
them, and vanish like the autumn leaf, borne
out Of sight by the stream on whose surface it
has fallen. Their silence is according to the
intensity with which they suffer. We will not
undertake to decide how large proportion
such people constitute but the number must
be large. These and all kindred cases pecu-





when they are reached it is difficult to offer
assistance so as not TO wound But these are
instances which the public charities have no
cognizance of, and which therefore have special
claims upon the Church. We repeat, then,
that the times demand, not rhetorical sermons
on the general duty Of charity, but congresa-
tional organization for practical relief. 1t is
next to useless to remind fashionably dressed
congregation that 'He that giveth to the poor
lendeth to the Lord" for no one In such q
congregation believes that he will ever get it
back. 1t is q waste of time to inform the rich
man that if "He cast his bread upon the wa
ters it will return to him after many days"
He is not willing to wait If congregations
are going to be charitable it is the ministers
who must stir them up, and the quickest way
to do this is by means Of practical PROPOSE
tions followed by immediate action.


Let there be. then, the true leaven Of char
ity in to-day's sermons, not the mere SEM
blance of the first of Christian virtues. Each
clergyman, when he ascends the pulpit, should
bear in mind the dire necessity of the present
COuuluOu OI uuuCreuS VI LIS
and he must be prepared, if he desire
to do his duty rs a true minister
of the Gospel to suggest practical methods by
which much suffering may be alleviated
Church committees can also do great deal of
good in instituting delicate inquiries into the
financial state Of certain families belonging to
the church, who may have to endure great
hardships during the winter, and who will,
through pride, show no sign until the grim
destroyer sets his seal upon them. 1t is idle
to speak in glittering generalities on the
subject of charity such course must un-
doubtedly fail to unloose the purse strings Of
the wealthy. The spirit which animated
sanitary commissions during the war and
relief funds after the Chicago disaster should
be now fully awakened, and practical sermons
in the pulpit to-day can do much towards
warding off terrible suffering in many families.
Never before in this country was there such
need Of such assistance.
Year: 1873

The effects of the panic on labor are every
where felt in this and the neighboring cities,
while in the centres Of special branches Of
manufacture production is either at stand
still or brought down to very low rate


With some Of the trades, as for instance


building, the winter season is always dull
and hence it may be expected that, in great
many cases, something has been boarded for
Year: 1873

Captain John Pharr, of tho steamboat
Flora. we learn from the VermiliOnyille
Cotton Boil, has gone to work to remove the
Instructions in Bayou Vermiion. Instead
Of waiting for the government to remove
the remaining distractions to navigation,
he is engaged in that work him self, so that
when the busy fall trade sets in, he viii
have clear sailing" Instead of lying idle
in Bcashear City one or two days each week
he spends that time in Bayou Vermilion.
keeping mis- whole force hard at work pull
ing out all old logs and stumps he can find,
cutting Oft overhanging limbs which Cap
tain Forgy left when the government ap-
preparation gave out.


Captain Pharr deserves great credit for
the work he il. doing, and it is to be hoped
tie increased trade along the bayou will
compensate him for his enterprise.
Year: 1873

A bill has been introduced
in the South Carolina Legisla-
ture to incorporate the New
berry Cotton Mills. The capi-
tai stock of the company is
fixed at 100000, with author
ity to commence business when
100000 shall have been SUBJ
scribed and 500 per share paid
in, and the business of the COM
pany is declared to be the man
ufacuring, dyeing, printing and
finishing all goods Of which cot
ton, wool, or any fibrous article
may form a part, as well as all
machinery used for such pur-
poses, and for the transaction
of such business as may be
necessarily connected there
with, and the erection of such
mills and other works as may
be required to carry on such
branches of manufacture. The
bill also provides that the COM
pany shall be exempt from
State and county taxation for
ten years.
Year: 1873

If you have failed for this
life, do not fail for the other too.
There is very much that may
yet be done, even in the after
noon and twilight of mems lives,
if they are hopeful and active.
When one of my Norway spruce
es died from the rude handling
of last winter, instead ofrooting
it up and throwing it away, |
let the ampelopsis take posses
sion of it, and it grew up rapid
ly through all the branches Of
the tree, and covered its top
with leaves. And in the au-
tumn, these leaves, which had
been green before, were all
changed to a brilliant crimson;
and the tree in its own life was
not half so beautiful as it was
when covered by this vine, clad :
with all the colors of the setting
sun.


Are you like an old tree that
is dead, and has dropped all ito
foliage, and stands with its
trunk and branches bare? let
faith and love cover you over,
and you will be more comely
and more useful standing cloth
ed'in such garniture than you
were clad in all your former
strength.


Be patient old man. Be pa
tient mother. Be patient,
widow. Be patient, you that
are impoverished. Be patient,
men that are scarcely thought
of, and are treading lower and
lower. God thinks of you.