smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1872

HON SI1IEL1 AND nun ObAhD.


IF the gentlemen who recently met at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel in this city to consider
the political situation had come to different
conclusion, it is certain that the Wilson and
Grant Journals would have spoken of them
more respectfully; but since the announce
ment of the result of the Conference 1t Is
astonishing to read the comments upon their
character made by the Administration news
papers. They are called soreheads," and
they are also called sorehearts." Their dis
cussion is stigmatized as " five hours of use
"less talking" They are " factious leaders OF
81 the opposition" 1t was ga sad meeting.
"wthout a particle of significance" This Is
the usual style in which the Treasury news
papers comment upon all men who do not be-
lieve the President TO be perfection. All the
honesty and honor the talent and ability, the
wisdom and Intelligence, the patriotism and the
enthusiasm of the age and cline are cOncen-
trated in the Philadelphia party! Such
beautiful account of this thrice happy organ
ization as we have just been reading in Re-
nomination newspaper would make us think the
political millennium close at hand-lf we be-
lieved one word of it. 1t is too good. 1t is
too delicious. Thrilling is no word for it.


"How stately and how grand" exclaims this
epical journalist, is the tread of the host
(which stands by the flag in the hands OF our
"soldier Presidentw There are "no jars
"among them, no confusion, no disappolnt-
"ments, no reentments to quarrel over, no
"revenges to satisfy; all is peace, unity, har-
"monyp ~ Then the opposing army is torn
"and distracted into paltry clans, each bent
"on the Others destruction" Now, it cannot
be denied that this is the hight of fine Ian
guage; but the pity of it is that not word
of it is true. II ever there was party pre-
senting an appearance not in the least stately
"and grand,n it is the Grant party, whistling
in this bravura style to keep up its courage,
and badly frightened in spite OF all ITS Whls-
Ting Only yesterday it was invincible, ana
it cannot comprehend why it should not be
invincible to-day Has it not the Presl-
dent Has it not the Post-06ices Has
il not the Custom-houses, the swarms of Office
holders of every name and kind What need
of other voters, if it only keeps on It's side
the voters directly in its payi Why should MT
all be "peace, unity, and harmony" when the
biggest splt in this generation has just taken
place. and all the disgusted and the dissatisfied
have betaken themselves to other quarters and
arranged themselves under another banner I
If the Grant army is MT harmonious, it prob
ably will be; for. if things continue to go on
as at present, there will hardly be enough of
it left in thirty days for good earnest intes-
tine broil


The truth is the Grant party is running just
now upon its rhetoric, which is MT of a very
good kind either. 1t is beautiful to say; " How
stately and grand is the tread of the host
(which stands by the flag in the hands of our
Soldier President !r--but what does it mean
How is q host TO tread and stand at the
Year: 1872

reported but here is his argument as we find
it; In regard to the Presidents acceptance
" of presents the speaker referred to the act
" of the English Government heaping honors
/" and gifts upOn the Duke of Wellington as a
"precedentm ~ If this be sufficient excuse,
then we claim that Gen. Grant has been most
shabbily treated. He should have been made
Prince, Duke, Earl Baron, and Baronet. He
should have received from the country an
enormous pension and handsome landed
estate, If Judge HOar can see no moral diff
ference between hOnOrs and emouments be-
slowed by grateful Government and the do
nations of private individuals, With personal
ends in view, he had better buy a new pair
of spectacles. Those which he now wears arc
certainly playing him optical tricks.


After Messrs. Rice and HOaT, with one or
two insignificant speeches between, came Cen
Benjamin F.. Butler, who, if we may credit
the meager reports which reach us, made
what we are bound TO consider the most
appropriate as well as significant speech OF
the evening. The telegram says that Gen.
Butler denounced Civil Service Reform
proposition to raise an Office holding arls-
"tOcracy" This must have been painful to



audience that Gen. Grant had "labored for
"Civil Service Reform, and had been
"bafled at every point by Congress
Gen. Butler understands the President
better than Judge Hoar does. The kind of
Civil Service Reform which put Brother Casey
into office and has kept him there in spite of tho
indignant remonstrances of men of all parties
the kind which rewarded with the Galveston
Post Office the swindler whom Congress turned
out as an arrant fraud the moment his case
was forced to a hearing-the kind which
bought the President of the Philadelphia Con-
ventiOn with ten thousand dollar pay
ment of salary as Foreign Minister, with
out requiring him to leave North Carolina
to discharge its duties-is not the kind
which Gen. Butler denounces. The real
reform which Gen. Grant has studiOusly
neglected, and against which he has exercised
whatever influence he possessed in Congress,
is the sort which is abhorTent to the soul of
Gen. Butler. What Judge HOar meant by
saying that the President, though he bas
sometimes appointed relatives and friends to
"oflice, has labored for Civil Service Reform"
is more than we know, and probably moro
than he knows himself.


But enough of the Boston lp-and-lmee
service at present. The most amusing feature
of it, after all, was a promise by John w.
Geary of 10000 majority for Grant in Penn
sylvania As the gentleman might just as
well have claimed 10000 while he was about
it, we hereby tender him our best bthanks for
his moderation
Year: 1872

of the Canals. In all probability,
Commodore Vanderbilt, if he owned them,
could have everything done that Is needful
for their efficiency for one-haif what the State
pays for keeping them in a state of inefiiclency'
Our superintendents and contractors are con-
stantly doing the things which they ought not
to do, and leaving undone the things which
they ought to have done, and there Is no
health in them But in this article we IN
tend to be thoroughly practical, and therefore
we cannot indulge in any hopes ourselves, or
inspire any hopes in others, of reform in
Canal management. We shall not attempt to
solve q problem which has defed the State
Government for half a century. Could some
way be found to divorce the Canals from
politics, the prospect for Improvement would
be better. AS it is, such are the connections
of the great Canal men with all parties that,
no matter which one is in power, fraud and
extravaganza prevail all the same in Canal
matters.


The only way left, and the only practca-
BILE plan, to get rid of the heavy Canal tax is
to sell, give away, or fill up, the nOn-paying
lateral Canals; to get the State Constitution
amended so soon as possible to allow them to
be sold, and meanwhile to draw off the water,
and not spend another dollar for lock-tenders,
toll-gatherers, or repairs along those solitary
bitches of stagnant water. The Erie and
Champlsin Canals pay expenses, even now
The OsWego Canal contributes something to
the Erie; but all the others cost the State
about twenty times as much as they bring in
We have compiled from the Auditors Finan-
cial Reports the following table of receipts and
expenditures of the lateral Canals for the years
ended September 80, 1871 and 1870, respectively
Nothing is included for interest on the Canal
debt, though nothing is more certain than that
the Canal debt would long before this have
been extinguished, had the State never been
guilty of the folly of constructing these lateral
Canals:
Year: 1872

peremptorily forbidding an armed parade. IL IL
well enough known that we do not think
well of the policy of keeping up, in this coun-
try, demonstrations which are mainly the
sign of an old-world hate 1t is as well
known that we and all 'good citizens
have demanded equal rights for all in this
matter of street professions; and have NAM
tanned the right of the Orangemen, under such
circumstances as those of last year, to the
protection, if need be, of the whole armed
force of the State But it is one thing to IN
sist on the exercise of a right when it has been
illegally resisted it is another thing to attempt
it illegally, and with such defiance as to pro-
woke bloodshed. Let us have little modera-
ton on both sides in this matter "a compre-
henson of the situation by the police and an
early determination on some line OF policy
about IL.
Year: 1872

There are now some indications that the
men engaged in many of the Eight-IlOur or
ganizations are seriously considering the cost


Of their determined demonstration. The loss
IN wages and time, 30 which must be added
much indirect damage, when carefully summed
up and scanned, naturally gives pause TO
tboIs who are bent on standing out iRdcG-
Year: 1872




FORMED THE CANALS.


No charge against the late Democratic State
Administration was more general or effective
than that concerning its extravagant manage
ment of the Canals. A Republican govern
ment, we were told, would reform all that, and
to the last Legislature we were specially
hidden to look for the reforms. Well
what are they We were taxing the
people something like two millions year
for running the Canals before we are taxing
the people something like two millions
a yeaI for running the Canals now. None of
the reforms which were promised concerning
them have been secured We are still taxing
ourselves heavily for the Canals, and doing
nothing toward finding a way out of it. Is
this needful9 We do not now urge the ques-
ton whether the Canals cannot be made to,
pay expenses by raising the tolls to the level
at which they stood in 1869. Many grave
popular objections to this have been preferred !;
1t is certain that the competition of the
Canadian Canals has become formidable, and
more certain that the ipreemnence of New
York as shipping port for Western grain
and other produce is seriously threatened.


But certainly there might have been
secured more economical management
Year: 1872

same timei Yet it is by this kind Of stuff
that the denomination ready-writers expect to
beat the Cincinnati candidates. 1t would fail
even if they knew how to manufacture it.
but they are not good even at grinding out
Year: 1872

The review of the Fifth Avenue Conference,
reproduced on our second page from The Hart
ford Post, will command general attention from
its transparent fairness, not less than because
it comes from an ardent Revenue Reformer,
whose cordial personal sympathy with the dis
appointed New-Yor squad only makes clearer
his perception of the utterly chimerical ma
ture of their schemes.
Year: 1872

Examination into the causes of the dreadful
explosion in Liberty-st., last Saturday, shows
that highly inflammable and volatile spirits
were stored in the burned warehouse. These
were in carboys, packed in straw, in small
hot loft and all of the conditions favorable
to spontaneous combustion were scrupulously
observed. Somebody was clearly to blame for
the catastrophe which manned twenty suffer
ing men, Who was it
Year: 1872

Judge Tappen of the Supreme Court OF
Kings County has given an important and
strong decision concerning the law of injunc-
tions against corporations. So many stock
jobbing lawsuits have been brought against
companies, and, by the cOnnivance of corrupt
Judges, have done incalculable injury to
property in stocks, the decision will be
received as a healthy sign in commercial law.
In the case of Henry n. Smith and Others
(and aliases) against the Pacific Mail Steam
ship Company Judge Tappen holds, substan-
TALLY, that an injunction which might destroy
corporate property is not an appropriate
remedy for alleged grievances of complainants.
They have other legal remedies, but not at
the expense of stockholders.
Year: 1872

Thus far, ten men only have been permitted
to 60 upon the jury which is to try Stokes for
the murder of Jas. Fisk, jr. The last panel
of one hundredlhas been exhausted, and the
Court is now patiently waiting for few men
who have not seen the infamous BLACK Fri
"day" play nor read the newspapers with
much intelligence. Nevertheless, the business
of obtaining jurors is little less farcical than
formerly.
Year: 1872

The rule or ruin clique" make the
silly pretense that CAMDEN was not
fairly nominated at Parkersburg; but
they have not the supreme impudence
to claim that the nomination Of the
Onio county Democratic ticket was not
fairly male, yet they refuse to support
it 10 their papers. This exhibits in a
glaring light, their base hypocracy.
Year: 1872

A few persons object to the new Con-
stiIutjon because they do not like the
County Court system. But the new
Constitution don't establish the County
Court system. 1t leaves each county
to determine the character Of its own
local government. But eve the Cou nty
Court proposed for such counties as do
not act for themselves is not the old
County Court. This is elective by the
people; the other was selfperpetuating.
Year: 1872

As We predicted, no responsible per-
son has denied that JACOBS declination
ia in the hands of the Rule or Ruin
CLIQUE Of this county, to be used as
these people see fit. When will they
let it see the light?
Year: 1872

Has a single Democratic County Con-
vention in this State declared for JACOB
for Governor


Not one. The whole thing is the
Joint concoction of the GRANT factor
and his own little military ring.
Year: 1872




Gentlemen and Fllow- Citizens If l
have DELAYED answering your commu-
nication Of July llth, which was duly
placed in my hands by your committee,
it is not because the proper course for
you seemed doubtful, but because |
wished to reflect upon it and be aided
by information. Since then / have
carefully considered the. inquiries you
have addressed me, and listened to
much on both sides, tut my best judg-
ment is in harmony with my early con-
victions. | am touched by the appeal
you make. 1t is true am friend Of
your race, and am glad to be assured
that in your opinion have held con.
slant course in the Senate and else
where as the special advocate Of your
rights. That course, by the blessing OF
God, mean to hold so long as life lasts:
| know your infinite wrongs and feel
for them as my own. You only do me
simple justice when you add belief
that my counsel at this critical juncture
CT your citizenship would be free from
personal feelings and partisan prejudice.
In answering your inquiries can have
no feeling except for your good, which
most anxiously seek, nor can any
prejudice of any kind be allowed to in
terfere. The occasion is too solemn.
Especially is there no room for personal
feeling or partisan prejudice. No man
or party can expect power except fol
general welfare. Therefore, they must
be brought to a standard Of truth thai
they may be seen in life and act. You
are right in saying that the choice for
the Presidency is now narrowed down
to President


GRANT OR HORACE GREELEY.


Ons OF these is to be taken, and assum
ing my acquaintance with both, and
my observation Of their lives. you invite
my good judgment between them,
asking me especially which of the two,
Judging from their antecedents, as well
as present position, would enforce the
Constitution aud laws, securing your
civil and political rights with the most
heartfelt sympathy and greatest vigor.
Here l remark that in this inquiry you
naturally put your rights in the fore
ground. So do l, believing most sin
cerely that the best interests Of the
whole country are associated with the
completest recognition Of your rights
30 that the two races shall live together
in unbroken harmony. l also remark
that YOU call attention 10 two things -
the antecedents OF the two caudi'
dates" and, secondly, their present
position" You wish to know from
these which gives assurance Of the
most heartfelt sympathy and greatest
vigor in the maintenance OF your
rights. In other words, which, judging
from the past, will be your trues'
friend.


The communication with which you
have honored me is not alone. Colored
fellow-citizens in other parts Of the
country. may say ia nearly every part
of the Union, have made similar re.
quest, and some complain that | have
thus far kept silent. am not insensi
BILE to this appeal. but if my opinion ii
given it must be candidly, according u
my conscience. In this spirit answer
your inquiries, beginning with the


ANrrcKDESrs OF THE TWO CANDIDATES
Horace Greeley was born to povert,.
and educated himself in printing OF
Year: 1872

The World is rather lukewarm in its
eulogy Of Summers letter, styling it an
electioneering document, but SAYS that
aside from the topic which he addresses
Immediately to the negroes, Sumner is
very able and cogent, and cannot fail 10
make a deep impression. His eulogy
Of Greeley is perhaps overstrong. but
his arraignment OF Grant is as strictly
truthful as it is terrible and scathing.
Year: 1872

The ruins OF the fire at Hunters
Point are still burning, but the fire is
now confined to its original boundary,
aud no further damage is anticipated.
The latest advices place the total loss
at half million. The insurances are
not yet known.
Year: 1872

The Tribune and Star consider the
arguments set forth in the letter a.
being clear and full and that they must
have their effect. The Tribune says
Summers letter is a strong argument in
the cause for which he has labored for
80 many years; that it is scholarly
production, and. more than this. it is an
unanswerahle thesia
Year: 1872

From Every Evening Greeley.l
The first dispatch sent to the Associated Press
from this city concerning the recent election
was, il not purposely false, at least needessly
Inaccurate
Year: 1872

Some men indulge in untruth unwittingly,
others because it 10 convenient, and some be-
cause an unfortunate nature impels them to
adopt falsehood rather than truth. OF this
class is the Republican, local paragraphist. Tell.
ing an un ruth with hin Is what Dickens would
call "w akness." As to the statement made
by US laa; week lacking the element OF
truth" we are prepared to give names, which is
more than the Republican can do. The attempt
Of this precious quill driver to hush up the dis.
graceful conduct he endeavors to palliate, but
cannot deny, by enjoining silence upon us, ia
too thin to wash. Like his own falsehoods, it
is transparent to every body but himself;
Year: 1872

Ho FOR the FAIR GROUNDS Track laying
on the railroad from the Burlington depot, on
Walker street, in this city, to the fair grounds,
commenced on Wednesday, and will be prosecu.
ted with vigor to completion. The route is from
the depot two blocks northward, then west to q
point beyond the German Catholic Church, and
thence the course will be southwest with as few
angles as possible to the fair ground, approach.
ing the main gate from the north, west of Peter
Claus place. .....
Year: 1872

In a few days the new penny postal cards will
be issued, in the use Of which great brevity in
writing will be essential. With the view of
meeting this want small, cheap manual, emit.
tied the Phonographic Letter Writer, by Geo.
s. Dyer, has been published, which must prove
avaiing themselves of the new postal conven-
fence. As an evidence of the expected useful.
ness of the work it may be added that 5000
copie. have been subscribed for it in advance.
Mr.. Dyer proposes in his method to reduce the
actual labor in daily correspondence to fully
sixth IN space and time over the ordinary long
hand system.
Year: 1872

THE TEST LIQUOR CAsE.-Another step has
been made in the test liquor case Of People VS.
Streeter, to which allusion has already been
made IN these columns. A pro t0,nsa judgment
hay:ag been rendered in the Circuit Court
agaiasr the defendant, the case has been carried
to the Supreme Court by filing the record. The
brief will be also filed by the first day of the
next term of the court, SO that it is expected to
gain speedy settlement, one way or the other,
of the constitutionslity of the new liquor law.
Year: 1872

The Msgseiles people take boat rides In very
queer ways. The Adcert,ser says "Some of the
sons and daughters of Marseilles, while enjoying
with an unpleasant accident, occasioned by their
stesd making q sudden start, which upset the
back sea. and unceremoniously unloaded two
young ladies into the road" A boat ride Oh the
road Is a novelty to be made note of.
Year: 1872

We regret to have to record the continued and
serious sickness OF DR.. Paul. Some weeks ago
the Doctor went east for lengthy tour in search
Of health and pleasure, but while away he be.
came much worse and was obliged to curtail his
travels. aud the journey, so far from resuscita.
ting him, seems to have done him injury. His
numerous friends in this city and vicinity regret
DR.. Paul's illness and express the hope that he
may speedily recover.
Year: 1872

The numerous boxes that have been received
at Child Bro & Phipp.' lately came full Of bran
new goods. They have heavy stock Of boots
and shoes at present aud this is good time to
buy.
Year: 1872

II il hoped that it will not be necessary to
wait until the public sensbility is again out
ragged and shocked by tho discovery of
now crimes, to procure the enactment
of laws which shall adequately punish
tho professional abOrtiOnist. The fact
that this nefariOus business is more or
loss openly practiccd in this city, in spite of
existing laws, ought to draw the attention of
humane Legislators to the subject, without
more discussion. 1t is pretty well understood
that the law is not sufficiently clear nor sufli-
ciently drastic in its penalties, or the murder
ous quacks who now advertise their trade and
carry it on with impunity would not be so
numerous and brazen. Here and there few
conspicuous and reckless wretches like Wolff,
Lookup, and ROscnzweig, fall into the meshes
of the law, and are punished, but the greater
proportion of the craft live and thrive securely
upon their abOminable business; and their ad-
vertisemcnts are daily published in the columns
of unprincipled and avaricious newspapers. 1t
is pretty plain that something should be done
to terrify these malpracttioneIs.


An examination of existing laws shows, as
we have intimated, that the statute relating
to criminal abortion and its punishment is not
sufficiently explicit in its specifications, or Sc
we're enough in it's penalty. 1t is provided that
the willful killing Of an unborn "quick"
child by any injury to the mother, which
would be murder if it resulted in the
death of such mother, shall be deemed
manslaughter in the first degree And that
any woman who shall solicit of any person
any medicine or drug, and shall take the same.
or shall submit to any operation with intent
thereby to procure a miscarriage, shall be
deemed guilty of misdemeanor and be so
punished. 1t is further provided that
any person who shall administer or
prescribe for any woman any drug or
other substance, or use any instrument or
other means, with intent to procure mis-
carriage, "unless the same shall have been
necessary to preserve her life" shall. in case
of the death of the woman or the child, be
deemed guilty of manslaughter in the second
degree. The supplying of drugs, instruments,
etc, for this unlawful purpose, is also speci-
fed to be an Oifense punishable by fine or
imprisonment.


not justify the procurement of miscarriage,
except when necessary to save the life of the
mother; whereas experienced medical men
know that the movements of nature may be
anticipated or fastened in order to save
tho life of the child also. The law should
provide for both contingencies. The oilense
is declared to be mansaughter in the second
degree, which, under our statutory enactments,
is punishable with an imprisonment of seven
years, at the extreme. As criminal abor-
ton, to use the ordinary phrase, is murder, it
ought to be punished as such. The intentional
destruction of an unborn infant often involves
tho death of the unnatural mother. and so