smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

THERE seems to be an inhuman and
most unworthy effort on the part of
portion of the press to make political capi-
tai out of the death of General Custer and
his gallant companions by representing
that he was not fairly supported by Gen.
eral Terry and the War Department 1t
Is limited that there is some connection be-
tween his fatal misfortune and his recent
testimony before the Clymer committee
This is all the vGritst trash and bosh.
General Custer, on the contrary, has
always been iavorie officer with the
President and General Sheridan on ac-
count Of Ills dash and gallanIry in charging
the foe. His defeat and de sth in the re-
cent encounter appears to have been the
result OF rccklessness in attacking an
enemy before ascertaining his strength
without adequate support. He knew that
Terry with the Infantry must have been
fully fifty miles in his rear
when he assaulted the enemy. Yet he ar
ranged for immediate attack upon two
points, and undertaking the strength Of the
opposing force, fell victim to superior
numbers. This is all there is Of it, and it
was a result which could not have been
foreseen and guarded against by Generals
Grant, Sherman, Sheridan or Terry; in
fact, no one but himself Lamentable as it
is, the catastrophe is one of the events of
war which is sure to come of zeal untem-
pered by prudence and caution.
Year: 1876

The House of Representatives yester-
day passed unanimously the Lawrence
Pacific railroad bill. After seven months
of investigation, mud singing aud de-
flaming they have devoted two hours to
useful legislation. This bill was prepared
by Judge Lawrence, of Ohio, after thor
ough research into every legal and techni-
cal question embraced in the question. No
"yested right" is imperiled, nor the obi
cation of any contract disturbed. 1t is
simply and plainly an act for the protec-
ton of the Government against palpable
and manifest attempt to stave of fair
dealing until such time as the Government
security would be worthless. Heretofore
these purse-proud mOnOpOlists of the Pa
cific railroads have resisted wholesome
legislation and have succeeded in enjoy
ing their enormous profits unmolested.
The people in the different localities over
which these subsidized roads were operated
have frequently appealed to Congress for
relief, and the attention of the nation has
been attracted by the apathy exhibited by
the national Legislators in permitting this
outrage 10 continue and the Government
constantly defrauded.


Mr.. Lawrence's bill requires these de-
linquent railroad companies to make show
of good intent by paying into the National
Treasury semi-annually stipulated sum,
to be applied toward liquidating the NUM-
ficent outlays the Government generously
loaned to stimulate the enterprise. In ad
dition to the princely fortunes made by
these railroad magnates out of the land and
money subsidies granted for building the
road, the net income, according to their
own showing, makes the cash payments
demanded by this bill less than 10 per
cent.


Every attempt by the officers Of the Gov
eminent to enforce the evident intent of the
original law has been ObslruCted by legal
opposition. In the courts resort has been
had to strict legal Interpretation. The
loose and possibly adrOit wording of the
Pacific railroad bills have been decided by
the Supreme Court of the United States.
The stern judicial Interpretation there given
has made it plain to the most Obtuse intel
lcct that the railroad companies are seek
ing to shirk their legal responsibilities. In
a word, they have outraged the spirit of
liherality which prompted the donation.


Ii has fallen to the lot of this Congress to
redress those grievances, and the prompt
action of the Senate is looked forward to
by a national constituency who expect
and demand immediate action. Their list
of attorneys and retinue of Lobbyists"
have been able to obstruct legislation up to
this time. But the passage Of the bill
unanimously indicates very clearly that
they cannot defeat it. The country is
awake to the vital importance of this ques-
tion, and those who would covertly assist
dare not avow it openly. This is tardy
justice, but eminently better than none at
all
Year: 1876

trnmple the Constitution and all its guaran-
tees under foot for mere party advantage.


The dead lock may not be broken imne
diately, but the country is being efficiently
educated rs to where the responsibility of
its consequences properly belong. The
Administration may be embarrassed, but it
has nothing to fear. These Congressional
revoluionists will share the fate of their
colleagues in rebellion a decade ago
utter route at the ballot-bOx in November
when all things will he put to rights again.
Year: 1876

THE Democrats will attempt to repeal
the resumption act in the House next Mon
day. They have been ordered to do this
to secure the acceptance by Hendricks of
the St. Louis nomination to be Vice Presi-
dent Hendricks declares that unless the
attempt is made to repeal the act he will
not accept. Ifthe repeal is attempted the
Eastern Democrats threaten to bolt the
ticket. Hence these tears.
Year: 1876

THE REPORT of the Senate committee
appointed to investigate the situation in
Mississippi will soon be ready for the pub


lie. 1t will more than sustain the hitherto
accepted ideas of the revolutionary man
ner in which the Democrats obtained con-
troll of the Slate government, and will
show conclusively that not one half of the
tale of blood and intimidation accompany
ing that revolution has been made known.
Year: 1876

he is necessarily unlearned, uncouth


and boorish, has drawn forth similar,
though in some instances much more
severe, comments from a number of
our contemporaries. The Grass Valley


Union, which is edited by one of the
levelest-headed, fairest- minded, big
gest-hearted men in the State, says:


That mistake is not confined to those
goslings of the press who can never be
anything but geese. Neither is that
mistake confined to locomotive engin-
eers. There is writer who seems to
be popular In America who writes the
same way when he describes any char
acter in the interior of the country.
We allude to Bret Harte. Harte is
novelist who is supposed by Eastern
people to describe faithfully and accu-
rately, in his novels, the inhabitants
of California. He makes all the inte-
rior folks rough and unconth, saving
now and then a lawyer whom misfor-
tune has banished to the mining part
of the country; and he reserves all the
grammar for his city people. OF course
ptIoOnS dCu udiIttu Will Iulo L dSlllC
coast know that Harte does not know
anything about interior people or the
interior things of this coast. There
are miners, of course, who do speak in
a rough way, and who are not accus-
toned to get their grammar just right,
but Harte makes them all the same
way. There are miners within the
sound of our voice, were we speaking
out loud, at this present writing, who
can talk we'll with Harte or anybody
else in several modern languages, aud
who can discourse intelligently of the
classics, and who are well posted in
philosophy. We know men who do
this, and yet work for their livelihood.
Moreover, there is not one miner in
ten but is familiar with the affairs of
the world, as those affairs occur day
by day. The same can be said of men
in other occupations than that of min
ing on our coast. The population here
lis made up of people from all parts of
the world and the people who had en-
terprise enough to cut loose from the
humdrum ways of old communities
and come to this land are not apt to
be ignorant and stupid. The most ig-
norant class among this people are
those who white descriptions of people
they never saw, and about people
they have not the sense to appreciate.
Year: 1876

ELSEWHERE we publish card from
Colonel CRAWFORD, superintendent of
the Santa Monica Railroad, in which
he denies some of the statements
made in the HERALD relative to the
bad faith of the Land Company to-
ward those to whom they have sold
lots. We have no desire to misrep-
resent the Santa Monica Land Com
pany, nor any one, and with the assur-
ance that we received our information
from a resident o. Santa Monica, and
from the letter of our correspondent
whose name was signed to his article,
we leave the matter to be settled by
the citizens and the Land Company.
Year: 1876

Very near is not always to obtain.
There's many slip 'twixt the cup
and the lip. Nothing is more uncer-
tain than politics, and, if We except
death, one can never be positively sure
that a thing will be until il is. They
have beaten our friend BLAINE. 1t is
too bad. He almost had it. The prize
appeared to be within his grasp, and
yet he failed to grasp it. White man
is very uncertain, and he is never
more uncertain than when a delegate
to a Republican National Convention.
The most disappointed man in the
United States at this moment is JAS.
6. BLAINE. Yesterday morning men
bet his chance against the field; to-
day he Is a distanced horse, and we
who lost our money on him are too
Internal mad to do him reverence.
Politically we are glad he is knocked
on the head. He was the strongest
man the Republicans could have nom-
mated, and the Democrats would have
found him very difficult to beat. Per-
sonally and alphabetically we re-
gret his defeat. We always like to see
man succeed who tries hard to sue
ceed. BLAINE certainly worked as
many wires as any candidate ever did
work in single game. We sympa-
thise with him because he was op-
posed by GRANT, and through him by
every Federal officer in the United
States. He was the anti-Administra-
tion candidate, and as such deserved
the support of every lover of honest
government. HAYES, the nominee,
is at present Governor of Ohio. He
has previously filled that position two
terms. He twice represented the Gin
cinnati district in Congress. He was
in the army during the rebellion and
came out general, we believe. He
is a good man and will make a good
run-falling fifty or sixty votes short
of election.
Year: 1876

Once more the Evening Erpress,
either designedly or through mis-
conception of the facts, misinterprets
the HERALD with regard to its views
concerning the Santa Monica railroad.
We stated that the road now did not
pay, and after giving the reasons why
it did not we proceeded to say that the
only plan to make it paying invest
ment was to extend it into the inte-
rior. Our contemporary says it has the
authority of Superintendent CRAw-
FORD for stating that the road is pay
ing and has paid handsome profit
from the day of its completion. This
is all very well as far as it goes. But
on authority higher than the author
ity of Colonel CRAWFORD we are con-
fident he is mistaken to the amount
of several hundred dollars per month.
This question, however, cannot, as we
look at it, affect the prime object the
Express has in view, which is the Sc
curing of half million dollars sub
sidy to the road from the people of
Los Angeles and San Bernardino
counties. 1t appears to us that in
place of maintaining the deception
that the road is a paying property, the
object would be more nearly attained
by truthfully stating that the section
now built did not pay; that the own
ers could not, from their own means,
build more road, and unless the people
supplied the means for extending it
into the interior the enterprise would
necessarily fail, and the road would at
any early day pass into other hands.
If the truth is told at the outset there
will be no loss of confidence in the fu-
ture, and those who do take stock will
understand In just what they are in
yesting their money.
Year: 1876

The new steamer building at Olympia
expressly for this route is launched. and
pronounced, by Mr.. II. D. Morgan of
this place to be a beautiful model and a
staunch boat. Now will not some one
build little boat, to be run nowhere off
the river, to supply loggers and ranches,
and carry passengers and freight up and
down the river only. Such boat as is
running from the mouth of the Umpqua
to scottsburg, in Oregon, is the kind Of
boat this river needs.
Year: 1876

Mrs. Martin FitzMauricc, who for
mally lived at the forks of the river, six
miles above town, and who resided in
this place short time, writes to a friend
in this place, that she is the happy
mother of a twelve pound boy, the sec
ond heir to the FitzAIaurice estate, of
the masculine gender, since she removed
to Vallejo. AS that town seems to be a
good location for boys, we advise some
of the Snohomish ladies to take trip
there, and be sure and go before any of
the present inhabitants OF that town
have time to move away.
Year: 1876

The Baltimore road yesterday took Otl
the Iearly morning express train from
this city to Washington and Baltimore
the train that left about three O'clock
and now the first train leaves at 7:l5 in
the morning and the next at9:2o.


The winter time table will be announc.
ed in few days. We trust that II will
suit the company to give the people Of
this city an early mail train, and not
switch US off with inferior acconnOda'
tions in that line. -, 80


OF course we speak interestedly in the
matter, on account OF the newspaper in.
terest, but the large and important CORES.
pondenee OF this city with the interior Of
the State, and all the more 80 during the
session Of the Legislature, e,call for asatisfuc.
tory accommodation in the way OF an
early morning mail train. We hope the
Company will find ii Compatible with
their interests to put our community on
a good footing in this respect this winter
Year: 1876

A President who goes into office by q
majority Of one vote in the Electoral
College is Just as cOnstitutionally and
righ,lully elected as If he had received
the unanimous popular and electoral
vote. Those who seek to make any differ
ent impression on the public at this time
do SO for partisan II not sinister purposes,
Year: 1876

ST. LOUIS, December q.-The very sudden change
in the weather yesterday and last night not only
the cOldest of the season, but uncommOnly cold for
this region at any season, the mercury sinking to
four degrees below zero. The harbOr, which was
clear of ice tWenty-fOur hours ago. is closed,
result unheard of before except once, in so short
time. No disasters to steamers are reported, but
several are fast aground or caught In the ice below
here The weather tonight Is a little more mOder-
ate but Is still cold the mercury marking eight de-
gree5 above zero.
Year: 1876

ST. LOUIS, December 9.-No arrivals or
or departures Of boats Contrary to all expectations,
the river full of Ice to-day and is gOrged tonight
at the head Of Arsenal island Last night was the
cOldest Of the season, and ice made very rapidly.
Only once before has the river been known to close
in twenty-four hours. The T. NJ. Hill went to the
assistance Of the Utah at HorsetaIl bar and took of
one hundred and seventy tons of freight She is now
in about foot of water with no hope of getting
aoat until rise takes place She is In precariOus
condition. The City of Helena Is lying high and
dry but is safe; the RhOades is In safe harbOr: the
Belle St. Louis is laid up at Chester; the Capitol
City IS laid up between Wittenberg and Grand
Tower the Joe Kinney is lying opposite the Vulcan
iron works, minus her rudder
Year: 1876

The following concerning these mines. whose
reputation is world wide, which we take from the
Virginia City Enterprise, viii give our readers
some conception OF their wonderful richness.


As much as has been SAID Of the Comstock lode
those most intimate with it do not comprehend
il, while people abroad have no conception Of it.
Its daily yield Is 1000 tons. That Is, from this
ore-channe there is every day extracted ore
enough 10 load ten trains Of twenty cars each,
and those carloads would average 500 in value
each. This is dog out of a space of ground less
than three miles in length aud less than 400 feet
in width Indeed, when we coufne the estimate
to the part OF the ledge which at this lime is
yielding ore, We fnd that q half mile in length
will cover the whole ground. When we compare
the stream of gold and silver to anything ever
heard Of or read Of before in history or romance.
we discover that everything else ever talked
about begins to seem small aud mean. Dumas
pictured 4 man who was able through his wealth
10 almost subrert empires and TO make themhs.
The Comsiock will supply money enough to bal
ance the tremendous account which Dumas placed
to the credit Of the imprisoned sailor. ~ see hg-
ures piled up in the newspapers which, in dollars
represent the National debt. The debt Is so
tremendous that though the fortunes of forty
millions Of people, an empire Of three millions OF
miles. with its cities, townships, mines and fer
tile soil. are mortgaged for its faithful payment,
stil the promise OF the Government (Which is
the peope) TO pay is at discount Of fifteen per
cent. And yet as the Comstock is yielding this
year, aud promises TO yield for many years to
come it viii take bat thirty-fve years to add to
the treasure Of the earth as much as that debt to-
day amounts 10.
Year: 1876

There's place for everything" our old
school marm used to observe when we slang our
hat upon the floor A young gentleman prone
nading Canal street. the other evening, probably
agreed with the old lady. His mind was evident
ly far from Canal street and its beauties. wan
dering over fields OF the past. for there was
look Of deep meditation In his eyes as he STUN
bled against everybody that did not get out OF
his war.


just at the corner OF Dauphine was standing q
gentleman of the old school. grand and impos-
ing old gentleman somewhat the worse for wear
and tear: hat greasy. shirt ragged. coat old and
dusty-still "A gentleman for all that The eyes
OF the thinker fell upon the old man with all the
cold impertinent stare Of desp and profound
Year: 1876

Hot duh everywhere, save IN the Custom
house. There summer finds no difference. bu,
tho busy hammer and the industrious trowel
still ring. The Customhouse has already
taken three years more to build than the pyra-
mids; few unpromising elections like the
coming one helps along wonderfully In com
pleting tho building, for II ncccsaitates treble
force OF stonc-cutters and plnsterors. There
will be more work to be done in the Custom
house this summer than In the last eight years
That shows what Radical anticipations are Of
our November fight. Last election finished the
grand marble hall in the centre this ycar will
iinish the building completely for Democratic
government
Year: 1876

This episode of an election claimed
by both sides wssk after it is over has
one excellent effect in showing the more
thoughtful Of our public men the extent
to which We have drifted from the old
landmarks of constitutional rights. We
adopted, Immediately after the close of
the war, its greatest General as our
Prssidsnt-a man ignorant of Law, and
with too much of the soldiers contempt
for it-snd, unconsciously to uany Of
US, We have gone on using the methods
of war in a time of profound peace and
getting more and more and more familiar
with practices that were justified IN war
only by extreme necessity and could not
be justified in peace at all. So far has
this steady, but gradual Decentralization
gone, that when the President orders
troops into State when it is in condi-
tion OF absolute peace, aud does it of
his own motion, without the application
from the Governor of the State, required
ny the Constitution, the whole Rspubli
can press applauds. There is no iusar
rection or domestic violence whatever
existing in Florida or Louisiana, much
less any violence that the Governor Of
the State has certified that he cannot
suppress President Grant might, with
the same propr iety, have ordered troops
into New York State OF Ohio, and he has
so little sense of the deterioration tha
comes to = people accustomed to military
control, that he doubtless would have
done so if it had occurred to him with
as little compunctiou as he now issues
his orders for war measures when there
is no war. This taint has spread through
the whole people. 1t has been shocking
to hear, in the last week, the number of
apparently respectable Republicans who
have talked openly of counting in Gov.
Hayes, and who have justified it on the
ground that it was necessary to keep the
Government out of the hands of the
Southern "rebsls F' The time was
when a man Who talked in this outrage
Gus fashion would have received the
treatment such infamous ssnt Iments
deserve. but now they seem 30 excite
little surprise and less indignation.


The truth is, we are more Mexicanizej
than many good citizens realize. We
need civilian President. such as we ara
to have in President Tiiden, a man not
only versed in law, bet with all 3 great
lawyers respect for It's smslIesI require
ment There will be no soldiers at the
polls under Pretident Tilden, and such
an outrage as the marching of troops
into a State to prevent violence, of which
the Governor has signifed no fear, will
be impossible. Ulder a firm, wise, law
respecting, law-enforcing rule like his,
the people will learn again the true
bounds of Federal authority, nd know
IN future when their rights had been
infringed upon. This they do not know
now, and this will be among the frs t
things that Mr.. Ti!dcn, the first states


man President that We have had in many
a year, will teach them Heaven speed
| the fourth of March
Year: 1876

The Republican thieves we're seen to


be desperate during the campaign just
closed, but il was never supposed that
they were so desperate as to attempt to
carry an election by force and fraud,
which they could DOT carry by honest
ballots. Their conduct since the cleo
tion bas been amply sufficient to justify
the popular impression that they are
fighting to keep out of the penitentiary.
Year: 1876

The election suspense is terribly dis
organizing commercial matters in the
country. It is creating distrust for the
future, and awakening anxieties that bOde
Ill to the business int rests of the people
Year: 1876

Before the election it was coa.eSt
between parties. Now it is a CONTEXT be-
tween the people on one side, and the
oace-hoders supported by the army on
the other. The people have cast their
ballots and propose to have th EN- count
cd as they were cast; the Office holders
propose, if necessary, to count in Pres
ident who will not drive them out OF
Osice and into Jail That Is the whole
story
Year: 1876

In some respects the record of the Re
publican party is noble one; in Others
it is infamous But it is apparently to
be reserved for this party to inaist upon
this country the crowning disgrace of
attempting to count in a President. No
party over before cid anything 80 shame
r
Year: 1876

INDEPESDENT.-Ay year or two since quite
sn excitement was occasioned in the i'm
mediate neighbOrhood of town, growing out
of the fact that discarded husband visited
his wife ard took from her by force and the
exhibition of revolver two children, the off
spring CT their married life. The wife sub
mitted to the bereavement with the best pos
sible grace, and now it comes out that without
further matrimonial experience, she is the
mother of a little hopeful. She says that
this time she don't thi;ik her ex- husband will
be particularly anxious 20 obtain Possession
of the child. Ahem.
Year: 1876

TEE SEATTLE RAILROAD proposes to 90
into the money market and borrow $3.50, coo.
This .sum it is estimated will complete the
first section of the road, and tap the coal
mines from which a paying trade may be ex-
pected Ii necessary the Company propose to
pay interest at the rate of = per cent.
month. This is about eqnal TO the folly of
our buzzards, and if once entered upon the
bankruptcy of the whole concern is only
question of time. No legitimate business can
pay per cent. month interest. and when
ever it il undertaken look out for fraud.
Year: 1876

DoN CARLos is again reported de-
feated and flying. Though slow to
accept these reports it would not be
surprising that they should be true, If
the promises Of the Spanish govern
ment to end the war had any mean
ing. We can hoge at least that this
CarIist struggle is over.