Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1878 — HEWS OF THE WEEK. [ARTICLE]

HEWS OF THE WEEK.

FOREIGN NEWS. Beaeonsfield has received the decoration of the Order of the Garter. Spain will graciously permit Cuba to be represented in the Cortes by forty Deputies ui'd ten Senators. A London dispatch says * * active preparations are apparent for a favorable change 5n commercial affairs. Reports from various centers of the iron industry are decidedly more encouraging.” In the second match between Capt. Rogardus, the American pigeon-shot champion, Capt. Pennell, of London, for SI,OOO a side, lßogardus won by two birds. Tho betrothal of the Duke of Connaught (Prince Arthur) to the daughter of the Prussian Prince, Frederick Charles, has been officially announced in the British Parliament. Great fires in Thessaly, supp sed to bo incendiary, continue to devastate the country. A Vienna dispatch announces that the ■attempts to organize resistance to the Austrians in Herzegovina liavo collapsed. There was a riot in Yokohama, Japan, recently, in consequence of two Buddhist priests preaching that the suu moves and the earth stands still. They were ridiculed by students, who hi turn were attacked by a mob. One of the students was mortally wounded. All the powers except Turkey have ratified tho treaty of Berlin. The Marquis of Lome will succeed Lord Dufferin as Governor General of Canada. A dispatch from Calcutta, India, reports that tho Government of Madras has telographed for extra famino officers immediately, because of the ravages of locusts. London society has just been stirred liy one of tha most brilliant and fashionable weddings that it has witnessed for several ■seasons. The contracting parties were Arthur Henry Paget, Captain i:i the Scots Fusilier Guards, fifth son of the first Marquis of Anglesey, to Miss Minnie Stevens, daughter of tho Ip lo M:\ Paran Stevens, of New York. DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. Host. Tho Boston Belting Company has suspended payment in consequence of a deficiency of #BOO,OOO in the accounts of the late treasurer, John O. Tappan. Little Minnie Warren, the well-known dwarf, died in child-birth at Fall River, Mass., a few days ago. Several heavy commercial failures are announced in New York. The New Hampshire House of Iteprcsenlatives has passed a bill to punish tramps by imprisonment from iifteon months to five years. The vicinity of Utica, N. Y., was visited by a severe snow-storm on the 25th of July. Miss Abby Hodassa Smith, one of the famous “Smith sisters,” of Glastonbury, Ct., is dead. She was 81 years old. ©nly ono of tho sisters (Julia) is now living. There wore five of them, aud all were active in temperance and anti-slavery work. The most notable feature in tho history of Abby has been her resistance tip the payment of taxes on the ground of non-representation. Mrs. Tilton has been offered SIOO a night to go on the lecture stage. West. Twenty thousand people attended the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ reunion at Newark, Ohio, ast week. M. C. Hickey has been bounced from the Huperintendenoy of tho Chicago police, and is succeeded by Capt. Y. A. Seavey, who is said to bo the first native American to occupy tho place in a period of fifteen years. Reports from Indian sor rees say that Bitting Bull lately visited the Sioux aft Standing Rock agency, and romaiuod there in disguise several days. It is added that eight different bands of Sioux are pledged to join in a general war whenever the signal is given, the bands now in Canada coming over to open the ball. Judge Alexander McTntosh, ope of the most prominent men of Allen county, Ind., was recently kicked to death by a vicious horse at his stables near Fort Wayne. Fires are reported to bo destroying the Holds of grain in some parts of California. E. S. Smith, a messenger accompanying a mail coach between Cheyeuno and Deadwood, recently eugaged single-handed in a combat with six road-agents, and, after tho discharge of about fifty shots on the part of tho road-agents and twenty by Smith, tho road-agents left without molesting tho coach A cloud-burst in the Silver Lake Mennonito sottlemont, forty miles north of Yankton, D.ik., drowned seven persons and caused much destruction of property. A dispatch from Portland, Ore., says: 1 ‘ Lorenzo D. Perkins and wife were attacked by Indians near Rattlesnake springs, on tho lively U.UU uuLxi niaroAirea. jliig rendezvous for all the unfriendly Indians, both on the Oregon and Washington Territory side, is at the foot of Priest rapids, where they axe collecting in groat numbers. Chief Moses says ho cannot control his young men and warns settlers to look out for themselves.” South. Sam Bass, the notorious Texas train robber, is dead. He refused to the last to inform against his accomplices, saying it was against his profession. The entire business portion of the town of Cattlettsbnrg, Ky., has been swept away by fire. The loss is estimated at #250,000, upon which there was but a small insurance. A liorribie tragedy was recently enacted in Flewauna county, Va. A man named Howchins murdered his wife, mothei-in-law and ono child, and then committed suicide. Yellow fever has broken out in New Orleans. Gen. Wm. H. Lee, a son of ihe late Robert E. Lee, is a prominent candidate for Congress in the Alexandria (Va.) district, now represented by Eppa Hunton. The latter has rendered himself unpopular by his quarrol with Columbus Alexander, of Washington. Duiling is not so popular in the Old Dominion as in the ante-bellum days.

THE PRESIDENTIAL INVESTIGATION. 1 lio Potter sub-committee, consisting of Repnscutatives Totter, r.utler, Hiscock and Springer, met at Atlantic City, N. J., on the 23U<,f July. Representative Dauford, of Ohio, .T** , firßt wltnUßo examined. He testified ‘ff.vVT? member ° f the Morrison committed bat vis.ted New Orleans, and he there met Jakes E. Anderson aud talked to him about EiiAT'ehciana; Anderson said it was the worst bullied parish in the State, and related how

he had teen Bhot at one night by concealed assassins. He spoke of having put in circulation the story that during the period of registration he came to New Orleans and informed the Republican committee, including Gov. Kellogg, that bis parish was going Democratic, the colored vote being largely on that side, and that he bad been advised by Kellogg and the Republican committee that he should either not return to the parish at all or come away and make such a protest as would throw tho parish out. He said he had put the story in circulation in the hope that the Democratic committee would make him an offer of money, and when by the offer of money he had them good and fast, he would expose the authors and blow them sky-high. The witness did not hear Anderson question the truth of the protest. Hon. William D. Kelley, of PenasyL vania, testified before the committee on July 24. Said he visited New Orleans to witness the Returning Board count at the request of President Grant. A committee of distinguished Democrats proposed to the Republican “ visiting statesmen ” that the two bodies of visitors organize and pari ieipate in the business of the Returning Board, but the Republicans declined, on the ground that they were there as private citizens, with no official power. Witness said ho nevor heard any conversation among tho Republican committee involving an interference with the official duties of the Returning Board; never heard of any suggestion to manipulate the parishes, nor that affidavits were signed with fictitious names... .Cortlandt Parker, of New Jersey, was the next witness. He testified that he visited New Orleans solely at the request of President Grant. He did not, while in Louisiana, hear doubts thrown on the protest made by Anderson as to East Feliciana, or that it was interlined, or that Anderson wished to withdraw it.... Representative Eugene Hale, of Maine, testified that all tho Republican visitors maintained the position that they should be careful to abstain from any attempted influence on the Returning Board. Witness thought if Hayes was elected President, Packard - was elected Governor of Louisiana.... Ex--. Congressman J. Halo Sypher, of Louisiana, testified that he was in New Orleans during the sittings of tho Returning Board, and that ho was shown by Weber the alleged Sherman letter to Weber and Anderson, and had no doubt of its genuineness. Witness did not read it carefully, and could not swear positively either as to the handwriting or the substance of the document, hut believed the copy that has been printed is correct... .Secretary Sherman was called to the stand, and testified jliat ho went to New Orleans at the solicitation of President Gfant. On his way ho stopped at Columbus and saw Gov. Hayes. Said his conversation with Hayes was general about the election, all then being in tho dark. The examination of Secretary Sherman was resumed on the 25th. Tho witness stated that, while in New Orleans, he was never, privately or alone, with any member of the Returning Board; that he treated the members the same as he would have treated any other court or tribunal before which he appeared as a witness or advocate. He denied emphatically the truth of the testimony of James E. Anderson aud E. L. Weber, and certain conversations alleged to have taken place botween them aud him (Sherman); said ho never suggested to these men payment for any services that they might render in connection with the Returning Board, or in any other way, nor was any promise of reward even intimated. In regard to the celebrated “Sherman letter” to Anderson and Weber, the Secretary asserted positively that he did not write it, although “there wore things in it that he would have written to these or any other men who were engaged in the performance of their duty.” In reply to a question, Mr. Sherman said that while in New Orleans he wrote a letter to Mr. Hayes, in which he said : The action of the Returning Board liaß thus far been open and fair, aud only confirms the general result as known before. We are now collecting testimony as to the bulldozed parishes. It seems more like a history of hell than of civilized and Christian communities. The means adopted are almost incredible, but were fearfully effective upon the ignorant and superstitious people. That you would have received, at a fair election, a large majority in Louisiana, no honeßt man can question ; that you did not receive a majority is equally clear; but that intimidation of every kind aud nature provided against by Louisiana law did enter into and control the election in more election polls than would change the result and give you the vote, I believe as firmly as I write this. Ti e truth is palpable that you ought to have the vote of Louisiana, and wo believe that you wiil have it by an honest and fair return according to the letter and spirit of the law of Louisiana. Very truly yours, John Sherman. This letter was dated Nov. 23, 1876, and on Nov. 27 Gov. Hayes responded as follows : I am greatly obliged for your letter of the 23d. You feel, I am sure, as I do about this whole business. A fair election would have given us about forty electoral votes at the South—at least that many—but we are not to allow our friends to defeat one outrage and fraud by another. There must be nothing “crooked” on our part. Let Mr. Tilden have the place by violence, intimidation and fraud rather than undertake to prevent it by means that work doing by the Republicans who have gone South, and am especially proud to acknowledge the honorable conduct of those men from Ohio. The Democrats made a mistake in sending so many exBepublicans. New converts are proverbially bitter and unfair toward those they have recently left. ' R. B. Hates. The witness was interrogated by Gen. Butler in regard to the part he and the President played in the appointment of certain Louisiana Republicans t? office. The Secretary replied: “You trench on delicate ground. I ought not to tell you what the President Said to me, or what I said to the President.” Gen. Butler—“l don’t ask you for Cabinet secrets, but I have come to the conclusion that there ought to be no secrets in a free Government.” The Secretary—“l will give you the exact facts when we reach Washington.” .... Gen. James A. Garfield was the next witness examined, but nothing of importance was elicited. He was questioned at length as to the testimony of E. L. Weber, denying the general statements of the witness in regard to events in Louisiana in connection with the visiting Republicans. Many of his statements wore utterly inconsistent With truth. Ex-Congressman J. Hale Syplier was a gain before the committee on the 26th. The witness said that, to the best of his recollection, he thought that when Weber showed him the Sherman letter it was in the handwriting of John Sherman, and was therefore genuine. Mr. Potter asked whether the allegations of fraud aud intimidation were not made after the election, and the witness replied affirmatively. The charges of intimidation were made by the Republicans in the parishes where their vote had fallen off. Mr. Hiscock asked whether the Democrats sought to conciliate the colored people to vote their ticket. A.—-Yes, in various ways. They did as you do in New York, buy voters. They were very affectionate to them. The Democrats organized a unification movement, for the purpose of giving negroes equalities with the whites in the street cars

and in the public schools, outstripping and beating us a little Ex-Congressman Frank Morey, of Louisiana, was the next witness. Was one of the Republican counsel before the Returning Board. Said the fact of intimidation in the bulldozed parishes was not disputed. From personal inspection, was satisfied Eliza Pinkston had been dangerously wounded. She was carried into the room of the Returning Board on a sofa. The impression prevailed that this exhibition would have a good effect, and his own impression was it would be an excellent thing to do in furtherance of the cause. Witness said on the face of the returns Nicholls and the Tilden electr ors had the majority; that the Returning Beard threw out enough votes to elect Packard, and after this threw out 1,512 votes to elect the Hayes electors. This condition of things was discussed by prominent politicians, the visiting statesmen, and the Republican counsel. Witness made some figuring as to what results would be produced if certain parish returns were thrown out. The result of the calculation was sent to Florida so as to come to the knowledge of the Florida officials. Ex-Congressman Morey was called before the committee again on July 27. The witness said that he had one or two interviews with the President, at great length, during which the witness argued that the withdrawal of troops from New Orleans and not maintaining the Packard Government would be the destruction of the Republican party in the South. The President took the position that tho Republican party could no longer retain that policy which had lost New York to tho Republicans, and the party had become weaker in consequence, therefore, the good of the Republican party demanded change. The President treated the subject as of national concern.... Ex-Senator Lyman Trumbull, of Illinois, was the next witness. He testified that he visited New Orleans at the invitation of Mr. Hewitt, to witness the count of the Returning Board, in company with other gentlemen similarly invited. The visitors were not present when the board retired Jfor deliberation; they did not see the compilations of the returns by which tho board arrived at results, nor did he know whether any affidavits presented to the board were read at all. This closed the sittings of the committee at Atlantic City.

POLITICAL POINTS. The Greenbackers of Ohio, in State Convention at Columbus, last week, nominated Andrew Roy for Secretary of State, Clinton A. White for Supreme Judge, and J. R. Fallis for Member of the Board of Public Works. Political gossips say that Senator Simon Cameron is to be a candidate to succeed his son Don to the United States Senate. This report is based upon the allegation that in the selection of candidates for the Legislature likely to be elected there aro quite a number hostile to young Cameron who will give their support to the father, but will not give allegiance or votes to the son. The Texas Democrats, at their State Convention in Austin, balloted for nearly a week in a vain attempt to nominate a candidate for Governor under the two-thirds rule, tho votes being nearly equally divided between Gov. Hubbard and ex-Gongressman Throckmorton. On tho Bixth day Chief Justice Roberts, of the Supreme Court, was trotted out, and he was nominated by acclamation. The Greenbackers of New York, at their State Convention in Syracuse last week, nominated Gideon J. Tucker for Judge of the Court of Appeals. It is believed in Washington that Mr Devens, the Attorney General, will be appointed Judge of the United States Circuit Court, in place of Judge Shipley, of Massachusetts, who died recently.

WASHINGTON NOTES. Official synopsis of the Agricultural Department crop reports show the average condition of rye and barley a3lOl. Oats, general average, 101; Tennessee and Nebraska, 112. Fruit on the whole is favorable to such crops as escaped the spring frosts. Grass and clover remarkably fine. Tobacco acreage reduced 25 per cent. The condition is as folows : Kentucky, 93; Virginia, 93; Missouri, 101; Tennessee, 89; Ohio, 104; Maryland, 102; Indiana, 92; North Carolina, 94; Pennsylvania, 100; Connecticut, 100: Illinois, 93; Massachusetts, 101. The Treasury Department has just issued a call for the redemption of #5,000,000 5-20 bonds of 1865 ; #2,500,000 registered and $2,500,000 coupon bonds, the interest to cease on the 233 of October. The total receipts of the Government from internal revenue for the year endiug June 30. 1878, were $111,089,319.91, or $7,905,864.34 less than the year preceding. It is expected at the Treasury Department that the silver dollar coinage for August will be between $3,000,000 and $4,000,000. It is stated that all the Canadian railway liaes interested in securing a Chicago connection are likely to combine for the purpose of building a joint line to the Baltimore and Ohio road. The wool clip of 1878 is about 3 per cent greater than that of 1877. So reports the Agricultural Department at Washington. A schooner which arrived at San Francisco a few days ago reports falling in, about 100 miles north of that port, with a Japanese junk with not a living person on board. A dumber of corpses were found, some of them shackled together. Thoy must have been dead at least a month. No food was on board, and some of the bodies were dressed in costly material. James Smith, of the village of Rockford, Canada, killed his father and sister, and then committed suicide. The New York Tribune professes to have information to the effect that a general strike is to be precipitated throughout the country on the 15th of August. The bark Palestine, from Portland, Me., for Havana, Cuba, with a cargo of lumber, was recently wrecked in the West lndier. The Captain and crew of nine men were lost. The grasshoppers have appeared in Central America, and crops are said to be disappearing before their ravages in Honduras like grass before a prairie fire. Minister Noyes has returned to his post of duty in Paris. The recent turf meeting at Cleveland, Ohio, witnessed a remarkable racing event. The celebrated horse Rarus trotted three mile heats, without® skip or a break, in and 2:14. The race was the fastest three consecutive heats on record, beating Goldsmith

Maid’s 2:16, 2:153*', 2:15, at Buffalo, in 1876, by 2% seconds. Thus Barns has in one race lowered the record for a first heat, third heat and three consecutive heats.