Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 February 1881 — Letter From Washington [ARTICLE]

Letter From Washington

Vote for President, 1880. Hancock. Democrat, - 4,544,313 Garfield, Republican, -4,437,68 a Weaver, Greenback, - 30i,063 Dow, Prohibition, - - 9,644 Scattering, • 1,793 Total, - - - 9,200,794 Hancock over Gait eld, - G,33L Hon. Fernando Wood, of N. Y., died in Arkansas a few days-since. The community smiled audibly at the tender manner in which cut neighbor alluded to his political Mends mixed up in the little unpleasantness at the billiard hall a couple weeks ago, And the boys say they never knelt at his confessional, and that Lis statements in that regard were entirely gratuitous. In another column we publish tL<text of a very stringent liquor law now before the legislature. If tin publication of the signatures attached to recommendation would be required, and the general govern mem withdraw its sanction and protection from all except such as might be li censed under the provisions of the aforesaid bill Indiana would be almost rid of saloons. - • do not sit down on the icy pavements merely to warm the ice or to attract attention. They do it because they want time to hink. They think differently, too. One oi these fortunate# the other day in Rensselaer was thinking g—d d—n, loudly and vigorously; while in Monticello the thinking apparatus of another suggested the propriety of receiving SIOO from the corporation, and has accordingly pct in a bill tor that amount. The Frankfort Crescent says: ‘‘All over the eountry, in every department ©f labor, you hear of a heavy reduction in wages. While this is a matter we sincerely regret, it accords exactly with what the Crescent told you before the election. You were then informed that if the Republicans came into full power in all branches of the Government, as they will March 4, wages and the price* of all kind of farm produce would decline. You were also told that, for a time, stocks would sell high, and speculation wo’d be active, but soon a reduction would ensue and business would lag a little. Already stocks are declining and firm s are breaking. Let us hope the worst has come, that no panic will set. in and prosperity will continue —that it will be no worse than it is now.” The Indianapolis News, Republican, in referring to the do-nothing policy of the present Legislature, says:— “The Legislature has now.been in session over five weeks, and yet has managed to accomplish very little in that time, and the general expression now is that an extra session willjbe necessary in order to complete the necessa ry work. Many of the members are counting on this and the complaint is generally made that in consequence, they are in no hurry to get through with the business before them. The codificatisn of the laws is the question whißh it is supposed will require the most time. As this contemplates a reorganization of the courts one of the local judges makes the suggestion that it would be well to wait until the fate of the constitutional amendment is decided before proceeding to reorganize. It must be done then, and if done now this authority says it will have to be gone through with again, and we shall have perpetual change which nobody can tinderstand. The hope is generally expressed that Gov. ernor Porter will refuse to call the as sembly in extra session, as the sixty days allowed by law is ample in which to" transact the business of the State.” And this is a Republican Legislature. The elevated statesmanship and patriotism of General Grant during the time he was President, is a subject upon which the Cincinnati Gazette (radical) feels called upon to offer a few remarks. The Gazette says: General Grant and Jay Gould were of the guests at a small and select dinner at JJelmonico’s recently, This recalls to memory a time wnen they were together at a still more select banquet, on a Sound steamboat, of which Colonel James Fisk was the partner, and his stool-pigeons, in the character of great magnates of Wall street composed the rest of the party, when Gould and Fisk set forth to General Grant their great monetary theory that a higher premium on gold would facilitate “the moving of the crops," which was such an opening idea to President Grant’s mind, in the science o. money, that he wrote to Secretary Boutwell, instructing him not to increase the sales of Treasury gold in any event. The Fisa and Gould corner in gold and the Black Friday followed this select dinner parly and this primary lesson on political economy, after brother-in-law Corbin had been duly indoctrinated and taken into the crop moving mission. Before the moving began the gold premium was running a little above 30. Fisk bought for Corbin $1,500,000 on September 2 at an average of 32|. They got all the spot gold, and went on buying for forward delivery, and cornering the price to 60 and upward.’ ’ Not only the speeulators but all merchants and importers found themselves at the mercy of this gang. Fisk now became loud and swore he would run it up to 100. On the 13th President Grant went to ■ee a distant relative at a village m Western Pennsylvania, beyond the reach of the railroad and telegraph. He was there while this storm was reaching its height. Fisk orazenly declared that Grant was with them.— At length the public outcry was such that the Administration eoaid not, island the pressure. Corbin received ■

word that he must get out, and ne demanded SIOO,OOO of Gould. On Friday, the 24th, the Adminutratk n yielded to the pressure, and Secretary Boutwell, till now held back by Grant’s instructions, ordered the sale of $4,000,000 of gold. And the above is an incident of the honest administration of the people’s affairs by the radical third term candidate, as reproduced from history by a stalwart republican organ.

Correspondent .• oi The Sentinel. Washington, Feb. 14.1881. The week has not been specially notable of events -at least of autonomy” < h iracfr r. Two episodes have occurred, one a tete between my lord Conkling and Buller of South Caro lina, in-which the epithets bandied were couched as nearly in courtly phrase as It is possible to employ in using such terms inside parliamentary rules. Senator Butler was talking to the insinuations about the South Carolina census, and passed out of his way to review a stump speech of Conkling’s made away back in the campaign, in September, I think. — Conkling was stung by the well put and pointed rebuke for his misrepresentations in that speech,and retaliated in an ugly temper. The retort was as bitter and courtly, and our lady killing Senator was worsted, but to what good? It was too late to rake it up in the Senate in that manner, and Senator Butler could weil have ifforded, in view of the very complete refutation of Senator Conkling’s slanders to ‘let it pass.” Neither gentlemen added to their reputations The other came off in the House, and between Cox of New York and Reagan of Texas, on Thursday last. MrCox antagonized the River and Harbor bill, which was in charge of Mr. Reagan, who took his first offense at Mr. Cox suggesting that local inter, ests were subserved at the expense of the public good. Mr. Reagan demanded of Mr. Cox to know if he meant that his action had been governed by selfish interest for Texas at theexperse of general improvement. Mr. Cox replied tn t when Reagan sat down so, that the proceeding eo’d be conducted in a parliamentary manner he would reply.-Reagan advanced down the aisle to Cox’s seat and passionately said: ”1 prefer to stand, and again I demand an Mr. Cox turned his back on Reagan and resumed his speech, upon which the latter entirely lost command of his temper, broke out with tremendous energy: “The gentleman (Cox) is as vile a slanderei as I ever knew,” &c. This nettled Cox who retorted, saying: “I know the gentleman does not feel kindly toward me. The reason is that when he left the House years ago I refused to leave, and he is against me because I stood by the Union.”— This stung the Texan and as soon as the sounds of approbation and hiss' ing ceased; he angrily exclaimed: “The gentleman resorts to calumny. For a calumniator I have only contempt.” Mr. Cox thought it was time to create a diversion, and he did so and said: “The gentleman thinks he can break me down by charging calumny upon me. He says he has contempt for me. What have I ever done that he should look down upon me with contempt? Why, as a Western man said, I haven’t words to express my language. I have declared the truth.' The gentleman has shown that he can’t behave himself in a nariiamentary discussion. If he wants to make an issue with me outside tne House I warn him I will choose harpoons, and I’ll be sure to get the advantage of him,” This burlesque was too irresistable, and literally brought down the House, Reagan himself join ing in the hilarity. I have given too much space to these little fiascos, but cnly to prove how tree is is that, after all, men, even Congressmen, are but “boysof larger growth.” The River and Harbor bill is in danger of failing, and the Funding bill’s chances are far from rosy. I think the indications all favor the passage of an Apportionment bill. The time for the cl®se of this administration is drawing rapidly near. There is universal satisfaction at thi s prospect. No man has occupied the White House whose departure from tne scene has given so unanimous and grateful satisfaction. He has proven a fraud clear through, a hypocrite, and is despised most thoroughly. H. On Saturday last Peter Cooper, of New York, was ninety years old. The New York Sun speaks of him as a ’’venerable philanthropist,” andjas a “remarkable man,” a “model Demo crat,” and a “modelcitizen of a free Republic,” whose “association with some of thu most memorable mechanical, commercial, and manufactuiing achievements of this century, and still more his benevolence, had not given him a larger and a better fame than that enjoyed by any other citizen ®f New York. He is not as rich as Vanderbilt, Jay Gould, the Astors or some of the “Wall street bandits who will gather more from one predatory operation than Peter Cooper’s whole fortune.” Still Peter Cooper is a. bigger and a better man than any of them richer in beneyolenee, grander in the essentials of American citizenship, “Peter Cooper’s fortune,” says tie Sun, “has this grand distinguishing merit: it is made up of clean money, It is the result of honest work, of perseverance, of skill and of prudence, applied to productive industry beneficial to the public. And its possessor has not treated it as a fortune to be used for his selfish interest and to gratify a vain ambition to be counted rich, but as a trust to be administered for the public good,” Peter Cooper began life three-quart-ers of a century ago as a coaohmak er’s apprentice. He has grown rich,

not only in money, but in goodness, in philanthropy. He has used his advantages to help others —the poor, those who worn for their bread—until at ninety he is crowned the * most esteemed and the most honored citizen” of the great city of New York. The Sun says; The most magnificent and the most useful gift to the public from a private individual io the etty is Cooper Union. It was not a piece of fancy benevolence devised to gratify vanity or carry out a foolish crotchet —a rich man’s attempt to celebrate himself- but a practical undertaking intended to meet an actual need. And what Peter Cooper sought to do he

has done to even better purpose than he originally planned. The phi anthropic enterprise upon which he en tered more than a quarter of a century ago has proved of greater benefit than even he expected. Last year th* expenditures for its library and reading room, and for its various free classes for instruction in practical employments out of which men ani women may earn their living, exceed!ed $45,009. This sum, too, was more I than covered by the revenue derived | from the endowment and the rents i of the stores offices and balls in the I building. Men like Peter Cooper do not belong to any one locality. They belong to the country. They are types of, its best mens noblest ambitions, most exalted character, broadest philanthropy and truest Christianity, and’hence all good men everywhere honor them.

Quart doggenes. Created by radical legislation. And forced upon all the people. For the revenues derived from them.* And our overly righteous neighbor holds his peace. A genuine “nor’wester” last Saturday. On® of the “b’hoys” will step off presently. George R. Thornton is afflicted with asthma. Doc. Bitteis went to Indianapolis Monday. Ed. Scott wears a felon on one of his fingers. Rob’t Randle is able to hobble about on crutches. Another wedding is talked of as in the near future. • The heaviest snow-fall of die seas, on occurred last night. Conductor Jones and brakeman Gwinup are on the sick list. R. R. Pettit, of Remington, was in town the first of the week. Ira Morelau has returned from an extended visit at Chrisman, 111. An infant daughter of Chas. Lowman died this week of brain fever. A little son of Mr. Hawn, of Keener township, died this week of diphtheria. Watson has removed his billiard hall from Nowels’ block to Leopold’s corner. Clara, daughter of Treasurer Ad ams, is suffering from paralysis of the limbs. Leroy Sayers will build a residence on his land west of town as soon as the weather will permit. Baz. Donnelly returned from Missouri last week- He is making preparations to remove to that State. John B. Harbolt and Sam. Rothrock, of Monticello, were in Rensselaer a few days the present week. Isaac Barkley and wife who have been visiting In the southern part of the State returned home last week, John Tillett, a solid Deruocrat and substantial citizen of Gillam township made us a pleasant call Tues’ day. Hardware business is booming at this place, if one can judge from th® amount of stock that has been handled lately.

About 200 families at Pittsburg and south Delphi were forced to leave their homes on account of high water in the Wabash river. The family of Mr. Dowty awoke Sunday morning and found their home surrounded by water, caused by the river overflowing its banks. Samuel L. Sparling, an old and highly respected citizen of Marion township, fell from his hay mow one day last week, fracturing a saoulder. Ayer’s Pills are a general favorite, because of their powerful yet gentle operation. Medical men prefer them for nervous or delicate constitutions. Knight, who shot himsejf at the residence of W. W. Kenton a few weeks since, has so far recovered as to be able to take his departure for his mother’s residence. Mr. John Thompson, of Elk Falls, Kansas, a former citizen of Jasper county, and father of Mrs. C. W. Duvall, is visiting old friends and neigh" bors in Rensselaer and vicinity. It is only slick mulishness to appro priate a seat in a public hall covered by the check of anther and refuse to give it up. It is a mistake to suppose that it is evidence of manliness and courteous training. General Rumor saith that T. M. Jones and Mrs. Jennie Steward, leav ing families behind, have g®ne west together to grow up with the countryThe sympathies of the community are with those left behind. The representation of Queen Esther gave general satisfaction to large audiences Saturday, Monday und Tuesday evenings, prof, Rice proved himself an expert trainer, and Jhis class exhibited great talent and proficiency.

Hall’s Vegetable Sioillian Hair Be newer is no new preparation for the public to experiment with; its success is unparalleled for restoring grey bair to its natural color, promoting its growth, and producing new hair on bald heads. The heavy ice in the river raised last Sunday and formed a gorge in the bead below Weston Cemetery cansing the water to back up over Dr Washburn’s pasture, which froze over Bunday night, making a splendid skating rink for the jolly skaters.

Ben Reynolds will apnly again at i the next term. - Rensselaer Sentinel. This seems as though he intends to flight it out “on this line” if it takes a year. But when the Rensselaerites say no, they say what they mean and mean what they say. They take it by the quart and in no other way.— Monticello National. Quart doggeries were created by, ! and have the sanction and protection ' of the great God and morality party I which has for so many years, by fair i means and feul, had control of the i affairs of the general Government, j Opposition to them by our peopletherefore, would be of no avail, and their existence is no evidence that it lis by choice of our people. Possibly j the rule suggested by our old friend I Smith may e apply to our neighbor across the hall. May be he prefers I “quart-nips” to “dime-drinks’ ?

C. A. Roberts & Bro., Blacksmiths, respectfully request all knowing themselves indebted to them to call and settle immediately, in order that they may be enabled to procure stock for approaching spring work. They suggest, too, that farmers should not wait to the last moment before bringing utensils for repair, but attend to that matter now. Mrs. Rachel Mclntire, mother of O. B. Mclntire, of Remington, died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Wells, in Indianapolis, January 22, 1881, In the 80th year of her age. She was the daughthr of Hon. David Bright, and sister to Hon. Jess® D., M. G, and George Bright, for many years prominent citizens of this State. Hei children, seven in number all survive her. LOST!—A small locket watchcharm. The finder will be rewarded on delivering it to Noble J. York. John Casey, at hi® Grocery Store, eight miles north of Rensselaer, has on hand a nice lot of straight posts seven feet long. Will be sold cheap, for cash. The second quarterly meeting for Rensselaer Circuit will be held in Rensselaer, Saturday and Sabbath, February 19th and 20th. Rev. Samuel Godfrey will conduct the services.