Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1874 — Page 1

1 1 - " ■== t*r Published every ibidat, ST CHAB. M. JOHNSON, HENBBELAEB, - - INDIANA. JOB PRINTING A SPECIALTY. Term* of Sm*»#eription. One Year. .$1 50 OM-bWetr 75 One-Quarter Tear 50

THE NEWS.

A deputation from fifty-two chambers of commerce waited upon Lord Derby on the 25th to protest against the pro- . posed reciprocity treaty between Canada and the United States. On the 25th the rhinoceros at the London Zoological Gardens fatally gored two of his keepers. A fire recently occurred at Cronstadt, Russia, which burned over fifteen squares of ground and consumed the residence* of about 15,000 persons. The latest reports from Iran represei& the Car lists as within 600 yards of th\ . fortifications. * The General Grand Chapter of 'Royal Arch Masons, recently in session at Nashville, Tenn., elected and installed the following officers: John Frizzell, of Tennessee, Deputy General Grand High Priest; R. F. Bower Low, of Louisiana, Grand King; John McClelland, of Massachusetts, Grand Treasurer; C. G. Fox, of New York, General Grand Secretary; Henry Bostwick, General Grand Royal ’ Arch Captain. Were was a convention of leading members of the Independent party in Indiana at Indianapolis on the 25th, at which a declaration of principles was adopted—favoring a new political organization and advocating the withdrawal from circulation of all National and State bank notes and the issuing of paper money by the Government directly to the people, such money to be a legal tender for public and private debts, including duties on imports. A National Executive Committee was appointed. At its recent session the Indiana State Grange adopted a resolution “ that the State Grange, in council assembled, has no sympathy with any past, present, or future attempt that may be made by any political party or political aspirant to absorb a little reflected warmth, decency, or Support by persistently calling and publishing their meetings at the same time and place of ours, and that a decent respect for our Order requires that such attempts be suitably rebuked by publishing this resolution.” Wesley Underwood, a convicted murderer, hung himself in the Palmyra (Mo.) fail on the night of the 24th. He was to have been hung on the 27th. A recent decision of the Indiana Supreme Court declares that colored children are not entitled to public school benefits, on the ground that at the time of the adoption of the State Constitution colored people were not citizens. In the opinion of the court the Fourteenth Amendment, subsequently adopted, does not supersede this provision of the State Constitution.

The recent publication of the pretended account of the escape of the wild beasts at Central Park and the filling and maiming of a great number of persons has been the caupe of the death of Henry A. Martin, of Plainfield, N. J. He read the account in the New York Herald, became terribly excited over the perusal of the horrible details, was taken sick, and shortly after died. The New York Graphic of a late date mentions that the New York Central and Lake Shore Railroads have decided to extend a double track from Albany to Chicago, to be used for freight purposes. The tracks between New York and Albany are already completed. A weak shock of an earthquake was felt in Newburyport, Mass., on the night of the 24th. The vibration was from west to east. Vice-President Wilson is said v to have so much improved in health lately as to justify the expectation that he will preside over the deliberations of the Senate during the coming session. The safe-burglary case, which has been on trial at Washington for some time past, was concluded on the 27th by a verdict of not guilty as to Williams, and a report of inability to agree as to Harrington and Whitely. The United States Supreme Court has recently decided that the Indians, in their tribal relations, have no property rights in fee, and that the timber and mineral on the reservations are a part of the realty and cannot Jbe sold or leased. The ’longshoremen of New York struck on the 27th..

A bad condition of affairs is reported in various parts of the Pennsylvania coal region. Biots and personal outrages are said to be of almost daily occurrence. The body of the infant child ot Mrs. Goss, of Freemansburg, Pa., which was reported to have been stolen on the night of the 26th from the crib by its mother’s bedside, was found in the river at that place on the 27th. Mrs. Goss has been arrested for drowning the little creature. At a recent session of the Western Bureau of Railway Commissioners in Indianapolis it was decided to advance the rates on all kinds of freight from Western points to the seaboard five cents per hundred pounds. The new Michigan Constitution was defeated by 84,762 votes. Woman suffrage failed by a majority of 96,877. Kidder, the Republican candidate for Delegate to Congress from Dakota, had a majority of 2,408. A New Orleans dispatch of the 27th announces the arrest of nineteen citizens of Lafourche Parish upon warrants charging them with violating the Enforcement act. The Indiana State Grange at its recent session appropriated SI,OOO to aid the Nebraska grasshopper sufferers, and recommended the subordinate Granges to contribute additional sums. The balance in the treasury was stated to be $14,800.57. The recently-elected Clerk ts the Ken-

THE JASPER REPUBLICAN.

VOLUME I.

tucky Court of Appeals has been declared ineligible by the Returning Board because he had once been concerned in a duel. He has taken the case to the Cohrt of Appeals on the ground that the Board had no authority to inquire into question elegibility, their duty being simply to certify the result* Reinforcements sailed for Cuba on the 28th. 4 'V/fT *fl r s t Disraeli was very ill tm'tfie 28th, and unaWe to attend to business. » *T#|s A letter from Archbishop Manning was read in all the churches of his diojpese on the 29th, in which he says those who decline to accept the doctrine of papal infallibility cease to be Catholics. The Postmaster-General’s report for the year ending June 80, 1874, shows the following condition of affairs in his department: Revenues, 24,596,5(18; expenditures, 32,126,414; estimated expenditures for the year ending June 80, 1875, $36,964,984; total estimated revenue, $29,148,156—leaving a deficiency to be appropriated out of the general treasury of sfjfls,B7B.

Secretary Bristow has ordered the sale of $2,000,000 gold in New York during the month of December. Elias Williams and George Smith, of Hamilton County, N. Y., recently quarreled. In tbecourse of the fight Williams threw Smith over a wooden saw-horse and sawed off his head, severing it entirely from the body. Williams soon afterward cut his own throat. A Mrs. Janesch.of New York, has been arrested on the charge of having deliberately placed her little child on a hot stove and holding her there until she Was fatally burned. James Russell Lowell has been offered the Russian mission. He declined it.

During a riot at Shoustown, Pa., on the 29th, four Italian miners were killed and several more seriously injured. Hardin’s (Dem.) majority for Governor of Missouri is 37,462. The vote on the Constitutional Convention, with three counties to hear from, gives 1,108 majority for a convention. The King of the Sandwich Islands reached San Francisco on the 28th, en route for Washington. A Berlin dispatch of the Ist announces the sentence of the editor of the Vaterland to ten months’ imprisonment for stating in his newspaper that Kuhlmann’s attempt on the life of Bismarck was a sham plot conceived and engineered by the police. A Madrid special of the 30th ult. announces that Gen. Saballs and other prominent Carlists had abandoned the cause of Don Carlos.

Mayor Havemeyer, of New York, died on tbe 80th of apoplexy. On the 30th Judge Barrett, of New York, granted a writ of habeas corpus returnable in the Supreme Court on the 2d to inquire into the jurisdiction of the court that sentenced Wm. M. Tweed to imprisonment. A National Temperance Convention will be held at some point in the West during the coming year. The location, and time are not yet determined. The boy, thought by some to be Charlie Ross, in the family of F. W. Peyton, of Barboursville, W. Va., escaped from a neighboring poor-house. Later accounts from Tusctfmbia, Ala., say the loss of life by the recent tornado" in that vicinity was sixty, apd that more than an equal number were wounded. The value of property destroyed exceeded $500,000. Four hundred people are houseless, and there is great destitution. In a dispatch sent to his counsel at Washington on the 30th ult. Gov. Gar land, of Arkansas, says: “I am not concentrating troops to defy the President or Congress, as has been charged; nor for any other purpose. ,1 am not concentrating troops at all, there being peace and quiet throughout the State.” Wm. O. Key, cousin of the author of the “ Star Spangled Banner,” recently committed suicide at Baltimore. Walter Strain recently arrived at Des Moines, lowa, from the Black Hills, where he has been prospecting since August. He declares that there is not a shadow of truth in toe statements made as to the discoveries of gold in that country. Two of his comrades were shot by the Indians, of whom the hills are full.

M. Buffet was re-elected President of the French National Assembly on the Ist by an almost unanimous vote, the Left declining to vote. The British Government has annexed Grigua Land to Cape Colony. The Carlists on the Ist laid siege to Berga. The Postoffice Department have prepared instructions regulating the prepayment of postage on newspapers under the law which goes into effect Jan. 1, 1875. Instead of placing stamps on separate periodicals or papers, or on the packages containing them, according to weight, the forms already printed show a current account with publishers, and after the printed matter is weighed the requisite amount of stamps is posted in the form of a receipt given to the publisher or hia agent at the time of mailing, the credit and receipt having a corresponding number. The New Hampshire State Republican Convention will be held at Concord on the 12th of January, 1875. The National Board of Underwriters have decided to resume the business of insurance in Chicago. The newly-elected city officials of New Orleans were inaugurated op. the 30th. The Ohio Legislature met at Cohun-

OUR AIM: TO FEAR GOD, TELL THE TRUTH AND MAKE MONEY.

RENSSELAER, INDIANA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1874.

bus on the Ist. From the message of Gov. Allen the foUowingitems of general interest are gained: The total local indedtedness of the State is $21,886,007.36; reimbursable debts, $7,988,205.80; total, $39,874,212.66. The irreduceable debt is fi,f2&,i9uß6. The aggregate debts in OHo, State, local and trust fund, $38,997,264.52. The taxes levied in 1878, collectable in 1874, aggregate $26,474,459. The taxes levied in 1874, collectable in Is7J>, aggregate $27,614,729. The taxable , valuation in Ohio, «& shown by the grinds duplicate Of 1874, is: Real estate in cities, towns an 4 villages, $354,849,197; real estate not in cities," towns and villages, $897,408,587; personal property, $528,121,588. Total, $1,580,379,324, which .is an increase over the grand duplicate of 1873 of $13,104,865.

The statement of the condition of the public debt Dec. 1 is as follows: Six per cent, bonds • $1467.274,700 Five per cent, bonds ; M*,6SS,BOO Total coin bonds $1,719,799.900 Lawful money debt , 14,678,000 Matured debt........ 1g,#6,0«0 Legal-tender notes..:.. 382,075,267 Certificates of deposit .*:.4#,1*0,009 Fractional eurreney ■ 47,885,698 Coin certificates. 28,045,400 Interest 38451,111 Total debt $2,285,8tU,4f1fi , Cash in Treasury— ■ : s ßj»otoi Special deposits held for the reTotal in Treasury $146,863,073 Debt less cash in Treasury ......... $2,138^938,334 Decrease daring November 128,427 Decrease since Jane 30, 1874....*.. 4,149,907 Bends issued to the Pacific Bailway Companies, interest payable In lawful money, principal outstanding. $64,623,51* Interest accrued and not yet paid... 1,615,587 Interest paid by the United States.. 24,325,396 Interest repaid by the transportation -of mails, etc 5,510,044: Balance of interest paid by United States 7." .*.. 18,815,852 The American Cheap Transportation Convention met at Richmond, Va., on the Ist, seventy-five delegates being present and Hon. Josiah Quincy, of Massachusetts, presiding. A report on transportation was read by F. B. Tburber, of New York, id which he argued" in favor of trans-continental railroads in preference to canals. Committees were appointed.

THE MARKETS.

NEW YORK. Cotton— Middling upland 14X®15*c. Lit* Stock.—Beef Cattle—slo.oo@lß.oo. Hogs— Dressed, [email protected]>4; Live, $6.87!4©7.00. SheepLive, [email protected]. Brnadstotfs.—Flour—Good to choice, $5.66® 6.75 ; ■ white wheat extra, $5.75®6.25. Wheat—N o. 2 Chicago, sl.M®l.ll; lowa spring, $1.12®1.13; No. 2 Milwaukee spring, [email protected]. Rye—Western and State, 96@97c. Barley—sl.ss® 1.56. Corn—Mixed Western afloat, 88®90c. Oats— New Western, 67®69c. Provisions.—Pork—New Mess, $20.50®21.00. Lard—l3X@l4Hc. Cheeee-12K®15*c. ■ Wool.—Common to extra, 45©68c. CHICAGO. Lira Stock.—Beeves —Choice, $5.75®6.00; good, $4.50®5.00; medium, [email protected]; butchers’ stock, $2.50®4.25; stock cattle, $2.50® 3.75. Hogs—Live, $6.75®7.85. Sheep—Good to choice, $3.75®4.25. Pbovisions.—Butter—Choice, 82®38c. Eggs— Fresh, 26®27c. Cheese—New York factory, 15®15!4c; Western, 14®14He. Pork—New Mess, $20.50®20.75. Lard—l34@l3Mc. BrsadstoVfs.—Flour—'White winter extra, “$4.75®e.50; spring extra, $4.25®5.50. Wheat —Spring, No. 2,92@92V4c. Corn—No. 2, 79V4 @Boc. Oats—No. 2, 53@53V4c. Barley—No. 2, $1.21-4®!-22. Rye—No. 2, 92*®93c. Wool.—Tab-washed, 45®57c.; fleece, washed, 40®47c.; fleece, unwashed, 27®34c. Luxbbb.—First Clear, $50.00®58.00; Second Clear, $46.00®48.00; Common Boards, sll.oo® 12.00; Fencing, $U.00®12.00;- “A” Shingles, $3.00®3.25; Lath, $2.00®2.25. CINCINNATI. Brnadstuffs;—Flour—ss.oo®s.so. Wheat—Red, [email protected]. Com—New, 70®73c. Rye—[email protected]ß. Oats—ss®6oc. Barley-No. 1, $1.30®1.85. Pbovisions. Pork -13-4®l4c. ST. LOUIS. Lrv* Stock.—Beeves—Fair to choice, $4.50® 6.00. Hoga—Live, $6.75®7.35. Brnadstuffs. —Floor—XX Fall, $4.25®4.50. Wheat—No. 2 Red Fall, $1.09®1.10. Corn-No. 2,New, 72®72Hc. Oats—No. 2,56®66>4c. Rye—No. 2, 89®90c. Barley—sl.3s® 1.40. Provisions.—Pork—Meas, $19.75®20.00. Lard —l3>*®l3Kc. MILWAUKEE. Brnadstuffs.—Flour—Spring XX, $5.25®5 50. Wheat—Spring No. 1, 96®96V4c; No. 2, 91® 81 Kc. Corn-No. 2,74®74*c. Oats-No. 2, 53® 53*c. Rye-No. 1, 94®95c. Barley-No. 2, $1.97 91.88. DETROIT. Brnadstuffs. —Wheat—Extra, $1.17!4®1.18. Corn—73®73l4c. Oats—s3@s3»4c. TOLEDO. Brradbtuffs—Wheat—Amber Mich., $1.0814 ©1.09; No. 2 Red, $1.07-4®1.06. CornMixed, New, 72®72-4c. Oats—No. 1, 53@5314c. CLEVELAND. Brsadsttxits^-Wheat—No. 1 Red, sl.lO®l.U; N«. S Red, $1.04®14K. Cora-New, 74®75c. Oat*—sß®s9c. buffalo: Lrv* Stock.—Beeves Live, $6.50©7.25. Sheen—[email protected]. EABT LIBERTY. Lrv* Stock.—Beeves—Best, $6.25®6.75; medium, $5.25®6.00. Hogs Yorkers, $6.40© 6.60; Philadelphia, [email protected]. Sheep—Best, $4.75®5.00; medium, $4.00®4.50.

The Postal-Car System.

Wa&hingtoh, Nov. >7. Georgs S. Bangs, Superintendent of the Railway Postal Service, has completed his annual report. From this report it appears that, at the close of the fiscal year ending June 80, 1874, there were in operation fiftynine lines of railway postoffice cars, extending over 14,866 miles of railroad, on which was performed 34,925 miles of service daily and 12,747,625 miles of service annually, by 752 railway postoffice clerks. These clerks are .classified as . follows: 383 head clerks, 379 clerks, and ninety assistant clerks. By the establishment of new lines of railroad the postal facilities have been greatly increased. During the threatened refusal of the railroads to earry the mails an offer of the Baltimore & Ohio was accepted by the department. This gave daily service between Cincinnati, 0., and Chicago, Hi., 310 miles. This completes a through line between Washington ana Chlc o, and forms a connection between the roads centering at Cincinnati. Indianapolis and Chicago. Of the present condition of the railway postoffice service Mr. Bangs says: “The railway postofflce cars are now in operation'on most of the most important connecting and trunk lines of railroad, giving the most direct and

available transit to the mail* between the various raftroads upon Which service t* pet try for pttft trs nepriptation, is now used to a great extent In. the forwarding of through and direet malls; but, owing to the poor postal facilities at preeaat furnished by that road, it cannot be utilised to any great extent in the distribution of malls in transit. As this company has expressed its willingness to grant Improved accommodations the benefit to be derived would fully warrant the in the acceptance of the tame Thfi necessity of this addition to the postal-car lines can best bn judged by the following statement of toe bulk of mails passing between the East and West: New York city originates fifty-five to sixty tons of mail matter daily, as shewn by their official statement. Forty-five to fifty tons of this is forwarded on the trunk lines leading to the West find Southwest. Three of these lines—the Pennsylvania Railroad, New Yorfr <S Brie Raitoted, and New York Central Hudson River Railroad—carry daily over their whole length an average or 98,000 pounds of mail, ana as the bulk of this mail Is deposltedin the [ Offices at toe latest hour possible to make the thdas, or arrives on connecting trains, it must be distributed in transit, taxing the present accommodations to the utmost,-es-pecially as toe Erie Railroad is the only ana upon which the department have such accommodations as are required. The propriety of estabUshing a fast and exclusive mail-train between New York and Chicago has bean discussed for some time and there appears to be

a growing necessity for the same, this train to be under the control of the department so far 'as' it is necessary for the purposes designed, and to run the distance in About tweiaty-four hours. It is conceded by railroad officials that this can be done. The importance of a line like this cannot be overestimated. It would reduce the actual time> of the mail between-the East Mid West froip twelve to twenty-four hours, as it would necessarily be established upon one or more of the trunk lines having an extended system of connections. Its benefits would be in no wise confined, but extended to all parts of the country alike. It would also, if this line be established, be practicable to reduce to one Use daily, beside this through line, the service upon the three trunk lines to the West. This reduction would compensate for all the additional expense incurred by the fast mail train, especially as, by the operation of the law governing mail transportation, the more mail concentrated upon a single line of railway the less is the aggregate cost of transportation per pound or ton per mile.” With reference to the complaints of some railroads that the compensation is inadequate, Mr. Bangs thinks it advisable to recommend legislation placing the compensation to railroads on the basis of weight alone. With regard to the extra cost of the railway postal service the Superintendent thinks erroneous opinions obtain, and that the amount ($1,692,620) is more apparent than real, owing to the fact that many minor distributing offices and a large amount of clerk hire along the railroad routes and at the termini, not now rfequired., would be necessary in the absence of the present system. The superintendency would be necessary under any system, as the distribution and dispatch of mails would require the same general supervision as now to secure the best possible results. Not toe least consideration in favor of the railway postoffice is the avoidance of delays resulting from anyother Bystem than the distribution of mails in transit.

Postmaster-General’s Report.

Washington, Nov. 29. The report of the Postmaster-General is completed. The revenues for the year ending June 30, 1874, were $24,598,568, and the expenditure $32,126,414. The estimated expenditures for the year ending June 30 1876, are $36,964,034; total estimated revenue, $29,148,156, leaving a deficiency to be appropriated out of the general treasury of $7,815,878. These estimates do not include appropriations for steamship service and stamps, amounting to $2,098,500. The use of the registered-letter system is steadDy increasing. There has been a marked gain in the time of transporting through mails an average gain fromNe w Yorkto SanFrancisoo of five hours and thirty-two minutes, a gain for mails to New Orleans of two hours and fifty-seven minutes, and going north of one hour and fifty minutes, and a perceptible gain on all through routes in regularity and certainty. The foreign mail system is in better condition than ever before. The number of postofflces in operation June SO, 1874, was 34,294; total number of appointments during tne year, 9;428. The results of the extensions of "the letter-carrier system are of the most gratifying character. There has been a gain of over 30 per cent in the amount of fees received from money orders. There has been only one erroneous payment in 50,677 payments, and only seventy-four in all. The increase in money exchanges with Great Britain and Switzerland has been very marked. NEWSPAPER POSTAGE. ' By an act of Congress approved June 28, 1874, it is required that on and after the Ist of January, 1875, postage on newspapers and periodical publications mailed from a known office of publication or news ageney, and ad. dressed to regular subscribers or newsagents, shall be charged at the rate of two cents per pound, if issued weekly or oftener; ana at three cents per pound if issued less frequently than once a week. The act provides that matter shall be weighed in bulk and prepaid with adhesive stamps to be specially devised for the purpose. The manner of applying stamps Is left discretionary with the department, and a system which it is hoped will work satisfactorily has been devised for carrying the law into effect 'The stamps are note n course of preparation, and will be ready at the time appointed for their use. It is expected that the revenues of the department from postage on printed matter will be increased by the enforcement of this act, notwithstanding that rates are cheaper than before, as now postage wifi be prepaid, while heretofore much loss has been occasioned to the department on account of the non-collection of postage at the point of delivery. THE MONEY-ORDER SYSTEM. The money-order business of this department appears to be rapidly growing in public favor ana is, undoubtedly a very great accommodation to a large number of persons who arc not within reach «t banking faeiH-; ties or who are unaccustomed to the use of them. Yet I see no reason why this branch of service should not be made self-sustaining. The apparent profits of the money-order system during the last year are about $105,000, while certain expenses to the amount of $182,000 for clerk hire and stationery in the Postoffice Department, Auditor's office, and for money-order clerks in the Poetomce are not charged to the money-order business, but are paid out of apS nations', so that, white the money-order m appears to yield a revenue of $105,000, there is, In fact, a deficit of $70,000. I suggest, therefore, that the fees of money-orders be increased in accordance with the views of the Superintendent, submitted herewith (see appendix), or that the money-order system shall, like any other business, be made to defray all its own expenses. TRANSPORTATION OP MAULS. The number and length of mail routes in the United States require an expenditure for transportation which dwarfs into insignificance the cost of similar service in other countries. For the yesr ending June 30,1876, it is estimated that this item atone will exceed $10,000,000. The portion to be paid to railroads will amount to more than $8,000,000. Opinions have differed widely as to the best method of determining the rightful rates of compensation to be paid to the railroads /or services rendered to this department. Heretofore their pay has been based on tM

weight of. mails, with an additional allowance on certain thoroughfares for providing postal ears. At present the matter is in a very unsatisfactory condition, and some equitable mode df adjustment should be at once devised and sanctioned by law. dome of the roads have represented to the department that the carrying of the mails was little or no object to them, because the express companies were willing to pay much more for the accommodation furnished than the department would allow. On the other hand, representatives of toe leading express companies have contended that the act which took effect July 1, 1874, permitting the transmission by mail of packages of merchandise weighing not over four pounds at the'rate of one cent for each two ounces Is taking away the most profitable part of their business, and will soon render them unable to meet the heavy rentals demanded by the roads. Thus is presented a curious anomaly, the roads claiming that the Government does not pay as much as the express companies are ready to pay, and the express companies claiming, on the other hand, that the law is effecting such a diminution of their revenues that they are unable to' accede to the demands of the roads. I find no disposition on the part of any railroad or transportation company to deal otherwise with the department than in a spirit of fairness and justice. I trust Congress will adopt some equitable plan of adjustment which will not be burdensome to the Government, and which will be satisfactory to the companies. The act of March 3, 1873, readjusting the pay of railroads on the basis of the weight of toe mails carried, added much more largely than was anticipated to the expense of the department. The appropriation for that purpose having become exhausted, I have declined to make further payments. I would suggest that the time has eome when a resolute effort should be made to determine how far the Fostofflce Depafti nent can properly go in its I efforts to accommodate the public without trespassing unwarrantably upon toe sphere of private enterprise. There must be a limit to govermental interference, and happily it better suits the genius of the American people to help themselves than to depend on the State. , THB FUNCTIONS OF THK PEPABTMENT. To communicate intelligence and disseminate information are primary functions of this department. Any divergence from the legitimate sphere of its operation tends to disturb the first rule, that, in the ordinary branches of Hfe, the recipient of a benefit is the proper pfirty to pay for it, since there is no escape fflom the universal law that every service must, in some way, be paid for by some one. Moreover, in a country of vast extent like this, where most of the operations of the department are carried on remote from the con-

trolling center, the disposition to. engage in internal enterprises, more or less foreign to the theory of the system, will tend to embarrassments whereby expedition would be difficult. For years the franking privilege was an incubus upon the department and an obstacle to efficient postal reform. Its abolition, for which we are largely indebted to the resolution and wisdom of my predecessor, opens the way for other measures which have yfet to. he inaugurated and pressed to a *uccessfui issue before the department can be come self-sustaining. While Ido not flatter myself that I shall be able to accomplish this most desirable end during the short period of my service, I propose to keep it ‘steadily in view and to direct my best efforts toward its attainment.

For the first timerin the course of a Hfe devoted actively to business I find myself in charge of an establishment the expenditures of which largely, exceed its receipts—a state of afiairs which strikes with great force a mind more or less disciplined by that close inspection of accounts enforced in mercantile pursuits. In ordinary affairs there is but on&end to this condition of affairs —bankruptcy. The deficiency of this department has varied of late years from 15 to 20 per cent., while from the best data at my command I have been compelled to submit estimates for the year ending June 80,1876, which will show an expected excess of the expenditures over receipts of nearly $8,000,000, or about 25 per cent, of the entire revenue of the department. How far the American people will be willing to go in this direction remains to be seen. The difficulties in the way of adopting and enforcing' a policy of economy which while properly guarding the revenues of the department shall also afford to the new and growing patrons of our country the mail facilities to which the entererise of tpe people entitle them, are feW «r small, but to some way they can and must be surmounted. I deem it suitable to say here that I propose to guard with strict vigilance the expenditures of this department, sanctioning no outlay whieh can be avoided without detriment to the service, and so to conduct it* affairs generally that the interests of the public shall be paramount to those of any individual, corporation or party. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

MARSHALL JEWELL,

Postmaster-General,

Picking Up a Thimble.

There is nothing that a man can mash so hopelessly, awfully flat by stepping on it as a thimble. Other things are capable of being pressed out into a remarkable condition of thinness, but after a man lifts his foot off a thimble gold leaf is not a circumstance. And, it is a mortifying fact, speaking for our sex, that a man is never asked to pick up a thimble that he does not invariably step on it. Sometimes he reaches it and flat tens it out with the first stride he makes, as he springs from the chair, but, as a general thing, he backs up to it, teetering along across the carpet-in that ridiculous way which no created thing but a man can imitate, and looking down at his toes and in every other direction except behind him. When he has backed right up to |t she says, with a sweet smile, “There it is, right behind you.” And then he turns around and plants his foot on it. When he lifts up his mudhook that thimble looks like a nickel, in the gibbos phase. And when he picks it up and looks at her, her lovely face is about as destitute of a sweet smile as that thimble is of a place to put her finger. And then to see that wretched man break all the blades of his pen-knifs trying to pry that thimble open with it; and to see him set it on edge and try to pound it open with the poker; and to hear his heart-broken attempts at jokes, .and see the horrible shape he finally works the thimble into ; all this requires the sarcastic descriptive powers of the woman who sent him to pick up the thimble. —Burlington Hawk-Bye.

—The Prejsbyterian Synod of Virginia contains 191 ministers, 236 churches, 19,522 church members and 14,875 Sab-bath-school' scholars. They contributed last year $20,644 for home and foreign missions, $108,547 for pastors’ salaries, and $140,000 for other objects. —“You’ve sewed the wind,'and now you reap the whirlwind,” said the schoolteacher, as he brought his cane down hi a hurry on the back of a rebellions boy. “Yes, and it’s a regular hurry-cane, too,” sobbed the youngster, between the Whacks —JT. F, Commercial A4torti*or,

NUMBER 12.

The Democratic Party.

Shall the Democratic party be restored to power? No question of more momentous consequence was ever addressed to the American people. Those who are no# disposed to answer ittnftfte affirmative should first consider what the distinctive characteristics of the Democratic party were when it went out of office in 1861. We have but to recall the opening scenes of the rebellion —a cowardly, cringing Democratic President, a treacherous, treasonable Democratic Cabinet, defiant, ;., threatening Democratic rebels in the Senate and House of Congress uttering maledictions against the North and shaking off the dust of their feet against the Union as they haughtily stalked away to join the insurgent armies or to accept civil office under the Confederate States Government; wretched Democratic leaders skulking behind constitutional technicalities that the Constitution, the laws, liberty itself, might the iqore easily be stricken down. This, in brief, was the situation—the nation playing with a gigantic rebellion for

the stake of its life, and the Democratic party betting on the rebellion. Was there, during all the dark hours of the war, any suspension of Democratic hostility toward the Republican party, which, foot to foot with the foe, waged a doubtful struggle for the preservation of the Union? History has made its record, and it points to no instanee where the Democratic party rose above bitter and unrelenting partisanship to the dignity of a consideration of the superior claims of the Constitution and of the country. Witness, as the culminating act of a uniform course of carping criticism and open opposition, the resolution of the Democratic National. Convention of 1864. When the rebellion was trembling on the verge of helpless collapse, that convention, representing the principles and the personnel of the Democratic party, solemnly declared the war a failure and impudently demanded that terms of peace, fatal to the unity of the nation, be offered to the chiefs of the Confederacy Hew much better is the Democratic record since the war? Which of the amendments, now a part of the Constitution, did it support? Which of them did it not oppose with every weapon of political warfare? What act of reconstruction did the Democratic party not oppose with the most heated denunciation no less than the last resource of entreaty and argument? But the amendments were adopted, and the measures of reconstruction were supported by a vast majority of the people asfitssential to the future peace of the country no less than as acts of common justice in atonement for crimes done against a despised race in the abused name of liberty. Do the American people regret that they crushed out the rebellion, freed the negro, made him a citizen, and conferred upon him the right of suffrage ? Do they regret that they pursued the rebels “worn Atlanta to the sea,” and finally brought them to bay at Appomattox Court House ? Do they regret that they raised the flag from the dust where it was _ trailed by James Buchanan and the Democratic party in order that rebels might trample and spit upon it? If they do they are in accord with the Democratic party as it was and as it is; for no Single act of the Democratic party can be pointed to as evidence that, as a political organization, it has not been pervaded by the spirit of treason during every day and hour from 1861 to 1874. And what we mean by treason, as applied to the Democratic party, is a state of violent and unyielding protest against every fundamental act of the Republican party from the time of the arming to resist rebellion down to the adoption of the last statute growing legitimately out of the constitutional amendments. And we unhesitatingly declare that there is no evidence in the recent course of the Democratic party that it has not been and still is hostile to the Constitution as it is and inexorably bent upon the restoration of the Constitution as it was. We are .aware that few will believe it possible to circumvent the Constitution or ignore the letter or nullify the spirit of the amendments. Few will believe the Democratic party capable of a baseness so great as the withdrawal from the colored race of all the protection afforded by the Reconstruction laws, standing between them and their former owners and their, would-be re-enslavers. We are aware that in these times, when great events succeed each other in rapid, almost bewildering succession, the record of even recent history makes but small impression on the busy, preoccupied mind.. But we should not overlook the fact that only a dozen years ago a third of the entire population of the country subsisted almost solely off the enforced toil of some millions of negroes; that these poor wretches were bought and sold like cattle; that they were whipped unmercifully at the will of the owner ; that they were not unfrequently killed to gratify malice; that the black woman had no protection against the lust of the white man—in a word, that they were slaves, borne down beneath all the cruelty, oppression and suffering which that horrid condition, human slavery, implies. It will not be disputed, we think, that the great mass of the white people of the South are of the opinion still that a state of slavery is the proper condition of the negro. Jeff. Davis says so; all Southern Democratic leaders say so whenever there is not in view an immediate object to be promoted by a concealment of real opinions. The Georgia labor laws, the attempt to pass a peonage bill in Texas, and a like effort now in progress in Ar-

kansas, show plainly enough that the settled purpose of the white people of the South is practically to re-enslave the blacks. But there are many people at the North who are ready to say: “Away with the Southern question; let the South do as it pleases with the negroes; we have freed them and conferred upon them the right of suffrage; let them work out their own salvation.” To such we reply: It is more perilous to abandon the negro than to defend him; he cannot be got oat of American politics until he is fully recognized as an integral part of American politics, with rights which all White men are hound to respect. Holding the right of suffrage, but forbidden to exercise it, the negro becomes an unwilling ally of the Democratic party, forced to contribute negatively to its successes while it reduces him to virtual slavery. It was

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through the negro, »» slavery, that the Democratic party retained power the last dozen years of its ante-war life; it is through the negro, deprived of the exercise or the right of suffrage, that the Democratic party expects to regain control of national affairs. It follows logically that the Democratic party is, by the very force of circumstances, the foe of equal political rights. It hopes to mount to place and power through the prac tical denial of the right of suf frage ,tb the negro; once Itt place, It will continue to disfranchise him as toe guaranty of its retention of power. To those who decline to interest themselves in the question of morals and humanity as entering into political science and political practice we desire to put the question: How long is the oountry likely to remain at peace with the Democratic party raised to power through a, studied violation of the principles upon which the late war against rebellion was prosecuted? to a successful issue With the crashing out of the rebellion Lincoln thought peace would eome and come to stay. It did come, hut 'will it. “stay” if the principles for which Lincoln strove, and the country strove, are suffered to go by the board ? This is a question of vital consequence to the capitalist, the merchant, the banker, the manufacturer, the farmer, the mechanic, the laborer —to ever/body. For when war breaks out taxes rise. War not only mows down men, but unties the purse strings of every citizen and robs him of a share of his earnings. Is there any reason to believe that the country will suffer those principles to be abandoned for the preservation of which it so recently offered to sacrifice everything but honor? If there is no doubt on this point, then there is no safety in intrusting the conduct of affaire to the Democratic party; no safety to the honor of the nation, no safety to the pockets of the people. The Democratic party means reaction; is the country ready to take one backward step? The Democratic party brings to the front those leaders who, during the rebellion, were the most pronounced enemies of the Union; is the country ready to. support men now who were willing to see the Government go to pieces then? We think not; because,morals and humanity aside, the people cannot afford to do wrong in politics even in a purely economic point of view.— lnter-Ocean, 21th

Smothered in a Coffin.

The exceedingly narrow escape from being buried alive (and it was a case of smothering in a coffin) experienced by a young woman in Montreal, last week, ought perhaps to go far toward neutral* izing toe opposition which the cremationists are encountering. It appears that the lady was taken suddenly ill, and, after two.days’ sickness, was pronounced dead by the attending physician. Three days afterward the body was observed to be in a remarkable state of preservation, but the funeral was proceeded with. ■ When the procession arrived at toe cemetery toe coffin was removed to the Morgue in order to gratify the wishes of a bosom friend of the deceased, who had come a long distance to take a last farewell. The request was complied with, and the coffin-lid unscrewed, when, to the horror of all, toe corpse was found to be lying on its side, the bead twisted* round facing uppermost, toe grave clothes disarranged, while tbe left arm was drawn up as though to support the body, as if the unfortunate woman had been leaning on it in an ineffectual and terrible struggle for breath. The sight was heart-rending in the extreme, and the unfortunate husband of the deceased gave way to the wildest manifestations o#grief. Another gentleman, with his wife and her sister, who had been burying a child, happened to be present; the ladies were so overcome by what they saw as Jao become hysterical. They were speedily removed to a hotel, where restoratives were applied. It is supposed deceased had been lying in a trance, and was brought to life through the jolting of the hearse while on the rokd to the cemetery. The name of the victim is suppressed for manifest reasons, but there appears to be no reason for doubting toe truth of the report.— Chicago Tribune.

A Gigantic Project

The project of converting a portion of the Sahara Desert into an inland sea continues to find favor, and it is understood that thorough surveys with a view to determine the precise mode of accomplishing this object are underway by the French Government. As to whether the result aimed at is desirable or not is at present a question of considerable discussion. On the one hand, the replacing of a large amount of desert waste by water, and making seaports of interior points in Algeria, and the expected restoration of an ample rain-fall to various parts of Northern Africa, are viewed with tavorable anticipations. On the otherhand, it is maintained that the sea will be simply an immense evaporation basin, which will soon be clogged up with salt; or that a serious interference will take place in the amount of heated air carrie I across the Mediterranean, which at present prevents the extension of the Alpine glaciers. Should this be interrupted, it is feared that increased glaciation will ensue, possibly restoring a large portion of Central Europe to its' condition daring the reindeer-epoch. ■Whatever be the result of this great engineering operation, it is extremely probable that it will be attempted by the French authorities.— Harper’s Magazine.

—A Boston merchant attended a mesmeric entertainment in Beethoven Hall and laughed so immoderately that the operator was annoyed. The merchant was requested to he quiet, but he was unable to stop snickering and consequently was ejected. Being wealthy and obstinate, he will test in the courts the question whether a proprietor of a place of amusement can at will exclude persons who have bought tickets and taken their vests.