Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1874 — Page 4

THE RENSSELAER UNION. Thursday November 12, 1874.

There will never be another crop of “Southern outrage*” sown. The harvest this year didn’t return the seed planted. That hobby wm ridden to death. It is a dead issue. Like troth with many partisan papers, it out. Some people pretend to think that advertisements are not read. We read one the other day. It was in the Oxford Tribune, A man offered to sell liis house, and in his description said it “contains seven rooms, good well of water and stable.”— Quite convenient for a lazy family in the winter-time. Senator Thurman thinks that the Kn-klux intimidated the Republican# in Massachusetts and kept them from the polls on election day, especially in the Essex district, and thus accounts for the clectiou of a Democratic Governor and the defeat of Mr. B. F. Butler for Congress. Now will not the Inter-Ocean look into this matter and publish a column or two of blood-curdling details? Or has that paper also decided not to publish any more political “outrages” until a few weeks before next election?

Like a boy with a sore toe, the genius who supplies political editorial “copy” for the Republican ovei the way, stubs against every stone in the path. lie don’t know when to quit crying over defeat. He doesn’t seem to know that spilt milk can’t be gathered up without dirt. A much wiser policy is to let the dead past bury its dead; is not to whine over deteat like a spaniel; is not to harrow up the wounded sensibilities of those who have risked and lost; is to all act like practical men—the successful with deferential respect towards those over whom they have been preferred by the people, and the unsuccessful with a fortitude and grace that wins popular admiration and corn man d s re sped.

STARVING TO DEATH.

It is reported that ten thousand industrious men, hard-working women and tender children are destitute of proper clothing and on the verge of starvation in Nebraska, Kansas and other regions west ot the Missouri river where crops were destroyed by grasshoppers last summer. Winter, with its pitiless frosts, its ciuel snows, its cutting winds and its deathly rigors, is fast approaching and will soon envelop them, all unprepared as they are for its merciless assaults and defenseless against its ruthless anger. These people are pioneers, and the children that have been born to them, who left old settled States and went to settle, subdue, and prepare for civilization, the w ilds of the border. Many of them are our acquaintances, children of our neighbors, youths with whom we attended school, and comrades wfio shared with us the dangerous vicis-

situdes of war. They are our countrymen and our kindred. They toiled this last summer as we toiled; they ploughed, and planted, and cultivated, as we ploughed, planted and cultivated; they were industrious, economical'and hopeful. Our labor was crowned with success, a bountiful harvest rewards our industry, fat cattle, fat hogs and' bursting granaries greet us on every hand—we have plenty and to spare while they are suffering for even necessaries of life.—While we watched and our hearts gladdened as day by day our fields

perfected their wealth of grain, they, our unhappy countrymen, savy destruction as a cloud settle down upon promising fields and remorselessly devour the fruit of their toil, and the bread of their children, leaving in its path not even a green blade. Men, women, and children now shiver in the cold and are bangry. They have no money to boy food or clothing. Famine and death stare them in the face. They are now compelled to appeal to the charity of those who are surrounded with plenty, for succor in their extreme peril. Six months of gloomy printer and three months after spring has coroe will drag wearily by before they can raise anything to cat, and during this

period they must have help. It will require immense stores of food, clothing and seed, but there is plenty m the land outside bf the stricken districts, and it would be horrid cruelty were they permitted to perish for lack of it. No neighborhood can supply all they want, but each can and ought to give something.. Public meetings should be field everywhere that plenty abounds, and arangements made to send what can be spared as well as not. A little from each who has a surplus will help in these cases of necessity, and should be givon freely. Meetings are being held in the cities and large towns of the United States, and business men are responding with commendable alacrity to these piteous cries for help. This is noble and reflects gloriously upon those who give, but tradesmen ought not to bear all the burden. The sufferers are mostly farmers, and farmer's ought to be willing to assist them in their unequal struggle for existance.— Jasper county ought to donate for their relief Carloads of corn, beef, pork and clothing; and it the farmers and Grangers here sit by indifferently, surrounded and blessed as they are with more than they need to use, and permit these cries of suffering, coming from their own class, uttered by fainting women and little tender children, to fall upon unheeding, unsympathetic ears, it will be their eternal shame. Introduce this subject in your Grange meetings; talk it over with your neighbor, call meetings in every school house and collect donations of money, food and clothing to be sent to the sufferers. Give this matter prompt attention, and have these things done at once.

Hard Times in Kansas.

From a private letter written by a gentleman living in Southeastern Kansas, we make the following extract, thinking it will not be altogether uninteresting to those readers of The Union who may have been entertaining thoughts about moving west of the Missouri river at a future day :,.

“The dry weather still continues. Farmers have sown wheat down to the past week, [last week in October], and of course it is not all up yet. Times are very hard, ant many are looking forward with appiehension to the future. Money is very scarce. The wheat crops and cattle, which are all we produce for export, find a dull market With cash I could buy plenty of wheat at 50 cents a bushel, fat cows and heifers at $1.25 to $2 per cwt. on foot, corn 85 cents to $1 a bushel, oats 50 cents, potatoes #1.50, sweet potatoes $2 to #2 25, T>eans #3 ToTIS.SO. Dry goods are cheap, groceries dear. The country seems to be all broken up, and everybody on the move. Labor is very cheap. Men dig coal, haul it nine to twelve miles, and receive #2 a ton for it. Men are wandering everywhere for work Ind wages. There is reatly great destitution all through this part of the country, and worse west of ns.— The scarcity of mouey, and low prices ot everything there is to spare, makes business very dull) and the future is dismal and contemplated with dread. I was at Girard yesterday. Nothing but politics and poverty were the topics of debate, except a political temperance meeting was on the tapis. It excited but little interest All these political hobbies look to me like demagogisra, and this and other kindred oue-sided schemes, which are entirely devoid ot statesmanship, are disgusting to people who are exercised over the dread of nudity and short rations, with an uncertain wiuter'-just over the border of time, or over the border of the month, marching upon them. * * * * *

‘‘l see by The Union how the election resulted in your county.— Although I have very little respect for the purity or patriotism of th| leaders of either the old Democratic or Republican parties, yet in the upshot of things, and the outlook for th,p future, I think you, at least, have brave cause to congratulate your friends, and they ought to congratulate you on the re6nlt. On your side are all the offices of the chanty bf political significance

the commissioners, auditor, clerk and assessor. To carry these officers, the representative in the legislature, State senator and ber of Congress—and to defeat the power that has proven so shamefalse to tlfeir solemn pledges, so deaf to the appeals of patriotism, so scornful to the warnings of friends, and so blind to the admonition of the portentous events that were urged upon their attention in vain—are certainly things to be glad for, things to rejoice over. “I think the upshot of the whole business will prove in this way: In the future Mr. Grant will be more and pay more regard to public opinion. The Republican party will be more willing to heed advice. And the next Congress will receive a more practical message—one that ' will not recommend such utopian schemes as a canal from the Rocky Mountains through the great plains to the Missouri river, at a cost of ♦ 150,000,000; a ship canal from some point on the Mississippi over or through the Alleganies, to South Carolina, at an expense ♦150,000,- 1 000 to ♦300,000,000 more, all to be borne by the nation, with a Credit Mobilier tail for the personal benefit and ultimate ruin of Congressmen. The President will advise economy and curtailment of expenses, he will seem to care less about horse and more about the interests of the country; instead of trying to keep his party in power by factitious issues, as I ftm sorry to feel that Senator Morton did in the late canvass in Indiana, President Grant will be more worthy of himself, and laying aside fiction, strategy and buncomb, will show himself, as I believe he is capable of showing himself, a genuine statesman. “I hope there will be no more silly, men to propose a third term President. The people are not prepared for a monarchy, as was evidently intended to foreshadow’ in the proposal of Gen Grant fora third term. The fate of the Imperialist newspaper, started in New York a lew years since, demonstrated that the idea of a monarchy in ttie United States has so few advocates as to render such a theory so tar beneath contempt as hardly to elicit derision. * * The people are not willing to relinquish the right to elect a President to a second term it they so desire—that is, they are not willing to indorse a one-term policy either by limiting it to four years or extending it to six years. This they have repeatedly intimated.”

Education the Remedy.

The evil effects of intemperance, in the.use not only of intoxicating drinks but of.other stimulants and narcotics, are so great that it behooves reformers to study every phase of the question, and to urge every means of counteraction. It is well that the legal aspects of the temperance question should be thoroughly mastered and societygiven the benefit of all that can be done in this direction, either in the way of prohibition or restraint. But the moral aspect of the case is equally impdhant, and in this regard much can be done in the education of children and youth.— The idea should be thoroughlyinstilled into them not only that intemperance is morally degrading, but that the use of all stimulants retards mental and physical development, saps the system and ruins the health. A recent writer says: “I have long thought and frequent ly stated that if our young people would avoid the formation of habits of free indulgence in stimulants and narcotics until the growth is completed, a period which variously ranges between the age 6of twenty and twenty-five, intemperance and most of the physical disease that result from these substances 'would, iu the course of the next generation, be well-nigh unknown, for habitual intemperance, like most other vices, is usually the result of habits formed in youth.” This is sound philosophy. If we are becoming a nation of intemperate smokers, chewers and drinkers, it is largely because the youth of the land contract these vices at a period of life when they ought to eschew all stimulants, and when not only are the chains of habit easily forged which will bind them in -after life, but the healthy development ot mind and body are retarded and the seeds of disease planted deep in the sys tem- Even tea and coffee, unless very sparingly used, are injurious to growing youth, and how much more tobacco, wine mid spirits.—

Yet bow’ many American boys and girls are confirmed coffee and te 5 a drinkers, and how rare it is lo find a city youth of eighteen or twenty who does not smoke or drink, or, perhaps, do both. We art convinced that much more can be done than has yet been attempted to arrest the evils of intemperance by thoroughly instructing our youth as to its physiological effects. Of course the moral effects of all in temperance are worst, and not the least among v these is the utter enslavement to a low appetite or a bad habit—an idea which to any youth of pure mind and noble spirit ! must be intensely revolting. But in addition to the moral considerations, the physical evils 'resulting from the use of stimulants and narcotics in youth are such that a careful and constant inculcation of them could hardly fail To have its effect in restraining many who might otherwise insensibly lapse, as thousands do, into these bad habits, and waken only to find themselves in the iron grasp of an ineradicable vic«. A reform effected among the children and youth of the land might be slow in producing results, but it would be deep and lasting, and beneficial effects would appear with cumulative force in the improved morals, health and longevity ot the rac e.—lndianapolis Journal.

The Independent Party.

Both the Democratic and Republican parties repudiate the idea that there is an Independent party in the field, yet while they steadily ignore its existence, there is something in the political atmosphere that gives them great uneasiness. They know that never in the political history of this country have the people manifested such impatience at the bidding of the old organizations; and that there is a deep and well defined mis trust of both the old parties, that has pro dueed a spontaneous call for reform and that in response to that call the Independent party lias been started. Like all other political parlies the Independent party has been born ot necessity. The laboring masses saw that there must be something done to stay the tide of corruption which was gradually' undermining the government and reducing the laborer to the condition of serfs. There was a line of distinction between the capital and and labor of the country which was wrowing more and more distinct. The rich were growing richer; and the poor were growing poorer. Wealth was controlling the country, from the election precinct to the hulls of Congress, and the Executive chair. Beyond the power to vote foe just such men as capital had nominated in botl» the old parties, the voter had no rights which the mem eyed power seemed bound txe respect. These facts were scan, and appreciated by the thinking, men among the laboring masses, and a party lhat claimed to be represented by those who were identified with their interest was the want of the hour, and the Independent party was started. 'Shat it has not achieved success and elected a majority of the Representatives in our Legislature is- no cause of disappointment, sos the Independent party was only four months old when it met the trained and disciplined cohorts of the old parties at the pells on the 13&h of October; but their success has been such as to show the oki parties that in 1876 they will have to contend with a foe that knows not how to yield ; that success will as surely perch upon t e Independent banner as that the pet)pie know that they’ must triumph over organized corruption and capital, or political liberty in this country will exist only in name.— Kentiand Press.

The Election in Massachusetts

The result in this 'State is the most complete political revolution since the celebrated Know-Nothing flood in 1854. For the- first time since.its organization, the Republican party is stricken down Mr. Gac-ton, the Democratic candidate, is elected Governor by about 10,000 majority. The lesser officials on the general State ticket are elected by the Republicans by a small majority. They did not suffer from the special raid upon Mr. Talbot, on account of his identification with the prohibitory law and the State constabulary. The most important changes are, however, in the Congressional elections. Of the eleven members elected, five only are the regular Republican candidates; the other six are, thriee Democrats, openly supported by the best portion of the Republican party, and defeating General Butler, Dr. Ayer, aud Mr. Williams; Gen. Banks, a Liberal Republican ; Prof. Seelye, an Independent Reform Republican, and Mr. Chapin, an Independent Reform Democrat —all at least anti- Grant- and probably anti-Blaine members. The Slate Legislature is saved to the Republicans only oh a joint ballot, the Senate being against them by

two votes, and the House for them by probably about thirty. But unless the present temper of things greatly change, this majority is not large enough to be available for th 3 election ot Mr. Dawes to the United States Senate. The successor of Charles Sumner is more likely now to be Governor Bullock, of Worcester. The Executive Council will have a Republican majority, though, perhaps, all in our list is not chosen. This is important - to the State office holders—Gov. Gaston cannot disturb them very violently. —Springfield Republican.

The Nebraska Sufferers

To the People of Indiana : There are ten thousand people in the western part of the State of Nebraska who are reduced to the verge ol starvation. Nebraska, usually so prolific, has this year met with a sad mishap in the loss, by grasshoppers, of all the crops grown in the bolder counties. I lately traveled over the devastated region* and found the inhabitants in a most deplorable condition.— In Gundy, Hitchcock, Jasper, Boon, Furnas, Franklin, Phelps, Howard, Greeley, Valley, Buffalo and Sherman counties, fully one-third of the people had no shoes, and were clothed in rags. Many were living on little pieces of black bread, watermelons, squashes, and a few were already suffering from hunger. There was not over ten days’ supply of anything i» the counties. — Three counties had no meat, and most of the inhabitants had not •tasted animal food for six weeks. When houses- burn, food is generally at hand, and the people live on in comfort lut when crops fail, then suffering, and death must soon follow Th-s roar of the flames, and the crash of falling buildings awaken the anosi lively sympathy of more ioetunate neighbors, and they give liberally ; but in the loss of crops the bony hand of starvation comes, silently to grasp the vitals,and wring life tr jm the body. The people of Nebraska have suffered a worse disaster than fire. Fc« ten years this State has not only maintained its own people, but exported largely, and contributed liberally to the wants of the unfortunate of other States. Omaha g:i<re twenty thousand dollars iu cash to the Chicago sufferers after the fire which was more than one dollar per head for every man, woman and child in the city. The Nehraßkianß are now struggling manfully to maintain their unfortunate people, but they cannot do it unaided. There are leu thousand destitute to be fed from now until crops grow again. To feed, clothe and warm thesj will require at le;.st four dollars each per month for seven or eight months, a sum equal to ♦28U.000 or $300,000. ■Not lo seed the people would be to tleave them where we found them, without any means of living, and we must therefore give them seed to plant in the spring. This will fake SIOO,OOO more. The people are our frontiers-men, and we are equally interested in the settlement ot the West. People of Indiana, the facts are before you.—What will you do in the matter ? What is done should be done quickly. The destitute Nebraskians live in a beautiful section of the country. They are loth to leave their new-found homes, and I think it Is our duty to maintain them until crops can be grown again. It would not be good poliey to break up fourteen new counties ot the West, yet this must be done unless the people are fed.

J AMES S. BRISBIN, U. S. A.

That one of the principal causes of the defeat of the Republican party at the last election was the enormous increase in taxation, as a result jpf tfie action ot the last legislature, seems to admit of no doubt whatever. The people demanded retrenchment and reform; instead of giving them that, the Republican party gave them extravagance and increased taxation. The verdict was against the Republican party, and in favor of the party that had given them an economical administration, and promised to do the same thing The Democratic party is therefore charged by the people with the duty of cutting down expenses and reducing taxation. The state institutions can be run at a greatly reduced rate of expenses; and offi cers’ salaries, from governor to township trustee, may be cut down to a figure- more in consonance with the distressed condition of the people, without imparing the efficiency of the service, or withholding from the public functionaries a proper compensation tor services. The people expect the Demociatic legislature to effect Jthese reforms; every Democrat should aid this good work;* and no Democrat can be a true representative- ot the constituency that elected him if he fails to recognize this obligation. Right and justice, and every principle of fair dealing with the people, whose votes were obtained on pledges of retrench-

ment and reform, demand that economy and, low taxes shall be secured through the action of a Democratic legislature.— Plymouth Democrat. Whenever the Democratic party won an election anywhere, ot late years, or got hold of a greater or lesser measure of power in one locality or another, we have taken occasiou'tO give the successful leaders to understand that the party must be on its good behavior, and to warn them against those follies to which the party is chronically inclined, but which must inevitably bring it agam to ruin. The Democratic party has a better chance to make an impression in these times than it has previously had in a great while. It has also an nnasual chance to confirm the widespread apprehension that it is yet ready to act in a foolish way, or a rascally way, or a reckless way, or a repudiationary way, or a rebellious way. Many of the people who are willing it should be put. on probation—and there are, possibly, more of them now than atany time since Lincoln’s election —don’t think particularly well otits promises, but they think so particularly ill of Republican performances as to feel like making trial of a change. Now, then, under such circumstances, let the party show how it can behave itself in so far as it can control itself, and how it ean manage business in so far as it has power to do so. Wo are anxious it should make a good, show. We would like to have twoor three great parties emulating, eaeh other in excellence, rather than rivaling one another in folly and corruption. Let us have peace.Cincinnati Commercial.

A young couple were recentlymarried in this city who had, taking their word for it, been previously married only two weeks before, The girl eloped from her home with the young man to this city, and finally her father got* on their track and fbAlowediom. They asserted to him that they, had been married in Chicago,, but fearful of being left by the train had not waited to bring* away with them a* certificate* audihadl now. forgotten; the name of. the minister! who per- • formed the ceremony. The stern “paiient’’ thought like enough thUi** was so, but he should feel safer if be saw the knot tied before Ids own eyes,, and this he insisted in. The young wife is very prepossess? ing in appearance, and her husband looks like just the sort of chap the girls-sre most apt to fall m love with. —lSottfh Bend Tribune. AJI the road from Chicago to Delphi is under contract. N. K. Doniuan. is bo build the road from Englewoodito- Dyer; M. A. Halstead IroimDyer to the Kankakee river; P.. Clifford & Sons from the Kankakee river to Monticello, and Gutehe & Coj, from Monticello to Delphi. Erom Dyer to Lowell, seventeen miles are srraded and bridged, and,: aJtnost ready for the ties and iron. From Dyer towards Englewood two or three miles are graded, and. between Monticello and Delphi the work is progressing rapidly. In the South, beyond the Blue Ridge, the work is progressing with equal satisfaction. — Montieellc Herald.

Dr. Haymond, President of the Indianapolis, Delphi and Chicago road, who is exhibiting so mnch enterprise in pushing ahead this new line, is one of the best mathamaticians in the State, and speaks, seven different languages fluently. The Rev. B. W. Smith, of this pity, his brother-in-law, visited him, a day or two since, and states that the Doctor is confident that one year from the first of the present month he will have trains running over the entire line from Indianapolis to Chicago*.— lndianapolis .- Journal.

Tbe Laporte Herald says some of the best corn in that co«nty grew on the Kankakee marsh. Excellent crops have been raised tor a year or two in Lak» county on tbe Kankakee marsh, where ten years ago it was a great quagmire. The rapidity with whieh this marsh is: developing is very gratifying.— With a mere nominal expense applied in the shape of ditching, it will become the most fertile soil in. the country, and will teem with, luxuriant crops. —Lowell Star. A citizen of Indianapolis vouches for the fact that recently hia horse, a valuable animal, broke into the oorn bin of bis stable, and the next morning was found to have “foundered" himself, and at the time of discovery, was beyond power of moViftg. The owner immediately harnessed w him to the sulky and drove him that entire day—keeping him moving all the time—and at night returned him to the stable, a very tired but thoroughly cured animal. A Cass county farmer vfill enjoy Thanksgiving pies this- season made of a pumpkin which weighs \wo_hnndrod and eighty pounds.