Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 July 1902 — Page 2

OUR MOST GLORIOUS FOURTH

THE PAST AND FUTURE

SETTING AWAY FROM THE SPIRIT OF OLD. Fourth of July No Louver a Day for Conservative Patriots—Decadence of Old Customs—Country Is Moving on Broader Lines—Myths Exploded. July 4 seems to have lost its true sigMftcance and now belongs to the small My. whose highest aspiration is to burn incense to the Chinese god of lockjaw, if there is such a deity on the celestial calendar. The pestiferous firecracker and the physician’s ally, the toy pistol, are the small boy’s ycessories, both before ■nd after the fact/in murdering the peace of mind and destroying the nerves of peoHe who have outlived the ebullient stage •f youthful spirits and prefer to take their patriotism on the nation’s natal day as a man takes a cold lunch—solemnly and with a consuming desire to have it •ver with. Apart from Young America, •nd his peculiar ideas of a celebration, the day is given over to even more reprehensible forms of jollification, which ■re supposed to be in conformity with the spirit of the immortal Declaration. "Proclaim liberty throughout the land

SPREAD-EAGLE ORATION 75 TEARS AGO.

and to all the inhabitants thereof,” runs Ao Inscription on the old Liberty bell, and a goodly share of the people of the present day liberally construe the proclamation as a license to commit all manner of offenses against health, sobriety and the peace and dignity of the commonwealth. The Old Customs. Of coarse, some districts still preserve tike good old custom of firing anvils at midnight and daybreak, and between times, and the cock fight and horse race, the wrestling match and the foot race still keep alive the embers of patriotism la primitive settlements where civilization has not yet introduced baseball, the firemen’s parade and the shell game. But for the most part, the “Glorious Fourth” has become a back number. Its celebration has fallen into innocuous desuetude, and when an attempt is made to galvanise the moribund custom, nobody listens to the reading of the Declaration,

GENERAL TRAINING DAY OF OUR GREAT GRANDFATHERS.

and the orator speaks to unbearinc ears. Society hies itself to the seashore to hear what the wild wave* are saying; the pugilist hire* a hall and puts up a mimic fake of a gladiatorial combat, and every - Mj who can manage it gets out of town wtfl the trouble is over. The old fellows lament the decadence as the observance of the Fourth, and aigh fee the vanished days of general training and hard cider, when the gallant miMaasan in brave reginsentab pirouetted an a gaily caparisoned steed and stiffly assented the tactics ia the presence of

PRAYER OF THE REPUBLIC.

4 O Thou God that boldest nations in the hollow of Thy hand We implore anew Thy blessing on our loved, our native landl Far and wide our flag is waving over peoples old and new, Men that scarcely knew its symbols, red and white and starry blue. On the field of strife and carnage, strewn with wounded and with dead, Bathed in blood of dying heroes, waved a banner, flaming red! Tears of children, wives and mothers, waiting, watching day and night, Washed upon the flag of battle, stripes of peace in virgin white! Steadfast hearts for God and Country made a field of truest blue, And to guide a Nation’s footsteps, stars of light came shining through! Red for courage, honor, glory; white for justice, peace and love; Blue for faith and loyal virtue, stars for light from God above! In this sign we’ve lived and mountain, plain and trackless sea; Peaceful gains and warlike triumphs, all, O God, we owe to Thee! From a weak and struggling people, Thou hast raised us up to might; O Thou God of Hosts, we pray Thee, make our strength a shield of right! Thou hast built this great Republic, outflung over land and sea; Hold it ever in Thy keeping, sacred refuge of the free! "■*"* —Russel M. Seeds.

the village girls attired in white frocks and prunella gaiters. Recent events have demonstrated that there is no diminution of patriotism in the country, but it is nevertheless true that as a people we are getting away from the days and sentiments of the Conscript Fathers. “Times change and men change with them” is a truism being exemplified in the United States. Whether the change is progress or retrogression will be revealed when the future is unfolded to the view of the historian of the American republic. Turning Back the Years. Turning back 126 years, we find that the Fourth of July was a date fraught with the fate of men and nations. It was a time when, as the homely philoso- . pher Franklin said, the patriots must hang together or hang separately. It is well to remember this, if for no other reason than to remind us that things which have a beginning may have an end, and a nation which was founded in the struggle of man for civil liberty may be overthrown by man’s insatiate greed for glory. That was a solemn and momentous gathering in Philadelphia a century and a quarter ago. Many things have happened since then. Much progress has been made in applied arts and sciences, in discovery, in invention and in commercial and industrial development. Progress has also been made in enlightenment, and many cherished myths relating to men amLevents have been exploded. We have learned some things and have unlearned others. We have learned that the apotheosis of Washington was not justified by the facts. The iconoclast has demolished the godlike Washington nnd left us a man. In his present form he is more human and essentially greater than he was when invested with the attributes of the god-man. On tjte whole, we like him better now, but we did not give up the ideal Washington without a wrench.

A Literary Courtship.

“There is more in this literary business than I thought possible,” declared the young man who is in love. “When uiy

girl, owing to circumstances over which she bad no control, left for the West, 1 decided that I would follow as soon as 1 could earn enough to pny my fare there. “Some time ago I was In a book store and chanced to see a book entitled Tarry Thou Till I Come.’ The thought struck me that tt would be a good hint, no 1 purchased the book and sent It to her. By return mail I received from her The Right of Way.’ Say, that made me feel good all over. “But one month later I was startled and somewhat puzzled by getting ’Great

Expectations,’ and the best way I could figure it out was that she had met some one out there with a lot of money and was trying to break the news to me gent‘fr- ~. “Yesterday I was knocked all in a heap by receiving "The Crisis.’ I’na going West to-morrow if I have to ride on a brakebeam.’’—Detroit Free Press.

THE CANNON-CRACKER.

IT was a Chinese cracker, And an clad In glowing Lay trembling In a wooden box, BeSl b *d °° r Tommy ’* fiftHr "To-morrow,” sighed the cracker, "Unless I swiftly fly, gST Long ere the shining sun 1 1S U P> ( »I shall most surely J die!” Out of the box he clambered.

With many a glance of dread, Where Tommy, dreaming of the Fourth, Lay tossing on his bed. The cracker, trembling greatly, Then hied him to a wood. And sought a dark and lonely dell, Where drops of moisture stood. The woodland creatures gathered, And gazed, with startled eyes, And listened to his tale of woe With murmurs of surprise. Said the selfish, boastful cracker: “You see, I used my wits. My brothers In that fatal box Will all be blown to bits; “While I, because I reasoned, And dared to act ” Per-BANGI.'I A terrible explosion Throughout the woodland rang. It was a frisky firefly Toyed with that dangling cue; And Into countless pieces The cannon-cracker flew I —St. Nicholas.

THE MECKLENBURG MYTH.

No Declaration Adopted Prior to the Great Declaration. The Mecklenburg declaration of independence Is one of the most persistent of our myths; but the patient researches of the historian has uncovered its fallacious foundation, albeit the people of North Carolina still religiously celebrate May 20 as the anniversary of the alleged adoption of the so-called “declaration of independence” in 1775. The Mecklenburg myth owes Its origin to one of the earliest attempts at yellow journalism made by the American press. In other words, it was an audacious “fake,” but as fakes were not so common in early days as now, the Mecklenburg fake was taken seriously and nas become a part of the accepted history of the country, surviving the lapse of nearly a century and still retaining a tenacious hold upon public belief. The story of the Mecklenburg “declaration of independence” delusion Is this: On April 30. 1819. the Raleigh (N. O.) Register published five resolutions and an accompanying statement purporting to have been written at the time, which said that the resolutions were adopted on May 20, 1775, by delegates from the different parts of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, at a meeting in Charlotte, in that county. The third of these resolution* read thus: “That we do hereby declare ourselves a free and independent people, and of right ought to be a sovereign and self-governing association, under the control of no power other than that of our God and the general government of the Congress; to the maintenance of which independence we solemnly pledge to each other our mutual co-opera-*tion, our lives, our fortunes and our most sacred honor.” It was a clever Invention, circumstantially fortified forty-four years after the alleged event. But unfortunately for the Inventors of the yarn, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and other prominent members of the Continental Congress declared In 1819 that they never heard of the Mecklenburg resolutions. Furthermore. Dr. Williamson made no mention of it In

his history of North Carolina, and, finally, three months after the alleged adoption of the resolutions, the Legislature of North Carolina, including the members from Mecklenburg County, reported a “test of loyalty” which all the members signed, and which began with these words: “We, the subscribers, professing our allegiance to the King,” etc. All of Mecklenburg County’s representatives in the assembly signed this “test of loyalty” to George 111., and four of these representatives were among the reputed signers of the alleged paper of May 20 of that yrear, two of them being the leaders in the pretended movement which that imagined document was said to have voiced. As a matter of fact no community adopted a declaration of independence in advance of the year of the momentous pronouncement drawn up by Thomas Jefferson and signed by himself and colleagues of the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. Protests against the pretensions of the British government were made by resolutions in several communities, but no declaration of independence of the colonies. From all of which it appears that yellow journalism in its incipient stage was rather more of a success In imposing upon national credulity than is the finished product of to-day. It also proves that whilst fake journalism has been amplified, it is no new thing in the land.

Should Begin at Home.

"Ugh!” remarked Chief Man-Who-Eats-Salt-Horse. “Big white chief say poor Indian must not paint face any more.” “Ugh!” commented Thunder-in-the-Middle-of-the-Afternoon. “Heap tough. Why don’t white man try scheme on his wife first? Heap ’fraid—that’s why.” And the noble red men resumed the discussion of the proper amount of firewood to be carried by a squaw and the proper amount of firewate rto be carried by a chief.—Baltimore American.

INDEPENDENT CORPOREAL DEPENDENCIES.

Said the thumb to the band as the fireworks slzzed, On Independence day, “Unhand me—give me liberty; I’m tired of this dependency.” It bunt Its bonds straightway. Then the Index fingers, feet and arms, Demanded to be free; And oft they went to join the thumb ’Mid the roar of the patriotic bomb. Each an independency.

Was Not Scented.

The unsophisticated old woman asked a druggist the other day if he had any soap. “Yes, ma’am,” he replied. “Do you want it scented or unscented?” “Well,” she replied, “bein’ it’s so small, I guess I’ll take it along with me.”—New Orleans Times-Democrat.

The Literal Mind.

Bachelor—You look tired, old man. Benedict —Yes, I’ve been up every night with the baby. She’s been cutting her teeth. Bachelor—Cutting her teeth! Why in blazes didn’t you take the knife away from her?

Filial Affection.

Casey—Fifty dollars O’Brien spint tryin’ to gjt his mother-in-law out av purgatory. Daly—Fifty dollars? Casey—TU’ Z ,same! He six he wants to, git her out before be goes in, if ti kin be done!—Puck.

Mercantile Patriotism.

“1 wisht I ’tood buy dat dlfcflr fra* but I on’y dot five cents. Tan’t you ee> it for dat?” “My dear tittle sir, I’ll never lower the Stars and Stripes.”

CONDITION OF CROPS

COOL WEATHER IN MANY DISTRICTS RETARDS GROWTH. Texas Needs Rain—Winter Wheat Harvest in Some Sections Delayed by Rain—Lack of Moisture Affecting the Prospects fpr Cotton. ■ The weather bureau’s weekly summary at crop conditions'ls as follows: The week ending June 23 was abnormally cool in all districts east of the Rocky Mountains, except along the South Atlantic and gulf coasts, with more or less damaging frosts in the central and northern Rocky Mountain districts, the Dakotas, Minnesoita and portions of lowa and New York. Local showers have afforded relief in portions of the central gulf States and over very limited areas In Texas, but in much of the greater part of that State no rain has fallen and high temperatures have prevailed. Portions of the lower Missouri valley and lower lake region continue to suffer from excessive rains. The conditions on the Pacific coast were favorable notwithstanding the prevalence of hot, drying winds in Washington. The unseasonably low temperatures have checked the growth of corn over the northern portion of the corn belt and cultivation has been retarded by rains in portions of the upper Ohio valley, upper lake region and upper Missouri valley. In the lower Missouri valley, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Tennessee and the-middle and southern Atlantic States the crop has made favorable progress. In the central gulf States early corn has been injured seriously by drouth and in Texas the crop is the poorest for a number of years. Winter wheat harvest has been delayed by rain in the lower Missouri valley, but has progressed favorably in the Ohio valley and middle Atlantic States. The crop has experienced no unfavorable conditions during the week, although low temperatures have cheeked ripeniug over the northern portion of the winter wheat States, where the heads are filling well. In Oregon and Washington hot, drying winds have prevailed, but wheat has escaped injury, and in California, where shipments have begun, harvesting continues under favorable conditions. Spring wheat has made excellent progress generally throughout the spring wheat region and is heading in the more northerly portions. Too rank growth, however, is reported from Wisconsin and lowa, with a tendency to rust in the latter State. —— The general outlook for oats continues promising in the States of the central valleys and Northwest, although rank growth and lodging are reported from the central Missouri and upper Missis-* pippi valleys. In Arkansas, Tennessee and western Kentucky prospects have been lessened by drouth. Harvesting has begun as far north as southern Kansas As in the previous week, cotton has experienced favorable conditions over the northern portion of the central and western districts and generally throughout the eastern portion of the cotton belt. Lice, however, are reported more extensively and some fields in South Carolina are grassy. With very little rain in Texas and only scattered showers over the southern portion of the central districts the growth of cotton has been checked, especially in Louisiana and Texas, andin the latter State shedding, blooming to tops and unsatisfactory fruiting are reported, but lice and boll weevil are disappearing.

Western Crop Reports. Missouri—Unseasonably cool; drought In eastern counties relieved; showers interfered with wheat harvest, but no serious damage to wheat In shock; corn exceptionally promising, earliest tasseling; cotton fine; oats generally promise went- hay crop will be very near average; minor crops doing nicely; apples dropping in places, crop generally light; peaches abundant in extreme south, none elsewhere. Illinois—Weather cool, with light rain; wheat harvest in progress; yield disappointing In south, but prospects good north; rye, oats, corn, meadows, potatoes, and gardens good, but corn slightly injured by chinch bugs In south; apples dropping; peaches light crop; small fruits vary from poor to good. Indiana —Temperature averaged below normal; more rain than needed in extreme northwest, but insufficient in extreme southwest counties; some rust on wheat, damage slight; wheat harvest under way In south section, promises good yield; heavy crop of clover being harvested; oats promise'a good crop; corn In excellent condition except In extreme northwest and southwest .counties; applies light crop, falling. Ohio—Wheat cutting began In south; heads fairly well tilled, straw short; corn growing well in south; too cool and wet in north; early potatoes excellent; planting of late potatoes delayed by rain; oats, gardens, pastures, rye, barley, meadows and timothy Improved; clover cutting under way; light except in northwest; tobacco growing well; apples dropping badly; few peaches, pears and plums falling. Michigan—Wet, cool weather has delayed cultivation and the planting of beans and late potatoes and has greatly retarded the growth of corn; wheat, rye, meadows and pastures made good progress, but other vegetation Is backward; corn small and weedy; oats, barley and late potatoes in fair condition; clover haying begun and all haying will be general as soon as dry weather permits.

Wisconsin—Week favorable for cultivating corn and potatoes; winter wheat and rye heavy growth, filling well; some clover cut, heavy crop where not winter killed; barley, oats, and spring wheat rank and considerable lodging; too cool for corn, though condition of crop generally satisfactory; potatoes doing well; some damage to cranberries by heavy rains; apples light on account of blight; strawberries and cherries medium; blueberries good. lowa—Unseasonably cool with light frbsts in numerous localities, but no damage; low temperature beneficial to small grains, which show tendency to rust aud lodge; corn variable ns to size and condition of cultivation, but Is making fair progress; apple crop doing fairly well. South Dakota—Abnormally cool weather retarded corn growth; scattered showers; some counties need rain; spring wheat, oats, barley, rye and grass generally continue thrifty; frost Saturday In east portion seriously injured many fields of corn and potatoes, some believed to be Irreparably damaged; some flax, rye, barley and fruit also damaged by frost. Nebraska—Cold, wet week, very favorable for growth of small grain, but too cold for corn; winter wheat has ripened slowly, but harvest generally just commencing, with fine crop; oats heading nicely, of rank growth and lodging slightly; corn has grown slowly and some fields are weedy. Kansas—Wheat harvest nearly finished Is south, begun In north, delayed by rains In most counties; corn growing rapidly, In good condition, much bcin*: laid* by, tassellug In south, beginning tt silk; oat crop unusually good, harvesting In south and ripening In central; apples doing well in same counties, dropping In others; peaches ripe in south. Oklahoma and Indian Territories— Wheat, oats, alfalfa, grass, rye, barley, potatoes, early peaches and plamSbelng secured with fair to good yields; wheat threshing In progress, corn laid by In good condition, earing and growing rspMiy; cotton blooming and to excellent condition; cane k* dlr, broom corn, millet and flax making good I*at|otiUe those who advertise.

INDIANA INCIDENTS

RECORD OF EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK. Driven Crazy by White Cape—Methodist Minister and Grown Son Disappear—Juvenile Members of Thieving Gang Under Arrest at FrankfortHenry Deming, who w-as so mercilessly beaten by white caps in Monroe Co'tmty a few weeks ago, is a raving maniac as ■ result of his cruel punishment. Ever since the night of the whipping he has been morose and taciturn, and when he talked at all it was on the subject of his treatment and the disgrace that had been placed upon him. While in Bloomington the other day he suddenly began shrieking and moaning and calling upon the citizens to protect him from his enemies. He was restrained with difficulty and finally placed in jail. He imagines that the white Caps are trying to get him and pleads piteously for protection against them. Pastor and Son Disappear. The congregation of the Glendale Methodist Church is greatly worried because of the mysterious disappearance of the pastor, the Rev. W. P. Barnhill, and his son Wilfred. The latter was married to Miss Ethel Conley last February. The wife of the minister-deciares she knows not what has become of Mr. Barnhill or his son, but says her husband has worried a great deal of late because of indebtedness which he was unable to meet. Mr. Barnhill came to Washington from Sullivan three years ago. Previous to that he was pastor of the First Methodist Church in Evansville.

Led a Gang of Burglars. John Sines, aged 14, was placed in jail at Franklin, charged with burglary. The youth has been, it is said, the leader of a gang of boy burglars, whose ages range from 9 to 14 years, and who have committed numerous robberies in that city. Two of his younger brothers are also tinder arrest and have confessed to burglary. Sheriff Balks a Lynching. In order to protect his prisoner from violence at the hands of a mob Sheriff Schilling of Peru took John Haynes, colored, to'the State prison at Michigan City during the night, and thereby headed off a possible lynching. Haynes killed Clarence Gillespie of Glasgow, Pa., who had come to Peru to work in the steel plant. Within Our Borden. Militia company at Salem. Train killed T. J. Thomas, Opedee. Several plumbers, Fort Wayne, struck. Thomas Clark, tailor, Crawfordsville, assigned. Frank Shanks, 24, Anderson, killed by a train. Murderer of Young Lacey, Marion, still at large. Tony Richmer, 28, near Elizabeth, killed by lightning.— Hazel Ferris, 2, Fort Wayne, played with matches. Dead. W allace Steele, 7, Monon, played with a lamp and burned to death. • Central Traction Company will build ?30,000 power house at Tipton. Miss Hulda Culp, Goshen, swallowed carbolic. May die. No reason.

Fred Brown, 14, Paoli, accidentally shot by a companion, is dead. Robert Hayes, Lafayette, was seriously injured “in binder machinery. Horace Hadley, 19, Monrovia, took carbolic acid. No reason is known. Sam Austin, 14, hit Fred Coates, 17, Alexandria, with a brick. Serious. Miss Mattie Mehne, 20, Jasper, despondent in love, took poison. Dead. Little san of Mrs. B. Vaughn, Shelbyville, fell into boiling water. Dead. C. H. Worden is the new president of Fort Wayne’s First National Bank. Ex-City Treasurer Pabel, Goshen, charged with embezzlement, acquitted. Ralph Johnson, Fairbanks, tried to hang himself. Relatives cut him down. Joseph A. Whitsell, Greenfield, accidentally shot himself in the head. Will recover. Mrs. Cora Harmon, Elwood, tried to commit suicide by the red precipitate route. Doctor sawed her. A Big Four freight train was wrecked between Perth and Carbon, killing two men and injuring two others. The four were stealing a ride. While placing pins on the railway tracks at Evansville to be run over by trains, Olga Ruth, aged 10, was killed by an engine on the Louisville and Nashville road. Dr. Swain has announced a gift of $30,000 to Indiana university to erect a building for men and women on the campus. The donor stipulates that an equal amount must be raised before Jan. 1, 1903. Dr. Joseph Swain, president of the Indiana University, has resigned to accept the presidency of Swarthmore University, near Philadelphia. This is a Quaker institution. The new president of Indiana will be Dr. William Cowe Bryan, the vice-president. Great excitement was caused by the report that a mob was on its way to tho Vincennes jail to lynch William Edison, in custody on a charge of attacking 3-year-old Irma Pfohl June 1. The police were notified and to Increase the excitement some one .turned In an alarm of fire. This was done, it is believed, to draw a large crowd to the streets to swell the mob on its way to the jail. Half an hour after the first alarm a second one was turned in, but the police were on the lookout and prevented violence. The mob finally was dispersed and no attempt was made to enter the JailIn Evansville John Geiser, aged about 50, after a family quarrel, tried to hang himself. Charles Doctors, 16 years old, was accidentally shot and killed by Ernest Oockcrman at Kirkland, while they were playing soldier. Mrs. William Moore, wife of the mail carrier between Decker and Red Clond, while making the trip between the two points for her husband, who wan sick, was assaulted by a strange white man. Rhe succeeded in escaping from him, not, however, until he had torn from her most «f her clothing. * *