Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 66, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1904 — THE WEEKLY HISTORIAN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE WEEKLY HISTORIAN

One Hundred Years Ago. The execution of Due d’Enghien took place in Paris. The navy yard and marine barrack* nt Washington were established. Russia issued an imperial edict allowing land owners to grant freedom to their tenants, that the serfs might raise money to pay their debts. A great change was taking place in men’s dress, trousers taking the place of breeches and long stockings. At the request of the American min-

ister Napoleon Bonaparte sent a minister to Tripoli requesting the bey to liberate the officers and crew of the frigate Philadelphia. Congress passed a bill for the division of Ixmisiana territory into the southern district of Orleans and the northern district of Louisiana.T'he Governor of Cuba prohibited French privateers from carrying American products into any part of the island. Gen. Dessalines, Governor of Hayti, admitted massacre of whites on that island. Seventy-five Years Ago. The journey from New York to Boston was made in twenty-one hours by stage. Workmen on the Pennsylvania canal who struck for higher wages and committed acts of violence were captured by officers and the leaders put in jail. Stephenson's “Rocket,” the first modern locomotive, was traveling on a regular schedule at the rate of from twentyfive to thirty-five miles an hour. Prominent merchants of New York agreed to spend a few minutes every day at the coffee houses to give strangers a chance to transact business with less trouble. Manufacturers of bedticking, japanned ware and rope began successful operations at Wheeling, W. Va. The "arcade,” just completed at Providence, R. 1., was said to be the most costly and elegant building of its kiud in the United States. The extensive salt water ponds of Key West were examined with a view of using them for the manufacture of salt. Achille Murat, son of the late King of Naples, was a candidate for a seat in the Florida Legislature. Fifty Years Ago. Advices from Hongkong announced the defeat of the Chinese imperial army by rebels. England opened the Crimean war by declaring hostilities against Russia. The Duke of Parma was stabbed at Turin by an unknown assassin. The Spanish authorities surrenctbred the brig Black Warrior to Capt. Bullock on his paying $6,000 under protest. The English Baltic fleet sailed through Wingo sound to Kiel. Slavery was abolished in the republic of Venezuela. The Emperor of France announced that Russia had placed herself in the attitude of declaring war against France. The Orange Free State was forming a government. Forty Years Ago.

Gen. U. S. Grant, the new commander in chief of the United States army, started for the front with his staff. A bill was introduced in the House at Washington for the construction of a ship canal from the Mississippi river to Lake Michigan. A French war fleet was reported at the mouth of the Rio Grande river, preparatory to making a demonstration against the United States. Congressman Owen Lovejoy of Illinois died in Brooklyn, N. Y. Secretary of the Navy Welles advertised for negro seamen to join the United States navy, because of the scarcity of white sailors. A. bill appropriating $200,000 for a United States navy yard at Cairo. 1,11., was introduced in the House at Washington. Fraqk Blair nnd Gen. McClurg, in the House of Representatives at Washington, created excitement by denouncing each other ns liars and scoundrels. Civil War existed in Edgar and Coles counties, Illinois, a body of armed-Con-federate sympathizers being encamped near Charleston, with Union soldiers whom tjiey had taken prisoners. Thirty Years Ago. The French Parliament decided to determine by vote whether that country should be a republic or a monarchy in the future. The first interstate commerce bill passed the House at Washington, the result l,<»ing termed a “granger” triumph. John G. Whittier, Gen. Banks and Charles Francis Adams were among the candidates voted on to succeed Charles F. Sumner as United States Senator from Massachusetts.

New York “business men” held a mass meeting at Cooper Union to discuss the national finances, William Curlen Bryant presiding and Edward Atkinson of Boston delivering a speech against Ben Butler. A boom was started in the New York stock market on rumors that >25,000,% 000 would be added to the national currency, and that the free banking bill would be passed by Congress. ■ The British government proposed te the United States to establish special “tracks" for vessels crossing the Atlantic.