VOL. 42.
The Huntingdon Journal
Office in new JOURNAL Building, Fifth Street.
TIIE HUNTINGDON JOURNAL is published every
Friday by J. A. NAsn, at $2,00 per annum IN ADVANCE,
or $2.50 if not paid for in six months from date of sub
scription, and $3 if not paid within the year.
No paper discontinued, unless at the option of the pub
lisher, until all arrearages are paid.
No paper, however, will be sent out of the State unless
absolutely paid for in advance.
Transie'nindvertisemunts will be inserted at TWELVE
AND A-HALF CENTS per line for the first insertion, SEVEN
AND A-HALF CENTS for the second and FIVE CENTS per line
for all subsequent Insertions.
Regular quarterly and yearly business advertisements
will be inserted at the following rates:
IEIIIB3 501 4 501 5 501 8 00 1 4coll 900 18 00127 $ 36
2‘• 5 001 8 00110 00112 001118 00 36 00 50 65
3"I 7 00,10 0014 j 00j18 00 %c 011134 00 50 00 65 80
4 " 8 00114 00120 00118 00 1 c 01136 00 60 00 80 100
I 1..
3m 16m 19m I Iyr
All Resolutions of Associations, Communications of
limited or individual interest, all party annonacements,
and notices of Marriages and Deaths, exceeding five lines,
will be charged TEN CENTS per line.
Legal and other notices will be charged to the party
Laving them inserted.
Advertising Agents must find their commission outside
of these figures.
All advertising accounts are due and collectable
when the advertisement is once inserted.
. -
JOB PRINTING of every kind, Plain and Fancy Colors,
done with neatness and dispatch. Hand-bills, Blanks,
Cards, Pamphlets, &c., of every variety and style, printed
at the shortest notice, and everything in the Printing
line will be executed in the most artistic manner and at
the lowest rates.
Professional Cards•
Dll.. G. B. HOTCIIKIN, 204 Mifflin Street. O ffi ce cor
ner Fifth and Washington Sta., opposite the Poet Of
ficp. lluntingdon. Dunel4-1878
1 . 1 CALDWELL, Attorney-at-Law, No. ill, 3rd street.
V. Office formerly occupied by Messrs. Woods St
[apl2,'7l
DR. A.B. BRiIIifBAUG I, offers his professional services
to the community. Office, No. 623 Washington street,
one door east of the Catholic Parsonage. Lian4,'7l
IIYSKILL has permanently located in Alexandria
to practice his profession. Dan. 4 '7B-Iy.
C. STOCKTON, Surgeon Dentist. Office in Leister's
building, in the room formerly occupied by Dr. E.
J Greene, Iluaiugdon, Pa.
GEO. B. ORLADY, Attorney-at-Law, 405 Penn Street,
Huntingdon, Pa. [n0v17,'75
G. ROBB, Dentist , office in S. T. Brown's new building,
. No. 620, Penn Street, lluntingdon, Pa. [ap12.71
H.C. MADDEN, Attorney-at-Law. Office, No. —, Penn
Street, Huntingdon, Pa. [apl9,'7l
T SYLVANL'S BLAIR, Attorney-at-Law, Huntingdon,
. Pa. Office, Penn Street, three doors wost of 3rd
Street. [jan4,'7l
JT W. MATTERN, Attorney-at-Law and General Claim
. Agent, Huntingdon, Pa. Soldiers' claims against the
Government for back-pay, bounty, widows' and invalid
pensions attended to with great care and promptness. Of
fice on Penn Street. tjan4,'7l
T S. GEISSINOER , Attorney-at-Law and Notary Public,
L . S.
Huntingdon, Pa. Office, No. 230 Penn Street, oppu
of te Court Howie. [febs;7l
Q E. FLEMING, Attorney-at-Law, Huntingdon, Pa.,
Li office in Monitor building, Penn Street. Prompt
and careful attention given to all legal business.
[augs;74-6mos
WILLIAM A. FLEMING, Attorney-at-Law, Hunting
don, Pa. Special attention given to collections,
and all other legal business attended to with care and
promptness. Office, No. 229, Penn Street. [ap19,"71
Miscellaneous.
AVERILL BARLOW,
45 South Second Street,
Has the largest and best stock of
FURNITURE
1N
PHILADELPHIA.
All those in want of Furniture of
any quality, examine goods in other
stores, then call and compare prices.
with his. He guarrantees to sell low
er than any other dealer. Every ar
ticle warranted. [jan.2s-Iy.
FOR SALE.
CHOICE
FARMING LANDS
MINNESOTA AND DAKOTA,
BY TETE
Winona & St. Peter Railroad Co.
The WINONA d• ST. PETER R. R. Co., is now offering
for sale, at VERY tow prices, its land grant lands along the
line of its Railroad in Southern Minnesota and Eastern
Dakota, and will receive in payment therefor, at par, any
of the Mortgage Bonds of said Company.
These lands lie in the great wheat belt of the Northwest,
in a climate unsurpassed for healthfulness, and in a coun
try which is being rapidly settled by a thriving and indus
trious people, composed to a large extent of farmers, from
the Eastern and the older portions of the Northwestern
States.
If. hl. BURCUARD, Land Agent, for Pale of Lands of
Said Company, at MARSLIALL, LYON COUNTY, MINNE
SOTA.
GEO. P. GOODWIN, Land Commissioner.
General Office of Chicago ft North-western Railway Co.,
Chicago, 111.
To all persons requesting information, by mail or oth
erwise, Circulars and Maps will be sent free of cost by said
Land Commissioner or said Laud Agent. [mcbl-fou
Patents
obtained for Inventors, in the United States, Cana
da, and Europe at reduced rates. With our prin
cipal office located in Washington, directly opposite
the United States Patent Office, we are able to at
tend to all Patent Business with greater promptness
and despatch and less cost, than other patent attor
neys, who are at a distance from Washington, and
who hove, therefore, to employ"associate attorneys!.
We make preliminary examinations and furnish
opinions as to patentability, free of charge, and all
who are interested in new inventions and Patents are
invited to send for a copy of our "Guide for obtain
ing Patents," which is sent free to any address, and
contains complete instructions how to obtain Pat
ents, and other valuable matter. We refer to the
German-American National Bank, Washington, D.
C.; the Royal Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish
Legations, at Washington; Bon. Joseph Casey,
late Chief Justice U. S. Court of Claims; to the
Officials of the U. S. Patent Office, and to Senators
and Members of Congress from every State.
Address: LOUIS BAGGER (15 CO., Solicitors
of Patents and Attorneys at Law, Le Droit Building,
Washington, D. C. [apr26 7S-tf
a pp=, A LECTURE
T ci
YOUNG MEN_
A Lecture on the Nature, Treatment, and
Radical Cut, of Seminal Weakness, or Spermatorrhu•a,
induced by Sell-Abuse, Involuntary Emissions, Impoten
cy, Nervous Debility, and Impediments to Marriage gen
erally; Consumption, Epilepsy, and Fits; Mental and
Physical Incapacity, &c.—By ROBERT J. CULVER
WELL. M. D., author of the "Green Book," &c.
The world-renowned author, in this admirable Lecture,
clearly proves from his own experience that the awful
consequences of Self-Abuse may be effectually removed
without medicine, and without dangerous surgical opera
tion, hoagies, instruments, rings, or cordials ; pointing
out a mode of cure at once certain and effectual, by which
very sufferer, no matter what his condition may be, may
ure himself cheaply, privately and radically.
Sent, under seal, in a plain envelope, to any address, on
receipt of six cents, or two postage stamps.
Address the Publishers,
THE CULVERWELL MEDICAL CO.,
41 Ann St., N. Y; Post Office Box, 4586.
July 19-9 mos.
CHEVINGTON COAL.
AT THE
Old "Langdon Yard,"
in quantities to euit purchasers by the ton or car
load. Kindling wood cut to order, Pine Oak or
Hickory. Orders left at Judge Miller's store, at
any residence, 609 Mifflin et., or Gues Raymonds
may 3,'78-Iy.] J. 11. DAVIDSON.
HROBLEY, Merchant Tailor, No.
• 813 Mifflin street, West Huntingdon
Pa., respectfully solicits a share of public pat
ronage from town and country. [octl6,
SCHOOT . of every BOOK S
-ALA variety, cheap,
JOURNAL STORE.
at the
Legal Advertisements.
SHERIFF'S SALES.
.
By virtue of sundry writs of Fieri Facias
and Venditioni Exponas, to ins directed, I will
expose to public sale, at the Conrt House, in
Huntingdon, on
FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 1878,
at one o'clock, p. m., the following described Real
Estate, to wit :
All those certain five lots of ground, sit
uate in the borough of Huntingdon, Pa., on the
east side of Penn street, being lots Nos. 1,2, 3, 4
and 5 in block 6 of Wharton, Miller and Ander
son's addition to West Huntingdon, each of said
lots fronting 50 feet on Penn street and extending
back therefrom 150 feet and having thereon erect
ed a brick planing mill, and the machinery there
to belonging and lumber, sheds, office, stable, and
other outbuildings. •
Also, All of defendants' right, title and interest
in and to three other lots of ground on the west
side of Penn street, in said borough, opposite the
brick planing mill property, being lots Nos. 2, 4
and 5 in block H in Wharton, Miller and Ander
son's addition to West Huntingdon, each fronting
60 feet on Penn street, and running back about
150 feet to the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Also, All of defendants' right, title and interest
in and to two certain other lots of ground, situate
in said borough, fronting 50 feet each on Moore
street, and running back at right angles thereto to
an alley 150 feet, being lots Nos. 14 and 15 in
block 13 of Wharton, Miller and Anderson's ad
dition to West Huntingdon, one thereof (lot No.
14) having thereon erected a frame dwelling house
and outbuildings. The five lots last described are
subject to the payment of tho balance of the pur
chase due R. A. Miller and others, they having
been purchased by articles of agreement.
Seized, taken in execution, and to be sold as the
property of Elias Bartol, A. B. Kennedy, Joseph
March and David Mingle, with notice to William
March, A. R. Stewart, George W. Ehrhart„ W. H.
Woods, Assignee of William and Joseph March,
and S. T. Brown, Assignee of David Mingle, terre
tenants.;
ALSO--All the defendant's interest,
being the one undivided fourth part of all those
certain five lots of ground on the east side of Penn
street in West Huntingdon, being lots Nos. 1,2, 3,
4 and 5 in block 6 of Wharton, Miller and Ander
son's addition, having thereon erected a brick
planing mill, and the machinery thereto belong
ing, and lumber, sheds, office, stable, and other
outbuildings.
Seized, taken in execution, and to be sold as the
property of Alem B. Kennedy.
ALSO—AII of defendants' right, titlo
and interest in two lots of ground, situate in the
borough of Dudley, Huntingdon county, Pa., ad
joining lots of M. J. Martin on the south, and J.
Carthy on the north, each fronting 50 feet on
Front street, and extending in depth 150 feet to
an alley, being lots Nos. 20 and 21 in the plan of
said borough, having thereon erected a two-story
plank house 16x24 feet, frame stable and other
outbuildings.
Seized, taken in execution, and to be sold as the
property of Edward Dalton, John J. Martin and
C. K. Horton.
[ap1:18, '76.
ALSO—AII that certain lot or piece of
ground, situate in Oneida township, (now within
the borough of Huntingdon), in the eounty of
Huntingdon, adjoining the borough of Hunting
don at the intersection of Franklin (now Sixth)
street with the Warm Spring road, bounded and
described as follows : Beginning at a point on the
extended easterly line of Sixth street 50 feet
northward from the borough line, thence at right
angles to said line,and along Dorland st., (now Onei
da) st., toward Bath (now sth) street 90 feet; thence
at right angles to said Dorland street, northwardly
200 feet, more or less, by ground of Mrs. H.Bryan,
to a cross fence; thence by a line about due north
- feet, by ground of same to a point on the
lower line of survey made by J. S. Africa, at the
request of E. C. Summers; thence about 248 feet
by a line drawn at right angles to the Warm
Springs road by ground of same parties to said
road, and thence along said road to the place of
beginning, having thereon erected a two-story
frame dwelling house and outbuildings, and other
improvements.
Seized, taken in execution, and to be sold as the
property of Moritz Richter and Anton W. Rich
ter, terra tenant.
ALSO—AII that certain tract of land,
situate in Hopewell township, Huntingdon coun
ty, being bounded on the north, west and south
by the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River,
and on the east by Terrace Mountain, containing
one hundred and fifty acres, more or less, and hav
ing thereon erected a substantial log dwelling
house and log bans, and all necessary outbuildings.
Seized, taken in execution, and to be sold as the
property of John (faster.
ALSO—AII those two certain lots of
ground, situate in West Huntingdon, now part of
the borough of Huntingdon, fronting 50 feet on
Mifflin street and extending back in depth at right
angles to the same one hundred and fifty feet to a
fifteen foot alley, being lots numbered one hun
dred and fifty-three and one hundred and fifty-six
(Nos. 153 and 156) in the plan of said town of
West Huntingdon.
Seized, taken in execution, and to be sold as the
property of Henry L. McCarthy.
ALSO—AII of defendant's rizht, title
and interest in all that certain tract of land, situ
ate in Union township, adjoining land of Asher
Kelly on the northwest, a tract in the name of
Robert Bell, on the south, Brewster's heirs on the
east, and John Bell on the north, being on Jack's
Mountain, unimproved, containing about 100
acres, more or less, surveyed in the name of John
Bell.
Also, All that certain tract of land, situate in
Union township, bounded on the east by lands of
James McConahy, and on the north by lands of
Ephraim Thompson and Robert M. Jacobs, on the
west by lands of Robert Parker, on the south
partly by a rite, containing 190 acres, more or
less, having thereon a two-story frame planked
house, planked stable, frame and seat of a water
power sawmill and other outbuildings.
Also, All that certain tract of land, situate in
Brady township, Huntingdon county, Pa., meted
and bounded as follows : Beginning at a stone ;
thence by lands formerly owned by Reuben Ire
land south 45 degrees east 147 perches to a stone ;
thence by Jack's Mountain south 57 degrees west
236 perches to a stone, formerly a black oak cor
ner; thence by land formerly owned by Wm. Smith
north 17i degrees east 96 perches to a hickory ;
thence by George Otenkirk, now by Jacob Good
man, and others, north 6S degrees east 133 perches
to the place of beginning, containing 103 acres,
more or less.
Also, All the right, title and interest in all that
certain tract of land, situate in Brady township,
commencing at or near a red oak on the bank of
Juniata river as a corner of the Igo farm, and
thence down the said river to a tract of land in
the name of David R. Porter ; thence along the
line of the Porter survey up Rocky Ridge to the
Igo farm to or near the Pennsylvani t Canal and a
red oak at the place of beginning, containing four
acres and fifty-six perches.
Also, All that certain tract of land, situate in
Tod township, containing about 267 acres, adjoin
ing land of Isaac Cook on the north, Nathan G.
Horton on the east, and Jesse Cook on the south.
Also, All that certain tract of land situated in
Tod township, adjoining lands of Nathan Terrell,
Win. Houck, Wm. Suttle, containing about 201
acres, more or less.
Also, All that certain tract of land, situate in
Tell township, adjoining lands of Joseph Diggins,
Houck's heirs, Speer and Dougherty and Miles
Cook, containing 300 acres, more or less.
Also, All that certain tract of land situated in
Union township, on the south side of the Juniata
river near Jack's Narrows, containing 30 acres and
19 perches, having thereon erected a two-story
frame house, log barn, stone house, blacksmith
shop and distillery.
Seized, taken in execution, and to be sold as the
property of John McCombe.
ALSO—AII that certain messuage or
tenement and lot of ground, situate in the borough
of Huntingdon, fronting 50 feet, more or less, on
the west side of Seventh street, and running back
at right angles to said street one hundred and
ninety feet, more or less, to an alley, having there
on erected a two-story brick house, stable and out
buildings, being lot No. Seven, (7 in Dorland's
addition to the borough of Huntingdon), together
with all and singular, the buildings, improvements,
woods, ways, rights, liberties, privileges, heredit
aments, appurtenances to the same belonging or
in any wise appertaining, and the reversion or re
versions, remainder or remainders, rents, issues
and profits thereof.
Seized, taken in execution, and to be sold as the
property of Joseph March.
TERMS :—The price for which the property is
sold must be paid at the time of sale, or such
other arrangements made as will be approved,
otherwise the property will immediately be put up
and sold at the risk and expense of the person to
whom it was first sold, and who, in the case of
deficiency at such re-sale shall make good the same,
aEd in no instance will the deed be presented to
the court for confirmation unless the money is ac
tually paid to the Sheriff. Purchasers who are lien
creditors must procure a certified list of liens for
the Sheriff, in order to apply the amount of bids,
or any part thereof, on their liens.
SAM'L 11. IRVIN,
July 26-1878.] Sheriff.
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
HAS THE BEST HOTEL IN THE COUNTRY,
At $2.50 Per Day.
TREMONT H OUSE.
NO LIQUORS SOLD. [febls—y
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Ely 11lug? (I,aluct.
Somebody's Mother
The woman was old and ragged and gray,
And bent with the chill of the winter's day ;
The street was wet with a recent snow,
And the woman's feet were aged and slow,
She stood at the crossing and waited long
Alone, uncared for amid the throng
Of human beings who passed her by,
Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eye.
Down the street with laughter and shout,
Glad in their freedom of school left out,
Came the boys like a flock of sheep,
Hailing the snow piled white and deep.
Past the woman so old and gray,
Hastened the children on their way,
Nor offered a h"lpinz band to her,
So meek, so timid, afraid to stir
Lest the carriage wheels or the horse's feet
Should crowd her in the slippery street.
At.last came one of the merry troop—
The gravest laddie of all the group ;
lie paused beside her and whispered low,
"I'll help you across if you wish to go."
Her aged hand on his strong young aim
She placed, and so, without hurt or harm,
lie guided the trembling feet along,
Proud that his feet were young and strong
Then back again to his friends ho went.
His young heart happy and well content
"She's somebody's mother, boys, you know,
For all she's old and poor and slow ;
"And I hope somebody will lend a hand
To help my mother, you understand,
" If ever she's poor, and old and gray,
When her own dear boy is far away."
And "Somebody's Mother" bowed low her head
In her home that night, and the prayer she said
Was "God be kind to that noble boy,
Who is somebody's son and pride and joy."
Harper's Weekly,
Ely *full-Cella.
DAVID MATSON, THE LOST MAN.
BY JOHN G. WHITTIER
Who of my young readers have net read
the sorrowful story of Enoch Arden, so
sweetly and simply told by the great En
glish poet? It is the story of a man who
went to sea, leaving behind a sweet young
wife and little daughter. He was cast
away on a desert island, where he remained
several years, when he was discovered, and
taken off by a passing vessel.
Coming back to his native town, he
found his wife married to an old playmate
—a good man, rich and honored, with
whom she was living happily. The poor
mau, unwilling to cause her pain and per
plexity, resolved not to make himself
known to her, and lived and died alone.—
The poem has reminded me of a very sim
ilar story of my own New England neigh
borhood, which I have often heard, and
which I will try to tell, not in poetry, like
Alfred Tennyson's, but in my own poor
prose. I can assure my readers that, in
its main particulars, it is a true tale.
One bright Summer morning, more than
three score years ago, David Matson, with
his young wife and two healthy, barefooted
boys, stood on the bank of the river, near
their dwelling. They were waiting there
for Pelatiah Curtis to come round the
point with his wherry, to take the husband
and father to the port a few miles below.
The Lively Turtle was about to sail on a
voyage to Spain, and David was to go in
her as mate. They stood there in the level
morning sunshine, talking cheerfully; but
had you been near enough, you could have
seen tears in Anna :Matson's blue eyes, fur
she loved her husband, and knew there
was always danger on the sea.
And David's bluff, cheery voice trembled
a little now and then, for the honest sailor
loved his snug home on the Merrimac, with
the dear wife and her pretty boys. But
presently the wherry came alongside, and
David was just stepping in it, when he
turned back to kiss his wife and boys.
'•ln with you, man," said Pelatiah Cur
tis. •There's no time for kissing and such
fooleries when the tide serves."
And so they parted. Anna and her
boys went back to their home, and David
to the port from whence he sailed off in
the Lively Turtle. And months passed;
Autumn followed the Summer, and Winter
the Autumn ; and then Spring came ; anon
it was Summer on the river side, and he
did c'ot come back. And another year
passed, and then old sailors and fishermen
shook their heads solemnly, and said the
Lively Turtle was a lost ship, and would
never come back to port. And poor Anna
had her bombazine gown dyed black, and
her straw bonnet trimmed in mourning
ribbons, and thenceforth was known only
as the Widow Matson.
Aud how was it all this time with David
himself ?
Now, you must know that the Moham.
medan people of Algiers and Tripoli, Mo
gadore and Sake, and the Barbary coapt,
had for a long time been in the habit of
fitting out galleys and armed boats to seize
upon merchant vessels of Christian nations,
and make slaves of their crews and pas
sengers, just as men calling themselves
Christians in America were senaing ves
sels to Africa to catch black slaves for their
plantations. The Lively Turtle fell into
the hands of one of these roving sea rob
bers, and the crew were taken to Algiers,
and sold in the market-place as slaves, poor
David Matson among the rest.
When a boy, he learned the trade of
ship carpenter with his father, on the Mer
rimac, and now he was set at work in the
dockyards. His master, who was naturally
a kind man, did not overwork him.—
He had daily his three loaves of bread,
and when his clothing was worn out, its
place was supplied by the coarse cloth of
wool and camel's hair, woven by the Berber
women. Three hours before sunset he
was released from work, and Friday, which
is the Mohammedan Sabbath was a day of
entire rest. Once a year, at the season
called Ramcan, he was left at leisure for a
whole week.
Some time went on—days, weeks,montbs,
arid years. his dark hair became gray.
He still dreamed of his old home on the
Merrimac, and of his good Anna and her
boys. lie wondered whether they were
yet living, what they thought of him, and
what they were doing. The hope of ever
seeing them again grew fainter and fainter,
and at last nearly died out; and be re
signed himself to his fate as a slave for
life.
But one day a handsome middle aged
gentleman, in the dress of one of his own
countrymen, attended by a great officer of
the Dey, entered the shipyard, and called
up before him the American captives
The stranger was none other than Joel
Barlow, Commissioner of the United States
to procure the liberation of slaves belong
ing to that Government. lie took the
HUNTINGDON, PA , FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 1878.
men by the hand, as they came up, and
they were free. As you might expect, the
poor fellows were very grateful ; some
laughed, some wept for joy, some shouted
and sang, and threw up their caps, while
others, with David Matson among them,
knelt down on the chips, and thanked God
fur the great deliverance.
"This is a very affecting scene," said
the Commissioner, wiping his eyes. "I
must keep the impression of it fur my
Columbiad ;" and drawing out his tablets,
he proceeded to write on the spot an
apostrophe to Freedom, which afterward
found a place in his great epic.
David Matson had saved a little money
during his captivity, by odd jobs and work
on holidays. He got a passage to Malaga,
where he bought a nice shawl for his
wife, and a watch for each of his boys.—
He then went to the quay, where an Amer
ican ship was lying, just ready to sail for
Boston.
Almost the first man be saw on board
was Pelatiah Curtis, who had rowed him
down to the port seven years before. He
found that his old neighbor did not know
him, so changed was he with his long
beard and Moorish dress, whereupon, with-
out telling his name, he began to put
questions about his old home, and finally
asked if he knew Mrs. Matson.
"I rather think I do," said Pelatiah ;
"she is my wife."
- - - - —• •
"Your wife!" cried the other. "She is
mine before God and man. I am David
Matson, and she is the mother of my
children."
"And mine too," said Pelatiah. "I left
her with a babe in her arms. If you are
David Matson, your right to her is out
lawed; at any rate, she is mine, and I am
not the wan to give her up."
"God is great I" said poor David Mat
son, unconsciously repeating the familiar
words of Moslem submission. "His will
be done. "I loved her, but I shall never
see her again; give these, with my bless
ing, to the good woman and the boys ;" and
he handed over, with a sigh. the bundle
containing the gifts of his — wife and chil
dren.
He shook hands with his rival. "Pela
tiah," he said, looking back as he left the
ship, "be kind to Anna and my boys."
"Ay, ay, sir," responded the sailor, in
a careless tone. Ile watched the poor
man passing slowly up the narrow street,
until out of sight. "It's a hard case for
old David," he said, helping himself to a
fresh cud of tobacco ; "but I'm glad I've
seen the last of him."
Pelatiah Curtis reached home. lie told
Anna the story of her husband, and laid
his gifts in her lap. She did not shriek
nor faint, for she was a healthy woman,
with strong nerves ; but she stole away by
herself and wept bitterly. She lived many
years after, but could never be persuade I
to wear the pretty shawl which the hus
band of her youth had sent as his farewell
gift. There is, however, a tradition that,
in accordance with her dying wish, it was
wrapped about her poor old shoulders in
the coffin, and buried with her.
The little old bull's.eye watch, which is
still in the possession of one of her grand
children, is now all that remains to tell the
tale of David Matson, the lost man.
acct
Mourning Costumes.
If the intensity of grief is symbolized
by deep mourning, the sorrow is not
chronic that seldom outlasts the first sable
suit—six or twelve mouths being usually
sufficient to cheer the disconsolate, and
enable them to wear a subdued style of
grief. Soon the sombre tints vanish and
brighter hues appear, clouds of crape cease
to darken the face of the forlorn widow.
The widower, whose grief was boundless if
measured by the length of his visage and
the width of his black hat-band, has begun
to look approvingly on some fair girl.
young enough to be his daughter and old
enough to be his bride.
A decent respect for the customs and
opinions of society and the memory of the
dead requires some demonstration of grief,
some intermission from worldly gaieties.
But the isud wail is no evidence of anguish,
nor is the sable suit an exponent of dark
distress. Those who suffer most make no
sign, utter no cry, nor do they always
placard their afflictions in the habiliments
of woe. As grief in most instances fades
as rapidly as the colors of the mourning
attire, and is no reliable evidence that it
cannot be soon assuaged, why not discard
a custom better honored in the breach
than the observance ? Nevertheless, as it
seems to be the proper thing to don black
as mourning, and grief is seldom so exces
sive as to render the bereaved forgetful of
fas hion plates, deaths lamented in dark
raiment will be the accepted mode until
some one is sufficiently independent to dis
countenance it by his example and relieve
the public from such a grievous mortuary
tax. Can we not lament quite as sincerely
in garments of lighter hues ? Why pur
chase new toilettes to grieve in ? Can we
not cry becomingly in our ordinary cost
umes, without reference to color ? Such
a usage would be quite as sensible, as
expressive of grief, and much more econo
mical.
Moreover, the custom of going in mourn
ing is a pagan one, and should be discarded
by Christians. The early poets asserted
that souls after death went into a dark
and gloomy empire. Probably in conso
nence with this idea they imagined black
was the most congenial color for mourning.
The Chinese, Siamese and Japanese love
their families, and yet they choose to mourn
in white, conceiving the dead to become
beneficent genii. In Turkey, mourning is
of blue or violet. Ethiopians grieve in
gray ; the Russians in brown ; the Egyp
tians in yellow, the color of the dead
leaves; and we prefer to mourn in black,
which among the Japanese is a sign of re
joicing. Thus sorrow seems represented
by nearly all the hues of the rainbow, and,
in most instances, is comparatively as
evanescent. Neither black nor white nor
any intermediate tint is indispensable as a
livery of sorrow or joy. When society
recogniza that fact, and discontinues ob
servances of no practical benefit to any ex
cept modistes and furnishing establish
ments, a beneficial reform will be effected
and poor mourners will not be bowed down
at the same time with debt and sadness.—
Baltimore Herald.
A CONNECTICTT editor shows his famili
arity with agriculture in the following:—
" 'Tis wheat to n oat the pro-grass of the
approach of spring. Onion-der hills and
meadows nature is bean arrayed in all herb
beauty. The farmer manifests corn-cider
apple zeal in his efforts to secure early
field crops, while the gardens, with t-hay-r
radish•ional work, are being carefully at
tended to. These are farm•fetched puns.
They should turn-up better ones.
A Story of Real Life.
Some forty years ago a young man from
the Keystone State, a descendant from the
Quakers, was travelling in Kentucky, on
horseback, on some business connected
with a Philadelphia house. He was poor
and struggling hard to gain the means of
livelihood. One night he stopped at a rude
log cabin to seek shelter for the night.—
The accommodations were few, but upon
condition that the traveler would sleep in
the same bed with one of the eldest sons
of the family—there being quite a number
of children—he might stop over night.—
These terms were accepted. When the
comforts of the horse had received due at
tention, and a primitive supper of corn
dodgers and pork bad been partaken of by
the family and their guest, the beds were
prepared, and our traveling friend, with a
stout lad of eighteen years, retired to the
attic of the cabin. The stranger was a
young man of fair intelligence, reasonably
well versed in what was going on in ph e
world. His fellow for the night was of an
inquisitive turn of mind, had read all the
books he could find in that sparsely pop
ulated part of Kentucky, and was extremely
anxious to obtain an education, but was
destitute of means to accomplish that
worthy object in the usual way. Finding
his travelling friend was intelligent, he
talked to him nearly the whole night, ob•
taining from him a fund of information,
and, in confidence, explained to him his
ambitions, his privations, and his hopes.—
The night passed rapidly in this conversa
tion. Kindred spirits had met. Before
separating, the kind traveler, believing
that he could be of use to his young friend,
suggested to him that his acquaintance in
Philadelphia might enable him to procure
books for him at a liberal discount, and he
gave the farmer boy in the backwoods a
card containing the names of a firm of
booksellers with whom he was well ac
quainted, promising that on his return to
the city he would endeavor to make ar
rangements that would insure cheap books
for his new found friend. The young
Kentuckian was extremely grateful for the
proffer of aid, in just the direction he
most desired. After breakfast the traveler
took leave of the family and went on his
way. lie did not forget his promise to
intercede with the Philadelphia booksellers,
to let his Kentucky friend have the ad
vantage of cheap books.
Years rolled on ; the country prospered
for a time, and after many years it was
scourged with civil war, lasting for four
years. The young men whose acquaintances
were made as above related, had never
heard of each other's operations. Bath
had prospered; the young Pennsylvanian
had become wealthy and prominent. He
was honored with position and influence ;
had become a member of Congress, and
occupied a high position in that body.—
Indeed, he ranked among the ablest and
best men in Pennsylvania, honored and
respected wherever known. One evening
in 1870, while in his room at Washington,
a card was handed to him by a servant.—
On looking at it he did not recognize the
name as being that of any acquaintance,
but the stranger was invited into his room.
There was no recognition between the men
—then both past middle age. The visitor
inquired of the Congressman if his name
was— —. The answer was in the
affirmative. The visitor then handed the
Congressman an old card, and asked if he
recognized that. On looking carefully at
the card, the Congressman did recognize
it as the identical one he had given to his
backwoods Kentucky friend, more than
thirty years before, containing the names
of the firm of Philadelphia booksellers be-
fore alluded to ; and the visitor proved to
be the young bed fellow of the Kentucky
log cabin. The old friends of a night had
met ; the incidents of the life of each ware
briefly recited ; the trials, the successes,
the mishaps, and the honors received were
talked over most freely. The position of
the Pennsylvanian has been described.
Of the Kentuckian we will say a few
words. He availed himself of the offer of
cheap books, and was successful in procur
ing them from time to time, as means
would permit, and he attributed his future
success in life largely to the effect of the
card. He became well educated ; studied
law, and was admitted to the bar; took
prominent position in his native State;
advocated the abolition of slavery; was
recognized as one of the ablest lawyers ln
Kentucky, and became one of the promi
nent Republican leaders of that State.—
In 1861 he was appointed by President
Lincoln as Minister to New Grenada, where
he remained several years, and gained for
himself an enviable rank as a diplomatist.
In 1871 he was appointed by President
Grant Secretary of the Santo Domingo
Commission, a position for which he was
well fitted by reason of his accomplish
ments as a linguist. A few weeks ago the
degree of LL. D. was conferred upon him
by Center College, Kentucky. For several
years he has been in poor health, devoting
his leisure to study. He was a man of
incorruptible integrity, possessing a mind
of great breadth and compass, and one
capable of grasping and mastering the most
intricate subjects. With such men, the
pleasure of the meeting in Washington,
after a separation of more than thirty years
—and with an acquaintance of only one
brief night, when both were struggling
with poverty in youth—can better be
imagined than described. Another night
passed quickly in the recital by the parties
of their life's adventures. The story of
each was of thrilling interest to the other.
These incidents were related to us by
one of the parties, and we had the pleasure
of an intimate and agreeable acquaintance
with both of them. They were brought
to mind when noticing the death that oc
curred on the 13th inst., at Forest, 111., of
the Hon. Allan A. Burton, who was the
young Kentuckian seeking knowledge un
der difficulties, as described in this article.
The Pennsylvanian still lives, and, perhaps,
his name should not be mentioned. Since
his meeting with his old friend while in
Congress he has served on the Centennial
Commission ; was of essential service on
that body, and now represents this country
at the Paris Exhibition. He is the soul
of honor, and bears the name of Daniel J.
Morrell.— Wisconsin State Journal.
A PACK of cards contains 365 spots,
one for each day in the year; the number
of cards are fifty two, one for each week
in the year ; twelve picture cards, one for
each month in the year; there are also four
suits in a pack, one for each of the four
seasons.
"WHAT'S the difference," asked the
teacher in arithmetic, "between one yard
and two yards ?" "A fence 1" said Tom
my Beales. Then Tummy sat on the ruler
fourteen times.
SUBSCRIBE for the JOURNAL,
The Democracy vs. Greenbacks.
We call the attention of the friends of
the greenbacks to the following extracts
from speeches of Democratic leaders, to
show that they cannot trust the newborn
zeal of Democrats, here and there ex
pressed, for the currency of the people :
[Mr. Vallandingham, Democrat, of Ohio, February
3, 1562.1
These notes, sir, are declared "payable
to bearer." Payable in what ? Gold and
silver and Treasury notes. But the Gov
ernment is truly apostolic in its poverty.
Silver and gold it has none, therefore one
Treasury note is a full authorized com
pulsory discharge of another Treasury note.
Peter is to be robbed to pay Paul : and
Paul in turn is to pay Peter for a debt of
his own out of the fruits of the robbery.
Sir, if it were fifty fold as constitutional
as, in my deliberate judgment it is un
constitutional in letter, and abhorrent to
the principles and spirit of that instru
ment, it could not command my support.
I will not renew the discussion of the
question of constitutional power to make
Government paper or any other piper, a
legal payment of any debts, public or
private, present or prospective. My col
league from the First district (Mr. Pendle
ton) the other day, with a clearness and
force never exceeded in this hall, disposed
of that question forever. His argument
has not been answered; and pardon me, it
never will be. I concur in it thoroughly
and totally upon this point. Sir, disguise
it as you may, this bill is a Awed loan
from the people. It is fan abuse and a
stretch of power which no Government,
one in the first throes of revolutionary
madness and desperation, or in the last
agonies of dissolution, or in the midst of
the most imminent danger of either bank
ruptcy, conquest, and overthrow, and no
king or potentate, except a usurper, ever
ventured to exert. If voluntarily sub
mitted to, or by fear or power enforced, it
will corrupt, derange, and debase the cur
rency, and afflict the country with financial
and commercial disaster and ruin, and
shako the foundations of public and private
credit for half a century to come. But
we shall be fortunate if it does not pre
cipitate a revolution sooner or later in our
midst.
Nor is this all ; nor tge worst. An
immense inflation or bloat is this wonder
ful paper money which our financial Midas,
by his touch, is to convert into gold, must
come next. Cheap in material, easy of is
sue, worked by steam, signed by machinery,
there will be no end to the legion of paper
devils which shall pour forth from the
loins of the Secretary. And now, sir,
what must follow from all this ? First,
that which has never failed in times of
bloated currency—high prices, extravagant
speculation, erroneous, sudden fortunes,
immense fictitious wealth, general insanity.
These belong to all inordinate and exces-
sive paper issues, and even to plethoras in
the circulation of gold and silver, if such
could occur. But the evil will not stop
here. Every banker, every lender, every
merchant, every business man, and every
seller of real or personal estate, compelled
to receive in payment for whatever he
lends or sells, an irredeemable paper money,
will demand a still higher price by way of
insurance than if the currency were sound
and safe." * But I ut
terly deny, sir, the right of the Federal
Government to provide a paper currency
intended primarily to circulate as money
and meet the demands of business and
commercial transactions.
[Mr. Powell, Kentucky.]
In my judgment the bill is plainly and
palpably violative of the Constitution of
the United States, and I do not believe
that issues of paper money, unless they are
convertible into coin at the pleasure of the
holder, ever did or ever will relieve any
country permanently from embarrassment.
I think all issues of irredeemable paper
lead the country into further and ;renter
embarrassments instead of relieving it.
[Mr. Hendrick B. Wright, Pennsylvania, Demo
crat, February 5, 1562.]
This bill proposes, sir, to throw on the
country $100,000,000 of treasury notes,
payable at no time—payable nowhere—
payable at the pleasure of the Government
—and the astounding clause is added, that
these notes—payable at no place, at no
time—shall be lawful money and a legal
tender in payment of all debts, public and
private, within the United States. Now I
submit, as a matter of law, as a correct
conclusion from the Constitution itself,
that you cannot, under the Constitution of
these United States, make anything but
gold and silver a legal tender on contracts.
[George H. Pendleton, Dem., Ohio, Jan. 29, 1862.]
The wit of man has never discovered a
means by which paper currency can be
kept at par value, except by its speedy,
cheap, certain convertibility into gold and
silver. * * * Unless convertible they
always have depreciated ; they always will
depreciate ; they ought to depreciate. You
send these notes into the world stamped
with irredeemability. You put on them
the mark of Cain, and, like Cain, they
will go forth to be vagabonds and fugitives
on the earth. It requires no prophet tc
tell what will be their history. The curren•
ey will be expanded ; prices will be inflat
ed ; fixed values will depreciate ; incomes
will be diminished; the savings of the
poor will vanish ; the hoardings of the
widow will melt away , bonds, mortgages,
and notes, everything of fixed value will
lose their value; the necessaries of life
will rise ; gold and silver will be driven
out of the country. What then ? The
day of reckoning must come. Contraction
will follow. Private ruin and public bank
ruptcy, either with or without repudiation
will inevitably follow.
In arguing the constitutional power to
issue legal tenders, Mr. Pendleton said :
"I find no grant of this power in direct
terms, or, as I think, by fair implication.
It is not an accidental omission; it is not
an admission through inadvertancy ; it
was intentionally left out of the Constitu
tion because it was designed that the pow
er should not reside in the Federal Govern
ment."
[Mr. Cowan, De.nocratie United States Senator,
Penu'a. February 13, 1362.]
For I protest that if there is one thing
more than another which we ought to know
—one thing which three millions of a past
generation of our conntrymen suffered in
tensely for long years to learn, and which
they bequeathed to us as a legacy in a
lesson—it is the utter and miserable folly
of attempting by means of legislation to
change lamp black and rags into money.
* * * There is not a judge in the land
that I know df who, I think, would dare
to decide that one of his suitors should be
compelled to accept anything but gold and
silver as money, no matter how many acts
of Congress there were to the contrary
notwithstanding.
[Mr. James A. Bayard, Democratic United States
Senator, - Delaware, February 13, 1862.]
The thing, to my mind, is so palpable a
violation of the Constitution that I doubt
whether in any court of justice in the
country, having a decent regard to its own
respectability, you can possibly expect that
this bill which you now pass will not,
whenever the question is presented ju
dicially, receive its condemnation as um.-
constitutional and void in this clause.
[James A. Peirce, Democratic United States Sen
ator, Maryland, February 13, 1552.]
I see no power from which we can in
fer authority in this government to make
paper money a legal tender.
[Mr. Wtilard Saulsbury, Democratic United States
Senator, Delaware, February 13, 1862.]
It is so clearly unconstitutional, in my
opinion, that I cannot conscientiously vote
for it.
[Garrett Davis, Democratic Senator from Ken-
Lucky, July 2, 1862.]
The issue of this paper is just like that
of all irredeemable paper. The effect is to
increase the price of gold, and increase the
price of property generally, and to diminish
the value of the paper • and it consequently
takes a larger and a still increasing amount
of the paper to answer the ordinary com
mercial transactions of the country ; a.id
they who hava any property to sell raise a
cry fur more paper because of the enhanced
price of their property, the paper being
the medium by which the value of the
property is measured. The more such
paper is augmented the effect is to increase
the appetite which it feeds. The more
paper that is issued the more is required
to answer the business transactions of the
country until the currency becomes utterly
vicious. * * * I hold that a more
bold and mischievous project was never
conceived than that the Government should.
have, without limit, the power of issuing
an irredeemable paper circulation. * *
* A more gigantic scheme for the pur
pose of increasing the power of the Govern
ment and enabling it to dominate over the
whole pecuniary concerns of the country
was never suggested.
Look to Your Wells.
Here is a fresh illustration of how peo
ple are poisoned all the while by foul wells.
A family living on the elevated ground in
West Hartfori, Conn., in a region re
markably healthy in all its natural condi
tions, were for years suffering from various
forms of fevers, headaches, and an endless
variety of ills, which kept a doctor in
pretty constant attendance. At last, three
years ago, worn out with this experience,
the owner determined to sell out and move
away, believing the locality to be an un
healthy one. At this juncture, a friend
of the family asked and obtained permis
sion to do what the owner of the place, or
at least the physician should have done
long before—make an examination of the
premises. He found a privy vault only
ten feet from the well I It was evident
that this was the cause of the continuous
illness among members of the family, and
lie obtained leave k to remove the bucket
from the well, and a promise from the
family to go to the barn for their water,
where it has been introduced in pipes
from the great main that leads into Hart
ford. From that time forward there was
a cessation of the sickness.
LOOK not upon the ice-cooler when it
sweateth, nor drink thou of the ice water
when it waseth frigid ; for unto him that
partaketh shall be given sorrow to gnaw
upon his vitals and the pain which proveth
the pit of the stomach.
[Communicated.]
To the Republicans of Huntingdon
County.
Gentlemen, I think we, as a political party,
make a mistake in putting off all our active work
until we nominate our State and County tickets.
Wo should be actively at work now, counteracting
the influence of this National, Greenback, Labor-
Reform party, who, by their chicanery, are trying
to lead good, honest Republicans estray. The se
vere panic at this time makes this more important
than ever before. Starving birds are easily caught
in the snare. It is true that a "drownding man
will catch at a straw." These Greenbackers ta
king advantage of the times, will approach a poor
man who, perhaps, is out of employment and out
of supplies. They will tell him his troubles are
all caused by bad legislation, that• the Republican
party has been too long in power and that it is
time that we should have a change, and perhaps
will tell him that they have been Republicans
themselves for years, but they will be very care
ful not to tell him that they left the Republican
party because they did not get some office that
they wanted. Now it is not at all strange that
the poor man will take hold of this kind of reas
oning and at once turn in with them, thinking he
cannot make a worse of it. There i 5 so much cun
ning deception in this National Greenback party,
that we can never think of one of them approach
ing a man, without being reminded of that truth
ful old song and its moral: "Will you walk into
my parlor said the spider to the fly." That the
Republican party caused, or had anything to do
with bringing on this panic is a false charge, and
is only used by designing politicians for effect, for
they know better. The rebellion may be said to
be the leading cause, but we say that no political
party, no inen, no set of man in the north, are
particularly responsible for it. But we all are
more or less to blame wth the panic. The seeds
of this panic were sown during the war, when
money was plen'y. It is one thing to make mon
cy and another to tike care of it. And with many
it is much easier to make money than to take care
of it. This was clearly illustrated during the war.
Poor men went into the army and sent home their
bounty money by the hundreds of dollars to their
wives, and when they got it they had no knowl
edge how to take care of it. In proof of this, the
writer was present were two of these soldiers'
wives were bidding at un auction on an old cook
stove, really not worth $ i.OO. One of them started
it at $2O. and they run it up at $5.00 a clip, until
it reached $35.00, when one of them added $5.00
more. The auctioneer opened his eyes, and look
ing at the lady with astonishment said, "do you
not mean five cents 7" The lady replied, "No sir,
I mean five dollars." Were was thirty-five dol
lars thrown away in a moment, and this same fam
ily have since received aid from the county. So
it was with many others, they tnought that to
morrow would be as to-day, and more abundant,
that money would always be plenty, all became
more or less extravagant, many bought clothes
and furniture for their houses far ahead of their
means. The same way in building, men commen
ced building houses and barns so much larger than
their means that many of them were never finished,
while the builders became bankrupt, so that this
extravagant spirit, like some great epidemic, has
spread over and effected our entire country, even
the churches seem to have caught this malady. A
oongregation never thinks now of putting up a
church according to their means. They manage
so it will take up all their funds to put up the
shell and roof it, then they have to resort to all
sorts of devices to finish it, even in some oases
amounting to a species of gambling. After the
seeds of this panic were thus sown by an extrava
gant manner of living, the panic, the harvest that
we are all reaping now, was just ascertain to come,
and as unavoidable as the autumn and winter that
is approaching us. Any one who may attribute
the cause of this panic to any political party de
ceives you and tells what they know to be false,
unless they are wilfully ignorant. And we would
further say that there is no legislation, no matter
how wise it may be, can relieve us from this panic
at once. It will take some time, with a judicious
management of our government, aided by an en
couraging people to accomplish this work. We do
hope that no Republicans will lose sight of the
fact, that the Republican party has done more for
the laboring class of men than any other party
ever in power.. We will hero name a few of them.
The exemption or $300.00 law passed by the Re
publican party in 1849. What a benefit, and we
may say, what a blessing, this one act alone, has
been to many a poor man and his family. An
other act abolishing stay on labor. Ands further
act on labor passed the 22d of March, 1877. re
quiring the Prothonotary in preparing the civil
causes to place all claims for the wages of labor
first on the list, so that the Court may try all such
cases first. The Homestead law, another act high
ly beneficial to the poor man. Another act redu
cing the hours of a day's labor. The Emancipa-
tion law, Local Option law and others that we
might name. We challenge the Democrats and
Greenbackers combined, to show as when any par
ty ever in power, did as much for the poor labor
ing class of men as the Republican party has done.
Can they point us to any act passed by any other
party especially benefitting the laboring class of
men.
We repeat now, what we said in the oommence
ment of this article, that we should eminence our
active work now. We do not know yet what kiLd
of an enemy we have to contend with. This will
not be known until anat. the Democrats and Green
backers hold their conventions. Then the animal
will show its parts, and we may be sble to count
its numerous heads, borne, and tails ; no doubt the
animal may have a hideous appearance, yet if we
use proper vigilance we have nothing to fear. It
will be as harmless as a dove. Let us commence
the work at once then, and not pet off a prepara
tion for it, like old President Buchanan waited on
the rebels until they would attack ns—let us meet
them half way, with our united forces, and we
have no doubt bui victory will crown our effo•ts.
JUSTICE.
[Communicated.]
To the Workingmen of Huntingdon
County.
If we show, by a reasonable measure of evidence,
that the Republican party cannot be the clues of
the present business paralysis, what reason can
any of its members give for severing their connec
tion with it, and affiliating with new and untried
parties, or for giving aid to the Democrats, on no
better ground than the fruitless one, "that any
change must be beneficial?"
If we show that it was the Republican party
saved this nation from destruction, and prevented
it from being divided into many petty and con
flirting governments; that, it not only prevented
the curse of slavery from becoming national, but
gave the half of our fruitful domain to free men ;
which, to them, was sealed before this party began
its work ; if we show that it originated the best
menet try policy we have ever had; that it had
taken care of those bereaved by the over-zealous
work of dealers in men in a manner no other party
or nation ever did; if we show that the policy of
this party is towards peace and prosperity, and
that the charges against it have nu better founda
tion than mere party animosity, will you, as an
ungrateful son would du with his aged father,
who had donated to him the broad acres of the
manor, because a few weeds were found in them,
become his bitterest enemy and relentless perse
cutor? Eut we need not stop to describe the good
work the Republican party has done. Is it not as
pictures in your memories, not to be erased ? and
history has it recorded. The unprejudiced matt
o tnnot deny these truths. If he sees a few weeds
in his party he will use his skill in plucking them
up. He will, intelligently, foster the good - we have
without going helter-skelter after every sisalow7
innovation. Upon the truth or falsity of the Con
traction of the currsney the National party stands
or falls; that, so far as we can see, is its distin
guishing feature.
If there was no contraction this party has no
case ; and its further allegation, that the one thing
needful to revive trade is s great amoant of mosey,
is not true. As this ides has been presented to
the pnblic for some time, and many believe It, to
show that it is not true becomes eurinty. In an
swer to the oontraction theory we may say,. that
the national currency, that which is oonsidered
the public circulating medium, was notaultleiestly
contracted to work harm,_and we challenge the
opposition to prove, by statistical evidenee, our
statements to be erroneous.
In order to show, beyond a doubt, that the cur
rency has not been contracted, would require an
amount of labor, in the inveftigation of the mone
tary and financial report of the U. S. Treasurer
for the year 1865, that we, at present, are not able
to bestow on it. But whoever wishes to base his
opinions on accu-acy can search the deeutnent
referred to for himself, when he will find the truth
of our position fully verified. _
Writing from memory we are able only to ap
proximate the true condition of tile Oneness at the
time specified; but that is sufficient for car pres
ent purpose.
At the close of the war the national debt was
about twenty-eight hundred sod flftj Millions of
dollars. Now, it is well known, that of this
amount, more than two thousand' millions were
represented-by-bonds-of veri oyes hisselty
different lengths of time, and bearing pesisliar rates
of interest, leaving about eight hundred millions
'of dollars for the circulating medium, which
am,unt is in circulation to-day. But as we shall
hereafter show that the national currency oonsti
tutes but a small per cent. of what is really need,
had every dollar of the former been withdrawn
from circulation, and the latter remained sound,
the business of the nation would have gone or.
prosperously. The advocates of the coutraotion
theory insist that many of the bonds should be re
garded as a part of the currency. As aikoting
our position it is of no consequenoe in what man-
Der they are regarded, for they have been very
little contracted, while bonds would pay for,shipe
and farms as well as greenbacks they were not
used largely in that way, but more as secarity for
loans of actual currency. To show :hey were net
currency, when so used, requires no long drawn
argument, for in whatever condition they wan
placed they lay dormant., and liberated so meals
currency only as they embed. It is vary 7.1110••
however, that the bonds could not Reettre MUllk /WM
currency then was in simulation at that times
But it may be still urged that the bond, leire.ll
part of the circulating medium, while ws
they were not we shall nut stop to dieter nbihrtrk
question, fur if the whole national debt were turn
ed into greenbacks they could oarry no more than
about fifteen per oent.of a prosperous trade. then
if our position, in relation to the currency, if true,
the strongest pillar of the National party goes
down, and we inu.-t look for the source of thiabon
ble, it so meets complains of, outside of the theo
ry of a contracted national eurreney.
Nevertheless, there was a contraction pf a oar
rency, of which we don't hear muck, posaijaiy, be
cause its nature and use are not well understood.
We refer to the currency that is daily nianefeetur
ed by individuals in the shape of drafts, notes and
checks, the base for which is individual credil, It
.
is not known generally that in fair businesittiones
only about live per cent. of actual currency images
into business transactions. Yet, by the bush
thority we can find, such seeing to be sislistantleily
true. Just before the panic, in 1873, there were
daily pastel through the N. Y. clearing house
more than one hundred millions of dollars, and
only four dollars and seventy-Ave cents of this
amount in one hundred was currency. When
trouble appeared credits were shortened, or tow
tracted, and as trouble went up the scale of ared4
went down, and it may be regarded as contraction
of the severest kind, and as this went op trade de
creased its dimensions. Taking the best view of
individual credit there is but one eonclurion to
draw, and that is, it means debt, which, if not the
Bole cause of all business troubles, is very close to
the fountain. But what has the State, or Repub
lican party to do with individual credit. The man
of reason will answer, nothing. Can either say
when, or how a man shall contract a debt or what
ho shall hay, or pay for what be does $y T Can
they prohibit a man from contracting a debt, in
prosperity, to be paid in adversity? If not, the
Republican party has neither part nor parcel in
the causes of the present depressed condition of
trade.
The National party, ley its false assumptions,
baying concluded that there was a great ctierae
tion of the national currency, hold the onl,y sense
dy for the suppressed evil, arising therefrom, is
the issuing of a large volumeof greenbacks.
. .
In answer, we may say briefly, that the govern
ment might make greenbacks in heaps like moun
tains and business still languish, for there are but
two honest methods of obtaining money. It must
be earned or borrowed. The last method is not
proposed by the Nationalists. which is possibly
the true measure fur relief. For if the govern ,
went, through the National banks. were to loan
funds, business would probably revive. As a clear
er illustration of cur idea we may say, that we
want water works in our town. Now, if the gov
ernment would loan to us one hundred thousand
dollars, at two per cent. for thirty years, these
works would be built, and so far as we aretioncers,
ed, our condition, for the present, would be im
proved. In relation to the earning process, ser
vice must be rendered bsfcre money can ci culate.
Would it be good policy for the government to
employ a million of men in public works, sad
sue enough of greenbacks to pay them? How long
could this continue? Certainly but a short time.
Then what? Would not the end be worse than the
beginning? Then, if no more money can be got
into circulation than is earned, and the govern
ment can not enter into greater incenses than it
is now doing, where is the advantage of an enor
mous issue of greenbacks ? Well we are told that
the government could pay its outstanding bonds,
and the holders of the bonds having no other. Ilse
for the money would invest it in business enter
prises. Against this idea serious objectictes may
be raised. First,—many of our bonds are held in
Europe which we cannot pay with greenbacks.
Second,—another portion of the bonds are held
by widows and trust companies, who, if their
bonds were paid, would not enter business, but
seek other permanent securities. And last,—if
the government did pay off all its indebtedness
there are bonds of a private character, sufficient to
absorb all the greenbacks the government-dare is
sue : and here, again, the bottom falls out of the
Nationalists proposition. Viewed in erkeleour
light it may be, the doctrine of the National party
appears the Caine shadowy structure, made up of
odds and ends, mere fragmentary notions, that
dissolve into nothing upon the slightest scrutiny.
The two points ne have oonsidered—eontraction
. . .
and expansion—being the fundamental &asents
of the National party. We shall not now inquire
into its minor propositions, bat proceed to ofer
some reasons for the panic of 1873, sad the con
tinued paralysis of trade. But as this article is
qua() lengthy already we shall again take a rest.
TRITE.
NO. 30.