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VOLUME XCV
THE CONVICT SYSTEM.
Hia Excellency, Governor Colquitt, visit
ed Augusta yesterday in an official capacity,
connected with the all-absorbing convict
system of Georgia. He visited the camp of
contacts near the city, personally inspect,
ing them, and questioning each man as
to his condition, treatment and length
of service. Of this visit of the Gov
ernor, personally, to the management of
the convicts, the keepers had received
no notification, and a fine opportunity was
presented of ascertaining tbe time state of
things. The Governor seems determined
to exercise an especial care over tbe unfor
tunates who still merit the protection of the
Commonwealth from misuse and from
cruelty. In tbe last campaign this important
subject was agitated to its depths, and al
though several officials connected with the
lease were nDjustlv arraigned, and relent
lessly abased, it was not without its good
effects upon lessees and keepers. The Pen
itentiary Committee of the last Legislature
promised full investigation and report for
the extra session, and the General Assembly,
at that time, will be intelligently guided
in shaping legislation, if any is needed, by
the valuable experience of Governor Col
quitt's personal inspection. It will be a
matter of satisfaction to the Governor, as
well as of gratification to all Georgians, that
he is taking such active, earnest interest in
the subject.
The Governor was accompanied in hie
visit by Mr. Jno. W', Nelms, the efficient
Keeper of the Penitentiary of Georgia, than
whom no man has more experience in the
condnct of this convict system, and no one
more interested inj and appreciative of the
duties of the position. Whatever may have
been imprndantly said of him in the ex
cited canvass gone by, those who knew him
never doubted his integrity, his earnest
ness, and no one can impeach his kind
ness of heart. Mr. Nelms, yesterday,
called the attention of the Governor
to several convicts who were confined
to the hospital, and at his suggestion par
dons were granted by His Excellency. Mr.
Nelms was for severnl years a respected
member of the House of Representatives
frjm Campbell county.
Altogether the visit of Governor Colquitt
to Augusta was most auspicious, commend
able and satisfactory.
MOTHER AND SON.
There was scarce a single spectator of the
recent inaugural ceremonies in Washing
ton City who did not comment upon a
striking point of the great National picture
presented there. The scene, in its entirety,
was ctie of grandenT, indeed, and needed
not the Corinthian columns of the Capitol,
the Hash of uniform, the gleam of military,
or the bright presence of European diplo
matists to Heighten in intensity or to in
crease in sublimity, any more than are
the wonders of Niagara dependent upon the
xainbows which sometimes span its roaring
chasm. The sight of thousands upon
thousands of American people assem
bled upon this Capitolina Hill, to
applaud with their presence and con
firm in one acclaim the induction of their
Chief Magistrate into office ,was one of pure
and simple magnificence; and the last of the
Roman Tribunes, wanted no more tbe toga
of scarlet and purple and gold, to make
him the chosen leader of his people, than
did James A. GABriELD require “the boast
of heraldry or the pomp of power” to carry
him into the highest civic office in the
world.
The prince of English novelists tells how
Ruen/i, when surrounded by the surging
moss of Romnn people, who wished to add
the crown of monarchy to the wreath of
civil rule, turned to behold the figure of his
heart, framed in Attic window, and beam
ing ui>on him with swelling pride and tu
multuous ambition. How like a queen al
ready, the noble brow of a noble woman
seemed; her bosom heaving with conflicting
emotions ot love and aspiration, and her
eye shining with a celestial fire !
Into tbe scene, however, to which we
would call attention, a softer, sweeter light
seea<s to beam. It is an aged lady, her
form bowed beneath the weight of years,
her h sad frosted with the advance of age,
Over her enfeebled form, no shining apparel
gleams, a piuiu, black dress is about her,
and Lor figure, though full of pride and
warm with affection, is pervaded by the
purer, gentler spell of a mother’s love. The
years before her are few and short—no
worldly ambition can allure her from antici
pation of
“The silent, solemn shore
Of that vast ocean, she must sail so soon.”
Her thoughts are of that boy for whom
she has toiled with her own bands, and
who, in turn, has been too happy to work
for her. She knows that he has been called
to fill tbe highest office in the gift of one of
the greatest Nations of the earth, hut she is
not thinking of that. She seems to remem
ber the father, long since called to his rest;
then the youthful son whom she had sup
ported and instructed; the. manly boy
who hail been content to toil along the tow
path for his own and his mother’s subsist
ence; then the statesman; the Congressman,
perchance, but after that, the vision seems
to fade from her mind, and before her
blinding tears the view fades into some
bright beyond, indistinguishable to her;
but leaving emotions, peaceful and happy.
The picture indeed is one of tranquil beauty;
how like a flower, with a lesson in every pe
tal ! Hoes it not tell every boy in America
that nothing in this great land of onrs can
keep down the man of talent, of integrity
and of determination ? Does it not ignore
and obliterate every condition from which
••honor and shame” may rise. Where
is the office in this great country
of ours from whiah any imperial
guard can bar honesty and industry t
Where is the height from which any
royal standard may frighten the ambitious
and deter the noble who may aspire and
contend ? Where is the fortress of power
and of trust that heredity and heraldry can
usurp or family escutcheon can secure? Not
-one; the nobility of America rests with the
power of labor, of merit and of honesty, and
every one here may truly say :
•*Tis is ourselves that we sre thus and thua.”
But in all of young Gabeield's career, we
mav safely assume that the softer, shining
qualities of the heart were kept as pure as
the noble faculties of brain and will were
firmly wrought. The pleasure which that
mother had on inauguration day, of review
ing his past life ot tenderness and devotion,
surpassed all expectations which she may
nave had for his future greatness. He who
had cherished his mother, conld safely be
entrusted with the honor of hia country,
and the faithful son, whether in lofty posi
tion or humble life, is a nobleman indeed.
We have somewhere selected a little poem,
which seems, in an unpretentious, bnt well
meaning way, to illustrate this brightest of
morals. We do not append it because of
its artistic excellence, bnt because of its
intrinsic truth. Some thirty years ago
General Gakeeeld might have read with
sincere appreciation these crude lines, and,
reading, might have seen himself:
“Why don’t you take your comfort, Jo*x,
And spend your money as yon go,
Sor dress so plainly as yon do,
Although you’re always neat, I know ?”
Sjuu Joint, and laughed a merry laugh :
“W,\v, Wni, your pocket’s like a sieve;
I’ve got a duty to perform —
I'll wot k for mother while I live.
‘And such s mother ae we have—
Father he left her to our care ;
That’s mother sitting ’mid the flowers,
With sweet brown eye* and silTery hair.
We mean to buy that cottage home
By saving up—it can be done—
Brother and I; yes, hear me, Will,
Before we lads are twenty-one!”
Whs; heartfelt joy that mother had,
As he, her son, passed in the door I
What though they lived in hnmble style.
No eoedf pile upon the floor 1
But love wss there—and should God will
To call that sou by His decree,
That mother mid her tears could say:
“He always did hia best for me!”
Young men in all the walks of life,
And blessed with mothers kind and dear,
Ah! would that yon might prize them well,
And do yonr duty by them here.
Fortune may strew your path with flowers,
Or wealth may not be yours to give,
But never manlier words than these:
“FU work for mother while I live r
ASSASSINATION OF TBE EMPEROR OF
RUSSIA.
The assassination of Alzxakdkb 11, Em
peror of Russia, in St. Petersburg,
last Sunday, will canse a profound
sensation all over Europe and es
pecially among the crowned heads. It
shows that however strongly they may be
hedged in by bayonets, however closely
cordons of troops may be drawn around
them, there is no immunity from death by
violence when assassination has been re
solved upon by desperate men. banded to
gether for the purpose of exterminating
royalty and bound by the most solemn oaths
to carry out this object. To these men tbs
prospect of certain execution, even for
an unsuccessful attempt, has no ter
rors as the past has shown. Nihilist plots
have increased rather than diminished with
the detection of each, and the summary
punishment of those engaged in it. Alex
ander has bad warning after warning of the
determination of the malcontents. Every
body remembers the terrible explosion at
the Winter Palace, which baffled all the as
tuteness of tbe crafty Russian police. The
tragedy of Sunday was evidently deliberate
ly planned, and carried ont with a coolness
and courage worthy of a better cause.
The Emperor was returning in a closed
carriage, from Michael Palace, with
the Grand Duke Michael, escorted by
eight Cossacks. Suddenly a bomb fell near
tbe carriage destroying the hack part of it.
The Czar and the Grand Duke alighted
uniujnred. The assassin on being seized
hy a Colonel of police, drew a revelver hut
was prevented from using it. Another per
son then threw a second bomb and this
fell close to the Czar’s feet, shatter
ing both his legs. The Czar was conveyed
to the Palace and died in a short time.
The determination of the Nihilists is
evidenced by the conduct of the two as
sassins. The failure of the first, hia arrest
by the police and his certain doom had no
efiect upon the second except to nerve him
to carry ont the plot. This is a fearful ex
ample of the temper of the secret order to
which the assassins undoubtedly belong.
It is a dreadful crime they have perpetrated,
a crime that will fill millions of people with
horror. We in America have very little con
ception of the state of feeding in Russia.
The Czar is absolute, and wields the sceptre
without reference to anything but his own
will. Alexander, whose reign promised to
be progressive and to ameliorate the condi
dition of his subjects, changed his liberal
policy into one of coercion, and it wus this
that gave strength to Nihilism. There is
something repugnant per se in this term to
all conservative Russians. Nihilism, if car
ried out to its In -itimate conclusions, means
annihilation of all law and order, the de
struction of rights of property and a return
to anarchy, but its ostensible object is
the blotting ont of monarchist government,
an object which must be attained hy any
means tbo first of which is the assassination
of royalty. The question would naturally oc
cur, what is to be accomplished by the death
of an individual ruler when his successor
is ready to take his place ? “The king is
dead ! Live the king!” The objeot may
be two-fold. First, that in the excitement
consequent upon the assassination of the
Emperor, a revolution may be fomented,
and Recond that the murder of the
Emperor will show to his successor the de
termination of the secret league and induce
him to grant concessions and pursue a
more liberal policy. "Uneasy lies the head
that wears a crown” and there seems to be
no exemption from the rule. Monarchs of
liberal as well as absolute governments
have been made the mark for the assassin’s
bullet or daggor. Victoria, of free Eng
land met with no more immunity than
Alexander, of despotic Russia. It has
been one of the remarkable inci
dents of attempts to murder crowned
rnlers that very few have met with success,
no matter whft the opportunities of the
assassin. The death of the Czar is due to
the perseverance of those who had decided
that he must die. Time and time again at
tempts to take his life had failed, but the
plotters never gave up. Alexander 11. was
born April 29th, 1818. From the cradle
he was the object of the most tender love
of both his parents, and was brought up in
cordial and intimate family relations. His
education was exceedingly carefal. Without
trarucendant abilities he learned everything
taught him. His judgment and percep
tion were equally clear and he seldom or
ever showed in his childhood or youth those
outbreaks of violent ungovernable passion
which had always been one of the promi
nent characteristics of the Romanoffs. Early
in his youth he showed a love of justice and
forbearance, often trying to assuage the
feelings which had been wounded by the
asperity of his father. On April 28, 1841,
he married Maria Alexandbowna, Grand
Dutchess of Hesse Darmstadt, born in 1824.
It was wholly a love match, the young
Prince having made his own choice among
a host of German Princesses. Later in
life the Czar formed an amour with the
Princess Dalooubouski, an act that caused a
total estrangement between himself and his
wife, and they lived apart for years. Upon
the death of the Empress the Czar con
tracted a morganatic marriage with the
Princess Dalooubouski, by whom he had
had several children. Alexander mounted
the throne of Russia in February, 1855, at
a most critical and ominous moment. His
predecessor left the country engaged in a
single handed war against England,
France, Turkey and Sardinia, with
Austria as a passive enemy and without
any active ally whatever. For nearly a year
Alexander unflinchingly continued the
strife. Sebastopol was taken in Sept. 1855,
hut the allies won nothing more, and Rus
sian resistance continued. On the I3th of
March, 1856, a treaty was concluded at
Paris. Russia lost a small strip of land and
tier supremacy on the Black sea. With the
late war with Turkey in which Russia was
victorious, our readers are familiar. These
were the principal warlike events of Alex
ander's reign. Among the other memorable
events was the emancipation of about
1 twenty millions of serfs, which was decreed
in 1861.
Alexander II was friendly to Germany,
and it was generally well understood among
the Powers that the twe Empires were in
accord on European matters. His son and
successor, who married a Danish princess,
the sister of the Princess of Wales, is said,
on the contrary, to be more favorable to
France and Denmark, and a change of Eu
ropean policy may result. Taking every
thing into consideration, the people of Rus
sia will hardly profit by the change of
rulers. The domestic policy of the late
Emperor was in the main more moderate
and liberal than that of his ances
tors. He was diligent in punishing official
corruption, and he liberated public instruc
tion from military discipline and control.
Alexander HI while Czarwitch waa known
to be opposed to any liberal policy, and fa
vored the absolutism of the Muscovite Em
pire. That he will act now upon his own
ideas may reasonably be expected. How
long he will be permitted to wear his crown
no one can say. The success of the Ni
hilists in their last move will probably in
cite them to fresh deeds of bloodshed, and
he new Czar may soon follow his father.
The assassination was a terrible crime,
and it will bring a universal cry ot execra
tion upon the party under the auspices of
which it was probably committed. There can
be no political or moral justification for such
5 murder, a murder which merely removed
the man and not the Emperor, from whose
person the Nihilists claim that all their
wrongs emanate.
As long as such men as Mr. Hknby Wat
tkxson run the Democratic party it is
doomed to disaster. The “tariff for revenue
only” defeated General Hanlosk. Hknbt
Wattbbson is responsible for that plank in
the Democratic platform. Mr. Wattrbson
is a big man in his own estimation. He
was one of the most consequential men at
Bt. Louis, in ’76, and at Cincinnati, in ’BO.
The Democratic party is sorely and griev
ously afflicted with alarmists and
imbeciles. This is said with all due respect
to Mr. Wattebson and others like him who
have done so much to bring disaster upon
the •emocratic party. The great trouble with
these smart men is that they have no saving
common sense.
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
j [Editorial Cor. Chronicle and Constitutionalist.^
Washington, March 12, 1881. The
breaking up of the House and consequent
departure homeward of many Congressmen,
some of whom were very pleasant to me,
had a saddening effect. I now go by my
old quarters as a stranger. The little room
which sheltered me at night and was a mute
witness to the joys and sorrows of day-time
has not changed at all, but another lodger
possesses it, and I often wonder if it shall
! ever know me as its master again. I miss
too Tillman’s big beaver hat in the front
window hard by, and much more do I miss
his honest lice, his open hand, his words of
cheer, his wise and sagacious criticisms, not
to speak of some rather emphatic language
which even Uncle Tort was betrayed into
and which much moisture would be requir
! ed from the most lachrymose of recording
angels. I miss the boys who roomed with
us; the elder good and true; the
next wild as a rabbit and chirrupy as
a linnet; the youngest grave beyond his
years, bnt a slumbering volcano. No more
do we saunter forth in snow or rain or Bleet
or in the golden sunshine to partake of the
cheap bnt nutritious fare of the Waverlev
eating house. I passed there, the other
day, and was almost tempted to enter for a
moment; but refrained, at the last minute,
and harried away from what had almost
become a ghostly recollection.
Other friends remain, but they were not
associated with me so intimately as those
who have gone. Mr. Stephens will stay
until April Ist to complete his business
and await the gentle Spring of the
far South. Mr. Speer is here looking after
the interests of particular' friends.—
But at least two-thirds of the Representa
tives have turned their backs upon the
capital, either because they have ended
their official life or have no favors to ask
of the present occupant of the White House.
I linger still, with the minority, because my
task is not yet done, and because there is
much yet to interest and instruct. Within
ten days, however, the best or worst will be
over for this season, % and then I shall only
too gladly go back where I have left my
heart.
There were some Southern men who
hoped when the war was over that the true
principles of the Confederate struggle would
one day be recognized even in the Govern
ment of the United States. Not without
reason did they suppose that what was best
and noblest in the Confederate Constitution
would be embodied in the organic law of
the Republic. But I think these pa
triots have little hope of such a con
summation now. They declare, with
almost a wail of despair, that foolish
men, North and South, have poisoned
the popular mind and paralyzed this pros
pect. Now, the truth will never be known,
and the genuine cause of the South is lost
forever. Nations, like individuals, wag
along somehow, even when most distracted,
and this country, drifted so far from its
ancient moorings, will be no exception to
the rule. I can comprehend how melan
choly a vision this must be to the older gen
eration who hold fast to the faith of Jef
ferson. But they have at least the consola
tion of knowing that all the fret and roar
and contention of life will, for them, soon
be past, and that the younger generations
must do the best they can with what has fal
len to their lot. “Devil take me,” said a
hungry, foot-sore and half-naked Confeder
ate soldier, in the last days of the war, “if
I ever love a country again 1” This,
in a milder and more Christian like
shape, may be the feelings of those
who have seen their hopes decay and their
dreams vanish. The young will have a
oountry to cherish such as they make it,
and I for one trust that it may be grand,
glorious and free—“first flower of the land
and first gem of the sen.”
The appointment of Mr. Thurman as one
of the Commissioners to the Paris Monetary
Congress was a graceful act on the part of
President Garfield. The President and
the ex-Senator have nlways been personal
friends, though widely separated in politics.
Mr. Thurman never failed to speak in ex
alted terms of Mr. Garfield, and the latter
was in no sense slack in returning the com
pliment. It is true that Mr. Thurman has
swung round the circle of finance, and al
ways at the wrong time. It seems to be true
that he has, as he himself admits, “no head
for figures,” but his part in the bi metallic
discussion will probably not he a leading
one, and he will have a delightful trip to
Europe and $5,000 besides. I suspect
the honor and the money came oppor
tunely, and the swift succor of an old Dem
ocratic friend is creditable to the head and
heart of Mr. Garfield. In this connection
I may be permitted to observe that no one
will more cordially commend what is worthy
in the President than yonr humble servant,
but he desires, at the same time, a margin
of reserve for future contingencies. Left
to himself and his own generous and lofty
impulses, the President would harm no
one, least of all the unfortunate. But will
he be so left V I doubt it. What President
of late years has been V I am more than
willing to be convicted of mistaken appre
hensions, if the country is to be bettered
thereby. lam even willing to believe that
the Democrats will vie with the Republicans
in nominating Mr. Garfield, without oppo
sition, in 1884. But it is rather early yet
to take this roseate view: and nntil affairs
develop themselves next year, when Con
gress shall have gotten up a full head of
steam, we may find it best to moderate our
expectation 1 -'. Asa curious phase of North
ern opinion, I may observe also that about
two-thirds of the people East and West, of
the Republican persuasion, do not believe
one word the South says in the way of eu
logy for Mr. Garfield. This, of course, is
a mistaken judgment, but the Radical
brethren will have it so, A man who repre
sents a largo class of conservative Republi
cans, who helped create the Democratic ti
dal wave of 1874, told me not long ago that
he had rejoined the stalwarts, because a
visit to the South had convinced him that
the rising generation in our section were
more rebellions than their fathers. I
asked him how far South he had been, and
he answered that his journey concluded at
Charleston. I rejoined that if he wanted
some exhibitions of loyalty he should have
crossed the Savannah and made an excur
sion through Georgia. He looked at me
with an incredulous smile, but said noth
ing. Meanwhile, Northern soldiers have
been paying floral tributes' to the Confed
erate dead at New Orleans, just as Captain
Eckel s Guards did, on the other side, at
Boston. I used to take mnch stock in those
thingß, but somehow the elections did not
always display the same amount of broth
erly loYe. But if indeed "the era of good
feeling” is neat at hand, I am glad to know
it This correspondence will show that
I have tried to be just and even gen
erous to some Republicans, who have
been held up to execration. One of
them, the most conspicuous, appreciated
my motive, but he is one of those men who
have “missions,” and he regards the South
as Hamlet did Ophelia— he “must be cruel
only to be kind.” How far those earnest
sectaries will control this administration re
mains to be seen. Till then, I shall possess
my soul iu patience.
Ton may have read in one of the Washing
ton papers that a clerk in the dead letter
office had been detected stealing valuable
documents. He gave as an excuse that his
wife was “extravagant” This may be a
true bill, but I sincerely trust that every
man similarly situated here is not a rogue,
the more so as some individuals supposed
to be “moral agriculturists” account for the
accumulation of mnch wealth on small sala
ries by stating that tfceir wives are “eco
nomical.” The apples of Eden are still
eaten by latter-day Adams, and the poor
woman has a hard time of it between the
serpent end the mm-
Mr. Edmunds' after an absence of some
weeks bn sick leave, appeared in the Senate
Chamber yesterday, and was sworn in. He
looks like he had oome oat of a Rip Vaj
Winkle slumber. The exigencies of the
party evidently brought him out of bed.
He coached the rather green Vice-President,
made a “few remarks," in a feeble way,
and then retired. Vermont will be orphaned
if she loses him.
AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH 23, 1881.
I The Democrats attempted to push the
- committee organization, bnt were success
fully resisted on a point of order raised by
Mr. Conelino, and supported by Ferbt,
Hoar and Sherman. The speech of the
day, in reply, was made by Senator Hill,
who never was more eloquent, logical
and supreme in argument. He and
Mr. Conelino had a good-natured tus
sle, which ended in Hill’s haring the
last word and last langh. This speech
made a profound impression. It was un
answerable and unanswered. Had a vote
been pushed then I believe something
practical would have come of it. But, un
fortunately, Jones, of Florida, and Mc-
Pherson had to fritter the opportunity
away, and the whole thing ended by Mr.
Harris, in disgust at this unseasonable
foray from the two Senators named, moving
an executive session.
The Democrats, 1 think, should wait nn
til the Repnblioans have their seats filled,
although I am satisfied that, the case being
reversed, the Republicans would have taken
the snap judgment they taunt their rivals
with meditating. Some of our Demo
cratic friends are of opinion that a
compromise shonld have been made
based upon an equal division of the com
mittees. Everything for the (present de
pends upon Mahone. From what Mr.
Conelino let drop, Mahone is already fixed
for the Repnblioans, bnt some of his friends
say he will take no part either way at this
time. He was not in the Chamber yester
day, bnt in the barber shop near by, ready,
perhaps, to dart in dramatically at the crit
ical moment. I met Gen. Fitzhugh Lee,
on the Avenue, after the Senate adjourned,
and told him what had happened. He said:
“I would be sorry for some of our friends
if the Senate were organized by the Repub
licans; bnt when Gen. Mahone puts him
self on record as a Republican his party will
collapse in Virginia and his power be de-
stroyed.”
The speech of Senator David Davis, re-as
serting his independence, declining the
Judiciary Chairmanship, rebuking the errors
of both parties, and maintaining fealty
with the Democrats who elected him, was
the noble utterance of an honest man. He
was manifestly not disposed to play the
sphinx like Mahons. Perhaps the gentle
man from Virginia will follow Judge Davis’
example and explain himself; and perhaps
not.
A gentleman here, who professes to know,
says that your anonymous correspondent
“Long Shoals,” in attempting to convict
Senator Hill of ignorance, has only suc
ceeded in accusing himself. I think myself
that it is utterly incorrect to say that Logan
worsted Hill in the debate; and while Gee.
Anderson, who came here a long time
ago, had much to do with securing
the appropriation for the harbor of
nah he relied greatly upon Senator Brown,
and most likely would have only partially
succeeded without his aid. Mr. Stephens
promptly furnished Mr. Reaoan full infor
mation on the subject. My candid opinion
is that the improvement of the upper Sa
vannah is impracticable, and that it is dis
advantageous to press it. The best plan
would be to drop that scheme entirely and
concentrate all efforts upon the lower river.
In that way we shall succeed next year.
Perhaps if “Long Shoals” shall come out
under his own name the true inwardness of
his attack may be revealed. One thing is cer
tain : Georgia has two great Senators—one
the most brilliant geniuß in the chamber,
an intellectual giant, fully equipped for
any encounter, and surpassed by no man
there in the combined gifts of eloquence
and logic. The other is practical, wise,
executive, patient and quietly dominant.
No Senator stands higher for all the solid
qualities of statesmanship and that position
will be maintained nnd advanced. No State
has so redoubtable a representation in the
Senate, and I believe that the power of our
Senators for good, in all matters appertain
ing to Georgia, will vastly increase rather
than diminish. J. It. R.
TRANSPORTING CATTLE.
Important Decision For Railroads anil
Shippers of Live Stork.
At the last term of the Superior Court of
Richmond county, James J. Spears obtained
judgment against the Georgia Railroad for
a horse, which was killed while being trans
ported from Atlanta to Augusta. The evi
dence showed that the horse got down in
the car and was trampled upon by the other
animals confined in the same car. There
was no negligence in the running of the
train or anything appertaining to the mere
transportation of the animals. The railroad
Company oontended: Ist, that as to live stock,
it was not a common carrier; that its legal
duty was only to furnish proper transporta
tion and conduct it safely; and that it was
not liable for any loss which occurred by
reason of the vitality of the freight or its
natural qualities and propensities; and,
second, that Spears, by two contracts, one
made in Nashville and the other in Atlanta,
the consideration of each being a reduced
rate and a free passage for himself, released
the railroad from all liability resulting from
anything except negligence in running its
trains.
The Snpreme Court of Georgia, in a de
cision rendered yesterday, reversed the
judgment against the railroad and sustained
both branches of the defense, holding that
the railroad is not a common carrier of live
freight, and that both the contracts made
by Spears are valid and protected the rail
road. In this case Messrs. J. S. and W. T.
Davidson represented Spears and Mr. Jos.
B. Camming represented the railroad com
pany. _____
NEW RAILROAD.
Oglethorpe County Wishes To Build a
Branch Road.
For some time past our neighbors and
friends of Oglethorpe county have been get
ting np a railroad enterprise to run from
Crawford, on the Athens Branch, to the
Glade or Davenport Mills, over in Ogle
thorpe county. It terminates at a flourish
ing point in the fertile valley of the Broad
river, and will be a great advantage in
opening up the trade of surrounding coun
ties. We understand that an offer has
£n made by the projectors of this route to
Georgia Railroad, that the former will
grade the road and furnish it with cross
ties, which can be done for about $25,000
er $30,000, provided the latter company
will iron it. The matter has been infor
mally talked over among Georgia Railroad
Directors, and the prospects are that the
Georgia Railroad will do this, taking mort
gaged bonds upon the new road.
The completion of this enterprise will be
of great benefit to Augusta. Atlanta has
prospered greatly by the encouragement of
the Air Line given tbe little branch roads
irradiating in every direction, even drawing
upon our territory for trade; and it is time
we were reaching ont and reclaiming some of
our wandering customers and neglected
sections.
President Garfield’s Cbnrrh.
“Gath” says; “I went with Mr. Roose the
other day to look at the National Museum
building, where the great ball was to be
held. He showed me at his store a laege
photograph of the little wooden church of
Cambellites or Christian denomination,
where Garfield worshipped for years. I
am treasurer,” said Mr. Roose, “of the fnnd
to build anew church for Garfield. We
have not yet heard from all our agencies,
bnt we shall have enough money, I ntn
sure, to put up a stone church of a respecta
ble character.”
‘‘l suppose you, as the principle member
of that church in Washington, have known
Garfield well,” I said.
“Yes,’ said Mr. Boose, “I have known
him intimately. He has been a constant at
tendant of our church, with his wife and
mother, and a liberal giver. I have known
him to give money to the church when he
did not have it, and had to borrow it to
give. When he was nomitated for President
he said to me: 'ln no event must my con
nection with this denomination go into the
Presidency. I would rather be defeated
than elected as any denominational candi
date or have the religious question made an
issue.” His instructions were kept,” said
Roose, “bnt we made an awful still hunt
for him in Indiana, where we had seventy
thousand members. ”
Bungs.
Mary had a pair of bangs.
They matched her other hair,
And every night before she slept
She hung them on a chair.
She wore her bangs.to school one day.
Which made her classmates sore,
And hints went round that Mary’s pa
Worked in a dollar store.
This kind of talk produced a fuss
The teacher took it up ;
She locked the bangs within her desk—
Oh! fall was Mur’s cup.
MORGAN COUNTY,
NOTES FROM AN INTERESTING
NEIGHBOR.
A Slice of Augusta Astray Three Dis
tinguished Georgians—Georgia Female
College—Men of Bruin and Men of
Money—Puds vs. Medirlne—Tombstones
Win.
[ Rom Our Traveling Correspondent .]
Madison, March 11.— On more than one
occasion it has been my privilege to speak
in terms of high and deserved praise of
this healthfully located and really beautiful
little oity—of the beauty and grace of its
women, the intellect of its professional
men, the solid sense and worth of its mer
chants and the culture of its society. It is
Augusta in miniature—a slice, as it were, of
the old aristocratic Savannah river city.
Put the business part of the place some
where along Broad street, or the residence
portion on your Fifth Avenue, and scarce a
difference would be noted in the present
appearance of those thoroughfares. Again,
too, the citizens themselves remind one of
home. They have the look of Augusta peo
ple. Though nearer Atlanta than Augusta,
they seem more aristocratic than demo
cratic in their manner and ideas, and in
style, dress and address—ladies, men and
children—are very like the average Au
gustan.
Madison is the home of the Hon. Augus
tus Reese, one among the few great Geor
gians left, and to whom all owe a debt of
gratitude for his manly stand against the
tyranny of Meade, the military satrap, soon
after the close of the war. This learned
jurist and old-time gentleman—always en
gaged in some laudable enterprise—is now
interesting himself to better the condition of
the agriculturists of Georgia, Rnd in further
ance of the design delivered, last Wednes
day, to the farmers of Morgan county, a
masterly address on the all important sub
ject of farm economy. I will not attempt a
synopsis of it, for its sentiments were so
sound and strikes the key note of Southern
prosperity so aptly that its publication en
tired id your columns would be gladly
welcomed by the planters of the country.
Residing here, also, is the Hon. J. A. Bil
lups, long a foremost director of the Geor
gia Railroad and the recent candidate for
Congress in the Ninth District.
Dwelling here too, but relieved now from
active practice,|is the Hon. Joshua Hill, a Un
ion man always, and one whom the people
delighted to honor in the time when posi
tion was conferred for merit alone. Such
has ever been the popularity of this gentle
man and the belief in his honesty of pur
pose that, even when feeling ran highest
against individuals holding his views, he
never received any other than the kindest
consideration from his countrymen. The
known integrity of the man and his high
character always prevented Blur or inßult.
Col. Hill’s reminiscences of public men and
measures are vivid and instructive and, if
daring his present leisure, they were thrown
into book form would prove interesting
reading, besides being unique, as, among
the many volumes issued, there is no pub
lication that emanated from an honest Un-
ion man of the South.
Besides, these overshadowing charac
ters who claim Madison as their home,
there are here also the Forsters, the
Baldwins, the Georges, Heysers, &c ,of
the local bar, all youthful, brainy giants
whh will yet be known to fame. A score of
sterling and sagacious business men have
commercial houses in successful operation
here, among whom I mention the two
Highs, W. L. & J. R., E. H. Cohen—the
youngest man, age considered, in the State—,
Costello of the “Augusta Store,” who also
has a branch house, run under the same
sign, at Monroe, and then there is Brough
ton, the Burneys,lJ Beardlen, Hillsman,
Bohler, Atkinsons, Carbine and others, who
manage to control the funds arising from
the sale of ten to twelve thousand bales of
cotton annually. One of the pet institu
tions of Madison is the Georgia Female Col
lege-renowned in the past as an educa
tional center and, which,‘under the Presi
dency of Prof. R. T. Asbury, a thoroughly
capable and distinguished educator, is
rapidly regaining its former prestigo and
popularity. The matriculates of 1880 doub
led the number of 1879. This is certainly
a good showing. Parents in search of a
good school, where both mental and moral
qualities are looked after—one relying on
merit for success, and whose growth and
vitality must soon place it in the front rank,
should address the President of this Georgia
Institution. There is no sufficient reason
for sending Southern girls to Virginia or
the North for a solid or finished education
when right here in Middle Georgia —in the
finest climate upon the globe, the same ad
vantages are obtainable.
Madison, this week, has put on city airs—
for, besides having a Superior Court in ses
sion, presided over by the accomplished
Judge Lawson, there is a skating rink in
full blast, where Madison's loveliness shows
its tiny feet; and four separate parties of
traveling patent medicine salesmen are on
the streets at stated hours. As yon are
aware, it is not the larger cities only that
are afflicted with these empirics; they are
everywhere over the country - anywhere, in
deed, that a crowd is gathered there they
swarm, and of late they have become follow
ers of the Superior Courts. It is reported
of John C. Calhoun that he once said :
“Though medicine is the oldest profession
it has never reached the dignity of science.”
Judging from Heenes of daily occurrence
here, the advances made since the time of
the great Carolinian will scarcely relieve the
profession of a suspicion of humbug in all
its branches. Perhaps a letter from this
place now would be incomplete without
reference to a laughable burlesque that oc
curred on the streets a few days ago. First
to appear on the ground and ascend the
“rostrum” wore the liver pad doctors—two
leeturers upon absorption cure—and a banjo
player, whose duty is to draw the crowd
and hold it with music, both vocal and in
strumental, He acts the prt of I. Holdem
in the firm of I, Holdem &0. Skinem. The
“Professor” opened the entertainment with
singing “Kalamazoo” :
I will sing to you of a rice young gal, >
She is myhunky plunky,
She dresses in the latest style,
Her eyes are ginger blue,
Her feet are like canal boats,
Her ears are long and slender,
Her father keeps a barber shop,
Way out in Kalamazoo.
Chorus.
She is my darling Michigander,
She’s an Alabaster rogue,
Her ears are long, her voice is strong,
She wears a Roman nose.
She juggles the hash when on the mash,
Most everywhere she goes,
She’s a Kalamazan, a Zanderzan,
A Kalamazander Zan.
In the meantime appeared on the scene
a person who styled himself the Hindoo
Pain King— "the wonder of the world”—-
dressed in a threadbare suit of dingy black,
and head covered with a shocking bad
white hat, broad brimmed and low crown.
He took position within ten feet of the
“doctors” that, preceded him, occupying
the hurricane deck of a dry goods box.
Then approached another individual known
as “the worm destroyer.”
Each party began praising his wares.
Perhaps half the mascnline population of
the city gathered around the stands. Then
the rivalry began in earnest, each trying to
talk the other down, sharp tongue’ threats
were made and parried, and at length polite
phrases gave way to impolite and harsh
personalities. The crowd in high good hu
mor, applanded alternately, ■ either party,
and fun and frolic gleamed upon the coun
tenances, and broad laughter convulsed
many. It was fun to the crowd, and they
enjoyed it hugely, while the rival medicine
men became angrier and blows seemed im
minent. When the conflict of words was
hottest and the advance of the incensed
fakirs upon each other was momentarily ex
pended, in the distance was seen approaching
at a funeral pace a sombre looking vehicle
drawn by two dusky horses. On the raised
seat of his ominous looking carriage sat two
solemn and motionless figures. Its advance
was leisurely, the dark steeds moving like
lazy automatons. Arrived at the outside of
the mass of good humored humanity,
one of the melancholy occupants arose
slowly and sang out in sepulchral tones:
“Room, room for the last rites.” Passage
way was instantly made, and into the very
centre of the crowd was driven the sombre
vehicle, with its sad-faced drivers. A sud
den hush fell over the throng, even the
liver pads, the Hindoo and the worm de
stroyer were silenced, when the left band
occupant of the carriage, in a solemn, de
liberate manner, arose, squared himseif on
the seat, pulled up by his side a medium
sized coffin and gazed’ fixedly around upon
the upturned faces. Silence brooded for a
full minute, expectation was in every eye.
What message had this dismal courier to de
liver was the query of all. Expectation was
a tiptoe. Laughter had deserted the faces.
Ominous anticipations had usurped the
smiles. The silence grew painful. Then
—the figure, which was that of none
other than Dr. Potts, with left hand
resting on the coffin and his right
extended over the silent throng, broke
the spell. “Gentlemen,” said he, “I beg
to announce that it is a recognized law
of nature that one necessity produces an
other—that necessity is the mother-in-law
of invention, is a maxim as old as the
world. Look around and what see we ?
That disease is spreading. Yes. But pan
aceas, fantastic and otherwise, are presented
also. On my left is a pad, whieh, when
worn over the abdomen, puts to flight a
myriad number of diseases. Qn my right
is the great Hindoo Fain King who neyer
fails to cure. In my immediate front is thp
destroyer of the wonders of the system
worms ' They all promise certain and speedy
cures. They insist that “for all the ills flesh
is heir to” there is a remedy; that Nature’s
God has put here on earth an antidote for
; every poison—every disease. They claim
I to have discovered these precious treasures
hidden until now in nature's laboratory.
Doubtless they have. That I shall not dis
pute. They know their business. I know
mine. In my line there is no such thing as
fail. Ordinarily, I shonld not travel for
: business, but content myself with waiting
for natural causes to kill off the people. It has
been reported to me, however, that these
medicine men intend following tha Superior
Courts. It is written that man must not
only earn his bread by the sweat of his brow,
but that he must die.' There will be death
in the wake of these gentlemen. lor some
one of my brothers in the same lino are sure
to catch all men at some future time. But this
is a progressive age, and the business man
who hasn’t push nnd vim and enterprise is
lost. Therefore, I shall follow in the wake
of these new fledged doctors, assured that
above, there are no crematory resident un
dertakers who will be unable to bury the
dead. In imitation of their promises) and
not to be behind in enterprise, whoever they
treat free I promise to bury free. Relatives of
the dead, killed before my arrival, oan ap
ply now for my services. No one shall be
neglected, as my arrangements are perfect
ed to supply all demands. I shall keep a
special railroad train always busy. Bnt I
see now a citizen —a colored brother—has
just applied the pad. Step this way, sir !
Allow me to take your measure, /am in
the, coffin and tombstone line.'' Imagine the
effect of the last eight words. A bolt from
a clear sky would not describe the shock
upon the doctors. They stood aghast and
powerless—statues of helplessness. They
seemed deprived of animation. But the
crowd! Catching simultaneously the joke
in lull, they burst forth into wild and un
restrained laughter and cheering. Shouts
followed shouts. The Court room was al
most deserted, and windows raised in every
direction to discover the canse of this
wild merriment, while above the heads
of the yelling crowd, swaying to and fro, as
high as could be raised by this new solici
tor for public patronage, were seen the
black sides of the coffin, gaudy with tinsel,
waving over victory, indeed, but very un
like the plume of Henry of Navarre !
Morgan county sends the Chf.onicle fif
teen new subscribers to-day and $l2B.
For solid comfort and home treatment,
the Mansion House, kept by A. S. Hough,
offers every inducement to travelers.
Phacks.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE SAVANNAH.
A Reply to “Long Shoals 1 * Communic
ation.
Editors Chronicle and Constitutionalist:
Noticing an article in your issue of the
Bth, headed, “Improvement of the Savan
nah,” I take the liberty, being in full pos
session of all the facts, to pen a reply,
hoping that it may counteract, or, to some
extent arrest the opinion tliat must necessa
rily be formed from reading that communi
cation.
Now, in regard to the flogging given by
Mr. Logan to Mr. Hill, as “Long Shoals ’
terms it, the appellation is quite severe,
were it true that the first named gentleman
excelled in the “repartee” indulged in,
but the concession is universal that, in
the controversy, Mr. Hill completely anni
hilated his adversary.
The speech of Mr. Hill on that occasion
is deserving of the utmost praise. For elo
quence and a thorough knowledge of the
subject under discussion it was perfect, and
the many expressions of commendation
with which he was greeted at its conclu
sion, is a sufficient guarantee to all fair min
ded readers that Georgia is not suffering at
his hands. The flattering attention given
him, which is seldom accorded any Sena
tor, was quite an indication of the merit of
his remarks. I cannot desist from further
commentingjupon “Long Shoals” remarks as
to crediting Col. E. C. Anderson with secur
ing the $60,000 for lighting Savsnnah har
bor.
While I do not desire to detract from the
praise which may be due Col. Anderson for
his participation in the matter, I feel it a
duty to give to the public such a statement
as will secure to each person who labored
for the appropriation the credit which his
seccess merits. It was upon a request of
Governor Brown by telegraph that Col. An
derson came to Washington to aid him in
securing appropriations for Savannah. The
report of ihc engineer estimated only for
$65,000 to deepen the channel of the
river.
Gov. Brown and Col. Anderson frequent
ly urged before the committee the necessity
for that sum, but upon the preparation of
the bill by the House Committee it was de
creased to $25,000, and in this form it
passed the House and was presented to
the Senate. It was here that Sen
ator Brown offered his amendment to
increasethe amount to $65,000, the sum
estimated by the engineer. It required the
united and unceasing efforts of Senators
Brown and Hill before the Committee, in
the Committee room and upon the floor of
the Senate, to secure that sum. "Never did
men labor more faithfully and zealously for
the accomplishment of any object, which is
manifest by its being one of the few similar
undertakings which met with success. In
addition to this, Col. Anderson suggested
the advantages of lighting the river from
Tybee to Savannah, so that vessels conld go
up any time of night or in any weather.
There had been no report or estimate for
this purpose from any of the Departments,
though attempts had before been made to
secure an appropriation for this purpose.
Gov. Brown now took the matter up and
with the aid of Cof, Anderson and his sta
tistics urged the matter before the Light
House Board again and again until they
made an estimate of $60,000, the amount
deemed necessary. This sum was called
for by Gov. Brown in the Senate, by a fur
ther amendment, and after a severe contest,
in which he and Senator Hill participated,
the appropriation wan made by the Senate.
Col. Anderson furnished facts and statis
tics; it was the work of Gov. Brown, aided
by Senator Hill, that obtained the appro
priation. “Long Shoals” gives all the
credit to Col. Anderson. Col. Anderson
himself gives most of it to Gov. Brown.
“Baker.”
LENTEN PASTORAL.
The Archbishop of Dublin and Hl* Treat
ment of Affairs In Ireland—Womens*
Participation in Demonstrations Con
demned, So, Also, Pairs, Ktf.
(By Cable to the Chronicle.)
Dublin, March 13. —The following is the
reference to the Land League in Archbishop
McCabe’s Lenten pastoral:
“Let nobody accuse us of want of sym
pathy with the great question of justice
which now appeals to Parliament for settle
ment. The cause is just and holy, and car
ries with it the blessings ot religion.
Amongst the terrible mistakes made former
ly by the rulers of this unhappy land there
is none, perhaps, which will exceed in folly
that which will be now committed if the vi
tal question of the tenure of land holdings
is not settled now and forever on just prin
ciples to all. So convinced are we that a
full and honest settlement of this angTy con
troversy is essential to the temporal happi
ness and the moral and religions interests
of our countrymen, that if the sacrifice of
onr blood could lead to the consummation
of this grand act of justice we would
make that sacrifice. Whilst wo bless the
end now aimed at we must again pro
claim that some of the means employed in
the struggle cannot receive the sanction of
religion. The modesty of her daughters
was the ancient glory of Ireland, but all this
is now to be abandoned, and our daughters
are summoned under the flimsy pretext of
charity to take their stand in the noisy arena
of publio life. The pretext of oharity is
merely assumed, for already we have holy
associations of saen and women who do
works of mercy for the poor and afflicted,
and even the harsh laws now coming in
force have mercifully provided for the fam
ilies of those failing under their power.
Irish women are asked to forget the mod
esty of their sex by leaders who seem utter
ly reckless of consequences, and who by
their recklessness have brought misery on
many families.
“Reverend Fathers, set your faces against
this dishonoring attempt ! Do not tolerate
in your sodalities a woman who so far disa
vows her modesty as to parade herself pub
licly in a character so nn worthy of a child
of Mary!
“This attempt at degrading the Irish
women comes very appropriately from men
who have drawn their country into its pres
ent terrible and deplorable condition. De
prived of the safeguards of the Consti
tution, the people may become the
prey of perjured informers. The men
who have sent agents to fawn on
notorious infidels and revolutionists,
and who, to escape the odium of their
act, abuse the Christian politeness of
a most venerable prelate and an illustrious
soldier of France i Cardinal Gnibert, Arch
bishop of Paris, and Marshal MacMahon),
these men and their agents, to forward
their views, were not ashamed to calumni
ate the diocese whose prelates were formerly
the glory of the Irish Church, and who were
not afraid to warn their people when misled
by false friends and dangerous advisers.
These are the sources wnence come the
great dangers to our faith.
“Let us pray to the Almighty that He
may scatter the enemies of His holy cause,
that His wisdom may direct the counsels of
our rulers, and that He may bind together
forever priests and people.”
Edison's Light Sot a Success.
There was a large attendance in the hall of
the College of Bt. Francis Xavier last night
to hear the lecture of Rev. Samuel H. Fris
bee, S. J., on the “Electric Light.” The
speaker illustrated his remarks with many
interesting experiments and stereopticon
yiews. He sajd that Rdison’s light as it
was now constructed, could not be a suc
cess He proposed to pnt it in a glass glebe
and pump the air out, so that the carbon
would not bum away. The carbon, how
ever, would not last more than sir months,
when anew lamp would have to be pro
cured. All of the machines now made
were taken from the ideas of a Belgian
monk. .
OUR FOREIGN LETTER.
ITEMS OF INTEREST FROM THE OLD
WORLD.
i Poluirs Among tile Powert—What the
European Papers Think of tlc Ameri
can Press—The Immigration Question.
! lCorrespondence Chronicle and. Constitutionalist.]
| Buemf.n, February 26, 1881.—Europe
| has for some time past enjoyed a compara
; tive calm in the “grande politique.” The
leading countries are apparently all busily
engaged to arrange their interior affairs :
France is occupied with the adjustment of
a status between church and State ; Ger
many, suffering from constant and ever in
creasing deficits iu the yearly budget, is
tinkering taxation ; more money is needed
for the maintenance of the expensive lux
ury, “a powerful empire," and new sources
of income have to be created: a Govern
ment tobacco monopoly is likely to be
pounoed upon, and the good people of this
city, which is the great tobacco emporium
of the continent, are considerably agitated
about and much opposed to it. Russia, re
covering from the Nihilist scare of last year,
is introducing reforms, which prove bene
ficial to the country and gradually emanci
pate the people. Spain, which ambitiously,
lately, made strenuous efforts to he admit
ted to the “Circle of Great Powers,” has
formed a liberal Government under Senor
Sagasta, which bids fair to become very
popular. The Tureo-Grecian question is a
sore point which promises to become trouble
some in the future, and Old England finds it
self once more in a peck of great and small
troubles. The Zulu and Afghanistan wars
were scarcely finished when the Transvaal
calamity arose, with a second Ashanitee war
in prospect. But these little colonial diffi
culties are not made much of ; they are un
complainingly accepted as the natural out
growth of vast and distant possessions:
they are costly, but they keep the public
interest alive and the army from getting
rusty. Quite different, however, a matter
of sad and serious importance, is the state
of affairs in Ireland. The land question,
of course, gives the impetus, and is
the ostensible cause of the disagree
ment ; but that the autonomy of Ireland
is the fundamental, principal and real cause
of the agitation is no secret. The sympa
thies of America, press and public, ’seem
strongly enlisted on the side of Ireland.
Europe looks upon the difficulty in rather
a different light and perhaps you will not
object to hear what the press and public of
this Continent, even Republican France,
with exception of the Communards or In
transigeants of the Rochefort type, think
about the situation : “If the land-laws in
Ireland are harsh, the rents disproportion
ally high, the landlords allowed too many
privileges, reforms are necessary and incon
gruities ought to be adjusted, no matter who
suffers pecuniarily by it, and whose rights
are curtailed. The present Gladstone Min
estry had acknowledged shortcomings of
this character and made 'reform in Ireland’
part of its platform; the character of the
cabinet containing such avowed champions
of the rights of the people as John Bright,
Chamberlain and others was a guarantee of
the prompt introduction of such reforms.
Instead of waiting a short time longer what
these men who had just come into office
would do, the state of lawlessness in the
country itself assumed such dimensions
that the Government’s authority became
entirely nominal. Crimes of the worst
kind were perpetrated, and a sort of ‘Regu
lator-rule,’ which defied all laws, was intro
duced in Parliament by a number of the
Irish representatives, an absurd and useless
obstruction of business was carried on,
which did no end of mischief, increased the
bitter feeling, delayed the introduction of
reforms and made severe measures necessa
ry. The One great common bugbear of Eu
rope is Socialism, Nihilism, Communism,
or whatever else the name bo for the do
ings of that small band of levellers, who
have made themselves so dreaded, and who,
on account of their nttbr indifference as to the
means they employ to attain their purpose,
have'made themselves so dreaded,and where
Europe sees Communism it will tight, and
try to suppress it as a common enemy. The
agitation in Ireland, it is assorted, has some
of the elements of Communism in it; when
Mr. Parnell recently visited Paris bo osten
tatiously singled Out M.. do Rochefort, the
acknowledged leader of the French Com
munards, to unburden himself to Mr.
Shaw, the successor of Mr. Butt as leader
of the Irish party in Parliament, has dis
connected himself entirely from the doings
of the Parnell party; but the latter Is domi
nating just now; how long and whether for
the benefit of Ireland or not, remains to be
seen. A total separation from England and
Scotland is not to be thought of; the fate
and history of the countries have been in
terwoven for centuries past, and the exist
ence of an independent empire in such un
comfortably close proximity* to its western
coast, England would resist to the utmost.
A confederation, as exists between Austria
and Hungary, has been suggested, but the
anomaly of the position of these two States
to each other has little to recommend itself.
The recent Gag law and Persons Property
and Protection bill are not such terrible
outrages, and if they are infringements
upon the liberties of the people, they are
temporary measures only, limited in time
beforehand, and necessary ones for the
benefit of tho many for the discomfiture of
the few, Thfere is, on account of Socialistic
agitation, for instance, martial law pro
claimed in quite a number of the large
cities in Germany*; nobody complains; no
body sympathizes with the people who live
under it; no outcry is made about it at
home or abroad. Such preliminary meas
ures become absolutely necessary" if the
Government wanted to be not only a nomi
nal but ade facto Government. Give the
Gladstone Ministry the chance to bring in
and carryout effectively its reform projects,
of which we shall have shortly, and changes
for the better will most probably take place
in the country ere many days.” This about
expresses the publio opinion and the opin
ion of the press.
The vast superiority of the American press
is, as it cannot be otherwise, acknowledged
all ovorthe world. The following rather mod
ified opinion appeared a few days ago in a
small German weekly paper —a pigmy's crit
icism of a giant’s strength. It is no doubt true
in regard to a part of the American press;
but certainly, and fortunately, it does not
apply to the whole of it. It said : “Of the
power which newspapers exercise in Amer
ica in the formation as well as the execution
of public opinion; of their powerful influ
ence upon all public offices; of the innu
merable cases in which by their omnipres
ence and vigilance, they support a weak
kneed police and justice; how it discovers
crimes and perpetrators of crimes, of all
that it is unnecessary to speak, as it is known
all over the world. Also that they are used
by millions in the place of books—that they
furnish sermons to the pious, philosophical
treatises and lectures te the thinker, all the
new dißOoyeries upon the vast fields of
knowledge and possibility to the man of
science, all the new inventions to the me
ciXiDic, all improvements in agriculture to
the farmer, endless, precise and constant in
formation to the merchant, is an astonishing
and admirable fact; it is simply a micro
cosm, an encyclopedia, an ‘orbis pictus’
without pictures. That is the bright side,
But there is a dark, a very dark side to it.
In tho feverish endeavor to be everything
to everybody the American press stoops to
pander to the morbid taste, to the lowest
and meanest inclinations apd passions of
human nature; by publishing, as they oc
cur, all crimes, scandals, brutalities and in
famies with all their disgnsting, sickening
details, filling whole pages of a single is
sue, the great, proud American papers de
grade themselves, injure others, and shape
themselves into a purse instead of a blessing.
Those who, in their leading articles, often
assume the appearance of the highest stan
dard of morality, who sit as severe judges
of virtue in judgment over other sinners,
place on the next page before their readers
a mess of iniquity and undisguised baseness
which only the lowest of the low can take
any satisfaction in. If any on? qfcjeeU,
they shrug their shoulders and say, ‘You
don’t understand tba] onr paper is a ‘News
paper,’and must give all ‘News,’ so that
our readers can form a correct judgment.'
A miserable excuse 1 It is not true tht all
baseness, all infamy which happens in the
world is ‘news,’ which to publish is the
duty of the press. What good can it do ?
The largeness of the American newspapers is
their curse; the constant temptation to in
crease size, to surpass the neighbor l , and the
consequent necessity of ‘filling up’ with
trash of the worst description, is the main
canse of this self degradation.”
Emigration, to all appearance, will again
be enormous this year; the probability is,
last year’s figures, which was about 103,-
000, from German ports, will be exceeded.
The steamer lines are reducing rates, which
gives it another impetus. The German lines
have come down to about s2o—to New
York and Baltimore; tfie Hollandiah and
English companies take even less than that,
about sls.
It seems an incomprehensible ahert-sight
edness on the part of the Legislature, which
one of these days will be much regretted,
that it is so slow in taking action on the
Immigration bill. By passing oyer the
subject during the last session again, the
work of a season has been lost. An appro
priation, as suggested some time ago by
Mr. W. f. Herring, chiefly to be invested
in offering to emigrants a cheap passage,
ought to be made. Other States, principally
the Western, but sevmal of the Southern
States, as Texas, Mississippi and, Axfcansas,
too, are making constant and an ergeue efforts
through well supported agents to secure im
migrants and shiploads of the very best ma
terial are forwarded regularly. A commis
sioner of immigration, eyen a salaried one,
cannot do much good if unsupported and
single handed he has to compete with agent*
from other States who have all imaginable
means to secure success at their disposal.
In your issue of the 3ist of January, which
arrives this moment, yon again touch vig
orously npon this subject and mention a
colony of 10 English families who propose
2 A YEAR—POSTAGE PAID.
to settle in Missouri. A short time ago the
larger portion of the population of two
counties in Bavaria who wanted to emigrate
and to remain together, were secured for
Texas. Mr. S. Sjutzer, Mr. Fontaine’s
agent, now travelling in Germany in the in
terest of immigration to the State, tried to
secure these people for Georgia, but the
Texas representative offered a lower rate of
passage and carried the day. They will be
shipped in a special steamer via Rotterdam.
Mr. Herring has made a donation of S2OO
towards having a German pamphlet descrip
tive of the State of Georgia, compiled by
the writer, mainly a translation of Air.
Fontaine’s work of Georgia, printed in 2,-
000 copies which will be ready for. distri
bution hy the end of the month. It will,
it is to be hoped, be of some use. but if
the State does not lend its prompt nnd
material aid to the scheme it cannot do
ranch good. W.
CONFERENCE OF RAILROAD PRESI
DENTS.
The Commissioners' Rates—Tin- Inletcala
of the Georgia and Central Railroads
in Alabama— Unfounded Rumors.
[Savannah News, 16th Inst. J
.r. C. H. Phinizy, President of the Goor
gi, /Railroad, arrived in the city yesterday
morning, and it was whispered around that
his. visit had some connection with the re
ports in reference to the alleged lease of the
Georgia Road by the Central, with a guar
antee of eight per cent, dividend. To this
rumored movement, which has been the
subject of discussion for some days past,
was attributed the demand for Georgia
stock and the rapid advance-in price.
During the forenoon Mr. Phinizy
called at the Central Raiboad Bank to see
Mr. Wadley, and shortly after H. B.
Plant, Esq., President of the Savannah,
Florida and Western Railway Company,
was seen to enter the banking house. Im
mediately thereafter rumors were current
that an important conference was being
hold, and that the final arrangements in
regard tb the Georgia Railroad were to he
completed. All these speculations and rn
mors wore, however, unfounded, as, during
the consultation, we cun positively state
nothing in relation to the lease of the Geor
gia Railroad and any guarantee was men
tioned. In fact, no Bueh movement has
been or is contemplated, and the rumor is
not only unfounded, but absurd. The pres
ence of Mr. Plant was accidental, and had
nothing whatever to do with the visit of
Mr. Phinizy.
We learn that Mr. Phinizy came to
Savannah to consult with Air. Wadley
in regard to the Western Railroad of Ala
bama, in which both corporations are joint
ly interested. This road runs from West
Point and Columlms to Opelika and Alont
goniery, thence to Selmn, and is owned hy
the Central and Georgia. The management
of this line, and certain other matters con
nected with it, were the only subjects of
discussion. Whilst this consultation was in
progress between Mr. Wadley and Mr-
Phinizy, Air. Plant called in to see Air.
Wadley in regard to the best plan to
be pursued to enable the railroads to in
crease their earnings under the Commis
sioners' rates. This was a Subject of great
interest to all three corporations, and was
principally discussed throughout the re
mainder of the conference. Mr. W. G.
Raoul and Mr. H. 8. Haines were also pres
ent and participated in the discussion,
which, as previously stated, was confined
to the two subjects above mentioned.
NEWS NOTES FROM GEORGIA,
Wild cats abound in Aliller county.
Rev. C. W. Lane has been elected Mode
rator of the Athens Presbytery, now in
session in Elbert.
Dougherty county has twenty-seven rep
resentatives in the Georgia Penitentiary.
Ben Brian, one of the oldest citizens of
Hall county, was stricken with paralysis
one day last week.
Winter and Spring aro having a rough
and tumble tussle to determine which will
sit in the lap oi.Jho other.
The Savannah branch of the Irish Land
League will have its anniversary celebration
on Thursday evening, the 17th.
The Lawrenoeville Branch Railroad is now
completed, and trains are making regular
trips, connecting with the A. & C. U. R.
Judge Alfred Middlebrook, a worthy citi
zen Of Monroe county, lias fifteen living
children and twenty- five hundred acros of
land.
Tho Alliens Banner says; “We are glad to
welcome ns a citizen of 'our town Dr. Sam
uel Benedict, formerly of the United States
army."
Camilla, Mitchell county, has had a.second
large fire this year. The total loss by the
fire is estimated at twenty-five thonsand
dollars.
Capt. Nobles, of Naooochee Valley, is a
delegate to tho Athens Presbytery. Ho says
when he left the mountains they were cov
ered with snow.
A negro boy, living at DuPont, was sent
to the chain gang for five months, for
knocking Mr. Wydeman’s little boy in tho
head with an iron bolt.
A true bill has been found against old
man Marsh for his outrage upon the little
ten year old girl of Mr. Robertson, by Chat
tooga Court, now in session.
Says the Washington Gazelle: “Farmers
aro making preparations for an unusually
large cotton crop, to the exclusion of a full
corn crop. This is an error.”
Forty-two looms have been added to the
capacity of the Muscogee mills within the
past year, and it is probable tliat fifty or
sixty more will be added soon.
There were seventeen deaths recorded in
the mortuary list of Savannah last week.
Of this number five were among the white
and twelve among the colored inhabitants.
Col. Slaughter, of tho Flint River Gov
ernment Improvement Works, w*as in Al
bany Saturday. He stated that his boats
are now seventy-three mile ahovo Albany.
Some of the guano agents in Eatonton
find the demand for guano greater than their
supplies. The farmers seem to be using an
unusually large amount of fertilizers this
year.
Only fifty-three oases were returned to
tho March term of Floyd Superior Court.
The business of the Court can easily be dis
posed of at the two regular terms, as soon
as the dockets are cleared of old eases.
United States Deputy Marshals Taylor
and Campbell made a raid into the edge of
Elbert on Tuesday, and captured a still jußt
a little north of Concord Church. There
are no more vigilant officers than these.
An old man sixty years of ago perpetrated
a diabolical outrage on a little girl eleven
years old recently, in Chattooga county.
The people are very ranch incensed, and
are after the perpetrator, who has escaped.
We learn from the Daniehmlle Yeoman,
that during tho session of the Superior
Court last week, Hon. Thomas Crymes, of
Athens, by request, made a speech in ad
vocacy of a railroad through Madison coun
ty.
The Atlanta Phonograph notes that Henry
Riohardson, the Washington correspondent
of the Constitution, will not get through
writing “The resignation of Colonel F)tz
simons is daily expected” for twenty days
yet.
We have been informed that the A. & W.
P. Railroad Company proposes, if the citi
zens of Meriwether county will raise $40,-
000 in cash to aid the enterprise, to build
a branch road from Puckett’s Station to
Greenville.
The pastors of the various churches in
Thomasville hay? arranged to meet togeth
er onqe a WD e^—°n Monday, we learn—for
the purpose of consulting and advising with
each other touching the work in which they
aro engaged.
The State Department of Agriculture, un
der the sound management of Judge J. T.
Henderson, the Commissioner, is doing a
splendid service for tho formers of the
| State. He hag published, recently, a val
| uable Manual on Cattle, which is a thorough
' treatise on this subject, compiled from
standard works on cattle, supplemented by
much original information by the Commis
sioner himself.
It will be gratifying to, the many friends
of Dr. Harrison in Georgia to learn that he
almost entirely recovered from his re
cent severe attaek. He is now visiting
friends in Virginia. It" is hjs intention to
return from Washington to Georgia next
Fall and eqt&i the itinerant Methodist
minister? again. He has served four years
at Mount Vernon Church, that being the
limit of a pastorate i% Vn Methodist
Church
Mr. Jame3 J*. Lyon, of Upson county, re
ceived two thousand dollars tho other day
from an insurance company in which he had
an endowment policy, upon which ho had
paid nearly three thousand dollars. The
amount was in full settlement of the policy
Captain J. V. Smith, of Albany, has a
four-year-old LtCopte or Hand Pear tree in
his yard which ia a curiosity. It is a per
fect mass of white blossoms, and looks like
a big nosegay. If one-tenth part of the
blossoms produce pears, the tree will not
be able to stand under its load of fruit
Mr. Anthony Murphy and Mayor English,
of Atlanta, feel {ally satisfied of the sincerity
of General Gordon to do what he says he
will in regard to the Georgia Western Rail
road, while there are others who are fearful
that the building nl the road is not one of
the things that will transpire immediately.
The Elberton News says; “We learn that
there will Boon be a lodge of Enights of
Honor organised in Elberton. In our opin
ion, there is no better organization than the
K. of H. Besides the $2,000 which the
heirs of a member are sure te get at his
death, there is an excellent brotherhood in
connection with the order.”
iflp Bichard Griffith, of Rome, disap
peared mysteriously last Friday and has not
been heard of since. His hat was found
under the Beßna Railroad bridge. There
are . two theories in, reference to his disap
pearance. One that whije intoxicated and
attempting to walk across tho Selma Rail
road bridge be lost his footing, slipped and
fell into the river, and now lies at its bot
tom* The other supposition is, that some
one knowing that he had sixty or seventy
dollars about his person, and seeing that he
was intoxicated, seised upon the opportu
nity, and murdering him placed his hat
under the bridge as a blind.
PRESS COMMENTS.
Power and the People.
[Aew York Sun.]
•At® °^ erna / stru Kglo between the rights
ol the people and the encroachments of
power goes on, The friends of the people
should never give way the first inch to any
Buoh encroachments. J
Republican Right.
[New York Tribune.]
ft is the right of the Republicans as a
party, to have an opportunity to test the
question of their ability to control the
Senate by a vote when all the seats are full,
lho trick the Democrats are trying to play
V n ° thinK bettor a ward
caucus. It is amazing that United States
Senators should engage in it.
Virginia*. Debt.
[Springfield Republican.]
The Democrats of Fauquier county V*
are trying to assemble a State convention ai
hiehmpnd to consider the State debt but
\ lrginia, like many other Southern States
is not so much in need of anew settlement
of its debt, as of a fixed determination to
stand by arrangements already made, and
patiently meet the burdens which thev im
pose. •
The Ruh For Office..
IA T . F. Herald.]
The rush of office-seekers will go on and
men will continue, out of a foolish pride or
a more foolish lack of consideration to
waste their small means in attempts to se
cure what, if they get it, is prettv certain to
impoverish their families, unfit themselves
for the struggle with the world when thev
are “turned out,” and injure their chil
dren s prospects.
Dnrld Davl.* Position.
[A. F. Times.]
He has dallied with Greenbackers and la
bor reformers without openly and explicitly
adopting their theories, he has been talked
of as a Democratic candidate for President
without making any prptest against the use
of his name, and there has been a suspicion
not without plausibility, that a Republican
nomination would be to his mind a anffl
cient evidenoe of the return of the party to
the ways of wisdom and patriotism.
The Savannah River Appropriation,.
I Rome Courier. ]
A writer in the Augusta Chboniclv avd
CoNSTmmoNijBT belabors Senator Hill
verely for not getting a large appropriation
for the Savannah river above Augusta
Now, as between the Senators from Geor."
gia, we are perfectly impartial, snd in the
exercise of our peculiar rights growing out
" f,hat “ e , ntal condition, wo ask. why is
Sir. Hill alone to suffer because of the fact
that tho appropriation was not obtained I
Nearly Balanced.
[A. T. Tribune.]
Senator Davis has convinced himself that
he is the arbiter of American destinies The
States were balanced at the last election.
Ihe voters were almost balanced nurner
iC’Uly. Both branches of Congress are “al
most baffinced." The Senate is balanced,
and Mr. Davis is balanced-almost, though
he forgot to say it. The Senator is nearly
balanced, except that, as he sits on the raid
dle of the beam, he gives a benevolent push
to the Democratic side of it.
The Reason Why.
[Detroit Free Press.]
Mr. Robert Lincoln was made Secretary
of War because he is the son of Abraham
Lincoln, and it is now proposed to make
onelsham, a Chicago lawyer, a Justice of
the Snpreme Court becanse he is a partner
of Robert Lincoln’s. This beats the reason
for giving it to Stanley Matthews-becanse
his wife or his sister is the sister or sister
in-law or wife of Mr. Hayes or Mrs. Hayes’
brother, or Mrs. Hayes’ brother’s wife—we
do not now recall the correct relationship.
The Tariff Nurture.
[Aero York Herald.]
There are stupendous interests in Ameri
ca which have grown into monopolies
through the artificial nurture of the tariff.
The moment these are menaced there will
be war. Our experience of wars in which
capital, monopolies and vested interests
are concerned leads ns to believe that it
will bo unrelenting, selfish and hitter. The
way to meet this is to educate the people,
so that we may have what the President
desires, “a full discussion of the question
of tho tariff.” - 1
An Extra Session.
[Detroit Free Press.]
If Mr. Carlisle and his colleagues had not
fastened that unwise and unjust provision
to the Funding bill there would be no dis
cussion of an extra session now, bnt, true
to their habit, they would not let a good
measure go through withoutjmddling a bad
one upon it, and the President was com
pelled to use his veto power. Now the
bonds that fall due cannot be refunded,
and unless Congress shall meet to adopt
measures for funding, the Secretary of the
Treasury will have to continue tiaying 5
and 6 per cent, interest, when he might be
paying only 3 or 3]£.
The Fatnre of The Demoerallr Party,
f Aew York Star.]
Many of our contemporaries throughout
the country seem to ns unreasonably de
spondent in regard to the prospects of the
Democratic party. There is little in the
past and nothing in the present to justify
their doleful predictions. The Democracy
is the party of the people ; to its principles
and its candidates the people have been and
aro still, as true as tho needle to the pole
and all the disasters and disappointments’
which have kept our party from power are
due, not to any loss of popularity, bnt to
tho mismanagement or desertion of our
principles by onr party leaders.
The Senate Committee*.
[Philadelphia Times.]
The Senate should dignify itself by digni
fying its ablest statesmen of both parties
and that can be done by tho best men
agreeing m the formation of the commit
tees, regardless of mere partisanship, so
that no trader in petty party spoils can
wreak the vengeance of petty meanness and
malioe upon ability and integrity. There
'I n ?, B 00( J Reason why the committees
should not be organized by manly mutual
concession from the better elements of both
sides, and that would be an act worthy of
the Senate of the United States.
A Word of Caitlon*
[Afltional Republican.]
A well-known South Carolinian, who has
just amved in this city, reports that Gen.
Garfield s inaugural address is already bear,
mg good fruit in that State. He says" it is a
common thing to hear leading Democrats
declare that ballot-box stuffing and election
frauds generally must not again ho prac
as they have been admonished by
Northern Democratic managers that suoh
acts of lawlessness are more then the party
North can stand and hope to survive. Bnt
the South Carolina Democracy have resolved
upon anew departure. Henceforth they
will endorse a certain class of Republicans
for the leading Federal positions, with tho
hope that such officials will exert their in
fluence toward dividing the colored voto,
thus increasing the strength of the Democ
racy in local and State elections. A num
ber of chronic office-holders from the Pal
metto State are now in this city, with ap
plications for Federal positions, which aro
endorsed by leading Democratic politicians.
Senators Hampton and Butler included,
ana the President, in heeding such in fin
ences, will be lending his aid to a scheme
which is designed to mislead many of the
Republican masses in that State.
Reorganising the Senate,
[New York Timts.\
..The Republicans had hop-„d to reorganize
the Senate at the beginning 0 f this session,
ihey had not calculated on losing three of
their number by calls into the Cabinet, and
, y death. This unforseen substraction
0 u i^ r e leaves the minority in
a helpless situation. It ia complained that
the majority have acted unfairly in thus
reorganizing the Senate while that body is
not full. This, is unfortunate for the mi
nonty, but there is every reason to suppose
that they would have done the same thing
it tha relative positions of parties in the
Senate were reversed and the Republi
cans were able to do what the Democrats
are doing. The Republican Senators, in
order to throw upon the Democratic ma
jority all responsibility for "the new deal,”
have refused to give any assistance in mak
ing up the committees. This is a logical
position, since the Republicans protest
against any revision of the committees at
this time. On the other hand, the Demo
crats are quite right in insisting on a reor
ganization of the committees. Nominations
from the President should be referred to
their appropriate committees before being
acted upon by the Senate, and there can be
no fair arrangement cf committees from
which nearly one-third of the Senate is ex
cluded. But, in any case, the party in the
majority have the power and the disposi
tion to revise the committees, and this
would be done even although there were no
real necessity for the reorganization. The
Democrats are only doing their best to taka
care of themselves while they have the
chance.
Waynesboro Notes.
[ Oorresporalence Chronicle and Constitutionalist.]
Waynehbobo, March 15.—A man numed
Walter Matthews created some excitement
here last night, while drnnk, by shooting
at the Town Mondial Macrone. He escaped
on his horse.
We hod a bicycle in town, but it is no
more, having been smashed when it threw
a young man yesterday. One of Mr. Gray’s
clerks mourns its calamity.
Mr. Gilbert ,B. Banks was married to Mis*
Dora Gresham ot the Methodist Church to
day, at noon, by Rev. Mr. Branch. The church
was nicely decorated. A large and delighted
audience was present. The happy young
conple left for your beantifnl city this af
ternoon, where they will spend their happy
honeymoon. h.
Mr. C. E. Smith has had a shatt sunk
seventy-five feet deep at the “Stoney Ridge”
mine, in Wilkes county, und is now tuD
nelling ont horizontally from the foot o*
the shaft.