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THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION: TUESDAY, JULY 25,1882.
THE CONSTITUTION.
Entered at the Atlanta Pout-office as second-das
mail matter, November 11,1878.
Weekly Cea.UlnUow, price *1.00 per
Clubs of twenty, $20, and a copy to the getter «p
the clnb.
WEEKLY CONSTITUTION, SIX MONTHS,«.00.
constitution has been engendered, that the i France is making ready for conflict. No
will of the people has been outraged, that the ■ trouble has arisen between the two countries,
ATLANTA, GA., JULY 25, 1882.
Over 50,000 people now read
THE WEEKLY CONSTITU
TION.
Our aim is to have it go to
every fireside in the state.
Do you take it ? If not, send
in your name at once. Don’t
force your family to borrow it.
The more readers we get, the
better we can make the paper.
We promise that it shall be bet
ter, brighter and fuller than ever
before this year. Send in your
name.
Gexeral Longstreet does not appear to
have an exBlted opinion of the Turk and'the
Egyptian,’and still less of Lew Wallace. Said
Pasha is the only man who comes in for a
good word, and indeed the Georgia general
lilts the nail pretty squarely on the head in
his view of the situation.
William Arp, as we have had occasion to
remark before now, carries a very live head
on those shoulders of his, which our readers
will be sorry to learn are still bent with ill
ness. Yet he extracts the roost genial philos
ophy fromHlie circumstances. Verily William
Arp knows bow to get sunshine out of cu
cumbers.
’ President Cunningham has done well to
time the meeting of his fruit growers conven
tion with the meeting of the horticultural
society. Both bodies are interested in the
vital question of cheap and rapid transporta
tion; and the meetings should result in a final
solution of the problem which was partially
veil at the recent meeting in Atlanta.
“Enacted that the drink of rum in Geor
gia be absolutely prohibited, and that all
which shall be brought there shallbestaved.”
The preceding quotation is from the laws of
the trustees of Oglethorpe’s colony, and they
were passed in 1733. Georgia is thus on record
as a prohibition state long before Maine was
thought of. How it came about is retold else
where.
In round numbers three and a half mil
lions worth of property is returned as tax
able ir. Athens, and it is estimated that the
non-tuxable property will bring the total up
to eight millions. Athens has a population
of about 8,000. The average value of property
is therefore one thousand dollars to each
citizen. Certainly no city in the south, and
probably none in tlic country, can make so
good a showing as the classic city.
The death of Colonel Alfred Shorter, of
Rome, is announced lo-day. Colonel Shorter
had lived in Rome for more than thirty years,
and was probably the wealthiest man in that
section of the country. Mr. Dwineli, of the
Rome Courier, estimates his wealth at half a
million dollars. He has no children, and his
heirs ure, it is understood, his neices—Mrs. L.
B. Griggs, of Forsyth, Mrs. Eben Hillyer and
Mrs. J. A. Rhodes, of Rome, and Mrs. George
Hillyer, of Atlanta, with perhaps one or two
others. Colonel Shorter was a man of con
servative character, great sagacity and liber
ality. lie did much toward the building np
of Rome, and donated- to the Baptists of the
state Shorter college, on which he had
spent np to the time of his death over $100,-
000. He had been in quite feeble health for
more than a year, and his death was not nn-
cxpected.
THE WORK OF THE CONVENTION.
The conrention has accomplished aglorious
work for the people of Georgia. The nomin
ation of Alexander H. Stephens is the best
liat could be made. It will accomplish
m uore for the harmony and integrity of the
leraocratic party than any nomination o' the
lemocracy in the last ten years. Mr. Stephens
I <3 the embodiment of wisdom. Comprehen
sive and natural in his views and aspirations
his election will demonstrate to the state and
the nation that the democracy of Geoigia is
true to the teachings of Jefferson and the best
interests of the south.
• * That he will be elected without serious op
position no one can doubt. The temper of
the convention on yesterday demonstrates be
yond doubt that he will have an enthusiastic
and united democracy at his back—and in
Georgia that means a majority anywhere be
tween 50,000 and 100,000. The people are sat
isfied wijli the outlook, and may congratulate
themselves that the summer will pass with
out an unseemly and disturbing wrangle. It
goes without saying that Mr. Stephens will
make a good governor, and that the most
scrupulous integrity, competent statesman
ship and loving devotion to the state will
characterize the administration.
We congratulate the people of Georgia,
without respect to party, on the result of the
convention, and we congratulate the demo
cratic party that at last its factions are united
once more, and that it has found complete
harmony in the events that threatened its dis
union. A happier issue of a threatening con
test could not have been made.
THE PLATFORM.
The platform adopted by the convention is
brief but comprehensive. In few words, it
covers the whole ground. It affords standing-
room for every voter in Geoigia who is patri
otic enough to desire an honest administration
of public affairs and the restoration ot confi
dence between the sections; it is an open and
cord'al invitation to all who have sufficient
interest in politics to desire the future proe-
* perityof the state. Through the resolutions
^composing the platform, the party reaffirms
the time-honored principles expounded
by Jefferson and Madison; and the
pledge is given that there will* be fresh exer
tions and renewed activity in behalf ot these
principles, and in behalf of the triumph of
Rose doctrines and methods that bring peace
ind prosperity to the people, and insure hon-
isty and vigor in the administration of the
jtffairs of the government There is a plank
Stted to the fact that since the democratic
jsarty has been excluded from the public ad
ministration a feeling of contempt for the
approaches to the public treasure have been
left unguarded, that there has been a flagi
tious disregard of responsibility, and that a
deadly spirit of sectionalism has been aroused.
The third plank denounces the undignified,
partisan and corrupt interference with local
elections, which has characterized the admin
istration elected by Guiteau’s pistol, and the
prostitution of executive patronage which
has thus far marked its career. It also charges
—and the charge will find an echo in the
mountains—that, under cover of collecting
the internal revenues, the administration
which antagonizes every interest of the whole
country, sets on foot armed parties of raiders
vyho roam through peaceable and law-abiding
communities, subjecting citizens to insult and
outrage, and involving the innocent in loss
of liberty, property and even of life itself.
The platform closes with an earnest invita
tion to every good citizen in the state to
unite with the democratic party in the effort
to confirm and perpetuate the peace and
prosperity of Georgia, and to restore to power
the democratic party of the union. We be
lieve that those in Geoigia who believe in
good government will unite with the demo
cratic party in [securing it for our own state
and in aiding to secure it for the whole coun
try. There is no longer any excuse in Geor
gia for that spirit of independentism which
has for its purpose the destruction of the
democratic party. Let the honest voters who
have been inveigled into supporting the in
dependent leaders, return to the organization
and renew their fidelity to the party by sup
porting the old commoner.
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
The interest-bearing debt of the United
States has been reduced to these sums:
Six per cent bonds continued at 3% per
cent .$ 58,957,150
Five per Cent bonds continued at 3%
cent...., , ., 401,503,S0O
and nones it is thought, will arise. England
will send the more troops, and bear in
all ways the brunt of the task, and
France will co-operate just so far as
assistance is needed. England’s interests
Egypt are much greater than those
of France, and it ia perhaps just that the bur
den should be distributed accordingly. But
neither of these countries is willing to act
without the sanction and, if possible, the ex
press direction of Russia, Austria, Germany
and Italy. This causes the delay. The non
active partners want order restored in Egypt
and the neutrality of’the Suez canal main
tained, but they do not an English or a
Franco-English protectorate.
This hitch will, .however, disappear by
force of circumstances. For example, the
powers have approved the action of England
in seizing and holding, for the purposes of
order and peace, Alexandria, a town of 250,-
000 people. English troops and marines oc
cupy it, and to make that occupation much
longer possible the troops, as w/ell as the peo
ple, must have fresh water. Arabi Bey has
placed a dam in the Mahmoudieh canal which
supplies Alexandria with Nile water. Self
defense and humanity both justify, therefore,
the pursuit of Arabi Bey and seizure of the
fresh water canal. And so, perhaps, it may
be with the Suez canal. If that great work,
or its fresh water feeder is threatened, England
will necessarily be compelled to pursue Arabi
Bey and his colonels to the interior; and
the powers will not be in a position to object,
even if they are not ready to authorize Eng
land to restore the authority of the khedive
This will, undoubtedly, be the outcome of the
problem, and France will co operate to some
extent in the work.
The movements and plans of Arabi Bey are
still uncertain and mysterious. The diversion
of the waters of the Mahmoudiih ’anal was au
act of Offensive warfare. It was notice to the
invader to leave the couutry unless he is pre
pared to encounter the Egyptians. Conflicting
stories are cabled every day as to the strength
of the army of Arabi Bey, and no estimate of
value can be made of it; but it is generally
thought that he prefers to await an attack, or
the support of the gallant gentlemen who made up
the Richmond delegation.
Yocb Uncle Tom Hardeman will-make lively
race for congressman at-large. Thousands and
thousands of Georgians have been eagerly awaiting
an opportunity to show their confidence in Colonel
Hardeman. If he finds it necessary to go upon the
stump he will shake up the hoys from the mountain
to the seaboard—and please don't forget it off of
your mind. '
Hereafter, newspaper guests who are anxious
to keep np with the news will do well to accept the
election figures of The Constitution. Our tabular
statements are warranted not to cut in the eye er
run down at the heel.
Several weeks ago we mentioned in a casual
way that Mr. Stephens would have little or no op
position in the convention. And yet we are not
prophets.
The Constitution’s estimate before the prima
ries were held, was that Mr. Stephens would receive
206 votes in the convention. There was a certain
element of bashfuluess in this element that does
great credit to our modesty.
Four per bent bonds 738,8*4.300
Refunding certificates 465,050
Nearly all of the extended six percents have
been walled. By the first of October the debt
will be less than 1400 millions, of which
amount 401 millions will be redeemable. On
September 1,1891, the four and a half per centi
can be redeemed,and on July 1,1907, the fours else that he wants no conflict until El Mehid,
become payable. The irredeemable portions
of the debt are only procurable at high pre
miums, and there is no reason to believe that
they will be considerably cheapened before
they are due. The national banks need all
that other investors will part with, and the
government cannot afford to bid against the
privileged banks. Redemption jnust there
fore take its natural course. During the last
fiscal year the interest-bearing debt was re
duced $175,757,350. The annual interest bill
has been cut down from seventy-five millions
to fifty-seven millions. If we go on calling
in bonds as we did last year, in thre^ years at
the most there will be no bonds to redeem and
none that we can afford to buy. The extrav
agance of congress, together with some reduc
tions in taxation, may reduce the sum avail
able for redemption purposes, but there is no
probability that it will be brought below 100
millions. Even at this rate the bond supply
will be exhaused in 1886, and five years must
then elapse before the redemption movement
can be resumed. The true course undoubtedly
is. to relieve the people of burden
some taxes until just enough surplus
revenue is left to redeem the extended fives
by September 1,1891. Instead of redeeming
150 millions a year, less than 50 millions
would suffice. Any larger surplus than fifty
millions is but an invitation to extravagance
and corruption. This congress is an example,
and if its profligacy is not a sufficient warn
ing the pension grab certainly is. It is now
estimated that the payments of the next four
years on this account will reach the
monstrous sum of 425 millions. Commissioner
Diidley has been authorized to pay off this
year 100 millions, and he expects to disburse
150 millions in the next fiscal year, 100 mil
lions in the following year, and 75 millions
in 1885-86. After that date it is estimated
that there will be 460,000 names on the pen
sion roll, entailing an expenditure of $50,000,-
000 per annum. . As the pension payments for
1878 amounted to no more than $27,137,000,
and were being steadily reduced by the deaths
of the older pensioners and the coming of age
of minor children, the official estimates sup
port the conclusion that by. the end of the
fiscal year 1886 the payment under the arrears
of the pension act will have stripped the
treasury of a round $400,000,000, and thence
forward for many years will call for additional
disbursements of $25,000,000 or $30,000,000 per
annum.
THE WEEK IN EGYPT.
Although Alexandria was bombarded a
week ago last Tuesday, very little progress
has been made in settling tke Egyptian ques
tion. European concert has been the chief
stumbling block. England, France, Austria,
Germany, Russia, and possibly Italy are
partners in the Egyptian as well as all other
'eastern.business, and there is a tacit under
standing among the partners that one shall
not gobble up anything valuable unless com
pensation is found in some shape for the
other partners. This is the difficulty at pres
ent in Egypt. The partners are in consulta
tion at Constantinople, and they have agreed,
so far as the world has been informed, upon
only two things, namely, the restoration to
power of the khedive under the nominal
sovereignty of the sultan, and a request to
the porte to send troops* to Egypt to restore
order, crush out Arabi Bey and set up the
khedive. Turkish diplomacy, always the
heigth of intrigue and indecision
and delay, replies that the porte
will participate in the conference,
and asks that a new conference be convened.
This reply is held to be a declination of the
invitation to send troops to Egypt. There are
suspicions abroad that the saltan and Arabi
Bey and perhaps the False Prophet under
stand each other; but it is more likely that
the sultan has no appetite for fighting Mos
lems who are not at all attached to the house
of Othman—who, in fact, prefer an Arabian
caliphate. The sultan prefers the status quo,
and evidently does not propose to incur any
inside complications by sending troops to
fight the battles of infidels against the faith-
ful. True, he has not expressly declined to
send troops to Egypt, hut his reply does not
really bear any other interpretation.
England is. at least ready to "become the
mandatory of Europe, and France seems to
be faithfnl to her old alliance with England.
England is despatching troops rapidly, and
who is at the head of a lot of fa
natics of the Soudan, is nearer the
scene of operations. El Mehid is called
the False Prophet, and he claims to be the
Messiah spoken of in the sacred writings of
Islam. He has taken the field, first, to prop
agate the most austere principles of Islam;
secondly, to wage war against the contamina
tion of Islam by contact with the Christian,
and lastly, to punish the Turkish government
for adopting European costumes and copying
European institutions. If this be the pro
gramme—if Arabi and El Mehid have joined
hands to bring on a Mohammedan uprising—
wc are at the beginning of a bloody struggle
that may involve the entire Turkish dominion
and India and Tunis and as far west as Mo
rocco. At present the two intriguers doubt
less do not look beyond Egypt and Arabia.
The population of Lower Egypt is 2,823,000
of Middle Egypt, 635,000; of Upper Egypt,
1,471,398; of Nubia. Kordofan, Darfur, Soudan
and the equatorial provinces, 11,434,000;, and
of Arabia about 8,000,000, one-fourth of .whom
are Bedouins. It may be that all of these
large populations cannot be aroused. It maj?
be that the English at Suez will be able to
isolate Upper Egypt—to prevent Arabi from
drawing strength either from Arabia or the
Soudan. But there is a possibility of a great
uprising in Northern Africa and Arabia, and
upon this possibility depends all the hope
there really is in the rebellion of the now re
nowned Arabi Bey and his colonels.
THE WHEAT HARVEST.
The men bearing cradles and the clattering
army of reapers have now reached Michigan,
Wisconsin and southern Minnesota. In a
month more the great work- of bread gather
ing will be ended in Manitoba—the work that
was begun in Georgia and other gulf states in
May. And all through the vast wheat belt
the crop lias turned out handsomely. In Or
egon, too, the yield is abundant, and if there
is any exception to the sweeping blessing it
must be looked for in California, where dry
weather has been rather too prevalent for lo
cal good.
The crop is now so nearly gathered thqjt the
statiscians have resumed business at the old
stand. The first day of July was the first
day of the new crop year. The men of figures
put the supply on that day, visible and in
visible, at 40,000,000 bushels. As spring wheat
has become very promising, they claim that
the year’s crop will certainly be 480,000,000
bushels; it may exceed this amount 50,000,000
bushels; and it cannot well be less. The esti
mated supply is therefore 520,000,000 bushels.
Fifty-three millions of people will consume
414 bushels each, or 238,000,000 bushels.
To this amount add 59,000,000 bushels on ac
count of seed,' etc., and we have the
home consumption fixed at 300,000,000
boshel3. The surplus is thus 220,000,000
bushels. From this deduct 50,000,000 bushels
on account of visible supply on July 1, 1883,
and there will be left 170,000,000 bushels to be
exported to countries that do not make their
own bread. This is a very handsome surplus.
Our heaviest exports of wheat were 178,000,
000 bushels in 1879-SO, and IS6,000,000 bushels
in 1880-81. Last year we sent across
the water 120,000,000 bushels. The
United Kingdom requires 192,000,000
bnshels, and the English crop,
which is not promising, is now put at 72,000,008
bushels. Thh shortage will therefore be 120,
000,000 bushels. As the Russian crop will not
be an average one, the United States may be
able to find a market for one-half of its sur
plus in English ports. Our surplus bids fair,
however, to exceed 200.000,000 bushels, and
"We should be very sorry.” says the Philadelphia
Press, .“to see the star routers convict the govern
ment and send it up for a long term.” This is in
tended for a joke, and it probably is a joke: but it
is no joke to say that the star-routers have it in
their power to convict the administration. On the
contrary, it is savagely true,
There is no reason why the independent voters
shouldn’t return to the democratic fold. They
have seen that the independent leade'rs are wilting
to compound and conspire with republicanism for
the sake of office, and this ought to satisfy them as
to the intentions and purposes of those leaders.
The town still full of praise of “plain Bill
Tutt” and his brilliant and magnetic speech at the
convention. It was the “hit” of the season and
has served to give Mr. Tutt an overwhelming
majority in this section of the state for any office
that will put him into public affairs at once.
The Philadelphia Press thinks that Hewitt
showed bad manners when he alluded to Robeson,
the republican leader, as a thief and a perjurer.
Are we to understand from this that, in plundering
the treasury, Robeson scrupulously observed all the
forms of republican etiquette?
With Alexander II Stephens as the unanimous
choice of the democratic party,” says Editor Wil
liam Moore, of Augusta, “the soreheads should
stand from under.” They should and they will.
The skillet is a very dangerous piece of pottery to
butt against.
G, William Curtis, after denouncing Jay Hub-
bell’s system of plunder, pulls off his pink kids and
sends a large contribution to the machine. This is
just about the size of republican reform, so-called.
Mr. Curtis has thus vindicated Hubbell and his
methods.
Editor Ben RussELL.of the Bainbridge Democrat,
returns to the city of oaks an enthusiastic Stephens
man. If, now, we can get Editor Pendleton, of
Valdosta, composed, the procession will move with
out a jar.
We suggest that when convention orators wish to
use the phrase “grand old commonwealth” they
will simply say “g. o. c.,” for the “ship of state’
will say “s. o. s.” That would save a great deal of
time. 1
Proud of Robeson’s reputation as a robber, the
repuolican majority in congress loudly laugh at the
vulgarity of Butterworth, which droye ladies and
respectable people out of the galleries.
Editor Grubb says that the next time he “shakes
old boy,” it will be when he is galloping with v the
popu ace. This is the right spirit. We are glad
that Editor Grubb is not revengeful.
It is supposed that asmuch of the “liberal” party
as is not a myth will be interred in the'same grave
with the coalition. The democratic party is liberal
enough for any patriotic citizen.
When the people enter;into a conspiracy to nomi
nate a man for governor pretests are useless. After
all, the people are the big Ikes in politics.
ThI democratic party of the empire state of the
sunny south is now on wheels. We await the con
gratulations of neighboring republics.
The Philadelphia Times says that Robeson is a
disgrace to the nation. This shows that the Times
is repenting of Its republicanism.
When Tom Hardeman gets to congress the people
of Georgia will be able to see how much usefulness
modesty is capable of concealing.
By its publication of forgeries, the Congressional
Record is rapidly losing its grip as the great Ameri
can family newspaper.
It was a mighty easy job to tote the old man’
skillet.
* Senator Brown’s gift to the University for the
benefit of .the poor young men of the state is un
doubtedly a very good thing, but in some quarters
it will he regarded as another trick of the “ring,’
or something of that kind. People can’t be too
particular these days.
Mrs. Scoyille wants Gulteau’s bones, but It is
doubtful whether the republican party, of which
he was the champion and representative, will give
them up.
No doubt the American marines at Alexandria
had others from the English clerks and attorneys
in the war department to play the part ot John
Bull’s policemen. Handled by these foreign clerks
and employes'the American bald eagle 4s abou
the size and shape of the ordinary buzzard.
“What I have been in character and principles. I
am, and what I am I expect to continue to be,”
says Secor Robeson. We have always' suspected
that the republican reformers had undertaken a
larger contract than they can carry.
There was a curious absence of bouquets in the
convention yesterday. With the exception of an
empty soda-water bottle under the desk of a dele
gate, there were no flowers to be seen.
Grubb is in town and is “shaking old boy.”
BUZZ AND BOUNCE.
THE GOSSIP THEY HEAR IN NEW
YORK.
Spicy Talks and Bright Ansodo.es of the Men and
Things Fast and Present in the Metropolis of
the New World—An Interview With
Peter Cooper—Theatric*! Pacts.
Special Correspondence of The Constitution.
New York, July 19.—Mr. Peter Cooper
entered the street ear the other day look
ing the very picture of health, though ho
is in his 92d year. A friend asked him the secret
of preserving his health. “Work,” Mr. Cooper re
plied. “Work, that seems to be a favorite receipt
of yours,” said his friend, interrupting him. “I
have heard you attribute your success in life to
work orindustry”—? “You are right, youngman,”
said Mr. Cooper, “I am very deficient in what you
term education. Less than a year will cover the
time I was at school, but in the meantime I edu
cated my hand. I learned four trades—hatting,
brewing, coach-making and brick-making. An
other thing I nevey learnt that is common with the
young men of to-day. I never learnt to drink.
While I was serving my apprenticeship, I was al
ways contriviug or working at something. At odd
times I made a pair of shoes. I took au old pair
carefully to pieces, got some leather, thread,
needles and other tools, whittled out a lest witn a
jack knife, measured my foot and made a first rate
pair of shoes. I wore them all winter.
Instead of drinking and frolicing, I worked hard
I saved my money. I paid my father’s debts. I pai
my hands every Saturday night for 60 years
though 1 sometimes employed over 3,000, and al.
ways the Saturday before Christmas I went around
and with my own hand paid every debt I had in the
world. I do more work now than any 40-j ear-old
man in New York. That, sir, is the secret' of my
health and wealth; to paraphrase it, a clear eon
scienceand a plenty of work.” Aftera pause he
said: “When Edward was bom (Mayor Cooper) I
made a machine that rocked the cradle and played
a music box accompaniment. I was for many
years commissioner of charities, a member of the
board of education and au alderman, but for all my
office holding,aud for my services as president of the
Atlantic' cable company, I never received a cent?
lie then went on to tell about buildiug the first
railroad'engine in this country In Baltimore iu 1829
and about his numerous inventions His spending
$‘210,000 personally in putting down the first Atlan
tic cable before they had any assurances of success,
and of their final success In laying the cable after
ten years of hard, work and repeated failures, and
many other things that I could not catch in the
noise of the car.
***
Herman Sch oeule, a Russian Jew, in an inter
view on the persecution of the Jews in Russia
says: “Two months ago I saw my own daughter, a
girl less than 15 years old, taken by the mob and
outraged so that she died that night. Other women
of our family were at the sport of the mob tor
hours. My brother’s wife, a woman of 20, was out
raged and then whipped to aeath by a drunken
crowd of devils. But it is so with every family.
You cannot find one in the house who has not lost
some one. They spared neither old nor young.
Girls 10 aud 12 years old were treated as badly as
those much older.
“The people in the villages suffered most. Here
there were no police even to pretend to help the
Jews. Women were carried out into the streets,
stripped naked, and burnt. Old men had *their
beards pulled out. Young girls were branded and
scared with red hot irons. Everything that drunk
en brutes could think of was done to torture our
people.”
This portion of the interview with affidavits
from other refugees attached, attesting the correct
ness of the facts therein contained, is published at
the head of subscription lists for the benefit of the
helpless Jews in this country and is being ciiculat-
ed throughout the city. •
James R. Keene ranks among the first of self-made
men of>New York. He came from England to this
country a thirteeu-year-old boy, with nothing but a
common school education He landed here an or
phan without friends and without money. He
worked his way to California and roughed it in the
mines for a long time, working as a day laborer by
the piece, for himself and in any and every way to
make a living. After making a little money by
hard licks in the mines he sunk it in a newspaper
venture just about twenty years ago. “Though,I lost
my money,” Mr. Keene said to friends of mine a
few days ago, “my experience as an editor has been
of great value to me in after life ” After his failure
in the newspaper business he went back to the
mines a sadder but a wiser man, and from that time
forward fortune has smiled upon him. He is very
ond of reading for a busy Wall street broker; Dick
ens and Thackeray are his favorite authors, and he
is particularly well versed in all English literature.
While he admires Thackeray’s style more than that
of any other novelist, he has literally memorized
most of tjie best novels of Charles Dickens, who he
holds hjs no equal as a portrayer of human nature
***
A friend of mine, who is fond of statistics, sur
prised me very much a few day ago with the state
ment that four-fifths of the professors of religion in
hew York city were Catholics, and when I express
ed doubt he brought figures to prove it. According
to his figures, and they are presumably correct, as
he has si*nt a good deal of time and care in collect
ing the data on which they are based, out a popula
tion, 1,300,000 which is claimed by New York city
500,000 are Catholics; while the total membership of
all the other churches is only 90,579, making about
40 per cent of the entire population members of the
Catholic church. The next strongest church is the
Episcopalian, with a membership of 25,272; then
comes the Presbyterians, 18,155 strong.
As an evidence of the rapid growth of Catholi
cism he shows that in the last 37 years the percent
age in increase in population is 225. In the same
length of time the membership of the Catholic
church has increased 900 per cent, while all the
other religious denominations have increased only
76 per cent. In the last ten years the Catholics have
made 150,000 new converts, while all the other re
ligious denominations have added only 19,995 to
their memberships.
if it does, cheap bread is in sight for a twelve- I having a popular step-pa.
month, and no small amount of resultant 1
prosperity and general contentment.
A South Carolina democrat doesn’t seem to
stand much chance in congress. The republicans
are now after Brother Tillman, notwithstanding the
fact that Brother Tillman heroically voted for
Leader Robeson’s naval jobbery bill.
Editor Storey, of the Chicago Times, nominates
Kellogg for president and Dorsey fbr vice-president.
That the ticket would be acceptable to the republi
can party no sane man doubts; but, just at present,
Robeson has the greatest claims upon the organi
zation.
The khedive should have his harem put on" ice.
In September, Miss Mamie Anderson will again
be verging upon nineteen. This is the result of
A newspaper that keeps step with the people
need never make any serious blunder In tabulating
election returns. It need hardly be said, at this
jrte hour, that in the matter of election returns,
1 he Constitution represents the democratic voter#
of Georgia '
The “ring” seems to be composed of the entire
democratic party of the state. The same may also
be said of the “cabal." In fact, a larger or mere
unanimous “ring" or ‘•cabal" has rarely been seen.
It is worth the living of a long life of integrity aiyl
labor, to win the love and affection of an intelligent
community, os George Barnes has the heart of Rich
mond county. It is worth more than the mefe win
ning or holding of office to be worthy of the speech
mode by the Hon. C. C. Jones, on yesterday, and
The robberies committed by the Arabi in Alex
andria, would lead the sociological expert to sus
pect that they are professional republicans.
The esteemed New York Herald is getting to be,
very giddy and romantic. It believes, for instance,
that Arthur is a civil service reformer.
party, Guiteau’s loss is not as seriously felt as the
national executive committee had feared.
A contemporary has suggested, in connection
with the recent action of the state convention that
“the pimps will now proceed So register the will «f
the bosses,” or words to that effect. It is difficult to
understand whether the members of the conven
tion, the newspapera, or the democratic voters ore
meant; but if those who acquiesce in the will of the
party are pimps, the state is fall of them.
Alfred Aylward, ex-leader of the Boers, Captain
of the Leydenburg Volunteers, commandant of
South Africa, and military secretary of the presi
dent of the Transvaal republic, ex-Fenian agitator,
author, journalist and politician, is in New York,
the guest of Mr. Edward Byrne.
On being asked the object of his visit to this
country, he replied:
.“Owing to certain features of the treaty of peace,
which was signed last year, the government of the
Transvaal is prevented from having consular or
diplomatic intercourse with other countries except
through the British resident commissioner. Eng
land retains a nominal suzerainty over the coun
try. That this selfish and obstructive policy of
England is injurious to American interests is
proved by the fact that nearly all the agri
cultural instruments and a vast proportion of the
wheeled vehicles in use in the free states -of South
Africa were, up to 1681, of American manufacture.
American interests are also involved in the open
ing of Central African trade, via Delagoa bay.
port exceptionally privileged by treaty between
the Transvaal and Portugal. I intend to deliver
lectures pointing out these things in order to gjtin
the strength of American public opinion for an ef
fort which will soon be made to throw off entirely
■With Robeson at the head of the republicans! the British yoke. It seems to me that England Is
ot pressing legal engagements, thereby gaining
postponement of the case for ten days, by which
time the railroad companies think the freight
handlers strike will be over and the cause of action
cease.
There are 4.500 theaters In thfe United States.
Put the average receipts for each night at $200,
which is a low estimate, and you will find we pay
$900,000 for amusements every night of the ( season.
Average the season at forty weeks, with ode mati
nee a week at half price, and you will find that we
pay $18,000,009 a year for matinee tickets alone, or
$234,000,000 per annum for theater tickets.
e**
It now transpires that the Prince of Siam busi
ness was a job. Alderman Roosevelt; who offered
the resolution providing for his entertainment in
this country, has been interviewed. He says that
he don’t know whether there is a Prince of Siam
or not, and certainly knows nothing about his pro
posed visit to this country. He introduced the
resolution as a favor to Mr. Sauer, cliairman of the
board of aldermen, who did not wish to leave the
chair for that purpose. Mr. Saner has
also been interviewed. He says that he
know nothing of the matter personally, but that
the resolution was offered at the suggestion of P. T.
Barnum, the veteran showman. Further inquiry
into the matter develops the fact that P. T. Bar
num has been furnished with certified copy of
resolution, which he has forwarded to prince of
Siam with a pressing invitation for him to come to
America and accept the hospitality of New York.
Coupled with this invitatiou is a repetition of Mr.
Itanium's request to the king of Siam for the loan
of one of his white elephants, which “our prince of
bowmen” wants as a running mate to Jumbo.
New York is already feeling the effects of the east
ern war. “Cotton futures” have jumped up 30*
or 40 points on account of a rise in the Liverpool
market caused by the interruption of the export of
cotton from Bombay and Alexandria through the-
Suez canal. This year the eastern shipments to-
England have been unprecedentedly large, keeping
down the price of American cotton. The total
shipments from India and Egypt to England this
year amounted to 1,984,171 bates. The shipments
of late amounted to 50,000 bales per week through
the Suez canal. Since the i5th of June the ship
ments have cea«ed altogether on account of the east
ern trouble. It is estimated that between 350,000 •
and 400,000 bales of eastern cotton fs now afloat for
England which will be necessarily delayed untl-
the eastern question is settled. This Is no Incon
siderable item when the stock at Liverpool is esti
mated at only 100,003 bales.
The Erie railroad has been experimenting, with
great success, with naptha as a fuel instead of coal,
in its locomotives. The first experiments, which
were by using the naptha in the ordinary railroad
engine, proved a failure,-but it demonstrated the-
practicability of substituting naptha for coal iu a
locomotive specially adapted for its use. Pr. Charles
Holland has sine * invented an engine, which he had
had made under his special supervision, with which
tiie has just made several experimental trips over
the Erie railroad. The locomotive is so constructed
that it is fired entirely by hydrogen gas, produced
by the chemicatylecomposition of^vater under the
action of burning naptha. With this engine a
higher rate of speed was attained than was neces
sary to run the fastest schedulp 011 the Erie road.
The cost-is from a third to a sixth of the cost of coal..
The motive power is greater than that of an ordina
ry engine. Another advantage is that it produces •
no smoke, sparks or cinders. The probabilities are
that the Erie road will adopt these newly-invented
naptha engines and discard the old coal burners.
V
In answering the mandamus of R. K. Thurber
und associates against the New York Central and
Erie railroads that they compelled to do their duty
as common carriers in rcceiviag and transporting
freight, Roscoe Conkling representing the rail
roads said that’he objected to Mr. Thurberanda
few of his associates calling themselves the people
of New York; it reminded him of the three tailors
of Toolcy street, who claimed to represent the peo
ple of England^ He claimed that Thurber et al
were monopolists, and that the railroads represent
ed the people—that he represented widows and or
phans of New York who owned the stock of rail
roads. Attorney-General Russell retorted by saying
that he never knew before that Vanderbilt and
Jewett were orphans, that when Mr Conkling had
alluded to the proceeding of the state against the
railroads as a farce, he surely did not anticipate
that Vanderbilt und Jewett would play the role of'
“the two orphans.”
V
Thuiber’s mandamus demanding lhat the rail
roads be made to do their duty as common carriers
is supported by the affidavits of Mr. Maxfield, im
porter of tropical fruit, who claims a loss of $10,000,
the truckmen who claim a loss of $50,000 and tho ■
cheese men who are damaged $20,000 by the strike
of the freight handlers. Thurber and his associates
claim that the merchants of New York have sus
tained a loss of $1,000,000, on accountof thfe railroads
failure to do their duty as common carriers.
***
The Building bureau has just issued a report
which shows that during the last six months 228 •
tenement houses wore put up at a cost of $2,769,950.
The first-class dwellings numbered 217, and cost $6,-
480,200. The tenements with stores numbered 106,
erected at a cost of $2,026,800. The flats numbered
322, and were erected at a cost of $8,455,000. During
the same period there were also built 45 factories, 5
schools and colleges, 10 churches, 14 public institu
tions, and 69 frame buildings. Altogether, there -
were 1,260 new buildings, comprising 17 different
styles erected, representing an investment of $27,
909,305 capital. This Is a decrease of over a million
dollars on the amount invested during the same
period in 1881. The statistics show that French flats
are growing very much in public favor, and that
while there is a decrease of one million dollars in
the amount expended in new buildings, there is an
increase of over $3,000,000 expended In building
French flats this year over the corresponding
months of 1881.
• POINTS.
The Vanderbilts, Mrs Stewart and the Hiltons are.
at Saratoga. The Astora, Belmonts, LoriUards, C C
Baldwin, Bill Travers. Martin Van Buren and the
Keenes are at Newport The Goulds, Grants and
DeVV'itt Talmage are at Long Branch, and the No
ronoes and Seligmans are at Cape May. In fact,
nearly all of my friends are out of town.
The prospect is flattering for a brilliant season at
the watering places. Prominent society people have
left New York for their cottages at the Branch, Sar
atoga, Newport, and other summer resorts.
General U S Grant Is prominently mentioned as a
candidate for governor to succeed Cornell. Presi
dent Arthur is said to be at the head of the Grant
movement.
The practice of going to Europe to travel and rest
costs the United States about one hundred and
twenty-five millions of dollars annually. -
The fines paid into the police courts of New York
last month amounted to $1,829.50.
New York city manufactured, last year, $7,846,575
worth of oleomargarine. Buzz and %>unce.
repeating to-day in Egypt the same unwarrantable
course she pursued in South Africa, and on the
same thin pretext of preserving order.’
Ex-Senator Conkling seems to have built up quite
an extensive law practice since his retiring from
politics. In representing the railroads the other day
he answerel a mandamus to compel them to per
form their duty os common carriers by receiving
and transporting freight. His answer was to pro
cure a leave of absence for ten days on the ground
MORNING AT MAHAFFEYSV1LLE. *
The.tremulous boughs of the waving trees were
raining down shadows that fell cool and fair upon
Lurline Perkins* beautiful face as she stood silent
and alone near the Woodshed. The mumurous
sighing of the summer breeze was home to her by
the tranced air, and ever and anon there came up
from the meadows the sound of the rmer’s ax as
he felled the sturdy a para us that was soon to de
light the palates o^the rich people in the city who
could pay for it. Away to the eastward, mirroring
back the azure dome of the sky, lay the lake, and
the swell of its silver foam but served to make the
silence deeper.
The girl stood for several minutes as if entranced
by the scene. Then, turning sadly away, she ex
claimed In low, bitter tones: ”1 suppose I shall
have to milk that dratted cow, and the sooner I get
at it the better."*