Newspaper Page Text
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Soutkrn' Christian
MACON, GEORGIA, APRIL 26, 1876.
THE LESSON OF A LIFE.
•Within the pint fortnight the intelligence
has bee ■ flashed to every corner of this con
tinent, and under the waves to foreign shores,
“A. T. Stewart is dead.” Perhaps every
newspaper, secular or religious, that has
hjen issued since that announcement was
made, has had something to say of the man
whose demise, if it has not awakened uni
versal sorrow, has at least excited universal
interest. A life, whose termination arrests
so much attention and elicits so much com
ment, must furnish some lesson either of en
cot ragement ur warning to those who sur
vive him ; and it is the province of journal
ism, e-pecially of the religious press, to seize
upon current events which engage the pub
lic mind, for emphasizing important truth, so
far ass ch events furnish the opportunity.
Perhaps even a superficial study of so much of
Mr. Stewat t’s life, as lay open to the inspec
tion of his fellow-men would disclose matter
for censure as well as panegyric; but it is not
our pu -pose to indulge in either. There is a
lesson to be learned from his life, which is
eminently needful in these times, and the in
culcation of which in connection with his
name involves neither eulogy nor oppro
brium.
Mr. Stewart was indebted for his celebrity
exclusively to the fact that he was the sole
architect of a vast fortune. Eschewing spec
ulation in gold and stocks and real estate —
the “ rapid transit ” by which most men
reach great wealth —he held himself strictly
to transactions in the line of trade upon
which he originally entered; and by strict
attention to all the details of his business,
coupled with great commercial sagacity, he
achieved for himself a leading position in the
front rank of American millionaires. It
would have been gratifying to the whole
Christian world if one whose name was famil
iar to all English-speaking people, could
have been pointed to as “ rich in faith,” and
as eminent for piety as he was famous for the
extent of his possessions. But this gratifi
cation was not permitted them. We know
nothing of Mr. Stewart’s religious life. There
is a painfully conspicuous silence on the sub
ject, characterizing all of the numerous a-ti
ctes elicited by his death, that have fallen
under our eye. That he commenced life as
a student of divinity, and closed his career
in the communion of a Protestant Church,
seem to be the only noteworthy facts touch
ing the religious bide of his character that his
friends and admirers could find to report.
These will scarcely he claimed as sufficient
to constitute him in anywise a model for im
itation as a Christian. Nor do we find in
the brief sketches of the merchant-prince’s
life, any facts upon which to award him an
enviable position on the roll of philanthro
pists. True, he made during his lifetime some
charitable contributions, which, considered
in themselves, were very munificent. But
contrasted with his vast wealth, they were
inconsiderable; and according to the judg
ment of the sanctuary, have been exceeded
by the charities of multitudes whose depart
ure from earth has not created a ripple upion
the surface of public opinion.
Yet, while we find little in Mr. Stew
art’s life that is specially calculated to
commend religion or stimulate philan
thropy, there is an aspect of his char
acter which deserves the warmest com
mendation, and in which he deserves to
be presented as a model to every merchant
in the land. Throughout his long career, his
business integrity was without a breach, and
in the minutest details of trade he was scru
pulously honest. It is said of him, that the
discovery of the slightest deviation from the
strictest honesty on the part of any of his
employees, was instantly followed by the
discharge of the offender. Rigidly exact in
transactions which involved millions, he re
quired his subordinates to observe the same
principles in dealing with the poorest cus
tomer who purchased a spool of thread or a
paper of pins. The most important lesson
then, to be learned from the life of A. T.
Stewart, is that the most scnipuloiis honesty ,
is not only compatible with, but conducive to,
the highest business success. Waiving discus
sion of underlying motives, let the lesson
which the facts convey be heeded, and the
millionaire will have lived to more purpose
than many seem to think.
DEATH OF HON. TRUSTEN POLK.
The entire Church will hear with sadness
of the death of this distinguished Christian
gentleman and devoted Southern Methodist,
which occurred at his home in St. Louis on
the morning of the ltith inst. Gov. Polk
was selected by the Bishops as one of the
Commissioners provided for by our last Gen
eral Conlerence, for negotiating with repre
sentatives of the M. E. Church. The St.
Louis Advocate of the 19th quotes the fol
lowing from one of the city papers:
“ Hon. Trusten Polk, Ex-Governor of the
State of Missouri and Ex-United States Sen
ator, expired very suddenly at half past one
o’clock yesterday morning, at his residence.
No 1400 Lucas Place. For severai weeks
he had been troubled with an affection of the
throat, but was still able, by reason of the
remarkable energy he possessed, to discharge
his professional duties, though under great
embarrassments. For the last two weeks he
h is been engaged on the part of the defence
in the trial of a very important law case, in
volving the title to the sixteenth (school) sec
tion—a suit which was commenced in 1853
and on Friday last, owing to what was sup
posed to be only a temporary indisposition
on his part, the case was continued over until
Monday morning. He had become much
better on Saturday, and was occupied until
ten o’clock on Saturday night in the exami
nation of papers and the preparation of his
case. He was writing at his desk until half
past ten, when he retired, without intimating
to any of the family that he was at all indis
posed. About twelve o’clock he was taken
with a somewhat violent cough, which was
soon relieved by some simple remedy, and a
few moments’ sleep vvere obtained. Pres
ently another fit of coughing ensued attended
with considerable difficulty hi breathing.
Mrs. Polk, becoming alarmed, dispatched a
messenger for Dr. McPbeeters. In a very
short time Mr. Polk became worse, fell back
helplessly on the bed, and expired after a few
labored breaths. He left a family, consist
ing of a widow and four daughters.”
And Dr. McAnally, in commenting upon
the sad event, says:
We have not words to express our sense
of the magnitude of the loss the Church and
community have sustained in the death of
this true and noble man. His upright ac
tive and useful life, his consistent Christian
walk and conversation, his deep personal
piety, evidenced by his unblamable life, will
all be remembered by these who knew him
long as their memories last, and this remem
brance is a rich legacy left to the Church and
the world.
Our Sunday-School Periodicals. —The
May issues have been on our table a week or
two, and are all that can reasonably be de
sired. The Little People and Visitor are
charming in their adaptation to the tastes of
the young, and in the wholesome instruc
tions they impart. The Magazine opens
with the first installment of an interesting
biographical sketch of John Newland Maf
fitt, by Dr. A. H. Bedford. We very ear
nestly commend these important periodicals
(O all our Sunday-schools.
FIDELITY TO THE FACTS.
We have no knowledge of anything among
us approximating in gravity the delinquency
animadverted upon by the New York Meth
odist in the following article, and yet we
know that there is, with some of our preach
es, very reprehensible carelessness in the
matter of accurate statistical reports. The
appearance of the article which we quote be
low, makes it opportune f or us to reiterate
the appeal we have several times made to
preaehers-in-charge to cleanse their Church
registers of ail rubbish, retaining only such
names as represent bona fide members.
There is, we fear, with some, a very crimi
nal obliquity of conscience in this matter.
We cannot detect the intrinsic difference be
tween false speech and false records, even
though the latter be made through negligence
and not wilfully ; and yet many good men,
who would be shocked at the temptation to
utter a lie with their lips, do not shrink from
the sin involved in reporting statistics that
are not according to the facts. Don’t let the
rectifying of your Registers be crowded into
a hurried half-hour or so just before start
ing to Conference ; but have an eye to this
important work all through the year, and see
to it that every name is eliminated that does
not stand for a living and recognized mem
ber of your charge. There has been vast
improvement in this matter within the past
decadi; let us strive steadily for perfection in
our statistics. Here is what the editor of
the Methodist says to his people:
‘‘We respectfully, urge our pastors to get
on their knees and pray earnestly for moral
courage enough to correct the roll of Church
membership. In many places this has not
been done for years. Each pastor has as
sumed the correctness of the report of the
previous year, and correcting it only by ad
ding or subtracting the changes occuring
during the year he is reporting. This has be
come such an abuse in some cases as to ut
terly misrepresent Churches. One pas'or
reports to us that his Church was returned
last year as having 328 members. The
names on the roll were, he found, 45 les
than the number reported, and out of the
names standing on the roll there were 118
for which he cannot find any owners. This
Church seems to have only half as many
members as it was set down for in the last
Annual Minutes. The list of Church-mem
bers ought to be relieved of the names (1)
of people who are openly irreligious, (2) be
long to other Churches, (3) are known to be
immoral in life, (4) have removed without
letters, (5) do not consider themselves mem
bers. The process of removal ought, of
course, to be regular; but after ascertaining
facts to be as described in 1,2, 3, and 5,
there is no practical objection to dropping
the names from the roll, though of course a
withdrawal is the alternative of a trial. There
ought not, however, to be, year after year,
an incorrect report of the number of mem
bers through over-anxiety to spare the feel
ings of persons who care nothing about the
Churcb. The main difficulty is for a pastor
to bring himself to such a state of humility
t!’at he will report a falling off in numbers
when the actual membership has increased
under his administration. Perhaps there
ought to be some way of publishing the real
facts.
THE COLOR QUESTION.
Among the questions that are likely very
profoundly to agitate the approaching Gen
eral Conference of the M. E. Church, by no
means the least explosive, relates to the ec
clesiastical status of the colored membership
of that Church. The distinguished conside
ration —not to say the leveling familiarity—
which has been employed to bring the re
cently enfranchised race into the fellowship
of the M. E. Church, and to hold them there,
is bearing fruit not altogether palatable to
the white brethren, and is breeding aspira
tions that threaten serious embarrassment.
Four years ago, the storm-tossed “Ship of
Church” reached a haven of temporary re
pose, in the election of a bishop of Colored
principles, though of ruddy complexion.
The temporising policy, however, gives no
promise of permanent peace; and their
pressible yearning of the “man and brother,”
growing out of ethnic iiuitativeness, will be
satisfied with nothing below a bishop whose
skin is colored as well as his sentiments.
This is the demand which must be squarely
met at Baltimore, and the situation is not se
rene. To refuse the demand is to forfeit the
confidence, if not to lose the control of a
large portion of the cherished race; to ac
cede to it will probably engender strifes and
divisions among themselves. The dilemma
is annoying.
Another feature of the “ Color question ”
looms up in connection with the policy of
“mixed” or “separate” Conferences—
that is, whether Conferences shall be con
stituted exclusively on the basis of color; or
whether white and colored shall be blended
indiscriminately in the same ecclesiastical
bodies. There is great diversity of opinion
on the subject among the leaders, and the
satisfactory settlement of the question will
tax the ingenuity as well as the wisdom and
grace of the law makers. The two leading
organs of the M. E. Church in the South,
hold conflicting views on the question, and
advocate their respective opinions with con
siderable feeling. The editor of the North
western (Chicago), upon a recent visit to the
South, was deepened in his convictions that,
“ in view of the color and caste facts of the
South, God needs a witnessing Church to set
forth the truth that we all are brethren.”
Since his return, however, he has heard a
powerful argument in favor of separate Con
ferences, which has unsettled his convictions,
and he closes an article of a column in length,
as follows:
“We feel profoundly embarrassed by the
complications, real and contingent. Our
white workers in the South are divided in
sentiment, and are very much wrought up
by the debate, if we may judge by the almost
hot words that have already been spoken
concerning opponents. This issue contains
a sketch of a report of a white convention
in Georgia which declared unanimously in
favor of separate Conferences. The Atlanta
Advocate is full of the question, and the
Conference at Baltimore will have its hands
full. We are especially impressed by the
plea that the separation is demanded by the
best interests of the colored work It is
said that our colored brethren will grow fas
ter ecclesiastically if divorced, and that they
imperatively need the moral support of our
Church increased in power and influence as
it will be by the separation. Concerning
this point as universally applicable we do
not profess to judge, since no man not a
long resident yonder can be a safe judge.
We had always supposed that Texas and
Kentucky and Tennessee might make this
plea consistently; but until now we had not
supposed that Georgia would heartily come
up with so loud and strong a cry for separ
ation. The plea that such separation of our
colored work has no more of a flavor of caste
distinction than has the separation of our
German work, cannot hold good. The Ger
mans separate to prevent so complete Amer
icanization that they will be unusable in the
evangelization of German immigrants as the
latter arrive on our shores On the contra
ry, the aim of our colored preachers is to
de-Ethiopianize, and Christianize those who
already speak our language and are already
apart of our population. Whether this spe
cific work can best be done in mixed or se
paiafe Conferences, is a problem yet to be
solved. In the North and on the border,
right in our own midst, we have separate
SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.
Conferences, but that is not'a final argument.
It may be best to separate, to secure imme
diate growth o r both works, as is alleged, or
it may be that Dr. Braden is rght, and that
it were better to grow slowly,} e chance,while
we in the meantime serve as a witnessing
Chnrch on the delicate and far-reaching
points involved. The claim that very many
of the'colored people prefer to go away apait
from us, is not a final argument. It is pos
sible that they feel compelled through self
respect to prefer separation —in which case
our respect for them must be increased, and
their continued fellowship rendered all the
more valuable.
We trust that the General Conference will
give the question to a small, strong, imp ir
tial, wise special committee, which shall
send for persons and papers, and after
long, due deliberation, make 'he very be t
report possible. No issue before the Con
ference should crowd this aside. Near one
fifth of our Church is south of the Ohio
river.”
We shall be mistaken if ‘ the very best
report possible” does not utterly fail to re
lieve the Church of the disturbing problem.
Its ultimate solution, we believe, will only
be reached in a Colored Methodist Church,
which consolidates all Am rican Methodists
of color in a distinct and independent ecclesi
astical organization. There will b u years of
diplomatizing and maneuvering, but to our
mind, this, as the final result, if quiet is ever
secured, is inevitable.
The Bishops’ Meeting is to be held in
Nashville, Wednesday, May 3; the Book
Committee, May 4; and the Board of Mis
sions, May <5, 6. All who expect to attend
those meetings will inform the Rev. W. M.
Green, Seen tary of the Preachers’ Meeting,
Nashville, that homes may be provided for
them.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.
Southern Historical Society Papers.
Richmond Va: Rev. J. Win Jones,
Secretary Southern Historical Society.
Published monthly, at $3.00 a year.
The March number of this valuable peri
odical, in which every native Southerner
should be interested, has just been received.
The entire number is given up to the discus
sion of “The Treatment, of Prisoners during
the War between the States.” In common
with the overwhelming majority of the peo
ple of the South, we deeply regret the neces
sity of reopening a question whose discu.-sion
necessarily tends to perpetuate the bitterness
born of the struggle betweeu the sections.
Still, we recognize fully th<* force of the fol
lowing paragraph with which the Secretary
closes the array of “proofs” presented in
this number of the “Papers:”
“To those who may deprecate the reopen
ing ofthis question, we would say that we
did not reopen it. The South has rested in
silence for years under these slanderous
charges; and we should have, perhaps, been
content to accumulate the material in our ar
chives, and leave our vindication to the
“coming man” of the future who shall be
able to write a true history of the great strug
gle for constitutional freedom. But inas
much as the question has been again thrust
upon the country by a Presidential aspirant,
and the Radical press is filled with these
calumnies against our Government, we feel
impelled to give at least an outline of our
defence. We will only add that we have
not made, and do not mean to make, a sin
gle statement which we cannot prove before
any fair minded tribunal, from documents
in our possession.”
We hope this Magazine may steadily in
crease its circulation until it is found in eve
ry Southern house.
“The Record of the Year.” Single num
ber 50c. $6.00 a year.
“The above is the title of anew magazine
the publication of which by G. W. ‘Carleton
& Cos., New York was commenced with the
April number. The plan of this magazine is
calculated to preserve a dispassionate and
satisfactory account of current events in the
order in which they occur in a permanent and
convenient form. It includes in its scope
not only the recording of accounts of public
events, but of such matters of general inter
est as have occupied public attention —poli-
tical, literary, social, commercial, etc.
There are hundreds of jewels which appear
in the daily newspapers, little gems in their
way, which are deserving of a more perina
nent setting than a daily journal affords, and
this the Record is intended to supply. It is
intended, also, that each number shall con
tain a finely executed steel engraved portrait
of some prominent parsonage, with whose
name the public at the time are busy. Thus
the April number contains a fine likeness of
William B. Astor, lately deceased, and also
an accurate biographical sketch of the de
ceased millionaire. A portrait of Mr. Moody,
the famous revivalist, is ready for the May
number, and one of Mark Twain, the humor
ous writer, will appear in a subsrquent one.”
The Galaxy. New York: Sheldon & Com
pany. $4.00 a year.
Contents of May number: Players and
Play-Goers Twenty-Five Years Ago ; The
Widow ; A Plea For A Patriot; Madcap
Violet; Conception; War Memoirs; Aztec
Mythology; Remember; Barbara’s Outing ;
The Fearful Little Maid; Beach-Combers,
and What To Do With Them ; The Pursuit
of the Dollar; A Good Haul ; Phenomena
of Sleep; Seeking a Lost Art; His Father’s
Son ; Drift-Wood; Scientific Miscellany ;
Current Literature; Nebulae.
Scribner's Monthly. Scribner & Cos., 743
and 745 Broadway, N. Y. $4.00 a year.
Contents May number: Portraiture of
William Penn ; The True Pocahontas ; How
Shall we Spell Sh-k-sp-r-’s Name? Singing
Robes; Philip Nolan’s Friends, or “Show
Your Passports”; The Visionary Face; Ga
briel Conroy; “If Love and Life were One;”
Bowdoin College; The DeFoe Family in
America; Hearing with the Eyes; John
Gutenberg; The Wedding at Ogden Farm;
Louise ; Revolutionary Letters (Conclusion);
Some Experiments in Co-operation; Le
Coureur des Bois ; The Two Greetings ; My
Birthright; Topics of the Time; The Old
Cabinet; Home and Society ; Culture and
Progress; The World’s Work; Bric-a-Brac.
St. Nicholas. Scribner & Cos., 743 and 745
Broadway, N. Y. $3.00 a year.
Contents of May number : Frontispiece ;
The Palace of Godoforus ; The Cat and the
Countess; What They Say ; The Postmas
ter's Boy; Animated Shot-Guns; Burning
Peaches; The Dotterels’ Luck ; A Nest
Without Eggs ; Windsor Castle ; Clough's
Top-Kuot; The King of the Hobbledygob
lins; Talks with Girls ; The Boy Emigrants;
“None but the Brave deserve the Fair;”
The Sparrows’ May-Day ; Robin and Crocus;
A Peep at Old Lombardy ; Yacob and His
Donkey; Snow-Flakes; May-Day in-Doors ;
or, The Yotopski Family’s Rehearsal; Little
House-Keeper’s Page ; Jack-in-the-Pulpit;
For Very Little Folks ; The Little School
ma’am’s Report on “ A Short Tale ;” The
Letter-Box ; The Riddle Box.
T. B. Peterson & Brothers, Pbiladtl
phia, inform us that on account of the time
necessary to engrave the New Portrait of
Mrs. Southworth, on Steel, from a Photo
graph taken of her on March 22d, 1876, a
copy of which Portrait, with her Autograph
under it, they intend placing in front of the
title-page in each copy of her new book,
“Isbmael; or, In the Depths,” now in press
by them, as well as on account of the great
length of the work, it making a volume Of
over seven hundred pages, and the large or
ders pouring in for it, they have been forced
to postpone the’day of publication of it in
Philadelphia, New York and Boston, until
Saturday, April 23d, 1876, but all orders re
ceived lor it from Booksellers or News
Agents will be filled and sent prior to that
time, so that they may receive it by the dajr_
of publication.
Lippincott's Magazine. —J. B. Lippii cott
<fc Cos., Philadelphia. $4.00 a year.
The May number has the following table
of contents:
The Century—lts Fruits and Its Festival j-
Part V. Minor Structures of the Exhibition,
(Illustrated.) Glimpses of Constantinople*
(Illustrated.) The Ballad of the Bell-Tower)
Berlin and Vienna; The Atonement of Leam
Dundas; Rose-Morals; An Old House and
its, Story; The Watch: An Old Man’s Storys
Translations From Heine; Letters from
South Africa; The Life of George Ticknor;,
Our Monthly Gossip; Literature of the Day.
FIRE-BRANDS.
Is a man bound to tell the truth? Is he
responsible for what he says? Is slander a
sin’ Is a man less bound to speak the truth
concerning a whole community than a single'
individual? Is the defamation of a State lessj
sinful than the slander of a single person?,
Is it true that one may diminish his guilt
the magnitude of his transgression? Does
the guilt of falsehood decrease as its magni
tude increases? Can a falsehood be so big
that it becomes virtuous? Does colossal
lying like colossal stealing command, in some
eyes, a sort of respectability? May a man
because he is mad, or bitter, or reckless, or
unscrnpulous, say anything his heart sug
gests —if only he will say it through a news
paper? Is there one law for the tongue, and"
another for the pen? Does “the freedom of
the press” imply freedom from moral obliga
tion?
These questions, and others like them,
rose up in our mind as we read a paragraph
in a recent number of a leading Northern
Methodist paper. It was not written, as one
might have supposed had there been no name
connected with it, by General Butler, or
Bishop Haven. It was written by one claim-,
ing to be a Chris ian, a Methodist, a preach
er, and a Doctor of Divinity. We do not
care to name the paper, for we have a sin
cere respect for its scholarly cd tor. We be
lieve—in spite of the bad things he admits,
to his columns occasionally—that he is a
gentleman and a Christian. A few weeks
ago we received from him a very kind and,
fraternal note which we appreciated highly.
To name his paper here might lead some to
believe that the paragraph we quote below
is a true exponent of its spirit. This would
be unjust, and we would not slander him or
his paper by implication or suggestion. But
we regret that he has “slipped up” in
case before us. It may be a sort of moral
accident—if such a thing is possible. Per
haps we should say—he was “overtaken in a
fault." If so, we offer our reproof “in the
spirit of meekness,” “Considering ourself,
lest we also be tempted.” His own con
science —since be is a good man—if he will
only give it a chance, will lead to his “re
storation.”
Neither do we give ‘lie name of the writer.
Among his own people he is not unknown to
fame. He has occupied positions of trust
and responsibility. He writes for the best
papers, and preac'ies, as we suppose, in the
best pulpits. Some institution has given
him a title that was intended to do him honor.
We have seen such things from his pen be
fore, but possibly they do not fairly charac
terize the spirit that is in him. He may
only write such things when his “head takes
its lunar turn.” Surely his heart is sweeter
than his occasional words. We would be
very sorry to believe that any man in this
world has a heart bad and bitter enough to
conceive such thoughts in its normal condi
tion. Such a man could hardly endure him
self; he would be intolerable to his fellow
men. But he ought to be ashamed of him
self for thinking the things that he writes;
he ought to be humiliated and penitent that
he has written and published them. And
the editor—of whom we cannot believe that
such words fairly represent his judgment
and taste as an editor—ought to be ashamed
of publishing the article in which they are
found.
His paper is published in a great city, and
in the interests of a great Church. We sin
cerely believe that he wishes to do good and
not evil; to cultivate peace and good will
among men. Now we beg him to consider
that such writing does no good. It does evil
and only evil, and that continually. It does
as little good as the Irishman’s cow, that
they say kicked over the kerosene lamp that
set Chicago on fire. Perhaps the cow did
not know how inflammable kerosene is! But
Dr. , knows that words are inflammable.
We very much fear that he did not intend to
do good when he hurled a fire-brand at those
he counts as vile only because he does not
love them. Samson did not intend a bless
ing when he turned his jackals-tails tied in
couples, and fire-brands blazing after them—
into the wheat fields of his enemies.
It were better to have left the column
blank than to have filled it with slander and
denunciation. It were better not to be an
editor than to admit such things. It were
better not to have papers at all than to make
them vehicles of slander, and instrumental'
ities of evil.
The article from which we quote is in the
main a bright, gossipy letter, describing the
removal of a Methodist preacher's family
from one place to another. It describes in
a very like-like way the settling down in the
new home. He tells us how they hung in
their places some fine pictures—one of Wash
ington, the other of Lincoln. To his praise
of Mr. Lincoln —making him the peer of
Washington—we do not object in the least.
This is mere matter of opinion. But what
dark and evil spirit could have inspired the
words that follow his praise of the dead Pre
sidents? Hear him:
“Will future ages believe that in a brief
ten years after the deep damnation of his
taking off, the villians, who if they did not
plot it, clapped their hands at its accom
plishment, and named their children after
the scoundrel assassin, should be sitting in
the council chambers of the nation they
labored to destroy. No wonder they com
plain of foul air.”
Why did Dr. write this wretchedly
cruel and false paragraph? To do good? It
is incredible. To “fire the Northern heart?”
It is hot enough. To exasperate the South"
ern heart? It ha3 suffered enough.
Alas! there are hundreds of papers—secu
lar and so-called religious—that are, week
after week, turning loose troops of jackals
with fire-brands between their tails. They
disgust us with column after column of bit
ter, cruel, and false things, not only of hated
men, but of whole sections of our country —
our common country. Such writing retards
the pacification of the country and the fra
ternity of the Churches. It is an intolerable
shame and nuisance.
Of those who write such things the public
has had—let us hope—enough. It is treason
to the people to say and write and publish
things that make them hate each other. Let
those men whether M. C.’s or D. D.’s—who
scatter fire-brands, “step Gown and out.”
If they will not, let them be put out by the
scorn of the good and the contempt of the
honest. Let respectable people every where
in Church and State —frown down these mis
chief makers. Let patriotic people eschew
papers that aggravate sectional animosities.
Let us have peace! Let us also have truth!
Oxford. H.
Carrespoitkitce.
THE REVIVAL IN AUGUSTA, GA.
Mr Editor: The revival in the Methodist
churches of this city, of which several notices
have appeared in the Advocate, is of the type
well known to our people. The same simple
preaching, earnest exhortation, and sweet
singing to which we have been aocus omed
from the times of the Wesleys. The same
conviction, penitence, faith, and peace that
ihave marked the conversions of the millions
who have attended our worship. The same
ascription of all the glory from first to last to
Him who died for all. At present our meet
ings are suspended, or rather we have united
with the Evangelists well known to fame as
■ “Whittle and Bliss” who visit our city on the
invitation of the Baptist, the Presbyterian,
and the Methodist pastors. These gentle
men are laymen, whose homes are in Chicago,
i and both seem zealous in the work which they
have set forth to do. Bliss is the charming sing
er, and Whittle is the earnest talker. Evident
fly, the singing of Bliss is the chief power. His
voice is the gift of God cultivated almost to
perfection. He whispers the words of a song
so that they are distinctly heard by everyone
in the great congregation, and when he “lifts
up his voice” it is like the peal of an organ
Bliss demonstates tl at cultivate 1 music can
be sanctified music. We quarrel wi'h artistic
singing not because of th • a t of it but be
cause of the use of it. W, must have song
and sermon both directed to the single end
of persuading men to be reconciled to God.
i With such a single purpose in the hearts of
■preachers and sptgers (the splendid sermon
and the splendid song will glorify God.
Otherwise one is sounding brass, and the
other is a tinkling cymbal. Bliss is eminent
as a musician. He could crowd opera bouses
for a week to hear him sing. But Bliss is a
true Christiau, simple as a child, and devotes
himself to the cause of Christ. Whittle
preaches well. He is in earnest and very
zealous. There were hundreds of sermons
preached in our circuits and stations on last
Sunday fully equal to any he has preached.
This direct, earnest, plain preaching, is no
new thing in Georgia. Perhaps this is the
reason that the audiences have greatly dimin
ished since the departure of Bliss. The
churches are not crowded now, but still a
good work is going on. On account of the
anticipated visit of Moody in May, prepara
tions .are being made to prepare one of
our ware-houses to seat four or five
thousand people. It is thought that many
will come to Augusta from the towns and
villages to hear the man whom God has so
signally honored. At present the religious
interest seems to be somewhat awakened,
but we hope to see greater things.
Asbury Church, which brother Kimbell
has in charge, is crowded every night, and
Ahe altar is thronged with penitents.
Yours etc., Traveller.
April 21, 1876.
“ TAKING UP THE CROSS.”
Mr. Editor: It is eoinewhat of a cross
to me, either to write or preach ; yea, if
anything can bring the dregs of sweat, trying
to preach, with nothing to preach about, is
the pump. And how it is that there are
some who not only never refuse, but are ever
‘Oil the hunt for an opportunity to preach, I
can’t understand. My wonder may be the
greater because I have deliberately conclu
ded not to be a great man ; and this from a
variety of considerations—not the least of
which is the natural difficulty which stands
in the way of many aspirants : and lam not
heartbroken, for I have concluded again, if
b! can so live that the angels will come for me
when I die and carry me up to their home,
it will be glory enough ; and hence, I intend
just to work and wait. This is suggested by
your recent request to “ take up the cross.”
There is a subject which has been exer
cising my mind latterly and a character in
volved, which, for the honor of the Church,
I would to God could be disposed of forever,
and surely it can, viz : the proper meaning,
determined by weight of authority, as to
numbers and respectability, of the Greek
word baptizo. lam not troubled about my
baptism, but I am greatly troubled on ac
count of the young and ignorant, who are so
often imposed upon by those who have a zeal
not unto knowledge, and whose whole Btock
of religion seems to consist in unsettling the
minds of women and children, by the famil
iar appeal: “ This is the way your Saviour
was baptized—this is the only way to follow
Him ” —in that ordinance, or whatever it is.
Avery clever president of a female college,
and a very zealous little man of the mortar
and pestle, within the last few months assert
ed roundly, in my presence (and I have no
idea a month passes without its reireration
by every Baptist preacher,especially the more
ignorant, throughout the world) that the
weight of authority fixed, confined the mean
ing of baptizo to immerse. lam aware of
the teachings of ev -ry other Church, and am
only concerned because the young and the
world hear these, and justly conclude that
there is a vast deal of misrepresentation, or
ignorance, or both, prevailing in Ihe Church
among the so-called scholars—the men of
many tongues. What a weight of responsi
bility rests upon the translator !
While upon this subject it is very easy
switching off to the Index, the last number
of which is rather suggestive. This paper
should have a humorous department, and
there put many of its contributions, and
emee in a while its own editorials. For in
stance, a paragraph from “ J. W. W.” in his
account of the dedication of Mt. Yernon
Church in Talbot county, where Elder S.
Maxwell borrowed thusly from Munchausen
or Mark Twain :
“ The speaker brought forward the oppo
sition that Christianity has met with in all
ages of the world, and that the Baptists,
though not always known by that name, were
the only ones ihat had to suffer, and did suf
fer, at the hands of their persecutors. The
privilege enjoyed to-day, to worship God ac
cording to one’s conscience, is due to the
Baptists.”
High time Martin Luther had his inkstand
ready to throw—that the dust of John Knox
should speak. And I reckon John Wesley
might .testify to a few peltings and bruises.
But maybe these were all Baptist roses with
another name, Munster-ous, isn’t it ?
Next we come to a short communication
headed
“ A Correction. —I find in my travels
that many of our brethren are under the im
pression that Gen. John B. Gordon is still a
Baptist. This is a mistake. He was a Bap
tist till about two years ago, when he united
with the Presbyterians. His venerable father
is a Baptist minister, and his brother, Eugene
Gordon, is also a Baptist minister, and, in
deed, his whole family, I learn, are strong
and useful members of the Baptist denomi
nation. I would have been glad if General
Gordon, after being elected to his high posi
tion of United States Senator by the great
Baptist State of the South, could have given
the influence of his name to the Church of
his fathers, but, as he saw fit to do other
wise, it is well that the fact should be known.”
* * *
Well, it should have three stars, and as
many more, attached to it, for its boldness
and shamelessness. “The great Baptist
State of the South!” If this is so, consider
me transferred. No wonder the bridges
throughout the country are being washed off.
The inference is certainly clear that the Bap
tists elected Gordon United States Senator;
that they don’t intend doing so again ; and
that persons of other denominations need
expect no more of the public places to fall
to their share. Is Mr. Three Stars a man ?
Does he reflect Baptist sentiments ? Has
that Church learned so much Romanism
that it seeks to control the political element
of Georgia? Then be easy, Mr. James—
get out of the way, Mr. Colquitt; you are
not of the right faith and ord t. nor is any
other name prominently suggested. The
Church and State united! The State of
Georgia swallowed by the Baptist Church!
I reckou Mr. Three Stars knows himself,
and the court—or his Church—for here is
what the editor of the Index says, and the
Index is the Baptist trumpet:
“ Senator Gordon. —As a matter of in
formation, which will be news to the inajoi
ity of the great Baptist family of Georgia, a
correspondent of the Index, in this issue,
corrects the generally received opinion that
our eminent Senator is a Baptist. As an
item in the historical data of our public men,
the correction made by our correspondent is
entitled to the prominence given it.”
By the-by, how do you reckou a Methodist
feels who is agentizing for the Index f Do
you reckon he ever suggests to some good
Methodist a change from the Advocate to
the Index f
The reader must not conclude that the wri
ter is an enemy of the Baptists or the Index;
on the contrary, names among God’s genu
ine children produce no effect on His heart;
He knows and loves all alike. The Index
is alarge,well printed, and newsy sheet; but
the items to which attention is called reflect
discredit upon the intelligence and Christian
cferactfer of both it and the large and in-'
creasingly useful denomination it represents,
but which “J. W. W.” and “ Three Stars”
do not.
I close with a short editorial from the pa
per thus under consideration, as follows :
“He that exalts himself will be abased.
God uses all classes of men as His instru
ments. He often uses one wicked mar. or
nation to punish another He permits the
selfish plans of the wicked to go as far as
he chooses All the purposes of God will
be accomplished, whoever may plan to the
contrary." Jno. A. Reynolds.
BAINBRIDGE, SOUTH GEORGIA CON
FKHEXI'E.
Dear Brother: Avery pleasant episode
gave variety to our regular church work on
last Sunday afternoon, on the occasion of the
monthly meeting of our sunday-school Miss
ionary Society. After the lessons had been
recited and the regular Sunday school work
was finished, our Presihent (Bro. Geo. W.
Dickenson,) took the chair, and the pas
tor of the church uncovered a beautiful ban'
tier. It was of white silk, heavily trimmed
with red, and on it were beautifully traced
in embroidered'letters in the form of a scroll,
the words “Excelsior,” “Banner Class.”
This banner, the handiwork of one of the
teachers of the East Macon Sunday School:
was presented irom her school to the Mis
sionary Society of the Bainbridge Sunday
school. The beautiful present was received
in behalf of our Society by our Secretary
(James S. Russell, Esq.,) in a neat and ap
propriate speech. He fully appreciated tor
the Society the admirable advice so senten
tiously conveyed in the single word upon
the banner, and promised that “Excelsior”
should henceforth be the inspiring motto of
the school and of the Society.
Bro. Russell’s remarks were received with
great enthusiasm by the ehi.dren, and I
doubt if anywhere in our Conference a more
timely occurrence has taken place, or one
that will give greater impetus to the Mission
ary cause in the Sunday-school. I think
you may promise Bro. MacDonell that Bain
bridge will not be behind previous years in
her Missionary offering, notwithstanding the
financial prospects of the times are, just now,
so discouraging. We shall look for you
dear Brother at our District Conference in
June. Please don’t disappoint us.
R. M. Lockwood.
Bainbridge April 12 1876.
SJissionarj).
(From the New Orleans Christian Advocate.]
LETTER FROM CHINA.
Sister S. B. Thomas, to whom the follow
ing letter is addressed, has kindly furnished
it to us for publication. It will be read with
interest and with profit.
Shanghai, China, Feb. 14, 1870.
My Dear Sister Thomas: By the last mail
a letter was received from you to Bayoung,
which she will answer herself very soon. I
have not written you since she joined the
Church and made an open profession of reli
gion. She has made rapid improvement in
her studies, and is very earnest in everything
she undertakes. We look forward to the
time when she will become an active worker
for the Lord among the poor, degraded
women of China. We can only look to our
schools for women to engage in this work.
We cannot find them among the people; if
so, it is but seldom the case. The girls from
the schools established by the different mis
sions are prepared for the work of teaching
when they leave the schools, and in many
cases, personally known to us, they become
most efficient workers. Our trust is in the
Lord, the God of Israel. He worked won
ders for his people in ages past, and he is
working in a wonderful manner in this great
stronghold of satan. At our prayer-meeting
of missionaries this afternoon we had an
account given us, by a dear missionary
brother who has been laboring for years on
the Island of Formosa, of the blessed work
of grace now going on in that island. His
account of it made our hearts burn within us,
and with our whole soul we give all the glory
to God. Hundreds are reading the blessed
word of God with great delight and joy. The
humble peasants, who would never learn the
Chinese character, have learned to read the
Roman letter, and are now able to read the
Bible in the Roman letter. The missionary
is able to go from house to house, teaching
the people to read the Scriptures, and the
joy of the people seems unbounded. I have
not been an advocate for teaching the Roman
letter except in our schools, but now I am
determined, if the Lord gives me grace and
strength, to teach it everywhere, and give
the Scriptures to the people in a character
which they can read and understand. That
has been a great drawback to us in China.
The great mass of the people cannot read,
and will never learn their own characters on
account of the great difficulty attending it!
whereas they can learn the Roman letter in
a few weeks or months, and can with a little
effort soon be able to read any part of the
Bible. With the blessing of God upon our
efforts, great good will be done. Pray for
us, my dear sister, and I pray the Lord to
pour out a rich blessing upon you, and make
your last days days ofjoy and true happinesr in
the Lord. We have been greatly cheered
from time to time by your kind and welcome
letters, and if we are not spared to see you
on this earth, we shall hope, through grace,
to meet in the heavenly land. Letters from
dear friends in America have of late glad
dened our hearts, and we are assured of their
prayers and good wishes.
Now I must close for the present, and with
an earnest request for your sincere prayers
for this work in China, I remain
Yours in Christ, J. W. Lambuth.
Seven missionary societies have planted
missions in Egypt, Abyssiuia, and Algeria.
The American United Presbyterian Church
is doing a good work in Egypt, and crowds
are listening to the gospel. In Algeria Chris
tianity is making rapid progress through the
Reformed and Lutheran churches. There
are thirty stations, forty-two places of wor
ship, and twelve schools. In Abyssinia a
German missionary society, the London
society, and the Scottish Church, are doing
most effective work. The three most suc
cessful missions of modern times are those
of the American Board in the Sandwich Is
lands, the London Missionary Society in
Madagascar, and the American Baptist Mis'
sionary Union among the Karens.
We have visited a number of Hindoo tem
ples, and seen both the gods and the wor
shipers. The sacred grounds commonly en
close a tank, in whicich the people bathe be
fore they proceed to worship ; and a banyan
tree (which is a sacred tree!, which the peo
ple go round and round, and on which they
hang their offerings, which is an object of
worship (and which the people would con
sider it a far greater crime to kill than to
kill a Christiau); and innumerable littie im
ages, hidrous beyond decription. At Mala
bar Hill we visited a large tank, which is
surrounded by a number of temples. It is
a peculiarly sacred place. As we entered
just at evening, the priests were lighting their
limps be f ore the idols, and bells were ring
ing, trumpets blowing, and drums healing.
to wake up the gods 1 The sight of these
temples and their worshipers has given me
anew idea ofHindooism. Before coming to
India, I had read much of “the comparative
view of given by writers who ar
gue that one Religion is as good as another,
and thought that there was some germ of
good even in Hindooism ; that although very
corrupt and overlaid with errors and super
stitions, yet that even this religion was bet
ter than none; that it still preserved the idea
of a superior power in the world, to which
men responsible, and so was better
than blank atheism. But I confess that since
coming to India, and seeing Hindooism, I
think nothing can be worse; not only is it
not a means of moral elevation to the people,
but it is a postive degradation. There is only
one word to describe it: it is beaitly—the
worship of obscene gods by obscene rites.
The whole system of Hindooism' is founded
upon caste, and this is the most terrible bon
dage under which any human being can
come into existence. Y r et this people are
born into it, and struggle as they may they
cannot get out of it. Seeing, as I do here,
its infinite ramifications —how it penetrates
society, aud wraps every man about with a
million invisible bonds, a net which the
strongest lion could not break —1 v. onder
how any are delivered from it, and brought
into the light and liberty of the gospel. But
that such miracles can be accomplished, we
have the clearest evidence.—lY. I . Evange
list.
In South Africa there are four hundred and
fifty foreign missionary laborers. These
laborers have been the instruments in God's
hands of bringing into His Church forty
thousand natives, who were at one time lost
in the grossest heathenism. The Missionary
Herald says: “For two thousand miles from
Sierra Leone to the equator, the Christian
church and the schoolhouse have taken the
place of the slaver's baraeoon. Twenty-five
thousand natives are enrolled as members of
the Christian churches; native pastors care
for their flocks: native evangelists press into
the regions beyond; and one mission is
wholly composed ’of native preachers in
charge of a native bishop.” And the Ad
vance says: “By far the larger part of the
success has been secured by European Chris
tians. Our own Board, Congregational,
however, holds an honorable place in the
work, having had on the ground more labor
ers than the entire number connected with
all other American missions in Africa. The
whole number it has sent out to this field,
south and west, is ninety-three.”
Ucfos of % SEcclt
GENERAL NEWS.
New York, April 14.—The will of A. T.
Stewart was filed in the Surrogate’s office
this afternoon. It bequeaths all his property
and estate to his wife, Cornelia M. Stewart,
and her heirs forever, and appoints Judge
Henry Hilton to act in behalf of the estate
and in managing his affairs. Asa mark of
regard, Mr. Stewart bequeaths to Mr. Hilton
the sum of one million dollars. He appoints
his wife, Judge Hilton, and William Libby
his executors. The subscribing witnesses to
the will are Wm. P. Smith, W. P. White,
and E. E. Marcy, M. D. The will bears the
date of the 27th of March, 1873. He directs
his executors to pay out the following gifts
as legacies: To George B. Butler, $20,000
to John M. Hopkins, $lO 000; to A. K. P.
Cooper, $10,000; to Edwin James Denning,
$10,000; to John J. Green, $10,000; to
George H. Higgins, $10,000; to Ilenrv H.
Rice, $5 000; to John De Brot, $5,000; to
Robert Prother Roe, $5,000; to Dodge,
$5,000; Hugh Conner, $5,000; William Arm
strong, $5,000; William P. Smith, $5,000;
to Sarah and Rebecca Morrow, $12,000 an
nuity, in quarterly instalments, during their
joint lives, and also the house No. 30 East
30th street, and the furniture therein; to
Ellen B. Hilton, $5,000. In fthe codicil he
makes the following bequests, to be paid
from his estate; to Chas. P. Clinch, $10,000;
Anna Clinch, $10,000; Julia Clinch, $10,000;
Emma Clinch, $10,000; Sarah Smith, wife
of J Lawrence Smith, $10,000; to her daugh
ter Cornelia S. Smith, $10,000; and also to
Anna, Emma, and Julia Clinch the house
and lot No. 115 East Thirty-fifth street, and
the furniture. To all employes who have
been in his service over twenty years he leaves
SI,OOO, and to those over ten years SSOO.
He hope3 that all his plans for the welfare of
his fellowmen will be faithfully carried out
by his executors.
Cleveland, 0., April 14.—A riot occured
near Massillon between the green hands, who
were about to commence work in the coal
mines, and the striking miners. Geo. Farm
ington, of this city, the proprietor of the
mines, was struck in the head and severely
injured, and several others were more or less
hurt. The Sheriff has gone to the mines
with a strong posse.
New York, April 15.—The steamship
Hevelius, with the Emperor of Brazil on
board, has been signalled off’ Sandy Hook.
She is expected to arrive up about 2 p. m.,
unless detained at quarantine.
The Alert proceeded down the stream with
the Secretari, s, Admiral Rowan and the
Portugese Minister. The steam tug Catawba,
teudered the Brazilian Minister by General
Rowan, also went down.
A large force of police was stationed at the
pier foot of West Twenty-fourth street this
morning, it being the nearest available land
ing place to the Fifth Avenue Hotel. The
corvette Alert, with Gen. Hancock and staff
and Secretaries Taft, Robeson and Fish and
the Brazilian Minister, accompanied by the
police boat Seneca, with Mayor Wickham on
board, steamed down the bay and met the
Brazilian packet Hevelius at quarantine,
about ten minqtes after four o’clock, and the
Alert anchored at Twenty-fourth street pier,
and the steam launch took ashore the parties
above mentioned, who announced that the
Emperor had long since landed at pier 2,
East river, and was driven to the Hotel. The
crowd then dispersed, much disappointed.
VOLUME XXXIX., NO. 17.
The Emperor arrived at the hotel in a hi ed
cab.
Lawrence, Kansas, April 25. —At noon
to-day about one thousand feet of dam across
Kansas river, opposite this city, gave way,
carrying down one of the piers of the bridge
and precipitating two spans into the river.
The damage to the dam and bridge is ten
thousand dollars.
New York, April 15.—His Majesty, Dom
Pedro, of frazil, accompanied by the Em
press and suite, attended divine Bervice at
St. Patrick’s Cathedral this morning. The
Emperor and Empress were given seats in
the sanctuary within the railing. Solemn
high mass was celebrated, and Vicar Geners 1
Quinu, on behalf of Cardinal McCloskey, wl o
is sick, welcomed their majesties to this
country, and congratulated them on their
prosperous voyage. He prayed that the
remainder of their journey would be equally
auspicious and happy. Large crowds assem
bled both inside and outside of the Church
to catch a glimpse of the imperial visitor.
After church they were driven through Cen
tral Park.
Nashville, April 16. —The State Insur
ance Commissioner yesterday suspended the
National Life Insurance Company and the
Odd Fellows’ Widow aud Orphan Life Insur
ance Company. The available assets of the
National Life are $289,875, and the liabil
ities, according to the standard of the act ot
1875, $318,760. The company propose rein
suring their policies. The available assets
of the Widow and Orphan Life are $298 000,
and the liabilities over $400,000.
Washington, April 17. —Tbe Senate trans
acted legislative business until 12:39, when
it organized inga a High Court of Impeach
ment for the triat of Belknap.
Washington, April 17. —The President has
signed the silver bill. Many letters with
money have been received at the Trca-uryto
be exchanged for silver. It is not generally
known that silver will be given only for frac
tional currency, and not for legal tenders or
national bank notes.
Providence, R. 1., April 17.—Dexter &
Bro., the Pawtucket cotton spinuers, who,
it was announced yesterday, had made an
assignment, failed for $400,000. Their as
sets are put at $300,000. They were ihe
largest manufacturers of cotton and knitting
yarns in the country.
Ellaville, Fla., April 17. —The wagon
bridge across the Withlacoochee river at this
place fell in yesterday with a heavy crash.
No one was on it at the time, but several
loaded teams had passed over a short while
before. The jam of mill logs against the
Jacksonville, Pensacola and Mobile Railroad
bridge is being rapidly removed. The pier
is considered perfectly safe.
Pittsburg, April 17.—The National Labor
Convention, composed of delegates from the
different labor organizations throughout the
United States, met to-day. The convention
wis called to order by George Mureutt, of
Philadelphia. J. L. Wright, tailor, of Phil
adelphia, was temporary chairman. After
reading a telegram from Detroit, Chairman
Wright made a short speech explanatory of
the telegram, or rather of the organization
of Social Democrats, who, lie said, were in
session in Detroit. Whatever were their
views on political questions of the day, it
was understood they were ail right on the
labor question, and would act witli this con
vention. He then went on to remark that
this convention had no political significance,
but was called simply to promote the inter
ests of workmen and improve their condi
tion.
Washington, April 17. —Chief Justice
Waite delivered the opinion of the Supreme
Court in the cotton case of G. B. Lamar to
day. It justifies the seizure of the cotton,
declares that no action could lie against Kim
ball, the Treasury agent who made the seis
ure, and affirms the judgment of the Court
of Claims. Justice Field dissented, holding
that the majority of the Court had gone too
far in protecting the Treasury agents, etc.
Washington, April 18. —The bill reported
and recommended for passage by the Senate
Finance Committee to-day is as follows:
A bill to amend laws relating to silver coin.
Be it enacted, etc., that there shall be coined
at the mints of the United States a silve r
dollar of the weight of 4J and 8-10th grains
troy, of standard silver, the emblems, devices
and inscriptions of which shall conform to
those prescribed by law for the gold and sil
ver coins in the United States, with such
modifications thereof as may be necessary to
render the said dollar readily distinguishabb
from the trade dollar, and in the coinage and
delivery thereof the same deviatious shall be
allowed as are prescribed by law lor the trade
dollar, aud the said dollar herein authorized
shall be a legal tender, at its nominal value,
for any amount not exceeding twenty dollars
in any one payment, except for customs due
and interest on the public debt, and the trade
dollar shall not hereafter be a legal tender.
Section 2. That the Secretary of the Treas
ury is hereby authorized to exchange tl e
silver dollars herein authorized for an equal
amount of United States notes, which shall
be retired and cancelled, and not be again
replaced by other notes, and all United States
notes redeemed in this act shall be held to
be a part of the sinking fund provided for bv
existing laws, the interest to be computed
thereon as in case of bonds redeemed under
the act relating to the sinking fund.
Section 3. Any owner of silver bullion
may deposit the same at the mints to be
taken at its market value as ascertained and
publicly announced from time to time by the
Director of the Mint, with the approval of
the Secretary of the Treasury, and to be paid
for either in silver dollars or with gold coin
or United States notes. Bullion for the
coinage of said silver dollars may be pro
cured in the mode provided for as to other
silver coins by section 3526 of the Revised
Statutes of the United States, the gain and
wastage to be accounted for as provided in
said section.
Washington, April 18.—The President
has vetoed the bill reducing the salary of the
President to $25,000.
Ann Arbor, Michigan, April 19. —Prof.
Watson reports the discovery on the night of
the 16th inst., iu the constellation Virgo, of
a planet hitherto unknown.
Washington, April 20.— Ex Attorney Gen
eral Williams was examined by the House
Committee on Expenditures in the Depart
ment of Justice and testified to the payment
to John J. Davenport, former United States
Commissioner in New York, out of the secret
service funds, of $30,000 for election pur
poses. Upon being pressed, Judge Williams
acknowledged that the money was paid by
the direct order of the President!
Ihe report of cotton goods from the United
States for the eight months ending February
29, was 5,600,000 colored and 33,000,000
yards uncolored, valued at nearly $4,000,000-
FOREIGN.
Algiers, April 14. —A serious engage
ment took place on Wednesday between the
French troops and the insurgents soulh of
Constantine. The latter numbered four
thousand infantry and one thousand cavalry.
The insurgents were defeated, and about six
hundred killed and wounded, including their
leader, and a large number taken prisoners.
Two French officers were wounded, and
twenty soldiers killed and wounded.
London, April 15.—The weather is fair,
but still cold. The recent snow was the
heaviest of the winter, and in some parts of
the country the heaviest in many years.
There are numerous wrecks on the east
coast, and 110 lives are lost.