tag U jfeto.
V. H. Offlplnl Pnper fr Oregon.
FRIDAY, JANUARY, 24, 1873.
Uive Va the Pontal Tl"ijrphy.
, . .
Uepostanelegraphnuestmn w
iress of the country. Like all
questions bearing upon the business
interests of the nation, it is full of
importance. Every person who de
sires exemption from the present
monopoly espionage, partiality and
excessive charges, is interested in
the solution of this question. The
telegraphs of the country are prin
cipally under tl control of three
companies : The Franklin, Wes- '
tern Uuion and Atlantic Pacific.
These are powerful monopolies,
absolutely controling the business
and social telegraphy of tlw coun
try. Every Government transac
tion passes under the scrutiny of
their numerous agents; every com
mercial and business correspondence
is brought to their inspection. These
they are not slow to take advantage
of for speculating purposes. It is
said a set of favored stock gamblers,
operating in Wall street, New
York, have access to every message
of political, commercial and social
' ' .. . . .
intercourse I Ins gives to these
unscrupulous men a power over the
political and financial interests of
the nation, which cannot be other
wise than detrimental to them. The
iovernmeut should own these lines.
The objection that it would be
placing a dangerous power in the
control of the Government, is met
by the practical tact, that postal
matters in the hands of the Gov
ernment have resulted in nothing
worse than benefit, uniform and
steady and increasing, to the whole
people. This system is now in opera
tion in England, and succeeding
admirably. Here, as there, it would
secure secrecy, as well as prompt,
safe and correct delivery of mes
sages ; it would be done for lower
and uniform charges ; it would sub
sidize no newspapers, but admit all
to its favors on an equal footing.
Like letter and paper postage, the
price of transmission would he fixed
by law, and open to all alike. The
people demand this The people
have no objection for the Govern
ment to exercise the Constitutional
powers, of making and enforcing
law ; of coining money and issuing
greenbacks; of declaring war and
making treaties; of controlling pos
tal affairs, etc. 7'hese and all
other power possessed, are proper
ly located in tlte Government; and
to lodge the exclusive power of
managing the telegraphy of the
country in the hands of the Govern
ment, would be no more dangerous
to the liberties of the people than
to leave it in the bands of a Hoard of
unscrupulousstockgamblers. Press
es throughout the country, so strenu
ously opposed to the proposed
change, have been subsidized by
b?ing granted special rates and
immunities. This is the secret of
their opposition. They cry out lie
cause they are bought ; because it
pays, though it enslaves them. Lot
the Government have control, and
fair and honest enterprise will then
be open to all newspapers alike ; the
people will be free in a measure
from a ring espionage ; rates will be
cheaper, transmissions will be surer
and more prompt, and the country
will be safer from having got rid of
an unscrupulous monopoly. Let us
have it.
Hon. rhnrlew Sutuorr.
We have recently read in one of
our exchanges a very extravagant
and fulsome laudation of Charles
Stunner. His wisdom, and genius,
and patriotism, and lirmness, and
purity, and eloquence, are represwnt-
ed asunequaled. In the estimation
Wm Ic-u Snmner is the lu-
miliary of tlic political solar system,
brilliant, clear, without even a spot
upon his shining disk, while his co
temporaries are all planets, opaque,
dark as Krebus, especially so if they
opwse him. The recent heart-disease
illness of the distinguished
statesman, the sympathetic out
growth of a spinal trouble which
j has been a thorn in his flesh tor
years, becomes the subject to this
critic of much attempted pathos.
! Those who have seen proper to re
fuse to follow, and who have criti
dised in plain language the felfish
and destructive policy which Sum
ner's rule-or-ruin spirit lead him to
pursue, are denominated a "yelling
mob," ''profligate politicians," etc,
and his recent dangerous illness is
thought to be principally the result
of their denunciations and blows.
Sumner, the sup)osed great shining
orb of unapproachable luminous
ness. the inhaler and exhaler of un-
liarallplpd vnlnmpsnt'divii.p afflatus
. ...
the mortal approximation nearest to
divinity, is set forth by this fulsome
admirer, as a martyr to the injus
tice, abuse and cruelty of a deprav
ed public sentiment, all being prof
ligate who in the least doubt his
perfection. Greatness in its best
estate is uot inseparable from mis
take, or folly, neither is virture from
inconsistency ; and Sumner is cer
tainly no exception to either. The
old maxim says, "None but a fool
is always right," and Sumner is not
that tool. He may come up to the
description which says : "The truly
great seek to gain the approbation
of God, and their own conscience"
but in the effort much egotism, van
ity, dictation and selfishness stick
out like horns. A petted child will
estimate all opposition as abuse;
and a man, well pleased with him
self, sees but little to admire outside
of himself, iiis faults and vanities
aud inconsistencies become virtues,
and opposition to them, persecution.
Failing to control President Grant
in tilling certain foreign offices, the
vanity of this wonderful statesman
was touched ; his arrogant pride
was probed, and actuated by a burn
ing desire to be revenged on Grant,
ami allay the pangs of thwarted
ambition, he tared his arm in op
position to the party which had so
long honored him, and sought by
affiliation in spirit at least with the
enemy, to hurl it from power, and
destroy it. The people, plainly see
ing the motive by which he was ac
tuated, and much preferring to 866
him, with all his vanity, go under,
rather than the party and its prin
ciples, left him to an ignominious
failure. Thwarted in his revenge
ful measures at every point, like a
headstrong, peevish child, he frets
himself sick, and this journal would
have it that he is a martyr! A
man is said to have drowned by
making a bridge of his own shad
ow. In this sense is Snmner a mar
tyr, though he is only politically
drowned. Narcissus is said to have
pined away aud died because he
could not kiss and embrace himself,
having seen a reflection of himself
in the water and fallen in love with
it. Sumner is on the pine, bnt not
yet dead. We do not with him
dead. We honor him for what he
has done, and hope he may live
long enough to see the error of his
way, and do his first works over
again. Hut we have no patience
with maudlin attempts at pathos
over his physical ami political con
dition, the lat at least being entire
ly the result of his own folly.
.
The Ml U limlniiK.
The following from the Statesman,
in regard to the affairs at the Siletz
Agency, will be read with interest :
In a conversation with General
Palmer a day or two since, we
learned several interesting particu
lars concerning the domestic affairs
and management of the Indians,
which exhibit something of the
general line of reform attempted
among them. Gen. Palmer has or
ganized a sort of
jrillHAL SYSTEM
Among the Indians, by which they
are enabled and encouraged to set
tle their own differences. For some
time he has held weekly councils
with the head men of the tribes, for
the purpose of establishing a code
of procedure, and determining more
definitely what practices among the
Indians shail be held lawful or un
lawful. Among other things agreed
upon as unlawful, is the practice of
putting away wives at pleasure and
taking new ones. The other day
an offense of this kind was tried by
the Indian court, and the offender
being found guilty was sentenced to
pay a fine of $40, and to put away
iiis new wife and take back the old
one.
THE IX 111 AX t'OrRT
Consists of five chiefs elected by
the Indians. Proceedings before
it are commenced by a complaint to
the Agent who judges whether it is
of sufficient importance to be worth
a trial. If so, he convenes the
court, presides at the opening, lays
the case before them, and then leaves
them to try it, taking care that the
proceedings are orderly and regular.
The Agent reserves the right to set
aside a verdict. There is also a
court of appeals, consisting of seven
chiefs or head men drawn by lot
from the whole number. Parties
aggrieved by the judgment of the
court below lve the right to take
the matter before this court of ap
peals in case where the Agent de
clines to set aside a verdict. The
Indians have a Sheriff who executes
the orders of these courts. General
Palmer says the Indians are greatly
pleased with this judicial system,
and he finds that by its adoption,
his authority is greatly supported
by the most influential men of the
several tribes, all controversies are
settled more entirely to the satisfac
tion of all the parties concerned.
Proceedings iu the courts are gen
erally conducted with gravity and
decorum.
An English paper has the follow
ing pen-sketch of Von Moltke, the
great German General :
While going to church I noticed
near me the new uniform of a Gen
eral officer some one who impress
ed me at first as the youngest,
blandest and slenderest General
officer I ever saw and I tried to
divine how promotion could have
been so rapid in an array where
everything is regular. I looked
again, and the quick, elastic step,
the slender, almost womanly waist,
contrasted strangely with his rank,
which I noticed to be that of a full
General. On looking into his face
I was still more surprised to recog
nize General Von Moltke. We
continued on to the chapel door to
gether. He is a man of few words,
of a singularly youthful expression
of countenance and eye; and al
though one knows he is 70 years of
age, and heavy time-lines mark his
face, it is hard to shake off the idea
that he is a boy. He has a light
and nearly transparent complexion,
a clear blue eye, flaxen hair, white
eyebrows, aud no beard.
.. . - ' "
Columbus, Ohio, had something
like an earthquake last Saturday
night.
Professional Peculiar ks.
A Texas paper has been studying
what it ca'ls professional peculiari
ties, or the tendency of a man to
identify himself with his business,
and gives some interesting results.
A Now York lawyer is instanced
who, in his zeal to use old Weller's
pet legal weapon, an alibi, roared,
"Wo can prove that at the very
time we are accused of perpetrating
this dreadful deed we were serving
out a term of imprisonment in the
Tombs for larceny." In "Pellmm"
the same trait is noticed in the fash
ionable tai'or, who remarked to his
customer, "We are a little narrow
here ; wo must be padded there,"
w, wnile an equally fashionable j
boot-maker says, "We have a bun
ion on the great, and we also have
a corn on the little, toe." The
queerest fish, however, is an under
taker, lie is called in a hurry, and
his coffin happens to be little short.
"We will settle," he cries, "during
the night so as to fit the coffin ; it
is astonishing how we settle some
times ; we have been known to set
tle three inches in a single night !"
The same man was given to dally
ing lovingly with his subjects, and
was proud when they look well.
Once he said, "Don t we look nat
ural ? This neckcloth needs a little
fixing, and we'll do." And another
time, "Will our friends be kind
enought to take a Pst look at us?"
And on still another occasion, on
receiving a body from a distance,
he said : "Here we are, eleven days
from New Orleans and sweet as a
nut !"
"KissMk, MAM.tA."--"Kiss me,
mamma, before I sleep." 'How
simple a boon, and yet how smith
ing to the supplicant is that soft,
gentle kiss! The little head sinks
contentedly on the pillow, for all is
peace and happiness within. The
bright eyes close and the rosy lip is
reveling in the bright and sunny
dream of innocence. Yes, kiss it,
mamma, tor that good night kiss
will linger in memory when the
giver lies mouldering iu the grave.
The memory of a gentle mother's
kiss has cheered many a lonely
wanderer's pilgrimage, and has
been the beacon light to illuminate
his desolate heart; for remember
life has many a stormy billow to
cross, many a rugged path to climb,
with thorns to pierce, and we know
not what is in store for the little
one so sweetly slumbering, with no
marring care to disturb its peaceful
dreams. The parched and fevered
lips will become dewey again as
recollection bears to the snfferer'sJ
couch a mothers love a mother s
kiss. Then kiss your little ones ere
they sleep ; there is a magic power
in that kiss which will endure to
the end of life.
Origtx ok Pai-ar Money.
The Count de Tendil la, while be
sieged by the Moors in the fortress
of Alharabra, was destitute of gold
and silver wherewith to buy his sol
diers, who began to murmur, the
necessaries ot life from the country
people. In this dilemma, says the
historian, what does this most sa
gacious commander ? He takes a
number of little morsels of paper, on
which he inscribed variou sums,
large and small, and signs them
with his own hand and name.
"These he gave to the soldiery in
earnest of their pay. How, will
you say, are soldiers to be paid with
little scraps of paper ? Even so,
and well paid too, for the good
Count issued a proclamation order
ing the inhabitants to take these
morsels of paper for the full amount
! thereon subscribed, promising to re-
oeem tnem, at a tuture day, m sil
ver and gold. Thus, by subtile and
miraculous alchemy, did this cava
lier turn worthless paper into pre
cious gold, and his late impoverish
ed army abound iu money." The
liirtorian adds : "lhe C ount de
Teudilla redeemed his promises like
a royal knight, and this miracle, as
it appeared in the eyes of Agapida,
is the first instance on record of pa
per money, which has since spread
throughout the civilized world the
most unbounded opulence."
Hie San Francisco Mint has
twenty-six ladies employed.
I'hCb Vtetj.
Pat was an idle bov. One day
he was suddenly called up and the
question propounded by the peda
gogue :
"How many Godsare there?"
Pat was not a distinguished the
ologian, but quickiy answered :
"Three, sir.''
"Take your seat," thundered the
master, "and it you don't answer in
five minutes, 1 will welt you."
' The probationary passed, Mid
Fat, taking the floor, hesitating''
stated the number to lie "five, sir."
He received the promised welt
ing, and returned to his seat ten
! minutes tor consideration.
Ten minutes up, Fat was up too,
ai d satisfied that he had not fixed
the number sufficiently high before,
shouted out :
"There's ten, sir."
He saw the ferule descending,
and breaking for the door, he clear
ed a five-railed fence and ran like
a quarter-horse across the meadow
Panting with exhaustion, he met a
lad with a look of one in pursuit ot
knowledge under difficulties, lie
asked :
"Where are yon going ?"
"To school, yonder," was the re
ply. "How many Gods are there?
"( ne," answered the boy.
"Well, you'd better not go there.
You'll have a good time with your
one God. 1 just left there with
ten, and that wasn't enough to save
me the darndest licking you ever
heard of."
HI .ttOItUl'tt.
lhe early bird can secure the
worm without any trouble by buy
ing a few chestnuts of any street
dealer. Hobby was saying his prayers at
his mother's knees : "Give us this
day our daily bread," when he
broke off, saying: "Mamma, I
know Why we pray to God every
day for bread ; it is so that we may
have it fresh "
There are two reasons why some
people never mind their own busi
ness. One is they havu't any busi
ness, and the second is that they
iave no mind.
A sailor, looking serious in a
Boston chapel, was asked if he felt
any change. "Not a cent," said
.lack.
A western editor says of a cotem-
porary that "he has his ears under
such perfect control that he can fan
himself with them."
"Have yon seen my blackfaced
antelope ?" inquired the keeeper of
a menagerie "No," said the vis
itor, "who did your black-faced
aunt elope with ?"
A western paper tags an item
briefly thus "Airs. John 15agg8,of
Omaha, has left Mr. John haggs,
taking the money bags, and leaving
John to hold the little empty
Haggs"
A witty son ot St. Patrick was in
charge ot a ferry boat. A lady pas
senger, being frightened by the
waves asked him, "Are people ever
lost by this boat ?" He gave her
the very encouraging reply, "Not
often, ma'am ; we generally find
them after by dragging the river.
Mrs. iS'tanton is lecturing on the
"Coming Girl." The St. Louis
Times wants to know, you know,
how does she know what it will
be?" Another paper suggests that
it slie expects such an addition she
had better be at home making np a
supply of small clothes rather than
be traveling over the country brag
ging about the expectation.
It is inelegant to ask your sweet
heart if she is "hot ." It is much
prettier to say: "Euphonsia, dar
ling, does the excessive closeness of
the atmosphere cause a perspirative
affection to overcome the angelic
phisicalissimns?" Such being the
case the fair one must not say :
"You bet, old boss!" but she may
gasp a little gnsp, and softly silibate;
''Alphonso, dearest, your solicitude
for comfort has led you to divine
the exact nature of my present situ,
ation." After this the blamed fools
may do as they please. We can't
be giving advice all the time.