Mountain Echo Newspaper

April 9, 1886 (Vol 1-No 6) Page 1 continued

Abstracted / Transcribed & Copyrighted by Linda Haas Davenport

When the print is so faded that it cannot be read <.....> will be used . All transcription will be as found in the paper, misspellings and all

Page 1 - Column 4:

Concerning the address of Mr Powderly, Grand Master of the Knights of Labor, the Louisville Courier-Journal says: "Grand Master Powderly's expressions, which have been published at ample length throughout the country are so mild and conservative, that all apprehensions of extended and serious disturbances in the channels of commerce might be at once dismissed. It may be accepted as a proclamation of peace, not indeed in design, but indirectly through the official statement of policy which is announced for the first time authoritatively, if not in official form. If Mr Powderly speaks the sentiments of his order, or if he does not, it should be regarded as conclusive, if he knows who to weigh his words, for in the one alternative the order must condemn the strike, and most emphatically so in some of its later aspects; and in the other alternative the Grand Master's uttering so emphatically and publicly a sentiment and policy to which the order does not adhere, would simply mean a division between the body and its head - it would imply a lack of organic consistency and motive and harmony, which would also imply impotence. It is to be hoped that Mr Powderly's version of the aims and methods of the order is correct, as nothing could be clearer that it will be to the best interests of working men in common that their organized efforts should be addressed to methods of arbitration, to peaceful, law-observing protests, to the ballot box.

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The New York Star says: "Thus for more than eighty years has the Democratic party been pledged to either free trade or a tariff for revenue only. Starting out in Jefferson's time with a declaration in favor of free commerce with all nations, after the tariff once became an issue in politics, the party's declarations were uniformly against the protective doctrine. Again and again the declaration first formulated in 1840, that "no more revenue ought to be raised than is required to defray the necessary expenses of the government, has been repeated and at every democratic convention, with two exceptions, for nearly half a century the doctrine has either been endorsed or renewedly affirmed. It is a doctrine diametrically opposed to the protective theory, and is an essential part of that body of doctrine that binds the Democratic party together. Whosoever opposes it is no Democrat, and if professedly Democratic Congressmen can render the party incapable of asserting and enforcing this doctrine and policy, they will destroy the Democratic party. This might as well be understood plainly by the southern Congressman who purposes attempting to defeat the Morrison bill, which is a very modern step toward redeeming the pledge to revise and reform the tariff given by the last Democratic convention. If these gentlemen propose to deprive the Democratic party of the character and principle that have been its support in the north and west during the years it has been excluded from power, they can do so, but they must do it with their eyes fully open to the fact that the result of their policy will be the restoration of the Republican party to power. If they feel satisfied to this let them inform their constituents what they are about and go ahead."

For several days last week the jail was the center of attraction for the town. Everybody wanted to see the man who was crazy enough to murder his own children. There is a diversity of opinions in regard to the case. Some think him a lunatic of the worst type, while others think that he is playing crazy to save his neck. However the authorities all pronounce him crazy. - Baxter County Citizen.

Louisville, Ky., wants a sub-treasury and congressman Willis thinks her chances are good.

Column 5

A NEW LINCOLN ANECDOTE (ATLANTA CONSTITUTIONAL): Anecdotes of Lincoln are innumerable, but now and then a new one floats out of the tide of gossip. An old citizen of Washington gives me this one, which I had never heard before. In his boyhood, Lincoln was befriended by a family in humble circumstances who generously aided hi in the effort to attain advancement in life. He afterward left his little town to seek a wider sphere of action with a mental vow one day to repay the kindness of these unselfish friends. After many years he returned to the scene of his early struggle, a successful lawyer, with a name already known to fame. The community was agitated over a murder committed in its midst by one of its townfolk. Lincoln was requested to undertake the defense; the particulars were furnished him and by a strange interposition of fate he saw a way to repay his early debt - for the accused was the son of his early friend. There was little chance to refute the evidence against the young man, for two respected citizens swore to recognition of his face by the light of the moon as they surprised him at the side of the victim. Lincoln arose to open the defense. He carelessly asked for an almanac, which he saw lying on the clerk's desk, simply for the sake of gaining time, while he sought in his mind for a clew to the sympathies of the jury - a cold, hard set of men, with convictions already formed. As he abstractly flattened the leaves of the book, his eye, even at this trying moment, lit up with something akin to that keen sense of humor so characteristic of him, and he began his speech. His words fell like the rattling of artillery upon the astonished, spell-bound audience, and without leaving the box the jury returned a verdict of "not guilty." He cleared the prisoner and found the witness guilty of perjury.

"But gentlemen," said Lincoln, years after in telling this story, "I was careful to keep that almanac in my hand the while, and to carry it out of the court with me - there was no other copy there."

"What had the almanac to do with it?" questioned my friend.

"It was a year old," said Lincoln, with a twinkle of humor in his eye, "And proved conclusively that the moon did not shine on the night of the date of the murder - in the previous year. When the truth leaked out, as of course it did, they could not try the man over again and wisely concluded that silence is golden."

Health in this section is good.

Hogs are very scarce in this locality.

Corn in this section is reported to be very scarce.

Corn planting is the order of the day. Everybody is busy.

Farmers are going to work with a vim - more so than usual.

Cattle looking remarkably well, considering the hard winter, late spring and scarcity of feed.

The wheat and oats crop in this section is looking remarkably well for this season, and a larger area of both has been sown than usual.

Farmers generally are backward with their crops on account of the unfavorable season. A few have planted corn, but will doubtless have to replant.

Married -- Mr. M. N. Cheek to Miss Susan Thompson, at the residence of the bride's father, in Hampton township, on Sunday, April 4th, 1886, by John Quincy Adams, J. P. Rambler

MINERAL NOTICE: Notice is hereby given to the miners of the Harrison Mining district of Arkansas that the annual meeting will be held at Doddsville, Marion county, Tuesday, the 4th day of May, 1886 at 1 o'clock p.m. of said day, for the purpose of electing officers, according to Section 4 of the by-laws, and to transact any other business pertaining to the district. J E Rhodes, President. Attest: Wm Kenner, Recorder. April 5, 1886

The craze for the President's autograph seems to surpass any other in Washington at this time.

The Mariana Index suggests Gen Tappan, of Hellena, as he next Democratic candidate for Governor. Simon P. is our choice.

Senator Vance, of South Carolina, made a very able speech in the Senate the other day on the repeal of the civil Service Act. He claims that it is unconstitutional.