The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-04-20

TIE ALASKA BARGAIS.-Upon the
whole, we looked rather coldly upon our
new acquisition. Seven and quarter
millions of dollars in gold seemed rather
large sum 10 be expended just then for a
purchase of doubtful value. II seemed un-
certain whether Congress would make an
appropriation for the payment, and with>
out this the whole matter would fall to the
ground But the Russian Minister, hav-
ing made the bargain, was anxious to see it
COZ cluded. He had sold something which
no matter how much it was worth to us.
was worse than useless to his Government.
Whatever was received for it was so much
clear gain and in the present condition Of
Russian finances seven and a quarter mil.
lions, or half that sum, was worthy of con-
sideration. So acting upon quiet HUT
from Mr.. Seward, he undertook to manu-,
facture little public opinion in the mat
ter. He engaged Mr.. Robert J, Walker,
a most persuasive man, who can prove any
thing by figures, to act as "open counsel"
For S25 900 as fee Mr.. Walker UNDER
took to write up Alaska in the newspapers
He did his work defily. 1t was, indeed,
reported that money TO the amount OF hun
dreds of thousands and even millions was
| expended among newspapers, their cores
pondcnts, members of Congress, and other
wise, in order to get the appropriation
passed. The matter was brought before
Congress, by whom Committee of Inves,
tigation was appointed. As we write the
Committee find IN expenditure Of only this
| S25, 900 to Mr.. Walker Of which he paid
$4,000 to Mr. Stanton, and a further sum
of $4,000 offered to the editor of news
paper winch sum the editor vlrtuosly de.
clihed for himself, but intimated that it
might very properly be given to his broth.
er. II any body else got any Alaska
money it has net IA yet March, 1860
been shown AT all events the appropri-
alton was made ; the seven millions and
odd hundreds of thousands were duly paid
over. making the Russian cxchcqucr so
much the richer. SO all preliminaries
being arranged, on the 18th Of October,
1867, the Russian flag was hauled down
at 81 ka, the Stars and Stripes run up, and
there ceased to be any Russian America
"A. II. Guernsey, in Uo,per's Na9a.I,,.
DEATu o. Sii.,s AIKEN ID. D.
This truly beloved man died at his
home at two o'clock on Wednesday morn,
ing las. Mr.. Aiken. was born at Brad.
ford \. II. May lith, 1899, and was
nearly seventy year, old at the time Of hi.
death. His early life was spent in. farm
ing ll5 fitted for College at Philips 4.
cademy Mass, and graduated at Dart,
mouth in 1925. after which he remained
three years at the College as tutor, in the
mean time pursuing theological studies.
In March 1929 he became pastor Of the
Congregational Church a, Amherst, \.
ii. lie was installed pastor Of the Park
81. Church, Boston, in 1887. where he 70.
manned until 1913 In 1919 he became
pastor OF the Congregational Church, in
Rutland, and after a long and successful
pastorate of more than thirty years he re-
signed and retired from active ministerial
duties in July 1868. In the latter yesr.
OF his life hs was intimately connected
with the public schools of Rutland, occu-
pying the position of President of the
Board OF Trustees, giving to the people o.
Rutland the advantage OF his good judg
ment in the establishment of our present
system OF Graded Schools Thus hath .
good man passed away, but sweet memo
ries will linger in the hearts of those who
through his personal efforts have been let
to seek the Savior -Rmlood Independent