davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31
The Indian Middle.

Sitting Bull and his braves, in their refuge
upon British territory, give occasion for Sc
rious alarm on the part of the Canadian
authorities. So they petition our govern
ment to send commissioners TO treat with
the sable chief, and if possible to secure his
return TO the reservation prepared for him
in the United States. Accordingly commits
sioners were appointed, and the conference
came off in Sitting Bulls camp on Wednes-
day of last week. After due preparation,
and with appropriate ceremony, the commits
sioners proceeded to address their lima
tured aud apparently incredulous audience,
assuring them of the firm friendship Of their
Great Father and his people, and inviting
their return to the United States, offering
full pardon for all past offences. The saw
ages smiled insultingly-the offer of peace
was disdainfully rejected, and the avowal
made that they should stay with their Great
Mother in Canada. So the commissioners
concluded the interview and turned their
faces homeward. Details of the conference
show that the Sioux were exceedingly in
solent, and did not hesitate to call the United
States authorities liars, cheats, etc, utterly
refusing to accede to anything the commits
sioners proposed.
OF course it was the duty of our govern
ment TO make the attempt at Cancellation,
because the Canadian authorities asked it (;
al -. 4 Lee IA g
Bull and his fellow scalpers released the
commission from further responsibility, since
they had no power and our government no
right TO send armed men across the border
to enforce the request with cold lead and
glistening steel.
But this result throws a weighty RESPONSE
bility upon Canada. She has now received
these savage butchers within her borders
They are fresh from waging war upon our
own citizens. They are open and avowed
enemies of the United States. Now, sup
pose our neighbor, while harboring these
Sioux, should permit them to retain their
weapons and horses and go on and complete
raiding organization, what is to prevent
their sweeping down upon our defenseless
frontier, committing frightful depredations
after the fashion of Cortina on the Rio
Grande, besides adding thereto the bloody
crime of promiscuous massacre of the in
habitants The disposition is not lacking
and if Canada does not disarm them neither
will the opportunity be wanting. While it
is admitted that these ugly customers are
'elf-invited guests, that will not release Can
ada from her obligation as to their good be-
havior SO long as she affords them shelter
And of course Canada will at once see that
he cannot grant these savages a rendezvous
rom which to make forays upon citizens of
the United States, and if Sitting Bull has
counted upon any such plan of warfare,
he White Mother will very speedily unde-
ceive him.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31

Or CoURsE.-Mr. Tilden, late claimant
for the presidency of the United States, ar
rived home from Europe just in time to read
very accurate brief description of himself
as understood by his late political partner,
William NJ. Tweed. 1t was the firm of
Tiden & Tweed which carried through the
enormous election frauds of 1868, by which
the electoral vote of the state of New York
was stolen away from General Grant. His
late partner has now "gone back on him, -
and expresses only the popular verdict when
he says that Tilden's money captured the
democratic nomination. 1t is only in ac-
cordance with the fitness of things that this
man Tilden, being serenaded by some of his
political hirelings, should croak of the cleo
ton frauds by which he assumes to have
been cheated out OF the presidency. If he
believes what he says, and has any con.
science left, he may see in his present bitter
disappointment case of Nemesis.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31
Thanksgiving Proclamation.
BY THE PRESIDENT.

~ THE rnh7i"Ni'
The completed circle of summer and winter,
seed time and harvest, has brought us to the ac-
customed season Mt which religious people cele-
brate with praise and thanksgiving the enduring
mercy Of Almighty God This deyout and public
confession of the constant dependence of man
upon the Divine Father for all good gifts Of life
health. peace and happiness, 80 early in our his
tory made the habit of our people, finds in the
survey of the past year new grounds for its joyful
and grateful manifestation. In all blessings which
depend upon n benignant season, this has indeed
been memorable year Over wide territory Of
our country, with all its diversity of soil climate
and products the earth has Welded a bountifu
return to the labor OF the husbandman; the health
of the people has been blighted by no prevalent
widespread diseases; no great disasters Of ship
wreck upon our coasts, or to our commerce on the
seas, have brought loss and hardship TO mariners
and clouded the happiness Of the community with
sympathetic sorrow; in all that concerns our
strength, peace and greatness as a nation in all
that touches the permanence and security Of our
government and benefcent institutions on which
1t rests ~ all that affects the character aud dis
positions oil our people, ana tests our capacity 70
enjoy and uphold an equal ana iree cohultloh Oh
society, now permanent ana universal throughout
the land, the experience oil the last year Is con-
spicuously marked by the protecting providence
oil "od' ana Il tui Oh promise ana nope ior COM
ing generations Under a sense oil these lnhhte
obligations to the Great Ruler oil tllnes' seasons
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31
The Fact and the Reason,

The New York Herald states explicitly
that President Hayes policy of peace and
conciliation ais more successful than it
could have been under democratic admin
stration.' This statement will be accepted
Us true by the great mass of unprejudiced
minds, and the explanation of it is very sim
pie. In the first place, the survivors Of the
lost cause have long been looking for the re-
urn to power of the democratic party as
heir only hope of retrieving what they lost
ny the rebellion. Mr.. Tilden was the cham
pion and candidate of the white-league and
'ifle-club element at the South. He was
Imported by them because they believed
that in his election they would be victori-
)us. They looked at his success as the sub
iection not only of the Republicans, but
argely of the entire South, to their power.
1t was in this interest, and with such pur-
pose, that these rufiians have been for years
numbering loyal and peaceful citizens. Now,
suppose Mr.. Tilden, as their recognized
leader, had been elected, how would he have
ioho W WIN W uduSuldue Ihc pOlcy Vi
reconcilation which President Hayes has so
20 successfully introduced ? What power
would he have possessed to this end with
"solid South" which had given him
MS election for any other purpose than that
If Cancellation on the basis of the letter
md spirit of the constitutional amendments
Would he have called to his cabinet repre-
tentative Republican and Union soldier of
The North, as President Hayes took like
representative of the South Would he
lave been able, by anything he could have
aid or done, to convince the people of either
lection that it was the settled purpose of his
administration to "enforce equality before
he law in respect to all classes We
think not. But could he have carried out
such policy, if undertaken Doubtful.
The plain truth is, that under the state of
things existing, none but Republican
President could have successfully naugu-
rated and carried forward the great work of
peace now so well advanced. Even the
election of such an administration was the
beginning of the end of the good work, as
the triumph of its opponent would inevitably
have famed into a flame the smoldering
spirit of rebellion. Mr.. Tilden neither
would nor could have inaugurated the de-
sired peace. On the contrary, his election
would have been the occasion and the signal
for the prevalence of the very worst elements
of his party, both North and South
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31

PRESIDENTIAL WORCESTERSHIRE Pres
ident sent TO the Senate on Monday the fol
lowing list Of nominations, containing some
of the most important offices in the gift of
the government. Among the nominations
are f. W. Stoughton, Minister to Russia;
Walter A. Garfield of Massachusetts,, Consul
at Martinique; f. S. Nadal of New York,
Second Secretary of Legation at London ;
Charles Bartlett of Maine, Consul at Turks
Island; G. Wiley Wells of Mississippi,
Consul General at Shanghai; Theodore
Roosevelt, Collector at New York Edwin
A. Merritt, Surveyor at New York; s. b.
Prince, Naval Officer at New York; w. IL.
Edwards, to be Secretary of Legation at
Brazil John Baxter of Tennessee, to be
Judge of the Sixth Circuit; William Henry
Smith, 10 be Collectorof Customs at Chicago.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31

ENGLAND's PERIL.-Since the Sepoy re.
bellon was so thoroughly crushed out by
the English in India, now more than twenty
years ago, the mutterings of discomfort on
the part of the natives have been hushed, by
fear if not by love- but of late, since the es-
adjustment of a native Indian press, sedi-
tious utterances have become much more com
mon. Complaints OF English rule are com
ing from all quarters, and the Indian news
papers sometimes use language which is
surprisingly insolent and even threatening.
This is partly due, probably, to the hard
times, which naturally make the people dis
contented, and may in a measure pass away
when the country shall again be blessed with
good crops. Enough has already been said,
however to justly alarm the English officials,
and to make it evident that the people OF
India lack the power rather than the will To
drive their conquerors from the country
Should England become involved in wal
elsewhere, with Russia, for instance, her
Indian possessions may yet give her much
! trouble.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31

REASON FOR REJoICING.--Let us be duly
thankful that we have a President who in
tends to mind his own business, who has no
party and no spokesmen in Congress, who
will not lobby in the House for appropria-
tons, and will not try TO control the voice
Of the Senate concerning appointments, lie
will recommend such appropriations as are
needed, and leave the responsibility where
it belongs. He will make appointments on
his own Judgment and leave the Senate to
confirm or reject them. He will not suffer
any impertinent meddling with the func-
tions OF the executive, and he will not i'm
pertinently NEEDLE with the functions of
the national legislature. That is the way to
have a responsible government; it is what
every President ought to do. When Andrew
johnson undertook to compel Congress to
do his bidding, the country was instantly on
the side of Congress. If now Congressman
combine to coerce the President they will
lind that the country still believes in fair
play, and will not tolerate an attempt of one
department of the government TO domineel
over another.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31

A MONSTER CANNoN.--The monster one
hundred-ton cannon have been recently so
improved that the Italian government in.
tends to try some new ones which it has or
dered from the English manufacturers, with
charge of four hundred and seventy pounds
of powder and a projectile weighing two thou.
sand two hundred and eighty pounds, or a
little more than ton. The metallurgists
are busy making composite plate, in which
steel and iron are combined, for the purpose
OF resisting, when used as targets, the pro-
jecties from these cannon.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31
The Strikers In Council.

Some one hundred and fifty delegates rep
resenting nearly two hundred divisions at
tended the annual convention of lnterna-
tional Locomotive Engineers at Boston dur
ing last week. A spirit of confidence and
determination seemed to prevail, notwith-
standing the commonly received belief that
the order is gradually dying out. The
grand chief, Peter NJ. Arthur, so conspicu-
Gus in the order, made an address to the
convention which may be regarded, probably,
as representing the great mass of the order.
lie justified the railroad strikes, and urged
the engineers TO stick to their organization
if they desired to act effectively. He was
strenuous as to the necessity of united eff
fort, and to show what it could accomplish
pointed to Joseph Arch who, when thou
sands of laborers were on the strike, eager
to burn and destroy the palaces of the nobil-
ity," restrained them with the counsel
" form unions, join hand to hand, heart to
heart penny to penny, and you will be able
to command your own future" One of the
most judicious of the speakers advised the
delegates and those whom they represented
to be temperate and God-fearing, to observe
the Sabbath aud to husband their resources
for time of need.
Now no fault can be found with those
men for insisting upon the necessity of
well-directed, organized action" by all
classes of workmen who would improve their
condition. But workmen cannot take too
much pains to discover what is and what is
not well-directed" action. The troubles of
last summer, in which property worth mil
lions of dollars was destroyed, was the re-
suit of action which even Mr.. Arthur, we
take it, will admit was not "well directed"
As to " strikes" there is just one thing 10
be said. This is free country, and any
man or any number of men have perfect
right to strike to their hearts content, pro-
vided they keep within the law. But, as a
contemporary well points out, if workmen
will look at the subject from all sides, they
will possibly discover that the loss resulting
10 them and the rest of the community from
injudicious strikes of the unions is as great
rs the gain resulting from strikes of the
sensible kind.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31

FooLHARDY.-Now that Gale, Welsh
man, has beaten in England all the Ameri-
can pedestrians against time" by walking
one thousand five hundred miles in a thou
sand hours, having made a mile and half
in each of the thousand hours the English
are inquiring what is the good of such an
exploit Why should any well trained hui
man being run the risk of great injury to
his mind and body by going so long without
proper sleep, and putting his powers to such
test After his walk he was in perlous
position, and the foolhardy act has no doubt
had permanently bad effect.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31

UNPAID BoNDs.-It is reported that an
association has been formed of prominent
banking firms for the funding of Southern
and Western bonds since the beginning of
the war. No interest has been paid on state,
county and municipal bonds, in amount ag-
gregating five hundred millions. 1t is now
proposed to fund all the bonds bearing a
high rate of interest at four and six per
cent, and induce the several legislatures to
enact law levying a special annual tax for
the payment of interest and the establish
meut of sinking fund for liquidation of
the indebtedness.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31

AN lNTERoCEANIc CANAL.-The society
formed in France year or two ago for the
purpose of surveying for a canal to unite
the Atlantic and Pacific by the Darien
route is making progress in its operations.
Its explorers are busily at work in the
United States of Colombia, under the
direction of Lieutenant Wyse, who reports
his confidence that an interoceanic canal by
way of Colombia will soon be an accom-
plished fact. lie especially favors the Colon
bian route, because it will not require such
expensive locks as the Nicaragua route,
while the lowest gradients and the narrow
est isthmuses are also found in Colombia.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31

ANCIENT TANKs.-At Kanthalai, Ceylon,
there is magnificent tank on a scale so
enormous that it would now cost more than
five million dollars to erect it, It was con-
structed about A. ID. 275. Still more re-
markable is the great stone tank at Kali
owewa. Its circumference is supposed to
have been kept full by two rivers. Chan
nels extended from it over fifty miles, which
conveyed an unfailing supply of water to
certain large store tanks and thence to minor
village tanks. The Ceylon government pro-
poses to gradually restore many of these
great works. Here we see how the ancients
prevented fanines.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31

CHRISTIAN X. Ross.-It is a sad and
weary life that Christian X. Ross is leading
in search of his lost child The history of
mankind shows nothing that will compare
with the unhappy condition of this sad affair.
Time comes and goes, but in the everchang-
ing tide Of time no trace of the lost boy is
visible. He has spent sixty thousand dol
lars, his entire fortune and is now travel.
ing salesman for an Eastern house. lie has
made three hundred journeys in search of
his lost boy, and says he shall persevere I'M
til the child is found or he dies himself.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31

FRENCH PoLrTIcs.-The excitement over
the political situation in France is very
great, and the most contradictory rumors are
in circulation Many do not believe that
the ministry will hold their places much
longer, while Others assert, apparently by
authority, that the assembly will be dis
solved nearly as soon as it comes together.
A state Of siege will be proclaimed i'm
mediately after the dissolution, by the aid of
which and by vigorous action conservative
majority is reckoned upon. The London
Times correspondent adds " The state of
siege is terrible instrument by which adj
versaries can be gagged and if such be
really the governments scheme, everything
is possible except the repose of France and
of Europe"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31

THE OLD PIEA.-The Chinese govern
ment, according to recent cable dispatch
after brief experiment with the railroad
has decided that this modern innovation is
not compatible with Celestial civilization,
md has accordingly stopped the only road in
the empire the one recently constructed
between Shanghai and Woosung. The OPP
position is said to rest upon belief that
the Fire Dragon " would deprive the poor
people of the wages they earned as carriers,
and there is also a superstition that evil
spirits attend the monster. But the govern
nent is old enough to have outgrown the
childish belief in bugaboos. The question
now remains, will the iron horse allow itself
to be vanquished by the Celestials, or will
it run over that nation as it has over every
other
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31

BuRIINGroN.-A recent communication from
Burlington says that business in the Queen
City " has improved wonderfully within the last
few weeks, especially among merchants. Far
mers are getting fair prices for their producer the
banks are full OF money and confidence is being
restored, as all feel that we have touched bot
tom" The old Howard Bank has been taken
down. and a new three-story business block and a
large opera house is to take its place The old
Allen House" is also removed and large brick
block is to be built at once. The sidewalks have
been widened and improved and Church street
has been macadamized nearly its whole length.
In fact the whole city seems to be dressing up as
if she was expecting company" The lumber
business which has been 50 depressed is looking
up, and many Of the planning mills have to run
extra hours to meet their orders The Burlington
& Iamoille railroad is doing much larger bust.
ness than was anticipated. The marble works of
L, Barnes employ about fifty hands, and their
saws run night and day, and the firm are three
months behind their orders. They send their floor
tile and ornamental marble even to California.
The large wholesale druggists, Wells, Richardson
4 Co., are doing an immense aud constantly in
creasing business. They own large brick block,
four stories, besides basement, giving them four
teen thousand feet Of floor room, They employ
twenty hands in manufacturing and putting up
medicines dyes, and AL kinds Of extracts They
can fit up frst-elass drug store from their own
building. Their trade is nearly co-extensiye with
civilization as they send goods to Australia and
Japan and havea trade from Nova Scotia to Califor-
MIA The firm are young men OF energy and estab-
lished reputation, who give personal attention to
every branch Of their business one of the firm is
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31
The Civil Service Order.

Special correspondents at Washington say
the President has been talking frankly on
the subject of his civil service order, for the
purpose of correcting the misapprehension
of it, which has produced so much discord
in Republican ranks. His principal object
in issuing the order was to put stop TO the
manipulations of caucuses and conventions,
which has heretofore caused so much scan
dial and disaffection in the Republican party
in various states 1t is only necessary to
cite the Butler campaigns in Massachusetts
and some of the Murphy conventions in New
York AS illustrations of the evil which the
President desired to check. He had no de
sire to prevent any ofiiceholder from exer-
cising his full right as citizen, but he did
desire-and he is entitled only to praise for
ito prevent the use and abuse of official
influence in packing caucuses and con-
ventions. 1t would probably have had a
better effect to have issued no order-the
Presidents position being already known
from his letter of acceptance and other ut
terances-but to have summarily removed
such officials as were notorious for their
skill and persistence in using their positions
for selfish or unworthy purposes. But the
disaifection with the order has arisen simply
from a misconception of the Presidents
meaning. Referring to the Pennsylvania
campaign the President says there is nothing
in his order, now that the nominations are
made, to prevent offceholders from taking
part in the campaign the same as other
citizens, so long as their political work
does not interfere with the discharge of
their official duties.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31

Slow PRoGREss.-Our servants at Wash
ngton do not appear to be inclined to hurry
matters. This may be accounted for in part
by the delay of the speaker in announcing
the committees. Then, again, Mr.. Randall
may be waiting to ascertain the pleasure of
Congress as to whether it will confine itself
strictly to the legislation suggested by the
President, or extend it to more general mat
ters. In case the former is decided on, the
only committees necessary to appoint are
those on elections, appropriations, enrolled
bills, rules, foreign affairs and printing. 1t
is surmised that Mr.. Randall would be glad
TO avoid designating more members of COM
nittees now than is absolutely necessary, as
he could go more leisurely about the Sc
lections during the interval between the
expiration of the extra session and the be
ginning of the regular, which might prove
Il great advantage to himself and party, and
possibly to the country
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31

FIVE Cinnamon In wagon were entering Orc
Vile, Cal, week ago when man with rifle
met them and demanded their money The driver
started the horses and the man fired killing ono,
whose body fell from the wagon. On the body
was one thousand dollars In money. The other
four escaped.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31

THERE ia a happy prospect that the Texas
Pacific subsidy business has smaller support
IN Congress than was expected.