davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18

The burning of the Southern Hotel in
st. Louis, by which about thirty lives and
nearly million dollars were lost, again calls
public attention TO the question of proper
precautions against calamities of this kind
The passage-ways through which the eleva-
tors are hoisted have proved to be the worst
kind of flues through which the flames may
be communicated from one floor to another
Some invention which shall remove this
danger, would be great service. 1t seems as
if there must have been sad lack of facil
tiles for giving a fire alarm, and gross care
lessness in keeping watch over the places
where flames were likely to originate. The
possibilities of escape also were far too linn
tied, and many lives were lost through des
perate leaps from high windows.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18

That PRoTEcToRATE.-One of Mr.. For
ney's notions has made little stir in Mex
leo. An article from the Philadelphia Press
favoring an American protectorate over
Mexico was copied into New Orleans paper,
and thence into the Too Republics, published
in the city of Mexico. The papers friendly
to the Diaz government have seized the &C.
casion to make capital for their leader, by
asserting that Mr.. Lerdo is working to this
end others acquit this gentleman of so
groundless a charge but the majority agree
that one of the great ambitions of the Amer
lean people is a desire to NEEDLE in Mexican
affairs and that this desire must be sternly
depressed. "The times Of Santa Anna,
says one writer, have passed The Mexi.
cans have progressed. To-day they know
the American does not civilze; he exter-
inmates. Hence this project of annexation
is dream-a real nightmare"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18

A SIGNAL GUN.-Mr. Blaine is nothing
if he isn't himself-sharp, vigorous and de-
fant And so he speaks out on the subject
of the Presidents Southern policy He
don't repent his expression in the Senate.
He is still for Chamberlain and Packard.
He evidently does not approve the course of
the President. lie claims to represent the
stalwart Republican feeling of New Eng
land In his expression of sympathy for
Chamberlain and Packard the Republicans
of the whole land will share. They all re-
greet the circumstances which tell against
these representatives of the Republican
cause in the South. But Mr.. Blaine goes
farther. If we understand his note, it
means that he is in favor of recognizing
Packard and supporting him by the power
of the army. 1t means that he does not ap-
prove the Presidents policy of pacification.
The question of Packard's title which Mr..
Blaine raises is not involved in that policy,
and is not decided by the President But
he puts his case vigorously, as he always
does And his note indicates that he will
be heard from at the extra session.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18

Hanover, n. 1.-The term opened the 9th in
slant About two-thrds OF the students were
here the first day, and most all are here now.
The campus WAS dry when we came and the lively
football may be seen bounding over it most OF
the time out of study hours. The weather has
been fine and everything seems favorable for a
pleasant term, The arrangement of terms has
been changed again, for what reason is unknown,
rs the present arrangement is quite satisfactory
To the students The first term will be sixteen
weeks, ending the week before Christmas, fol
lowed by a vacation of four weeks The second
will be twenty-five weeks, ending rs usual Mt
commencement, with II summer vacation of nine
weeks Probably there will be recess OF about
II week some time in the second term. The tut
ton has been raised considerably within the past
ninety years; then 1t was twenty-one cents per
week, charged for the time actually present.
Freshmen were required to advance one dollar
the first term The trustees have granted the re-
quest OF the junior class for emitting the junior
exhibition this year, and refused that of the
seniors for senior vacation just before COM
mencement Alta meeting oil the Athletic As
sociation last Wednesday, Moore, ~, the delegate
to the intercollegiate association, made u verbal
report 1t was voted to have our spring meeting
this term, the time being left to the decision OF
the executive committee, The Dartmouth cites
the improvement made in our post-oflice as one
of the benefeent effects Of the administration
policy" 1t certainly is commendable,
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18

THE WASHINGTON MoNUMENT.-We no.
making efforts to galvanize public interest
in the Washington monument project. The
original plan was rather magnificent, look
ing to contribution of block of stone,
appropriately inscribed, from each state, so
placed as to be seen and read by visitors,
while ascending the inside winding stairway.
Massachusetts and the other New England
states have long since been represented in
this partially completed shaft, which now
stands one hundred and seventy-one feet
high, and is eighty-one feet square at the
base, tapering as it goes skyward The orig.
inal plan contemplated height of six hun.
dred feet. Whether the present or any com
ing generation will witness the laying of the
capstone, we will not assume to predict. 1t
is an enterprise which, twenty years ago fell
into discredit on account of supposed nil.
management on the part of the persons who
collected and handled the funds but within
the past wear our Soons at Washington ap.
propriated some two hundred thousand dol
lars toward finishing the work. Some OF
this has been already spent in testing the
foundation. which we are now told is all
right For our part, we have never consid.
cred that there was any pressing need OF
such work at the national capital, which
has IA statue of Washington in most CON
spicuous spot in the public grounds, Will,
the city itself bears the name of him who
was " first in war, first in peace, and first in
the hearts of his countrymen."
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18

PRESIDENT HAYES SOUTHERN Policy
Many of those who discuss the Southern
policy" of President Hayes, fail to under
stand it, or, at any rate, they do not state
accurately what it is, The question he has
to consider and decide is nothing more nor
less than this " Shall the President con-
tinue Using the army to uphold state govern.
ments that cannot uphold themselves ?" 1t
is not a question concerning any mans legal
title to the office of governor nor question
concerning the regularity or the irrcgularity
of the last elections The President has
never thought of deciding any question rela-
tive to these matters. 1t belongs to the leg.
islatures OF those states to decide who were
elected governors. The trouble is that each
of these states has two legislatures, which do
not decide the governor question alike. The
President has sought, and he still seeks, to
persuade the contendng factions to arrange
peaceful settlement of their controversies
but he himself will decide nothing but the
question we have stated, namely; Shall
the President use the army to uphold any
state government that cannot stand without
such support ?" This is the whole question
in a nutshell, and we don't believe there are
many sensible Northern Republicans who
would sanction further UNFOLDING of state
officers by the strong arm of the military
power of the United States.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18

THE New York STATE House., AND ITS
PossIBILIrIEs.-The assembly of the state
of New York numbers only one hundred
and twenty-eight members. And yet the
state, being the "empire state" has thought
it necessary to build vast capitol accord
ing TO the size of the state and not of the
legislative body. Its state house is to cost
ten or twelve millions of dollars, and no one
can tell what it will resemble when it is
completed; but it is expected to be gigan-
tic monument of Jobs" The chamber of
the assembly is vast and lofty hall, suita-
BILE for a vast popular assembly, in which
the handful of one hundred and twenty.
eight members will be quite lost, il not
drowned in the awful reverberations of their
own eloquence. Mr.. Curtis, writing about
it in Hayper's, thinks the vastness of the hall
may lead to radical change in the assem-
bly's size and that the state will be forced
to increase the number in order to fill the
hall. He seems to regard this prospect with
apprehension, having some knowledge OF
the members and fearing that unworthy
men might stand a chance to get in with thu
increase of number-men who could b,
bought, perhaps. But the big hall may b,
the salvation of the state by increasing thu
,ze of the assembly, and making it SO larg'
that it cannot all be bought.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18

TwEED's EscAPE.-The New York Times
does not credit the story of Boss Tweeds
escape, as given in Hdrpers' Weekly. 1t
says his escape was from his residence on
Madison street, and not Fifth avenue that
he was not driven directly from the Jail to
his house, but was taken about the city a
good part of the day, arriving about three
O'Clock p. NJ; that he left at half-past six
instead of eight o'clock p. NJ; that the ac-
count of his stay in Florida, at the local city
named, is known to be improbable. The
Times further says that the story about Re.
publican state senators having received large
amounts from Tweed has not the slightest
possible basis. Every effort has heretofore
been made to trace money to these unnamed
men, but has utterly failed, except in one
instance, that of ex-senator Wood. The re.
lations of the Times to the exposure of the
Tammany frauds gives its opinions special
weight in this case, and yet the country can
afford to await further evidence.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18
Governor Chamberlain.

The old maxim, that all hands will unite
to do man justice after he is dead, was
never more emphatically demonstrated than
in the case of Governor Chamberlain, of
South Carolina, since he has been deposed
aud driven into exile. All parties--even
the independent " misrepresentation con.
cede that South Carolina has never had a
better Governor than Governor Chamberlain.
Prior to the last election he was praised by
most of the democratic papers of that state /;
and some of them advocated the policy Of
letting him be reelected without opposi-
ton. But the pressure for a " solid South "
the aid of not only all the lawless rifle clubs,
but also of the graceless tribe of Moses,
Whipper & Co., and every other Republican
who had grudge against Chamberlain on
account of his manly fight against the swim
ding rascalities which had a free field when
Moses was Governor.
Governor Chamberlain claimed that he
was elected; but the supreme court of the
state, usurping power to interfere in the
matter, decided against him. 1t is probable
that he was right and it is certain that a
united and unobstructed vote of the Repub-
licans would have given him a majority oil
thirty thousand. But on attempting to be-
gin his second term, he had little or no
power as Governor. He could neither en-
force the laws nor collect the taxes, because
those who voted for him didnot uphold him
in office against the organized oppostion
aud, probably, could not do this. He was
unable to do much with national troops in
and around the state house. He could do
nothing, as Governor, without them. There
fore, he withdraws from the contest
In his retirement from the office, the peo-
pile of South Carolina, even the democratic
portion of them, lose great deal more than
they gain. His self-sacrifcing endeavor to
give that state an honest and pure govern
ment deserved different treatment as many
of them admitted previous to the election.
1t is no discredt TO him that they have
made it impossible for him to continue his
work through second term of office. He
retires without a stain upon his record but
he is one of those men whom the public SER
vice cannot afford to lose. He is qualified
to fill any position with honor; therefore,
he is nowise likely to pass out of sight The
future will have public work for him, and
call upon him to do it.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18

TRooPs IN LouIsIANA.-It has been
thought by some that the so-called "with-
drawa of the troops" in Louisiana would
prevent their use TO preserve the peace in
case their services should be required for
that purpose. Such is not the case The
troops are only to be withdrawn from the
State House to their previous place of en-.
campment, and the only effect produced by
the change will be the political one of no
longer seeming to countenance Packard as
against Nichols. There is no probability
that the troops will soon be removed from
the state, and the disorganized condition OF
society in Louisiana makes it possible that
they may J ct be needed there and there is no
more ground for objecting to their presence
than there is to the presence of troops at
the forts in our harbors.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18

A MERITED TEsTIMoNIAL-The German
government, through the Ambassador of the
North German Confederation at Paris, has
rendered to Minister Washburne the deco
ration of one of the high orders of German
knighthood, ON account of his distinguished
services to the suffering Germans in Paris
pending the siege. Washburne has in
formed the German Minister there that UNI
der the constitution of the United States he
cannot accept this decoration, but the Min
lister retains ii for Washburne in the event
that the latter should retire from office As
private citizen he could accept it without
an act of Congress. This decoration is said
to have cost fifty thousand dollars, and to
be composed of the most costly diamonds
and precious stones.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18
M0rmOnism In Utah.

Mormorism in Utah received its DEATH
blow by the passage in Congress of the bill
prepared and introduced by Judge Poland,
regulating the judiciary of that territory.
Since the passage of that bill Lee has been
executed for being one of the participants in
the Mountain Meadow massacre, and it
seems now as if swift vengeance was to
overtake the instigators of this hellish plot
II is useless for the Mormons TO deny that
their peculiar tenets are becoming odious to
a great majority of the inhabitants of that
territory-Gentile as well as Mormon-and
practical steps are being taken which, If car
ried out, will obliterate every vestige of this
foul blot from the entire country
At recent meeting of the Genties in
Salt Lake City, held in reference to abolish
ing this iniquity by legislative enactment,
the law-respecting citizens passed resolutions
in support of an amendment of the act Of
organization of Utah, which, if adopted and
passed by Congress- will effectually destroy
the most hideous institution that ever dis
graced civilized country. II is proposed
that any persons practising poygamy or
bigamy shall be entirely DISTINGUISHED and
cut off from any share in the affairs Of the
territory; that they shall not be eligible to
vote or hold any office of trust or emolumeut
under the law, and shall be practically
branded as criminals by their fellow-men
The unanimous vote by which these resolu-
tons were passed by the meeting shows how
deeply interested are the friends of law, or
der and decency in uprooting Mormonism.
The fact that the attack has been made in
the very stronghold of Brigham Young gives
additional significance to the movement
and proves the sincerity of those making it.
The anti-Mormon residents of Utah know
that institution in all its revolving aspects.
They measure its influence for evil by the
unerring standard of experience. They
recognize in it only rule of treachery,
blood and lust, unworthy of even the least
civilized races, much less of men who claim
astanding among the American people. We
cannot, therefore, regard this action of the
meeting at salt Lake City as other than Just
and legitimate in its aims and objects.
We are accustomed to look with horror
upon the atrocities of the Turks in Bulgaria,
aud to wonder how the civilized countries
of Europe can allow nation which permits
such barbarous acts to be committed within
its dominions to exist. But if the unwrit-
ten history of Mormondom was to be made
public, might we not, too find occasion to
blush over misdoings equally atrocious
within the limits of our own domain
The day that marks the total extirpation
of Mormonism, and its hideous practices.
from our country, will be a day upon which
the country is to be congratulated. Its
further continuance will be an outrage
which every good citizen must deprecate.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18

THE CHIco MAssAcRE.--The grand jury
at Orville, Cal, after session of three and
half days, has brought in indictments
against five persons for the murder of the
five Cinnamon at Chico, recently, and in
dictments for arson against several others.
The report concludes as follows ave find
that there has been in existence, in our midst,
an organized band of incendiaries and as
sassins, whose crimes may be compared to
those of the worst criminals ever brought to
justice; and we believe that some of them
are still at large. We urge upon those
whose duty it is, to pursue with relentless
vigor every clue to their identity and punish
ment."
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18

THE most lucrative business reported at
the Black Hills is that of jumping" claims.
There are few enough paying claims there,
anyway. But let the owner of one of these
absent himself from home for the briefest
time, or fail to keep guard over his prop
erty, and he will find himself dispossessed
and his property in the hands of some other
party, who proposes to defend himself in his
newly acquired possession at the end of a
musket or bowie knife. On the whole, we
regard the Green Hills great improvement
upon the Black Hills, and we think we are
supported in this opinion by nne-tenths of
all those who have gone there.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18

BLUE GLAss.-The Journal of Chemistry
DR.. Nichos-in some comments on the
marvellous cures that have appeared to be
effected by the blue glass treatment, offers
some very reasonable suggestions. 1t thinks
that the sunshine which did not come
through the blue glass was the curative
agent, rather than that which traversed the
colored panes. ave believe" says the
Journal, in the beneficent influences of
sunshine, the pure, natural article and not
merely the residual rays that 60 through
the Pleasanton strainer. We do not doubt
the honesty of the General, nor that he really
believes he is improving on the divine gift
of sunlight by his blue glass filter; but even
if it were deliberate deception, we could
forgive him for it, so long as he requires only
one blue pane to seven coloress ones Any
thing that will induce people to let the sun
light into their houses is to be welcomed,
though there be spice of quackery in it,"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18

X, b. HAYES is President of the United
States, and proposes to deal with public
questions on that basis. The circumstances
of his election need not concern him in the
least. He did not struggle for the office
and now that he has got it he will make the
best use OF it in his power. Mr.. Packard's
title to Office is not his lookout. If Packard
is the Governor of Louisiana, all he has to
do is to exercise the duties of the office.
That is what Hayes is doing with his Office.
Cincinnati Commercial.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18

MIR. MATTHEW j. O'RoURKE, the writer
of the article in the New York Times in
1871, which first called public attention tc
the frauds of Tweed and his associates, now
comes again to the front to show that al
that time he was fully aware that Oakley
Hall was member in full standing, of that
organized body of thieves, and their confed
crate, friend and champion. He asserts that
the proofs of Halls guilt are overwhelming
and that his whole career as public man
has been conspicuous only for tergiversa
ton, trickery and fraud, while his private
life has been stained by the grossest excuses
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18

ONE of the good signs of the times is that
a New York reformer, Anthony Comstocl,
by name, is after the lottery gamblers. Hav.
ing arrested some thirty dealers in that city
and followed up the arrest by securing their
indictment, he lately took vacation by go
ing to Boston and giving to meeting there
called for the purpose, an account of his
work and the occasion which necessitates it,
Some of the strongest of the solid men OF
Boston are enlisted in this movement.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18

REsPoNsIBLEs.-The Scots and Patter
sons, the Moseses and Whippers and Tirl
Hurleys, of South Carolina, are the men who
are responsible for Governor Chamberlain s
defeat, and it is pity that he should so fan
forget his own condemnation of them as Ia
attribute the result of their misdoings to any
other cause or person. They have wasted
and sacrificed Republican majority of forty
thousand in South Carolina, and they have
sacrificed with it better man than any
of them, who has been called to the front lat
terly because the old leaders, still retaining
their influence in the party councils, were
too justly obnoxious to be put in nomination
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18

An OLD CASE DEcIDED.-'lhe telegraph all.
nounces that the Supreme Court of the United
States has decided the Bowen-,Jumel cas-,
,lverSely TO the plaintiff. This is the clos
ing chapter Of "a romance which has a worl'
pt the sensational in it. George Washing.
ton Bowen, a w-ll-to.do Connecticut man
claimed to b. the sou of Miss Bets-y Bowen
, New Jersey girl, 10y George Washington
and born about the time the Father of hi
Country had his headquarters at Morrstown
Betsey Bowen subsequently became the wifi
of Mons. Juinel, French emigrant and
lied without having any recognized legiti-
nate children to inherit her vast estate
Bowen, who was discarded by his mother at
an early age, comes forward, asserts his rela.
tionship, his Washington paternity, and ask
for share in the estate. The case has been
before the courts for several years, and has
now gone against Bowen, who not only loses
his money, but all legal claim to his distin-
guished lineage.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18

The Chicago Tribune learns that Genera
Grant will not put forth an autobiography
nut that history of his services in thu
Union army, as well as in the position which
he afterwards held as chief magistrate Of
he nation, will be published in book form
With the Generals name on the tly-leaf. Il
will be edited by Mr.. Smith, Mrs. Grant
cousin, who resides in Pennsylvania, anc
whose merits as writer are well spoken OF
lie has been placed in charge of all the Off
cial records for the purpose of making the
work full and authentic, and will be assisted
by a number of literary gentlemen in put
ting them into shape
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18

ONE OF the strangest trials on record occurred
at West Union, W. Va, the other night A muir
derer named Thomas Powell, confined in the jail
at that place, was allowed to become one of a
drinking party which the jaor had called to-
gether, and, after all hands had become thor.
oughly hilarious, a trial Of Powell was instituted
with judge, prosecuting attorney, etc. After a
hearing, Powell was adjudged not guilty, and the
prison door was thrown open, through which he
made his escape, The jailor has since been ar.
rested and reward for Powell's recapture offered