davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-03-27
An Unwarrantable Proposition.

Mr.. Goode, of Virginia, has introduced a
bill into the National House of Representa-
tives, which, while it may seem plausible
upon its face, will by no means bear inves
tigation. 1t contains plan to sell the pub
lie lands and divide up the proceeds among
the states for educational purposes. The
gist of it is that it creates another set of
offices in Washington and gives the general
government a certain control over education
in states--a measure of Capitalization to be
resisted. At first, according to this scheme,
the bulk Of the money would go to the
Southern states. Before this distribution is
made to these states on account of their al
legged poverty, it should be considered that
during the war they appropriated to the re-
bellon the educational funds which had
been derived from the allotments of the pub
lie land. These states certainly should
make those funds good before they ask to be
preferred to other states which have not
squandered theirs in rebellion. 1t has been
the policy of the government to hold its
lands for actual settlers, as an encourage
ment to industry and emigration. This
scheme will eventually turn all these do
mains into the pockets of spectators and
lobby agents, or the best part of the pro-
ceeds of them. We don't see how the
democracy, unless it abandons all its theo
ries of state rights, can support any such
bill. Certainly honest Republicans cannot
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-03-27
Natures Compensatlons.

While the closing winter has, by its ex
ceptional mildness, added inexpressibly tc
| the enjoyment of the dwellers in our north
ern ATTITUDES, and brought untold relief tc
thousands of poor throughout the land who
were out of employment, we cannot forget
that perhaps from this very cause hescourge
of pestilence will be visited upon our south
ern territory. The recent sudden death Of
| Representative Leonard, of Louisiana, af.
fords good ground to apprehend that yellow
fever will prevail in the West India islands,
and perhaps visit our Southern cities this
summer. Already this terrible malady is
reported as raging very severely in Brazil,
especially at Rio Janerio. The hot season
is the supposed cause of the trouble. which
is now so serious that foreign vessels have
been ordered to anchor at distance from
the shore and each other, aud have been for
hidden to load or unload between ten and four
O'Clock of the daytime. Among the victims
is Professor Charles Frederick IIartt, of Cor
nell University who has had charge of the
Brazilian Geological Survey. He was fore
most among the natural science students of
this country, and his loss will be deeply felt.
He first went to Brazil with Professor Agas-
siz. Other victims are Captain Henry A,
Adams, Jr, of the United States ship Hart
ford, and Paymaster L. T. Gillett, of our fleet.
The truth is, we don't stop to reflect that
the rough polar blasts which chill our frames
and cause us to SILVER at their approach are
the very means which nature has provided
to kill the pestilential elements which would
otherwise depopulate our more Southern lat
itudes. We have little conception of the
deep solicitude with which the people of
New Orleans and other fever-infected cities
look and long for the coming of the au-
tumnal frosts. They may kill the blossoms
in their gardens, but they also sound the
knell of the dreaded pestilence
Another disadvantage of the present open
winter is its drawback to business, espe-
cially in many sections of the West. The
lumber interest of Michigan has had most
embarrassing season. The pines were felled
as usual, but there has not been sufficient
snow on which to sled them to the streams,
and they lie in helpless destruction, since
borers and other deterioration will greatly
deprecate their value before another winter.
Large dealers have been at the expense of
laying narrow-gauge railroad for miles to
obviate the difficulty and others, we are as
sured by an eyewitness have constructed
ice-paths, or roads composed of cakes of ice,
along which to move their heavy freight.
Further south in the prairie states, the soft
ness of the roads has interfered with the
marketing of grain seriously, and thousands
of bushels of corn are spelling in cribs
which ought 10 have been realized upon be
fore this time.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-03-27
Pacific Railroad Indebtedness.

The history of the indebtedness of the
Central and Pacific railroads to the United
States may be briefly told. These roads
were built on the avals of government
bonds, payable principal and interest by the
companies and secured by first lien upon
the property. The companies induced Con-
gress to release the first lien upon the roads
in favor of second mortgage bondholders.
Next the companies refused to pay the in
terest on the bonds issued in their behalf by
the government, until now the government
has paid in interest and is out for both roads
S76,52l .02700 Here is this vast debt stand
ing against these two roads which the com
panies neglect or refuse to pay. They also
have millions of acres of valuable land which
they sell and pocket the proceeds, the lands
having been originally donated by the United
States. 1t is now proposed, we believe, to
take the worthless part of the lands, sell
them back to the United States, and thus
help pay their debts. 1t is the duty of Con
gress to reject this impudent offer and com
pei the companies TO make provision for the
overdue interest on the government loan,
and for the principal at maturity, and that
is what the Senate is talking about. We
hope their action will not end all in talk.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-03-27
The Weather Record.

MeSsrs. Editors Can you pardon us for writ
ing upon so hackneyed subject as the weather.
past and present? We hope So since it is so re-
markable-and such it is, the Oldest nhabitant
constantly atiirms. Let us look over the weather
middle OF the month we find few days moder-
atey cold, and sprinkling OF snow. Then came
days delusivey soft and balmy Days when
nature--the elderly dame-afected the airs of
spring beguilins violets into bloom, and coaxing
budding cowslips to appear, when suddenly, as il
ashamed Of such folly, she settled down TO staid,
matronly ways to a becoming, quiet serenity
which was exceedingly restful 10 tired souls.
One afternoon will be memory forever when,
under the spell of happy tranquility which was
brooding in the autumnal air, we viewed the
landscape Ger from the goody town of Bur-
lington. How wondrously fair was Lake Cham
plain seen through the enchantment of the
dreamy golden haze. sail-boat near at hand
was rocked az gently as mother ever Graded her
trst-born. A glowing wake marked the course OF
another from the wharf to the far southwest
where it seemed idle as a painted ship upon
painted ocean" yet we knew it was speeding
away over billOwy surface, Across the lake
were the Adirondacks, blue and vaguely outlined,
while at our back, in grand repose, was white
capped Mansfield A little farther south Camel's
Hump was dimly seen in the smoky light, and
over lake, town and mountain fell the westerng
sunlight like benedicion. Other Indian sum
mer days followed, but none when nature took
you so kindly to her heart, and into such close
confidence.
January, according to our record, was a mild
a. .s,l
and others uncomfortably so, while sandwiched
in between were days OF calm, hazy atmosphere
But the month was remarkable for its hoar frost
Morning after morning found naked trees and
unsighty shrubs clothed with garments white
and shining. Pine trees became masses of silyery
white pumes, which would have rejoiced the
hearts aud made the fortunes of milliners not u
few. Withered stalks of golden rod were trans
formed iuto gracefully bending flowers, and the
feathery vine from stately trees and humble weed,
sparkled in the morning sun with brlliancy un-
known to diamonds. But alas the sun which
glorifed it became its destroyer.
February was VIGOROUSLY sunny. Nearly every
day was literally packed with sunshine, aud the
snow melted gradually, and the days heightened
visibly and steadily, and so February passed
away, aud March is here with mornings crisp,
sweet and sunny, aud with element of hope
and eager expectancy in the air, The ring of the
woodmans axe, the barking Of the dog, the crow
ing of the cock the whistle OF the locomotive
9" from over the hills and far away" all come
with peculiarly sharp, clear, ringing sound,
which onlS spring airs can cunvey-crows alight
in the highway near by, with friendly cav,
hens come croaking about the door, From wooded
and smpLa ID iuIi.at-
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-03-27
Golden Silence.

One of the inalienable rights of the
American people, and kept in active exer-
else by "eternal vigilance" is the right to
find fault with those who administer its
government. Andrew johnson was coarse
and abusive; Grant low-minded and logged !;
and now Hayes is treacherous, speechless
and purposeless. These merciless critics
seem to forget the old proverb that while
"speech is silver, silence is golden" We
deem it greatly to their credit that the
President and his associates are not making
haste to deny every charge that is made
against them. Partisan malice or suspicion
is profuse in allegations of fraud or folly
but the President and his advisers do not
deem it needful to gainsay every scandal
Take case in point A week or two ago
talented Southern Representative took pas
sage for Cuba. Absence from the halls of
Congress on private business being thing
unheard Of, it was naturally concluded that
he had gone on an important public mission.
Quiduuncs announced with oracular gravity
that he had been dispatched by the Presi
dent to expostulate with the governor of
Cuba against the kidnapping of unoffending
negroes who had been foully seized from
some of the islands that fringe the coast of
Florida, and sold into slavery in the Spanish
isle. But party jealousy was too shrewd to
be deceived by such tale. Lynx-eyed
zealots pried into the secrets of Cabinet
councils. The absentee took passage to
Cuba as a mere blind. He has been sent by
the President on mission to Governor
Nichols to protest against his breach of
faith, and to urge him to pardon General
Anderson. And party bigots fumed against
this prostitution of official power and pat
ronage. But the President uttered not
word; William the Silent could not be more
mute. Death has revealed the mystery, how.
ever. The lightning flashed the sad tidings
from Havana that the journeying Represen.
tative had become a victim of yellow fever ;
and the errand wherein he had sped was
wholly personal one. Love had prompted it,
Enamored of Cuban maiden, he had
visited the tropical isle to overcome the OPP
position of her parents to his suit and dis
appointment and death had been the sole re.
ward of his journey.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-03-27

Mr.. MooDY.-An eminent divine, in the
Sunday-.SchoOi Times, thinks Mr.. Moody a
very great man, and very great orator; he
would have made great merchant, or a
great politician, or magnificent general
lie is master of organization, and recog-
nizes the external conditions of accomplish
ing his results. " He will keep five hundred
people waiting outside the doors in storm
while Mr.. Sankey sings, or prayer is being
offered, rather than have the effect of these
exercises weakened by the noise of their
coming in. On one occasion, in Hartford,
he called out, half humorously TO an usher
who, during the sermon, opened a creaking
ventilator in the roof Che didn't see him in
time to stop him), Here, you've spoiled my
illustration 2 And again, he one day for
babe the removal of faintng person till he
could finish what he was just then saying
and did it so as to raise the idea that what
he was saying was too important TO be inter
rupted by anything, and to gain cores
ponding attention to it. lie will, not infre-
quently, turn an incident that would defeat
most speakers into an advantage"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-03-27
Bold Stroke in Finance,

Secretary Sherman is said to have done
the best work of his life in an interview
which he had one day last week with the
Senate finance committee. A full report of
the speech, or exhortation, has been received,
but we can only hint at some of his conclu-
sions. He vigorously opposes the repeal of
the resumption act and shows clearly that
in the face of the yells of demagogues, the
Ignorance of Congress, and the hostile legis-
lation, fortunately crippled by amendments,
the irresistible tide of business and the com
mon sense of the commercial world have
driven the nation toward specie payment.
The volume of paper money-legal tenders,
bank notes and fractional currency-has
been very largely reduced, real money has
accumulated, both in the treasury and in
the banks--an overruling Providence having
given us a favorable balance of trade, and
nothing but a stubborn determination to
make fool of itself can prevent the nation
from sliding into sound condition of the
currency within year. The banks and
the treasury together have been collecting
five to ten millions of specie per month. lie
is willing to undertake to call greenbacks
and gold substantially even by the first of
October, selling new four per cent, bonds
for greenbacks, and redeeming old gold
bonds with gold, perhaps paying one per
cent. premium for the gold,
The Secretary shows clear perception of
the indescribable folly-morally aud econom-
ically--of going backward that is most com
forting and encouraging. lie has shown so
much tact and cheerfulness in the execution
of the silver act that the rabid silver men
are Modified and partially disarmed. The
disposition in Congress to cool down and
move more slowly and patiently has grown
good deal, The extremists are reconciled
to letting him exercise the discretion the
laws give him, and as he begs TO be let alone
in it for the avowed reason that he thinks he
can work along toward resumption, and longs
to try it, il is not worth while to scold him.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-03-27

PROTECTION TO INDUsTRY.-The effect of
protective tariff to stimulate and reward
industrial labor is well brought out in the
latest book of Mr.. Lecky, the Englishman.
lie says In l7l9 the House of Commons
resolved that the erecting of manufactures
in the colonies tended to lessen their de-
pendence upon Great Britain Iron existed
largely in the colonies. But the English
House of Commons passed measure in
l7l9 that none of the American colonies
should manufacture iron of any kind that
no smith might make so much as bolt, a
spike, or nail, and the House of Lords
added a clause TO the effect that no forge
should be erected in any OF the colonies for
making sows, pigs, or cast-iron into bar or
rod-iron.' No part of the world possessed
furs in greater abundance or of finer quality
than North America, and it was, therefore,
obviously observed that all hats should be
imported from the mother country but
Parliament, in 1872, made law prohibiting
the expectation of American hats, not only
to foreign countries and the mother country,
but even from one colony to another. The
measure was successful, and an industry in
which the colonies were naturally peculiarly
fitted to excel speedily languished"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-03-27

SEVERAL years ago number of American
women who had become interested in the
question sent to Worth, the celebrated Par
isiau modiste, asking him, What costume
can be devised that will be perfectly healthy
and at the same beautiful" lie replied "
have to make the same answer TO you that
have made TO the women of Europe. The
costume of the Persian women is the hand
soonest upon the face of the earth. 1t con
sists of loose waist short skirt and trousers,
not too loose. | have made this costume
beautifully and hung il up in Paris, but the
women will not wear it. | can do nothing
more. They must suffer until they are will.
ing to adopt it,"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-03-27

CHEERFUL REPoRTs.-The Cincinnati Ga
sete publishes numerous dispatches and let
ters from the entire wheat-growing districts
in the states OF Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.
All these are of the most cheerful character.
The acreage sown last fall was the largest
for years, in some sections being fifty per
cent. above the average. Everywhere the
crop seems to have passed the winter with
out damage and is now in splendid grow
ing condition. The uniform testimony of
men of experience in all these states is that
the prospect of the crop was never better at
this season of the year. The advices from
Iowa, illinois, Missouri, and other wheat
producing states of the West, have the same
encouraging story to tell of a large acreage
and unusual promise.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-03-27

TIMBER THIEvEs.-In all his attacks upon
Secretary Schurz Senator Blaine has referred
to the timber thieves as "poor settlers" and
has grown pathetic over the tyranny which
would prevent them from getting little fire
wood or lumber for their modest homes off
the government lands. The Secretary has
stated again and again that such men are not
interfered with; that his war is wholly with
the large dealers and spectators, who are
taking timber from the government lands by
the million feet but the Senator continues
to ignore the explanation. In some scores
of suits thus far instituted the government
has been successful every time, which is
pretty good evidence that the prosecutions
have not been without cause.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-03-27

Oh THE RIGHT SIDE.-The tremendous
rush of home produce to foreign markets con-
tinues. The expectations of the past week
from New York were SS,l54,s7l against
si,791,472 for the corresponding week of
last year; and for 1878 so far, the exports
of New York are s751s7,7s5 against $780,
100000 for the same period of 1877. This
is one explanation of the low prices in gold,
but it does not explain the wonderfully low
price of provisions. There has been steady
fall for months in prices at the West. The
Chicago Times says spectators out there
for an advance have about made up their
minds that everything is going down for
ever. We certainly are furnished evidence
enough of the vastness OF the country and
the almost inexhaustible amount of our
products.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-03-27
President and People.

For some days IL has been announced
from Washington that several distinguished
Senators would this week open their bat
teries upon the President and the admins.
tration in general Senator Howe, of Wis.
consin, is the only Senator named, but
doubtless Blaine and Conkling will follow
suit, and perhaps others. Senator Howes
text is contained in his resolution asking
what has been done about Judge Whitaker,
of the superior criminal court of New Or
leans, who is reported to have defaulted as a
federal revenue officer, but is now a demo-
cratic Judge. We believe the country is
heartily sick of this course on the part of
leading Republican Senators. The sober,
rightthinking people of this country see
more clearly as time goes on that they have
an honest, heightened, Godfearing President,
and they will see to it that he is not trampled
down and spit upon by schening politicians.
They will Judge him leniently for any mis-
takes he has made or yet may make under
trials such as no other man in his place was
ever called to endure and they will find a
way of making his enemies understand that
they are on the road to political ruin, and
must turn about or be lost. They sneer at
the President as a weak man, but he has
proved himself strong enough TO break all
the nets which they have thus far been able
to weave around him, and wise enough to
keep out of all the snares they have set for
his feet. The folly of these grumblers and
the mischief they have been able to do only
serve to illustrate the depth of degradation
into which our current politics have fallen,
and the need of those reforms which the
President is seeking to carry out. He shows
his wisdom in refusing to quarrel with his
opponents, and in waiting patiently for the
verdict of the people upon his course. The
silent forces of time are all working in his
favor, while there are signs that his enemies
are getting toward the end of their rope.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-03-27
Russia and England.


The whole tenor of the news from Eng
land shows that the attitude toward Russia
is rapidly changing from what once APP
peared characteristic buster TO that of
serious and potential meaning. On the
other hand, rumors are flying about St.
Petersburg that Russia has demanded the
withdrawal of the English fleet from the
Sea of Marmora. If the rumor be founded in
fact it is perhaps the signal gun of the onset
Unless there is change for the better, al
most Immediately, we may look for declar
alton of hostlities. Yet it is possible the
critical moment may again bring some ex-
preston from Germany which will turn the
balance on the side of peace. But, If Eng
land looks for an ally in France and Russia
for one in Austria, will Germany remain
neutral And all this brings up the old
question, whether the great powers not di-
rectly and deeply interested, can afford to
take the chances of general war That
there is the utmost reluctance on their part
to see a conflict begin which will end, no one
can tell where or how, is apparent from their
earnest efforts hitherto in the interest of
peace. Still there are questions over which
diplomacy is powerless, and whether those
now rocking Europe like an earthquake
belong to that class events will speedily
demonstrate. The situation cannot remain
much longer without a change that will
show more distinctly what is likely to
happen. One thing said by the London
Times is true, namely, the power which shall
allow itself to bring on war will incur "a
tremendous responsibility"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-03-27

A TERRIBLE DIsAsTER.-The English
Channel is again the scene of terrible dis
aster. Sunday afternoon the English train
ing ship Eurydice while under full sail was
overtaken by heavy squalls and capsized off
Dunnosehead. Though the squalls were ac-
companied by snow storm the weather
cleared shortly after the accident, but all
that was visible were few boxes floating in
the Channel. Of the five persons picked up
by passing schooner, three died within an
hour and as strong ebb tide was running
at the time, it is not probable any others
were saved. The Eurydice was training
ship for common seamen, and had on board
over three hundred persons, all of whom ex-
cept the five picked up must have persisted.