davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19
Protecting the Ballot.

An exchange truly says that no law in
tended and well adapted to protect the
purity of the ballot was ever passed by
democratic Congress or Legislature, and no
such law, having been passed by another
party, was ever allowed TO remain upon the
statute book after democratic majority
had a chance to repeal it. This well known
fact is an expressive commentary on the
democratic professions of political honesty
We do not claim that all the political cheat
ing ever done in the United States was done
by democrats, but il is certainly true that
all the efforts to stop it by appropriate legis-
lation have been made by Republicans
Now the democratic Congressional caucus
has resolved by all overwhelming majority
that section repeating the law establishing
national supervision over elections for ma
tional purposes should be tackled to an APP
preparation bill. They are not willing to
wait until their party controls both branches
of Congress, to remove the only safeguard
against election frauds in the South, but are
determined to do it at once and force the
Republican Senate to concur or let the APP
preparation bill fail making an extra ses-
sion of Congress necessary. The evidence
regarding frauds at the last Southern cleo
tions is ample and convincing, and proves
that, though the supervisor law has not made
frauds impossible, it has prevented them in
IL .taI n,.I
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19
Stalwart.

Zach Chandler has been nominated by
Republican legislative caucus as candidate
to succeed Judge Christiancy in the United
States Senate, and in his speech accepting
the nomination occurs the following In
the campaign of 1878 we had a solid South,
solid for the reputation of our national
debt, made solid by murder and outrage, by
shot-guns and whips. 1t is solid for robbing
the treasury of the United States for the
payment of untold millions Of rebel claims
against the government, and it is solid, after
getting all it can from the treasury of the
United States, for the reputation of the
balance. A solid South for those objects
means solid North to thwart those objects.
And predict that although, after the 4th
day of March, the rebels will have captured
when / say rebels / mean no disrespect
to the Northern men who occupy seats in
the Senate and House-but what do mean
to say is that the rebels are majority in the
democratic caucus of both houses, and the
majority in the caucus controls democratic
Congress. | care not whom you send there to
cooperate with the democratic party of the
South, he is controlled, and must be control
led, by rebel influences; and predict, my
fellow-citizens, that, whether you nominate
for your standard-bearer in 1880 the man
whom they didn't love and did hate, and yet
dear to the United States-Grant prolonged
applause)-or whether you nominate that
gallant standard-bearer Blaine, of Maine
great applause), or whether you nominate
John Sherman, the present secretary of the
treasury (mild applause), that you and
will march shoulder to shoulder to rescue
from the grasp of rebel generals and rebe
brigadiers the capital of the nation"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19

SETTLED AT LAsT.-A London dispatch
gives the outline of the definite treaty be-
tween Russia and Turkey, and which de-
clares that peace and cordial relations are
established between those nations. 1t pro.
vides that the articles of the San Stefano
treaty, which were not modified by the
treaty of Berlin, shall remain in force. The
mode of payment of the war indemnity and
the compensation to the Russian residents
of Turkey, who have suffered through the
war, is left for future agreement. All pros
ecutions for aiding either side during the
war are abandoned. The protocol declares
that the recognition of the treaty of Berlin,
in the present treaty, changes neither the
character nor range OF power Servia, Mon
tenegro and Roumania are independent, and
are 10 settle for themselves with the Porte in
regard to war idemnity.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19

Catching the spirit of the American Con-
gress, the British Columbians have invented
a new scheme to stop Chinese immigration.
But they are more considerate and respect
full in their hostility than our republican
legislators. They do not pass law prohib-
iting the landing of more than given num-
Der upon their shores from single vessel.
just as many as each ship can carry may go
there, but having already declared all Chi
nese ports infected, upon the entrance Of
their vessels into any Columbian harbor, it
is proposed to subject them tc the most
rigorous quarantine This will, of course,
involve long delay in landing, and it is ex-
pected that the Celestials, patient and long
enduring as they are, will, at least, grow
weary, and seek some other land flowing
with milk and honey, into which they may
enter without so much trouble. 1t is hard
state of things for the poor Chinese. When
they wanted to be let alone and stay in behind
closed doors as they had done for thousands
of years, the so-called civilized world beat
and banged at these barriers until they were
thrown open. The few Cinnamon who made
their exit, finding the outside air agreeable
and wholesome, told their fellows of the
fact, and the latter swarmed forth to make
the most of this change in their circum-
stances. 1t seems, however, that it was not
expected that they would come out, but the
outsiders must be let in. The Celestials
are supposed to stay at home to receive
visitors, and not go abroad for entertain
ment. If they do, doors are slammed in
their faces in way more decided than
courteous. A queer state of things, truly.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19
Anti.Chinese Legislation.

The Senate, on Saturday last, by vote of
thirty-nine to twenty-seven, passed the House
bill to restrict Chinese emigration, and thus
completed its humiliating and shameful sur
render to the race prejudice which prevails
upon the Pacific coast. The bill provides
States more than fifteen Chinese at time,
under penalty of fine of one hundred
dollars and six months imprisonment for
each Chinaman exceeding fifteen. The bill
is to take effect on the LIST day of July next
Mr.. Blaine was the only Republican Senator
from New England who gave his voice and
vote in support of this infamous measure.
The Senate amended the bill in some I'M
important particulars, which necesstates its
going back to the House. A reaction against
the measure has already set in since the de-
bate in the Senate, and there is possibility
that the House will not again take favor
able action upon it, The opinion that the
President will veto it, if it reaches him, is
quite general.
While the bill was under discussion in
the Senate, and before it was believed it
could pass that body, member of the
lately.arrived Chinese legation expressed the
opinion that the Emperor of China would
have only one course left, in case such a
measure should ever pass and become law,
and that would be to regard the whole Bur
lingame treaty as broken and abrogated.
Besides this, it was not doubted but that
retaliation would be resorted to, and that all
American interests in China and all com
mercial transactions with this country would
Immediately feel the effects of such meas
ure. 1t is reported among the legations
that Sir Edward Thornton, the British min
lister, has taken deep interest in the dis
cussion on this bill, in view of the fact that
for some time past American cotton goods
have come into sharp competition with
English products in the markets of the East
and especially in China, and that accounts
of the strong support which the bill was re-
ceiving, and of its passage, were promptly
sent abroad for transmission by telegraph to
the East, in hopes of influencing some com
mercial questions now pending there in
which England is interested
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19
British Reverses in South Africa.

Intelligence has reached England oil a
bloody disaster which has overtaken her col
ony and troops in South Africa, at the hands
of the savage Zulus. While she was not al
together unprepared for such an event-as
intelligence from Cape Town has for several
months pointed to the possibility of its occur
rence-it will, nevertheless, carry sorrow to
many English homes, for among the slain are
said to have been many young men belonging
TO some Of the best families who had joined
the forces of Sir Bartle Frere to take their
first lessons in the field. The home govern
ment has been repeatedly urged to send on
achievements, but delay has followed delay,
and now the worst has been realized on &C.
count of it. However, there is chance
that the greater share OF the blame may
rest upon the commander in the field.
These commanders complained that their
forces were insufficient, and yet they divided
them into four columns and entered upon a
march of invasion into the enemy's country.
The savages fell back, lured the English
further and further from their base OF sup
plies and set the trap for the massacre which
soon came. English discipline despsed an
army of savages and rather defiantly weak
ened its forces in their presence. Still with
this apparent recklessness they knew that
Cetywayo, the Zulu King, had a force Of
forty thousand men, tolerably well armed.
III r. 4. g.. -. III -, Il, frn,t
of the English column which he enticed to
destruction. 1t was two thousand or less
many of them native troops-against twenty
thousand. But the repeating rifles of the
English did such execution that one-fourth
of the Zulus bit the dust before they gained
the day. In the end, however, the massacre
was frightful. Forty-nine officers and more
than five hundred men of the English army
fell. All the camp equipage, arms and
munitions of war were captured by the saw
ages. The Zulus followed up the victory
by vigorous pursuit of their flying foe, and
would have killed many more of them but
for the timely aid of the reserves. The
causes of the war are found in the familiar
history of colonies that are planted along
the borders of savage tribes. Disputes
had arisen about boundaries and depreda-
tions been committed by the Zulus living
on the frontier. The object of the English
was to drive them back, punish them for
what they had done and secure guarantees
for the future. The colony which England
has planted down in that region of the dark
continent is weak, and wholly unable to
protect itself, and of course the mother
country will protect it at whatever cost.
The difficulty in sending on reinforcements
and supplying the loss of the war material
which the Zulus have captured is perhaps
best realized by the fact that it took twenty
days, with the aid of all available telegraphic
communications, for news of the battle to
reach England
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19
Town Meetings.

The franchise, or the act Of voting for
rulers TO execute the law aud be the guar
dams of private right and public welfare, is
the first distinctive exercise of the rights
and privileges of citizenship in our country
and under our government. AS it is the
first in time, it is equally, also, the first in
importance. So the constitution of the state
regards it. 1t guards the right and tries to
secure it so that it shall be exercised for the
welfare of both the state and the individual.
IL brings the highest sanctions-those Of re-
ligion-to bear upon the voter for this pur-
pose, and requires him to make his choice
for rulers free from the fear or favor of men
and in the fear of God. A realization of
this fact would of itself regulate our popular
elections and free them from many of the
evils that now attach to them. To make
our elections more and more of this char
acter, and what the constitution Of the state
and the commonwealth requires them to be,
let especially the citizens of intelligence and
integrity be careful to attend them. Two
weeks from yesterday, or Tuesday, the Sd
of March, occurs one of the most important
of our elections, viz. the annual town meet
ing for the choice of town officers and the
transaction of other town business for the
year. These meetings deserve e careful
attention of our citizens not only for the
reasons above stated, but because the di-
rection and management of the affairs of
the town will be largely determined by the
election of rulers-justices of the peace, con-
stables, selectmen and other offcers-for the
year. Special Importance attaches to the
town meetings of Vermont this year on ac-
count of new school act, which provides
for the choice, March, 1872 and every fifth
year thereafter" of text book committee,
consisting of two persons and the town super
intendent, whose duty it shall be TO make
selection and recommendation of text
books, one book of a grade, on the several
subjects required by law to be taught in the
common schools of the state" for use in
their several towns. Towns also are author
lied to purchase and hold text books for
use in the schools. Financial questions
will, of course, be prominent, and as every
voter is called to pay taxes, it behooves him
to attend the annual meeting and look as
well after the public as his private interests.
1t is not every man, even though he is an
honest man, that can be successful town
officer. In public business, fitness and com
potency, as well as honesty, are specially
needed and the people themselves must
see to it that their best men are put forward,
or they will have themselves to blame-when
blame and regret will be only accusation
without remedy.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19
The Plague.

Surgeon-G General Woodwork, of the United
States Marine Hospital Service, has ad-
dressed communication on the plague in
Russia to the chairman of the Congressional
committee on epidemic diseases, the purport
of which is to invite that body to consider
the propriety of legislation that may enable
the government to maintain two medical of
fcers in Europe as scientific outposts to
watch the westward advance of this Asiatic
scourge and guard against its introduction
here on the admitted theory that it is easier
to keep it out of the country than to control
it when it has gained foothold. The Men
MONTE immigrations and our trade with
some Mediterranean and Black Sea ports are
facts which make it fully possible that our
quarantine authorities may have to deal
with this disease next summer, and any sug-
gestion made with view to protect the
country from so terrible calamity as this
visitation might prove is worthy the most
careful consideration. Germany, Austria
and France have sent medical officers di-
rectly to the plague province in Russia 10
observe the disease there, and all, of course
with view to its possible march westward
next summer. England has requested Of
Russia permission to send physicians to
study the disease for the same reason. II
the plague reaches Western Europe gener
ally it will certainly cross the Atlantic, and
as all the governments of Western Europe
are acting on the assumption that it will
reach them, it is not borrowing trouble fol
us to look out in time.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19
Patrons Of Husbandry.

The Central Vermont Council, Patrons OF llus-
bandry will hold its regular quarterly meeting at
West Berlin on Tuesday, the 18th inst, Every
grange belonging to the council should send
delegate, as this will be one Of the most import.
ant meetings the council has ever held Full re-
ports are expected from every grange and the
officers OF the council for the ensuing year are IN
be elected The following question is to be dis
cussed, viz: Resoired, That every patron should
be insured in the Patron Life and Fire Insurance
Companies; and AN amendment to the constitn-
ton is to be acted upon, changing the time of
holding the meetings from the last Tuesday In
November and February to the last Tuesday in
October and the second Tuesday in February.
county council to a Pomona Grange, Every
member of the subordinate oranges can take the
fifth degree in the Pomona Grange, and II is the
connecting link between the subordinate and
state grange, a court of appeals from subordinate
oranges, chartered by the State Grange aud ac-
knowledged by both state and national oranges.
The county council costs as much time and money
as the Pomona Grange, but is not recognized by
subordinate, state or national oranges, and has
no legitimate right to use the books, forms, cere-
monies, or passwords of the order. The last SEES
sion Of the Vermont State Grange recommended
that Pomona Oranges be formed in every county
in the state, and the fifth degree be conferred
upon all worthy patrons. A very full attendance
Is expected aud prominent members of the order
from other sections OF the state are expected TO
| be present
/ Pa. No. Chal llalf. hon.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19

FooTING THE BILIs.-The questions
growing out of the enormous destruction of
property in Pittsburg and other places in
Pennsylvania by the communistic outbreak
in the summer of 1877 have not yet been
settled, and are now pending in the legisla-
ture of that state. 1t is not simply ques-
ton whether there shall be restitution made
for the great loss Of property, but it involves
the grayer inquiry whether the state shall
uphold the law and perform her duty in
protecting property. Pennsylvania has been
very firm and resolutein bringing the Mollie
Mcguire murderers to justice, and she will
not fail to work out a right solution of the
problem as to the wholesale destruction OF
property by the rioters.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19

Or the 1857 expended by the House com.
mittee in attending Senator Morton's fune-
raj, sil9 was paid to G. W. Driver, keeper
of liquor saloon, for whiskey and wine for
the trip. The stock was so great that each
member of the committee had basket of
wine and demijohn of whiskey sent to his
lodgings on his return. The transportation of
the House committee cost si6775 More
Senators than Representatives went to In
dianapolis, but the sum expended for car
fare was only 1921. These are trifling illus
tratons of democratic economy.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19

The most unaccountable OF all the ques-
tions arising from the existing depression
and restitution in England is the blockade
at Liverpool resulting from the strikes
Ships are unable TO sail for want of crews
aud inbound vessels cannot obtain help TO
unload their cargoes of grain, though it is not
unlikely the grain will heat and spoil. This
is sad state of affairs, now that 80 many
thousands of people in England are on the
verge of starvation.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19

The following, from the Rutland Herald,
will be enjoyed by those who have become
disguised at the sensational performances Of
the Boston Journals Vermont representa-
tives:" The Boston Journal has a very
sound article on newspapers Among other
good things we quote the following; "The
papers which feast on crime and horrors,
which serve up domestic scandals with
every sensational accompaniment of detail
and headline, these papers are pretty clearly
known, and their character is understood
This is 80 true and so well said that the
Journal needs now only to whistle Carrigar
off the Phair scent, aud order Legacy Smith
TO "let up" on GravliD.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19

NEXT CENsUs.-It appears that in both
houses the committees who have charge OF
the subject favor the introduction of new
and more comprehensive methods of taking
the census Of $780, and that this will involve
a much larger outlay than has ever before
been made for this purpose. 1t is believed
that the next census will show population
of not less than forty-seven millions, which
will give an addition of sixty-seven mem.
bers to the House of Representatives. The
Electoral College will then contain three
hundred and eighty-nine votes, making two
hundred and eighteen necessary to the cleo
ton of President. OF these the North
will have two hundred and seventy-eight
and the South one hundred and fifty-eight.
1t need hardly be added that the coming
Presidential election will not be affected by
the reappointment as the election must be
held on the present basis.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19

ExPLANATIoS.-"M Morton" in the Boston
Journal, explains that his statement, in his
dispatch from Kansas, that Messrs. ANS
den and Preston have arrived here" in
connection with the promised revelations in
the Gravelin case, was erroneous, but was
the work of the operator at Kansas City,
where he was compelled TO send it for trans
mission. We give him the benefit of the
explanation, but we think the sequel will
reveal further errors in this business which
cannot be 30 easily aud creditably disposed Of
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19

Boston Aduertiser; "a card-'Pelton, Marble
and Weed, democratic statesmen, aud dealers
in returning boards and electoral votes. The
highest prices paid If the money can be
raised. Notes and acceptance negotiated
with cipher dispatch. Principal offices in
South Carolina, Florida and Oregon. Ref
erences -, 1.-THE key is lost, aud the
firm don't recollect the names OF the gentle
men to whom they can refer]."
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19

LoNGEvITY.-The people of the United
States must surely exceed all other peoples
in length of years. The evidence of this
is the number of survivors of the war of
1912. That war came to an end sixty-four
years ago 1t was not great war, and the
number of soldiers who served in it was
small compared with the force employed in
our recent great conflict, but last year, in
addition to the survivors of that war who
had before been in receipt of pensions, and
who numbered about fifteen thousand few
years ago, no less than three thousand two
hundred and thirty-seven new applications
for pensions by men who claimed to be sur
vivors of that war were pending besides the
claims of sixteen thousand four hundred
and thirty-ive widows of soldiers of that war.
If the soldiers of our late war hold out as
well, and of course we hope they will, the
United States will be paying pensions in
the year 1929 to about one hundred and
fifty thousand of them, and as many of their
widows.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19

PRESIDENTIAL RivALRY.-The rivalry of
Senator Thurman and Senator Bayard for the
democratic leadership is becoming palmer
and palmer. Thurman heads the reaction
airy and revolutionary forces, and Bayard
the more moderate and conservative infu-
ences. Thurman, who was long accounted
a robust, self-contained and sagacious states
man, is allying himself with all the more
violent and destructive agencies and Bay
ard, who has not been regarded as the equal
of the other in ability, is proving himself a
man of higher tone and quality. Mr.. Bay
ards Southern training and education have
made him radically wrong on the vital ques-
ton of state rights, so that it would never
answer to elevate him to place where his
false doctrine, equipped with power, might
paralyze the national principle; but even
that error he seems to cherish as matter of
honest conviction. On the other hand, Mr..
Thurman is rapidly persuading the country
that he has no fixed principles, and that in
his ambition to be President he is ready to
cater to the worst elements of his party.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-19

The government can do nothing that will
promote the prosperity of the working classes
80 much as to issue ten dollar bond and
place 1t on sale at every post-oiice.