Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-01-21

Special Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, D. c., January II, 1880.
Mr. Editor The citizen, multiplied indefin-
itey, forms society. As the citizen is violent or
calm, vile or pure, so IL society. Governments
and moral agencies Of various names are insti-
tuted 10 restrain the one and to promote the
other There are special seasons when the pow
ers Of social good and evil are severely tested.
The new year has brought us such an occasion In
this city.
CRIMINAL MATTERS.
young man named Hrth was murdered under
circumstances that have aroused popular ndigna-
ton to degree seldom witnessed. lie was one
whose character had never been assailed and he
was pointed to as model young man by those
who knew him best. After closing his store
about half-past seven one evening, he started to
| visit the young lady TO whom he was TO have
| been married in about two weeks, who lived but
few squares away, aud when about half way
there he was murdered In cold blood, without the
| slightest cause or provocation, -Four colored men
were soon arrested One OF them admits that he
was present but, while he saw the others commit
the murder, he declares that he took no part, but
ran away from them before the work was fin
ished. His story is generally believed, although
the other three stouty deny 1t ALL II is expected
While all crimes are to be deplored, It IL seldom
that murder so abhorrent as this has been COM
mitted. The popular clamor suddenly arose to q
fearful tide, and demanded the lives Of these four
demons. Our police authorities grew apprehen-
sive. The next day, when the criminals were
driven from the station house to the coronor's
court. thousands blockaded the Streets and al
though there large detail Of extra police, 1t
was not considered safe to take the prisoners
| through the immense crowd, and strategic meth
DDS OF relief became necessary. While the pub
lie welfare always advises obedience TO the laws,
here was an instance where the imprisoned i'm
pulse of the hour demanded more summary and
extreme action. No test SO severe has been pre-
scented to this community for years, for the evil
dence appears strong that the guilty parties are
in custody. They are now safely lodged in Jail,
and the certainty Of speedy justice has for n
| time allayed the storm Just as we waited with
bated breath for some token OF public security
| the news came from Poolesville Maryland, a few
miles way up the river that brute named Peck
had just been hung In open day by mob for
an inhuman assault upon young girl. Numet-
Gus other crimes are reported in other directions
RACE PREJUDICE
fed, for the reason that the criminals were blacks
1t is useless to disguise the fact that the two races
do not love each other much better now than six
teen years ago, before the experiment of equal
rights had been tried. 1t is not because the col
ored people, as a race, have not made wonderful
progress In all that tends TO elevate and ennoble
mankind, for they certainly have done this. The
true reason is not easily given Really, there is
no reason in it. It is a deep-seated, unkind, un-
Christian prejudice that rankles over all this
| broad land. SO when colored man commits
| crime, 1t is set off in the most glaring light and
| magniied with extra head lines Yet it is true
that white men commit just as black crimes as
the colored race and these shallow unreasoning
carpers will never grow red in the face in denoun
cling them.
THE NEGRO EXODUS
word about the exodus may be in place. The
movement to encourage Wholesale emigration
| from tho southern states TO Kansas and other
| places in the west has many able and no doubt
phianthropic advocates yet | am frank to de-
nounce 1t as one OF the most pernicious hobbies OF
| the times, that must soon work its own cure. In
the published report of the contributions made by
the several states to the Colored Emigrant Aid
Society few months ago, | vas much gratifed to
see that Vermont had not given one cent. | may
| say more on this subject another time.
THE MAINE MIDDLE
The political cauldron has been kept at tn.
mutt heat the past week or two in the state OF
Maine. so that on the whole, it has neither been
| all quiet on the Potomac nor the Kennebec From
the latest news, the skies are frightening in the
east, and all good citizens will rejoice, not only
for the good Of criminals individually, but for the
welfare OF society," that mobs do not rule this gov
eminent OF laws.
MISTAKEN MISSION.
| A late soldier, named Wood from Randolph,
| Vermont, arrived here last Wednesday for the
| purpose OF getting his pension Increased Like
thousands Of others he had the mistaken idea.
that by getting to Washington, where the money
Is made, he could get larger pension for the
mere asking. know not why, but his neighbors
encouraged this fallacy by contributing money to
| send him here When he reached New York he fell
in with sharper who got all the money Wood had
left under the pretense that he would ~ favor
buy his ticket for him to Washington. OF course
Wood saw no more OF his new friend nor his
money until they met in the police court where
the swindler was convicted and sentenced to the
penitentiary for six months. The city OF New
York or some other institution then helped Mr..
Wood to money enough to buy ticket here. lie
reached here moneyess and almost aimless, ex-
cept he had an idea he wanted larger pension.
He was forthwith ordered before the medical
board in the pension Office. and the same day he
was also examined by the pension board of sur
geons for the city. They told him he should have
all the examination he wanted, a. he had come
so far. But 1t will probably all end ~ 1t began.
That Is, his pension will probably remain as 1t
now is, and all this should have been foreseen at
the outset, instead Of sending demented old
man away alone to be robbed. Parties here have
taken interest enough in him to obtain pass for
him to the Soldiers Home at II ,mpton, Virginia
and he started for that place last Thursday even
ing, whore he probably will remain awhile Ran
dolph may thereby have one less pauper.
| PERSONAL.
Hon II. G. Root and his daughter Kate, from
Bennington, passed through here last week on
their way to their plantation at Jacksonville,
Florida, where they intend to spend the winter,
| VIGIL.