davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-12
The Legal Tender Act.

The question of the constitutionality
of the legal tender quality of United
States notes reissued under the act of
1873, which has been pending in the su-
preme court, has been decided in the af-
firmative. Justice Gray delivered the
unanimous opinion of the court that the
case cannot be distinguished in principle
from the case decided in April, 1870, and,
Mr.. Justice Field dissenting, the court is
of the opinion that those cases were
rightfully decided. The New York Times
takes up the declaration of the court that
the power to make the notes Of the gov
eminent legal tender in payment of pri-
vate debts is "one of the powers belong
ing to sovereignty in other civilized ma
tions, and not expressly withheld from
congress by the constitution" and argues
that the court has enunciated new doc.
trine which is in palpable, complete and
irreconcilable conflict" with the tenth
article of the amendments to the consti.
tuition, which declares that " the powers
not delegated to the United States by the
constitution, nor prohibited by it to the
states, are reserved to the states respec-
lively, or to the people," The Times says
"The court grants to congress all the
powers of the legislature of sovereign
state not expressly withheld from it by
the constitution. The constitution grants
to the United States certain specific pow.
ers only, and expressly withholds all 9TH
ers. The court makes of congress body
with practically unlimited authority the
constitution creates it body with au-
thority distinctly and expressly limited.
1t is one Of the most striking proofs of
the demoralizing force of the idea that
promises to pay can by law be made &C.
tusl payment that, after the application
of that idea has cost the country millions
of dollars and produced financial de-
preston more severe, lasting and calam-
itous than had ever been known in our his
tory, it can, at the end of a score of years.
breed in the minds of the supreme court
doctrine directly opposed to the words
of the constitution, avowedly based upon
the theory of sovereignty held at time
when there was not considerable repub-
lie in the world, and bestowing upon con.
gress power which it did not dare to
claim in the stress of war. Happily, the
court is supreme only in law and for the
time being. 1t does not control the con
science or intelligence of the people, aud
its decisions do not affect the laws oil
trade. This nation, because it is power
full, Industrious, and in the front of the
contest in commerce with the world, will
not permanently consent to the use by
congress of the power gratuitously con
ferred on it by the court. The nation
needs, and will have, currency independ
emit of the discretion or the decisions of it,
legislators, intrinsically valuable and equa
to the vast functions to which, in our grea
future, it will be devoted"
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-12
An Independent Movement.

At recent meeting of independents in
Boston, the question of calling meet
ing of tariff and civil-service reformers
at New York, in May, to nominate candi-
dates for the presidency and vice-presi-
dency, was considered. What bond of
union there can be between these two
classes of reformers," or what need there
can be, in view of the course of the re-
publican party and a republican admins
tration, of third party, for the advance
ment civil-service reform, does not dis
tinctly appear. At this meeting General
Francis A. Walker, of census fame, upon
being asked his opinion of the independ-
emit movement, said:
" 1t appears to me that the best thing to be
done at present Is to await the action OF the
national republican convention. We have a
very good chance this year to nominate good
man, and good chance to nominate very
good man. That result would not in my
judgment, be promoted by prior convention
of civil-service and tariff reformers, while the
election Of a satisfactory candidate nominated
by the regular republican convention would be
hindered rather than helped. Since, therefore,
such action would neither increase the chances
of the nomination OF a good man by the regu-
lar republican convention, nor increase the
chances of the election of such a candidate, II
nominated 1t appears to me unwise. am not
in favor Of any political action which does not
promise to lead to direct, tangible, political
good. Let me put the matter correctly: The
most desirable result Of the republican conven-
ton which is within the range OF probability
a result so desirable that 1t may be said TO be
the very ideal result-would be the nomina-
ton of Senator Edmunds Of Vermont. No in
dependent has the right to ask for an ADLER
more DISTINGUISHED, or a more high-minded
candidate. OF that nomination there is now a
great deal more than a good working and
fighting chance. The incontestable fact that
Senator Edmunds can be easily elected by car
rying the state of New York, while the success
OF almost any other candidate would be in
volved in great doubt down to the very day of
election, il steadily tending to render that nom
nation increasingly probable In addition to
the great number OF those who desire the nom
nation of Senator Edmunds rs the best man,
great plumbers also are coming to desire his
nomination because they see that he would be
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-12
Notes and Comments.

THE New York Herald can see many
reasons in the present condition of the
republican party why ticket composed
of Edmunds and Lincoln would be very
strong one." It adds "Neither of the
two gentlemen named has had such rela-
tions to either of the republican factions
as would make his nomination hazardous
by causing disagreements within the
party. Again, there is nothing in the
past of either of them-as there undobt-
eddy is in the case of some other candi-
dates named-which would, when ex-
posed in the fierce light of presidential
canvass, place the party on the defensive.
Then, again, ticket containing both
these names would undoubtedly satisfy
the prudent public demand for one
strong at both ends.'"
OF the Morrison tariff bill, the New
York Tribune says; A republican who
cared only for success of his party might
well pray for the passage of this bill. 1t
would not take the democrats long to
learn that they had lost their last fight.
ing chance in every northern state. In a
time of great industrial depression, to
assail our most important and our most
embarrassed industries by such measure
as this, and to throw all business into con-
fusion by the enactment of law which
the courts would not be able to get inter-
preted for ten years, would indeed be an
illustration of democratic incapacity and
wrong headedness. But the bill is 80 bad
that we suspect there will be democrats
enough to kill it in the house, without
sending it to republican senate or re-
publican president"
RUTLAND HERALD: "The st. Adams
Messenger thinks that strong and active
political workers should be sent as Ed.
munds delegates to Chicago. We think
strong, active-minded men, known through
the whole state for eminence in their
calling, and if possible without the state,
ought to be sent to Chicago; it is of no sort
of consequence whether they be 'politi-
cal workers. in the technical sense, at
all. Mr.. Edmunds needs men of repute
as standing for the most conspicuous citi-
zens of our state for general capacity and
achievement there are men who are
strong, active, political workers in Yer
mont who are nobody in particular in any
large sense of the words capacity or con
spicuity. They would be useful in q
petty political campaign in Vermont
capturing caucuses, counting noses, tick
ling sap.heads aud sore.heads with the
oiled feather of cheap promises and Gun
ming compliments, but they would bt
a curse to any candidate at Chicago
The next president of the
United States will not be nominated by
the same puerile tactics that have so Otter
been employed to cultivate a spontaneous
enthusiasm for congressman and gov
errors in Vermont"
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-12
Developing Opinion.

The subject of the governorship seems
to attract increasing attention. Evidence
accumulates that the people are far in adj
vance of the press in their views of the
political situation in this state. 1t seems
quite likely that they will enter the field
and assert their independence of long ex-
listing methods, and, failing in their efforts
to secure free choice in conference, eau
Gus or convention, will make their power
felt at the polls. We print to-day two very
significant letters from widely separated
points in the state. Free Choice" is
calm, dignifed and resolute, Analysing the
situation and laying out line of conduct
which is in harmony with the idea of a
free, representative government. His re-
marks must commend themselves to the
heart and conscience of every unpreju.
diced and non-partisan reader. "Mans-
fields" voice is still for Billings. In
spite of all the encouragement which his
declination to be candidate carries with
it, he is still unquestionably the first
choice of the people, and his name is the
rallying cry of those who see question
of principle in the selection of the gov
ernor, and who feel the need of the high
est obtainable degree of capacity and
efficiency in the states chief executive.
The aspirations for Billings for governor
of this state, and for Eimunds for presi-
dent of the nation, seem to be very nearly
akin. There is striking similarity in
the position of the two in respect of the
office for which each has been named as
a candidate. Notwithstanding Edmunds'
oft.repeated declarations, he is to-day the
formost of the republican candidates for
the presidency. Notwithstanding Billings
emphatic declination to be candidate,
the desire for him and the determination
to make him governor, in spite of his OBJ
jections and his refusal, is more pro-
nounced at this time than before the pub
LEGATION of his letter to Judge Barrett.
The one in national, the other in state,
affairs, stands for true ideal of good gov
eminent, is the embodiment of principle
in government, and fundamental princi-
pie in free government, away from
which the nation, the state, has been
drifting. 1t is not necessary for the
triumph of the principle of which these
men are representatives that the one
should be nominated for president, the
other for governor. Other names might
finally be chosen, possibly will, and still
the principle signally triumph; but in its
formative period each is a recruiting sta.
ton for independent public opinion-not
of men whose sole purpose is to smash
things" but of men who are anxious and
determined to get back to the practice OF
the primitive days when it was ordained
that the men most noted for virtue and
wisdom should be chosen for Lawmakers
and rulers. The adherents of this old
fashioned notion may grow strong enough
before the time for decisive action comes
to choose their representative, and if thai
representative should be the man whose
name has given the people an inspiring
conception of chief magistrate, this
would give eclat and enthusiasm to the
succeeding canvass and significance to vic
tory at the polls.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-12
Newspaper Morals.

Mr.. c. w. Ernst, prominent journal
ist, recently delivered an address before
the Boston Young Mems Christian Union
on "Newspaper Morals" Speaking of
the cheapening effect of competition upon
the morals of newspaper, Mr.. Ernst
said d" If understand the situation cor
rectly, the newspapers were on the eve of
great financial crisis, shown in the recent
large reduction in price, one cause of
which was competition" and in the crisis
he feared many newspapers would have
to 90 under and very few would survive.
This condition of AFFAIRS" he said, /" re-
acts directly upon the morality of the press,
for morality is never independent of ma
terial prosperity. To be sure, l do not
mean to say that wealth makes morals,
but do mean to say that fine morality
and pinching poverty do not we'll 60 to-
gether. People who are not moderately
prosperous will never have the finest mo-
rality; and the newspaper which is not
reasonably prosperous, l am afraid, will
never represent the highest journalism
and journalistic ethics" Some men, out
side of, as we'll as within, the literary ranks,
have fashion of using newspaper as
an adjective of depreciating quality, "d de-
noting something" as contemporary says,
"below par, both in thought and STYLE"
Mr.. Ernst thinks competent journalists
are, as rule, moderated. People do not
know with what honesty and zeal they
labor, the conscientious care with which
they look up their subjects, the accuracy
with which they measure the laws of evil
dence, the unfaltering loyalty with which
they keep in view sound public policy and
the total unselfshness of their whole voca-
ton. 1t was always fair for the reader to
start on the superstition that newspaper
meant to do right. 1t was very rash
assumption to imagine that newspaper
would be malicious" There is great
deal of truth in what this speaker has
said, but in the application, especially of
the last two periods of the above quota
ton, to our obseI walton, particularly of the
press in this state, we should wish to pick
the newspapers. If he could have his
way, Mr.. Ernst said he would print only
what was pure, wholesome and edifying,
possessing permanent interest and of con-
Germ to society at large. But news
paper, he thinks, could not live on such a
basis, because it would be too far above
the morality and intelligence of its con-
stituenoy. 1t is possible to make the
standard unpractically high for the aver
age of the whole community. But elimi-
mating from the problem the vicious
classes, who are not entitled to VOTE and
to whose tastes no respectable journal
will cater, it ought to be possible to come
nearer to the ideal of pure and wholesome
paper than the many approach" What
ever may be the possibilities of making a
"standard unpractically high for the aver
; age of the whole community" we believe
that, in practice, there is an ample, unused
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-12

Mr.. HASKELL, representative in con-
gress from Kansas, died recently. He
was an able man, efficient and industrious
in the discharge of his duties. The
house spent half day in paying its
respects to the memory of the deceased
member, and thirteen formal eulogies set
forth his virtues and the sorrow of his
former associates. All that was said of
Mr.. Haskell was undoubtedly true, but it
is noticeable that talents and services and
virtues are indistinguishable from medi
ocrity in the length and character of the
tributes congress pays to its dead. In the
course of session it sometimes happens
that several days of time are taken from
the consideration of pressing public bust
ness by practice which can plead in its
defense neither good sense nor justice.
Judge Poland has introduced PROPOSE
ton that no more eulogies shall be deliv-
cred in the house upon its deceased men,
bers. He proposes to confine these effu-
sions to print, and to put them in the
Congressional Record. Many speeches of
members are given publicity in this way,
without undergoing the pangs of actual
delivery, and why not these mortuary
tributes ? Judge Poland's proposition is
an improvement upon the existing custom.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-12
To Our Adopted Subscribers.

We are glad to welcome you to The
WATcHMAN hearthstone. We are not en-.
tirely strangers. We have been neighbors
for two-score years, but now we meet as
members of the same family circle. Our
interests henceforth are identical. We
spread for you the same board, we share
with you the same benefts-the accumula-
tions OF more than three-fourths of CEN
fury Of labor and experience. We trust
that you will find the new association both
agreeable and profitable, and that any
little "incompatibilities," if they exist,
which grow up in, and distinguish, sepa-
rate households, will disappear in COM
mon interest and be subjected to devo-
ton to the common good. We trust,
further, that our weekly issues will set
forth our sincere disposition and earnest
purpose to devote all our resources TO your
entertainment and profit. Our new friends
are this week supplied with large eight
page journal, filled with choice and varied
reading, its pages trimmed and pasted, so
that it may be read like book" Our
new farmer readers will find in THE
WATcHMAN generous department de-
voted to their interests, and conducted by
one who is not stranger to them. OF
family reading of every kind-miscellan
GUS, moral, religious, temperance, for
the Preside and the children-there will be-
from week to week, carefully made selec
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-12

MEXICO has no political conventions The
newspapers do the nominating. The papers
begin discussion of candidates about year
previous to the presidential election. Next
they "postulate, or nominate, certain candi-
dates. At the head of the paper will appear,
1--WE postulate" so and so, naming the jour
nails choice Then, on election day. the voters
assemble at the polling places, and each de-
posits written ballot for electors, who are to
constitute the electoral board of the state. The
law stipulates that the ballot must be written,
and table, with paper and writing utensils, is
provided beside the ballot box, and the ballot
must be written and Immediately deposited
under the inspection of the supervisor. Some
times the voters OF the different parties will
meet few hours previous and agree upon
some candidate but usually each voter has
made a choice OF candidates, without any pres
sure from party machinery.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-12

the how.not-to-doit and how-not-to-say-it
policy that the exhibition by anyone Of q
living purpose appears to excite its aston
ishment. 1t Gays it used round numbers
for convenience" When it increased the
gain in the butter product by more than
600 900 pounds, the corn crop by nearly
100000 bushels, and diminished the loss
in the cheese product by 100000 pounds,
it looked like taking unwarrantable liber-
ties with statistics in the process of
rounding" its numbers, aud the ex.
igencies of convenience seemed to de-
mand exaggeration of gains and abridg-
ment of losses. The loss Of $4,000 pounds
in wool and of 100000 sheep is dismissed
with the mild remark that "wool had
fallen off," aud that there had been a
large increase in all kinds of live stock
"except sheep" Another of the Messen-
gers principal points," which we were
"not able to controvert," was its easy
REPUTATION of the statement that the big
farms are absorbing the little ones" 1t
was no controversion of this "point
to show, by the Messengers own witness,
that there had been decrease of 5,721
in the number of farms of less than
one hundred acres, and that there
had been an increase of 7,416 in the
number of farms of one hundred
III NJ ~
mis-stated anything in the article which
the Messenger says "puts the worst side
out" it is susceptible of complete and easy
showing. We are not satisfied with
controversion which has back of it only
the brute force of fiat contradiction. We
aimed, in the article on Vermont's Condi-
ton, to speak the things that are true,
rather than the things that are agreeable.
The view we have taken of things is sup
ported by other witnesses than the mute
numerals of the census tables, notably by
so careful and well.informed an observer
as ex- Governor j. Gregory Smith, who, at
hearing before the ways and means
committee, in the fall of 1882, said at
is evident to all that Vermont's material
interests are on the wane. The agricul-
tural interest is beset, the manufacturing
interest is beset. The burden of taxation
falls on q class least able to bear it, and
this doubtless is one of the reasons which
has tended TO depression in Vermont"
For the relief of these interests, the gov
ernor periodically urged the enactment of
some measure for taxing the corporations.
How we'll this has been done, is shown by
the returns we published last week. But
the possibilities of craftsmanship have
not been exhausted by the perfection of
law for dragging hidden taxable property
to light or by laying upon public corpora.
tions an approximation toward their fair
share of the support of government. To
increase the revenues of the state, adopt a
line of policy that will increase the basis
of all revenue. AS the first essential step
in this direction, put the best men-men
selected for their eminent fitness--at the
head of state affairs, and keep them there.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-12

WRITING from Washington of the in
dividuals who have been talked of in con-
nection with the republican nomination
for the presidency, Mary Clemmer, in
The Independent, says: "Perhaps the
leader of all the other republican candi-
dates is George F. Edmunds of Vermont.
1t makes not the slightest difference that
over and over he has declared he will not
accept the can lidacy. The country pays
not the slightest attention to his declara.
ton, but continues to name him as the
chosen one. He is the greatest law.
yer, the kneenest debater in the senate.
His slow, measured, incisive tones com.
mand every ear. He goes to the bottom
of things, root and branch; he holds his
subject clean before you-not on one side,
but on every side. With certain grim
humor, and measureless power of sar-
casm, his argument is the two-edged blade
that is never dull. A senator.
George F. Edmunds, is presidential can.
didate, despite his own protest. n
Pre.eminent in the senate, both for char.
acter and ability as man, he is little
more than a name in the states at large.
The reserve and reticence of his personal
life and associations make the emotional
following which belongs to Blaine impos.
sible to him. His friends know him. and,
knowing him, honor him the innumera-
BILE multitudes guess at him, but know
him not. These elemental facts would
enter into any campaign in which he
would be a candidate; yet scarcely a
doubt exists, if nominated, of his cleo.
ton. His high, unblemished personal re.
putation, his splendid national repute for
distinguished talent and unquestioned
honesty, would carry every republican
state, and, under such president, the ma
ton ought, indeed, to flourish in peace
for more than four years."
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-12

the best candidate It is a peculiar felicity Of
this canvass that the argument, from available
ity, Is expanding Its whole force In favor OF the
selection Of the very man whom we would most
desire to see nominated on the grounds of
personal fitness and public services. Would
the probability of this result be increased by an
independent convention Clearly not, Thou
sands Of republicans who would cheerfully &C
cept Senator Edmunds' candidature, or even
welcome IL with enthusiasm, would resent what
they would deem an attempt at dictation."
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-12
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1884.

THE bill to extend the time for paying
the taxes on whiskey in the bonded ware
houses of the government, which was de-
feated at the last session of congress after
long fight, has been again defeated at
the present session. This is matter for
congratulation.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-12

On Monday afternoon Of last week bull
dog owned by Ira Chase of Glen's Falls, N, Y,
attacked his seven. years-old boy, fastening its
teeth in the childs scalp. After struggle
with the brute the lads mother loosened the
animals hold, but not until 1t had torn four
square inches of the scalp from the boys head
leaving the skull bare.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-12

THE treasury department, in view of the re-
ported prevalence of the foot and mouth disease
In Great Britain, is considering the proprlety
OF prohibiting the importation OF neat cattle
from that country. The collectors of customs
at Boston, Portland New York and Philadelphia,
and the treasury cattle commission, have been
called upon to give their views on the subject.