davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-03-25
Notes and Notions.

EVENING RECORD: "The moss
backs are so plentiful in Washington
that rear view of the daily procession
to the White House resembles strip
of Florida swamp forest"
PHILADELPHIA PRESS blaine re-
publican): /" If the administration con-
tinues its judicious and effective treat
ment of the place-hunters, the country
will soon be loving it for the enemies
it has made"
GENERAL GRANTS condition has
been somewhat improved during the
past week. His daughter, Mrs. Sartoris,
has arrived from England. He has
seen quite a number of friends and
written considerably on his history.
GA NEW HAMPSHIRE democrat "
asked the opinion of the Boston Journal
upon the appointments made thus far
by President Cleveland. The Journals
reply was: " Gratifying to the republic
cans, disappointing to the bourbons. I"
To which it might have added: " And
we are chief among the bourbons."
EVENING RECORD "The London
Saturday Reuiew brings itself to adj
NIT that Washington was not an or
binary man. and that he accomplished
his 'pecular work with admirable
perseverance, The dedication of the
monument to his memory and this utter
ance of the Saturday Rerie,o undoubt-
eddy made February the most success
full month George ever had"
PROVIDENCE JOURNAL: Vice-pres-
ident Hendricks has given it to be I'M
derstood that unless his candidate for
the postmastership at Indianapolis is
appointed, his relations with the adj
ministration will cease. This is equiv
alent to threat to freeze himself to
death, and might be regarded with
more solicitude by the friends of Mr..
Hendricks than by those of the admin
istration."
SPEAKING of the accident which
sent him to West Point and made him
a soldier, General Grant is reported as
saying: eff l were superstitious, l
should think there was some fatality in
my going to West Point, for when the
war was over figured up and, as near
as l could find out, the little country vii
lage of Georgetown, Ohio, from which
went-a place of two hundred peo-
ple-sent to the war one full general
(myself), three major-generals, two
brigadier-generals, three colonies, three
or four line officers and one private
soldier! The private deserted, think. :"
1t is hard to blame the private.
Mr.. HAY, the new first assistant post
master-general, said to recent inter-
viewer: "Ibelieve that all the non-par-
tisan ofiice-holders should have no fear
of dismissal so long as they perform
their duties in an acceptable manner.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-03-25
Mattbmam 4 Sourmal.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1885.

THE Providence Journal, the late
Senator .Anthony's paper and one of
the stanch republican journals of New
England, speaks some plain truths
which we desire to commend, because
they are wholesome and have uniformly
guided the course of THE WATCHMAN,
both in political and in non-political
affairs. The Journal says: Ono mat
ter what the provocation may be, nor
however gratifying the temporary adj
vantage, no newspaper can afford to
deny facts, or build merely sophistical
arguments upon the superficial circum-
stances of the hour. Any constituency
worth considering will await the devel-
opment of facts, as it will accord fair
hearing to honest opponents. Some of
our more impetuous friends were, we
recollect, impatient that we did not
claim the election of James G.. Blaine.
Had we done so, their impulsiveness
would in the end have exhibited itself
in flattering terms toward us. 1t is
well to be ardent; it is quite as necessary
to be cool, discriminating and just"
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-03-25

In an editorial notice of a sermon re-
Gently preached in Brattleboro we find
the following in the Ph@nir, and COM
mend it to the careful perusal of any
who oppose the adoption of the town
system of schools for reasons relating
to "questions of dollars and cents -:
Take the town system of schools as
another illustration. Almost the whole
discussion hinged on question of dol
lars and cents, without rising to broad
consideration of what should best adj
vance the educational interests of the
whole town. This village district, the
speaker said, had no right to shut itself
up in a corporation by itself, if by
throwing down its corporation lines it
could help the children in the remote
districts to better educational advan-
tages. There is no true self-interest
which does not look after the interests
of ones neighbor. He must be looked
after because you've got to live with
him. The law of Jesus, Thou shalt
love thy neighbor as myself is the
only law to govern in our town affairs. :"
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-03-25

The Journal of Education says:
"One of the primary needs in the old
Bay State, to elevate the schools of the
commonwealth, is a more complete sys-
tenn of SUPPLEMENTARY. The large
cities-like Boston, Worcester, SPRING
field, Lowell and Fall River-have city
superintendent. Some of the smaller
cities and large towns, also, have super
intendents. But WHAT is needed, further,
is to complete the plan of supervision
by grouping several country towns to-
gether and placing these schools under
the care of a good superintendent. In
this way an efficient system of super
vision may be extended to all the schools
of the state" This is the great need
of Vermont schools. Superintendent
by towns, in its existing form, is, in the
great majority of cases, fraud and
farce. 1t results in giving boys and
girls, who should themselves be in some
well-ordered grammar school or acad-
envy, legal right to draw pay for SER
vices which they are utterly incapable
of rendering. In ways which we have
often explained, it must inevitably, as it
does in the great majority of cases, le-
galize the wrongs and abuses, the in
competency and inefliciency, which are
the bane of the present school system.
If wet sponge could be passed over
the existing system and obliterate every
vestige of it, all knowledge or recollec-
ton of it, all the prejudice and selfish
ness which have grown up around it,
so that the state could go to work and
cast new system, one would be de-
vised in the operation of which the half
a million dollars expended annually in
school taxes, and the equivalent amount
of private expenditure, would yield
vastly more satisfactory results. The
state must wake up, and speedily, to
the dangers that threaten from the in
efficiency and iasutficiency of her
schools. The educational question is
the paramount one. Prejudice and
self-interest must ultimately be laid
aside and the school reform allowed
free course. New tax and listing laws,
railway legislation, promotion of agri-
culture or manufactures are all of sec
ondary importance How to get rea-
sonable return for the million dollars,
more or less, the people of the state pay
annually in the name of education, is
the question that primarily concerns
those who are solicitous for Vermont's
best and most enduring welfare.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-03-25

along the gang-plank to the wharf. No
one of great crowd of negroes lifted a
finger to protect their colored brother
or even called "police." The rever-
end Investigator had the white brute
arrested, but believes he was directly lib
Grated. He also had the Negro, whose
leg had been broken, among other in
juries, taken to hospital. He talked
the matter over with educated colored
men and strove to stir them up to main
tain their rights, but "no spark was
elected that ended in action" "The
lack of self-assertion, he declares,
(Which l found even in educated black
circles in this and other cases on the
topic of their own most sacred civil
and personal rights impressed me pro-
foundry, and brought me home with a
heavy heart The black man must
learn to stand alone. The Negro can
not be carried and dawdled into pros
perity. 1t is hard to make an empty
bag stand upright, as Franklin saba
Boston boy; and there is reason for
preaching this severe truth on the Gulf
to the entire colored race, bronze and
black" AS the numbers and educa-
ton of the Negroes enlarge" argues
Mr.. Cook, they will become more
self-assertive, and it will be more and
more difficult for the whites of the
Southern States to defraud them of
their civil rights. There are one hun
dred newspapers in the South owned
and edited by Negroes. My expectation
is that the blacks, concentrated in the
Gulf States and in the warmest portions
of the Atlantic seaboard will, perhaps,
in twenty or twenty-five years, assert
themselves and prove their right to the
use of their rights. l hope that the
political party now at the front will as
sist them in such an execution of law.
But without some aid from the Nation,
it will be very long before the states
that have majority of black votes
will allow these votes to be fairly
counted. AS long as the
black race does not assert its rights,
there will be. solid South. AS long as
the more intelligent portions of the
black race in voting for great ideas are
not willing, if necessary, to vote against
their own color, there will be solid
South" Mr.. Cook turns from the in
efficiency of democrats and republicans
in carrying into practice their asser-
tons that the rights of the Negro must
be maintained, and rests his hope for
the freedman on the efforts of the
church and school. I" We must" he
says, " redouble our energies as edu-
Gators of those who are so largely cast
out of the public schools in the South.
We must initiate our New England
Peabody in providing large funds for
the support of educational enterprises
there. We must do our part in the ex-
tirpation of illiteracy in the populations
to which we gave the suffrage. We
must pour treasure into the hands of
managers Of colleges for freedmen"
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-03-25
On the 10Th instant the British force

On the 10Th instant the British force
at Suakim made reconnaissance of the
Arab position, and sharp engagement
ensued. On Monday, while they were
constructing defences, seven miles
southwest of Suakim, they were sur
prised by the Arabs and a desperate
battle was fought. The English were
at first thrown into confusion. The
Arabs swarmed from their places of
concealment on all sides and attacked
with great ferceness. They glided and
crept among the animals in all direc-
tions, speared the men and killed or
hamstrung the animals. They fought
savagely, but the contest was between the
spear and fanatical valor on one side,
and, on the other, the firearms of mod
ern warfare in the hands of trained and
resolute Europeans. Overwhelming
numbers do not suffice, in all cases, to
even up the advantages, and the Eng
fish were again an overmatch for the
swarms of dusky assailants. This bat
tie marks the beginning of the deter
mined advance towards Berber.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-03-25

THE Rutland Herald has become no.
torious, if not eminent, in the trial of
murder cases by newspaper, especially
cases in Washington county. With
wolfish ferocity it howled for Almon
Meaker's blood, and now, while San
ders is on trial for his life before jury
of his peers, it is bounding him to the
scaffold. The respondent is in the
hands of the judge and jury, the state
is prosecuting and counsel are defend
ing, and justice, we believe, will be
done. When this has failed, for what
ever reason, the failure may be a fit
subject for newspaper criticism. The
Herald quotes some opinions Horace
Greeley is said to have had on private
vengeance, in all of which law-abiding
people will fully concur. Greeley is
further quoted as having observed
that the men who do not hesitate to in
flict domestic wrong were the first to
revenge it by murder" However this
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-03-25

In making his appointments to office,
President Cleveland is still surprising
the country and disappointing the office
seekers. During the past week he has
passed by the crowd of place-hunters
and made Malcolm Hay of Pennsyl-
vania first assistant postmaster-gen-
eral, Milton j. Durham of Kentucky.
first controller of the treasury, and Mar
tin V. Montgomery of Michigan, COM
missioner OF patents. These are &C.
knowledged to be good appointments
and entirely in harmony with the presi-
dents doctrine that public Office is a
public trust. On Monday Edward J.
Phelps of Vermont was nominated for
minister to England, Governor McLane
OF Maryland to France, and ex-senator
Pendleton Of Ohio to Germany. Yer
monters, without distinction of party,
will be gratified with the selection of
Mr.. Phelps for the highest of the dip
lomatic missions. These appoint
ments have solid merit for their basis.
There is no other reason why Mr..
Cleveland should come to Vermont for
minister to England, send Governor
McLane, the opponent of the German
faction, to France, and Pendleton, the
champion of the civil service bill and
so much out of sympathy with the domi-
nant faction of his own state that he
was retired to private life, to Germany.
These are not the selections of poll
tician.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-03-25

The civil service law, while very good,
is only step in the right direction. 1
think that its scope can be enlarged
with profit to the public service. 1
would like to see the time come when
we could eliminate the spoils system
from our political campaigns. can
see no reason why person holding a
non-political Office should have any
more fear of being disturbed, so long
as he attends to his duties, than he
would if he was employed by private
corporation. / think the same princi-
pie should apply"
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-03-25

THE Boston Journal peevishly re-
marks that it is curious that Mr.
Blaine cannot even make call of
courtesy upon the president without
being assailed and misrepresented."
Respecting certain comments which, it
alleges, the visit has caused, the Jour
nal adds: sit is difficult to say
whether the venom or the absurdity of
such insinuations is the more conspicu-
ous." If provocation is producing the
usual consequences, retaliation in kind,
the Journal should be the last to COM
plain. Fair-minded people are think
ing that it is not only curieus," but
indecent also, that a president who
is keeping faith with the people
should be "assailed and misrepre-
sented" by the Journal. That sheet
has habitually received the presidents
professions with gibes, and greeted COM
mendable acts with silence or passed
them by with sneering comments. The
" only morning and evening republican
paper" at the Club" seems to be
under orders to discredit, through va
rious channels" the new administra-
ton for protesting and practicing the
cardinal principles of the republican
party. 1t is, indeed, " difficult to say
whether the venom or the absurdity of
such insinuations is the more conspicu-
ous." The suspicion the Journals
course excites is that it is more afraid
that President Cleveland will, than
that he will not, live up to his prom
Uses. The Journal seems to act as if
the faults of the enemies of the repub-
lican party, and not its own virtues,
are the sole hope and chance of the
future success of the party-a change
in the relative position of republicans
and democrats which we protest has
not taken place. President Cleveland,
in what he has said and what he has
done, thus far, has been on old, familiar
republican ground, and republicans, in
stead of nagging him, should, as we are
glad to see general disposition to do,
make him feel entirely at home in his
position and not embarrass him with
factional opposition.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-03-25

Middlesex.-The singing-school at Shady
Rill, taught by Professor 4. r. Ober, closes
next week with festival of song, which
will begin Tuesday, March 3lst and will
continue three days. Singers from other
towns are invited to be present, and it
is believed that the occasion will be very
enjoyable. - The family of VIM. o. Cum
mings has been greatly afflicted during the
past few months. Last September his oldest
daughter was taken very sick with typhoid
fever, and in three weeks two more daugh-
ters were taken down with fever. His
second daughter, Emma, died after less
than three weeks illness. The day she was
buried son came down with the same
fever, and, in February, his wife was taken
sick with pneumonia. She was just slowly
recovering from this illness when Mr.. Cum
mings' father, Deacon Ichabod Cummings,
was seized with the same disease. He died
March 9th, aged eighty-two years and six
months. He had lived on the same farm
since 1926, having cleared his farm and
built his buildings in then almost I'M
broken Wilderness He retained his MEM
Dry, hearing and eyesight, rarely using spec
tacles. Mr.. Cummings is greatly missed
both by children and grandchildren, to
whose needs he was ever ready to minister
in sickness or health. Mrs. Fanny
Flint fell in her room, last week, breaking
her hip. She lies in critical condition,
with no hope of recovery. Her age is nearly
ninety years.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-03-25
The Reorganization Of the South
ern States.

In the prelude of his lecture of
March 8, Rev. Joseph Cook, in discuss
ing the southern question, took account
of some important elements which are
apt to be overlooked in considering the
problem Of the reorganization of the
South Mr.. Cook says: "There has
never yet been great and energetic
white people in a land on which the
snow never falls. There have been
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-03-25

may be, it is remarked as one of the
outcroppings in the Sanders-Carr case
that the men who scorn to infict do
nestle wrong are the most lenient in
their judgment, while the inflicters of
domestic wrong are among the fore
most to denounce Sanders deed, and
most fervid in expressions of hope
that he will be hanged. Every lecher-
GUS sinner in the community is an
anxious spectator of the trial, appar-
emily shaking in his boots for the con-
sequences that may follow failure to
convict the respondent of murder in
the first degree. The warning and the
moral is commended to the most SOL
emn consideration of the SHINING.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-03-25

East Montpelier.-H. A. Gould, having
made his parents a brief visit, returned to
Lincoln last week. He is to take the part
of "Scud, colored servant" in the drama
Among the Breakers" which is being
brought out by the Lincoln cornet band
dramatic club in Lincoln and neighboring
towns. - Eugene Hathaway has rented
a house at the North village and is prepar-
ing to move. - Ed. johnson of Worces-
ter, Mass. is visiting friends and relatives
in town. - e. S. Cummings arrived
from Brooktield Mass, last week. -
Mrs. S. p. Slayton is spending few days,
or weeks, at H. III. Templeton's. - G.
w. Flagg of Braintree was in town last week.
- The friends of Mrs. III. o. Steward
had planned to give her surprise last Sat
urday evening, it being the anniversary of
her birthday, but the high winds had
rendered the roads impossible, and the
party is postponed indefinitely. Here
is case of putting on the wrong coat that
is too good to keep. One of our tOwnsmen
who was widower with several children,
took to himself better-half some months
ago, and about that time we made mention
of frugal maiden who had adopted five
motherless pigs, and forthwith our newly
married townsman was in a great rage, sup
posing the item had reference to his mar
rage. We beg pardon, and confess that we
did not know such a man lived in town till
quite recently. The pigs referred to were
veritable pigs and the maiden lady is a
maiden still, respected and beloved by all
father of English poetry that whatever
came to him bearing the name of Godfrey
Chaucer he accepted and was thankful for
and when people will accept as personal
only such items as bear their names we
shall be thankful
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-03-25

Vershire.-Some two years since, Frank
Fits of this town sprained his ankle and
has been great sufferer ever since. Quite
number OF medical men have prescribed
for him, but without aifording relief. Ro-
Gently he has had the leg amputated.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-03-25
GOULDSVILLE.

The ice-cream party held by the Good
Templars, Tuesday evening of last week,
was a pleasant occasion. The proceeds
amounted to $40, which sum was given to
Rev. w. b. Worthing, their worthy chief
templar, as a present. - The singing
school taught by Professor ODER is nearly
through. The term has been a very pleas
ant one to both teacher and scholars, the
The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-07-17
THE AXE STUCK In THE BLOCK.
CLEVELAND CLOSES OUT THE OFTEN
SIvE PARTNERSHIP HUMBuGGERY.
Wonder VIVA. is the Occasion of I.p

WASHINGTON, July 13.-The Erening Star
gives prominence 10 the following: The
President has called for halt. A little
over o week ago an order went out TO all
departments that all dismissals and Apo int
ments TO fill places not vacant must stop at
once. A stop was put to all work in the
appointment division in the Treasury De-
partment, and the appointment clerk was
told that no more commissions we're TO be
made cut or papers considered until further
orders, and lot Of changes that were con-
templated by him were killed in their con-
ception. Commissioner of Pensions Black
was sent for personally by the President,
and was given to understand that the Often
sive partizsnship cry had become too indef-
mite in Its meaning, and that no more
changes In bis official force we're to be made
until there was q thorough investigation of
the subject on the part Of the President.
The result was that orders for number Of
changes in the pension Office were counter
manded, and everything put at . standstill.
The President, 1t is understood, then had an
understanding with the heads Of the post
Office and other departments, declaring his
policy to be to stand by the civil service re-.
form declaration In his letter to Curtis and
In his address on the 4th of March. "Re-
moval for cause" be held 10 mean that and
not removed with excuses. The result Is
that the axe has been stuck In the hlnnk and
Is still there. How far the thing is to 60 can
but merely be surmised, but 1t is true that
The President Is decidedly in earnest, and
does not intend that his declarations shall
be Ignored.
The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-07-17
ASSAYER HARRISON.


Complete Vindieation of His Official Conduct
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, July lid. S. Al
exander, Fifth Auditor of the Treasury, Is
here on a visit. Speaking Of the charges
preferred against Russell B. Harrison, as
sayer of the mint at Helena, Alexander says
that rigid examination by LAWYER, assayer
Of the Treasury Department, assisted by the
U. s. Attorney for the Territory, occupied
ten days or more, and covers, as the testimo-
ny shows, about everything he has done for
the last five years, not only rs an official but
in his private business affairs. The testimo-
ny was submitted to the Secretary of the
Treasury, and by him referred to A. McCue,
Solicitor of the Treasury, who dismissed the
matter with a report Of less than twenty
lines, to the effect simply that the charges
were not sustained and recommending that
no further action be taken in the premises.
In speaking of the matter to Alexander,
Judge McCue stated that nothing in the
whole affair reflected in the least on Harri-
son. Assayer LAWYER, in reporting the con-
dition of the Office to the Director of the
Mint, said that he found that an admirable
system was observed in keeping the book
accounts and records, and that although the
work of the Office had been unusually heavy,
owing to the large increase in the number
and value of deposits, yet the returns had
been promptly made to depositors.