The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-09-15


abandon their party and install a mug
wump party in its place.
WHEN the great earthquakes that
shattered Charleston occurred the sun
and the moon were both pulling to-
gether on one side of the earth Now
the moon is nearing a point directly
opposite to the sun, so that they will
presently be pulling in contrary direc-
tons. Some seismologists think earth
quakes are more likely to occur when
the sun and moon occupy with respect
to the earth the two positions Just de-
scribed, and statistics have been OBJ
tanned tending to support such an
opinion.-Sn.
THE Salt Lake Tribune sounds the
alarm that unless the people of the
Northern States exert themselves as
they never have before Utah will make
state next winter. Three electoral
votes for the democratic party is the
bait, and "the contract has already
been made with the Mormons to de-
liver Utah into the Union as state be-
fore the 4th of March next" The
Mormon chiefs are confident that they
will be prosecuted no more, and this
confidence never came by any inspira-
ton beyond that of sealed bargain.
IT will read strangely in the future
history of the United States that mi
nority of the white citizens of this
country could neutralize and destroy
the franchise of 100000 colored peo-
Pile, seize their representative and
electoral strength and continue the adj
ministration of the national government
against a large majority of the un-
doubted legal voters. And yet that is
what is going on in the South and what
has been going on since 1877. Ac-
quiescence in the practice does not
change its character, but only involves
others in moral responsibility attending
so grave an offence.-Jdnes q. Blaine.
THE democratic papers have been
greatly amused over what was doubtless
wilful misrepresentation of Senator
Frye's remarks about Mr.. Blaine in a
recent speech made by the senator at
Houlton, Me. He was charged with
saying that Mr.. Blaine's skirts were
just little smirched. Any one know
ing the relations of the two men would
know that Senator Frye never said
anything that could suggest such an
idea, and having had his attention
called to it he repudiates the utterapce
in the most emphatic manner possible
Three or four alleged republican papers
in Vermont picked up Mr.. Frye's re.
ported remark, and tried to use it in
defence of Mr.. Edmunds' course in
1884.
MUNDANE experiences this year are
extraordinary in every way. The
earthquakes, though the most startling
form but single feature in the many
phenomena which have appeared
The meteorological record is not the
least remarkable part of the story. The
great wind-storms of the spring and
early summer have been succeeded in
our own country by unparalleled drouth
and for weeks past large areas have
been parched and blackened by the
fiery heat of the sun. Certain regions
in Texas seem to have suffered most
from this cause, and sad report comes
to the effect that in an area 300 miles
wide and 500 miles long over 0,00(
families are in utter restitution. Withir
the territory mentioned-a kingdom il
eXtent-no rain has fallen during the
present year. Another dispatch states
that in Jones and Stonewall counties
the drouth has continued without relic
for fourteen months.
FRANCIS MURPHY, the apostle o
gospel temperance, next to Fathe
Mathew has done more to promote thu
cause of temperance than any othel
man that has lived in modern times
| Speaking recently of the criticism O.
Sam. Jones upon his views with regard
to prohibitory party, Mr.. Murphy
said: 6 do not care to criticise or in
terfere with Jones. This is a large
country and there is room for every one
If Mr.. Jones has good method thu
people will be happy to accept and adop
it, and by their fruits We shall know
them. have no time to fight tn,
friends of temperance. Let them turn
theiI guns upon the enemies of tenn
perance and cease firing into othe
ranks" "What is your exact position
with regard to the prohibition of thu
liquor traffic?" Mr.. Murphy was asked
His reply was: 81 am in favor of III,
prohibition of the liquor traffic by The
people, but on non-partisan platform.
WE extract the following "gem
from the mugwump Boston Herald:
The action of Mr.. Edmunds in the lates
presidential campaign was the first exhib
ton of independence of party that has com
from him. 1t may not be the last. He
not of the class of minds that are whippe
into the party traces when their conviction
are involved. III the republican party sha
repeat its action of two years ago in the cor
test which is to come two years in til
future, it may be sure that the Vernon
senator will meet it again at Philippi. III
will be the Vermont senator still on tha
occasion. The election of Tuesday ha
settled that point. Mr.. Edmunds made n
apology for his action in refusing to spea
for Mr.. Blaine. He simply explained tina
this was impossible without sacrifice
manliness on his part The voters of Vel
mont understood the situation, and the
have acted in view of it. Some of thei
called their senator mugwump in the cal
vass. 1t is clear that the term at least pa
TALLY applies to him, but it had no terror
TO Vermont voters. They have sustaine
Mr.. Edmunds just the same.
AS we expected, the mugwump paper
regard the result in Vermont as viz
| 1;nntinp nf tho n1nuWupn nnlipy