Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-03-06
CURRENT AFFAIRS.
EDITORTtL BRiEF,S.

'eheIhl oJeWaft l.. WpOdlOrd, well re
membered in Bratteburo as "A rarely effect
i've campaign speaker has been elected
member Of the Republican general commit
tee Of Kings county, N. Y, from the TWEEN
ty-second ward Of Brooklyn.
The leading wholesale merchants. export
ers and others Of New York citv to the
number Of more than 100, have shown
their appreciation Of Mr. Blaines able and
successful efforts in behalf Of reciprocal
trade with South American countries by
sending him testimonial expressing this
appreciation in formal terms.
One Of the leading Democratic charges
against the new tariff hill was that it
raised the price of pearl buttons Aud
now comes news of two foreign concerns,
one from France aud one from Austria,
coming to this country and importing ma
chinery to set up pearl button factories, to
give employment TO American wurkmen.
Senator Blair of New Hampshire, who
failed Of a reelection, was nominated by the
President last Friday to he mii ister to
China. The nomination was an all-around
surprise, hut it gave general satisfaction,
because Mr. Blair is personally one of the
most popular men in Washington. He was
promptly confirmed 10y the Senate the same
day. The salary is Sl2, 800
Secretary Proctor tells Mr.. Crawford of
the New York Tribune that the cost Of the
recent Indian war was only about ; OOO
600, instead Of $4,000 600 as has been re
ported. 1t is the secretary's plan to enlist
5000 Indians IN the army, If he can get
authority to do so He already has author
ity to enlist 1000 Indians as scouts. Con
trary to what many would expect, the Indi-
ans make excellent soldier, They are nat.
ural born horsemen, they have courage
without limit, anl once get them out Of
their blankets war paint and feathers aud
put them into United States uniforms, and
they are transformed from law oilers into
active, alert soldiers, amenable to disci
pline, and full Of pride in their place. and
in their individual and collective bearing
There was excitement in Paris last week
fermented mainly by the Boulangist ele-
city Of the ex Empress Frederick Of Ger
many, who paid the visit as a conciliatorv |
act ON the part Of the German emperor. |
and to test the feeling toward Germany as |
II nov exists in Paris. As measure of |
conciliation the visit was not a success. II
was evident that the French hatred of the
Germans is as bitter now as il was 20 years
ago. There was no open insult or out
break, but it was found advisable for the
eN empress to shorten her visit, and when
she left the city on Friday she did 50 uuiet
~ aud 10y "A route not known to the public
From Calai, she sailed across the channel
n the royal Yacht to Dover, where she WAS
greeted with II cordial public demonstra-
ion
A banquet Is t. be held at Chattanooga.
Tenn on the 10th inst which will have
ioleful interest for the free traders " ho con
tantly proclaim the new tariff to be the eue-
ny Of every American interest The banquet
will he held under the auspices Of the Chat
anooga steel company. aud will celebrate
he successful establishment Of the Ameri-
AN tin plate industry, giving employment
to hundreds aud thousands Of
american workmep. The service for the
'ccasion will he made wholly Of American
IN plate, and the table ware is now being
prepared at the Niedringhaus works in ST.
.ous The steel is made at Chattanooga
rom southern ore. The plates are rolled
md timed at st Louis Finally. to nuke
hr American character Of the product com
'lete beyond the most captious Mugwump
even the tin with which the plate
$ coated is an American product coming
rom the Black Hills In this connection let
he noted that news has come within few
lays of the establi, ,hment Of tin p ate plants
II Chicago, Cleveland, Demmer. st. Louis.
md South Joliet, Ill., At the latter place
lumher Of manufacturers from Wales are
Interested. aud at the head are the Lewis
Bros. Of Pittshurg, formerly of England.
The plant will cost half million dollars
when completed