The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-05-01

lny the historic old town, It's industries,
and its many attractions. The supple
ment is profusely illustrated with cuts
of residences, mills, public buildings
and prominent citizens. 1t is an exceed
ingly creditable production, and we ten
der our esteemed semi-weekly contem-
porary our hearty congratulations on
the successful execution of 80 difficult
an enterprise. -
"SINCE the Waterman agrees with
with us as TO the abolition Of town rep
resentation," etc. Sol This question
had attained vigorous manhood before
the Oldest of the newspaper writers
now in active service took up the quill.
The Burlington Ne,Os, not yet out of its
swaddling clothes, exhibits the zeal
freshness of new recruit. Vermont
had been making history some four
generations before the NelDs was born,
and some of its newspapers had made
records in reformatory work, legislative
and otherwise. -
GREAT BRITAIN has landed marines
at Corinto, the Nicaraguan port of en-
try on the Pacific coast, seized the GUS
tom house and assumed the sovereignty
Of the port. Her preteuse is that she
will hold Corinto only till her claim of
$4,000 is satisfied Great Britain has
given the United States " assurances"
to this effect, and the administration
has allowed the occupation of Nicara-
guam territory to take place without
protest or interference of any kind.
The Nicaraguan government has closed
Corinto as port of entry and given no.
tice that British receipts for customs
will not be recognized. Under the cir
cumstances, and, as the invaders will
deduct from the customs receipts the
expense of collection. the occupation of
the port. if it continues till the claim is
paid, is likely to be permanent. 1t is
generally admitted that in the landing
of foreign force at CorInto without
protest or opposition from the United
States, a dangerous precedent has been
established. What England has done
in Nicaragua, that power or any other
may do in any other South or Central
American republic, under similar cir
cumstances. From start to finish, Great
Britain's course in this matter is one of
unwarrantable and unjustifable agrees
sion, and the course of President Cleve-
land comes dangerously near the dead
level of imbecility. Every true Amer
lean is signing for an hour of Benz amin
Harrison and James G. Blaine at Wash
ington.
Col. FRANKLIN FAIRBANKS, whose
serious illness was reported last week,
died at ST. Johnsbury, Wednesday even
ing, April "a. Colonel Fairbanks was
born June 2S, 1928. His span of life
measured the inception of the manu-
facture of scales and its development
till the products of the St. Johnsbury
works have gone to every civilized
country on the globe. Other scales are
extensively manufactured, but the Fair
banks have easily held the front rank
and are striking illustration of Amer
lean pre-eminence in an industry re-
quiring the best and most delicate me.
chanical skill and the highest quality of
business management. But the Fair
bankses have been distinguished for
good staying, rather than for brilliant,
qualities. They have grown up with
their manufactures and they have re-
tanned through life mechanics and bust
ness lieutenants of proved skill, capac-
ity and faithfulness. All used their
money freely for the upbuiding of St.
Johnsbury, and the town exhibits with
pride museums of natural scien ce, IL
braries, churches, Y. M. G. A. and
school buildings, that are among the
benefactions of various members of the
family. Colonel Fairbanks was not be-
hind his kindred in the making of mag
nifcent gifts, and in the development,
of schemes for the benefit of the town
He was prominently connected with
several important business projects Of
the country, including the Nicaragua
canal. He was an active republican
and had an ambition for political hon
ors, but he was not an apt politician
and never advanced beyond the speak
ership of the house in 1872. Very nat
urally, st. Johnsbury was deeply moved
by his departure and her demonstra
tions of sorrow were of the most marke
character.