The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-02-20

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PERSUADED by the later misfortunes
10 his army and navy, the emperor of
China has restored to Ii Hung Chang
his elaborate wardrobe, yellow jacket,
peacock feathers and all, and, thus be-
digit, the viceroy has set sail for Japan
to patch up treaty with the conquer
ing islanders. At Port Arthur and
Wei-Hai-Wei the Japanese knocked
away the outer portals to Pekin, and
the capital of the celestials is now open
to the near approach and probable en-
try of the victorious forces of the
Mkado.
Tom PLATT's charge of bad faith
against Mayor Strong will pass by him
like the idle wind Mr.. Plat made the
same charge against Presidents Hayes,
Garfield, Arthur and Harrison, against
Senator Conkling, Gov. Cornell and
every other public official who sent
him about his business, and the only eff
feet of its revival now against the man
whom the people elected mayor of New
York city will be to intrench that bluff
official more securely in popular favor.
The Plat rising is a conspiracy, in
famous in its utter inexcusableness.
THE Springfield Republican estimates
that &c, 900 Canadians have returned to
Canada during this period of indus
trial depression. When the exodus
began, soon after Mr.. Cleveland's in.
auguration, the Republican, with vision
lighted by faith and intensified by the tri-
umph of mugwumpery, could see that
each conner facing northward was pro.
vided with a return check and would
return when the industrial millennium
then about to dawn should be ushered
in. But the dawn ushered in something
that was not the millennium, the return
checks have been forfeited, the Ca
nadians have not returned, but have
been joined by an innumerahle cara
van that has been steadily moving to
the land of garlic and pea soup. The
heshpots of American industry, once
30 savory, are cold and empty aud have
no charm even for hungry French
Canadian.
THE bids for the completion of the
state insane asylum at Waterbury were
opened on Monday. Eighteen pro-
posals were received, representing
various sections of the country. These
ranged in amount from $S9,663 the
lowest, by Mangson, Davis & Co. of
Chicago, to S143, 1886, the highest-a
very surprising difference. The bid
next in amount to that of the Chicago
firm was for 100000. Several were
from $4,000. to $4,000. The bid COW
ers the entire cost of construction
"from turret to foundation stone," ex-
ceptiny only the provision for heat and
light. The officials had expected that
the work would cost about $4,000.
Chicago's invasion has saved the state
$4,000, and the construction will cost
$50 900 less than the general estimates.
Superintendent Giddings and his fellow
officials are elated over the result of the
bidding. The representative of the sue
cessfu firm was subjected to some good
natured banter as to how much he ex-
pected to lose on the contract, which he
endured with resignation, remarking
that he came east to get this contract,
and he had got it," a kind of way the peo-
pie of the windy city have. The state
has purchased the Sheple farm of sixty
acres, adjoining the asylum property,
for $1,000. Operations will begin in
the spring, buildings along the main
street front of the property will be
moved away, and the asylum will begin
to take on the shape of the original
plan.
HE presidents recent contract with
the agents of foreign bankers for the
delivery, to the United States treasury,
of sum of gold slightly exceeding
$4,000, 900, in exchange for some $685.
100000 of four.perc cent thirty year
bonds, payable in coin, is so severely
criticised, even by men and newspapers
that have heretofore been the constant
defenders of his administration, one
can hardly help feeling of commisera-
ton for the helpless subject of these
structures. Even the saving clause of
the contract, under which thirty-year
bonds at par, payable specifically in
gold at three per cent, might be sub
stituted by congress, if action were
taken within ten days, affords, not
unreasonably, ground for srraigning
the president. 1t should have been
clear to him that congress would never
assent to this nrOnOsition. and ayen If