Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-01-30

tive, Crab-like nature OF Its political inf1u-
ence. The Fair Haven Era says: ut looks
as though the Rutland Heralds candidate
for the governorship, Levant M. Read,
will share the same fate that has over
taken all those so unfortunate as to be
doomed in late years by that paper"
In response to ex-senator T. c. Platt's
charge against the authorities of New
York city that ",The conduct of the chiefs
of the present reform administration has
been a thousand times more disgraceful
than any of the known transactions of
Tammany Hail." Mayor Strong offers to
during his term oV office. Here is a
chance for Platt to earn $500 very easily,
If he knows whereof he spoke.
Among the various bills introduced in
Congress, for the reorganization of the
army, Senator Proctor's attracts as much
attention as any. or more. His bill raises
the maximum number of enlisted men from
$4,000 to 10000. 1t keeps the number of
cavalry regiments at 10, as now, raises
the artillery regiments from five to six,
and reduces the infantry regiments from
rs to "a. Each infantry regiment is
to contain twelve companies forming
three battalions of four companies EACH
instead of ten companies to a regiment
as nominally now, and is to have two
majors, instead of one as now. The bill
further provides that all original vacan-
cies created or caused by it shall be filled
by seniority promotion, and that, after
they have been filled. promotion shall be
by seniority in the respective arms.
indications of Peace With England.
Premier Salisbury of England Is
famed for the tenacity with which he
clings to his opinions and the bulldog
grip with which he holds to policy He
seldom lets go so long as there is any pos
sbility of accomplishing his end, and he
has been known to persist even when It
was known that his course would end in
disaster. Salisbury's obstinacy has been
the one discouraglng feature in connec-
ton with the effort to settle peaceably the
Venezuelan controversy, and but for this
characteristic the chances are that the
war cloud that lowered between the
United States and Great Britain would
have lifted long ago.
But the time is near at hand when Pre-
mier Salisburys government must make
a declaration of it's intentions. Parlia-
ment is to reassemble in few days, and in
the formulation of the speach by courtesy
called the queens" the ministry will be
expected to announce the policy which
they have determined to adopt with ref
erence to the settlement of the Venezue-
Ian boundary dispute. According to late
advices from England, unless the gov
eminent shall be able to announce in the
queens speech, which will be read at the
opening Of parliament, that there Is a
definite prospect of a speedy arrangement
of the difficulty with the United States,
the question of arbitration will be the
subject of the leading appointment to the
address In reply to the speech.
1t is pointed out that inasmuoh as a
large section of the conservative party
share the opinions of the liberals with
reference to the desirability of arbitration
the ministry will have to be provided with
satisfactory explanations of the whole
course Of their dealings with the govern.
ment in Washington, or risk a division
anJfnasmuch as this would tend to shake
ne position of the government, Salisbur,
dan not afford to allow the emergency
MINED to arise.
1T has been evident to all who have giver
this controversy intelligent thought that q
square back down on the part of Salisbur,
from his position declining to submit tn,
! whole controversy to arbitration would b,
NECESSARY unless his government succeed
ed m-treatng directly with Venezuela
and thus avoiding the necessity of the in.
tervention of the United States. This tn,
premier could not reasonably be expectet
to do readily in view of his past record
but indications are not wanting that h,
is being forced to this course by the over
whelming trend of English public opinion
Latest advices from London go to show
that the voice of the press and platform
as a rule call not only for arbitration an,
peace but also for an increase in amt,
with the United States.
The Marquis of Lansdowne, secretar,
of state for war, In a speech recently q
Salisbury, held that the solution of tn,
difficulty would leave the two nation.
firmer friends than ever. 1t is stated
moreover, that even the recent exhibition
of Anglophobia on the part of certain
members Of the United States Congress
did not excite an extra throb Of the publ
pulse in England or lessen the effusiv
protests by public speakers Of Great Brit
aims genuine friendship for America.
The most encouraging indication O
peace. however, was furnished by tn
speech of Joseph Chamberlain, Secretar,
of State for the colonies, In his speech a
Birmingham on Saturday evening. Afte
referring to the trivial nature of the mat
ter under dispute he expressed the belle
that the American people and all that 1
best In the United States would regar
with horror needless war with thei
own blood and kindred
ha A n.