The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-09-29
ARTHUR ROPES. General Editor.


The depressing and dreary statement
regarding the enormous number of
business failures all over the country
during the last four years Of Cleve-
lands administration is gradually dis
appearing. During the second week of
the present September only 100 fail
ures were reported, while those of the
corresponding week of 1893 were 346.
THOSE Democratic employees Of the
Sixth Auditors Office who secured pro-
motion under the last administration
solely because they were Democrats,
each man promoted displacing a Re-
publican who was reduced, are much
alarmed over the official announcement
of the present Sixth Auditor, Hon.
Henry A. Castle, of his intention to
compel every man 30 promoted to prove
his right to draw the increased salary
by the record of his work, or 10 be re-
duced to salary in keeping with his
working record. -
CUBAN victories are ominously fire.
quent and continuous. On an average
they number two or three week, while
those on the Spanish side are few and
far between, even according to Spanish
reports. 1t seems clear that General
Weyler and his men are losing heart.
Even if there should be no complica-
ton with the United States, it is hard
ly probable that Spain can maintain
control much longer of any part of
Cuba outside of Havana and few of
the sea port cities. The outlook for
the patriots is indeed bright.
THE vigor and promptness with
which President Diaz of Mexico is
seeking out the law-breakers who re-
Gently lynched his assailant, sheds new
light upon the character of the Presi-
dent of Mexico. The news of the
lynching was received everywhere
with satisfaction, for President Diaz is
hero in the eyes of his people. The
fact that public opinion is now behind
the government of Mexico, in its rigor-
GUS measures against the perpetrators
of the more recent outrage, speaks very
strongly for the personal power of the
President.
WHILE is is true that the newspaper
stories regarding the financial condi-
ton of the western farmer has prob
ably been exaggerated, there is no dis
putting the fact that his condition to-
day is wonderfully improved. During
the past three years the farmer of the
west has been obliged to practice such
rigid economy, that the slight impove-
ment of the prices in wheat, cattle,
sheep and hogs last fall enabled him
greatly to reduce his debts. With bet
ter prices this fall he is enabled to pay
off his mortgages and to make improve
ments in his farm buildings and on his
farm property that he has never been
able to make before.
A MARKED contrast exists to-day be-
tween the conditions in the United
States and those of the corresponding
period of President Cleveland's last
term. Four years ago, with low tar
iff staring the manufacturers of the
country in the face, business was going
TO smash, banks breaking, railroads CO.
ing into the hands of receivers, fac
tories closing and working men thrown
out of employment by tens of thou
sands. To-day hundreds of thousands
of workmen are finding additional en-
ployment, railroads are ordering new
cars to meet the demands upon them
for transportation of manufactures,
merchandise and grain, the banks re-
port larger deposits and larger cearings
than they have in many years, and, in
stead of banked furnaces and silent fac.
tories, clouds of smoke and the hum of
busy wheels everywhere indicate that
prosperity is among us once more.
THE statement that has been going
the rounds of the press that Kaiser
Wilhelm has squandered $15,O0O,OO0
of the Guelph fund in riotous living has
created no little sensation throughout
court circles in Europe. Were he not
the emperor, the dispatches would say
that he had epbezzled this sum. This
money was taken from blind King
George in 1866, when Bismarck seized
Hanover, and was held in trust for the
heir of the Hanoverian throne. Bis
marck used the income for substituting
the press, the French as we'll as the
German newspapers. The present
ruler of Hanover is the Duke of Cum
berland, cousin of Queen Victoria,
and here is found fresh cause for an
noyance in England. Parliament has
e.