The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-11-10

lily lOSb ny uIOlCuoOu SOhohLhPbiCh VIM
decreased values during Mr.. Cleve.
lands last administration about four
hundred million dollars.
HISTORY has chalked up one more
score against free trade. Now that the
Wilson law has been obliterated from
the statute books and the protective
tariff law enacted and put into opera
ton, which has brought prosperity TO
the country, it is demonstrated and
will be recorded by future historians
that the cause of the depression from
1893 to 1896 was due to the Wilson low
tariff measure.
THE keystone of the instructions
given to Consul General Lee, who will
return TO Cuba this week with the ex-
pressed intention to remain until the
war is over, was watchfulness of the
persons and interests OF American citi-
zens in Cuba, and in order to impress
those instructions the more strongly
upon the mind of General Lee, they
were given in person by President Nc
Kinley. There are no new develop
ments concerning the relations between
this country and Spain and none are
expected in the immediate future, SEN
sational rumors to the contrary notwith.
standing.
SEVERAL weeks ago President Nc
Kinley directed the members of his
cabinet to reduce their department esti
mates to Congress to an economical
basis. This is move in the right di-
rection. President Cleveland urged
upon Congress the necessity of economy,
while at the same time the estimates
from the Treasury and other depart.
ments were certainly extravagant. Con-
gress in its action naturally follows the
estimates of the departments as the
official utterance of the administration.
rather than the suggestions of the
President. -
ONE of the most notable phases Of
the campaign ia Maryland was the tre-
mendous fight made against German
by the Baltimore Sun. In its long
struggle against corrupt bossism, the
Sun made great impression upon the
Maryland democracy, and the fact that
the Republicans captured Baltimore in
the elections last week, proved the ex-
tent of the power of this newspaper.
The fight was a desperate one and
German, while defeated by narrow
margin, was aided by the general resc-
ton against Republicanism and by the
sulking of Senator Wellington, his Re.
publican colleague.
The annual report of Hon. h. Clay
Evans, commissioner of pensions, has
been made public. 1t shows the net
increase in the total number Of pen.
sioners for the year ending June &c.
last, to have been 1886, and the total
number drawing pensions on that date
976014. There are still seven widows
and nine daughters of revolutionary
soldiers drawing pensions. Among the
important recommendations of the re.
port are the publication of complete
list Of pensioners, and the adoption oil
legislation by Congress that will pro
hibit the payment of pension to the
widow of any soldier of the war of the
rebellion who shall marry after the
date upon which such law shall go into
effect. .
1T is expected that in his forthcom
ing report the Secretary of the Navy
will recommend large appropriation
for the extension of the navy and thu
improvement of the coast defences
1t would seem wise for Congress to &C
upon such commentators. While
war with Spain or any other nation il
not probable, this country cannot affort
not to be ready for all emergencies
An expenditure of few millions Of
dollars in this way now may save tn,
country hundred times as much il
the near future. The wisest sort o.
economy which the United States coult
practice would be to put itself in {
thorough state of defence upon its sea
board. America is the most peaceablt
nation in existence to-day, and in or
der that we may continue in peace VIC
must show the world that we are pre-
pared for war. -
SECRETARY WILSON expresses it Of
his opinion, in his annual report, thai
every foreign embassy should have 6
man thoroughly familiar with the
methods and duties of the Department
of Agriculture 80 that he can wher
called upon by the Department, make
an intelligent report upon the agricul