The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-06-23

prominence. 1t naturally follows that
the larger and older colleges have sue.
ceeded in placing their honorary de-
grees in more worthy hands than have
the smaller institutions, but even the |
former are not blameless in this mat
ter. Several years ago Harvard Col
lege abolished the custom of making
every Massachusetts, governor doctor
of Laws, and it might carry this re-
form farther with consistency.
THE Universal Postal Congress which
closed its sessions in Washington last
week, although extraordinary in its
representative character, did its work
in quiet and business-like way, at
tracing much less attention than would
some political convention, or some
noisier bodies that were far less able to
enforce their conclusions in all parts of
the world. An indication of the con-
sentative character of this congress is
shown by the adoption of the small
number of the many radical and far
reaching changes that were suggested
before it convened. But, on the other
hand, the record of work accomplished
by this Congress is sufficient to justify
the coming together of delegates from
great distances. Its work was confined
largely to practical matters with refer
ence to mercantile uses. The charges
which intermediate countries may make
for mail matter carried across them,
for delivery beyond, was one of earnest
consideration, and was surrounded with
many difficulties and conflicting inter-
ests. The general result achieved was
the lowering of charges during the in
terval before the next meeting of the
Congress, in Rome, in 1908. Among
other important matters settled were
the fixing of the weight allowance for
samples of merchandise, and declaring
that typewriter circulars, all of the
same character, in quantities of twenty,
can 60 in international mails at the
same rate as printed circulars. This
postal union now has the adhesion of
all civilized nations. OF the three out
side at the beginning of the session in
Washington, Korea was admitted dur
ing the session, and the other two,
China and the Orange Free State, an
nounced their purpose to conform to it's
regulations as soon as practicable.
The nomination of Gen. Stewart L.
Woodford to BIZ United States minister
to Spain, is gratifying to thoughtful
and patriotic citizens of all classes of
political opinion. Gen. Woodford has
been on the clean side of republican
questions, on the right side of civic
questions and on the earnest side of ed
ucational, social and moral questions.
His military record is without a stain,
and his political career has been
straightforward and unselfsh. His Of
fetal record has been creditable to his
politics and indicative of capacity for
any duties which he may be induced to
undertake. He has qualities which
will be of special service to his country
in the Spanish commission, and i'm
pressive manners which will favorably
impress the punctilious and ceremoni-
GUS court to which he will be accredited.
His resolve to thoroughly master the
spirit Of his instructions and faithfully
undertake to carry them out should
render him unusually helpful to this
country in the serious work to be de-
volved upon his Office by the necessity
for this government, for the sake of hui
manity, to insist that Cuba shall &C.
complish her desires and attain her
freedom in the way which will lead her
people to prosperity and boundless de-
velopment. General Woodford has
many admirers among the republicans
who attended the national convention,
which nominated Hayes and Wheeler.
After Hayes was nominated, General
Wheeler heard that the Indiana dele
cation had decided to support him for
the vice presidency. According to
Col. W. r. Holloway, who was there,
and who is now in Washington, this
is what Gen. Woodford said to his
Indiana friends: "No, no, gentle
men, don't think of that, William A.
Wheeler is a stronger man in the state
of New York than 1 am, and 1 beg
that you will give him Indiana's thirty
votes. What we need and must have
to elect Gov. Hayes, is New York's
electoral vote. Don't consider me for
one moment, but vote for my friend,
Wheeler, and assist us to carry the En-
pire state for the nominee of this con-
Vention." The result is history.