The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-03-02

SECRETARY LONG has said that
nothing more is known of the real facts
of the explosion that destroyed the
battleship Maine than was disclosed in
Captain Sigsbee's first dispatch. The
naval board that is trying to get at the
bottom facts of this disaster has given
no sign as TO what the evidence it has
taken shows. The divers who are ex-
aiming the hull of the Maine are not
allowed to report their finds or to ex-
press their opinions except to the court
of inquiry. So there is nothing new to
be reported, at the time this paper is
printed, respecting the cause or cir
cumstances of the explosion. Matters
of current discussion, outside of the
Investigations in the harbor of Havana,
are covered by articles on this page.
In respect of the vital facts of the case
the public judgment is still in a state
of unenlightened suspense, the bales
of alleged news that have been printed
to the contrary Notwithstanding.
The third paper on "Raising Colts"
by j. W. Davis of Fairlee, is published
on the sixth page of this issue of the
WATCHMAN. We commend this, and
all in the series, to the careful perusal
Of readers interested in the subject, or
who ought to be 30 interested.
sent for the House to take up the bill,
already passed by the Senate, providing
for the enlistment of two additional
regiments of artillery, in order that the
government might properly man the
batteries of heavy guns which have
been planted in connection with out
sea-coast defences, owing to Democratic
objections, speaks much louder to OBJ
servant persons than do the war whoops
which certain Democrats have recently
been INDUCING in. This temporary de-
lay will not affect the bill, which will
be passed this week, but it should serve
as pointer for all intelligent persons.
GEORGE H. BLAKE editor of the Or
leans County Monitor, died of heart
failure on Saturday last, at his home in,
Barton. Mr.-Biake had been for some
twenty years the editor and publisher
Of the Monitor. He served in the civil
war in the Fifteenth Vermont regi-
ment, attaining to the rank of captain,
and made good record as a soldier.
He had represented his town and
county in each branch of the legisla-
ture and the confidence of his fellow
citizens was further exhibited in choos-
ing him for local offices and trusts.
Mr.. Blake was good speaker, and
when he undertook the task could put
up strong editorial article. He was
stout champion and the cause or can
didate was fortunate that had his sup
port. -
SAYS Jack Harris: "The time for
taking up collection for Cuba is long
past, and what is needed is action. A
treasurer of Cuban relief fund isn't
needed nearly as much just now as a
man with gum" The gun for the
Spaniard, and food for the starving Gu
bans, are immediate and pressing needs.
The manner of the contribution varies.
The gift of bread and clothing or
money to buy them, requires no red
tape, but some government formalities
precede the contribution of the man
and the gun. Meantime Vermonters
may show that they have not forgotten
their traditions, or the facts of their
early struggle for independence, by
giving literally to the Cubans articles
not contraband of war.
JUSTICE HARLAN, of the United
States Supreme Court made the follow
ing reference to the loss of the Maine,
in a lecture to the law students of Co.
lumbar University: cit is idle for any
man to say he knows how that calamity
occurred, and any man belittles his ma
ture and lowers himself in the estima-
ton Of his fellowmen when he ex-
presses the anxiety that it will turn out
that it was not an accident, but that it
was treachery rather than an accident.
Brave, generous men do not want to
think 80 badly of their fellowmen. We
don't want to believe that that was an
act of treachery and duplicity; we hope
it will turn out otherwise. And we
ought all to have this feeling that if it
turns out to be accidental, we should
rejoice; if it turns out not to be acci-
dental, we will not hear any more of
North, South, East or West, no more
of Republicans, Democrats or Populists.
We will hear only of Americans"
THAT was the retort courteous, as