Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1898-04-01
D5scS GOaam Gerald.
IsLAxD PoNo. APRIL l.
Senator Proctor and the Crisis.

-'~HhA-N'
The American nation presents
a spectacle that in SomerespectS |
IS original. Probably never be
tore in the history of a govern
,nent purely republican have the
ncoplc faced SO actively such mo-
mcntous issues and held them
selves in such 4 great crisis so
firm. cal n and considerable, and
vet So patriotic as the country
is naw doing. The people are OF
immense weight, and when on
the ship of state men of influence
and character indicate a tendency
to move to the leeward the mass
will sway towards the storm
and brcaSting the winds struggle
to right the vessel. But when
leading men suggest a movement
in a windward direction then
the bulk Will sway with currents
stronger than atmospheric ones.
No captain, no Mckinley, though
he shout himself hOarSc can pre-
vent the bulk going with the
winds and en- quilting the ship like
the examples, advice and warn
ings of the leading seamen who
mingle daily with the cr-w and
passengers.
In the midst Of an universally
growing civilization two horrors
have sprung up with all their
pestilentiai attributes including
starvation, murder, nakedncss,
living lingering emaciation and
disregard of virtue, decency,
chivalry or humanity, namely:
the American and Spanish or Gu
ban. While most all the world
was being permeated with the
healthy principles of law, order
and peace, with refining and eLe-
waiting thoughts OF harmony and
good will, and lovely sentiments
OF charity, pity and relief, those
two fostering, itching and can.
c.rous blotthc~ appeared on thl
f zee ol the eartu. ii civilization
nd marched boldly up to those
III either case who were pushing
goaling, tearing, decorating, con
Eliminating and croWding into
contagious contact great masses
Of helpless victims and had sai(
"thus far shalt thou go and NJ
farther" the sentiment OF tn
civilized world would have aL
pIauded the act and aided in tn
execution of such an order. IF
had been directed thitherwar
by some overt action the unive1
sal sentiment of mankind woul
have wiped out those two deel
foul stains on the face of Civillzt
ton. 1t is unfortunate, to sa
the least, that public attentio
was diverted temporarily irOr
the real situation, that a wa
vessel was sent on a mission {
peace to the harbor of pcOpl
among whom the eddies OF
barbarous and merciless striI
was wheelil e and boiling. 1t
to be regretted that such vess'
was destroyed, probably by tn
hearts if not by the hands of n
sponsible persons. But how
ever that may be the occurrenc
furnished the occasion for a d
vided opinion as to the respons
bility for the great calamity.
directed attention to condition
in perSOHam and suggested
lex taHonis. The great cause
humanity was lost sight of {
made subordinate to person;
considerations, or those whic
were limited to two individu;
governments. The situatio
was becoming serious and en-
barrassing, and all the more S
because it was involving serior
and complicated questions (
national law on which men an
nations might differ.
At this point Senator Proctt
apparently so phlegmatlc an
filled with SO many dormant +
sources, when there is no occ
sion to arouse them, arose as
startled. He seemed to loo
about and take in the whole sit
alton. He started for Cub
He said nothing on the subjee
or as little as possible, and TIL