The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1898-03-04

Disaster to Warship Maine Is
Still Leading Topic.

VVinsted's POstofices-R and Har-
Dor BiII-Dry Docks, Etc.
From Our Correspondent.
These are indeed trying times. While
there is no truth in nearly all the silly
rumors that have emanated from here
during the last week, the sensational
occurrences in regard to the destruction
of the Maine at Havana, the recall OF
De LONE. the Spanish minister, and the
latest developments in Cuba have nat
urally built up and stimulated feel
inc, Of unrest which has not been seen
in Washington since the capital was
startled by the news that Garfield and
Lincoln went down by the hand of as
sassins. Notwithstanding the present
uncertainty, however, Washington with
all its official retinue is calm and col
lected. 1t is setting the American peo-
pll an excellent example which 1t Is
boues they will follow. 1t is one of
stauuch conservatism. Very little lingo
talk is heard, and in administration
eli 3les at least not a step is taken be-
fore it is known just where it will lead.
In tie present condition Of affairs, there
is only one thing to d0-that is to walt
untli the court of inquiry into the cause
of he disaster has reported On
chat depends everything, and the coun-
try, like Washington, should patiently
bide it's time and be careful what it
says until it has some foundation or
basis of fact for giving utterance to any
statement not now in consonance with
truth.
AS to the administration, it's attitude
is admirable. It's backbone is stiff and
Its body is vigorous. 1t is simply wait
ing for foundation upon which to build
q house. That foundation will be pro-
Vided in the findings of the court OF in
Quiry at Havana. 1t that tribunal
finds that the Maine was destroyed by
an accident on board, that is one thing;
If, on the other hand it finds that the dis
aster was occasioned by the overt act
of an enemy, that Is quite another. The
administration is preparing to act on
either aspect of the case. Until the
verdict is rendered 1t is to be hoped that
public Judgment will be suspended, no
matter how anxious the yellow" jour
nails and few others may want to make
the people think that we are on the
verge of horrible war.
The primary question today is the
cause of the Maine catastrophe, the
Independence of Cuba being secondary
in Importance, so far as this government
is concerned. The loss of nearly 26O of
its own subjects has made it's heart to
bleed for them, and it's sympathy for the
Cuban Insurgents has been temporarily
held in allegiance; but it will return,
and with double vigor, if it turns out
that the Maine was blown up by tor
pedo or other contrivance started with
the hand of Spain's friends.
After the court of inquiry makes it's
findings known and action has been
taken upon it, the question will then re-
cur on Cuban independence. That is
coming, slow but sure. REGENTS events
have quickened the pace rather than
slackened it. The divine hand seems to
be guiding the little republic through
the broad and crooked path of all these
trials and tribulations to plan of free
dom which shall be everlasting. Presi-
dent Mckinley is taking no small part
in assisting Those who have been
criticising him on the ground that he
has no Cuban policy will be sadly mis-
taken. Several announcements have
recently been made to the effect that his
plan is to endeavor to have an equitable
financial consideration terminate the
trouble. Although these statements are
as yet premature, there is foundation
for them. In a nutshell, what the ad-
ministratiOn proposed is that the Cubans
issue say $3.50, 100000 of bonds to Spain,
thus buying their freedom. 1t has been
said in some quarters that this govern
ment might guarantee bonds, but this
is very improbable. What the presi-
dent is anxious to do is to serve as a
peacemaker and not as a principal in
the humanitarian act of ending the war
in Cuba and the long and eXasperating
troubles which Spain and Cuba have for
long time been engaged in.
The report of the first assistant post
master general and George w. Beavers,
chief of the division of salaries and al
lOwances, who were commissioned by
Postmaster General Gary to settle the
dispute as to the rival postoffices at
Winsted, Conn.,, has been approved by
the postmaster general and will be put
into operation at an early day. The so
tuition arrived at is one that it is believed
will satisfy the conflicting interests and
give to Winsted better facilities than
are now enjoyed by any city of the same
size in the United States.
For nearly so years two competing
postofices have been maintained by the
government in that city-one at the east
end, called "Winsted." another at the
west end, called West Winsted," while
in the business heart of the city, where
the railroads, city offices, telegraph and
telephone stations are located, and which
is locally known as "the flats" an indie
pendent postoffice, situated in a drug
store, has been kept up by the people
themselves for their own convenience
with a regular array of post boxes, all
paying rental to the Independent post
master and a number of other and more
irregular postal facilities afforded, in
GLIDING the privilege of mailing drop
letters to the patrons of the office with
out the payment of postage, to the det-
riment of the revenues of the govern
ment.
The plan adopted discontinues the ex-
fsting postoffice at West Winsted, and re
moves the Winsted postoffice to "the
fats" near where the Independent office
is now maintained, this central Office t
be hereafter known exclusively as Win