The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-09-14
@attbmam 4 Journal.
ARTHUR ROPES, General Editor.

ries, conspicuous for their capacity to
tangle matters up, and put thing
wrong if there is a wrong way, have
been firing all around the facts per-
tanning to the publication of the Mont
pelier DAILY JOURNAL. That publ
cation, for half century, has been
issued from the WAToHMAN Office dur
ing the sessions Of the Legislature. Its
publication will be revived at the APP
preaching meeting of the General AS
sembly. AS always in the past, it will
be published by the WATcHMAN COM
pany, managed by the WATcHMAN
management and edited by the WATCH
MAN editor. 1t has customarily had
legislative reporter. This person will
be, for the ensuing session, Mr.. John
E. Harris, who will make the "Legisla-
tive Notes" columns lively and enter
tanning for members and the public
generally. See prospectus on page one.
PECULIARLY cowardly, senseless and
atrocious was the murder of Elizabeth,
Empress of Austria, at Geneva, Swift
erland, on Saturday. The wretched
deed does not rise in the scale of infam-
les to the bad eminence of assassination.
The empress had wronged no one, her
name was associated with no act of
cruelty or OPPRESSION to man or man.
kind. She had Stunned the court and
had lived life of partial seclusion,
gratifying her love of outdoor pursuits
aud freedom from the CONSTANTS
imposed upon royalty. The empress
had been staying for some weeks at
her favorite resting place, Montreux,
near Geneva. On the morning of Sat-
urday she had made an excursion to
the city attended by limited suit.
AS she was returning to the pier where
her boat was moored the murderer
stepped up as if to address her and
twice plunged stiletto into her breast.
She made her way to her boat, believ-
ing herself little hurt, and ordered the
captain to proceed on the return to
Montreux. She soon became uncon-
scious, and the boat put back. The
real nature of her injuries was discov-
cred. She was removed to the hotel
she had but just quilted, where, with
out regaining consciousness, she soon
expired. This deed of horror, perpe-
trated upon woman, an unoffending
and blameless woman, whose only
fault was royal connection, shows how
cruel and pitiless, with all the cruelty
and ruthlessness, but none of the GAL
lantry, of savage beast, is anarchism.
This brutal and cowardly murder ought
to be the vaulting crime that over
leaps the sympathy Of even the ig-
noble class from which the murderer
sprung, and to sound the deathknell OF
that organization of conspirators
against life and public order.
SECRETARY ALGER has requested,
and the President has consented, that
an investigation of the commissary,
quartermaster and medical bureaus OF
the army during the late war be made.
The President has appointed to conduct
the investigation commission Of nine
men: Lieutenant General Schofield, re-
tired, General and ex-senator John
B. Gordon of Georgia, General and ex'
Senator Henderson of Nebraska, Gen
eral Granville M. Dodge, Colonel james
A. Sexton of Chicago, the newly
elected COMMUNICATIVE chief of the
Grand Army, ex.Secretaries of Wal
Robert T. Lincoln and Daniel S. La
mont, President Gilman of Johns Hop
kins University, and DR.. w. W. Keen
a surgeon and physician of Philadel
phia. 1t is noticeable that the secre
tary's request and the Presidents or
der do not include the chief of the wal
department, General Alger himself
within the scope of the investigation
The subordinates are to be hauled ovel
the Goals, but Congress will undoubt
edlv provide for the roasting of the
chief incapable. 1t is remarked, further
that the commission is made up of mer
of singularly high ability and qualifca
tions for their duties, the only excep
ton being in the circumstance that bu
one doctor has been selected on {
board to investigate matters pertaining
very largely TO medical questions, ant
this one a friend of Surgeon-Genera
Sternberg, one of the officers whose
department is to be investigated ant
whose management of his bureau hal
been very sharply criticised. If thu
men selected accept the President
commission, their general characte
and political association give assurance
that the Chief Executives injunction t
ascertain and report "the full and exac
trulh u will be observed in its letter an