The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-04-13
ARTHUR ROPES. General Editor.

ARTHUR ROPES. General Editor.
CONGRESS is now wrestling with the
Cuban problem. There is wide di-
vision, even among the Republicans,
as to what action should be taken. The
conservative element, that which has
been opposed to any recognition of the
Cuban struggle for independence, is
largely in the minority in the Senate,
but in the absence of any rules in that
body for closing debate this minority
may indefinitely postpone vote or any
plan of action its members do not APP
prove. In the House there is undoubt-
eddy large majority in favor of indie
pendence for Cuba, but whether or not
that majority will be allowed to express
its judgment is the question to be de-
Lees advice and the disclosures he
may make of the situation in the island
will have decisive weight with Con-
gress.
The latest report from Washington
is to the effect that the Republicans of
the House foreign relations committee
are in favor of immediate Intervention
in Cuba, backed by the army and navy.
The WATCHMAN cannot, from per-
sonal acquaintance, vouch for the
things stated by "Another Voter"
elsewhere on this page, respecting Hale
K. Darling of Chelsea, candidate for
the Office of States attorney for Orange
county, but it can vouch for the good
judgment and high character of it's cor
respondent. His testimony to Mr..
Hale's ability and faithfulness is all
sufficient.
THE name of Vail of Pomfret should
be withdrawn from the Rutland
Herald's statement of the candidates
for the Republican nomination to the
lieutenant governOrship. The WATCH
MAN had the best of authority for say
ing a week ago that none of the farmer
gentlemen that have been mentioned
in the convention will make the race
fer that office. The WATCHMAN re-
grets that this is the case, but it made
the statement by authority.
IT is evident that if the Cuban.Span-
ish business is settled without an ex-
change of hostile compliments, the Of
ficers and men of the navy will feel bit
ter disappointment. Remember St.
Bartholomew" was the watchword OF
King Henry's. troopers at Ivry, and ERE
member the Maine" will be the war
cry Of the American sailor, if he comes
to quarters with the Spaniard. Over
and above all other sentiments in this
Cuban imbroglio is holy zeal to
avenge the perfidious destruction of
the Maine and her gallant tars. That
is the sort Of arbitration of that matter
the American sailor ia seeking.
AS the judgment of the leading
Windsor county paper on the late erup-
ton of Windsor county man the
WATCHMAN publishes an article from
the Journal of Windsor on Hugh
Henry's late deliverance. This bugle
blast comes with peculiar propriety
from family name that for two genera
tions has been associated with self
denying efforts to "break the shackles
of political intrigue" and to call into
service of the State "the best intellec-
tuality within her borders" 1t was
entirely unnecessary for Judge Henry
to assure the public that his letter was
"neither induced, approved or dreamed
of by General Mccullough" The gen.
eral is neither the man to write sham
letter of withdrawal from a political
canvass, nor the man to be Influenced
by demagogic appeal like the one in
question. The latter's letter has fall
len fiat, eliciting no favoring response
from any quarter.
IT takes two parties to agree to an
armistice, and it is usually the two that
have been quarreling. Spain proposes
an armistice at the time when she is
the under dog in the fight. The dog
on top is not likely to agree. to truce.
Spain's great army-double the size of
the one Grant led to Richmond for the
final conquest of the Consederacy-
sent over to put down the Cuban rebel
lion has dwindled to half hundred
thousand, and there are no new levies.
The insurgents are relatively stronger
than at the beginning of the rebellion.
The rainy season is at hand when the
Spaniard is driven from the field by the
elements, but when the Cuban can