Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-07-27
ESSEX County Nrrala.
FGupNY. JvLY -. 1900.
A Ray of Hope.

ol the dulllhlNlh i'' t' l'SllHlt N"'d ~
exercise an independent government
If even through irregularities and indie
pendent of constitutional provisions
Cuba shall be set square ON her pins and
started off rs a free. independent ma
ton, everybody, even those Who do not
think the ends justified the means, can
not help rejoicing and admiring the gem
of the ocean; and if the Cuhaus succeed
in maintaining an independent prosper
Gus and happy government it will be the
realization of what has been considered
one of the happicSt dreams OF mankind.
And if that should he followed 10y the
independence of all the peoples sub
jected to this government 10y the great
warlike crusade that has swept over the
oC-~~-+rem his continent then. although
the means will always be questioned by
everybody who regards constitutional
limitations sacred, the results will he a
matter Of great rejoicing. II on the
contrary it should turn out that this an
ticipation we have referred to should
be mere talk, and as soon as the cam
paign is over the lines should again he
drawn taut, then we have certainly not
seen the darkest days for the country.
There are many who will remember
the leading cry in the beginning of this
new departure, ''let the war go ON, let
civilization advance. and let us not stop
till we batter down the walls of China"
Now there isn't the least particle of
doubt but what many in this country
dreamed of and desired war of con
quest and glory There was a restless
spirit of enterprise, a suppressed military
ambition, all of which is being realized
and gratitied by the armies pouring into
China, as well as going to the Islands of
the sea. Now if the great movement is
in accord with those sentiments and shall
be made subordinate to them then it is
all wrong. But the county is in a
peculiar situation with reference to them
just now. The administration has got
to do certain things now without refer
ence to what advantage may be taken of
them hereafter.
The greatest and most important
thing to nations is and always has been
the inviolability of their representatives
in foreign countries. In more barbar
Gus times the representatives of coun-
try were protected while in a foreign |
country by means of hostages held for
their safety; but as men became more
civilized and sensitive to national honor
representatives Of people have been safe
among foreign people 10y the highest
sense of national honor, the infringe
ment of which has been regarded as the
most odious and deserving of the
seVerest penalties of any infraction of
national honor or comfy. Next to this
IN Importance to any nation is that
sense OF security which accompanies its
citizens into any foreign country 1t was
the pride and one of the great elements
OF strength in the old renowned repub-
lie that the ears of her people were more
sensitive to the cry Of a subject in for
eign land II am Roman citizen." than
to anything else in the wide world.
Now when the representatives of civil
lied countries are barbarously assailed.
Or murdered, and the citizans of any
country, either resident or soiourning in
a foreign country, are assailed, beaten.
,ortured, subjected to all manner of in.
lignities, without reference to virtue.
iecency OF humanity, then the hottest
impulse OF a nation is to subject the
perpetrators to the severest retribution
II its power; for no consideration can
Use above that of the security of its
citizens, whether at home or abroad. in
he mind Of any government. SO that
10 matter what the ultimate designs of
some may be, or what results it may
cad to, there is but one course for this
country to pursue, and that is to use its
Whole power to stamp with the indelible
stigma Of national adherence the in
fractions upon the sacredness of the per-
son OF its foreign diplomats or subjects
n China, and back it up with it's heavi.
st guns. When that is done national
honor and the security of citizenship
Will be indicated and all lawful objects
accomplished. AS if your neighbor hay
ng abused your children while on his
Premises, and you go yourself or with
our neighbors and thrash the cuprit
nto all the reparation he can make, it is
nough that the avengers then retire
without dividing his farm up amongst t
hem, or compelling him to remain there 5
ubject to their orders to raise tea for ,
hem according to their fancy as long as
hey shall live. SO that if this country |
hall go to China to defend its national
onor and the security of its representa- Y
ives and citizens it will do that which
ill reflect nothing but honor; if it
lakes these things pretence for par
tion OF the country and sharing in its 6
polls, then there is little doubt that we