davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-27
A Trait of Harrison.

Benjamin Harrison had opinions
about things. He expressed them free
ly. Rarely would he discuss men, their
records, characteristics or their mo.
tives. The only exception to this rule
was when duty compelled him to learn
the fitness of candidate for office.
From bis six years in the Senate and
four years in the White House there is
preserved not one recollection Of a
harsh or bitter remark of personal char
acter. 1t might be added that compli-
mentary mention of an individual was
almost as unusual with him. 1t was
simply trait with him not to talk
about men. There were times, crises,
in Benjamin Harrison's career when
sharp rivalries or antagonistic relation
ships might have given provocation for
an expression of personal resentment.
Whatever Gen. Harrison thought OF
other men he did not say, The disin-
clination to talk about person amount
ed to almost positive prohibition. II
was more marked in Gen. Harrison
than in any other public man of the gen
Grafton. On one occasion, when at q
public gathering the speeches took 6
eulogistic character of some man, Gen
Harrison, who had not yet spoken, was
seen slipping out of the door. A friend
followed and said, eve want you tc
say something" 81 can't" was the
reply, and he didn't. Yet Gen. Harri
son drew line sharply and distinctly
between the public acts and personal
character of a man. The former hC
considered Legitimate subjects of dis
cussion and criticism. This was illus
trated in the speech he made to the
Senate upon the veto message of the
then President Cleveland. That speech
is still remembered as one of the most il
not the most, notable OF the Congress
1t was far-reaching in its consequences.
Il was unsparing. Bat it contained not
one word rejecting personally upon the
President.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-27

very likely to bring to the attention OF
Congress various so-called disfranchisc-
ment laws, an open up the whole
question of representation in Congress
o. the basis of men who are not legal
voters under State lave. Congress
does not desire TO discuss these sub
jecis, but, in my opinion, the question
will be forced upon us for determine
ton by the uuwise action of some of
the States. We have now before us
the example of a great State endeavor-
ing TO distranchise some $4,000 citizens
in order to give one political party con-
troll of the Legislature. There is no
fear of negro domination. That is not
the excuse for the law. Certain Dem
ocrats seek to control the affairs OF the
State, and to accomplish this purpose
to disfranchise sufficient number OF
the opposite party. 1t is nothing more
than this"
AS Senator Burrows sees it, the ques-
ton presents three phases: First, the
effect disfranchisemen has on the ba-
sis of representation in the House of
Representatives; second, the propriety
of accepting Senators in Congress who
have been elected by Legislatures chos-
en- after large number of voters were
disfranchised 30 that the Legislatures
would be favorable to certain men; and,
third, the public policy of permitting
political parties to disfranchise large
number of their opponents to maintain
their dominant position in the State
This question of disfranchisemen will
have to be met sooner or later. The
sooner it is taken up and settled right
the less deeply rooted will the evil be-
| come.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-27

are, edo they consider it serious
enough to warrant Gov. Stickpey in
calling an extra session before it is too
late2" Again, "Is it not too late al
ready2" asks the Tribune and quotes
the DAILY JOURNAL on this view of
the matter.
Ii there is "a general demand for
some action in this matter" the de-
mand is indeed too late. The people
had ten years in which to think of and
formulate their demand, and in that
time they ought to have got their wits
focused on the question of biennially
letting "the bright sunlight OF pub
licity" in on the Anticipated instru-
ment. Governor Sickney called the
attention of the Legislature to the mat
ter, and recommended favorable &C.
ton. In the ten years which elapsed
from $780, there was time for consid-
Grafton, and in the later references to
the subject, official and otherwise, there
was seasonable notice. Ii 1.-THE OF
the advertising and enforcement the
newspapers are now giving the SUBJ
iect, after the Shekinah of their
liberties has been returned to impris-
onment and the time lock guarding
it set for another ten years run, had
been made at the proper time, things
might possibly have been different
and, again, they mightn't.
The Tribune, without doubt, is err
tirely right in the matter when it says
that sit is unlikely that the Governor
will take any immediate action in The
matter" it might have added, or
| any remote action,
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-27
SOUTH AFRICA.

BLoEMFoNTEIN, March 23.-The re-
suit of the combined movements against
General Fourie near Thaba N'Chu,
was the capture of 200 Beers, 140, 900
sheep, 200 horses and host OF cattle.
The Beers broke southwark to the right
and left. Commandant Kritzinger is
marching steadily northward. 1t is
officially reported that General De-
Vets commandos have been broken
up for the present. This is probably
to give the men rest.
LONDON, March 2S.-Ine the House
of Commons last evening Colonial Sec
rotary Chamberlain informed Mr.. Trev-
elyan, liberal, that he was unable to in
form the House what were the Beers
reasons for rejecting the peace terms.
Replying to the question as to wheth-
er the government proposed to ask Ger
many to act with reference to Russia's
action in Manchuria the foreign under
secretary, Lord Cranborne, replied that
the Russian government had repeated
ly declared its intention to respect the
integrity of China and the British gov
eminent was not aware that Russia had
infringed it.
BLoEMFoNTEIN, March 23.-The
British scored big success in the fight
against Fouries commando. Two hun
dred Beers were taken prisoners, 900
sheep and 5000 horses were captured.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-27
IN CHINA.

LONDON, March 23.-Another war
cloud of formidable proportions looms
up in the far east. Judging from in
formation obtained in various official
quarters in London, Japan has confded
to at least some of the powers her de-
termination to oppose at all costs any
secret agreements made between Rus
STA and China by which the former
could secure territorial or other ad-
vantages contiguous to Korea. The
British government has received no Of
fetal confirmation that the Japanese
feet is mobilizing, but it would not be
surprising to learn that such were the
fact.
The secretary of the Japanese lega-
ton said today: Gail Japan wants is
a free hand against Russia. This she
has got 80 far as England and Ger
many are concerned and, presume 80
far as the United States government is
concerned, although 1 do not imagine
for one moment that any of the powers
mentioned would be drawn into war
between Japan and Russia. If Japan
sees nothing for it but to fight, she
would have the moral support of objec-
tons committed to paper by at least
two other powers against secret treat
les with China. That is all; but ia
pan seems to consider 1t sufficient to
provide against interference
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-27
The Tariff and Trusts.

Should the Republicans in the next
session of Congress use the tariff to
put curb upon trusts? That was SUBJ
stantially the question asked by Rep
resentative Babcock of Wisconsin,
when he introduced his bill in the late
Congress to repeal the tariff on manu-
featured steel and iron. Mr.. Babcock
is still asking that question, and he in
tends including tin plate and plate glass
in his bill when it is reintroduced in
the House Speaking on this subject
recently Mr.. Babcock said:
"The Republican party is q party of
progress. Its great hold upon the peo-
pie is due to its agressiveness and its
willingness to meet problems. We
have now new and very serious prob
lem before us in the effect of the tariff
in creating trusts, and we ought to
meet it. l am certain that large ma
jority of the House favors the bill.
When the American Protective League
gave banquet recently, and this mat
ter was discussed by one or two speak
Oio, oOhSA CooLhah nlCSali VI ulhbodCuu-
sets was cheered to the echo when he
predicted that changes in tne tariff
would have to be made, and that it was
best to have such changes made by
the friends of the protective system. /
am not an enemy Of protection, but l
know that the first principle of protec-
ton is protection of the people. When
see American manufacturers in po-
sition where they can charge the Amer
lean people what they see fit, and yet
can sell the same goods abroad for q
much lower sum, 1 think it is time for
Congress to step in and work reform.
This is the part of wisdom, good judy
ment and good sense, for if we do not
do it, we will presently find that the
people have risen in revolt and placed
in power party which is hostile to all
kinds of tariff. I would not abate one
jot or title of protection where it is
needed. All that contend is that the
protective principle, having given a
tremendous advantage to the manufac-
turers, ia now being used to the detri-
ment OF our own people. do not
think this should be allowed"
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-27
Presidents political character. We

Presidents political character. We
pass at once TO the secret motive.
In our humble opinion, without any
special information on the subject, the
President is going to travel around the
country this spring for the subjoined
reasons:
l. He wants to see the people, and
the people want TO see him.
2. His continuous and arduous labors
in the public service during the past
four years entitle him to brief season
of comparative recreation and change
OF scene.
8. He has received pressing invita-
tons to visit certain points included in
the present itinerary, and is inclined to
accept them as soon as the condition of
the public business is such that he can
get away from Washington.
a. He wants particularly to see the
Pacific coast.
5. Beyond that, he cherishes a strong
desire, perhaps vain and selfish, but
certainly human and excusable, TO in.
spect throughout the country the Pros.
perity of which he was the Advance
Agent.
Does our friend think that any fur
Their explanation is required2 The one
thing certain is that the President has
deferred his swing around the circle
until he cannot be accused of campaign
ing for a Presidential nomination
Does the Anxious Inquirer in Lowell
suspect Mr.. Mckinley of the intention
to lay pipes for an empire?-New Yorl
Sun.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-27
Waterbury Center.

Mr.. and Mrs. f. e. Wilkins, who have
lived on K. b. Moody's farm the past year,
but who March l moved to the Watts
farm in Stowe, had pair OF twin boys born
to them March 81.
The geographical social at Grange hall
last week Tuesday evening vas success.
Light refreshments were served and all en-
ioyed very pleasant evening. Mrs. Cora
Morrison won the prize for guessing the
greatest number correctly.
The ladies aid of the Methodist church
will be held with Mrs. d. Hopkins at three
o'clock Wednesday afternoon, The occa-
sion will be Of more than usual interest as
it is the sixty-eighth birthday of Mrs. Hop
Hins. A cordial invitation is extended to
both ladies and gentlemen.
Six young people, all members Of the
junior league and Sunday school were bsp-
tized March II and united with the Metho-
dist church on probation.
Miss Ksthie Dillingham; is spending her
vacation at her home here with her parents.
Joseph johnson, who is travelling for the
James III. Prince paint company of Boston,
spent Sunday in the place.
81. f. Smith, our practical surveyor, has
been at work on revised map OF the town
OF Waterbury together with the lands that
have been annexed from Middlesex and
Bolton, for the past ten years at intervals,
and has produced map that gives the
names and pitch of each original proprie-
tor. He has also the dates and transfers
down to the present owners 30 compiled
that the records can be easily found, maxi
ing work Of value to the town.
The work OF repairing the Free Baptist
parsonage on the river Is nearly completed
and 1t will be in readiness for the minister,
Rev. Mr.. traitor and family, who are to
move here from Corinth SOON
Charles Fiske OF this place has this win.
ter sold to one party 146b pounds of spruce
gum.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-27

cold blooded atrocities. The court con-
vened on the morning of the 18th, and
adjourned to the afternoon. 1t never
reassembled. News of the murder
spread like wildflre, "To the gather
ing summons of trumpet and drum"
the people assembled and The agrees
sors fed precipitately. French was
buried with military honors. AS truly
as Warren died later, he fell martyr
to the cause of freedom. The spirit OF
the times breathes 10 the inscription
on the tombstone which for eighty
years marked his grave
Here William French his Body lies
For Murder his blood for Vengeance cries
King Georg the third his Tory crew
tina with a bawl his head Shot threw
For Liberty and his Countrys Good
he Lost his Life his Dearest blood
This rude tombstone Vermont re-
placed with an appropriate monument
of marble nearly half century ago.
The State should raise to it's heroes
other commemorative signs. In the
portico of the Capitol Ethan Allen
thunders his summons TO the COM
mandant of Ticonderoga to surrender,
but what fitting monument recalls to
Vermont youth, or the stranger within
the gates, the name and fame of Seth
Warner, or Remember Baker, Aliens
compatriots only less renowned than he
in the States early history and the war
for independence? Warner rests in
Connecticut soil, and Baker met SOL
dier's death in the active service OF his
country. Some adequate monument
to these bright names in the story Of
the States heroic struggle against alb
sorption by it's greedy neighbors should
be reared in its Capitol to
"Tell future ages what heros done"
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-27
An Extra Session.

In lieu of other matters of interest or
Importance, the newspapers are some
what languidly commenting on the
proposition Of the st. Adams Messen-
ger that the Legislature be convened
in special session as a constitutional
convention. To the Ludlow Tribune
sit appears, not without reason that
there is general demand for some &C.
ton in this regard" but the appear
ance seems to be rather matter of ex.
preston than of knowledge. The con-
temporary queries if the people at
large are at all disturbed about the
failure of the Senate to adopt the pro-
posal for the consideration OF amend
ments at any regular session; or, If they
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-27

1t may, or may not, be true that the
Russian Bear is improving his oppor-
tunity to crowd the British Lion along
the Indian and Chinese frontiers. 1t
appears to be the Russians time to
take possession of Manchuria and En-
gland may not be in a position to say
him nay. With her hands tied in
South Africa, and the demonstration
in the year past of her military weak
ness, Crest Britain would not seem to
be able to interpose effectively in China
to defeat the schemes of the Russian
government. England may well re-
greet, on every consideration, having
tackled that South African Tartar, the
Boer.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-27
A Maine Opinion.

Harrison was Democrat in his
nature and sympathies, not an aristo-
Graf. He scorned plutocracy in all its
garbs," says the Boston Herald. His
democracy was not conspicuous when
he occupied the White House. In
deed, it was complained of him then
that he was decidedly the reverse. We
doubt now if the Boston Herald s
eulogy would have been quite so full
some had not Mr.. Harrison been Sc
we're critic of the present ad ministra-
ton. The Herald is naturally "agin
the government Belfast Republic
cam
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-27
Calais.

Mrs. Jane Giddings has returned to town
after visiting In Worcester few weeks.
Hiram Warren Of Morrisville is going to
carry on the town farm the coming year.
Mrs. Charles White died at her home in
Wolcott after brief illness OF pneumonia.
Her remains were brought to town last
Tuesday for burial.
Mrs. W. L. White of Hardwick is visit
ing at I. t. Lamphere's.
Mrs. Justina Kent is moving to Plain
purchased. N. L. Bancroft takes posses
sion OF the farm he has purchased of her
the first Of April.
George Kent has an auction at his farm,
March %.
Mrs. Matte Howe OF Roxbury is visiting
q. A. Pike, her father.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-27
Secret Motive of the Presidents
Journey.

An excited correspondent in Lowell,
Mass, demands our opinion of the Sc
cret motive of Mr.. McKinley's contem-
plated excursion twice across the con-
tinent and into the four corners Of this
fair republic.
"Tell u.s." he says, "what the COM
ing caravansary trip means. What
special object has our compound Of
Robert Walpole, Machiavelli and
Pecksniff in view? He does not go on
such trips without one."
"Now," continues our correspondent
in the city of myriad shuttles, "do not
throw this into the waste basket. At
least refer to it and answer my ques-
ton"
We will. We print his question in
the form in which he asks 1t. We do
not pause to inquire of him what a
"csravansary trip" may be. We do not
stop to rebuke him for his homogeneous
and even insulting description of the
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-27
Lincoln ON Saloon Smashing.

Mrs. Nation has found distinguish
ed advocate. The Nep Nation goes
into the history Of saloon smashing and
finds that this manner of dealing with
rum sellers existed in the earlier times
Of Lincoln's career as an attorney, and
that he was once assigned to defend
some women who had been employing
the methods recently appealed to in
Kansas to eradicate public nuisances.
According to this historian it was in or
about the year 1889, while Lincoln was
practicing law at Springfield, that ff-
teen women of Clinton, in the same
State, after having repeatedly pleaded
with liquor dealer to refrain from
selling to their husbands, raided his
saloon, smashed in the heads of his
barrels with axes, and broke his demi-
johns and bottles. The women were
arraigned under indictment for the
mischief done. They were without
counsel for defense, when, on the day
of trial, Lincoln entered the court
room, and was asked by them to ad-
dress the court in their behalf He
complied, and this is the argument he
addressed to the consideration of court
and jury:
"May it please the court, I will say
few words in behalf of the women who
are arraigned before your honor and the
jury. | would suge est, first that there be
change in the indictment, 80 as to have
it read: 'The State against Mr.. Whis-
KY instead of The State against the
women 1t would be far more appro-
pirate. Touching this question, there
are three laws: First, the law of self
protection; second, the law of the stat
ute; third, the law of God. The law
of self-protection is the law of neces-
sity, as shown when our fathers threw
the tea into Boston harbor, and in as
sorting their. right to life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness. This is the
defense of these women. The man
who has persisted in selling whisky has
had no regard for their well-being or
| the welfare of their husbands and sons.
He has had no fear of God or regard
for man; neither has he any regard for
| the laws of the statute. No jury can
| fix any damages or punishment for any
violation of the moral law. The course
pursued by this liquor dealer has been
for the decentralization of society. His
| GROCERY has been nuisance. These
women, finding all moral suasion of no
avail with this fellow, oblivious to all
tender appeal, alike regardless of their
prayers and tears, in order to protect
their households and promote the well
fare of the community, united to sup
press the nuisance. The good Of So
ciety demanded its suppression. They
accomplished what otherwise could not
have been DONE"
AS result of the speech the women
were released by the court upon their
own recognizance, and, 30 far as can be
learned, no further action was taken.
The facts may be found, the authority
states, in Collins "Life of Lincoln"
page 107, and in Herndon's "Life Of
Lincoln" edition OF 1889, page 2l5.
There seems, therefore, to be nothing
apocryphal about this tale, and it is an
extremely interesting one. There is no
answer in law or morals to Lincoln's
defense of this sort of saloon smashing.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-27
Disfranchisement In the South.

Republicans are beginning to realize
that Congressional action may be nee
essary to stop the wholesale disfranch-
isement of voters in southern States.
Senator Burrows of Michigan, who will
be chairman OF the Senate committee
on privileges and elections, said re-
Gently on the subject:
"The new Maryland ballot law is
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-27

Dear, dear, dearl How will the
JOURNAL ever be able to disagree with
the mercurial Messenger of st. Adams
in a way that will not rasp it's tender
sensibilities, or give it the false impress
sion that it has been "written down
an ass"-as it says it has-by the dis
persion of its illusions. The JOURNAL
can't always agree with its truly and
highly esteemed contemporary, and he
should school himself to calm view of
cold facts-and incidentally present an
example of the respectful and digni-
fed language" of controversy.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-27

A certain class of newspapers exist,
apparently, to worry over what Tom
Plat of New York is doing, or what
they like to surmise he is doing. They
seem never 30 happy as when conjur-
ing up some awful deed of "bossism"
for the New York Mephistopheles, to
shudder over and denounce. 1t is
barely possible that all this deadly an
tagonism between Platt and Odell is
largely Greek fire Of newspaper office g..
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-27

A business cast is given to Senator
Proctor's visit to Cuba by the state
ment that he has an eye on certain
marble quarries on the Isle of Pines
Recently the newspapers had the Yer
mont Senator engaged in scheme to
buy the celebrated Carrara quarries in
Italy. If all the newspapers are say
ing turns out to be true-and whoever
knew a newspaper to print anything
that was not so-Senator Proctor is
Transforming into an octopus with
its eight tentacles of marble.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-27

The Herald of Boston wads out it's
first page with deep double column
headlines and various cuts to furnish
forth the meager details of the Yer
mont Fosburg mystery. Talk of yellow
journalism The sanctimonious Herald
is the most aggressive and the yellowest
of the saffron hued disseminators of the
rumors and incidents of criminal
events. These seem to increase in
magnitude and Importance as the
square Of the distance from the scene
of their happening increases. The en-
terprise of the city contemporaries is a
suggestive commentary on the relative
value and Importance of other events
that blaze in their glazing headlines
and multiplicity of pictorial illustra'
ton.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-27

Vermont has its Eos burgh case, but
the only resemblance between the Yer
mont and the Massachusetts victim ap-
pears to be in the name.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-03-27

Middlebury appears to be the storm
centre of sensation in Vermont. Last
spring the Shaws, insthe final act of
their game in the open, held there the
centre of the stage. Recently the news
relating to Vermont's Fosburg case
comes from the old college town, and
a close third is the jealous lover and
shooting case reported today.