Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-07-17
f0' tue 'ou'n''' VERMONT

The natural regard and ilial remembrance we
bear towards that spot claim as.the land OF our
birth, is no doubt one of the innate propensties
of our being. Whether it be on account of the
place itself OF the associations that cluster around
it and have become interviewer with every detail,
it makes no difference, we feel like singing
EorsI : brosi aud essr"
Yet, are not we ofths advanced age Of the world,
with easy access to every part Of the habable
portion of the globe, are we not sufficiently en-
lightened to understand that other lands do have
skies just as bright, and streams just as broad and
clear, and, perhaps, many other things of which
our dear native land can never boast.
Some one who writes for the journal has con-
ceiVed-" Felt it Out and given birth to the
wonderful idea that Vermont is the last and no.
blest work of creation, the perfection of beauty,
fertility, and eternal wealth and in short, the re-
suit of the most sublime effort Of Gods creative
power. The poetic imaginings of the ancents are
here embodied in solid realities. That the poets
had direct prophetic inspiration of PeJmOnt,
when they sang of Mounts Olympus and Parnassus
the enchanting wales of Arcadia the fountain of
Egeria, and the Elysian Fields while Jupiter
Hercules, Apollo Saturn, DIANA Venus and Jul
no were mere photographs OF the Green Mountain
boys and girls Even Milton must have had
mirage of the valleys Of the Lanoille and Win
ooskl before his eyes when he wrote OF chap
ply fields where Joy forever dwels ~ and the " ma
tive walks and shades, fit haunt of Gods And
who knows how many Rip Van Wrinkles lie sleep
ing in the mountain caves and " Sleepy Hulows
waiting to be " Felt Out by some Irving Of the
star that never SETS The Greenlander living In
snow and ice is confident that the earth contains
no such happy cline his the Dutchman has an
equal opinion of his sour krout and lager; while
John Bull thinks no spot can be compared to his
little island notwithstanding the fogs and national
debt When the digger Indians, upon the banks
Of the Colorado heard the music Of full brass
band, they regarded it inferior TO their moaning
songs with a rattle made from bones for accom-
paniment, and such seems TO be the conceited 10
norance all the world over Yet it does seem as
if the advantages of this age OF the world ought
to enable smart men to exercise sufficient common
sense to make rational comparisons between their
country and other places. OF course the visual
angle by which view other localities make us to
! appear TO live in the center of all things. That
is our stand point seems TO be the " hub " of
alton, So the sun seems TO 10 go down, and
/ then IL appears TO come up. But we know enough
| TO understand that il don't go down at all not
wthstanding our ancestors considered philoso-
| piers insane who asserted that the sun did not
really go down into the sea 20 get cooled off for
his next days trip. And although Vermont may
be dear to us, aud we may rightly be proud that
it is the land of our birth, especially, when we
contemplate her forests her mountains her hun
dred villages, all gems of beauty her mineral
wealth butter and cheese elegant horses, and
fine wooled sheep; yet, when compare facts
and figures, we find it u climate not the most
healthy or agreeable. Her population, if on the
increase for the past thirty five years is slight
/ to be comprehended by figures, and we increase
IN wealth far less than any other State Her laws
are intended to keep vigilent watch over the az
rcultural interests, 10 the detriment of the other
classes and, especially, the manufacturers. And
/ so well does this penny wise policy succeed,
that II drives the enterprsng to other States,
and the market for farm produce as we'll Our
choice timber, wool and hides send to neigh
boring States and hire them made up for us, while
nature has provided hundreds OF water powers that
roll their eternal thunders IN busy deness I'M
told mineral wealth garnishes every hill side and
valley, but here and there dapidated building
tells how some enterprising attempt was stAed
just as it was beginning 10 develop tue hid treas
ures Of the mine and quarry. The TRUTH is, the
farmers Of Vermont have short sighted practice
4 Of making deadly war against even commercial
enterprise, or manufacturing interests, and sue
cessiul have they heretofore been, that they have
driven the attendant wealth and men Of enterprise
to other States until it has become proyerb that
" Vermont is splendid State to move from II
our eyes could be opened to these plain facts we
should soon see that we, as State, behind the
times, and have heretofore been too much inclined
| TO swing around the circle ~ in the same old
beaten track while the world has been running on
And seeing his should get out Of the old ruts
and begin TO uncover our latent re sources; then
| Vermont would become mighty in wealth and pop
ulauon, as well as being distinguished for its fine
wooled sheep. X.
WATERBURY,, July II, 1867.