Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-12-27
The Year 1871.

gcdTs We haNO uau "a ytdI VI UNUSUAL pIos-
perity. Our efforts to furnish reliable,
useful, aud attractive paper for family read
ing have been appreciated, and the increase
of the list of our subscription has partially
repaid the increased Expense we have incurred
in the attempt to make our paper equal to
any secular weekly in the State, or 10 New
England
The year, now closing has been one Of
great prosperity in the country National,
State aud town debts, have been greatly d.
minished, and there is no reason why the
burdens oftaxatoo should not be lightcned.
The products Of the farm and dairy have
been larger 10 this country than ever before,
and have met ample aud remunorative prices.
1t is true that the prices Of butter aud grain
and meat have considerably fallen, but still
they arelargc and richly compensatory. The
capital invested in farming, at present rates
for produce, is the most richly productive of
all investments. There is no place where
man can put ten thousand dollars and make
it yield so handsome return as in farm.
He must be poor farmer who cannot gain
with his capital bountifu living for his
family, aud lay by something for rainy day.
There is no bank or railroad in the country
that would yield so much as this on a similar
investment. And the last year, notwithstaud-
ing the moderate depression Of prices below
the extravagant standards Of a few previous
years, has been one Of remarkable prosperity
in every branch sfindustry. With diminish
ing taxation and steady, uniform markets for
all produce, the future must be satisfactory
and sure.
The manufactures Of the country have
also been largely productive. The cotton and
wooden manufactures have made immense diyi-
dends. The command Of the production of
cotton, and the high tariff in wool and wooden
goods, has poured vast sums into the pockets
Of our manufacturers, and made the cities
which they have built, hourisbing, and dis
tributed the streams of wealth among the
people. Other branches Of manufacture
have succeeded equally well, and there has been
no year since our remembrance that has so
filed the Golfers of national and individual
wealth.
There have been some drawbacks, it is true,
but none seriously to impair our progress and
prosperity. The Chicago and Western fires
have consumed hundreds of millions. The
necessity Of the immediate rebuilding of that
city, for the present drains the money from the
country. Just as the sap and juices of a tree
flow to any part Of it that is wounded, to heal
and restore it-so the financial resources Of
the country flow to Chicago, to repair its
waste and destruction Of two hundred millions
Of dollars. But whatever stringency of the
money market may be caused by this, is not
perilous aud will be only temporary. Money
will soon resume its wonted channels, and
will flow back from the burned city and dis
trict as fast as it now goes there. The re-
Operative forces of the country are too vast
and energetic to allow it to stagger long un.
der such a calamity.
The last year has seen some magnificent
assaults upon the corruption and dishonesty
that have prevailed heretofore unchecked
among our public officials Six months ago
Tweed and Sweeney and Connolly we're the
leaders Of the most potent and daring politi-
cal ring in this country. They had fastened
like vampires upon the treasury Of the veal.
thy city of New York had men of all par.
ties in their pay; bought and sold Legislatures
and Councils made and unmade Governors
ana Senators and Presidents Their pesti.
lent influence was felt in the politics of the
whole country Their infamous robberies
were the example of all smaller officials and
plunderers. Their magnificent success made
dishonesty virtue, and corruption an occa
sion of honor. In their places they wer,
greater than princes, and filled the country
with their imitators, so that it had come tC
be the fashion for poor men to grow cuor
mously rich in ill-paid offices for collector,
and assessors, for Representatives and Sena
tors and Asscmblymen, for railroad Pres
dents and Directors, TO retire after few
years Of incumbency in poorly paid offices
into the ease and luxury of vast wealth.
has almost seemed as if wealth and ofic,
scrupled at no means to accumulate thei
gains that they imagined taxpayers ant
stockholders and bondholders were made fol
their lawful prey, and that all public corpo
rations were made for the individual profit o
those to whom their interests were entrusted
There had come to be a fashionable aud per
mitted robbery Of corporation funds by tn,
chiefs Of the corporation. A corporation wa
regarded only as convenient instrument By
which to borrow money from credulous CAPT
talists for the enrichment of ring. Thu
fall of Tweei and Company, the splendit
campaign Of Charles 0'Connor aud Greer
against this New York ring. in which thes
swollen robbers and felons nave been made Il
bite the dust, is splendid blow at all corpo
ration rings, and rescues for the time the in
sigma of virtue and honesty from the despe
rate clutch of pirates and sharks. Tn,
exposure Of these monstrous frauds and ielo
MES is warning to all members of rings o
corporations or societies. who are fatteninj
themselves and extending their political inau
ence by the pillage of public or corporate
funds. The year is memorable one tina
sets 10 motion the power which shall crush al
officials everywhere, who, without conscience
and without regard to their trusts, have mad
use of them for personal and private emolu
ment.
There eau be no doubt the corruption o
gogefnmeat oaicials hes been very great
With az army " .hlriy thousand Office hold
err Il would De sllauge if there was no
soae fascaliy But certainly some wa
shouidbc oondiyea that would make such hug
ief4i.r lions a. isva f.a..urred i'm nossihla