Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-05-24
gelluws falls Jimss,
FALLS, MAY "a, 1872.
The Governor Question.


selves are the jury in the case, and they
adopt or reject as the majority shall de-
eide, and it is very modern objection
that has been raised in denouncing such
discussion as a mere newspaper settle
ment" and as proceeding from "rings,
when at the same time no indication is
given as to who compose this ring, or
what is its policy.
The Vermont press have by no means
been unanigans on such occasions as
above alluded to, but with majority OF
them, has also generally been majority
of the people, and if the press owe any
duty to the public it is this very one to
introduce at proper times such questions
for the consideration of the people. A
A dead press would make dead people,
and we should be reduced from identity
to nonentity.
In accordance with the usual custom
therefore the Vermont newspapers. some
time since began discussion on the
question of candidate for Governor.
With very general unanimity the express
ion was in favor of new man for gov
ernor, and very naturally that he should
come from the east side of the State. A
majority of the republican press named
Mr.. Billings of Woodstock, Others nam
ed Mr.. Converse. We were among those
who favored Mr.. Billings, not however
until we understood that Mr.. Converses
name would not be presented, and very
soon thereafter Mr.. Converts himself
caused it to be announced that he was
not candidate. The question was there
fore in the best possible way of Settling"
itself, when presto several of the press,
earliest in the field on the subject and in
favor Of Mr.. Billings, veer back and an
nounce Gov. Stewart as a candidate 'or
reelection What elements have been
at work to produce this change we know
not. Certain we are that no such change
has come over us.
The reasons given for the reelection
of Mr.. Stewart, seem to us entirely super
fetal and specious. OF himself we have
of course nothing to say. His excellen-
cies as gentleman and qualifications
for whatever position the people may, IN
their own time assign him, need no dis
cusssion. Next October he will have
held the office of governor two years,
same as all our other governors for more
than thirty years. But right here we
are met with the specious argument that
our governors heretofore have been re
elected and consequently Gov. Stewart
should be reelected. Is any one SO jol-
Iy green as to not understand that BIZ
ennial election simply combines two cleo
tions in one?
The only difference between Mr.. Stew.
arts two years of governorship and bis
predecessors, is that he and the legisla.
ture have not had the pleasure of two
sessions at the capital, at an expense tc
the people of over forty thousand dol
lars, luxury which, however much en-
joyed by our excellent officials, it seems
to us most of the people are willing tc
dispense with. But we are told he ha;
been such " faithful governor" that he
should receive an " endorsement" Of
his first two years. Then of course his
next two years should be Endorsed. and
SO on, and we may then enter upon 6
never ending eternity of Endorsement.
Omitting this however, what extraordin
airy thing has Gov Stewart done to en-
title him to an extra two years? Moth
ing, absolutely nothing. Why? No
because he can do nothing extraordinary
but simply because there has been moth
ing extraordinary to do. And is Their
anything extraordinary about Gov. Stew
art himself that he should be governo
twice as long as his predecessors who in
clude such men as Williams, Royce
Hall and others?
At the last session of the legislature
scheme was projected, or at least "talk
ed Of" that all the present State officer
should be reelected. but that Gov. Stew
art would be elected to congress in No
vember, and then Mr.. Dale would be
come governor. We have no objectio
to make to this now, but should prefer
if Mr.. Dale is to be made governor,
vote for him directly, if thought best t
give us governor on this side of th
State in that way, instead of being con
PEELED to do it indirectly through Coz
Stewart, and it is barely possible some {
the people may take similar view. Vi
on this point we will depend upon OF
excellent and virtuous friend of "th
people," the Windsor Journal, to a
sure us that there is no "scheme " {
"ring about it.
Again will some of Gov. Stewart
friends bear in mind that two years az
they went to Mr. Converse and otfert
to support has nomination for governo
if he CMr. c. would be content to ser'
one year, or what was called the renal