Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-04-11
POIsOE .a.rD THR .a.vTIDOTR.

An effort Is about to be made in some of
the Eastern States to secure such legisla-
ton as will make 1t obligatory upon all
druggists and others who sell poison, not
only to label the article in plain letters as
such, but to publish with the label in the
most comprehensive way, the best antidote
for the poison. Thus, ifany one by mis-
take should swallow arsenic, strychnine,
morphine or any one of a hundred other
fatal drugs, he shall be informed how to
get out Of his trouble. A great many lives
have been lost through ignorance of sim
pie remedies which are never far off. The
doctor comes too late, the mustard, chalk,
eggs, oil or other antidote has been over
looked and the patient is done for.
Some such provision ought to be made
in the political world. For instance, If
Cakes Ames' Credit Moblier had been
labeled "poison," and the antidote had
been glven-say a good, strong emetic-
how much better Colfax, Patterson, Kelley
and others would have felt after throwing
It upl The latter would have saved his
conscience fund to which 1t is net likely
that another Congressional dollar will ever
be added, although under mighty quick
ening Of conscience that fund ought TO
grow TO some millions.
TIA Senator corruptly uses means to Sc
cure his election, 1t might be good plan
to label that transaction "poison," and the
antidote would be to lay him on the shelf
as soon as possible. Whoever begins to
intrigue and put up candidates for the
Legislature months beforehand in order to
control a Senatorial election, let him have
good square label pasted on his back
"Poisonp III great railroad corporation
undertakes to shape the legislation OF a
State-to defeat this man and elect that one
to make Il certain that no man shall 20
to Congress who will not serve In the
double capacity OF legislator and attorney
for the corporation, then there will be NO
great harm done In labelling that transac-
ton "Poison." What the public need is
TO use an early and efficient antidote-not
after the poison has done its work, but be-
fore. Never In the history OF the country
has 30 much money been employed to in
huence legislation as within the last five
years. Congressional investigations a
mOuut W uOthluB oAOopt W hhho tuo ihCts
public which were patent before. Men
who have been elected by the use OF large
sums Of money are not going TO strain q
point to convict a fellow member Of bril-
berry. At that stage Of the case II is to late
for the antidote. Pomeroy escapes, Cald-
well is not In any great danger, Bogy is
put 10 small Inconvenience by damaging
reports about his election, Matt. Carpen-
ter's ten thousand dollar railroad fee for
having "tongue in his head" don't seem
10 hurt him much.
II the people like this kind Of poison,
then there Is little use In devising reme-
dies. But they do not like 1t. They know
that 1t is death, unless an antidote is APP
piled early. The Darwinlan theory is the
survival of the fittest In the animal king
dom. The weak unhealthy scrubs are not
to survive nor propagate their species. II
is good doctrine to apply to that class Of
modern politicians who believed In the
Hae Of corruption funds. Nothing better
mukhan that these fellows should