Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-07-24
MEAD OR PoLANpp

Of our political machinery, is holding back
for the next election, and ID. O. Dennison,
though we understand he is in the field, will
not stand much Of show.
One of the strongest arguments in favor
Of our form of government Is the fact that
our rulers are not Iife-members, but the ever
elections give the people chance
If they will use ito keep the govern
meut pure by wedding out corruption and
wherever they show themselves.
We believe in rotation in Office for but
one cause. When the interests of the
people whose suffrages have gwen man an
Office will be better guarded by the substitu.
ton Of another, then IL is the duty Of the
voters to exercise that proudest right Of
freemen, the free choice Of their rulers, and
make the change.
Judge Poland has represented this district
in Congress for four terms, and his record
for the last three years is sufficient reason
for change. The disgraceful part he has
played in the salary-grab business, the course
he has pursued 10 the District of Columbia
and Credit MObilier investigating commit
tees, which covered up fraud and villainy in
the rings until they could no longer be kept
from the light, aud last Of all his action in
pushing through Congress the gag law, are
evidence enough that he has ceased to act
and think with the people.
Looking at the matter in this light, the
people Of this district feel disposed to have
new deal, and they seem to be pretty
unanimous in their preference for Mead.
The movement in favor Of the colonel is not
a movement set on foot by political wirc-
pullers; it is among the people--the farm
ers, mechanics, and laboring men.
OF course the judge will not give up with.
out fight. That was to be expected when,
after having been home and found the tenn
per of the voters Of this district, he returned
his share of the grab money into the treas
ury-an Investment of $4,000 in the issue Of
the next election. He nominally opposed
the grab, to be sure, and so did good many
others who would not have done so if they
had not known the bill would pass without
their votes. Then he drew his share of the
steal, and it is only fair to suppose he would
have kept it had it not been that he plainly
saw that if he did so he could not expect an.
other election. He returned the money
and having such an amount invested in tht
election it is to be expected that sharp, earn
est work will be done to secure it for him
He is moving about among the voters, strain
ing every nerve. Meantime Col. Mead stay
at home and attends to his business. II h,
is elected it will be by the free choice Of th'
people and not by the use or promise o
money or patronage.
or course it is claimed that Mr.. Poland i
temperance man, and the Caledonian in
vites the temperance people to give him thei
vote on the strength of his action in regar'
to the petition asking for committee to in
vestigate the liquor traffic aud its effects
but we are inclined to think the Temperance
men of this district have been often enoug
asked to vote for temperance candidates
who talk temperance and drink rum so tha
, they are not to be caught with that kind {
chaf. Col. Mead's whole record is that {
! total abstaincr. He passed through the wa
, from its breaking out till its close, a totI
abstainer, which can be said Of few men.
/ Col. Mead enlisted as a private Novem
| Der 20, 1861, and served until june %, 1865
! As proof of acceptable service it may b
stated that he received all the commission
in the power of the governor to grant, an
! came home at the head Of his regimen
, General Thomas, under whom he served
J the 9Th regiment, speaks in tho highe
terms Of his bravery and faithfulness. II
was a member OF the House in 1867 an
1868, and did good service. He was on Il
committee upon military affairs, and wi
+. chairman Of one Of the most important cor
: mittees, that upon education. lie was al
. an active member of the special commits
> to visit the reform school, through the &
forts Of which committee that institution +
n ceived additional appropriations which en-
f bled it to reach its present success. His {
9 forts the second year were given largely
the labor of inducing the state to establish
4 normal school, and he succeeded amid strol
: opposition in getting an appropriation
: help INDECENT young men and women to
# themselves for teaching. Now the norm
n schools are three, and the thing is call
n practical aud useful, and is growing grad
: ally in favor with the people, while the sta
n now grants $4,000 per year instead of t
1t $500 which at first Col. Mead found
y much opposition in securing, with pref
e, sure evidence that the amount will be
r. creased from year to year.
N His record in the temperance cause il
it most honorable one, and one whick affoI
W good ground for the belief that his inAuer
1t in Congress will be fell on the right side,
Of that he will not skillfully dodge the Isl
n when the question comes up, as it is LA
'e to do before the next Congress, but '
i boldly and fearlessly stand up for temp
Mt ance both by his personal example and
lie vote.
Col. Mead is not lawyer, and has not
n cured the publication in various daily pap
d. in and out of the state OF articles laudatC
at of himself, as Poland's party has, nor has
i'd used money nor influence to fix up the 7
p mary meetings But ho has a record 81