Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-05-16
&" Making Faces"

MesSrs. Editors When the Chinese went out
to meet the English cannon, they twisted their
features into all OF quirks and contortions,
shooting out the lips elevating the nostrils doing
what the school-boys call making faces, at their
opponents, by way of showing the ierceness OF
their persistent opposition. One is fOrcibly re-
minded OF this peculiar species of tactics of the
Heather Chinee, in the opposition to the Cen
trail Vermont and its managers. Especially so in
regard to the present attitude of the press. Fol-
several years the public have had before them in
genious misrepresentation, distorted statements,
long chapters Of scandalous falsehoods, multtud-
inous paragraphs of inpudent lies, oft-repeated,
iterated and reiterated again and again, but uni
fornly making a complete failure when called
upon for proof When defeated at one point, like
the evil genius in an oriental tale, they assume y
different external form and try at another; al
ways harping upon the same string. Ever,
mode of attack that the power of wealth and tile
ingenuity of INSCRIPTIONS lawyers could institute
has been prosecuted and when before the court.
and legislative committees they have failed to
prove their scandalous assertions, then they hav,
turned to rend the legislature and the courts.
But the high character of the judiciary of YER
mont, the reputation OF our legislature-alway
composed mostly of farmers-from the days OF
Thomas Chittenden To the centennial year; ON
state government even attracting the attention
of European statesmen for its honesty and equity,
makes such attempts appear ito ludicrous for
serious thought. 1t seems somewhat like III,
Chinese making faces " at the English.
After a careful trial before legislative COM
mttee, and then again before the masters in
chancery, every charge being thoroughly tried
and proved TO be groundless then they turn t.
the men who have patiently heard and decided
the case, and finding that the age has produced
no men of higher standing, there is nothing posi-
BILE for this opposition press but to indulge in these
contortions of the features, with grincinens de
dents"
Without doubt we shall have continued repeti-
tions of the ofttod tale upon the principle of the
proverb Of the Mussuman that " a lie well stuck
to is better than the truth wavering," and giving
the world another illustration of the tenacious
validity of falsehood when once set in motion
" You may refute it, but 1t will not stay refuted
You may beat 1t down to-day, tomorrow it is up
again, as rigorous as ever. Nay you may slay
1t as dead as the creature of prehistoric age
smitten to its brain center by thunderbolt of
the Almighty below the rocks of the
Laurentlan epoch, and turned to stone by the
chemistry of cosmic ages; and there shall be
some man with muck rake, some deliver in the
mines of the past, who will rob the tomb Of its
skeleton and bring it forth unto the light OF day
and while its shape oifends the sight OF all 9TH
ers, to him it will seem an angelic form OF am
brosial fragrance and seraphic beauty Thus it
has been with the history of falsehoods since the
world began, and we should not expect any ex-
ception in this instance, especially when we learn
that these traducers who have been so busy en-
gagged in circulating reports against the managers
of the Central Vermont are hired and paid by a
New York ring The object is to divert the COM
merce between the East and the West that now
passes through Vermont, Statistics show falling
off at New York in trade in Western produce, and
the large share carried by the Central makes this
road the object OF such persistent attacks, The
citizens of Vermont should all distinctly under
stand that these attacks upon our judges come
from city where bribery Is common, and they
would fain have the world believe that our courts
are no better than theirs These cries OF dishon-
esty originate in a place that was for long time
ruled by the Tweed ring, They would like to
destroy the Central Vermont In order to the
through business that is now carried over that
line. Mr., Alvord, in a late speech in the New
York Senate exclaims in great warmth that the
receipts of trade from the iar-off West are grad
ually lessening and New York Is losing its hold
upon this great mass Of property that is coming
from the W est, and must seek tide water and &C
across the ocean" Again he says, 1--WE must
grid ourselves for the contest drive
the railroads into bankruptcy" His speech is IN
direct reference TO the trade that comes by tn,
way of Montreal, a large share OF which passe,
over the Central Vermont on its way to the sea
Their first method of attack is to put the rates
low as to make profits impossible, and create dis
content among the security holders. The Other
method has been TO raise hue and cry against
the managers, destroy confidence, and break "
| the leases and other contracts that make this d
continuous through line. The great force of thes,
railroad kings is brought against the Central be
cause 1t is the main link in the chain, aud, also
| because the managers we'll understand that such
a warke competition cannot always last and
that ultimately, by firmly holding on, this lin,
will secure through business that will be profit
able-that " In due time they will reap II they
| faint not +" "