Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-03-29
A Parting Word.

announced, II is expected tnho ohe S"oooP
ton list of the WATERMAN & JOURNAL,
together with the printing business con-
uected Herewith, will be sold and trans
ferred during the coming week to W. W.
Prescott, Esq, of Biddeford, Maine, and
that after the present issue Of the paper
the establishment will pass into his owner
ship and management
In terminating the relation which we
have held to a generous public for many
wears, both custom and inclination unite in
calling for a word by way of leave-taking'
II ia by no means with the boastful spirit |
which even the Scriptures allow to him
who layeth off the harness that we turn
the minds eye backward over the more
than forty years since we first girded it
on but we can hardly refrain from using
that as a focal point from which to glance
at a few of the prominent subsequent
events in the annals OF our political his
tory. Our first editorial service was in the
opening of the memorable Harrison cam
paiQn Of 1910. Martin Van Buren, was
then president of the United States, and
the slave power was at the very zenith OF
its greatness and glory. John Quincy
Adams, who was Just then inaugurating
the campaign for freedom on the floor
of congress, said, and said truly, that
slavery gave tone and coloring to all the
legislation of congress. 1t not only DOM
mated the national legislature but con-
trolled both the political parties OF the
land. Indeed, the cardinal principle OF the
then dominant party of the country was
said to have been tersely expressed by
President Van Buren,, to "carry the north
by party machinery and the south by grant
ing all its demands" Samuel Prentiss and
Samuel S. Phelps then represented Yer
mont in the national senate, and when the
former presented resolutions of his SOW
ereign state, mildly demonstrating against
slavery in the District of Columbia and
the slave trade between the states, under
the infamous gag-rule framed by senator
from New Hampshire they were indig-
nantly refused even to be read. From such
state of things in 1910 let the mind
glance forward over four decades of time,
covering ten presidential terms, and mark
the change. The gigantic Shareholders re-
belion effectually suppressed, and with it
forever exterminated that accursed system
upon which, as its corner stone, it was
sought to build up new confederacy OF
states the Union reconstructed upon the
principles of the Declaration of Independ-
ence more than four millions of human be-
ings transformed from the likeness of things
to the dignity of American citizens; the
value OF our paper currency raised from
thirty-eight cents on the dollar to the par of
gold, and the credit of the nation lifted
from point where six per cent bonds sold
at eighty-six to that where four per cent
bonds are eagerly sought at premium.
Such are a few of the noble achievements
which will forever illumine the history of
these years, and each one of them consti-
tutes star in the crown of the republican
party. To have been a contributor in even
the smallest degree to results so far-reach-
ing and benefcent in their influence, may
well justify the boast of any man.
In withdrawing, doubtless finally, from
nearly twenty-five years actual connec-
ton with the press, we have no oracular
words to utter concerning the duties of edit
ors or the mission of the newspaper. Our
long service has but served to lessen rather
than stimulate the conceit with which we
assumed this as our chosen life work. Far
be it from us to feel that in this regard wis
dom will die with us, or even that the old
times were the best times. Indeed, the les
sons of experience have so far chastened
and modified our original vanity that pos
sibly late writer on the press might find
in us an exception to his observation when
he says; Although there are scattered
through the land many persons unable to
pay for newspaper, have never yet heard
of anybody unable to edit one" The ex-
tent of our Boosting is, that we have ear
nestly and conscientiously striven to furnish
periodical visitor in the homes of our peo-
pie that should be pure and heathful in its
influence, and prove useful as an educator
in all best things in every relation of life
That we have not wholly failed in these re-
CARDS will prove an unfailing source of graf
blind to the fact Of the rapid improvement
in the press of the state, as well as of the
country, especially during the last few
years, until it has in fact become the litera-
ture of the age to very large proportion of
the most active, industrious, business portion
of the population, the fact that it has by no
means yet reached the point of perfection is
yet more apparent. From the present point
of observation we can look over into the
promised land of more marked excellence
and wider influence for the press-when
it shall enjoy more genuine independence
of the blind edicts of the party and the
caucus, and become more potent factor in
the right education Of the popular mind.
And we charge our successors and their fell
low laborers TO go boldly over and pos
sess it.
As we surrender TO other hands the Office
to which we timidly came as an appren-
tice forty years ago, we have the sat
isfaction of believing that it was never in
more healthy and prosperous condition,