News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-02-16
COUNTY Commissioners.


Thursday, Feb. 10Th, 1882.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
1t has been suggested that those citizens
who regard their own rights and those of
the general public, bear in mind the adage
that ''eternal vigilance is the price of lib
erty," and that they have some rights which
others should be taught to respect. Let
them see to it, that they are not imposed
upon this year, as usual. by packed
ramrod convention of a half-dozen hair
Drained fanatics. who are always most
clamorous for political reform, and always
just as ready to hoist into office some IN
tellectual inferiority, manufactured in
advance for the purpose, for the advance
ment of their own narrow-minded ideas,
or for some political advantage.-Argus.
The suggestions Of the Argus are in
part well put, but its application
might well be made more general. If
our citizens could appreciate the nc
cessity of making politics and tenn
perance may well be classed under
this head part of their business, in
stead of leaving the management of all
public affairs to few men who make
: Il business of politics, the results in
both moral and economic point of
view would be altogether moro salts
factory. The important questions of
temperance, taxation and the econom-
ieal expenditure of the public funds,
demand the careful consideration of
every lover of morality and good or
der, and well repay the taxpayer in
dollars and cents for the time sur
rendered to public matters.
But if the Argus' article is designed
as sweeping denunciation of conven-
tons on the part of the friends of tenn
temperance, it is certainly open to
criticism, for organization is with them
an absolute necessity. Indeed it is
to be regretted that so many respect
able and judicious men, who ought to at
tend these conventions, and whose |
sympathies are really on the side of |
temperance, and who only fail to attend
because they are content to leave the |
matter with others, do not appreciate
the consequences of their unfaithful-
ness in this particular. Those who do
attend are, perhaps, some of them
justly open to the charge of being ultra
in matters of temperance, and, to the |
extent that their ultraism is in advance
OF public sentiment, are their acts open
to the charge of impraeticability. But
these men, who from 6 conscientious
regard for duty, devote their time,
their thought and their money to the
temperance cause, are above the abuse
and yiIlification of men who have no
sympathy whatever with temperance,
and would attack the whole cause of
temperance as promptly as they do its
most Jealous friends, if they dared to.
This, however, they have not the
courage to do, for they well know that
the great majority of our better citi-
zens are at heart friends and support
tiers OF the temperance cause.
What, then, should be done? We
think the question is easily answered.
-LetesF- eitizeHs- who neutrality-suspicious.,
feel temperance, and 5eltece in temper |
ance, give tone and character to every
movement in the direction of temper
ance reform by attending its gather
ings and tempering the actions of the
over-zcalous and perhaps impractical
Die with their sound judgement and
cool practicability. she that is not
for me IS against me" applies most
forcib!y to the cause of temperance.
There will be no third candidate for
Commissioner The friends of temper
ance will nominate one; those who
wish to practically nullify temperance
laws will put in nomination another.
Let temperance men see to it that
sound, practical, conservative friend
of temperance be nominated at the
convention Thursday; one who has
the confidence and will command the
votes of those who have at heart the
best interests of our county.