St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-04-06
Public Opinion.
BRADLEY BARLow's REMOVAL

w e have no reason to DelleVe that
our authorities have uniustly discrimi-
mated against Mr.. Barlow in the matter
of taxes, and as his complaint on that
account seems not well grounded, we
infer that the attempt of his friends to
secure his vindicatiOn at the expense
of st. Adams cannot prevail. 1t is
possible that he had another motive
for his removal from town that has not
been made public, but with that we
have nothing to do. He had a perfect
right to leave and take all his property
with him, the same as any other citi-
zen. after he had satisfied all legal de-
mands against him but we must pro-
test against the efforts to justify his
conduct in the matter to tho prejudice
of "A community which has been gener-
Gus in its favors to him, and has re
turned just equivalent for all he has
done in its behalf.-[St. Adams Mes
senger.
RICH CONGRESSMAN.
Since Postmaster General Howe's
death it has been quite generally re
marked that one of the best things to
be said to his credit was that he died
comparatively poor. This is the eX-
preston of a popular notion that if a
public man has accumulated wealth it
is at the expense of the public in
short, that he has stolen from the
treasury or traded his official position
and influence. 1t is an ill-cOnsidered
Judgment which reflects unjustly upon
a large number of worthy men. No
doubt some INSCRIPTIONS public men
have enriched themselves by question
able means but it is unfair to con-
denim all for "a few, and that without a
hearing. The sentiment that would
have the income of congressman for
instance limited to his salary is I'M
reasonable. There is no reason why
he should be deprived of the privilege
of doing private business which does
not conflict with his public duties, or
why he should not make it prosperous
and profitable. There are a hundred
ways in which a public man may ac-
quire competence without misusing
his position. The argument that "a
rich congressman is robber is non
Seguitur. 1t is fallaciOus, miscellaneous
and sOcialistic.- Portland Advertiser.
COTTON MANUFACTURE IN THE SOUTH.
Though cotton manufacturing in the
south is as yet in its infancy, it is new
ertheless becoming rapidly apparent
that New England must not be too sure
of retaining a monopoly of this branch
of manufacture. A sharp competition
already exists not only for the trade in
sheetings in the cotton states, but
southern cOttOns are now entering the
markets of the southwestern states,
and the New Englander finds himself
confronted in all the leading markets
of the Mississippi valley with sheetings
and shirtings in no way inferior in
quality to those manufactured by him
self, and which are offered at a less
price than he, to make his customary
profit, can possibly afford. Instead of
il possible competition twenty-five
years hence, the danger that threatens
the New England manufacturer is al
ready imminent. One of the signs of
this is found in the movement which
has been recently made to secure from
the great trunk lines of railroads lead
ing from New York to the west lower
freight rate on cotton manufactures,
and which is urged on the ground of
its necessity in order for fair compe-
tition with the southern manufacturer.
This cost of transportation of the man
ufactured goods has already become an
important factor. The New England
manufacturer has certain advantages
on his side, but these are largely offset
by the freight and transportation
charges on the raw cotton from the
southern seapOrts to his mills. 1t has
been found that labor is, on the whole,
efficiency being taken into cOnsidera-
ton, as cheap south as north, and that
the cost of manufacture of precisely the
same grade of goods is about the same
in either section. Transportation,
therefore, becomes a matter of the first
Importance. The sOuthener is not only
much nearer the cotton fields, but is
also nearer the western and northwest
ern trade centres, and so can reach the
consumers at a less cost for freight
than can the New Englander. Then,
too, he deals direct with the consumer,
while the New Englander, in accord
ance with time-honOred precedent,
deals through a commission house in
this city and New York.
There is no doubt that the New Eng
lander has an immense advantage in
the long time his mills have been es-