The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-04-02
Waiting For The Facts.

Occasionally some of our grestsouled
exchanges, when they essay to be very
severe upon us, wind up their discourse
with some chilling remark about The
WAToHMAN's "boasted purpose or its
"boasted =" independence. The WATCH
MAN does not find it necessary to boast
Each issue tells its own modest story, and
Boosting would neither add to, nor detract
from, the record it is making. The ire
proachable Caledonian, which is wont to
compound for sins it is inclined to
BY damning those 1t has no mind to"
is the latest to CONCEAL us with this frigid
epithet. Our courteous contemporary
AYERS that The WATERMAN ought to
know whether DR.. Nichols is q "rum-
seller" or not, and if 80, that sit will
never have better chance to show its
boosted independence" In answer to
this challenge, we are constrained to say
that we do not know from personal expe-
rience whether or not DR.. Nichols sells
spirituous liquors of any kind. We do
not 60 to Mortified for wet groceries, for
two reasons. First, because by showing
an iron.clad certificate from the family
physician and undergoing severe medi-
cal examination at the town agency, need
full liquors can be had here in Montpelier.
Second, we are total sbstainer, and 80
have no use for rum, beer, wine, whiskey,
or any of their sister curses. We will
say, however, that we have heard tell that
liquor is sold at the Mortified drug store
owned by DIR. Nichols, but the Christian
Messenger, printed at Northfeld, near the
back door of the drug. store in question,
and whose editor is radical prohibition
list, traverses the matter even more " gin
gerly" than the Caledonidn accuses THE
WATcHMAN of doing. 1t treats the ques-
ton tentatively and treads around it in
its stocking-feet, as if it were not quite
sure of its ground, or as if it feared it
might stir up something which it had not
the nerve or moral courage to encounter.
We were really looking to it for some
positive and trustworthy information.
And then again, had there been any
foundation for this charge, we should
have supposed that our dual contem-
porary, the Argus and Patriot, in the pur'
suance of its "duty to republic ans, y
would have warned its political wards
of the danger they were mourning in the
proposal to nominate for governor vio-
lator of the prohibitory law. As our con
temporary is stanch supporter of that
law and of the cause of temperance gen
orally, and as the screech of its warning
fog-horn has not yet been heard, there is
room for doubling the truth of the re-
ports. Furthermore, the Free Press, in
naming him for governor, said that DR.
Nichols is ga very good man." and eulo
gized him for his devotion to temperance
and all good causes. This was no per
functory praise. 1t clinched its certif
cate of character by declaring emphat
ically that it chad watched his course
closely" Now Ga very good man would
not, himself, sell liquor to drink in viola
ton of law, or allow it to be sold in hit
drugstore; and the Free Press, in the
fulness of its knowledge of DR.. Nichols
course, could not have been influenced t.
say that such man is ga very goot
man." or to support him for governor
Still further, it is currently reported tina
Good Templar, living in Mortified
jealous in his work, high in official ranl
in the order, and of considerable oratorica
power, has been quietly coached for {
year or two to bring the doctor out at thu
nominating convention with all the celia
which rhetoric and eloquence can give
Under all this accumulation of opposing
inferential proof, we submit that it il
tasking credulity severely to ask one II
believe that DR.. Nichols sells liquor, O
has grown rich by the sale of liquor, a
his drugstore in Mortified. 1t is tru
that none of his newspaper supporter
have made haste to take him out from
under this weight of damaging accuse
ton but the delay is doubtless inspired
by polite desire to let his enemies 60 OF
piling up "wrath against the day o
WRATH" and when the hour is ripe the,
will undoubtedly descend upon them will
a volume of vindicating denial that viii
be crushing. At all events, we shoul'
not wish to accuse any man, and espe
cially man who is candidate for tn
governorship, of so grave an offense a
being an habitual rum-seller, solely OF
hearsay evidence. So our position is ON
of waiting for the facts.
Bogus Butter.