The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-01-09
The Coming Man.

Mr.. Editor II notice that the question is al
ready being agitated, Who shall be the next
governor OF Vermont And 1t is fact credit
able to the intelligence OF our people as we'll as
to the leading journals OF the state, 80 far as
they have spoken, that there has been 80 gen.
era an expression Of opinion In favor of your dis
tinguished townsman, Hon, Frederick Billings
1t Is not necessary for one TO be an expert in
so-called !" practical politics" or familiar with
methods OF party management, to discover In
this spontaneous and widespread demand for
Mr.. Billings the ground swell, the first ripples
OF an incc ming tide OF popular favor that shall
compel bis nomination. and easily carry him
into the executive chair OF the state In 1884 II
Is said that Mr.. Billings Ia not In the field as q
candidate for the governorship, and this Ia I'M
doubleday true In the ordinary sense Of putting
himself forward In the slightest degree for
that purpose-a fact altogether to his credit
among those who for once would see the office
seeking the man and not the man the office.
Mr. Billings, there is reason to believe, neither
seeks the office as an honor or shuns 1t as a
duty. An election as governor OF Vermont
would bring no especial honor to Mr.. Billings,
but the state would honor itself In electing him.
and exactly here lies the important difference
between him and the average asprant for GU
bernatorial honors. Too often il ia the candi-
date only who is honored by nomination and
election; In the case Of Mr. Billings the state
would also gain prestige and every voter and
citizen would feel glow OF honest pride in
who not only could creditablv perform the ord
mary routine work OF the office, but would be
equal to any possible emergency of duty. Oc-
casions are constantly arising to prove that
abilities OF the highrst order are not useless or
misplaced in the executive head Of even a
small state like Vermont There is one way
| IN winch, under our form OF government the
| humblest citizen can help to honor his native
state mat Is in supporting the strongest and
| best men for office. Vermont has won some
credit in times past for wise policy in this re-
gard among her sister states, especially in the
selection OF representatives in congress. Pro-
lessor Brown, in his recent address COM
| memorative OF the late George p. Marsh,
| pays our state the following graceful compli-
ment: Few states have exerted more bene-
| fetal influence in the national councils than
| Vermont. This somewhat extraordinary in
| fuence, far beyond what her size, or CONNER
cial Importance would suggest, she owes
| largely to the fact that she has aimed to place
in those councils her best citzens-men of
learning, integrity and eminent sbility-snd
| having learned their worth has been wise
enough not to throw away their dearly bought
experience, but has held them to a long term
OF service, while the weight OF their authority,
the authority OF character and knowledge and
political wisdom, has grown with every year"
| While there Is probably much truth in this
generous eulogium it is doubtful II the sober
| facts OF histoy have at all times justified so
| high a praise However that NAV be- we
1
has at least recently raised, in marked degree,
the standard of its representation in the lower
house OF congress; and perhaps we do to-day
as much as ever have reason to be proud of
| our delegation in both senate and house. Few
states, If any, have sent to the present congress
| representation that ranks so high for solid abil-
| ity and for craftsmanship as ours. 1t only re-
mains to apply the same policy to our state off,
GERS, especially In the selection OF governor, the
highest executive office in the gift of the PEG
pie. Much might be said as to the superior fit
ness of Mr. Billings for the office in question,
but 1t is scarcely necessary as it is everywhere,
we believe, fully conceded. Mr.. Billings is a
man of national reputation, of broad and COM
prehensive mind, enriched by liberal and ele-
CANT culture. and at the same time trained to
practical affairs, and familiar with the latest
achievements of industrial and commercial en-
terprise. He left his Vermont home at an
early age to seek his fortune in the then newly
acquired national domain on the Pacific coast
Having prospered in his efforts beyond the lot
OF most men, he returned in the ripe maturity
OF his powers to fix his residence amid the
scenes of his boyhood and the society OF his
kindred. He brought with him the well-earned
fruits of professional and business success, and
out OF a generous heart is scattering his bene-
factions among us with liberal hand More
than that, he brings to us an intelligence cosmo-
politan in its breadth of view, ripened from
an experince and observation of twenty year,
over field as broad as the continent ITSELF
Subscriber" in Woodstock Standard.