The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-02-13
This, That and The Other.

This, That and The Other.
Exposed and hard pressed, to elude that
memorable policeman, public opinion, the
Argus and Patriot was again crying stop
thief" last week. On several occasions
we have cheerfully placed our files at the
disposal of our neighbor for review of
our position on such questions as may
have awakened its interest. We are
pleased to see that it has made such good
use of its opportunities. An editorial in
its last issue, though needing the hay press
in its original portions, was rendered ex-
ceedingly readable by many wholesome
extracts from our columns. We cheer
fully re-subscribe to the sentiments and
principles our obliging contemporary has
reproduced, although, adroitly taken out
of their connection, tinge of false color
ing here and there may be given to their
meaning-and this, we presume, is not
entirely foreign to our contemporaries
wish and purpose. Week by week the
Argus is becoming more deeply involved
in its own labyrinthian contradictions.
Apparently it knows neither what it has
published itself nor what its contempt.
raries are saying. For example, it said
last week: "We did not say, as The
WATCHMAN asserts, that Mr.. Billings is
not a resident of Vermont" By careful
reading we believe our demoralized con-
temporary will find that we have uni
formly represented its statements about
Mr.. Billings residence with the proper
qualifications. Again, THE WATERMAN
cited the action of the Woodstock listers
as sufficient answer to "a sea of partisan
talk" not as a q" defense of Mr.. Billings.
We have seen no reason for defending
man who, we have said, has committed no
crime and for whom, so far as the public
is informed and 80 far as long life
witnesseth, only eulogies can be spoken.
We simply submit that the oath of three
unimpeached officials is sufficient an.
swer to tide of unsubstantiated charges
by journal which is so unsophisticated as
to be taken in, or so malicious as to
print as facts, so transparent libel as
the alleged sketch of Judge Poland's
life in the Congressional Directory. Once
more. The columns of our contem-
porary for weeks have teemed with senti-
ments of which the following extracts
are only brief and mild samples. 1t early
branded Mr.. Billings as ga tax-dodger of
the worst kind" 1t said: ave find no
fault with him for failing to make out an
inventory. 1t is because he does not pay
as large taxes as he ought that we con
denim him and call him tax dodger."
"Mr. Billings has for many years de-
frauded his fellow citizens, all over the
state, and forced each one of them to pay
larger tax than he otherwise would
"Pettifog and mis-state, as Mr.. Billings
advocates may, the damning facts remain
that never-at least since 1870-has Mr.
Billings paid taxes on anywhere near his
taxable property in this state" In view
OF these things, our contemporary asks
How, under any circumstances, suppos
ing even that the law of 1880 had not
been passed, can any honest man support
Frederick Billings for governor Oul
contemporary has said that it believes il
making sauce for the goose, sauce for the
gander, also. Let it now apply this
homely maxim in culinary ethics. to tn
following case. In 1880, T. p. Redfielt
paid taxes on only $1,000, and for years
before on smaller sum. Under the oper
alton of the law of 1880, his taxable prop
erty was assessed at $27,750 nearly foul
times as large as for the year immediatel,
preceding-disclosing " the damning fact
that judge of the supreme court, ga
least since 1870" when he became Judi
cial servant of the people, was " defraud
ing his fellow-citizens all over the stat
and forcing each one of them TO pay large
tax than he otherwise would" The recor
in this case since 1880 is contained in al
other article in this paper. We trust ths
our contemporary is mindful of the prt
prieties of the board, especially of tn
rules it has laid down to govern its ow
gustatory rites, and is not exhausting il