The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-01-30
Notes and Comments.


BRATTLEBoRo PHOENIX: frederick
Billings, in his letter published this week,
gives one very excellent reason why he
should be made the next governor of Yer
mont-he will not wire-pull for the Office"
RIcHFoRD GAZETTE "In a letter to
the Hon. James Barrett Frederick Bill
lings declines to be considered candidate
for gubernatorial honors, which is cause
for genuine regret, as he is by all odds the
best fitted of any of those whose names
have been mentioned in connection with
the Office. 1t is possible Mr.. Billings may
be induced to reconsider his expressed de-
termination and yield to the wishes of the
people, who have thus far greeted his pro-
posed nomination with significant unanim-
ity. We hope this may be go"
PoULTNEY JOURNAL: Z" Why not re-
nominate and re-elect the present incum-
bent, j. L. Barstow2 He has been tried
for one term and given satisfaction to the
people of the state He is well qualified
for the position his head and heart are
all right, and it seems to us bad policy to
make so frequent changes. There can be
no object in taking up new man for
governor at every election, except it be to
crafty as many sspirants to that Office as
possible. Certainly the interests of this
state do not require these frequent
changes, but, on the other hand, demand
more of permauence and steadiness. The
interests of the people do not require that
every other man in the state should be an
ex-governor, acknowledgements or ex-
something else. Our people should be ed
ucated to the understanding that their
individual glory and honor does not depend
upon holding, or having held, an Office; it
is in 'acting we'll their part in their
common and ordinary avocations."
RUTLAND HERALD " In our judgment,
Mr.. Billings has allowed his natural sensi-
bility to persuade him to make altogether
too much account of the fact that he has
a winter residence in New York city he
is citizen, voter and large taxpayer in
Vermont; he was sufficiently citizen to
represent Vermont at Chicago and elo-
quently nominate Senator Edmunds as
the choice of Vermont; he contributes
largely of his means every year to support
the public educational institutions of Ver-
mont he is, in patriotic love and devotion
to his state, the peer of any public man in
Vermont, and in ability and generosity of
character he is more than the peer of any
man we are likely to get for governor. If
he was as thick.skinned as the average
politician, he would not decline the use of
his name-and while we regret that he has
taken counsel OF his morbid delicacy and
sensibility, we are glad to remember that
the superior and formidable worth of his
character was instantly recognized by an
eruption of mud and stones from the
democratic volcano. No higher compli-
ment to the public popularity and in
auence of republican can be given than
the concentrated shrapnel fire of scandal
and falsehood from democratic battery"
THE New York Times has made a can.
vass of the New York legislature with a
view to ascertaining the drift of presiden-
tial preference in that state. The Times
says: awe print this morning collec-
ton of statements from members of the
legislature intended to give reflection of
the feeling among the people of this state
with reference to presidential candidates.
They show that there has thus far been no
distinct capitalization of sentiment on
the subject. The members speak rather
more for themselves than for their constit.
uents, and their preferences appear to be
divided among all the men who have ever
been talked of for candidates. There is
no tendency to enthusiasm in any direc.
ton. Among republicans Arthur cannot
be said to be anything like favorite, and
this is equally true of every man named
There is strong undercurrent of conf
dence and approval for Edmunds. The
first thought of democrat seems to be
Tilden, though with vague sense OF
hopelessness. Flower, Slocum, Payne
and so on through the list, have their ad
mirers, but the man to be supported on
each side seems to be the choice of the
convention"
FREE PRESS "The concentration OF
public opinion in favor of Frederick Bill
lings for our next governor had already
become very strong, and was strengthen
ing daily, under the bitter opposition OF
the democratic press-which has had the
substantial monopoly of SANDER and de.
traction so far as he was concerned. The
favor with which the suggestion of his
name has been received has been in the
highest degree creditable to the republi.
cans of our state, for it has been due pure.
ly to conviction of his superior fitness
for the place, to recognition of the quail.
ties of the highest integrity, of marked Ca
pacity for high responsibility and station,
of independent judgment, public spirit, en-.
thusiasm, open-handed generosity, personal
magnetism, and every quality, save strong
physical health, that would qualify him
l.. n A