The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-07-30
Letters from the People.

Letters from the People.
PRINCIPLES BEFORE MEN.
Mr.. Editor:-The candidates OF the republi-
can and democratic parties are now before the
citizens or the United States for their votes
The republican candidates have each accepted
the nomination by letters which are so thor
oughly American, which so fully indorse and
maintain the American policy, as carried out
by the republican party for the past twenty
years OF the country's greatest prosperity, that
1t would seem that no well-wisher OF the
country's good would hesitate a moment In de-
Gliding how to cast his vote. Mr.. Blaine has
been so long before the country as public
man that we are sure that, il elected he will
carry out the principles of protection to Ameri-
can labor and industry. Mr. Cleveland is so
little known that we cannot rely on his future
course. II he should, by his letter of accept
ance, say all that the republican independents
claim for him, 1t would be rs impossible for
him to stem the tide Of the seething, bowling
army of office-seekers as it would for him to
stop the waters Of Niagara He represents the
freetrade element of the country, and they
only want the power-that Is, the ma jority in
| both houses Of congress- with the president-to
carry their reform tariff measures to that ex-
| tent that every manufacturing industry in the
| country would be struck down or seriously
| crippled, and our workingmen would receive
| but one-haf or two-thirds their present pay.
| OF the newspapers OF the country which were
| formerly republican-now claiming to be in
| dependent, but advocating Cleveand's election
we know Of no one who has not for years
been in the interest of free trade or opposed to
a protective tariff. This is the real difference
While they say that Cleveland is personally
| the better man, they endeavor to cover up, to
keep from the sight of the great labor interest Of
| the country, their real purpose in opposing the
| republican candidates, which is to build up for
eign manufactures, importing centers (cities),
| by pulling down our young industries, our
young cities and towns, which are fast becom-
| ing centers for trade and manufactures and
| creating home markets for the farm products
of the country. From a careful study OF the re-
| publican candidates since they have been in pub
lie life, we have every reason to believe that in
voting for them their friends will have no reason
to regret that they did so-while, in voting for
| Cleveland and Hendricks, with the declared pur-
pose of the latter to GUST every office holder in
| the country, every friend of his country will
have ample reason to forever regret his action.
The candidates of the two great political par
ties, personally, are of small moment They
are only four men, all told out of fifty millions
OF people; but they are put forward to repre-
sent the great political parties Of the country.
In voting for them the freemen Of the state will
keep in view the principles which they repre-
sent. E.
STATE MATTERS.
Mr. Editor Now that the national, state
| and district nominations are made, is it not
time that the attention of the republican voters
of Vermont is directed to the selection of the
right kind Of men to make up our own general
assembly? Let the issues be fairly stated and
the wishes OF the people be made known before
the election, and then elect men capable,
honest, and determined to carry out those
measures that will give a." the greatest good to
the greatest number" The legislature of 1880
did much good work for the people. The new
grand list law lifted great burden from the
poor and middle classes and put it upon those
better able to bear it. The Judevne law"
releasing towns from being insurance COM
nil oil In tru,,o
that travel our streets, has saved an untold
amount of pain and suffering, both to the
"poor unfortunate" who used to get hurt, and
to the taxpayer, who had to pay for reckless
ness, hypocrisy, lying and perjury. The peo-
pie say, " Let ii remain" The act for collect
ing taxes by the treasurer Of towns has proved
a saving plan in many towns. The legislature
of 1882 also did much good work in its " cor
poration tax law" in its amendments to the
grand list laws and in other acts. Now what
great good can the legislature of 1884 do
What do the people demand and need? 1t
would seem that, having got improved ways of
assessing and collecting taxes it might be well
to improve the methods of spending the money.
: The three main items of our annual tax and
expense in most towns are the Schools the
roads and the Door. And it is fair question
to ask OF our coming lawmakers it, under the
present system, there is that economy and
equality in the disbursement of public funds
that is for the greatest public good. Some of
, the good old ways " do not hold good forever.
Times change and fashions alter Our popu-
{ ation centralizes and the poor districts are
deserted One school district in this town,
where wealth and people gather, gets along
+ with a five to ten per cent tax and has a good
school thirty or more weeks in the year, and
has a surplus of money in its treasury.
a Another district, where the scholars need
, schooling worse than the others, has to raise
: from seventy five to one hundred and twenty
r per cent tax to keep poor school twenty weeks.
! One school has gone on, the present summer,
for weeks with only one small scholar-a small
: school but big neighborhood quarrel. my
brethren, these things ought not so to be"
J , And then the highways. Most of the towns
, jog on in the old ruts, working out the tax
, under from twenty to forty highway surveyors.
q That system may have been the best in the
! days Of our grandfathers, but it is certainly a
wasteful, inefficient and unequal method now.
Let the wisdom and virtue" of Vermont
!, give us better way. 4" The (town) poor we
have always with US, and God help us to take
care of them, for they generally want to live
! better and easier than their poor neighbors
that are not on the town. But let the laws to
fix their settlement be simplified so as to pre-
vent vexations litigation between towns.
PROGRESS.
! FOR SENATOR.
, Mr. Editor:-If the republicans of Washing
ton county are in search of timber of which to
make senator, we would direct them to
= Waitstield, where they will find a man in all
respects qualified to fill that position-a man
above reproach, man whose ability is not
doubted by any one in Washington county, a
man of sterling integrity and strong will, a
man who has the power of presenting subject
so clearly that he cannot be misunderstood, a
man who is we'll acquainted with the wants OF
the farmers and laboring classes man who
is friend to educational interests, man
whose services in the legislature for the past
l two terms have been means of lifting the bur-
dens of the poor and equaliziDg taxation, a
man who would be power in the senate and
an honor to Washington county We would
4 present the name of W. A. Jones.
MAD RIVER VALLEY.
9 Bethel.-C. S. Could who had been book
/ keeper in the tsnnery of j B. Ally & Co. for
some time, died suddenly at Burlington on
: Thursday, the oath, aged thirty-tive years.