The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-04-09

10 the people and for the people, and each free
man Is impressed with the fact that he, in
and not till then, will our conventions and cleo
tions be conducted in accordance with the early
principles OF the state. FARMER.
LET THE PEOPLE RULE.
Editor Times The editorial remarks in the
last issue of your paper, touching self-seeking
candidates for office, ETC., meet my very hearty
APPROVAL and count it an encouraging omen
that such conservative journals as the Times
are pointedly calling public attention to the
Gently adopted political customs and methods.
For one, long to see return to the good old
days, which you and | can remember, when it
was thought undignifed and unseemly, here
in Vermont, for a candidate for office, and
especially for high office, to champion his own
cause, or in any way actively to promote his
own nomination or election to Office. The old
fashioned idea then prevailed that il the peo-
pie really desired any mans services in public
office they would find way to make 1t known
to him, without any solicitation or prompting
on his part and must confess that still cling
with good deal of tenaeity to this, as it seems
to me, good old way; and 80, am glad to see,
do you Under 1t, possibly, too modest merit
may sometimes have failed Of proper recogni-
tion and reward; though the people, when
given fair chance, are much quicker Of ap-
prehension in this regard sometimes think,
than we are apt to give them credit for. At any
rate the evil, IL any there was, was insignifi-
cant compared with the decentralization that
has come upon us in these later days through
the blatant self-assertion Of modern self.seek-
ing candidates. who lack not only the modesty
of their predecessors, but also most of the
other characteristics that commended them to
public favor Cheek Is now too often accepted
as a substitute for brains, and he who toots
his own horn" most diligently is quite apt to
secure public attention and capture the coveted
foot pf oil mi mar
ners, and even on public morals, cannot be 9TH
erwise than perncious. 1t teaches that shallow
pretense, il sufficiently bold and persevering,
may shoulder itself into places that rightfully
belong only to solid merit. Indeed, how ex-
ceedngly seldom in these degenerate days,
does modest merit win in the race! Let US,
then, by all means, go back to the better GUS
toms of earlier times. | would be glad, too,
as you suggest, to see return to those days
when the people of Vermont were wont to as
semble in convention " to seek the man, and
not merely to ratify and confirm some previous
understanding" 1t seems to me that we have
had quite enough of rings and bargains and
promises, and such like, and that il any such
unfulfilled bargains and promises have been
made, publicly, as Is claimed, they were made
by those having no valid authority to bind the
state of Vermont l do not believe that any
man, or any set of men combined in ring"
or otherwise, have any warrant to parcel out
and mortgage, sometimes years in advance,
the high offices OF the state that rightfully be-
long to the people alone, and for one, so far as
the voice and vote of one humble citizen in
primary assemblies can have weight, l do not
propose longer to submit to this brazep usurpa-
tion. AS feel, so do thousands and tens OF
thousands Of other good citizens feel; and 1t
only lacks concentration Of purpose and effort
to make this feeling effective in wiping out
what cannot but regard as discreditable fea-
ture of our present political customs. Shall
we unite our efforts to accomplish 80 desirable
an end On this question, Mr. Editor, vote
yea" Conservative" in Bello,os Falls Times.
THE GREAT NORTHWEST.
BRooKINs COUNTY, Dakota,
March %, 1884.
Mr.. Editor A few words from this county
may be of interest to those Of your readers
who are contemplating locating in the West.
Its location (44o 30i north latitude or about the
same as Washington county, Vermont) Is in
| a region well adapted to agriculture and graz
| ing. The eastern part is traversed by range
| of low hills called coteaus, the valley Of
which Is covered with an immense growth OF
| wild grass, except where few homesteads
| have been taken, and tame grass has been
sown. A herd OF seven hundred sheep, and
| several small herds Of cattle, are pastured on
| these coteaus. The northwestern portion is
rolling prairie, while the southern part is quite
level and drained by the Medary creek. The
| Sioux river also crosses the county from north
TO SOutn. lH6r6 are tHTe6 slIlhll lakes III tno
| county, the shores of which are covered with
| timber The soil is deep, black prairie loam,
with clear subsoil. Wheat is the staple
product; barley and oats are extensively
raised; corn is not very productive, owing to
| short seasons; potatoes do well, but are not
| extensively raised, because there is no market
| for them; all garden vegetables do well, es-
| pecially roots. A great many tree claims "
dot the prairies, taken under the timber culture
law, with excellent growths of young trees
| The climate is cool and invigorating in summer,
| and not very severe in winter. One railroad
| crosses the county from east to west, and a
prospect of one, or more, north and south, this
summer. Lumber and coal are high wheat, low
| cause, lack of railroad competition. Brookins,
| the county seat, located in the southern part,
on the Chicago & Northwestern railroad, is
| q flourshing city of five years growth. 1t sup
ports four churches, three of which have sub
stantial church ediices. A system of graded
schools has been adopted, and fine building
accommodates from one hundred and seventy
| five to two hundred school children. The agri-
| cultural college is located here. Touring
mill and creamery are to be erected this sum-
| mer. A. K. b.
ARTIFICIAL MAPLE SYRUP.
BRISTOL, Conn, March 30, 1884.
Mr. Editor Seeing Mr.. A. NJ. Fosters let.
| ter in THE WATERMAN, leads me to say few
| words about maple syrup | was reared in
tons OF maple sugar. Since coming to Con.
necticut have sold several hundred cans OF
syrup yearly, all bought in Waterbury, Dux'
bury and Stowe, and all Simon-pure. Never
have had q can returned. have examined
| what was called maple syrup in Hartford, New
Haven and Bristol | found good article in
Hartford, but none genuine elsewhere. have
Just bought in Bristol one bottle Of syrup
marked as follows: "Pure Maple Syrup, Bnos-
burg, VT. -, Medford, Mass" This
runs down ones throat like oil, and has nc
taste of maple | have can bought here which
| reads, vermont Maple Syrup Guaranteed
strictly pure, and the most delicious known
New York" This has little
maple taste. The counterfeit can be detected
every time by the smell. | think it is adulter'
ated with glucose; perhaps something else is
added. One thing is certain, they use but uery
little maple syrup. GEORGE c. ARMS.
WEST SIDE VIEW.
We noticed recently very superhuous re-
mark of the Vergennes aper that the people
in this part of the state were in favor Of DR.
| Nichols for governor; that is, If the expression
this part OF the state is supposed to cover
any more space than the office of the Yer
monter. II limited to that, we presume it Il
true. We have also been astonished at an arti
Gle in the Burlington Free Press, which, in ad
| mitting the eminent fitness of Colonel Pingree
for governor, suggests that he should wait in
order that DIR. Nichols might have the office
1t would appear to the common mind that the
man who didn't fight WAS the proper man to
wait The soldier watt Did he wait when ths
fate OF the country trembled in the balance
And shall he wait now Shall he be asked tc
| xyait Uhotauar NAV ha the pppuliar viawa n