St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-02-12
A Gard from Senator Ide.

A Gard from Senator Ide.
To the Editor of The Caledonian :
Several articles in the last issue o.
your paper refer to me by name and
contain so much that is untrue both in
statement and in inference, that / must
ask you to publish this correction and
reply.
You say in your editorials, among
other things, "Mr. Ide is one of the
leaders of the new newspaper enter
prise here. Why Mr.. Ide
goes back on the CaledOnian no one
explains. This paper has stood by
him steadfastly in the past )" and you
further "point with unerring precision
to Henry C.. Ide AS one of the powers
behind the throne manipulating the
wires for bis own political advantage
Now these are unkind things to pub
lish of one whom you have "stOod by
steadfastly in the past" unless there is
just occasion for your criticism. And
piciOn for fact and idle gossip for evil
dence. A single inquiry of ne would
have given you all the facts, and have
avoided this uncalled-fOr personal as
sault, for l assume that you would not
have "stood by one steadfastiy" whose
word you would not believe. And let
al II 81, l.,
things that have been said of me in
your paper have been entirely volunta-
~ and unsolicited on your part, and
whether they were injurious or bene-
fetal to either you or me, would be a
most Improbable subject of inquiry.
Being voluntary Oh your part you have
no right now to charge me with their
consequences, and could not in honor
complain of any unwise things you
have said in my favor, when | know
that your interest was kind and friend
ly.
| have not ''gone back on the Gale
DOMAIN" ] have been subscriber to
have lived in town and still so con-
tinue. | am not a f'leader" in the
new newspaper enterprise here. L
have not manipulated the wires" for
political advancement or for any other
purpose. The whole of my connec-
ton with this matter is this: For rea-
sons Unnecessary to be discussed many
of the republicans of the county felt
the necessity of having a republican
paper in the county, but it was easy to
see that with two existing papers in
this town the patronage would be di-
vided still more if a third one was
added, and neither paper could be
fiOurishing. You were then interview
ed and it was stated that you would
sell the CaledOnian. Mr.. Harris of
fered to sell the Index. With both
papers merged in one, with ample
capital, with good job printing Of
flee connected, with the enlarged sub
scription list and consequent increase
list of stockholders representing all
parts Of the county and all shades of
feeling among the republicans, it was
thought that paper of high standing
could be published, one that would be
for this part of the state what the
Burlington Free Press and the Rut-
land Herald are to their sections.
With that end in view and with
these representations | was asked to
aid in the enterprise and it was urged
upon me that ought to be willing to
contribute something because the party
had conferred some honors upon me.
made a very small subscription of
three shares. have urged no one else
to subscribe. circulated no subscrip-
ton. | have not been consulted in the
made or attempted, or had
anything to do with them except as an
attorney to make certain legal papers.
| was never consulted as TO the terms
of the attempted trade with you and
did not know why it was not censum-
until since your last issue when
| learned the facts from conversation
with the parties III interest. | never
saw the new editor until after your
last publication, OF had a word of cor
with him. My whole of
fence must consist in the fact t,Iat |
for three shares of stock in
a corporation which understood was
in accordance with Your wish, to buy
your paper and pay you a fair price
for it. ...
AS for the alleged motive actuatipg
me, namely, to have paper to "boomf
rne for the very honorable Office of
lieutenant governor, several sngges-
tons would seem pertinent: One would
be that as your paper "has stood by
NE steadfastly in the past 4 should
and could have no reason to anticipate
that you would not do the same in the
future, for know of no reason why
y0u should not be as friendly TO me
now az in the past. Hence l could not
afford to 'sgo back on the Caied0uiau,
md exchange a certain friend for an
lnkpown one, Again, it would seem