The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-11-12
After the Free Pass-ites.

A writer, who signs himself 'Ner-
mont Republican," in last Thursdays
Boston Record, uses the following Wig
orous language in reference to the anti
Edmunds movement in this state:
"Thcre is no longer any question in the
minds of intelligent observers that a
carefully matured plan has been form
ed and is now in quiet but active pro-
cess of development to Gust Mr.. Ed
munds from his place in the United
States senate at the end of his present
term and put Governor Smith in; and
In the formation and execution of this
plan the Smith political and railroad
ring republicans and the Atkins and
Smalley stripe of democrats are in full
and hearty accord. AS an incident, and
all important part of this plan, evidence
multipiies of systematic tampering
with the newspaper press of the State,
with view to subsidize the mercenary;
and. in cases not amenable to venal in
fluences, like the Waterman, to bny up
bodily, even at such cxtravagant price
as to exclude the theory ofmere business
considerations. Too stubborn and too
sturdy to be crushed, as was for time
threatened, this outspoken and able ex-
ponent of the best thought and aspira-
tons of the republican party has been
silenccd by purchase. Weeks ago Hi
ram Atkins, All intensely active as well
as intensely indiscreet member OF the
ring copartnership, gleefully boosted
of large number of republicans and
quasi republican papers in the State
that had been 'ixed'-evcn giving their
names in detail-so that, at the proper
time and on a given signal from the
chief, they would with one accord make
fierce war on Edmunds and 'crush
him out with Smith. Amy man who
still disbclieves in this fixed purpose,
now nourished mainly in secret, to beat
Edmunds, and that it will in due time
become open and fierce warfare, unless
cowed down by great popular upris-
ing in his behalf, is blind to the plain
est signs of the times. But such up
rising will doubtless come, and it is
Just such work as you are doing-giving
wide publicity to facts and plans that
for the present seek concealment-tha
will produce it. Smiths only chance
has been, and is, that matters would be
suffered to drift along as usual, and
thus the people, four" fifths of whom
have honest faith and intense pride in
Edmunds, be lulled into security, thus
affording the coveted opportunity for
Smiths trained ring cohorts, paid at
torneys and free pass beneficiaries,
whose name is legion, to get in their ac-
customed work IN packing and manipu-
lating caucuses.
Wonderful is the seductiTe power of
the Free Pass! Many man yields to
its soothing influence whose price, in
brazen dollars and cents, would be
many times its money value. 1t appeals
to his vanity; its tlatters his pride; it
magnifes his Importance; binds him
to the personal fortunes of the giver,
though the gift itself be at the expense
of impoverished stockholders. Through
these passes and kindred means, Smith
has practically ruled Vermont for a
generation. The State, so to speak, is
honeycombed with them. While the
great railroad corporations over which
he so gracefully presides have grown
poorer and poorer year by year, and
have time after time scaled down their
successfully issued obligations, and
their credulous and ruined investors go
mourning about the streets in numbers
passing the power of man to ennmerate,
he, the great magnate, goes serenely on
his prosperous way, waxing fat in per-
son, purse and pride, until to-day,
though his life has been spent in the
management of bankrupted trusts, he is
publicly heralded forth, truthfully no
doubt as the richest man in Vermont
and politically the most potential, dis
pensing his Inequalities under his own
vine and fig tree with princely grace
aud prodigality. Let no man., then,
lightly belittle the power and magne-
tism of the Free Pass! Almost with
out exception, every man in Vermont
who carries one in his pocket growls at
Edmunds and magnifies Smith. Can a
more direct sequence of cause and effect
we'll be conceived? Keep sharp eye,
Vermonter, on the free pass brigade,
and you will get both amusement and
In struchon..
HERE AND THERE.