Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-10-16

Vermont DCCtiCu.
The Rutland HCrdld makes the Ilegsa-
tive reunion the occasion for a severe
TRADE against It's own state. 1t says:
The Legislative convention at Montpc-
lier was II sort of political love least No
stranger to the State would have suspect
ed from the speeches made that Vermont
was not the model progressive common
wealth of New England instead of being
the procession of the New England
States. The fact is you never
hear the truth told about Vermont from
the lips of IL Nermunter on n public occa-
sion. Take an intelligent Vermonter and
talk to him in private and he will express
regret that Vermont is in deep need of re
form and apprehension for the future, be
cause her political leaders have be
come so petty and SO selfish that
they are Indifferent to the stua-
ton. Vermont is really a backward
State her school system is VIGOROUSLY in
efficient a system that makes poor, mean,
starved schools not only easily possible,
but plenty. Year after year few
patriotic men plead for the town system,
but plead to deaf ears The Vermont sys-
TEN of representation is not Republican In
form or spirit.
If instead of our non Republican repre-.
according to population, as in Massachu.
sets, the biennial session would be Il real
reform, but rs it is the weakness of the
present non-Democratic system becomes
more manifest.
Vermont regularly refuses to raise the
salary of her judiciary from $500 to $500,
although everybody knows that the
judges are so poor that none of them can
afford to refuse the tender of an annual
pass from the railroads.
The press and public men of Vermont
are, as II whole, timid, reserved and non
progressive compared with the rest ui
New England. Senator E,!munGs speaks
his mind at home and abroad, but he Is Out
of our local politics; our home leaders
seldom lead they follow the PACK. /,
the legislature year after year Il lew me-
try to get il railroad CJnm.,siuu appuln.
ed like that OF MasSacau~etts tnty Ii
to get legislation passed to protect {,
people against the coal monopoly, IA
they fail 8; why not Decau,c the lcglo
ture is Venal. but because il il rltJCr b,
dull or too selfish to see that an ahu~c
the principle of popular rights IN Rur!an
county Injuries really not only Rutau,
but the whole state. lhe past of NcI
mont is very pretty it * pure, pttriotr
aud brave; but its present is non-pr
gressive, grossly utillt,uian aud 50 prnu
rious that it would refuse IA bette.
government than 1t has 10 day, if tn
member from "Hymn Book Corner
should establish the fact that it was more
economical to endure present evils than t.
try and reform them. Altogether Yer
dull, splritless man of good family: he
does little or nothing himself that Is
worthy of his high lineage, but he never
fails to claim large consideration every
where because of his excellent pedigree.
Our pedigree is excellent, but we cam
bank forever on the fame of our grand
fathers, when other States lead us and we
limp painfully behind.
These and similar complaints fill Il
column and II half in the Hcruld. OF
course there is some truth in the crit
cisms; but it is doubtful if any good is nc
complished by such extreme and sweeping
accusations. New Englanders in general
and NermOnters in particular, are moi
easily scOlded into better ways They may
accept criticism which they have to own i,
just but unfair and excessive blame sim
ply defeats its purpose
To begin with, the reunion.was a socia
rather than il political love-feast Much
printers ink has been expended in assert
ing that its object was wholly political
but such was not the case. The politicians
undoubtedly tried to jump on to it; but
we do not believe that any political design
lay at the bottom of it, in the mind of its
originator; and four-ffths of the
men who went to it, went solely
to see each other socally-to meet
old friends and brother members
to hear some speeches, talk over Old times
and have good time together i'll an order
ly way. This being the nature of the oc
casion, it was not surprising that there
should have been some mutual admira
ton, and that the things in which Yer
monteis take pride should have bcel
mentioned rather than the faults ant
shortcomings of our people. 1t cannot bt
denied that the Nermouters are
somewhat sclf-consciouS set-bu
they are not the only community
chargabe with excessive self
appreciation. Boston is the hub of tn,
universe for Bostonians. New Workers
feel their metropolitan oats and show it.
The men of every Western and Southern
State brag steadily and loudly of them
selves and their States. The Englishmal
sings Rule Britannia" The Frenchmal
eXuts in the glories of La Belle France
The Chinese call all the rest of the worl,
"outside barbarians." So it gOe,
the world around. We would prefer tina
Nermonters should be the exception, rath
CT than help to make the rule in that re
gard; but coming down to the facts il
cannot be denied that they have II fai
right to be proud of their State. Nor ar
the sources of pride accidental, or who'll
in the past. 1t is no accident that tw
Vermonters stand at the head of the tw
most important committees of Congress
or that at recent date the four highes
foreign missions-thoSe to England
France, Germany and Russia-were hell
by native NermOnters, two of them gradu
ates of Vermont colleges. 1t is not I
mere accident that the leading man in tn,
greatest railroad enterprise on this con
tinent, the Northern Pacific, and the eN
ecutive head of the great American Boar
of Missions now ia session In Boston, ar
Nermontcrs and graduates of the Ven
mont University. 1t is no accident tina
bOSSiSm does not thrive i'm the dOminau