The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-12-16
Notes and Opinions.

The Presidents observation that DO
litical parties seem to be necessary will
not please the average mugwump.
THE presidential succession is now
the central question in French politics.
NJ. Grevy's term will expire on Jan
uary Both, 1886.
WHATEvERmay be the popular preju-
dice against millionaires, things would
have gone to the bow-wows Wednes-
day morning if there had been none
left.-1rib,ne.
THE average citizen fails to see any
wide difference between the old spois
system, pure and simple, and that
which the professional independent
aristocracy seeks to set up and enjoy
in its place.-Boston Globe (den1).
PRESIDENT CLEvELAND's first mes
sage is as long as the law allows-the
law of his own nature even, judging
from his past record in public utter
ances. 1t may be forgiven him this
once, but he should not do so again.
Springfield Republican.
SENATOR BLAIR has promptly re-
introduced his education bill, with the
conviction that it will become law.
1t has been amended so that the gen.
eral government shall not bear more
than fifty per cent of the cost of any
school building that shall be erected
under the provisions of the act.
IN the two former wars against
Burmah the English gained most gen.
erous portions of territory, and one on
the sea-coast, so that the remaining
Burmah is inland. The territory re-
naming is about as large as the state
of Pennsylvania, and will most likely
be annexed now to the British pos
sessions.
THE Springfield Republican remarks
blandly that the mugwumps do not
want the offices, but they do claim the
right to help in filing them with good
men. This might be regarded as a
| gracious concession were it not so well
understood that no true mugwump be
lieves in the existence of good men out
side of his sect.-IndianapoiS Journal.
THE Argus last week, in discussion
of the post-ofiice matter, slapped Mont
pelier republicans in the face in this
characteristic manner: when the
democrats of Montpelier want the re-
publicans, and especially those who
attempted to take hand in this matter,
to decide things for them, they will let
them know. Until then they had better
mind their own business"
IN his message the President eX-
presses the hope that "we shall never
again be RENTED to the system which
distributes public positions as rewards
for partisan service" The republican
offensive partisan postmasters that have
been removed in order to make room
for democratic offensive partisans, and
the democratic offensive partisans them
selves, will laugh silvery laugh and
wink a wicked wink as they ponder
upon this sentence of the message
Tribune.
IT is understood that the republican
senators have agreed in regard to presi-
dental appointments that where the
commissions regularly expire the new
appointees will be confirmed, unless
they are of bad character. Unless Of
fensive partisanship is shown where
republicans were discharged during
their term of office, the new nomina-
tions are likely to be rejected, and, Of
fensive partisanship being shown, the
new incumbents must not be offensive
partisans.
FREE-TRADE papers are happy when
they can point to laborer in this
country working for seventy cents a
day, and they attribute it to protection.
Where there is one American laborer
working for seventy cents a day, there
are one thousand English workmen re-
ceiving only fifty cents day. The
free-trade editor seems to think that
this state of things is very unfair, and
wishes the English standard of wages
adopted in this country. Free-trade
would do it.-NorristO,cn Herald.
SENATOR SHERMAN does not hesitate
to declare publicly that he will vote
again for the bill that places the sue
cession to the presidency, in the event
of the death or inability of the presi-
dent and vice-president both, in the
members of the cabinet. "The peo-
pie have expressed their view," says
Mr.. Sherman, that for four years the
administration of government should
repose in democratic hands, and L
should not like to see a republican
enter the executive mansion by the
back door to hold the reins of official
power for brief term until a new cleo
! ton can be ordered
THE biennial system, with permission
to re-elect worthy governor, senator
or representative, would be beneficent
and satisfactory. But with the addi-
ton of practically infeXible one-term
rule, 1t is neither beneficent nor salts
factory. 1t gives us inexperienced
Legislators and crude, expensive legis-
lation. Vermont may not, probably
will not, go back to the annual system
of elections; but the sooner she goes
back to annual sessions of the legisla-
ture, or some such plan as was outlined
by Mr.. Walton at the time of the legis-
lative reunion, the better it will be for
all commemorative Press.
THE democratic and mugwump pa