The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-04-22
Put his Foot In II Again.


We are fairly Worn out with anxiety
about our SO" lie is eycrlastipgly
putting his foot in il whcncverhe opens
his mouth, and all we can do we can't
stop him. lie must have been born so,
for no amount of education could de-
velopc such Il monumental blmdcrer,
We ask our readers TO run their eyes
carefully over "An Old soldiers" an
ticlc in another column, copied from
the Brattlcboro Phoenix, and tell us
what they think of it, in view of the
fact that the speaker referred to,
who modcstly accused the people of
Brattleboro with trying to "put their
feet on the nccks" of the old soldiers,
was nobody in the world bat our So
And worse than all here is an angry
old soldier who refuses 10 swallow that
old dose of tally that everybody up this
way knows the smell of, and actually
tells poor $40" that the Grand Army
wants none of his soft sawdcr. The
hard hearted old veterans listened to his
eloquent and original outburst, 'may
my tongue clcavc to the roof of my
mouth and my strong right arm be pal
sled" &c. &c. without shedding tear
or blinking an eye, except in deriSion.
And what pains us more than anything
else is, to learn that our old friend and
pet, who is so anxious about the repu-
tations of all mankind that he scents
'libcl' in every breeze that blows, has
been uttcring false and slandcrous
charges against a whole town for which
citizens and soldiers alike denounce
him. 1t pains lis beyond expression
that he should be thus thought of and
talked of by his new townsmcm and
ncighbors. 1t is too plain that they re-
fuse to take him at his own valuation.
and we fcarit means sadness and disa-
pointmcnt to him. Also, for the glow
ing hopes with which he went forth in
to the great world from this secluded
vale, in pursuit of more votes and more
office. ''Nanity of vanities, all is van
ity."
And now, we want to say sober
word or two concerning that "Old Sol
der's" talk about the Grand Army and
attempt to use it for political purposes.
He is no doubt right when he says that
party politics are absolutely forbidden
by the rules of the order; but rules do.
not control some men. There are a few
political dcmagogueS and chronic Office
seekers in this county, and everybody
knows exactly who they are, who have
been trying so use the Grand Army for
their own purposes for Il long while,
and have succeeded too, to some extent
if not directly. These men
try to use the membership of the Grand
Army in running political caucuses and
in other ways. inst before conventions
and elections their cmissaries find it
to visit the several posts and
quietly stir up the members to political
action in behalf of their patrons on the
ground of Grand Army fellowship,
not by open work in the posts so much
rs by bringing secret argument and in
hucncc to bear on individual members.
This thing has been going on for years,
out it has been so cunningly done that
, great majority of Grand Army men
have not fully realized it,
md would, not knowingly give coun-
.enancc to such aviolation Of their rules.
We are glad that san Old Soldier"
with manly pride in the integrity of his
order, has boldly calledp public attention
o this abuse, for it will 60 far to cor
Get it. The political schemers and
raiders and rings that are trying to use,
u rather misuse, the Grand Army, are
,lso doing the same thing with all other
organizations which they can get up or
get into. They make regular business
If working" for all they are worth all
associations of men where there is
:hancc, fairly or unfairly, to get votes;
md that is their whole object in joining
hem. We advise the people to keep a
harp eye on these fellows, and when
hey get a chance to hit them, TO strike
mt from the shoulder.