St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-09-11
STATE PRESS COMMENTS.
ELECTION Opfnfons.

The republicans of St. Adams hang
together pretty well. They gave
| Page heavy vote. In consequence
| they-the managers-will reap their
reward in the conventions of 1892.
No, there are no flies on them
| Bristol Herald.
1t is evident that the voters have
been reading and thinking, and while
many of them could not bring them
selves to cast democratic ballot
they were equally averse to indoors
ing the present administration and
its tactics by voting the republican
ticket; therefore they stayed at
home. Montpelier Argus.
Strange that some papers should
claim that the falling off in the repub-
lican vote was owing to the "st1ll
hunt" carried on by the democrats.
Call it by its right name. Many re-
fused to vote for Page simply because
they have not yet forgiven him for
beating Woodbury. in the state con-
many cases, of which Bristol can
boast of at least one. Pageis elected,
however, and will make the best gov
| eTnO1 ever HdQ. IHdI
in mind Bristol Herald.
There was undoubtedly an unusual
feeling of republican apathy and in
| difference all over the state, and add
ed to this was an evident disposition
everywhere to fight out local issues
and let political result take care of
itself 1t was this latter factor, I'M
mistakably, which gave the election
to so many democratic representa-
tives. That there is in the general
result any indication of a decline i'll
republican strength which has come
to stay, there is not the least reason
for believing. 81 Brattleboro Phoenix.
Some attribute it to the high
license sentiment and very likely that
had its effect, but only in a small
way. The truth is that there has
been a growing feeling that the
republican party in Vermont is con-
trolled mainly by cliques and rings
and office holders and seekers who
were running it mainly in their own
interest and cared very little for the
political and material welfare of the
masses, that it had become a veri-
table machine in the hands of the
few to be manipulated as they saw
fit St. Adams Sentry.
Vermonters of all parties know
very well that national questions
did not enter into the state canvass
at all-were hardly mentioned in
fact. Vermont expressed her opinion
emphatically on tariff matters in
1883, and will do so again with
10, !,
1892. The country knows where
she stands and what to expect when
her opinion on national questions is
called for. Vermont's opinion on
national questions was neither
sought nor expected this year.
Lodges election and McKinley's
tariff bill had no more to do with
the election in this state than Queen
Victoria's last message to Parlia-
ment.- Burlington Free Press.
The methods by which the repub-
lican nomination in Vermont was
secured this year have been properly
punished at the polls. Now it is only
Justice to wait and see what Mr..
Page will do or attempt. He has
certainly been studying his duties
very assiduously. BE has visited
and made thorough inspection Of
every state institution, carefully
examined and investigated every
department Of our state govern
ment, down to the last detail, with
a purpose of making some vigorous
recommendation for reform and
retrenchment. He has done just
what Cows. Proctor and Barstow
did, and while we have no doubt
that he is really and earnestly ambi-
tious to cure the abuses that exist,
it will amount to no more than it
did with these excellent governors
A house cleaning is the only way,
and the people are coming to see it.
Il Brattleboro Reformer.
The way is to face the situation.
Dissatisfaction with prohibition has
been growing among Vermont re-
publicans for years. Press and poll
ticians have timidly ignored it, but
it has now reached a stage where it
can be ignored no longer. Vermont
but moves in this matter with the
other states. Since Iowa adopted
prohibition, the wave against the
principle has risen every day from
Bangor to Denver. 1t has been
abandoned in Rhode Island and de-
feated upon every hand; and local
option and high-license are taking
its place. The thing for the republi-
can party of Vermont to do is to de-
clare against prohibition, and that
at the earliest possible moment. By
so doing it will act in accordance
with the judgment of the whole civil
lied world, and at the same time ex-
tricate itself from position that
must constantly become more and
more untenable.-[ Rutland Herald.
While the state shows a falling off
usually in an ''off year." yet the pro-
portionate republican loss is greater
than that of the democratic party.
The reason for this can be accounted
for in various ways. Vermont is not
prospecting; the industries are lag
cling, its farms are being abandoned,
its population is at a. standstill, yet
its taxes are yearly increasing, its
burdens are heavier to bear, and the
poor man and what are called the
middle class have the taxes to pay,
while the capitalist finds a market
elsewhere for his money or a method
of concealment beyond the ken of
the lister. It's prohibitory laws are
obnoxious to large number OF peo-
pie and after a submission for nearly
forty years they are becoming un-
easy under the yoke of prohibition.
These and other reasons cause the
people to halt, and the only wonder
is that 1T was not done before.
Every intelligent candid man will
admit that the affairs of state and