The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-05-22
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CONSISTENCY.

CONSISTENCY.
This word, viewed in the abstract SYN
thesis of its chronological construction,
may form very good theme for poets to
sing about, and may serve an admirable
purpose to write in copy books, as an ex-
ercise in chirography; but politicians
and others whose ambitious aspirations
for wealth dominate every other consid-
Grafton seem to have very little use for it.
This bit of moTalizing was suggested
by the action of some of Vermont's good
citizens, who, a few weeks ago, arrayed
themselves right Loyalty with those who
seemed to be earnest in promoting the
welfare of this State; but, who, as soon
as they discovered the State of Tennes-
see, with its rich mines, productive soil
and semi-tropic climate, dropped Yer
mont like hot potato and rushed off to
this latest Mecca with their pockets full
of Eastern capital which they left there
by way of testimony to the fact that con-
sistency may be jewel; but it is of
small value when weighed in the balance
with prospective advance in realities in
Tennessee, or anywhere else, outside of
the State of Vermont.
1t is quite evident that the inconsist-
ency of this action on their part is MOTH
their estimation, matter of any consid-
Grafton. In our day and generation, and
until such time as the world is ripe for
the Inauguration of Mr.. Bellamy's theo-
ries, every man has the right to invest
his money anywhere he likes, always
provided he has the money to invest:
and no fault can be found with any one
Tor exercising that prerogative if he
thinks it for his interest to do So
Nevertheless, there are some consider
atiOns, just at the present time, that
ought to have weight with our citizens
before sending any of their surplus capi-
tai out of the State, while it is needed
here to build up our own enterprises;
and where, in the end, it may produce as
large returns as in any other State.
The population of Vermont has not
materially increased during the past two
or three decades, and she has not grown
in wealth as have some of the other
States. The tempting offers of high
rates of interest from the Western States
and Territories, many of which have,
however, proved Elusive, and the pros
| pect of rapid advance in property in the
South and Northwest, have had the effect
of drawing large sums of money out of
this State to build up industries in those
sections; and as result Vermont has
suffered to such an extent that her indus
tries languish, her citizens follow in the
wake of the vanishing capital, and her
farms are abandoned to grow up to
weeds and brambles.
In view of these indisputable facts, it
seems the height of disloyalty on the
part of our capitalists to further weaken
our resources and cripple our infant in
| al gtria hNr Nt-hA al oil 80
ital, even if they have the right to do II.
and can enrich themselves by so doing.
Men who cOncoct schemes to enrich
themselves by buying property in other
States, and by selling it under the pres
sure of a boom at many times the amount
| paid for it, may be shrewd fnanciers, and
may reap the pecuniary reward of their
enterprise, but we cannot help thinking
that they might have shown greater 10y
atty to their own State if they had in
vested their money here, and projected
an incursion into the State instead of an
excursion out of it.; and instead of in
viting our capitalists to 90 away from
home for investments, had invited the
| investment of capital from outside, in
the purchase and up-building of realities
| in Vermont
And of those newspapers that have
pulled and Landed the enterprise, forget
ting their former observations of LOYALTY
to the State, and depreciation of all the
schemes for drawing money away from
it, what shall we say? Are they venal?
Is it right to do anything and everything
for money? Is it consistent to blow hot
and cold? Our neighbor, the Independ-
ent thinks, at least that it is not q mat
ter that is fraught with such evil conse-
quences as the advertising of liquors, by
a professedly Prohibition paper; and, so
far as the degree of pernicious results is
concerned, the Independent is, no doubt,
right; but the Inconsistency is Just as
great in one case as in the other; but
then we suppose consistency is not to be
allowed to stand in the way when dollars
and cents are concerned. In other words,
an editor of paper is not responsible
for what appears in his advertising col
umns; and in any case neither con-
science nor a regard for consistency
should prevent his turning penny
whenever he happens to have am oppor-
tunity to do so.
We dare say this is true enough, and
quite in accord with the ethics of news
paper advertising; yet it is most unfor-
tunate for the State of Vermont; and
while the newspapers are not so blame
worthy as the original propagators of the
scheme, they are responsible for their
share in the matter of encouraging the
withdrawal of capital from this State,
and its investment elsewhere, to our own
detriment.
There are, doubtless, undeveloped
mines in Vermont as well as in Tennes-
see, and If boom could be started to in
duce capitalists to come here. and bring
money into the State instead of contriv-
ing ways TO send it out, u good work
would be accomplished And, even il
there are no mines, there are other en-
terprises that need the fostering care and
encouragement of those who are able to
give such needed assistance; and we
hope to see some large hearted and gen
erously disposed capitalist wake up to
the exigencies of the situation, and make
a name and fortune for himself by help
ing to open up and develop our own nat
ural resources instead of playing second
fiddle to outside speculations. -Bwling-