The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1890-10-09

IL, Of this state on the question of temPcr-
aner. do not 30 IN Il nee assarf 10 mui-
tiply words ngon tins suplaet. The pec-
ple Of Vermont arr not ready 10 legaiiEe
ihe sale oi Intoxicating hqaors ~ pabAe
saloons, aud all legislation should be IA
HARMONY with this idea. II you find the
present law defective. correct these de-
fleets, IL you find any part thereof dead
letter on our statute books, repeal 1t; II
o,er-sealoas friends Of temperance have
secured the passage of such laws which
tend To impair the entire prohlbitofy sys
tenn Of our state, modify sach provisions
TO the end that the Law may more and
more command the respect and support OF
AL good citizens, never forgetting that the
policy OF prohibition is too FIRMLY lntrchch-
ed III the hearts Of the great body oil the
common people to allow our seriously en-
tertaining any propositions OF repeal MY
Predecessor has devoted 10 this subject
vast amount Of thought, aud has given You
in his retiring message the results OF his
labors. heartily endorse his recommend
ations, based us they are upon an exten.
sive experience in liquor prosecutions aud
coming as they do from one whose warm
interest IN all matters pertaining TO tenn
peranee entities him to voice the senti-
ments Of its friends in Vermont.
AUSTRALIAN BALLOT SYSTEM.
The privilege Of every voter to east his
ballot without fear, and subject to no I'M
proper influence or espionage, is one OF the
most sacred rights OF American citlzen-
ship. That the Australian system protects
this right Of the voter more fully than any
other vet suggested, is conceded. Where
il has ,ren tried il has become popular.
The only important objection to It's adop-
ton, that have heard expressed, IS that
Of expense. For the purpose OF carefully
investigating this objection, ! have CORE
sponded with the smaller towns in Massa-
chnsetts where the law is in operation and
learn that the cost is too small TO be worthy
of consideration, being from tive dollars to
twenty dollars in places corresponding IN
population to the large majority OF Yer
mont towns.
Vermont can not afford to be tardy IN
the adoption Of any system having for ITS
end purer ballot, and believing that no
better method has yet been devised TO ac-
complsh this, | earnestly urge its adoption.
COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURAL AND
MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.
You will have before you the report OF
the commissioner, in which is given an ex-
haustve survey of that most important
subject, the re-occnpation Of our unoccn-
pied farms
Governor Dillingham; has given much
attention to the working of this commits
sion, and devotes a large part OF his re-
firing message thereto. For the purpose OF
informing myself as to the class Of people
who are being brought to Vermont through
the exertions of the commissioner, and the
character of the farms they are occupying,
visited the Swedish settlements at VIII
mington and Weston, and while anything
might add to what has already been
given you on this topic, by the governor
and the commissioner, would be nnneces-
sary repetition, wish to emphasize what
they have said in two important particu-
lars
First-There is, in my opinion, no better
class of men coming to us from foreign
| countries than the Swedes. They are IN
telligent, fairly educated, frugal, INDUS
trions and honest In word, they are
| inst the material out of which desirable
citizens are made !.
Second-It is clearly for the interest OF
Vermont that we induce these people to
come to our state and locate upon our un-
occupied farming lands, if it can be done
without unreasonable expense. i believe
the commissioner has given to the per-
Torrance of the important and arduous
duties devolying upon him measure OF
energy and conscientious devotion which
few men would have bestowed upon it.
He has been animated from the first, as it
seems to me, by a desire to perform
patriotic duty.
II only remains to add, that the entire
scheme is an experiment, the success or
failure Of which, it is yet to early to pre-
diet.
Whether these Swedes will cling to their
farms, and by their success thereon attract
Others TO our state, or, failing Of success,
shall desert the lands they have purchased
and 90 TO other fields, time only will de-
.termine. am inclined, after a somewhat
careful survey Of the field, to recommend
a moderate appropriation for the contin-
uance of the commission another two years.
CONCLUSION.
| Again would impress upon you the i'm
portance OF the work at hand, aud nrge the
necessity of taking up this work at once
and pursuing il diligently to the end. We
come here as the representatives of the