The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-08-13
Unreasonable Criticism.

Progress of any knd-moral, social,
industrial or political-has been for
tunate if it has never encountered any
obstacle more serious than criticism
reasonable or unreasonable. So the
new school law, and the law creating
bureau of immigration and industrial
interests, and the officers appointed to
execute those laws, could hardly ex-
pect to escape criticism. Under all the
circumstances, however, it was reason
able to expect that the critics would
seek to be candid and would speak
with some reference to the facts. Fair
and intelligent criticism is always
courted for any enlightened measure,
by any officer who is honestly and con-
scientiously seeking to do his duty.
But it is one thing to criticise and quite
another thing to carp at law or an of
fcer. We have heard or read now and
then just, temperate, intelligent crit
icism of one or both of the laws we
have mentioned and the officers chosen
to execute them; we have read in two
or three state papers what purports to
be criticism of both, but which is in
fact petty, unenlightened fault-fnding,
in kind as unpatriotic and as despicable
as the utterances of the men who were
carping and catching at every effort
of the government in war time to put
down the rebellion.
The state is at critical period of
its affairs. Two measures designed to
effect a favorable change were con-
sidered by the legislature at the last
session and became laws after mature
deliberation. The new school law was
the end of long period of agitation !;
the law creating an industrial bureau,
the result of deep-seated conviction
that something must be done to arrest
the abandonment of the hill farms of
the state and repeople those which
have been abandoned. Both of the
officers chosen to execute these laws
intelligent, competent, public spirited
and patriotic citizens, who have made
their offices no sinecure-have been fol-
lowed from the outset by few trucu-
lent editors, as if they were public ene-
mics. classification of law and fact
Misrepresentation of circumstances OF
official action, impugnment of motive OF
purpose have been relentlessly EN-.
ployed, till very likely few people who
may have no other means of informa
ton have come honestly to believe thai
Superintendent Palmer and Commits
sioner Valentine should be drawn ant
quartered-or put to death by cleo
tricity-to expiate their offences agains
the public welfare. Each of these Off
GERS has nearly completed his frs
official term and is preparing his re
port, but each is treated as if he haC
rendered full account of his steward
ship and the record of all his official act
was before the people. Until this &C
counting has been made, and all tn
facts are before the people, there is NJ
sufficient basis for judging these officers
and it is the part of honor and fairnes
to wait till they report before passin
| judgment. 1t is, however, only fair t
say that, regarded in the light of sue
, facts as have transpired and such re
r suits as have become apparent, both o
these officers, under circumstances Q
t peculiar difficulty and embarrassment
= have faithfully and efficiently manage
: the affairs of their respective offices
have achieved as high measure c
success as it was possible for any on
: to achieve, and have paved the way fo
!. larger results under laws amended an
k better adapted in the light of experienc
e to the needs of the state.
o EIectrOcuti0n.