The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1891-01-29
Letters from the People.


E0for SVteT'-i, lW "'c' WE
much pleased to notice The communi-
cation by young Mr., Gibson in YOU
last issue. 1t showed that there is,
at least, one young man in our com
munity who is not altogether captivo-
ted by gilt and tinsel and who has
high and Independent ideas.
Intelligent discussion upon the
matter referred to is what will best
remedy the evil. And this discussion
must come from the people, and,
above all, the young people. News
paper articles by hired professionals,
will have but little effect. 1t is what
we think, not what we hear, that stirs
us up to activity, and intelligent
thought among the masses is our only
salvation. A wide.a-wake paper like
the SITTER, that opens its folds for
discussion among the people is doing
a grand thing for the community.
And blessed be Vermont when her
young men take hold of it. Now let
us deliberate, upon the subject in
question. If our best citizens and
our surplus funds have been leaving
Vermont, there has been an active
reason for it of some sort. And,
first, | believe the main difficulty is
APATHY.
Apathy is want of feeling and rea-
lizing sense of our surroundings.
Now during all these years we have
acted as though we had no idea that
there were so many new states start
ing up and holding out all manner of
personal inducements to detract from
our population and our capital. In
what manner, | ask, have we ever
acted as though we cared to retain
our money or our young men ? Have
we ever raised-a hand to encourage
the retention of capital Have we
ever lifted finger to throw open
those avenues to honor, wealth, or
enjoyment to which all young men
do Or should aspire What is the at
titude of our caucusses, our town
meetings and our churches upon this
last question ? Only one answer is
possible. Fogyism lampant Moth
ing whatever is done to stir up or in
terest young blood. Every guide
board points to a highway of ruts.
Every avenue that may lead to the in
diligence of the natural craving of
every healthful young mind to enter
unexplored fields and not only equal
but surpass what has yet been done,
has been blocked and closed llp.
Young blood, and especially young
Vermont, descendants of Allen,
Baker and Warner, have kicked,
broke the traces and gone. Another
main difficulty has been
SENsELEss LEGISLATION.
1t began when our biennial system
began. 1t will continue as long as
it lasts. A potted mess of crude,
raw, undigested stuff has come down
to US every two years, increasing in
rottennesss with each recurring inter-
val, until, at last, it fairly stinks.
A prohibitory law as strong as it
was possible for any community to
enforce, Or any candid person could
wish, must be shingled over with
amendments until its identity is lost
and it becomes a mockery and a bye
word.
A tax law that should aim only at
direct taxation of actual values, du-
plicates the list of the unpaid for
lands OF our laboring class, and opens
wide the door to perjury and fraud.
Forgetful of the fact that the over
governed are invariably ill-governed,
1t must poke its nose into every
corner where it has no business to
reach; direct that every bear trap
upon our mountain tops shall be |
1enced(we suppose to keep away the
bears); that every trout shall be
measured before it is caught; that
certain articles for consumption shall
be colored pink and finally, in apish
of dense cities crowded with
foreigners, that everyone of us voters,
born upon these green hills, accus-
toned to breathe this pure air, glory
ing in our birthright and onr ancestry