The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-01-06
AnarchiSm In Vermont.


Has Vermont Herr Most? The ar
gus and Patriots incendary utter
ances, encouraging and sustaining law
breaking and law-defying, fairly classify
It's editor with the preachers of an
archism. His treatment of the m liter
of Judge Stanton's " moieties," leaving
the reader in doubt as to whether the
Argus editor is more knave than fool,
is reviewed in another article. His
references to law of the state, to the
prosecuting attorney who has faithfully
and with singleness of purpose per-
formed the duties he was elected to
perform, which the law commands him
to perform, and which he is sworn to
perform, mark Mr.. Atkins political
kinship with Most-"par mobile fra
trum," indeedl
Now if the Argus editor kno,oS that
Judge Stanton "has used the money of
the state dd Iibitum for the purpose of
extorting money from parties accused
of violating the prohibitory law, in
order to put money into his own
pocket; if the Argus editor knowS
that Judge Stanton has been guilty of
"legal prostitution in the perform
ance of his official duties; if the Argus
editor knoWs that Judge Stanton has
been gambling with the money of the
people," he is culpably recreant to his
duty, as an editor and as citizen, in
not exposing him, in not furnishing the
public at once with the details of his
wrong-doing." But if these vague
and random charges are but the mouth
ings of an irresponsible demagogue, de-
signed to stir up popular prejudice
against the law and its officers, and to
further some sinister end, political or
otherwise, then Most and his congeners
in New York and Chicago have a
brother of full blood in Hiram Atkins.
1t will be time enough for Judge Stan
ton aud his friends to notice further the
Argus ranting when its editor gets
down to business and puts in bill of
particulars.
The Argus processes great solicitude
for the cause of temperance. 1t is OPP
posed to the prohibitory system and
wants to see the liquor traffic controlled
and regulated "by law in manner
that would be approved by the great
majority of substantial citizens" ETC.,
and it would like to have the enforce
ment of such a law placed Sin the
hands of more responsible men," If
there is one settled and established fact
in Vermont's policy, it is that the pro-
hibitory law is "approved by the great
majority of substantial citizens" That
fact has been placed beyond doubt or
cavil. AT this time it is not at all a
question of systems. 1t is simply a
question of obedience to existing and
firmly established law and of enforce
ment of that law against individuals
violating it. The Argus upholds viola
tons of that law, winks at outrages
upon citizens who seek its enforce ment,
and loads with calumny the officers
sworn to enforce it. In this it is true
to its old copperhead instincts. Its
preference for some other system is all
pretense. No system that has been
considered for an instant contemplated
placing the liquor traffic in the hands
Of such men as constitute the Argus
rum clients. Could "Jack" Locklin
or "Rodent" Locklin, or the Spauld.
ings, obtain license under the letter
or spirit of the Pitkin bill of 1888? Did
that measure contemplate placing the
enforcement of the law in the hands OF
"more responsible men"-of the charac
ter of the Argus "rum triumvirate," fol
example? Free rum, free as Argu,
mud, is the only System" at all con
sonant with our contemporaries ideas
of regulating" the liquor traffic. Its
pretenses to the contrary are only
"Pharisaism" and Hypocrisy" Pro
hibition is the settled policy of Yer
mont. The law must be obeyed and
enforced until it is repealed, and, if i
is wrong in principle or practice, the
quickest and surest way to secure it,
repeal or modification is faithfully t
enforce it. The Argus plan of nullifi
cation and obstruction, lying and abuse
Indictment to disobedience and riot, il
arnarchism pure and simple.
The New York Senate.