Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-03-10

every American citizen must contemplate
with the utmost pride and enthusiasm the
growth and expansion of our country, the
sufficiency of our institutions to stand
against the rudest shocks of violence, the
wonderful thrift and enterprise of our peo-
pie, and the demonstrated superiority of
our free government, it behooves us to con-
stantly watch for every symptom of insid-
iuous intirmity that threatens our national
vigor. The strong man, who, in the conf
dence of sturdy health, courts the sternest
activities of life and rejoices in the hardi
hood of constant labor, may still have
lurking near his vitals the unheeded dis
ease that dooms him to sudden collapse.
1t cannot be doubted that our stupendous
achievements as a people and our country's
robust strength have given rise to a heed
lessness of those laws governing our nation
al health, which we can no more evade
than human life can escape the laws of
God and nature.
\ SOUND CURRENCY.
Manifestly nothing is more vital to our
supremacy as nation and To the benefi-
cent purposes of our government than a
sound and stable currency. Its exposure
to degradation should at once arouse to ac-
tivity the most enlightened craftsmanship;
and the danger of depreciation in the pur-
chasing power of the wages paid TO toll
should furnish the strongest incentive to
prompt and conservative precaution. In
dealing with our present embarrassing sit
uation as related to this subject, we will be
wise if We temper our confidence and faith
in our national strength and resources with
the frank concession that even these will
of ~, t,.ttl In
memorable laws of finance and trade. At
the same time, in our efforts to adjust diff
ferences of opinion, we should be free
from intolerance and passion, and our
judgments should be unmoved by alluring
phrases and unveXed by selfish interests
| am confident that such an approach to
the subject will result in prudent and eff
fective remedial legislation. In the mean
time, so far as the executive branch of the
government can intervene, none of the
powers with which it is vested will be with
held when their exercise is deemed neces-
sary to maintain our national credit or
avert financial disaster.
THE EVILS OF PATERNALIsM.
Closely related to the exaggerated conf
dence in our country's greatness which
tends TO a disregard of the rules of nation
al safety, another danger confronts us, not
less serious. l refer to the prevalence of a
popular disposition to expect from the OPP
Grafton of the government especial and di
rect individual advantages. The verdict
of onr voters, which condemned the injus-
tice of maintaining protection for protec.
/ tion's sake, enjoins upon the peoples ser
wants the duty of exposing and destroying
) the brood of kindred evils which are the
unwholesome progeny of paternalism
This is the bane of republican institutions
and the constant peril of our government
by the people. 1t degrades to the purpose
of willy craft the plan of rule our fathers
established and bequeathed to us as an OBJ
/ ject of our love and generation. 1t per
verts the patriotic sentiment of our coun
trymen, and tempts them to pitiful cal