The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-09-05
State Matters of Interest,

averred, had his day for addressing the
representatives of the people when he
was indicted into office and Herewith
he should be content. The double
message is declared to be nuisance,
an offense to the people and source of
perplexity.
There is, however, propriety and
wisdom in the idea of a valedictory
message, if the outgoing executive OBJ
serves propriety and wisdom in prepar-
ing his final communication to the peo-
pie he has served. The retiring gov
ernor has been the steward of the peo-
pie during his official term, and it is
right and proper that he should give an
account of his stewardship. If he has
been faithful steward, observing both
his technical duties and those duties
which lie outside of his prescribed line
of official action but in the judicious
performance of which lies his oppor-
tunity for real usefulness, he should
have something of value to say to the
people and something the people should
wish to know. The outgoing governor,
from his official station, has been, if he
is the kind of a governor he ought to
be, close observer of the working of
the laws of the state, old and new. In
what respect the laws are good and are
working benefcially, in what respect
they are imperfect and are working in
juriously or not accomplishing the pur-
pose of their enactment, in what respect
they are bad and require modification
or repeal, the governor is in position
to know, and the vaedictory message
gives him an opportunity to make
known his convictions, and the results
of his observations and experience, to
the law-making branch of the govern
ment. The governor has presumably
been close and impartial observer of
the administration of the states insti-
tutions. In these and in many other
ways he has acquired information,
gained experience and matured con-
illusions that highly justify him in
putting information, experience and
conclusions into the possession of the
states future lawmakers. The vale
dictory message need not trench upon
ground that right and courtesy should
reserve to the incoming governor. The
two messages need not cover the same
ground. They need not necessarily be
duplicates in their exposition of the
condition of state institutions and state
affairs in general. Consultation has in
the immediate past deprived the GUS
tom of rational criticism on this score.
The balance of testimony and the
weight of argument must be considered
TO be in favor of the valedictory. If
either message is to be dispensed with,
let the inaugural go.
The biennial breeze is rising against
the prohibitory law. The effort to re-
place prohibition with high license will,
as usual, end only in wind. If the pro-
hibitory law is enforced with the same
fidelity as the laws against theft, bur-
glary, horse-stealing, arson, etc., are
enforced, there will be no ground for
the standing indictment that prohibit
ton does not prohibit, and there will
be no lack of a strong and willing popu-
lar support. Of this fact, Washington
county is in evidence. Some of the
license contemporaries will not deny
that this county, in spots, had long pre-
sented fruitful field for temperance
work. The law has been faithfully en-
forced here during the past three years.
Hon. Zed s. Stanton was elected states
attorney in 1890 on the temperance
issue and reelected in 1892. He had
fearlessly and faithfully prosecuted vi
olators of the prohibitory law. A
change had come over the court and
jury. The sheriff was in full sympathy.
plary sentences pronounced and en-
forced. Fines were imposed and inn
prisonments enforced in strict accord
ance with the letter and spirit of the
law. This was not "spurt." A
steady pressure against the illegal traf-
fic was maintained, and fine and impris-
onment imposed and enforced with ju-
dicial impartiality and exemplary Sc
verify. Saloons have been transformed
into places for legitimate traffic, and
one of the vilest, with poetic change of
environment, became the headquarters
and reading room of the Kelley League.
So strong has become the sentiment in
favor of enforcing the prohibitory law
that, contrary to the presidents, Mr..
Stanton has been renominated by &C
clamation and was yesterday reelected
for a third term, in recognition of
his faithful and efficient service.
The existing law is all right. Enforce
it and give over this eternal and sense
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