Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-10-09
TWO NOTABLE EXPRESSIONS.

Gov. Woodbury's inaugural as we said
Friday, was business document. Under
the head of Vermont he said: "It is i'm
possible at this time to predict with
accuracy the effect the recent tariff legis-
lation will have upon the prosperity of
our people, but with free wool and lum-
ber and a material reduction of duty
upon many of our leading products, no
one can feel otherwise than apprehensive.
do not wish, however, to take gloomy
view of the situation, but believe in lay
ing in a good store of courage and hope
and faith in the future of the Republic
and in the resources of Vermont. There
is no better place for Vermonter to in
vest money than in Vermont. If all our
people for the next ten years, invest
their surplus earnings at home, Vermont
will TEEN with new industries and our
population and prosperity will mater
tally increase. predict that substan-
tial gain in our population will be shO wn
by the next census. The Western fever
is abating. Few if any States in the
Union surpass ours in value per acre of
the products of the soil, and none of
equal size surpass us in value of guarrieS,
in value and availability of of water pow
er, and none in beauty and variety of
scenery, in purity of politics, in health
fulness of climate, in happiness of
homes, in morality of people, in bravery
of men and virtue Of women. Being
thus happily situated, why should not
we be content?
"The times admonish us to be very
careful, though not parsimonius, in ap-
preparations of money for the needs of
the State. The proper conduct of pub
lie affairs and the progress of improve
ment which will increase the value of
property in the State, cannot be done
without the use of money, but it should
be wisely expended for the good of all
people and not for any particular person
or class of persons"
This is what might have been expected,
and it will be coincided with by the ma
jority of our people. But what he says
of THE Prohibitory Law" probably as
well voices the public pulse, and yet very
many of our recent correspondents will
take issue with him. 1t is probably a
fact, however, that the Governors views
will prevail rather than those who urge
"license," "high license" or 'local op-
ton" Here is what the Governor says:
For AZ years this law has been one
of the most important in our Statutes. 1t
may not have accomplished all that it's
friends hoped, but that it has been pow
erful instrument for the prevention of in
temperance and crime during these years
but few people will deny. The admins
tration of the law, especially in larger
towns, has been severely criticised of late,
and it must be confessed that the criti-
cisms are largely justified. The friends
of the law cannot afford to make light of
these criticisms; they should frankly
admit them and endeavor to correct the
abuses specified. If were to reccomend
any change it would not be toward great
er severity or more restrictions.
"It is absolutely necessary chat there
should be friendly public sentiment to
ensure the enforcement of this or any
law, Too great severity tends to create
adverse sentiment. There is, however
no doubt that the sentiment of the peo-
pie of this State is strongly in favor of the
present law and its honest enforcement.
If it is ever modified or repealed it will
be done by temperance men in the inter-
ese of temperance. Some people, especi-
ally those living in larger towns, seem to
be discouraged because the law does not
absolutely prohibit, but they should
bear in mind that no law against the COM
mission of crime prohibits, but only re-
stricts in proportion to its enforcement.
"The prohibitory law is a stringent,
restrictive measure. In some other
States some other restrictive laws may
be better, but for our State the present
law is unquestionably the best at this
time. According to the Auditors report
the amount of fines and costs paid dur
ing the last two years on account of vio-
lations of the law, exceed the Court ex-
penses incurred in enforcing it by $685.
900 per annumn