The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-12-11
TWO STORIES.
" Why Not ~

Yes" said the minister, as he drew
near the end of the sermon on GOOD
Citizenship" every Christian should
take an active part in the affairs Of the
municipality. 1t is time that the So
called good citizen asserted himself
positively. No man has a right to be
excused from the duties OF govern
ment The best men should be nomi-
mated for office, and every office of the
city should be filled with mora, honest
men. The good citizen should be
ready to sacrifice something, even il the
duties of citizenship are irksome and
distasteful. How shall we ever have
the affairs of our own city administered
with any degree OF purity with the men
who are at present in power continued
there? j call on all the best men in
the community TO take such action at
our coming election as shall give us the
best and most honorable and able clti-
zens to fill all the positions which are
now disgraced by incompetent and I'M
Trustworthy officials. We need the best
men in the city for these offices. Let
us go to the primaries and nominate
them, and then go to the polls and
elect them"
The minister's sermon made pro-
found impression upon the people in
his own church and throughout the
city. No one was 80 astonished at the
result as he was. He was not accus-
toned to having people pay such a
strict regard to his preaching. He had
not been looking for ii.
1t was not the minister's fault,
either, that he was not present at the
primaries when they were held. He
had, of course, fully intended to go,
but he had been detained by a wedding
A wedding is something which cannot
be put off-even for a primary. And
so the minister was obliged to forego
that duty of citizenship.
1t was, thereto ore, with the III most as
constituent that the minister opened
the morning paper and read the result
of the city primaries. We quote briefly
from the account in the paper:
Last night the city primaries were
held, and nominations were made in
accordance with the wonderful sermon
of the Rev. John Smith of the Congre-
gationa church, which made such a
profound impression on the community
last week. Every one who went to the
primaries remembered the eloquent APP
peal of the reverend gentleman to
nominate the best men in the city for
all the offices. We believe this has
been done. All that is necessary now
is to elect the men who are nominate d,
and we shall have the finest city admin.
istration in this country. We present
below the names of the parties who
were nominated last night, and we call
on all good citizens to ratify this pri-
mary at the polls:
"For Mayor-The Rev. John Smith of the
Congregational church.
" For City Clerk-Bishop Brown Of the
Episcopal church.
For Register of Deeds--Deacon William
Johnson.
"Police Commissoners-Pro Professor James
Greene of Cloister College, City; Rev
George Robinson Of the Presbyterian church
Rev Philip Burns of the Methodist church
For Chief of Polce-The Rev. Henry j
Williams, d D., LID, President of Cloiste
College.
For Constables- The Rev. Caleb Win
dom of the Baptist church; Rev. Joshu'
Powers, ID D., of the Lutheran church; Rev
Moses Jones Of the Christian church.
d" For Justice of the Peace - Professo
Cecil Montague +. r. s.
-" We print the list of Councilmel
nominated in another column. No
one of them, or of the men nominated
for the city offices, ever held Office be
fore. But they are our best citizens,
and in accordance with the Rev. Johi
Smiths sermon we feel sure they will
assume the duties of office, even if the,
should prove TO be irksome and distaste
full. The fact that these citizens hav,
never held Office should not prelude,
any vo er against them. They are full
as competent as any of the citizens VIII
have held these offices hitherto. w
are proud to think that at last we are t.
have city government administered
by the best citizens A municipa
millennium is at hand. With the Rev
John Smith for Mayor, and Presiden
Williams for Chief of Police, with tn
other able and honest citizens for tn
rest of the ticket, we feel sure that tn
reign of Doodle and whiskey and in
competency, which has characterize
our fair city for years, is at an end. LIE
all good citizens rally to the polls mex
week and elect the best citizens
office"
If dynamite bomb had exploded o
the breaktast-table the minister woul
not have been 30 paralyzed with aston
ishment and perplexity.
What's the matter, John?" aske
his WIFE
"Matterl Why, look herel ! hay
been nominated for City May DRIP
cts a very responsible position
said his wife, with twinkle of the ey
that the minister did not appreciate.
"Respon-Mary, do you know-wt
OF course it is absurd | can new,
think of such thingW
But you preached to the people
put up the best citizens for office, an
then when they go and do it, you -
"Oh, well, this is Different VIII
look herel" And the minister res
over the names of the nominees.
"They are all splendid, good me
They are the best citizens.' What b'
ter do you want, John?"
dwell. hut how can we leave q