The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-06-17
From a WOman's Point of View.

Editor of tchmdn:-Though you
oppose granting to woman the ballot,
yet trust you will allow one of the
we ker sex to "speak in meetin'" this
once, and present a few thoughts on
the political situation as it looks from
woman's point of view.
am really just as much interested
in the welfare of my country as the
noblest Roman of you all. The quad
rennial political battle is on, and from
now onward to November the dull
thud of the political mud-slingers, the
shril whistle of the shells of vtuper-
alton, the roar and trumpeting of the
republican elephant, the hoarse bray of
the democratic donkey, the rattle and
chink of free silver, will make pande-
monium Of Uncle Sans dominions.
After that time the defeated candidates
will take sail up Salt River, while the
rank and file will pay their election
bets, reckon up the cost of their torch
light professions, Examinations and
stump speeches, finger sadly their de-
pleted pocket-books and wonder what
it al amounts to any way.
From my point of view, all the politi-
cal hullabaloo does not amount to much.
The sun will rise and set, and seed
time and harvest will come, whichever
party wins temporary power. Person
al y, my mpAthies have always been
with the republicans, as the party of
freedom and reform, but with sadness
l must admit that there are, and have
been, crying evils which they either
could not or would not put down while
n in 70
expected incapacity, and we have
surely got what we expected. Itseems
to me that the G. o. p. has given the
democrats the "inside track" in the
coming conflict, and it would not sur
prise me if the democratic donkey,
shod with free silver. would win the
race.
The financial problem is the real
vital issue in this campaign, whether
the republican leaders recognize it or
not. Iu making protection the first
issue, or " Mckinley and gold" as is
the cry of leading republican papers,
the republican party practically as.
sumes that the finaucial status is all
right as it is " hands off-let it alone. u
Unfortunately the state of the country
is such that it will not and cannot be
let alone. The financial question, like
Banquo's ghost, will not " down." al
the bidding of party leaders. There il
no doubt thai the financial status il
quite satisfact Try to the milionaires
and bankers who have gold TO buy
bonds, but to the bone and sinew Of
the Countrywide farmer, who feeds al
"a continuation of present conditions
means eventual bankruptcy.
We hear much of the great prosper
ity of our country under the Mckinley
protective tariff; and the,manufacturer
were prosperous, but right along
through all these socalled good times
farms and farm products steadily de
creased in value, until now farms viii
hardly sell for enough to cover the cos,
of the buildings thereon. If protec
ton or non-protection is the sole cause
of our prosperity or adversely, will
somebody please tell me why farms an(
farm products have steadily deprecated
since the decentralization of silver, RICH
along, through republican protection
and democratic free-trade alike, unit
now they are far below the prices o.
ante-bellum days, before there was an,
financial initiation whatever?
Any observant person in an agricul
tural community, who has watched tn
trend of affairs for twenty-five years
cannot fail to see that something be
sides protective tariff is needed t.
bring return of old-time prosperity
l have no panacea for the hard times
but it is plain enough that one i
needed. l very much doubt if free sill
yer will prove to be that panacea, if
obtains, which seems not unlikely iron
the present outlook. If the Democrat
candidate is nominated on free silve
platform, as seems imminent, he wi
win an immense following from tn
West and South of those who feel tina
they can hardly be worse off with fire
silver and may be benefited. McKiu
J ley and gold may win the day, but
will be no such walkover as many ar
ticipate.
Now, Mr.. Editor, if from your mos
indulgent point of view you feel force
to pronounce me political hereto re
member / am only woman and can
be expected to understand the my'