Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1897-02-05
FOR COLLECTOR
for the District of Vermont,
col. MANsUR OF ISLAND POND.

Hitherto We nave retTaineu from say /
ing anything relative to the office of
Collector of Customs for the District of
Vermont. preferring to leave the matter
to the press outside of Essex County.
But now men interestedin the candidacy |
of our county man suggest that in view |
of the fact that the press generally favor |
him a word is due TO the county and one
of its citizens representing the sentiments
of Col. Mansur's people. who know him
and the conditions of his life better than
people farther off. The Col. entered the
service as private. He did hard serv-
ice. He shrank from no peril. He shirked
no duty. He exhibited spirit of bravery
and self-sacrifce when rewards were not
thought OF and when there were no flu
ture conditions looked forward to but
death or a redeemed country, with an
even chance in favor of the former. He
lost his right arm. The country was
saved. He did not claim the credit of do
ing that work which was the result of a
combined sentiment to which thousands
of good loyal citizens with him as brave
AS any contributed. He went into the
hospital and as soon as he was able
went zealously 20 the acquisition of an
education which had been interrupted by
the war. He had no profession. He was
disabled from performing that manual
labor to which he had been accustomed
port, among whom was a sister, wild
owed by the death of a brave captain.
On his return from the war, With warm
welcome by the patrons Of a post Office,
which at that time was little sought or
cared for and which on occasions went
begging, he took the position, and be-
gan reading law with desperate energy
i'll hopes that he might get so as to sup
port himself and contribute to the relief
of others, especially those left dependent
by the war.
He never has held federal office from
(which the net income would not bear com.
parison with that of first class clerk OF
travelling salesman. The only one which
would compare with the best of those
named was having charge a while of the
port of Island Pond, port involving
such a variety of customs transaction:
as to make it the best known training
school for the Office of Collector of the
District. He has been member of the
General Assem- bly, and State Senate with
the approval of his party, and the re
spect and conf lence of everybody in hi
town AMI county.
He early in life discovered quick ant
keen perception Of business conditions
He is active, plucky and Industrious H
hls ready perceptions of men, and easil,
mingles in business relations. His bus
ness qualifications have called him int
the administration of nearly every estat
in the vicinity. He is usually the frs
and last man suggested for such work a
receiver, executor or administrator, an
in the management of business in disor
dered conditions. He has settled NOR
than half hundred estates some OF ther
involying very large interests. He al
tracted the notice OF bank which Ell
joys great credit for ability and integrit,
He was made and has been kept one
its directors. His association has bee
solicited and obtained by an enterprisin
manufacturing establishment involvin
acapital of several hundred thousan
legal adviser.
He has solicited the office of CollectC
of Customs openly and frankly. 1t hG
resulted in probably the strongest bacl
ing of any man in the State who is bein
considered for federal appointment
any position. His candidacy seemed t
be settling into unanimous consen
Bat all at once it is suggested that the,
is a sentiment "among the people,"
spontaneity that grows out of the nat,
raj impu ses AMI instincts of the mass
without being invoked or produced /
any individual interests, and which is
the nature of deep conviction tn;
neither Col. Benedict--who has held II
Office once with marked ability, ar
against whose administration there
no opportunity for word of criticism
nor Col. Mansnr, who is by nature al
the manner of his lite peculiarly fitted f
it, can be measured in the estimation
the people with one who really did moi
work in falling in with and supportil
and encouraging a popular sentime
which. the more it was repressed t
more it was intensified until it burst for
in convention and swept the Stat
All honor to the noble men who contrib
ted to such blessed result The peot
will honor them with a just recognize
of their good work. But let it be remel
bered that that mighty sentiment in t
hearts of the people of Vermont w
neither created nor controlled BY in,
vidual effort or influence. Because c,
Mansur did not himself save the cou
try that does not detract from the me
ofwhat he contributed to it. He
not do what he did in that behalf wi
any possible view of advantage and pu
lie returns. He did it going away fro
and as the reliance of sick and helple
dependents at home into a prospect