Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1898-01-07
@sstS County Gerald.
ISLAND PoND. JANUARY 4.


individual conditions. Govern
ments are composed of men and
the interests OF a government are |
watched and guarded by patr-
Otto citizens with only so much
more Jealous care as is improper
ton to their Importance over IN
dividual interests. The rulers oil
a people are theoretically sup
posed to possess more integrity
and Intelligence than do the
average of the subjects OF the
government. The theory OF the
British constitution is that those
who are capable of getting into
power are more intelligent than
the masses, but that the common
people possess more integrity.
However that may be it does not
necessarily follow that those hav-
ing public trusts possess more
integrity than Others. To say
the least they have greater OPP
portunities and more tempta-
tions to part with integrity than
Others. Men who are put in
charge of public interests by the
deliberate Judgment of the people
are likely to act disinterestedly
and impartially because they are
selected by the masses who are
competent to judge of qualities !;
but those who assume control
are apt to be designing, selfish
and avaricious. The times, too,
are favorable for schemes and de-
signs. When men had each some
trade, occupation or employment
all were industrious, happy and
permanently prosperous; but
the moment that inventions and
machinery took the place OF
manual labor and left men idle,
from that moment steady, per,
manent individual development
and prosperity began to decline
The more prosperous the times
are the more discomfort exists
Men live in wasteful extrava
gance, squander their substance
in methods and manners OF liv
ing unknown before and the1
whine about hard times ant
stupidity sigh for those good ole
DAYS when men and women wer
so comfortable and happy
Crowds are rushing to get into
some condition or position no
where each can produce some
thing but get something. Som
get to the Klondike by pushing
others out of their way, quietl,
stealing round others and con
ciliating still others with falls
hopes of personal benefits t.
themselves, and thus cloaked II
concealment enter almost unob
served into the enjoyment OF tina
which of course belongs to then
to the exclusion of Others, ant
which must be privileges INTENDED
by nature and the law for thos
successful ones; at least this ma.
be inferred from the fact that tn
constitution and the laws of TIL
land secure them in such fortu
nate condition.
Now to say that influence
which attract the most livel,
and energetic from building them
selves up permanently and in
duce them to enter into designs
most of which are massed from
common observation and tina
transforms humble, industriou
and frugal citizens into designing
intriguing, avaricious and AFRO
giant adventures is d Favorable
indication of the permanent pro
gress and development of tn
country will hardly meet will
universal approval. In wha
consists the strength of com
munity? Does it consist or is i
conserved or augmented by turn
ing the minds Of its young, ener
getic men away from honest ant
reasonably productive employ
ment to a desperate rush owe
frozen rivers and high mountain
to some klondike where tn
strong and those fortunate i,
position prey upon the weak AM
less fortunate, and where Will
one comes back to faunt his SUD
den gains in the face of his nativ
community with that puerile an
silly arrogance which sudden foi
tune is too apt to lend to poy