The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-05-25
Light for the Blind.

The Waterman, after exhausting every
argument to prove that no change should be
made in State officers, has come out in favor
of a change in congressman for this district
We tail to see what should influence the
Waterman to advocate q change in one in
stance and not in the other, as the same
arguments are applicable to both. But
then, the Watchman's logic is peculiar Re
publican, ST. Johnsbury.
The contemporary lacks discrimina-
ton. He is not 80 blind as he appears
to be when he processes his inability to
see why the WATCHMAN should sdvo-
cate ga change in one instance and not
in the other" The two cases are en-
tirely unlike. Acknowledgment, how
ever, is due the Republican for its
courtesy in publishing the WATCH
MANS article, but this paper would
have been put under further obligation,
and it would have been apparent to the
Republicans readers that mo one is go
blind as he who won't see," if the
neighbor had republished the commune
cation to the WATcHMAN which formed
the basis of it's editorial comments.
The WArCHMAN sincerely regrets
that General Grout, under the circum-
stances of his denomination two years
ago, by his continued candidacy should
compel his constituents to be unpleas.
antly, but necessarily, candid in the
statement of of their reasons for desir-
ing a change. A voluntary and grace
full withdrawal of the present incum-
bent, in accordance with the under
standing or notice Of two years ago,
would have been conducive to good
feeling and respect for the retiring con-
gresham.
The pride of the district is aroused.
The feeling is strong that General
Grout long ago reached the outer limit
of his capacity, aud of his public useful
ness, as representative of the district.
He represented the old third district
one term in Congress, and is now con-
Guiding his seventh successive term as
representative Of the new east side, or
second district, making sixteen years of
schooling in the National Congress.
When the new second district, COM
prising the counties on the east side of
the mountain line, was constituted, af-
ter the reapportionment of representa-
tives under the census of 1880, the PEG.
pie of the district expressed their desire
for neutrality-suspicious. in the Ma
tional law making body by recalling
Luke P. Poland from his retirement
and electing him, Notwithstanding a
formidable bolt in favor OF General
Grout.
In 1884, Judge Poland declined an
other election. There was feeling in
the district that General Grout had not
been fairly used. The plea was made
in his behalf that he desired another
nomination and election merely to re-
trieve his name from the stigma he
deemed had been placed upon it by the
events of the canvass of 1882. Under
this plea, and the representation that
he was suffering from an incurable
malady, General Grout was nominated
in 1884 in convention in which he
was opposed by W. P. Dillingham; and
George W. Hooker. The curative pow
ers Of that nomination, and the cleo
ton following, were more magical than
those of Nervura or Celery Compound
General Grout seemed to have tapped
the fountain of perpetual youth. The
one term he desired for his vindication
before he should be gathered to his
fathers has stretched on to seven. Men
have come and men have gone but,
like Tennyson's brook, Grout has seem.
ed likely to run on forever.
Now the old feeling of 1882 and 1884
has undergone resurrection. 1t has
never !been dead, it has been simply
sleeping. 1t has gathered strength
during its Rip Van Wrinkle slumber.
That shot fired by Vermonter, and a
Vermonter of the second district, in
Manila bay has been heard around the
world, and it has brought the district