The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-01-05
As To the Virtue, Patience.

A contemporary, writing of the man
who shall be the Republican candidate
for governor in the next election in this
State, lays great stress on the fact that
the corner OF the State in which his
newspaper is published has waited
forty years to possess the governor
ship. The degree of the hunger for
the chief executive office, and the
spirit that prevails there, is indicated,
if the contemporary is correct in his
representations, by the declaration that
" Bennington has waited patiently for
forty years, and there is time when
patience ceases to be virtue"
Historic Bennington may have been
waiting two score years to put man
into the chief executive chair, but men
who have attended State conventions
for the past forty years, or even the
past ten years, have from time to time
noticed that the waiting has seemed to
be attended by visible signs of some
thing like Impotence. The people of
Vermont will regret to see, coming
from the old town where Mr.. G. M.
Bliss cloud piercing shaft teaches it's
lesson of patriotism and obedience to
the voice of the people-the great prin-
ciple for which they fought whose
valor the monument commemorates-
the muttered threat, thinly yelled, that
the statute of limitations has run on it's
waiting-patient or otherwise-for the
honor of providing the State of Yer
mont with a governor. What, then,
will Bennington do if her patience
runs clean out? If the governorship
should 90 to some other quarter of the
State, next June, will Bennington de-
throne the virtue, patience, and exalt
rebellion in her place? That would,
indeed, relieve the canvass of the mo-
notony of the off year in Vermont pol
itics, and contribute to the gaiety of
the States biennial contention, but
would it be wise?
The WATCHMAN observes, with in
terest, what the contemporary has to
say, in this connection, in extepua-
ton of the crime Of having business
interests in other States and of spend
ing considerable part of his time in
the localities of these interests, which
is alleged against the favorite-adopted-
son whom Bennington is backing for
the governorship.
The WATCHMAN had the honor, in
the spring Of 1895, of supporting for
the Office Of delegate to the Republican
national convention man who, though
a native and citizen Of Vermont, a de-
vout believer in the State and liberal
contributor TO its welfare, was engaged
in business beyond its boundaries and
necessarily spent much of his time look.
Ing after his outside interests. This
citizen had efficiently represented the
town Of his birth and legal residence in
the legislature, but when it was pro-
posed to make him a delegate to the
St. Louis convention great outcry was
raised against the proposal because of
his outside business concerns, and his
candidacy was withdrawn.
The individual in question is one of
number Of prominent men who have
become citizens of the S,ate-though
they may lack the SAVIOR Of nativity
who pay taxes here, and by their
wealth, influence, business capacity
and experience, their pride and interest
in the State, aid in advancing its pros
perity. While the people Of Vermont
ought to welcome-and do welcome
this class Of residents and are glad to