Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-08-31
THEY ARE LOOKING AT VERMONT.
FROM HON. JOHN BARRETT.
Stirring Letter on the importance
of VermOnt's Vote.

An Appeal to the Reason and Conscience
of Every Vermont VOter---Five Urgent
Points Urgently Stated---Let Vermont
stand Firm for the Nations Honor.
After completing a three weeks cam
paign tour in Vermont, and before begin
ming brief period of similar work in
Maine, it is my humble desire to supple
ment my remarks before numerous audi
ences with a few observations relative to
the importance of VermonCs vote in the
coming state election.
While the meetings which | had the
honor of addressing were more than salts
factory in attendance and interest, and
while the managers of the state campaign
are bending all their energies to roll up
large Republican majority, it may not be
out OF place for me TO say final word to
the voters through the columns of the Yer
mont papers, Possibly the matter appeals
to me with special emphasis because in a
recent trip 10 the central West and other
strategic points in the national campaign,
have noted the unusual and widespread
concern in the result of the Vermont cleo
tion, and because In my mail are letters
from all parts of the country urging that
Vermont Republicans shall be impressed
with the necessity of going to the polls to
score victory whose moral effect will be
felt everywhere. Without any purpose of
intruding my own views, but with a sin
cere hope Of contributing in limited way
the nf hn VI xuhfc oh yOt11d
maintain national honor and prestige
abroad as well as material prosperity at
home, submit this hasty communication.
Summed up in few paragraphs, my points
are these:
l. There has been no time since
the civil war when Vermont's vote
counted for more in its moral influ-
ence than it will count at the coming
state election.
?. Throughout the country Yer
monts expression of opinion on great
national issues hasexceptional weight,
because the people know that the Yer
mont conscience is quick to follow the
right and condemn the wrong, and
that there is library in every town
and church in every village TO keep
that conscience sensitive and respon-
sive.
). 1t has been announced by those
leaders who would have the United
States shirk her unavoidable moral re-
sponsibilities in the Philippines grow
ing out of the war with Spain, that
Vermont will rebuke the Administra-
ton and its policy. 1t is, therefore,
the duty of every VermOnter to go to
the polls to rebuke those who make
such claims.
4. The prosperity of the farmers,
and the general contentment which to-
day characterizes the greater portion
of Vermonts population, must not be
allowed to result in an apathy that will
keep voters from the polls. The fierce
battle that will be ragged in other states
needs the encouragement of decisive
Vermont victory. One vote in Yer
mont may mean two in Indiana and
Illinois. One man who stays away
from the polls in Vermont may keep
two away in New York and Ohio.
>. The word has gone out from the
headquarters of the opposition that
every effort must be made to cut down
the normal Republican majority in
Vermont, and that all Democrats and
so-called anti-imperialists must vote
the Democratic ticket at the state
election to accomplish this result. To
offset this movement, no Republican,
or Democrat who is not deluded by
the false cry of imperialism, which
is simply campaign bOgie, should
fail to do his duty on September 4.
Let Vermont then sound clear note
that will be heard all over the country and
and bring good cheer to the forces that are
contending everywhere for the Nation 9
honor and well-being both at home and
abroad.
JOHN BARRETT.
Portland, Me, Aug. 27, 1900.