Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-12-07
@ssrx County Arrala.
FRrpAY. DECEMBER :. 1900.
The Vermont Legislature

this session IN that the lhcllheis nave ~
introduced bills which everybody, know
inc the sentiments of Vermont, knew
would never pass, aud have raised
issues absolutely fruitlesS of anything
except the time and money expended
in discussing them.
History has repeated itself also in
again recording session IN which 1t
was admitted that We have tax law
which imposes double burdens on classes
whose industry. frugality and economy
contribute most to the prosperity OF the
state; one that breeds perjury faster
and more contemplate than snakes do;
one that Furnishes veracity and rewards
perjury; and yet which the Legislature
is impotent to even modify or to do
anything to even stay its overwhelming
fecundity of contemplate elements and
results.
1t has repeated itself in that friends |
and foes of prohibition have again in
apparent bitter enmity gone in and east
opposing votes and then gone behind the
arras from public gaze to compromise
passions and appetites.
1t has repeated itself in that it has
bestowed proper honors on all success
full politicians and humanely aud ten
DERBY laid away on shelves of everlast-
ing forgetfulness prepared for them, the
old the decrepid, the disappointed and
broken hearted.
The air is again filled with congratu-
lations from the successful that the legis-
lature has at last discovered true merit,
and with sad, disinterested regrets and
lamentations from unsuccessful patriots
because it has thrown away so many
true and tried public virtues.
History has also repeated itself in
that it has again demonstrated the fact
that there are many evils of legislation
IIldJ are 81 ltuStu dbput hii't 'Cl'l'N'
by custom, preiudices, long established
theories, and so great variety of ways
to remedy them as to fix and fasten them
upon the people.
1t also repeats itself in recording as
much good work as has been done by
any legislature in long time; and there
is no occasion for the assembly to get
disguised and attempt to move the state
house to a new and clean place.
The members of the last assembly
have not had great opportunities, the
times have recently been so busy witt
legislative revolutions and reforms, the
rearranging of the rights and relations
of interests and classes like readiusting
the rights of married women, the
reimbursement of estates and judicial pro
ceedings and practice that opportunities
have been exhausted. Besides purel,
legislative purposes were for long TIM
lost in great political contest; and TIN
members had scarcely recovered from
its effects when they were called t.
thanksgiving dinner.
SO that on the whole much good legis
lation has resulted besides considerabl
material for the pages mock session.
The happiest man is he who look
with large charity and optimistic sent
ments on public events; and althoug
we are too apt to charge the evils whic
afflict mankind TO nature rather than
human actions and conduct yet ever,
body knows that it is easy to go wron
and always requires effort for one to G
right. We do not have to bend our il
clinations as much to go wrong as to g
right and so there are more good il
tentions in others than are apparent
us. Even politicians have good inte1
tions. They do not willingly atiii
Others; but the weakness of their n
lures is such that their selfshness owe
comes their regard for others; and the
their patriotism is such that they ca
not bring themselves to believe TIL
they ought to substitute the publ
services of inferior men for their ow
For no true patriot will say that Il
government is not entitled to Il
services of its best and most compete
sub iects.
Superior strength often shows gre
magnanimity towards inferior strengt
This was manifested in the last legislf
IRE when the majority said to the n
nority "Be good and you'll be happy
when it offered or contemplated tearil
down "a judiciary system (Which was t
result of experiment and which the pc
pile had remained quoted in, and co
tented with,) to distribute as polite
sop. This was all the more genera
because the minority had built a t
umphal arch and formed itself into
keystone to hold the structure firm, b
suddenly the keystone fell in fragmen
the arch crumbled and the material W
so quickly carried away that everybo
was animated by pleasant surpris
and so our magnificent judiciary syste