Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-01-31
Vermont.

Mr.. EDITOR - have read YOU
editorial of more than two columns
under date of January 18th, "What's
the Matter with Vermont" and certain
passages struck me very forcibly.
read Vermont history when a small
boy, and have ever believed that the
Green Mountain Boys had good and
sufficient reasons for having a state
between Lake Champlain and the
Connecticut river. | have always
admired their pluck, persistency and
self sacrifice in securing the same in
spite of the surrounding conditions OF
adjacent states and 1.-THE range of high
mountains straight through the middle
with no good roads connecting the
two parts. | thank God that they
were successful.
Your article reminds me of the story
of man who had trouble of mind,
and he spoke of himself as follows /:
81 was born on the last day Of the
week, and the last day of the month,
and the last. day Of the year; and
would have been one hundred dollars
better off if had never been born.n
You say Prom a practical point
of view, we believe that the success of
the Green Mountain Boys in carving a
separate state out of Vermont was a
mistake. Among states il Is
what the small, poor, back towns are
to their more fortunately located sister
towns Very true. The large towns
and cities would rot and 90 to perdi-
ton if they were not supplied with the
strong, good children from the 'ssmall.
poor, back towns And the history
of the United States would have read
very differently in many important
matters and very likely lacked such
names as Collamer, Williams, Slade,
Foote, Morrill, and many others, whose
names joined with Vermont has made
this state in reputation the envy of
many other more favored states. No
other of the adjoining states could
stand the strain OF half century rule
by one political party, and after forty
years OF such rule give the largest
popular majority in It's history.
If Vermont should be divided to
other states and its name removed
from the map of the United States, the
loss to the whole country and the 4
world would be very great. Now its
name is household word everywhere
earth's remotest bounds.
Wherever civilization has gone there
he missionary with the Estey Vermont
organ has carried the words which
nave been an inspiration to him and
brought to his mind the Green
Mountains and his early home.
You say also Prom all economic
easons, Vermont never should have
'xisted as a separate commonwealth. y
I was for those specific reasons that
hey claimed their rights and nobly
them. (See Halls History
# VermonD.
| have read that the traveller in ante
'ellum days, as soon as he crossed the /;
,hio river, could plainly see the curse
1 slavery in Kentucky, and on his
eturn north into Ohio could see
lstlnctly the line which marked the
Inference between slavery and the
Blessings of freedom. Now if. during
he past century, the people of Vermont
ave suffered badly from being
eparate state, it seems to me that the
raveler would note such a boundary
ne to our disadvantage, if it really
xlsts. Let us suppose that on a
elightful day, the last of summer or
al, we take trip from Burlington to
whitehall, and our boat carries
assengers and freight. Let us note ,
areiully the number of passengers
nd amount OF freight taken aboard
nd discharged at each landing on
ither side of the lake; also the size of
ne villages and the outward appear +.
nee of the farm buildings, etc. Then {
Il us suppose we take our automobile
nd make a trip across the state via I
to Brattleboro, and mn the !
valley to the Canada line. /
nd challenge you to find the proofs :
back the sentiments contained in )
hat part of your article. Although !
ne river is owned by New Hampsbire :
lost of the mills at its several fails are
n the Vermont side.
| fail to see wherein our GRAND and
oble state will gain by such division
nd union as proposed.
Long live Vermont. Please trv
gain. :
DENNIS SMITH BRIGHAM 7
Brattleboro.