News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1901-12-18
HE uIYINGSTON..PAGE CASE.

I1t IIflNOoION-'PAOt EASt. 81
cit does not explain how, II il was an
| innocent transaction, Mr.. Page could
| have allowed his counsel to move for a
verdict on the ground that the transac-
ton was so corrupt that no action could
be based upon it. Suicide, it has been
| said in certain cases, is confession. The
motion made in Mr.. Pages behalf was
confession. What else can be made of
it?-Burlington Free Press.
The position of the Free Press is
based upon the well-known maxim.
that guilt makes one coward, and
the assumption of Brother Benedict
is that cowardice prompted Gov.
Page to seek an adjustment which
the Free Press has characterized as
suicide. What are the facts?
When Livingston threatened Page
with a suit, to be brought by Judge
Powers, in case he did not pay, was
his response that of a coward? We
quote his language and leave the
world to Judge. Here it is:
eff Congressman Powers and Mr..
Livingston, the world, the flesh and the
devil want to combine to foYSe me into
anything, please say to the ls all to 90
right straight ahead and worst.
I can't be forced or blackf -"
Again, at the June term - s~.urf
another proposition for set H1ent
was made The Governors reply
was:
"This case cannot be settled. 1T can
be discontinued, but settlement would
imply confession OF guilt, and that shall
never be made"
Again, at the present December
term of court, the night before the
trial commenced, Gov. Page Mas ap-
preached and asked if he VIC Md CON
sent to an entry upon the d&Aket of
"Settled and discontinued" he, Mage,
paying nothing. His unhesitJting
reply to Judge Powers was; u
ono, sir; l have been ACCUSED of a
dishonorable transaction and viii never
consent that the word settled BE used.
IL JOu N1Sll W ulSNOullAuC lllC CdSG, YOU
can do 50, but will never conset4 to an
entry being made upon the dock let that
implies a SETTLEMENT of this case"
We suppose it is we'll understood
at any rate, it is the fact-that Gov.
Page was opposed to allowing his
counsel to make the motion which
was made for a verdict, but they adj
vised him that, in view of the case,
as developed by the plaintiff himself,
it was the only proper thing to do,
and it was therefore done
We wish to call Brother Benedict s
attention TO one more point and we
will close. In the last issue of Liv-
ingston's paper heuses this language
"The Reformer advocated protection,
the gold standard and expansion. It
not only supported the Mckinley ad
ministration, but its editor twice voted
for Mckinley. 1t could not support the
Populist candidate for Congress in this
district, BUT IT WOULD IN ANY EVENT
HAVE SUPPORTED REPUBLICAN ANE
DID SUPPORT Gov. PAGE, AS An THH
] TINE IT CoL-Ln- CONSTITUENT < y,llfr--<LoT
ONLY BECAUSE OF HIS PoiRrIcAI
TENETS, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF HIS PER
SONALITY. THE REFORMER HAN FOR
YEARS HELD Mr.. PAGE IN HIGH Es
TEEN"
Every word in this quotation is
true as gospel. Livingston is not
fighting a law suit now lie is not
on the witness stand attempting tc
blacken the character of Gov. Page
by unblushingly establishing his own
turpitude. He is confirming in al
most exact language the last letter
he ever wrote Gov Page about his
position relative to his support, q
letter written Nov. 7, 1899, in which
he says:
"Your uniform kindness, personally
toward the editor has won his heart
Your public record commands our re-
spect and confidence. We will stand by
you in your race for Congress or for any
other goal your ambition may lahdably
aspire to-"
| We have not before us Livingston
exact testimony touching this point
but we have recourse to Judge Row
ellis ruling, in which he refers to Lily
\ ingston's testimonyin this language
but he, the plaintiff, agreed to dc
\ hat Support Page not because he be
Waved in what he was doing, from &
Aitical standpoint, but, as he avow,
M and over again in his testimony
hAuse ne was hired for money con
si tion to do it."
MAPS Brother Benedict car
MAY hese contradictory positions
OF Agston harmonic, but if he
tails p so, will he please tell the
readef the Free Press why Liv
lngstof IS willing to go upon the
stand Voluntarily proclaim his
Was he red to do this, and i
So by wh' q for what purpose
u VNWLLE.
r; 7ss c,..s . '.s r ,a,' n a,., :,