Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-06-27
FRIDAY, JUNE %, 1902.
AFTER THE BATTLE.

THE editorial concerning the action Of the
Republican state convention at Montpelier,
which appeared in last weeks REGISTER, was
written by party, who had been left tenn
poIarily TO oversee the ssuing of the paper
with instructions not to comment on politics,
while the editor, Mr.. Thayer, and proprietor
Mr.. Battell, were both absent at the state
cOnventiOn0
The most remarkable canvass for the
nomination of state officers by the Re-
publican party Of this State, or perhaps
of any other State, within the history
of the party, terminated at Montpelier
last Thursday, with results which must
be far reaching for the veal or woe or
our beloved State.
In the first place the name of Gen.
John G. Mccullough was prominent as a
residuary candidate of previous con-
test. A man of fine character and COM
handing abilities, and wlthal one of the
few reputed millionares of the State, it
seemed entirely proper that he should
be nominated for governor, and from
the start the REGISTER was inclined to
his support.
But a field which naturally might
have been left to such candidate alone.
it was soon found was to be contested
by another gentleman of prominence
and character, and even supposed greater
wealth-Dr. Seward Webb of Shelburne.
At once the contest for supremacy be-
tween these two candidates began, and
was being carried on with various sue
cess, when suddenly the withdrawal of
Dr. Webb was announced and at about
the same time the name of Fletcher D.
Proctor appeared as a candidate, car
ryng with it his personal popularity,
and the prestige of his fathers dis
tinguished position and character;
and also representing another of the
wealthiest families of Vermont. Hardly
had the announcement of these changed
conditions taken place, when a fourth
reputed millionaire sounded his clarion
and almost in a moment Mr.. Percy
Clement appeared as a full fledged can
didate, including the paraphernala of
troupe of negro MINISTRIES and several
brass bands, more or less. Thus bril-
liantly supported and dressed in bran
new suit purchased for the occasion,
Mr.. Clement Immediately double-dis-
tanced his competitors: First, in APP
pearing as the champion of q principle,
and second, in taking the stump; or,
perhaps rather, first, in taking the
stump, and second in appearing as the
champion of principle. And the prin-
ciple, as we have understood it, was the
right to buy and drink and give away to
tempt others to drink, all the liquor
which any one wished and had the money
to pay for.
We felt about this good deal as our
old citizen Manfred Foote, did about the
present which Mr.. Williamson claimed
he had given to his son Fred. "He
gave him a dog" said Mr.. Foote.
Nov | don't call a dog a present."
And we think many will hesitate before
they call the right to buy, sell, or give
away liquors without restriction,
principle.
And yet back of this grotesque hum
bug of calling the right to an unre-
striced sale of liquors principle, there
is principle in the question which Mr..
Clements ambition has forced to the
front, principle which has enrolled
under its banner thousands of earnest,
upright, worthy men; the principle
that law which interfered unnecessar-
lily and unwsely with the liberties of
the people, and which because of these
and other annoying conditions was and
had been for years most unequallv en-
forced,-indeed the conditions having be-
come so bad that officers were selected
to enforce it, because it was known
that they would not enforce it.
was not worthy to be upon our statute
books, and ought to be repealed. This
is very plain kind of a principle,
but principle we believe it is, and we
respect and honor those who feel called
upon TO insist that this fact should be
recognized and the law repealed.
AS we have said, this is very plain,
homespun, practical principle, but it
includes respect for law, and a percep-
ton that the luster of that respect must
be dimmed if we have laws, especially
those that are prominent, which are no
torlously and increasingly unequally and
badly observed.
And IN the great struggle of the future
to preserve the honor of our State for
sobriety and temperance, the REG
IsTER counts as much if not the most