Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-05-23
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS
FACTS AND OPINIONS CAT HERED
FROM CONTEMPORARIES
A MISTAKEN GOVERNOR.


With all due respect to Gov. JEFF
Davis OF Arkansas, who processes to be
a 'lineal descendant of Jefferson Davis,
the greatest man the world has ever
seem" the Journal does not expect to see
his example of shipping hardened negro
criminals to Massachusetts very general
ly adopted by the Executives of the
Southern States. Gov. JEFF himself will
cool of after he has thought this matter
over, and we of Massachusetts can afford
to smile at his idos yncrasy.
The surprising thing about it is the
Governors statement that he took this
action after visit to the East, and be-
cause of 1.-THE many expressions of SYM
pathy heard from the people of that
section, none of them knew what they
were talking about" 81 resolved" he
said. Ito give them taste of their own
medicine We are curious to know
what kind of persons Gov. Davis could
have met on his Eastern Journey, and
what they said to him. We think that
he would travel a long time in Massa-
chusetts without hearing any "express-
ions Of sympathy" with negro criminals,
or with criminals of any race or hue.
We have some pretty stiff laws up here
in Massachusetts, and we enforce them
without discrimination. And weare per-
fectly willing that Arkansas should have
laws just as stiff and enforce them Just
as vigorously. A pardoned black law
breaker from Arkansas will find a
mighty cold shoulder turned toward him
in this Commonwealth.
Gov. JEFF Davis strangely msunder-
! stands the Massachusetts temper. Our
quarrel with him and with his people
ceased at Appomattox, 81 years ago.
We acknowledge in Massachusetts the
gravity of the problem imposed upon the
Southern people by the presence of mil
lions of negros in the Southern States.
Their presence there is something for
which we of the North, as well as our
brethren of the South, are responsible,
for the ancestors of these blacks were
brought over from Africa at time when
slavery and the slave trade were en-
couraged and practised by both North
and South. We understand perfectly
well. moreover, in Massachusetts, that a
great many of these Southern negroes
an appallingly large propOrtion-are ig-
norant, idle, vicious and generally OBJ
noxious. There is no disposition in the
North to idolize the negro. We see
enough of his failings among that small
portion of his race which has drifted to
the Northern cities. Boston journal.
eoo~
76,2e5,22O SUCCESSFUL EDITORS.
The belief that "any man can run q
new spaper" should hereafter be treated
with respect. The 1926, 220 and more
people of the United States have Just
concluded a successful editorial engage
ment; and the fact that most of then
we're ignorant of their novel engagement
doesn't alter it.
The Chestnut Street National Bank Of
Philadelphia and the savings bank OF
similar name were closed in 1897 by the
failure of Col. w. NJ. Singerly, who dice
the following year. To protect the de
positors in the national bank the United
States took possession of his property
chiefly consisting of the majority o
stock of the Philadelphia Record, which
was for several years and until Its salt
last Wednesday conducted by the Untet
States itself drought court appointee.
Thus the Government, in a largely cir
culated newspaper, had to commend o
condemn the Government, to praise o
blame its own policy in the Philippines
on the tariff, in Cuba. 1t had to deplor
! the murder of its head, President Nc
, kinley, and give Mr.. Roosevelt goo
speed. And this and other things it di
, SO successfully that its shares were sol
at price indicating the papers value a
2 over $4,000, 900, and yielding money t
+ pay the national bank depositors in flu
2 and leave Il generous dividend for othe
! creditors.
Who can say after this that ever
e American is not born editor.-Ne'
York World.
5 Hood Farm Auction sale of Jerseys an
n Berk-hires.