Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1902-11-21
FRIDA,, NOVEMBER 81. 1902.
Somebody's Travelling near
the Edge.


A large convention was held in the
State of Vermont SO recently that ITS de-
tails are fresh in the memory of every
body in the State. The dominant party
was in a condition of embarr ssm mt. Ii
was filled with uncertainty, aud showed
very strong indications of disintegration'
There was a great sound of host that
filed the mulberry trees everywhere.
There was rising in the minds of the
freemen a demand for reform in the con
duet of the liquor business. 1t was evil
dent that that was rising above all other
political considerations. To meet 1t
this convention proposed to procure the
passage of license law. Everybody
knew what in general terms was meant
by license law. The term was used IN
distinction from a prohibltory law.
There has been in New England va
riety of prohibitory laws, also of license
laws, each having common and general
features, all of which were well known
and understood. One of those license
laws, the general features of which
everybody understood, the dominant
party pledged itself to frame and place
before the people for approval or rejec-
ton. This pledge proved to be bene-
fit to the party making it and detri-
ment to the opposition. Clement, who
represented the opposition, was reluc-
tant to accept the proifered pledge. lie
charged that it would be treated with
avoidance; that it was a mere temper
airy expedient to get 10y the people. But
the great mass of both parties did ac-
cept it in good faith and in perfect con-
tidence. So the republican party was
thoroughly pledged, and was accused OF
bad faith and want of confidence in the
carrying out of the pledge, from which
charges it vehemently indicated itself,
and denounced those who entertained
any suspicion in that direction. Now it
turns out that there are strong indic&-
tions that the pledge will not be full
filled. OF course everybody knew that
there would be radical prohibitionists
who would do all they could to prevent
the carrying out of the pledge, but that
don't relieve the party from being III
conditions most embarrassing. What
can it say if it hands the people coun
terfeit in the form of the Battell bill
Everybody will see that that was not
contemplated in the pledge, for that i,
entirely new legislation. That isn't
license within the meaning given tC
that term. That's new machinery, new
officers, new system of distribution, new
in princi pie and detail in almost every
respect Everybody knows that was no
contemplated in connection with the
pledge. And if some such substitute al
that is attempted to be palmed off on tn,
people what will be the result? If it il
believed the party has ability to keep it
pledge and does not do so it will be me
by the Indignation of very many OF it
strongest supporters; if it pleads its in
ability to perform it will be looked upol
with contempt, and party will rise VI
who will declare with great emphasis
'you either have the ability to keep tina
sacred pledge, but through insincerit,
you from the beginning did not intenC
to kept or you had so lost the conf
dence of the freemen of the state tina
you were unable to keep it; and il
either case you are NO longer worth.
the confidence of good square, homes
men," Now it is hardly necessary t.
say word by way of warrington concern
ing the necessity of republicans bestir.
ring themselves and redeeming tina
pledge according to its spirit and letter
nor by way of pointing out the conse
quences of such betrayal of confdenc
as would surely determine the action O
hosts of the squarest and best men il
the State.