The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-10-08
RIVERS BROS.

ings and hypocrisy exposed as it
should be. It's very atmosphere
breathes of freedom and security to
the honest and we'll meaning; of GER
tain but just Judgment to him who
ds1es to trespass against the laws of
nature aud his State.
Its educational institutions, while
not as large in a way as those of
some other States, are pre-eminently
free from bigotry, sophistry or object
ionable barriers; not chained down
by any external or internal power or
influence which narrows or limits it's
scope of action and usefulness, and
dwarfs its intended results. 1t is but
the natural sequence of that broad and
universal independence, personally,
that means neither bought nor
sold", which makes and marks dis
tinction in the instruction and knowl-
edge given from her educational insti
tutions-and this from the common
school to the college.
Riot is a thing unknown to you,
and sedition a foreign term. Permit
me to say again that for those who wish
to build for character and stability
i'll the lives Of their boys and girls
can not possibly make mistake in
choosing the Green Mountain State
for home.
While vast riches and multi mil
lionaires may not be numerous after
all wealth of character is not to be
compared with wealth OF pocketbook;
yet venture to assert that no State
can show better or more even ditfu-
sion of its wealth among the common
people and average citizen. The
average citizen l believe TO be en-
dowed intellectually and financially
above that of the average of our coun-
try. l like the term common peo-
pie" as applied to Vermont inasmuch
as it means with you not classes
and masses but the common ground
of good will and equality, the fraternal
spirit truly manifested. If there has
been somewhat of an exodus it has
been a natural response for natural
demands from other fields, where
just such qualities as her citizens were
endowed with, were needed. YER
mont is further willing, am sure,
| if need be, to become nursery for
the cultivation of human plants of the
higher order and quality, that she
may supply this demand to other parts
of our country.
She can point with much pride to
large number of those who have so
gone out from her, and who have
made records not to be ashamed OF,
but such as prove that the State is q
good place ''to be raised in.
Seeds of dissension, monopolies and
anarchlstic doctrines cannot find root
where good soil is, and only good,
sound, sensible opinions can be the
product of your untrammeled institu-
tions founded ON equity and Justice
not for the few but for all. The
criminal or laggard does not infest
her borders and terrify her citizens,
or make insecure their lives and prop
erty; they full we'll realize that toler-
alton of vice or encouragement of in
dolence will not be met, and that the
criterion of public opinion in judicial
exaction or sentence passed demands
exalted standards and principles; that
Vermont is no hot bed for vice, or the
destructive seeds of ignorance, or shift
lessness to grow in; wheat, not tares,
she cries; fortune in character, not
mere favor she gives. Long may she
continue her truly democratic ways,
uprootipg and casting from her any
intruding element of disturbance OF
insidious foe.
W. T.. Morse.
Philadelphia, Oct. 3, 1908.