Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-08-09
MR. CLEMENT, PLAINTIFF.

MR.. CLEMENT, PLAINTIFF.
When a party brings a case int
court against another party, it is peril
nent to show that the plaintiff has un
worthy motives, or lacks characte
that gives weight to his contention
But that isn't conclusive. No eourI
would dismiss a suit with simply these
points established by the defence. II
would require that the real questions
at issue-the rights or wrongs in
volved-be examined into; that the
truth be ascertained, in order that jus
tice might be done. The plaintiff
might be shown ever so mean and I'M
worthy in a general way, yet that has
only an indirect bearing on the cause
itself. The question before the court
is, In this particular matter, TO whom
should the award of Justice be given +?
Now Mr. Clement has brought ac-
ton against the Republican party of
Vermont, charging it with remissness,
incompetence, dishonesty and corrup-
ton in the conduct of the states
affairs. While it is proper to assail
his motives, as they appear from his
record and acts, and also his political
character, the Republican party can
not stop there and count safely upon
winning its case. 1t must defend it.
self from Mr.. Clements charges. 1t
must show that he is mistaken, or that
he is trying TO mislead the court-in
this case the voters by false state
ments that he cannot substantiate.
The burden ofproof is upon Mr.. Glenn
ent, but ii is not generally wise step
for the defence, after the plaintiff has
submitted his evidence, to move for u
verdict without presenting any itself.
The Republican party at present
shows no disposition to run away from
Mr.. Clements rapid-fre ordnance. 1t
faces him grimly, determinedly. and to
his fierce thrusts turns the nimble
parry. OF necessity it is largely on
the defensive. 1t is the party in
power. Upon it has been the author
ity and the responsibility. II it has
managed well, on the whole, honor
and credit follow; if i'll, criticism and
rebuke. In either case it is called up
on to give an account OF Its steward
ship. And it appears willing to do so,
meeting fairly every one OF the fusion
list charges that bears upon the ques-
ton with any pertinence.
Mr.. Clement asserts that the Repub-
lican administration is wasteiul and
extravagant; that state expenses are
constantly mounting up, and economy
is called for. The Republican party,
while it does not dispute the figures
which show an increased expense by
the state over former years, denies the
wasteful or extravagant use OF the pub
lie monies. 1t maintains that expen-
ditures grow for two reasons; Cd be-
cause the state does more for the indi-
yidual than formerly, and (2) because
of the general rise in the cost of every
thing which the state buys, condi-
ton that affects the private, as well as
the public, purse. In considering the
list of principal expenditures by the
state, it finds few departments where
fair and honest judgment would say
it were better to curtail than to con-
tinue. 1t believes that money well
spent by the state-spent so that the
state as a whole is benefited more than
it would be by leaving the money with
the peoples not money wasted. 1t
asks Mr.. Clement to instance Just
where or how he would save the
thousands that he claims are thrown
away, but he fails to enter into satisfy
ing details. He does not say how he
would greatly reduce the outlay at the
insane asylums. the house of correc-
ton, the industrial school or the states
prison. And the people are left in
doubt as to whether he would do any
thing OF Importance, or whether ii he
should, it would not be more OF a det-
riment than an advantage. He does
not say how be would white down
the sums paid for education or for the
military so that the people can judge
whether his proposed economies are
wise ones or not. He fails to outline
how or where he would trim down the