Year: 1863

The tendency Of the public mind to
,Ktrcmcs Of opinion and feeling has often
been commented upon during the present
struggle That form Of it, manifestation
which has excited the most remark, and been
most severely blamed, has been of despond-
ing character. When reverses were met
with and the losses and mishaps always Incl
dent to war came upon us, the difficulties
Of our undertaking we're undoubtedly ex-
aggeratei, and pressed heavily upon the
hores and confidence of those who would be
patriotic and believing.


At the present time 1t Is assumed and
doubtless with truth, that the tendency is in
theother direction. Too little is now made of
the difficulties still to he encountered. Con-
silering the war as virtually at an end, poll
ticians begin 10 speculate and to lay plans
tor future party movements and projects
which reach far into the future and are based
upon the supposition Of an established
peace, are beginning to be agitated. The
danger Of moving far in this direction is,
that d vigilant enemy may gain an advantage
before We are aware. That he can do more
than delay hI- final and entire defeat
Is impossible but he should not be
allowed to do as much as this. by any in
elyertence upon the part of loyal men.
Ii viii not do to forget that much still
remains to be accomplished, and that all
the energiye of the North are needed to
complete the work in hand. Battles are yet
O. be fought, and the war Of ideas as well as
of arms has yet to he waged for many
months, perhaps for years, before the forces
of democracy shall triumph over aristocratic
pride AMI folly. Our malignant foes at home,
those who give encouragement to our enemies,
and tho-c who sympathize with them abroad,
VIII not fail TO take advantage of remissness
un Jul part, to endeavor to tzrn back once
more the tide Of success that promises 50
much for the government cause. These, who
are at heart our enemies, arc now desperate
under their defeat. They will hesitate at
nothing that viii give them even a partial
success. It viii not do yet to lessen the
patriotic fcIvor or unbend the determined
resolution that lac brought through two
year,' war To our present advantageous pos-
ition


I>>uEA>cL RLroET.-We have received
copy OF the Thirty-sixth Annual Report of
the Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance Compa-
n.y. The Directors state that the fiscal year has
closed under favorable circumstances. The
policies issued during the past year number
1902, which Is little less than the average
number per year; the average for the last
thirteen years Icing 1891. The amount
of property Tor the insurance of which pol
i-iys have been Issued during the year, is
-+.I43.5ls Premium notes taken for the
slmo amount to 1855. .sS3 l6. Ten assess
ments amounting in the aggregate to
SO ,366 0S have been made during the year.
These assessments were nine Of them and
one Of them Per cent on the premium
notes held by the company. These notes,
which constitute the capital of the company,
now amount to 81 ,67I PAS 80. The expend-
Itures during the year have been little less
than usual, allowing the assessments to be
trIde less than the average.


The receipts from insurance of dwellings
and farm property during the last Is years,
has been $4,000 less than the expense of
insuring the same. Insurance of other prop
erty has made up the deficiency. 1t is pro-
posed to reduce the rate of insurance upon
such other property at the next annual meet
ing.