Letter from William slat,r.
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The following letter from Hon, NM. SLADE,
Wing Candidate for Governor in Vermont, was
addressed TO the Mass Convention at SHELDON
1t commanding expression of lofty senti-
ments and important truths:


3IILDLEBuRr. July 10, 1914.
Gen. Fred. Eouchton. Eso


Dear Sir: Your letter in behalf of the Wing
COMMITTEE of Franklin County. inviting me to
attend Mass Convention at Sheldon on the 9th
INST. has been received. have DELAYED IN an
swer from my strony cesre 10 make It affirma-
i've, if could find it possible 10 dispense with
other engagements long enough to allow me the
pleasure of meeting my friends at the conem-
plated gathering But find myself compelled
decline your invitation, the duties of my office
being, at present, too urgent 10 admit of any
rclax1tiOn.


snail long remember he pleasure l enjoyed in
my visit 10 Sheldon in lS40 and should be ex-
ceedingly happy again to minge with my fellow
cit zens of Franklin County, and commune with
them concerning the great matters of national in
tcrest which now occupy the public attention.
The contest of this year, need not say, exceeds
in Importance, the contest of l640 for there are
supcradded to the questions of that year others
of great and absorbing interest The question of





has come TO assume an importance which makes
the Protective policy The leading themein all or
public discussions. At the termination of con-
test more severe, protracted and hazardous than
any Tariff contest, perhaps, which the country
ever witnessed, the Wings Of the XXVIIth Con-
gress succeeded in establishing a Tariff, whose
adequacy for Protection, and whose beneficial in.
huence upon the exhausted Treasury and the de-
-,Don1 Of tbo of
less than two years has abrndanily attestcd-
That Tariff, | need not say, is in danger Of de-
struc,ion-at least, in so much danger as there is
danger that our opponents shall triumph in the
pending contest. The undenablc hostility of
their Presidential candidate 10 the Tariff Of 1912
brings the question OF its destruction to an issue
which cannot be avoided. Shall that Tariff
stand, with no changes but such as lis most
cautious friends may find, on experience, the
equalization of Protection to all interests de-
book, as was attempted at the late session of
Congress are questions which are suspended
upon the discussions and decisions of this very
year. know there are not wanting efforts TO
make it appear otherwise to the people of Ver-
mont-cfforts, in fact, 10 show that the very IA
ther of the Protective policy has become indiffer
cnt to It's support, while his rival for the Prcsi-
dcncy, whose whole public career has been
marked with undisguised hostility to it, has be.
cume its friend. The discussions of this year
will dispel this dcluson; and while they demon
s,ratc, If demonstration can ipw be needed, the
adequacy of the existing Tariff, will show who
are, and who are not, the true and reliable friends
of this great interest.


| am glad to see the people awake to this sub
icct, and rejoice to witness their disposition to
gather in mass meetings to discuss 1t. When
they come thoroughly to understand this great
question, they will decide it right; and they wi !
determine that it is safer to commit tais interest
to its old and tried friends than to trust 10 new
professions made for special occasion.


But there is a new and fcarfully important
question which has been suddenly thrown before
The country, to be decided in the present contest
mean the question OF snnexing foreign nation
to our coniederacy-a question involving, as it
seems to me, nothing less than the very existence
OF this Union. The contamination of this pro-
iect, which awats the triumph of our opponents
m this wears contest, will be etaniamount act
declaring the Union dissolved; and if actual dis
solution does not follow, it will not be owing 10
any cohesive power in the Constitution, after the
cunfudcracy shall have lost its Identity in the new
aud monstrous conncxon with foreign state.


There is no aspect IN which this measure can
be viewed, in which it does not porrend evil and
vet there are thousands who suddenly going
Tor it, with rs much confidence though they
had made this great questionable greatest, IN
fact, that ever agitatcd this natlon-the study OF
their whole lives. In the facility Cf change thus
exhibited, upon question of the greatest con-
celvable moment 10 the country, there is ground
of alarm, extending far beyond the limits of the
question ITSELF What may not the pow er OF party
accomplish, if it can work the wonder Of suddenly
raising up. as by magic, friends to such mea-
sure as this What Is to become Of our country.
if its highest interests thus TO be made the
sport of party 2-if men are TO be thus moved in
masses, and wheeled into line, ut the bidding OF
party leaders d. not ask this question in the
spirit of party. No!-no 7HiS is matter
which rises far above all party considerations, and
appeals to higher sentiment than ever found
place in the bosom o! mere partisan. Opposi.
ton 10 this gigantic scheme is not among the
things which may be given up for the sake of Sc
curing some good which party may aim to ac-
compsh, and which can only be accomplished
by party union. To hold on to a party union,
with such sacrifice, would not be "union for
the sake of the Union,' but union with the GER
tainty of its destruction.


need not say that the success OF our oppo-
rents in this Presidential election would be the
success of this measure. Their candidate has been
selected for the very purpose OF carrying it. He
is committed to it irrevocab!y. And where is
Henry CLAY ?-OppOsed to it,; and opposed for
reasons of perpetual force. The act OF taking a
stand in opposition TO this measure, has given
him rev claim to the confidence of the nation.
He has in effect said-let Us strengthen and con-
solidatc our present Union, rather than hazard
It's existence in an attempt to extend and perpet-
uatc the institution of Slavery Mr.. Clay docs
not wish to perpetuae Slavery. He has no SYM
pa,hy with the absurd and monstrous sentiment,
that its perpetuity is essential to the Perpetuty of
republican institutions; and whatever may be
his views in regard to immediate emancipation,
he stands, in reference to the great issue on
which the question OF Slavery is now turning, on
the side of freedom and of his country.


The Wing party occupy, at this moment, po-
sition of unparalleled interest. Beside their ad-
vocacy of the measures to which they have long
been committed, they constitute to all present,
practical purposes, the true Liberty party;