Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-06-09
RUTLAND VII. TUESDAY, JUNE g. 1910

o' what General Harrison AMI his
friends might do. if they should get into
power. II is quite enough for us that
we are certain they could not possibly
do worse for the nation than their pre-
decessors, and there is every reason TO
bclieve,thnt they would do better. The
great and essential difference between
the two sides being at this time, that
The one Is conscious Of the public dis
ircss, sympathizes with il, aud is di7po-
sed TO act refncdially, whilst the other
wiIiully disrcgnrds il, affects not to be-
licvc in the possibility Of relief, and, if
admitted to be possible, holds ont no
prospect whatever of aid TO bring it
about
The cause ofthis difference Is Qs.Qhr
fviotfs as tfie TACT 81 It's existence. The
great mass of the OPPOSITION, deducting
only few of its leaders, who may be
supposed 10 have ambitious motives, is
influenced solely by the state of things
under which the people generally suf-
fer. They are interested in the contest,
from the Inconvenience to which their
enterprise and industry have been put
by the fanlts Of their government.
Further than to get cure for this evil,
they have no motive for action. To
them, personlly, it is of no consequence
who is IN, or who is out of office, pro-
vided they can carry on their business
equally well with one President as
with another. The feeling, with them
in favor ola change, is then strictly n
popular feeling, for it looks to the Sc
curing advantages for the whole peo-
pie, ms well of one party as of the other.
excluding only those who arc in the
enjoyment of particular favors in the
distribution of official situations.
But the motives of action which pre-
vail on the side of the Administration,
are wholly Of an opposite kind, and
lead TO no sympathy with the popular
distress. A very large number OF tho
most distinguished leaders are in the ac-
tual possession and enjoyment of ad.
vantages which must have some effect
in narrowing their views of public af.
fair. II the people suffer from the pol.
icy of rulers, they would equally suf
fer If the rulers were changed. When
, they cease to hold their places, they
will he worse off than many men who
may be ruled in their business if they
continue. The notions which they
hold must therefore partake more oil
the personal suffering to which they
will themselves be subjected by a
change, if they go out, than of that
which the public will experience il
they stay IN place. The interest with
which they view public measures is
therefore at least, in part, necessarily q
selfish ore, and Numerically opposite
to that which unbiased, independent
private citizens would feel.
We cannot help being Impressed
with the truth Of these observations
when we examine into the nature and
constitution Of the two conventions tina
have been lately held at Baltimore, by
the respective parties. Or the one
hand, we see the popular feeling throw
ing itself forward among the fifteen o.
twenty thousand Wings, each of whom
cannot help understanding that hi:
chance Of personal advancement among
so many is not worthy The exertion h,
is making, and most of whom, therefore
must have other inducements TO carry
them on than mere hope Of place
whilst, on the other hand, we find /
small body ofpicked men, almost every
one of whom either is now dependent
upon the event of the supremacy OF ths
Administration for the place he occu
pies,or has good right to look forwrat
to some definite reward, within shor
time, for the service he is doing.
This last body has issued an addres:
TO the people, which, under these cir
cumsiances, may well be styled thu
Office holders Address, for it is an ar
gument issued to the people in favor o
themselves. IL il should succeed il
gaining credit, no one would be ST
much benefited as the members of thai
convention. fit should fail of con
vincing, none would have more to lose
The honorable Senator, and ex-Govern
ors, and Posimasters, and Printers, anc
other officers, directly or indirectly
connected with the mantainancc o
The present Administration, must for
felt their present favorable positions
if they cannot succeed in supporting
il. LET the interests of the great body O
the people lie which way they will
A