Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-12-06

If there fingers flash OF her fire, tcod it out,
And return to your empire Of darkness,
MOORE
The result of the Presidential election of 1914,
is now clearly ascertained. The people have de-
termined in favor of Polk and Dallas, in favor of
the extension of slavery and its eternal Duration
against the protection of American industry, and
the restriction of executive power within its Just,
constitutional limits The issue was fairly present.
ed to the people by the friends of Clay and Ere.
linghuysen, and they have passed upon 1t, and in
such manner 40 to make every American rcPub-
lcan wonder of what strange materials intelligent
human beings are composed.
| know that it will be claimed by a portion of
both the political parties that the election of Polk
and Dallas determines nothing in relation to the
policy Of the country. direct respect however,
for the intelligence Of American freemen would
create spirit of caution, whenever speak of
their intentions in voting they have DONE
Whenever it is claimed that opponents to the ad-
mission of Texas to our Union and the consequent
perpetuaton and extension of slavery, that friends
to the tariff of 1912, and to Constitutional re-
strants executive power, voted in favor Of James
X. Polk, it must also, at the time, be claimed
that such voters were sadly deficient, either in in
telligence honesty. Although true it is, that in
Vermont, in New York and Pennsylvania, it was,
with much gravity, insisted that Col. Polk was
fire ndly to the tariff of 1872 and was more ia.
vorlble to the admission of Texas than his OPP
pom ent, Mr.. Clay, yet no man of common nforma-
whose vote might not have been safely challenged
the ground of idiocy, was ever deceived by such
a ridiculous pretension. The American people,
when they voted for Col Polk, Knowingly and in
ientonaly voted not for protection to American in
dustry, not for the extension and promotion OF Con-
stutional American liberty, not for the rights of
the people, but for TEXAS, for slavery and foreign
power
We were told by our opponents in lS4O, that the
majority of the people were "drunk on hard cider"
that they were incapable of arriving at just con-
illusions, and only made themselves ridiculous
whenever they attempted to transact their own Blu.
siness in their own way. We had just experienced
the benefits of twelve years of democratic admins
tration, and singular it certainly seemed TO politi
clans of certain cast that the people were dissat
isfed with them. But the people, obstinately, de-
creed change. change of one short month
WAS readily effected, when by an act of Providence,
So far as the executive concerned, the admins
tra,ion again mainly adopted the principles of our
opponents. By the election of Polk and Dallas,
Le ~, ,pe nol0 say that in 1910, they drunk
on harJ c;d that they toere incapable of arriv-
na nj inst concn, ssions, and that they did make
,hemselyes ridiculous ~ the election of Gen. Har-
rison. With trumpet tongue they proclaim to the
world that they are satisfied with the adininlslra-
lions of Jackson, Van Buren, and Tyler. Inc
mnons of despotism and slavery may well rejoice
at such decision, and from such source. When
honest Dogbeny in the play requested TO be writ
ten down an ass, he did no more than the people
have done in 1914. The democrats" said to the
people, in 1910, You are pack of fools" The
/ people, in 1874, very gladly respond, We are"
The Wings, however, have insisted, and they
! still continue to nsist-how long we may be per
mtted to do SO, is uncertain-that the people are
capable of government that the true policy o
our government consists in protecting our own in
teress by cur own power We cannot adopt The
language of our opponents and assert that the peo
pie are pack of fools, not knowing for whom no
what they vote. We cannot say now, as our oppo
nents said, in l640 that the election Of Presiden
{" is farce" for we believe ii to be dread reality
We believe that the people have acted from prin
ciple--that they have voted for Texas and Slavery
n for the union Of the purse and the sword in tn
hands of the executive, and against the protectio
of American interests, because they prefer the on
and despise the other. If the people claim to be de
fcient in intelligence, and seek to excuse the
strange conduct and decisions under this plea, W
shall not believe it to be true We may, it is tru'
admit that the people are or may be ignorant; W
only insist that they capable of intellectual ei'
yation. and are culpabe whenever they neglect
refuse to exercise the of correct information
which are in their power.
o Now what is the duty of the Wings, under the'
o circumstances If the people have determined,
they unquestionably have done, let the will of II