Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-04-16
bringing il into Politics


"Ah, you have mixed it with politics. You
are making political thing of it."
Very true, my friend, we have. Will you,
therefore, be so kind as to tell us what objection
you have to our course, for we have no desire
TO do wrong!
Why men won't be driven. Slavery is a
moral subject, and we must use only moral
means and moral suasion on topics of such a
nature"
Is not stealing a moral subject! Dove con-
fine ourselves TO one kind of moral suasion tow
ards the thief? True, we try to persuade him
not to steal-but we act politically, too; and we
add this additional motive, or kind of moral
suasion, that if he does STEAL he shall suffer the
consequence in the State Prison. In your
sense of the word, this is an attempt at driving
men from the sin of stealing But is the act
of depriving three millions of human beings
of liberty, or one human being of all personal
rights, less crime, demanding less power
full suasion, than stealing one hundred dol
lars?
"Well, but good men and ministers have no
business with politics. They had better let such
things alone"
But we should like to know what you mean
by politics. If, by that term, you mean those
despicabe and profigate scrambies for Office,
in which men sell their souls, barter their con-
sciences, and trample on principle,--if you
mean the party lies forgeries and tricks, by
which political partizans mislead or insult the
community,-if you mean that base sefshness,
which makes the great questions of war and
peace, Of trade and manufactures, and justice,
merely subservient to the election of ones sci or
ones party to power, If you mean these things,
when you speak of politics, then we agree with
you, that only devils, large and " small" should
have anything to do with poltics-except to
eject all such devils, or men like devils, from
power and Office.
But it is quite time that the true idea of poll
tics and Of political action, should be rescued
from these misrepresentation, which keep so
many good men from politics and the polls
There is nothing which prohigate politicians
fear so much as conscientious voters. Base,
drunken, ignorant, swearing voters, they cajole
or bride. There is never an objection started
or limited against their votes and political action.
But the man who is resolutely inquiring after
his duty, is an unmanageabe thing, and as he
cannot be bent into subserviency to the party,
he must be frightened away by this oucry about
the contamination Of politics. that the whole
business of government may be left in the hands
of unprincipled men.
Will you hear, then, our idea Of politics.
Politics is the science of government. Oh
course, the true politician, is one who has all
the knowledge and moral principle requisite tc
the right administration Of the government.-
1t is for the interest Of every individual in the
community, that government should be wisely
and Justly administered, The business ant
property of every man can be effected by wal
and peace. The rich may be Impoverished, an(
the poor reduced to suffering by unwise or prof
ligate legislation If the father suffers loss
the wife and daughter must share his povert,
and suffering. Females, children,-alI have
deep personal interest in the right Management
of public affairs Other interests, besides pecu
mary ones, feel the effect of government
Learning, morality, literature, schools, and rell
gion, are indirectly affected to an amazing ex
tent, either by the personal character Of the ru
lers, or by the measures they adopt,
We contend, then, that it follows inevitabl,
from these unquesioned facts, that it is the dut
Of euery person Of mature years, lst To un
derstand the true character and tendency of al
public measures. 2. To exert themselves, &C
cording to their various positions and rights, t.
tbo nc 10 off n
have the requisite wisdom and moral principle
to administer the government rightly. Th
property, position and happiness of females is a
much affected by the action Of government a
that of men. Why, then, should not they un
derstand these topics, and use their influence
in their own sphere, as well as men! Politics
thus understood, are not only not unbecomln
in woman, as newspaper sneers and sarcasm
would have us believe, but are matters of dee
interest to her, and their proper study woul
tend to give thoughtful earnestness to the femal
character.
But pre-eminently is it the duty of ever
man who has right to vote, to make hlmse
acquainted with the true interests of his coun
try, and to secure, if possible, the election {
men who will conscientiously promote these ii
terests. His refusal to do so, is practical dec
laration that he is Indifferent to the welfare, con
fort, peace, and morality of millions of huma
beings The contemptuous and sanctimoniou
air with which some men speak of their ind
ference to politics, argues either the grossest sci
fishness, or the most criminal ignorance.
Why should not the minister, and all GOO
men, be interested in politics! What is ther
in the ministerial office, which should condemn
the religious teacher to ignorance on matters c
vast moment TO himself, his family and the re
lgon which he breaches! Is he less competer
to understand the true interests of the country
than the drunken, debauched, ignorant meT
who swarm around the polls! Is the good ma
more likely to mistake The qualifications it
Office, or the tendency Of public measures, tina
the swearing or tpsy voters, or broken dow