Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-03-11

other than legitimate means. Their
> can be little doubt that, in the ordinary
course of human events, Mr.. Bate
would have been nominated for re-elec
c tion. Whether be should have been il
> another question, about which we shall
presently have something to say. Tha
he would have been, had the nomination
been made in the usual way and by thu
usual men, we suppose nobody will deny
But there were present in the conven
ton not few men who have never
been known as temperance men, mol
been seen at any temperance conyen
ton fore. They came for She
purpose Of securing the nomination
which was in fact made. What were
the motives that inspired them to battle
the storm and break through the snow
drifts which kept so many others at
home, it is not important to inquire. A
Inomina:.::oon for such an office ought not to
be made in that way, So say lie lie voters
of the county, and almost all right think
ing minds viii respond-Amen.
1t by no means follows that because
Baldwin ought to be defeated, Bates ought
10 be elected. On the contrary, all the
reasons which existed last year why he
should not be elected, existed this year
with equal if not with greater force. He
was not the candidate of the temperance
people last year. His claims to nomi-
nation were duly presented to the con-
vention, fairly canvassed, and found to be
insufficient. The proper course, the only
course, of an honorable man in those cir
cumstances, was TO abide by the decision
of the tribunal to which be had submit
ted his claims. He did otherwise. He
allowed himself to be used by the rum
mics as a candidate to defeat the regular
temperance nominee, and did defeat him.
He never can entitle himself to a tenn
perance nomination or to the vote of
true temperance man till he has acknow-
lodged the wrong which he then commit
ted and made such atonement for it as
may be possible. The direct effect of his
proceedings was to break down the tenn
perance strength, to discourage the friends
of the temperance cause, and to encour-
age its enemies. His election was regar-
ded throughout the state as rum tri-
umph in Orleans county. 1t could not
possibly have been regarded as anything
else. 1t was known throughout the state
who was the regular candidate, and the
defeat of that candidate could not be at
ributed to any other than the enemies of
temperance. The same is true this year.
Orleans county will be set down as one
Of the counties in which the anti-temper-
ance party prevailed. We do not say
hat it ought to be so set down. but such |
will surely be the fact.
The truth is no man who desires the |
office Of county commissioner is fit to |
hold the office, or even ought to be elect
ID to it. He can desire it only for the
'ake of making money by it, and no man
'an make money by it, unless he sells
himself and his official influence to some
.ity rumseller. If he administers the Of
ice according to the true spirit of the
aw by which the Office is created, he can
make about thirty dollars year by it.
# be prostitutes the office for gain, he
IAN make anywhere from five hundred
o fifteen hundred dollars year, "accor-
ling as he can light Of chaps" But the
nan who can and will make five hundred
dollars year by that office is no more fit
0 hold il than copperhead is fit 10 COM
nand the Union army. That staunch
temperance man, VIM. G. Kittredge OF
f aiIhaven, who has been commissioner
or Rutland county two or three years,
his year declined to be reelected, "be-
,ause no person can perform the duties
If the office, for the compensation pro-
yided by law, without loss or injury
" should rather like to see the Orleans
county commissioner who has suffered
my "loss or injury" by holding the office.
Unless they have been sadly belied, most
# our recent commissioners have pock-
ted handsome sum every year.
We hope the temperance men of Or
cans county will nominate next year,
lot the man who wants the office and
ends in his runners to secure the nomi-
ation, but some man who, not desiring
he office, is nevertheless willing TO take
t and administer it for the good of the
ounty, contenting himself with u ch
as the law gives him and
With the consciousness that he is promo
ing the object which the law seeks to ac-
omplish. Having nominated such a
nan, let them elect him, and save them
elves and the county from the dscredit