The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-02-09

!
glorious free fight, let the friends of either
candidate rise above the miasma of bitter
partisan feeling and personal prejudice, OF
private pique and resentment, renounclng
the hidden things of dishonesty, and alb
juring political regeneration, show that
politics and honesty are not essentially in
compatible. 1t certainly is a gross delu-
sion to believe in the sovereign power of
political machinery in such state as ours,
where people think for themselves.
The department of politics is per- Sc a
perfectly legitimate field of labor Every
citizen has personal responsibility with
reference to it. Here, not less than in
other relations of life, every man Is to
regulate his actions in accordance with
the DEGREES of that ''interior forum''-con-
science. Let us then, if it comes to that,
have smart campaign conducted upon
humane principles-an anomaly no doubt,
but practicable. If honesty is the best
policy, then bad morals is never good pol
itics. Misrepresentation, open or furtive,
is the great vice in political contests. And
we were sorry that any journal should
seek, by trenchant imputation at least, to
create the impression that Judge Poland
spent portion of his vacation in election
eering in the "wcsten part Of the state,
while MIR. Morrill, remained faithful and
at his post. The latter remained with his
family, and the former came to his. That
Judge Poland spent night in Burlington
on his way back to Washington, is not
strange, since a portion of his family was
there, and consequently he passed through
Rutland. The Journal owes its patron Il
Jealous support in consideration of the
comfortable stall it has occupied at the
public crib, at his instance but on what
ground this obligation Of fealty can &c
made paramount to the ordinary obliga-
lions of journalistic honor and gentleman.
ly courtesy, we fail to discover.
Upon principle, we shall give Judge
Poland hearty and unqualified support
simply because we believe him to be the
better man for the place And we con
ceive that there is nothing of disparage
ment to Mr.. Morrill, in this avowal. W,
are not inclined, nor do we believe tha
the friends of either candidate will resor
to this belittling process. both as a matter
of honor and because they Will have thu
wisdom TO see that such implements 0
warfare are two-edsed, and wound Friends
as well as foes-that partisan deteriora
ton and diSparagement has not quite the
recipyocating motion Of the ses-sar, where
one goes up as the other comes down.
Still. a fair and candid estimate of al
those personal and mental qualities whicl
tend to fit or unfit a man for any position
of public trust. is perfectly legitimate, ant
at the proper time we shall render lea
son for the faith that is in us apperlain
ING to this matter.
p. S.-Since the above was in type, tn
Free Press comes to hand containing al
apology for its use of Hon. Joseph Poland
> name in connection with the Rutland Co
canvass, The language referred to read
: as follows Suppose, for instance, tina
Mr.. Joseph Poland had been the gentle
man who was called Gas we believe he re-
rently has been) by his official duties a
collector of internal revenue, into the Va
rious towns in Rutland county,
Referring to this allusion the FIRE,
Press now says: eff any one inferred
&C. that Hon. Joseph Poland was tn
> official from whom the information as t.
the reported unanimity of Rutland count.
: on the senatorial question was obtained
we desire TO correct such an Inference
Why put this in the Hypothetical form
Isn't the imputation SO direct and positiv
as almost to preclude any inference a
p all , 1t further says: eve did for til
: time being, though we did not say SO, be
lieve that the statement referred to wa
based on some remark of his
II we did not sag 50, why humiliat
ones self by an apology But why no
make complete amends Was there II
imputation of unfairness and want Of can
dor-not to use more offensive terms-i
such language as the following 18th
1 pressure of his official duties, or somethin
, else, might possibly make h;rl little har
Of hearing for unpleasant expressions o
e the subject
However, the Free Press has done pref
g ty well. Apologies are ugly things, an
something of credit is due to one VIII
e makes partial amends in this way, to h
: applied by way of offset to any balanc
, that may remain unsatised.
The Free Press now informs us that