Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1868-07-24
NO. 30.

ccptlng Great Britain the United States
have had the most extended and continued
practice in these councils Of the people IN
masse, by delegations. Hero, for fifty years
past we have been made constantly famil-
inr with conventions of every description.
Not merely political parties, but religious
denominations, classes of manufactures
and tradcsman, different nationalitcs and
social interets, in fine any and every body
ofpeople in ono line Of thinking, have been
accustomed 10 meet in this way, for tho
purpose Of interchanging sentiments, pass
ing resolutions and delivering addrosscs
expressive Of their opinions and bringing
their wants and claims before the commits
nifty at large.
Thus, assemblages Of this description
have entirely ceased 90 be novelties with
us and il is only upon rare occasions that
they excite general interest. When they
do arouse much feeling, It is because great
interests are at stake and every organized
movement concerning them touches the
times the intelligence Of the nation natural
ly expects TO sec sober and sincere patriot
ism only made the soul Of counsel. Tho
American mind rcvcrts TO days when digni-
ty, self respect, knowledge and intellectual
ability, went hand in hand with total self
abnegation and devotion TO the country.
The glorious record of the Washingtons.
the lIancoc>s, the Adams, the Jcilcrsons.
the Jays, the l'ranklins, the Carols is Viv-
idly before them. and in each trial of our
young nation in its splendid but dihcull
1,pt,ttt- a uf
10 the memories Of the sages and heroes
who surrounded its birth. This feeling is
succeeded by the effort to discover among
those called together, in our own days, for
great, pressing public service, men of simi-
lar stamp and character.
Unfortunately, the usage of the time is
almost certain preventive of such repre-
sentation. Cliqucs and cotcries, the eau
cussing of few self-conslitutcd "leadors"
and back door managers, and a certain
easy sell-subserviency on the part Of timid
masses who prefer acquiesence to astruggle,
almost invariably succeed in entirely igno-
ring the real will Of the people with regard
to the choice Of delegates, or, where the lat
ter may have been effected, in so clogging
or hoodwinkng the delegates themselves,
as to render their free action impracticable.
From time TO time, however, there appears
in the bosom of bodies thus bound and
controlled, an Independent and truth-loving
spirit so active, able and bold rs TO defy
these artificial restraints Sometimes the
revolt against the packed convention sys-
TEN, comes from outside. In either case,
the people, almost in moment have the
challptp x,anlypaqe Of tbn ms ooi11er p1nnhin-
cry revealed to them. They learn that it is
Of the merest glass to be shattered by a
single vigorous blow.
The only, the real meaning of political
convention, indeed the only use for it is
when it represents the wishes and inter-
ests of the entire mass in whose name it
| assemblies, and not the ambition or the
greed of any individual or small set of men.
When the grander patriotic object is not its
| aim, it is a fraud and, in these days of free
| investigation such powers quickly pass
away. \ few hundred gentlemen may
flatler and glorify each other, to their hearts
content and may tell the nation about the
claims of A. and b. to become the most
eminent citizen and the highest officer in
the Republic, but the great silent myriads
| VI VOTERS lOohlHH on from tHt NOTlHtrIl
| Mountains to the Southern Gulf and from
the nearer to the farther ocean, will take
counsel only from the needs of the hour,
| after all.
There is 10 sincere man in the land who
| does not turn away with disgust from the
columns upon columns of jargon and po-
litical slang that are constantly thrust be-
fore us concerning these political conven-
tions particularly at a moment like this,
when the fate Of the nation and the practi-
cal welfare of millions are trembling in tho
balance. Who does not loatho the chatter
ing and bartering of the markets for candi-
dates, and yearn for that spontaneous out
burst of sense and love of country, that
offers to the people the restoration of peace
and liberty with all the forms of liberty
and peace?
We firmly believe that the day of popular
patience is well nigh past, and that the
hour is at hand when the men whom God
endowed and intended to be leaders of the
people he favors, will spring direct from
the arms and be borne upward on the accla-
nations of that people. Ours is a govern
ment of law founded upon the popular will
and sense of justice, and the men who arc
to govern us should he the highest expo
nents of those principles.
Mercantile journal.