Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-03-02
Morals i'm Politics,

Morals i'm Politics.
| 1t is not at all strange that some men
dislike moral issues in political contests
1t is no doubt very distasteful for them to
bear defeat, either for themselves or their
party, because of moral defects. When a
candidate is Sound on the main question
the fact that he is dishonest, or drunk
ard, or a gambler, seems to the strict poll
tician a very irrevelant matter But there
is growing feeling among the people,
who are not politicians, that is it not an
irrevelant matter There is belief, which
strengthens year by year, that moral ques-
tons are ID have great deal to do with
the welfare of our county and it's institu-
tions. This belief is revealed by the I'M
mistakeable tendency to force these moral
questions into political contests. That
mistakes are made by over-zeal and lack
of political skill, shows that the pressure
comes from the masses, and not from the
politicians. No doubt the disgust with
which genuine politician hears such a
moral demand is equaled only by that of
the assassin at the suggestion of fair
play, yet sometime he must heed the de-
mand, or go down before the storm.
At the Illinois State Convention for the
nomination of candidate for Governor, in
1868, the two prominent names were Mr..
Samuel Ingersol, a very favorite stump
speaker, and Gen. Palmer, whose only
claim was his war record. Mr.. Ingersol
was the strongest, undoubtedly, when the
convention met But the place of meet
ing was his own town, and the most
prominent fact concerning him in the
knowledge of his own townsmen, was his
consistent and able opposition to chris
tianity. He was an old school infdel. To
the surprise of Mr.. Ingersol and his i'm
mediate friends, the choice fell to Gen.
Palmer, and it was the common admission
among the delegates that the fact of his
infdelity destroyed his chances. IRE
ligiouS as they may have been, they hesi-
tated to name man who would surely be
chosen Governor of their State at the COM
ing election, who, as was said of Shelly,
"hated the hopes of the world"
1 think men have the right to rejoice
that such contest could be decided on
such an issue. More than that, it gives
ground for hope that the day may come
y6oy, yNCfy,I Of iol -,
date for any Office may be, not alone q
general acceptance of Christianity, but a
moral character that can stand ordinary
tests.
In itself 1T cannot be fact which can
please the most undiluted politician that a
man sits in the Senate of the United
States who very often makes it the scene
of most disgusting drunkenness-or that
in the Lower House a member is just
meeting in the Courts his second charge
of bigamy. These are not in themselves
pleasant facts. Many of our public men
are not very satisfactory opponents of the
moral character of the Republic.
If it be a legitimate hope that these
men be permitted to enjoy their immoral
tiles in private, is it going too far to hope
that the men who take their places may
be men who are more than negative-who
are positively moral ?
Mr.. Harlan in the Senate, and Mr..
Julian in the House, have just introduced
bills so to tax lotteries that they will be
practically suppressed. Through evasions
of the law, and through the lack of en-
forcement because of the good object of
the lotteries, the old evil seems to be gain
ing new life, and good men were fearing
that the sad effects from which society
suffered years ago would be repeated.
This matter was not an tissue" when these
men were elected, but can any man, who
has the good of society at heart, regret
that these men were there2 Temperance
was not an issue in the Presidential cleo.
ton, but do not doubt that all over the
land there is rejoicing that the Vice Presi-
dent is SO earnest and determined labor.
er in the cause of temperance.
Unless these things be desired it is not
absurd, as it is sometimes charged, to
bring these moral questions into political
contests.
In regard to the one question of tenn
perance, there is great awakening, which
is spreading itself over other countries as
well as this. So strong is the interest be-
coming that the people, who can give in.
fuence and power by the conferment Of
Office. are unwilling that it should go into
hands which will be sure to use it in op.
position to their most earnest hopes. Di-
rectly and indirectly the Office which they
confer bears upon the question of temper.