Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-11-08
Watphman Sc Journal.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER $, ISL
TERss-t2.OO per year, strictly 10 advance or $3.50
ifnot paid within three months.
Tanlnlany.

/ day. The result Is not yet known Inc cam
yass, however, has shown how extremely diff.
foult it is for the people to bring their ideas
to bear directly against admitted and mon
strous corruptons, under our form Of govern
mont. The system Of rings, and caucuses, and
conventions, and leagues, has become so
wrought Into our political life, that it is well
nigh impossible for the people to express their
own decisive voice on any question Of reform,
or politics. The people are caught in the
meshes Of the politicians, and bound with
the withes Of traders and hucksicrs and
thieves 10 this country our party bonds
are altogether too strong, and public opinion
assails in an unwarrantabIc manner any who
break away from party dictation. Hence it
is within the power oc very few able and
Inscriptions men acting together, to get con-
troll Of party and run it in their own utter.
ests. The private members are so indoctrin-
ated with the party spirit and ideas, that they
would regard themselves as wanting in pat
riotism, if they should leave their associates.
They would be scourgcd too, as soldiers
who quit their colors, and be published as
dishonorablo and disgraced all over the
land Few mcn care to run the gaunt.
let of party opinion, and subject them.
selves to the merciless lash Of party disci-
pine They would rather wink at cor
ruptou--submit to measures they dsapprove,
and endorse principles they condemn, than do
it. OF two evils they choose the least. The
average eector does not wish to subject him
self to contumely for any ordinary reason.
The average politician would rather acquiesce
in what he deems wrong, than break with his
party. lie prefers devil he knows, to u
devil he don't know. Nothing then but the
direst exigency is sufficient to overcome the
tyranny of party ideas
The enormous robberics and corruptions
of Tammany leaders in New York have not
been sufficient TO arouse public indignation
sufficiently to destroy party lines. The re-
form party has not commanded all the votes
it ought to have, that even sympathize with
its objects A large portion Of the Repub.
leans have refused to give it their adhesion,
because another portion of the party did, and
their vote has been thrown in the interest of
the corruptionsts aud Tammany is by no
means disorganized 1t still sways trc-
mendous influence and an immense vote Its
wonted fires still live in its ashes aud exposure
and defeat are only temporary. Tammany
was originally a benevolent organization. In
the early part of its history it had in its
ranks some of the most eminent and honorable
names in the history Of New York 1t was
at length swept off into politics aud became
the imperium of the democratic party. ltI
had immense wealth, great moral and intel
lectual resources, large social influence among
its members. 1t of course soon cxerted an
overshadowing influence in shaping the pol
itcs of the Empire State The possession of
political power seems to gender INSCRIPTIONS
ness aud corruption 1t is the law Of history,
the world over, that large power begets large
corruption, and Tammany was no exception
to the law. Gradually the best men Of the
party worked out of the organization, and the
worst men became its sachcms and leaders,
the men who could control the foreign vote
and secure the elections \ few years ago
the fagitious character Of Tammany created
an instruction in the democratic party, and
the rebels formed at Mozart Hall and elected
Fernando Wood Mayor Of the city, But
this instruction was soon suppressed, and
Tammauy became more powerful than ever
aud more reckless and fagitious. Its
long series of crimes have now eliminated
in the most astounding robbery Of the pub.
lie treasury known to the annals Of the world.
The committee of seventy place its pillage
Of public funds in the two years and a-hall
just past, at twenty millions of dollars. This
large sum they can trace, but who can tell
how many score of millions have been stolen
of which there is no trace For while the
thieves, with the exception Of Tweed and
Sweeny, bow their heads to the storm. But
the political organization which has made
such frauds possible, stands as calm and def.
ant as ever Its political power is felt to the
last district in the State, and it dictates nomi-
nations even in the Republican party and no
one can tell till the Legislature meets who
ar IA frt.n1o and uhn 10 (,as
will be many members in the Legislature
open enemies to Tammany, but yet its secret
friends Democrats, republicans, relormers
even, elected to overthrow it, will quietly aud
obliquely favor it. The judges aud lawyers
who are now issuing injunctions and holding
briefs against Tammany, are its real adhe-
rents and supporters. They may be willing
to rid New York of Tweed and Connolly aud
Sweeny, but they are not willing to rid it Of
Tammany; and we venture the assertion that
whatever the result of the election, Tammany
will lose nothing more than its chief sachem,
and will be ready for its work again as soon
as the storm blows over.
There is no rejecting man who does not
see in these abnormal political organizations,
working within the great parties Of the coun-
try, and controlling their action, and in the
blind partsanship of our people, the worst
and most dangerous foe to republican In
stitutions and popular freedom. Tammany,
though the tallest, is not the only political
ring whose existence is ominous to the wei.
fare Of the country. The fact that in our
republican soil such noxious and baneinl or
CARNATIONS can grow with such uxuriance
is most prophetic of future danger.
What We want in this country is freedom
from the domination and dictation Of political
, rings and parties. We, the people, want the
privilege to determine the character of our
institutions, and to elect such men to office as
, we think fit aud worthy to wear its honors and
meet its duties We do not want few mar.