Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-01-12
WgIrrEs FOR THE VERMONT PuGNIx.
THE F'ERILS or THE FUTURE.

AS each succeeding presidential election
approaches, the incentives to party ascend
cncy, to bribery and corruption amongst
professional politicians, will rapidly at
emulate.
The coming year is destined to be fraught
with more than ordinary interest to
the future Of this national republic. We,
as Americans are not entirely free from the
danger of the corrupting influences of
wealth and aristocratic power that stands
waiting for protence to grasp at national
rule. We have not less to fear from I'M
scrupulous and time-serving politicians,
and the all grasping avarice of to day in
our own country, than had other nations
that have already fallen over the verge of
ruin, by their own internal corruption
People may natter themselves that we have
nothing to fear, separated as we are, from
the influence of all tyrranical government,
with own ideas of popular sovereignty, and
almost universally opposed to anything
not republican in form, with deep rooted
principles of equality, and an inherent love
of freedom of thought and action. But in
ages past aspiring and unprincipled men
disement, and effect their own popularity
and power, would not hesitate to rob the
government, plumber its treasury, and
usurp the rights and power of the people,
Nor are we free from internal feuds that
have torn and distracted many of the ma
tons that have gone before us, as the late
bloody struggle through which this nation
has lately passed conclusively proves.
Before Louis Napoleon, France had risen
in the scale of republics, and was Boosting
of n sure foundation and an example for
nations 10 follow, but how soon, by cum
ming bribery and lawlcss plumber, did the
usurper possess himself of the throne, des-
troy her legislators, exile her best citizens,
and shacke the liberties of the people.
Rome thought once to be above all danger,
and deGantly boosted of her power; yet
she was not proof against her own Caesars.
Her boosted republic with its millions,
her orators and statesmen, could not save
her from usurpation ana plInder by her
venal politicians sud corrupted rulers she
went down unGer the weight Of her own
iniquity. While she pr ctiNed honesty,
and made truth and Justice her guide, she
when her .ullic rflirc"4 rcs,ttcd to brib-
cry, and could tiHn le unier foot laws
passed expressly To- forbid and punish it,
when her vcnal N,crs found their fran
chse To be Il profitable trade aud the peo-
pic were plundered for the sake of giving
her mcrccnary agents money 10 be distri-
lutod amongst the ruling dynasty, she, of
course rapidly degencrated, her moral con-
dition became desperate, and anarchy and
misru'e quickly effected her ruin. Have
these historic political corruptons no par
allcl in oar own country? Is not the traffic
in the electoral franchise matter of COM
mon occurrence. and public Offices a mat
ter Of bargain and sale in our own govern
mentY Like eau es produce like effects in
every age; and unless we heed the warn
ing Of the past, and work speedy reform,
a few more decades will witness the sad
spectacle Of a great American republic
sinking to final ruin by its own internal
wrongs. One of our greatest statesmen has
said External vigilance is the price of lib
erty," and if We do not take special care to
guard and protect the liberties of the rank
and file of this great and growing nation,
its final ruin is approximately near. The
producing classes that once formed the
bulk of this nation are proportonately de-
creasing, and the great effort of vast ma
jority, to day, is TO live on the production
of others. This class forms the ruling
power in almost every locality, and shapes
the course of our national policy. Let the