The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-08-08
Che Rutlana daily Glcht.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 1878.
NOT MUCH OF AN corr YEAR"

NOT MUCH OF AN "OFF YEAR"
The expression that this is an =" off year
in politics has been so often used that 1t
has become stale and trite. Not only is it
stale and trte but, as events have shaped
themselves, 1t is anything but true In our
political annals, during the year after
presidential eection-especially when the
contest has been bitter, protractcd and ex-
politicians and parties, worn out
with the exhaustive labors of the previous
campaign, have been content to let matters
take their own course. without much at
tempt to manage or shape them' Inc
masses of the people, wearied and dis
pusted with the ordinations and re-crlmna-
lions. charges and counter charges, per-
sonalities and scandal of the immediate
INST have been, in the main, quiet lockers
on. casting their votes-if, perchance, they
approached the ballot box mt all-without
much regard to party or politics, willing,
if not DESTROYS. that the best man might
win, whether he was of their political faith
or not. We would that people would
always act the same way, in part at least.
Not that they should watch the approach
of an election with Indifference not that
they should neglect to attend the polling
places, and deposit their ballots but rather
that they should always, at all times and
under all circumstances, have waichiul
care over political conventions, control, as
far as possible, the declaration of princi-
pies and nominations made deem ii sacred
duty-and act as if they so beleved-vote.
and vote for the best men regardless of
party utilization Another reason why this
has been called an "ofr year is because
there are no members of Congress to elect
and, therefore, the elections had no ma
tional or political significance. q
With the exception of New Hampshire
and Connecticut, there have been no mem
bers of Congress chosen, and in these state
elections politics did not enter much into
consideration. New Hampshire elected al
of her officers by small majorities, while in
Connecticut the vote on congressman
showed a republican majority and the dem
ocratic Governor had corresponding naa-
jority. "Honest Joe lIawley" received
even larger majority for Congress than he
received at the presidential election, when
politicians and parties are expected. and
fulfil the expectation, to ''do their biggest.
Neither were the legislatures of these states.
or of any other, to he called upon to elect
United States Senator'S and SO all these
elections went on without much regard to
politics, and every newspaper in the land
was talking about this being the ''olf year in
politics" If the ''era of good feeing"-,s
it is generally understood not actually
come, we were congratulating ourselves
that an ''cra of don't care much" was at
hand, even if it was only for year We
were reckoning, however, without our host.
New Hampshire and Connecticut marched
up to the ballot box altogether too early.
The Credit Moblier disclosures, the acoRt
courier of agitation, had not yet broken
forth with their whole force upon the
country. To he sure, the investigation
had been concluded and the report had
been presented to startled country. 1t
had come too sudden, however, to produce
any appreciable effect. The downfall of
Cofax, a Brooks and Patterson could not
be understood in moment. The con-
viction of the reality thereof came, when il
did come and was realized, like a sudden
blow, and produced the same result. The
people were stunned; they knew not which
way to turn their faith was, for Il moment.
staggered. and they moved on in the old
ruts, paying no particular attention to
affairs Of state, and the old rule seemed to
be again proving true that ii was all "oif
year in politics"
In Il moment, in Il twinkling of an eye,
as 1t were, the whole scene changes, and
the political sea is agitated by winds, at
first light and gentle then becoming tfnl
hut fierce squalls and, at last, turning into
what may prove-a turbulent tempest
Instead of an "off year" politics is shap-
ing itself, unlike in any corresponding year
of the past, for the future. Ohio is stirred
IN, a. ii never WAS before, and the people,
thank God, are taking their places at the
helm The republican party is endeavoi
inI to shake off the barnacles, that always
gather ',n Il grand old ship, which has
made 80 many and long voyagca, and
that tcnl to hinder its progress and, in II
,ne ,snre, impair its usefulness. The dem
ucratic party have announced NJ a battle
cry, that the old hag" meaning the dem
ocr,,c pirty-'des but never surlcnders. -
II would puzzle any statesman, less eXpc.
Jt, al IL d.
wherein was the necessity of II surrender
after death, but we give up the problem,
being like the proposition, II free people
purchasing peace al any price beyond
our comprehension. We leave the prob
len to the soldiers now here assembled,
and, awaiting their decision. we pass on.
A new party, IA yet sine nOn,ine, has there
entered the canvass, thrown their banner
to the breeze, and placed thereon some
never dying principles The farmers OF
the west have, Also entered vigorously into
the field and propose to contest for the sl-
premacy, some in one way and some in
another. Virginia follows in the footsteps
of her sister states, and, in Il triangular
contest, proposes to Guido the heat of the
weather by the warmth of discussion.
In Massachusetts, too, the notes of pre-
paration have been thus early sounded, ant
the republican party have their armor on
all bright and FURNISHED, for the Inevitable
contest. The contest, however, will b'
within the party itself The strife will b'
between all that is good, and pure, ant
honest, and of good report, on the ont
side; and selfishness, and greed, and per
sonal ends and petty ambition on the
other. Benjamin F. Butler, twice "bot
fladn h.r ktIonnnf Lao 10