Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-12-25

people. He made an earnest canvass,
and under his leadership. "a triumph was
secured for the opposition to the Pacific
railroad The contest was purely local.
1t was not a party contest neither par
ty assumed the defense of the railroad,
and the assault upon it was led by Booth,
and his following come from both par
ties. Without single national issue be
ing made in the campaign, the battle
eliminated in the election of Booth, to
the United States Senate for six years
from the 4th of March, 1875. The
Democrats and Liberals deserted their
own standards and voted almost solidly
with part of the Republicans for
Booth, and elected him; and now the
country, from Maine to Texas, is reson-
ant with Democratic cheers over the
election of Booth and the success of the
holy war against the Pacific railroads
political power in California.
A party cannot be formed upon any
single idea. The operations of the gov
eminent are intricate and extended, and
a great party to be successful must have
foundation as deep and extended as
the functions of the government itself,
and policy that is SO comprehensive
that the great purposes that must be
acted upon by the political legislative
or executive power, will be fully settled
and defined in the party platforms. The
people of California made fight upon a
single idea and triumphed, and good
Republican is elected to the Senate but
before he can take his seat the issue
upon which he was elected will have
passed away forever, or if not greatly
curtailed the power of the Pacific rail-
road can receive, but very limited at
tention from Mr.. Senator Booth, and he
will give his opposition to that scheme
as a mere incident of his legislative du-
ties, and will act with its opponents
whether Republicans or Democrats ;
but when party questions come up and
the division is made upon party issues,
Senator Booth will act theoretically and
promptly with the Republicans, and his
Democratic constituents will rejoice the
same as those of Senator Ferry, in glum
murmurings of dissatisfaction.
Republicans always rejoice when able
and honest men of their own party are
chosen to positions of trust and respon-
sibility, because they know the duties OF
the place will be faithfully discharged.
Every one of these local contests in
which, for season, party lines seem to
be obliterated, must result in the end to
the advantage of one or the other and
we earnestly recommend to the Repub-
licans that they be ever watchful against
being led into the support of an oppon-
ent to every political principle they hold
dear, as necessary element to the high
est prosperity of the government and
the people, that they may win a victory
in some local and Indifferent contest. II
a party is worth sustaining in your esti,
nation, and its principles are sound, it is
worthy of support all the time. If, or
the other hand, the party to which 6
person belongs has no vitality and he
does not fully endorse its fundamental
principles, honesty and self-respect re-
quire that be should abandon it and seek
political utilization with those that his
judgment approve and that he can sup
port. Independence is commendable,
but above all honesty and frankness are
desirable in politics as well as in bust
ness intercourse.