The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-10-07
WHOM RESPONslRLE.

tariII, HdtlOH'h Dank, tuc suU-tredSuiy
and kindred topics divided the voters
of the country into two great
parties, argument, and not clap trap, was
rcsorted to as means to convince the peO-
pie of the proprioty of the policy advocat-
ed by the one or the other. The old wing
party were wont to preface their declara-
ton of principles with the statement that
''now MS ever relying upon the intelli-
gence of the American people, with an
abiding confidence in their capacity for
government" etc, they confidently
appealed, etc. while the democratic party,
In the same strain, and to the same effect,
declared that they, ''plsced their trust in
the intelligence, the patriotism and the dis
eliminating justice of the American peo-
pie" Campaigns were conducted with the
idea that the people were Intelligent"
and if clap trap and parade was resorted to
at all, 1t was with the sole view of gather
ing the voters together 30 that facts might
be presented for their consideration, and
arguments addressed to their reason.
Newspapers were conducted in the same
manner. They We're used, not to deceive,
but to instruct and convince the reader.
Men of Discrimination and intelligence suf-
ficient to subscribe for and read news.
papers, are generally intelligent enough to
distinguish truth from falsehOod, and of
sufficient discrimination to detect the diff
ference between clap trap and argument,
and will not readily bic deceived by specious
attempts to lead them astrsy. 1t were bet.
ter that newspapers and politicians should
understand this aud act accordingly. For
the most part, newspapers, parties, and the
conventions of all political parties, are dis.
posed so to treat one of the great questions,
which now attracts the public attention,
and place the responsibility for the increase
of salary, with its retroactive clause, where
1t belongs. With possibly single excep-
ton, there is no political responsibility
far as particular party is concerned
about it. We shall refer to that exception
presently, and in the meanwhile, without
going into an analysis of the vote-as We
have, heretofore, published the name and
politics of every Senator and Representa-.
tive who voted for or against it, or who
WAS absent when the vote WAS taken-we
will say that the most casual or the most
careful, examination thereof will disclose
the fact that either party, republican or
democratic, by united action could have
defeated the measure.
Neither party, however, saw nit to make
party question of it on the floor of Con-
gress. Leading men of both parties ad-
vocated it, and leading men of both parties
resisted its passage. Yet VIC are gravely
told that at is the democratic party itself
:. which is responsible for the evils of a
" bill which they passed in the House of
9 Representatives in spite of republican
g majority of ten against 1t, and for which
g a majority of democratic representatives
I" in both houses of Congress voted" This
is all very true, but is there no "hypoc-
risy," or ''demagogism," or expectation to
'hoOdwink," in the statement so made ?
Why is the fact ignored, in this connec-
ton, that majority of the republican Sem
stors voted for the bill Why is the ex-
ception, to which we have referred, kept
entirely out of slght9 This exception was
brought out in the most pointed manner by
Charles w. Willard, our Representative in
Congress and a thoroughly honest and true
republican. We have published portions
Of his letter, and he places the RESPONSE
bility for the passage of the act where it
undoubtedly belongs, and he tells as but
for that influence the bill could not have
been passed. We hold that, In the proper
sense of the word, with this exception,
there is no responsibility on the part of any
political party, a. such, for this great
wrong. The responsibility for the wrong
doing is entirely personal one, and the in.
dignation and punishment of the people
should be visited on the guilty individuals.
If we are correct, and the fact and votes
show that we are, what is the duty OF
honest republicans, whether they are con.
structing a platform" or. conducting Q
newspaper Is it to attempt to deceive OF
''hoodwink" the peoplef The trouble with
such an attempt Is that they won't be de.
ceived or hoodwinked" The day has
long gone by for that. The people. as the
old platforms used TO say, are too intelligent
and discriminating. Shall we attempt te
make party question out of II. with the
expectation of reaping political capital
therefrom Neither, in our judgment,
will this course work, because its founda.
ton, as, also, It's certain failure, rsts upon
the same want of faith in the intelligence
of the people, and the responsibility being,
also, with all parties alike.