Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-10-01
Political independence and Personal
Integrity.

nant parry when contest arises for the ascenden-
cy between its better and its worse elements. When
that time arrives IN the Republican RANKS ies US
who believe to be the party of the industry, intel
lgence and conscience of the country refuse. with
out resolute struggle at every point, to surrender
l. to the control which would drive from it those
who sincerely hold the principles upon which 1t was
founded"
The above extracts are from an article in
Hdrper's Weekly, evidently written by MIR.
George William Curtis. Mr.. Curtis is discuss
ing the right of members of convention and
members of party to bolt nomination
which is a victory of the worst elements OF
the party, and is one unfit to be made. The
Massachusetts, convention lately held. aud
the speech of Rev. James Freeman Clarke in
defence of the individual right Of every man
to bolt an unfit nomination. furnished the
text from which Mr.. Curtis writes. and he
defends fully the right of every man to follow
the principles of the Republican party and
support its best men 10 spite of temporary
successes of its corrupt elements in any con-
vention or caucus To ordinary minds this
position seems to be selt-evidently the true
one, and the only surprise any one should
nave at its utterance is that there should be
any need of its being announced. Yet there
has gradually and perhaps insensibly grown
kind of party tyranny which commands
the universal support by the party of any
candidate who has captured party conven-
ton or a caucus and this with very little
respect to the character of the candidate or
the means by which the nomination was
secured The Massachusetts, Convention
serves, therefore, undoubtedly good purpose
N sharply calling public attention to this
phase of modern politics. Mr.. Dawes, an
eminent Republican of Massachusetts,, while
lenouncing Gen. Batter as person every
way unfit to be governor of that State, said
hat, if he was nominated, it would be the
luty of the party to support him. What Il
his. but declaration that the candidate OF
convention is to be supported, however un-
worthy or unfit he may be?
There should be no need of argument to re-
ute the proposition so stated. Its evident
SO much at war with all honesty in poll
lies and in the administration of public af
airs, and 50 repugnant to the moral sense
If any one who has or uses moral sense in
politics, that it can and ought TO find no
avor; and, enunciated in that way no per-
son would sooner repudiate it and stamp it
With his indignant condemnation than Mr.
Dawes himself. He only meant by bis
statement, that Gen. Butler was not, after
all, SO thoroughly unfit as to justify boiling
IT refusal to vote for him; yet it is unfor-
innate that one 80 well known as Mr.. Dawes
should, even in a qualified way, seem to say
that any candidate of party convention ,
although unfit for the position to which be
was to be elected, ought to be voted for by
The whole party.
1t used to be said of the Democratic party
that its discipline was SO rigid and perfe ct
that the devil, if nominated, could command
the whole party vote; but this was not said
IN its praise, whether it had any true foun-
dation or not. The dominant party having
such discipline, rapidly draws to itself those
who make trade of politics and capture
conventions for what can be made out Of
'fice-holding and, as Mr.. Curtis says, they
soon force contest between themselves and
she honest men who bslieve that a party
aas higher purposes and grander opportuni-
ties than to fill the custom-houses and post
Ifices of the country with an army of train
ID and serviceable adherents, and to scatter
che special favors of administration where
they will do the most good" There may
time come when treason to ones country
$ duty to God; and there may time com.
when fidelity to party nominations is not
Dnly treason to the country which demands
The constant and most honest service of every
citizen, but wound to that better self in
every man which is stained and dishonored
by obedience to any command but that OF
the purest honesty, the dearest justice, the
pla inest moral sense.
A majority cannot make wrong right any
more than Pope can. by declaring what Ii
truth and what is error. Superior to all dec
iarations Of parties or conventions or Con
crosses or Presidents rises the right of private
Judgment, the voice of conscience, the duty
to be true to that nobler self which is never
sllenced in any one until the man himself re-
uses to listen to its voice. Rev. Mr.. Lord
preached a discourse last Sabbath morning
at Bethany Church on personal integrity
and some sentences from the sermon are s.
| iorcible and SO pertinent to this discussion
chat with his permission they are given be-
| Ow:
1t is especially true in spir itua things that other
| men cheat US out of ourselves and divorce from
women IN country like this, who would not bt
honest Christians if they acted truly with them
selves, if fatal public sentiment did not take then
pure minds out of them, and bind them over to it,
own law. And 1t is SO in morals quie as much :
IN religion Men submit their sense of right and
justice to arbitration of others. They adopt the
| common standards of honesty and truth. =
Men excuse themselves in corruption and dis
nancia world is Largely reared on the basis Of com
mercia trickery, on the robbery of the poor to en-
rich he rich on the Misrepresentation of the value
of securities that huge Ope ators wish force int
the reluctant pockets of an easily deuded people,
and custom justifes the process by which mem.
houses are built in the blood OF their fellows Onc,
IN awhile God breathes on such fraud and the Who'll,
pile OF unrighteous speculation falls into iuIns IL
the twinkling of an eye anu when it fails its build
ers perish, but men in general breathe easier ant
| more freely for the rnln.
| And sometimes public law runs off with all indi
vidual morality. The jealous man, the selfish ed
ltor, the public declaimer or orator never ask
what is right and true and just and manly but how
far can go in catering 10 vltiated public tast,
and not be caught by the sheriff and forfeit my nam,
| or my goods TOR SANDER. Of what avail u
it for us to get money by robbery or by fasehood
| or by feeding a foul public taste? Justice make.
N 10 and f,rif ..ll II
It's wages out of our hearts and spirits and souls
How base is a mans responsibility when he ha
| lost his own self-respect How mean Is men,
praise when the wrath OF God is ringing in his ears
How foolish is official favor in state or church wher
a man has quIL his righteousness, his fidelity h
himself and his God. How mean is that man VIII,
mas turned his own soul ont OF doors to bring in
swine taten on the fruits of his garden and eat al
the virtues Of his soul. see him in hi. VINE cup
the victim Of passions and appetltes that wal
against the soul. see him in his riches the slay
OF covetousness. see him in the assemblies OF hi
fellows cringng for the favor which is his breath o
| lie, the mere tool of those who feed him.