The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-08-02

pcOplc' AL tic pcOpic uc, as VIC HuNt
frequently had occasion to say, substantially
of one accord upon every question of prin-
ciple or policy that has divided parties for
the past twenty years, and until new ques-
tons arise, as they will arise, party contests
are simply personal contests for office. The
ms against the outs, and the outs against
the ms, will not long interest the American
people, who little care whether this man or
that has a particular postofiice, or other
government appointment There is not
much in a name, and the principles that
particular parties shall, hereafter, honestly
avow and advocate will determine their
success or defeat.
The resolutions adopted by the Columbus
convention are not particularly noticeable,
but in two or three aspects. They declare
that both the republican and democratic
parties have outlived their usefulness and
the issues upon which they were founded
and condemn both for the salary increase
and their action in reference to Central
Pacific railroad declare for reduction of
government bureaus and officials, as pre-
tentative against fraud and corruption
oppose subsidies insist upon strict con-
struction of the constitution, honesty in
the administration of the government !;
favor free trade and demand the repeal of
all laws favoring capital at the expense
of labor" These declarations of principles
do not require particular comment, but
when they go on to declare that the election
of stakeholder or officer of national
bank to Congress lis national scandal
(which ought to be prevented by proper
legislation" they go too far. The same
principle, carried out, would render nearly
all of our citizens ineligible to office Con-
grcss is called on, to be sure, to lcgislatc in
reference to national banks, but so it is in
reference to WOOL hay, grain, iron, rail-
roads, cotton and almost every other con-
ceivable subject. One of the beauties of
the system of government under which we
live is that every man is a sovereign and
eligible to office, unless he is debarred by
crime. No man conld be elected to Con-
gress, or other office, that would not be in
terested, more or less, in the matters which
come up for legislation. If such man
could, by any possibility, be discovered, he
would be found totally unfit for any office.
The idea of DISTINGUISHING man-for de-
caring him to he ineligible to office amounts
to the same thing-because he has little
money to invest, and thinks share in a
national bank profitable investment,
seems to us preposterous. The same prin-
ciple would disfranchise every farmer who
was interested in wool growing. hay rails
ing or cheese making every merchant who
was an importer or sold imported goods /;
every marble dealer, and the followers of
almost every other pursuit, business or oc-
cupation, because, forsooth, they would be
interested in tariff legislation. These very
men, who passed the resolution and de-
mandcd free trade, would, also, be disfran-
chised, because they are interested in the
matter.
In addition to the resolutions mentioned,
the convention declared against the infal-
libility of party; that when caucus or con.
vention fails to present fit candidates for
office, it is the high privilege as well as the
bounden duty of all good citizens to with
hold their votes from such candidates, and,
regardless of such party affiliations, to sup
port the best men presented for official
places" This, certainly, is sensible, and
if it could be generally adopted and acted
upon, would purify our politics at once.
We never expect to see the day when there
will be no parties or the country will cease
to be governed and controlled to n certain
extent, by party action. 1t is possible, but
not probable, that some way may, ut some
time, be devised to procure an expression
of the popular will without party conven.
tons or parties. Parties are organized fol
success and desire success. If, however
the voters could believe and practice the
divine right of boiling and scratching,
parties would be careful whom they PLACED
upon their tickets. The party whip,
even now, does not have the power that il
possessed only a few years ago, and the
people are growing to fear it less and less
We believe that the only correct, safe, pat
riotic principle is enuncated in the rcsou
ton quoted, and that the day is near a
hand when it will be carried into action.
One word more and we are through. On,
of the resolutions declarcs-wc quote TIN
exact words-''that we believe that TIN
fundamental purposes of government is tn
protection of persons and property, and no
meddling with and regulating the bushes
or the conscience of its citizens, nor the as
sumption of such works by federal, stat
or municipal governments as may safel
and should properly be left to industrial
enterprise" Herein is expressed concise
commended. The gross evils under whc
the farmers of some portions of tho Yves
are confcssedly suffering cannot he rene
died by legislative or congressional med
ding, but must "bc left to industrial enter
prise The doctrine is sound and unques
, tionable, and shows keen appreciation @
, the situation by the convention and, ais
shows that this new party will start off
E 1t gets start-without the aid of tn
'farmers movement and may, in addition
be taken as another indication of til
chaotic nature of American politics.
n
: FIRE AT CLARRMoNT, N. H.-Fire VIZ
discovered in the atOrehouse belonging 10 Iii