Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-06-19
HE RUTLAND HERALD.
THE CONVENTION VENT.

THE CONVENTION VENT.
The average American takes as natiF-
ally to talking as the duck does to water.
Once in four years, in the nation, and
oftener in home affairs, it finds vent in
our political and local scrables for of
fee One might naturally suppose that
these occasions were frequent enough to
satisfy the most ambitious aspirant after
oratorical fame. To go step higher
or lower-the halls of the national and
State Legislatures furnish an ample field
for these rhetorical displays, and nearly
every bill or resolution is made the text
for wonderful flights of eloquence and,
extraordinary displays of learning. In
the political campaign the "'oratoE OF the
day. has the opportunity of gratifying
his ambition for making display and
speech, and, at the same time, pocketing
the "almigaty dollar" A prominent
advocate of economy, retrenchment and
reform, in the campaigns of 1868 and
1872, would not advocate his principles,
unless he WIS assured the reasonable and
econopn. zeal remuneration of two hun
dTe,d dollars and his expenses for every
speech. In the Legislature and Con-
gress, speeches are made at a cost to the
State or nation of from five hundred to
five thousand dollars each. They gOson
the principle that as the people pay for
their speeches, they should have the
privilege of hearing or, at least, of read
ing them. The greater proportion of
the people, who are not speech makers,
are ready and. willing listeners. They
cannot. get enough of this kind of in
struction, but are always prepared to in
vite their fellow citizens, of more or
less note, to address them, pay for the
privilege of listening, and applaud, to.
the echo, the sense or nonsense which. is
uttered for their enlightenment. T. ais is
all we'll enough, as with the bus' .lels of
chaff grain of wheat is Sometimes
found, but it has led to anotf Ier custom,
which, while affording suitable oppor-
tunities for the outpouring of sur
charged stream of words, yet accom-
plishes nothing.
''The right of t. 20 people to peaceably
assemble having been guaranteed, we
act as if 4 was a, necessity for US to ex-
ercis.< that right. Hence, conventions
without number, called by every con
ceiyable name, and for the consideration
of every possible topic, assemble, talk,
resolve and adjourn. First, we have q
congressional convention, with hardly
a member of Congress present, assem-.
bling at st. Louis. The Governor of
Missouri, the Mayor of ST. Louis, and
sundry politicians, have the golden OPP
portunity of talking upon matters for
eign or germane to the protested object
of the assemblage, the delegates are
banquetted and taken on excursions,
"glittering generalities, are announced
in the form of resolves, and the farce
is over without the first suggestion OF
anything practical. Then the '"conven-
ton of Governors, "ifrom MirteeniStates,
with three Aundred delegates assemblies
at Atlanta. 1t might puzzle an outsider
to discover how there could be three
hundred Governors from thirteen States,
but such a query would suggest lament
able ignorance of our convention system,
and the pecularities and wants of the
American people. These Governors
enacted the same comedy as did their
congressional" brothers, had a good
time, made ''big talk, obtained noto-
riety and accomplished all that was ex-
po.tou VI t1IonI--wnlCn was nothmg.
Illinois comes in with her FARMERS
convention" in which the farmers were
few and far between, but the name was
enough for its manipulators. Craig rode
into q iudgeship on the hobby the wires
being pulled and the curtains moved by
disreputable politicians and demogogues,
while the farmers themselves quietly
voted for the man who was said to be
opposed to their interests. And ROW a
Territorial convention" IS called, to be
composed of delegates from the States
and Territories interested in irrigation.
What's in a name, however? If men
thinks it dignifies them to assume the
name of Governors, congressman, farm
ers, etc, it does no particular,harm, while
it gratifies foolish vanity, affords q
convenient vent for pent up oratory, ant
ends in smoke. If our "rising men
must talk, it is better that it be done al
their own expense, rather than at thai
of the people. Keep up the convention
system then. 1t pleases the unfledgeC
orator, and keeps the other participants
out of mischief Nothing is accom-
plished, but the amusement is harmless,
and saves the rest of the people from al
undue amount of buncombe.