Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-07-01
For the Freeman.
The Transition Stage of Politics.
Mr.. EDIToR:--In Sociology we ;

The Transition Stage of Politics.
Mr.. EDIToR:--In Sociology we are
taught that society passes from the barbaric
state to civilization by the process of evo-
luton. What has gone before makes it
possible to reveal that type of manhood
which every new era brings out. 1t fur
Their teaches that our rulers and represent
ative men will very nearly, as Il rule, eX-
press the average quality of character in
the citizen. If the people are wanting in
virtue and intelli 2ence, they are very apt
to find the same qualificative values to rep
resent them in the current action that
speaks for them. Even high minded and
virtuous persons are apt to be warped by
a vulgar constituency to loose character,
when those they represent are wanting in
character Such are the teachings of soci-
ology, and such are the aggregate facts
from which is generalized the truth that n
people will choose n man to represent the
majority of minds in a country like our
own.
Judged by this standard, Vermont is a
state that may well be proud of her record.
OF Mr.. Morrill,, who has obtained a country
wide popularity for acuteness Of observa-
ton and a brilliant power to generalize
facts, we have also the universal verdict of
the nation that he has no price. that honor
is the first and the last test applied to any
act, public or private. Nor have we less
to say of Mr. Willard, member of the first
district in the House Indeed, Vermont
may well be proud of her entire delega-
ton. And judged herself by the standards
she has made in her representatives and
senators, will she suffer by comparison
with her sister states? But it was not for
self laudation that we began this article.
1t was to stir up the freemen of Vermont
to hold staunch and firm to a policy which
has reflected such honor to the common
wealth
Send your best men and your strong
men to Congress. Place only the first cit
liens at posts where your honor and your
intelligence are to be represented and gagged
And be slow in removing n man whose
ripe experience, added to culture, honesty
and morality, serves to make an eminent
fitness. Experience is power influence a
part of capacity.
Moreover, are we not passing through a
transition period in our politics? Are we
not, in such men as Mr.. Morrill, and Mr..
Willard, finding breakwater bulwarks to
check the materialism, selfishness and low
personalism which has so largely figured
in our politics for the last decade
this egoism which makes self every
thing and country nothing? If we are to
have better administration of affairs in
the country. we must keep strong men and
good men in places where their influence
can be felt. Mr.. Willard has not hesitat-
ed to speak where wrong revealed itself.
in high or low places. He may not have
been an ultra-partisan man, indeed to be a
statesman he ought not to be, but he has
been cosmopolitan. He has been II true
representative VI Ills tOllStiLlcHtS. he lbs
been man of eminent sagacity and trans
cendent ability. A man respected, loved
and trusted.
Can the first district afford to lose him
Can the state? Can the nation? There
are quite too few men of Mr.. Wizards
eminent traits of character in Congress to
have it judicious and wise, in our opinion
to have Mr.. Willard retired to private life
No new man. even if he could bring to
his work equal ability and moral worth
could for one term at least have anything
| like Mr.. Wizards influence in our nation
al affairs.
Other men there are who could make
the average representative, who would
serve the state with honor. But is there
not a pressing need of prominent men al
this time in our national councils? We
think so. We hope we see signs of the
ship of state coming to better moorings
tide in national affairs where honesty
integrity and virtue are to direct. Few
men have done more to inaugurate the
new tide-drift. Keep him where he car
cooperate with men of like character anC
wisdom. B.