Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-07-29
Mr.. Wizards Remarks.

us might please him:
o Mr. Willard said he gladly took the op
portunity of returning his thanks to the re
publicans of Washington County for theil
expressions of confidence in him. From
e the time when, in 1861 they chose hin
without his knowledge us a candidate fol-
state senator, this confidence had been sc
expressed that it commanded him to per,
form his public duties with the gravest anc
most serious concern. After six years OF
service he found them still ready to declare
that confidence. His duties he had tried
to perform with faithfulness and consclen-
tiousness, and it was gratifying to know
that, while there were those who presented
other names for the office which he held
they presented them on the ground of ro-
tation or locality and not claiming that his
service had been unsatisfactory. Whether
more of public life was before him or not
the actions of those whom he addressed
had shown they trusted him, and his only
regret would be that he had not by more
able service made to them a better return.
There was no need of Il political speech
: in Vermont No state in the Union Is so
little bothered with politics as our own.
The people are mainly of one accord
Nearly all are agreed that there should
be reasonable protective tariff; there Is
no difference ofopnion as to the currency,
democrats and republicans here thinking
alike, though this is to be one of the serious
questions of the future. So, too, the Caugil-
nawaga canal is favored by both parties.
Possibly the question of prohibition is OF
party significance in Vermont. The pro-
hibitory law was put on the statute book
by the wing party and has been kept there
by the republican party. If either party
stands committed to it it is the republican.
But probably there can be no serious pur-
pose after these years to overturn 1t. Ger
tainly the republican party will stand by
it.
There are some questions left over by
the rebellion. A part of the results OF the
war have been embodied in the constltr-
ton. Other results are but temporarily
settled; all such Us Legislation can affect.
These latter must always be open ques-
tons, like the tariff or the currency. And
the republicans are right in saying that
this being 50, the government should re-
main in the hands of those who are
friendly to the new principles. With
in the republican party are contained the
men who. deep down in their hearts, be-
lieve in these principles. There are others
ed it as camp-folowers, who seek only
their own profit But the fact remains
that ninety-nine hundredths of the men
who believe in the new principles put in
the constitution. are now found in the re-
publican organization.
/ The speaker said he had been ready to
denounce corruptions that hid under the
shadow of the republican name. The
criticism of Il friend is not only honest but
i often serviceable Such critici Sm an hon
est republican makes because of his wish
for Il good future for his party, for there is
need that the party-as rcPrcSeRttttre OF
| iHcipic-should remain Il strong, active,
working power. There are two classes of
j politicians One class looks wholly to
! success and seeks after make-shfts to secure
control of government and thus benefit
individuals 10y the "spOils." Both parties
have men who belong to them solely for
the purposes of gain. Such men are often
active in party organization, and it is when
they obtain control that party drill be
comes irving.
is often said the convention has been
fairly conducted nobody can bolt" There
is n force in this for there are almost al
ways differing interests, and men 90 into
n convention to adjust their differences to
agree 50 much force Is there in this that
honest men 90 to the polls and vote a
ticket that is very unsatisfactory to them
frequently When corrupt men get the
machinery a crisis comes.
In old times. when editing the FREEMAN
he used to criticize the people as we'll n
their officers. The representatives, are on
. IN average "A fair representation of the
people. They rise no higher because tho
people do not demand that they should
When corrupt mon Get into office it i be
l cause there are corrupt men enough t.
: elect them or because honest man allow
themselves to sleep away their opportuni-
w. The remedy for evil in the republi-
can panty Is not to bolt except in extreme
t cases The right and available remedy i
/ to attend tie n0Hllf1atiHg conrcntj0ns. The
September vote only registers the nominal
tions made at these conventions. After
the horse is stolen there are enough to say
/ the door should hive been locked. What
E, is wanting for honest government is the
sagacitv to see that the nuchinCrV of the
q party is kept guarded rs carefully rs the
ballot box is guarded That is the RENE
| DIV for corruption. We may cure disease
G but the best way is to lead such a life that
! distempcrs will not come in. Maintain
the party organization so it shall need Ne
bolt. This requires not only intelligence
: but also watchfulness, and sometimes fear
e le>sness and independence. These las
YOU demand in your representatives ant
should use them yourselves; the example
will not be lost. There is too much com
| placency and good nature all the way
through politics. Remember that vor
look wei to the beginnings of things; anC
l the caucus is the beginning of he election
0 and So practically shapes the government
Mr.. Willard said that he considered civi
f service reform as fully as likely to benefi
the legislative branch Of government a:
the executive department. 1t is very prob
t able that we could by it secure better
/ clerks or other officers to which it NIGH
be applied than the system of politca
favoritism affords. But more than this, i
! would leave the legislators of the nation
e more ut liberty to attend to the work o
t giving well considered laws to the country
and members of Congress would be judget
according to their real value as legislator:
instead of by their success or failure in tn,
e disposal of their patronage" Any sys-
TEN that takes away the patronage bust
> ness will make change for the better il
: our congresses Whether this takes place
e by establishing competitive examinations
I or other means-say in the case of post
f masters, an election by direct vote of the
peoples not of so much Importance as i
to get system which shall not be ;
distribution of spoils = and shall leave
I our representatives, to be judged by the
= legitimate work which they do.
The tendency is nowadays toward cen
tralization. The Washington government
draws to itself powers, some of which be
: long properly enough to it, while Others
would he far better exercised by the states
The smaller states have more reason t.
: fear this centralizing process than the
7 larger ones,as their representatives are les.
2 in number. To guard against nationa
Legislation upon subjects better dealt witt
by state legislation and enterprise, and t.
have due influence in such national legis
5 lation as is right and proper, the smaller