Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-10-02
THE SPIRIT OF REFORM.

1t has been truly said that power corrupts
men. When a man has acquired power
and influence he finds himself assailed by
countless temptations to make a wrong use
Of that power-temptatiou which he would
never have thought of had they not been
pressed upon him by the force of circum-
stances in his new position. Tho poor man
thinks if he we're rich he would not be ava
rcious, but as he acquires wealth the more
he gets the more he wants, aud he finds him
self looking at things from an entirely new
standpoint. The politician thinks if he can
only obtain the coveted office he will we'll
and faithfully discharge its duties, but when
the position is once attained he cannot look
upon things from the same standpoint he
did before; things which before looked like
heinous offenses in others, when brought
home to him in his official capacity are at
the worst slightly irregular, aud Re does
that HIMSELF and winks at it in his col
leagues, which when private citizen he
was the loudest to condemn.
This rule, that the possession of power
demoralizes man, is equally applicable to
party. As one party becomes corrupt it
becomes less popular until at last it is over
thrown By the people and another takes the
ascendcncy This new party comes freshly
from the people, and is at first comparative
ly pure, but as its members gradually be-
come corrupted, the purity of the party d.
minshes Not only this, which is bad
enough, but the scum Of the party Just dis.
placed, the greedy vampires who have been
attracted to the dominant party by their
lust for public plumber, as soon as they see
the balance of power in the hands of another
party shift their colors and flock into the
new party, filling its ranks with already de.
veloped corruption, and thereby Fastening
the downfall in turn of this party.
The glory of republican form of gov
eminent is the power in the hands of the
people, whose every interest is in favor of
purity in public officers, to put down cor
rupt man or a corrupt party and give the
power to better. This has been done more
than once in our history, and "history re-
peats itself"
In 1860 the party in power had become
so far divided in sympathy from the people
that the majority of the people decreed its
retirement from the ruling power in our ma
tional councils Immediately the worst
elements Of the democratic party enrolled
themselves under the republican banner
men whose only aim was Office and fame,
men who were in hopes Of receiving the
loaves and fishes of official patronage public
thieves who saw no further chance for plum
der except by change of base, Aocked into
the party. The circumstances connected
with the war afforded rich field for thiev
cry and fraud. and it was well improved
The amount of official jobbery which has
been carried on is almost incredible Rail-
road grabs, customs grabs, District of Co
lumbia grabs, congressional salary grabs, &c.
have increased until more of the national
revenue goes to fatten thieves and grabber'
than is employed in reducing the govern
mcnt debt, and preparing the way for plac
ing the currency and the business Of thC
country again on safe basis.
The people see these things. They Sc,
democrats and republicans clasping hand
and sharing their ll-gotten plumber, anC
slowly yet as surely as time rolls arounc
they are losing faith in the parties and theil
leaders, and spirit Of progress and reform
is growing until it has already assumed sucl
proportions that the political leaders stanC
aghast at the prospect
The "tdal wave" which met with such
ridicule in 1872 because of doubtful leader
ship has assumed proportions which com
mand respect from those who then laugheC
at it in scorn. In the West whole state
have already been carried by the "rciorn
party" "larmers movement" "grang
party" or independents" as it is called il
different places, and even Vermont, 18th
northern bulwark of the republican party,
has just administered fitting rebuke to tn
arrogance Of the party leaders who assumed
by cral.ily carrying caucuscs and conveu
tions to dictate to the people whom the
should elect The people walked up to tn
polls and voted independently, thus settin
an example which is not lost on Vernon
voters, and which is felt and echoed bac
from all parts of the Union. In the tent
congressional district of Massachusetts
candidate is in the field, with nominatio
from an Independent convention, aud with
fair chance of carrying the day over eIthC
Or both of the parties, if they dare to com
in the way.
On the whole, we cannot but look at III
political prospect with hope believing th'
the day of strict party fealty is passin
away. And to the farmer, with his homC
spun coat and sun-browned skin, and h