The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-10-13
Mliboleburp Rsgisttt.
Political Reform.


Han. New York, by James Parton. the |
eminent writer aud eloquent orator,
last Friday evening, he said "the recent |
tendency of our politics Is to put inferi- |
or men into high places, and that linen |
who bribe and men who are bribed |
talk about the matter without blush"
He instaic,d Tweed's election TO the
senate when virtually under indict
ment, Jay Gould's portrait ~ drawn by
himself, Genet's success in politics,
" hen it had become notorious that he
was dishonest.
These are good illustrations for
New York audience, but better exam
pies for Vermont readers will suggest
themselves to each one from the i'm.
mediate circle of his own observation.
Ii IL not difficult to find them in the
elections - ihe Legislature of Vermont
now in session. And perhaps the worst
feature of the case is IN the fact that
some really good men are led to resort
and as they doubtless honestly think,
10 "meet tho devil upon his own
ground" That is, they "do evil that
good may come" if we may use thco
logical phrase to explain n political
truth Now shalt we say that Mr.. Par
toms picture Of our "scandalous poll
tics" Is overdrawn If so, there is still
so much truth in his statements that
all good and honest men should seek
with their utmost endeavor to learn the
causes and find cure for them. Mr..
parton's remedy is in the increase OF
the salaries of our public servants and
intelligence as qualification for the
exercise of the suffrage franchise.
The latter point is evidently good
one. He we'll says exclude gross and
unteachable ignorance, and nothing
else 1t would keep out the class whose
votes a scoundrel can get Ivy lying and
buying. and an honest man cannot get
by telling them the truth. The COM
munity that places free school within
reach of every family has right to
demand n certain degree of knowledge
in voters. Ignorant suffrage is govern
ment by class and government by n
class has been tried and found want
ing. All the countries of the world
have tried ii with the uniform result OF
keeping the governing class barbarous
anu ruriuP, 49, s.l ,,o
pie ignorant and squalid. At last we
are trying it, New York and Phila-
delphln have been governed by the
criminal and gr0g-shop class. Behold
the same result The rulers debauched,
arrogant, corrupt, and the masses of
the people without even enough cub C
feet ofspace to admit the possibility f
of virtuous and decent living. To gov.
ern country well requires the loyal
cooperation of all the intelligence and
all the public spirit which it possesses"
With regard to the other suggestion
it is not so clear. If we increase the
salaries, there is more temptation to
geek office by INSCRIPTIONS men who
are ION the make" 1t may be desira-
BILE TO increase certain salaries for the
purpose of properly paying for the ser
vicea u-o rona;"o hut II - nvtrap,a ly
u"u"r iui hctnrr ~ 50 doing NO SHAH
thereby promote honesty and efficen-
ry in the public service. 1t must, Ger
tainly, lie the case 80 far rs relates to
The canvass and election to an office.
Mr.. ID. q. Croly some seven years
ago. developed an idea which is at least
worthy of consideration He SAYS our
present system for election leads to the
separation of the whole voting popula-
ton into two parties compelling forced
ana unnatural uniformity of view, in
tensifying partisan conflicts and Civ
ing undue power TO small minorities.
IL condemns to private life the best and
wlsest minds in the country, and gives
nearly all the prizes of high public sta
lion TO "availablcn mcdiocrities. Ii
fills our legislative halls with purchas-
able representatives, gives birth to the
caucus, the lobby, the ring, irresponsi-
hfe bodies yet powerful to control leg
islation, incitcs to demagoguism makes
the majority intolerant and tyrannical
and compels an unwholesome uniform
ity of views and actions when debate
and opposition are necdful to form
correct public sentiment. To remedy
these evils he suggests the adoption of
some method of minority representa-
tion-either Mr.. Hare's scheme, or the
cumulative voting method, or simplest
of all Mr.. Fields method which is that
every elector shall be allowed to vote
for one member and that every citizen
who received certain number of votes
should he returned as elected. This
method would at least have this adyan-
tage, that 1t would give all opinions
and interests of any moment, voice
In the legislative body, and give to
minoritics representation in proportion
10 their numbers and II might have
some effect TO break up political eau
cussing and nomination by primary
meetings, which are recognized as such
fruitful sources Of corruption and legls-
lative degradation 1t would also, il il
hoped, do away with the localization
of candidates.
If we might, by any method, secure
the filling of our responsible offices
with men who should care NOR, for
their reputation for integrity than for
the estimation in which they are held
by party managers, men of marked and
independent views instead Of trading
politicians and known corruptionlsts,
we should make essential progress to-
ward successful results in our expert
ment with a republican form of govern