Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-08-07
THERE IS NEEp OF REFORM.

We trust the workingmen and taxpayers
Of this district are sufficiently awake TO the
demands Of their interests 80 that there will
be good representation Of them at the eau.
cuses tomorrow. Could the mass Of the
people be induced 10 come out and attend
these meetings We should soc Col. Mead
the farmer, the legislator, the strongest
temperance man in the state, the man who
considers that he can afford, for concience'
sake to espOuse an unpopular cause because
he believes il right, the man against whose
integrity breath Of suspicion never was
uttered nominated by an overwhelming
majority. We are not without hope that
this may be so. Indications of late, all
over the country, show that the masses are
more than commonly alive to the fact that
they have a right to a voice in the selection
Of their legislators. Salary-grabbers, cred
il Mobilier offenders, railroad corruption.
lists, and political hacks who have hereto
fore succeeded by the use and promise Of
money and patronage in securing-buying-
whatever Office they desired, have been re-
buked at the polls and allowed to stay at
home and ponder upon the prOverbial in.
gratitude of republics, in different parts Of
the country. Shall this spirit Of reform be
felt here in the Green Mountain state2 We
believe it will, sooner or later. We have
faith in the keen, shrewd common sense Of
the people Of Vermont. We feel pride in
! the past history Of our native state, aud wo
have faith enough in humanity to believe
that when patience ceases to be a virtue
her people will assert their rights. None
but the most willfully blind will deny that
there has been injustice in the management
Of our political affairs. But the means Of
remedying this injustice lie within the reach
of those who have suffered the wrong. Had
there been a usurpation Of power upheld by
bayonets the people would have revolted
long ago and risen en- masse to reclaim their
freedom. But the feeling, ave have the
power, and can use it when we choose" has
kept the voters quiet. A few schemers have
ruled the primaries, the people, Obedient
to the party leaders, have ratified their nom.
nations at the polls, and this has been call
ed government by the people. But this
fact that the people have the power to recti-
/ fv tha xvronU hu a hloo1lasa avolut;on e nok
always to remain undemonstrated.
OF course the party organs, which feed at
the public crib through the patronage Of the
party leaders, will cry out against any hon
est statement Of the facts. OF course they
will assert that the present political system
is the best and purest in the world. OF
course they will inform us that only through
the success Of their party, whichever that
may be, can the people secure their rights.
and that if the managers of the two parties
both choose corrupt schemers for eur rulers
We must mako virtue Of necessity and
choose the least of two evils. But, rs that
necessity does not exist, We do not think the
people will always make q virtue Of it.
There is divine right Of independence il
thought and act, which it is quite as be.
coming for freemen to make virtue Of as
it is to be driven by an imaginary ''neces-
sity," manufactured by few WISE heads
who hold Office and would retain it, or who
wish to obtain Office as soon as possible, for
the sake Of the loaves and fishes. The state.
ment of the MeSSenger, copied elsewhere
that "the unlettered think that the whole OIL
government is only one gigantic game Of
grab" contains more truth than poetry.
There is room for reform, and reform will
come, sooner or later, and corrupt schemers
will do well TO keep out of its way.
Let every voter in the district who has a
right to vote in republican caucus attend
the meetings tomorrow, Saturday. and use
such machinery as the party organization
have provided for the assertion of his rights
If that machinery prove sufficient, well i
not, the power to improve upon it lies in the
hands Of the people.