The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-08-19

cleCIlOHS-Wert tuhsu uNuy hOhi 'hS Pco-
pic, 'even,if they ever had them. 1t became
a mere matter of influence. AT first the
presidential nominations were made by
congressional caucuses. Congress repre-
sented the people, 1t was said, and there
fore the people made the nomination. If
we read history Alright, down to the time
of jackson all nominations were, in
fact, made by from two or three to dozen
leading men. Their influence. consciously
or unconsciously exerted, accomplished the
rest. A consultation and comparison of
views led to an agreement between
them, and when the proper
amount of work had teen done
among their felow-members, Il caucus was
called, the nomination made and the people
endorsed the views of one caucus or the
other General Jackson was nominated.
in the first instance, entirely by the ill.,
fuencc which could be cxerted by news
paper letters, and by legislative resolutions
brought about in the same way. 1t was
the influence of the newspapers and of
leading men acting unconsciously on others
that brought about the popular furore for
Jackson. Without such influence, at that
time, it is more than doubtful if he could
have carried n single state, His military
fame, which was relied upon, was then
too old and too neat forgotten TO do him
any good, unless it was revived in such a
way as to influence the people. That it
was 50 revived and did have such influence
is history. Then came the days of nomi-
mating conventions and every newspaper
reader knows that availability is that
which influences nominations. From the
DAYS of "log cabin and hard cider down
to the present year of grace, every ono
knows that the people in certain sense,
have had nothing TO do with President
making. The influence OF leading poll.
ticans settled the question. If the ques
ton had been left tc the judgment of the
people, unnnnencod in any way, does any
one believe that Pierce, Polk, Buchanan
or even Taylor or Abraham Lincoln woult
ever have been Presidents of the United
States.
But there is another kind of Influence
different from any that we have mentioned
in certain spects-though it may partakt
in part of several of tbem-and tho
s.rangest of them all, which has direfu
effect ON politics and often changes thu
probable results of elections. 1t shows it
self in the desire to be witt the majority
We see its influence every year when I
presidential election occurs. If Vernon
leads off with large vote and increased
majority, the influence is felt in the party
for which Vermont has voted, al over TIN
country. If Maine follows the same way
the influence is intensified; but when tn
elections take place in Pennsylvania, Ohi
and Indiana, and two or all of them Civ
majorities the the same way, the influence
is so powerful on the wavering-and dow
to this time there are enough of this klnt
to turn the scale in many state if not tn
nation-that the result is no longer doubt
full, 1t il not the people that elect tn
President, it is influence. First the influence
is exerted in the state, then in the nomi
mating convention; then by the news
papers and by public men and finally b.
the votes of FIVE states Years ago, Con
gress endcavored to prevent the Use of Thu
last kind of influence by fixing upon n
uniform day for the election, in the sevt
raj states, of presidential electors, but it
effect was nullified by the fact that tn
state elections occurred on widely divers
days. 1t is needless to consider the ques
ton whether or not Congress has the cor
stitutional power to fix the days on whic
state elections shall be had. If they pos
sess the power, it would take years to &c
their attention to the subject and obtai
final action thereon. The states certainl
day of the presidential election. If W
mistake not and we are not certain on tn
point, Pennsylvania has already taken az
: ton in the premises. The arguments j
} one of influence being alone enough to d'
eide 1t, without mentioning the inconvt
nience and expense of holding two elet
: tions within so few weeks of each othe
1t should be our constant effort to max
this government more and more one of I'll
people, by the people and for the peopl,
! and there is no surer way of doing SO tina
. by removing as many as possible the Unfit
, ences which prevent free expression {
l the popular will. All influences cannot |
| removed, but many of them can be, and
2 should be our duty to remove them.