Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-04-10
LAWYERS IN OFFICE.
The Rutland Herald replies to our "co-
nundrum" about the monopoly Of Offices Of
honor and profit by lawyers, as follows:


The Rutland Herald replies to our "co-
nundrum" about the monopoly Of Offices Of
honor and profit by lawyers, as follows:
Granting. for the sake OF the argument,
that larger proportion Of lawyers than
farmers get elected 10 office, we think II can
readily be accounted for on other premises
than the one suggested We think the pro-
portion Of farmers who are honest and have
the natural ability tn hold public office, is rs
great rs among any class; hut the secret
rests in the different training TO which each
devOtes his mind. In order TO ill public
stations acoeptably the person should be ac-
quainted with tho general nature Of their
duties. II the place requires Judgment, the
mind must be framed TO exercise that judy
ment by careful study of all the principles
that underie IT, and the various bearings
that those principles have, when modified by
the customs of the people, or ms interpreted
by previous officials who have acted on the
same subject Politics aud the theory Of
government, are complicated subjects, and II
requires study and training 10 qualify per-
sou to be II valuable public officer. Law
yers rs rule, study THESE subjects more
than farmers, and ms u consequence the peo-
pie, without distinction Of class or emplay-
ment, vote for the men they consider hest
qualified for the place.
Then many of the places of honor and
profit at the disposal of u popular vote re-
quire man not only of clear understanding
and sound integrity, but ono who can, when
he has formed correct ideas, express them
clearly to others. This requires public
speaking, and most farmers totally neglect
all opportunities of acquiring that confidence
and power of thought which will enable
them To perform their duties in public sta
tons. While lawyers will fit themselves
fort tho nfiia.a ,ril hos
or that judgment that has selected 10 Irge n
proportion Of public officers from their ranks,
not because they are lawyers hut because
they are better prepared 10 do the work re-
quircd OF them
We are happy to agree with the Herald
upon the importance of citizens Of every
class in a republic fitting themselves for the
public service. This is no doubt too much
neglected by farmers, though we do not
agree with the implication Of the Herald,
that while there are enough farmers in Yer
mont who have the " natural ability to hold
public Office" there are not enough who
have the necessary acquaintance with public
business, aud the acquirments requisite to
fill such stations creditably, aud to the adj
vantage Of their constituents.
But how are the Offices in the hands OF
lawyers filled ? Are the people generally
satisfied with the doings of public officials Of
the legal class ? How do they compare in
character and efficiency with ofiee-holders
that have been selected from among farm
crs, for instance To whom must we charge
the fact, so notorious everywhere, that poll.
tics is a dirty pool, and that local, state
and national Offices are so frequently occu'
pied by dishonest and incompetent persons
The country has tried for many years q
government Of lawyers, and we again ask, il
the result satisfactory Are the lawyers
really so much more competent than oul
best educated farmers and mechanics, TO ad.
minister the affairs OF our towns, states, and
the nation These are string of " cunun
drums that the Herald will hardly contend
admit Of answers very favorable to oul
governing class"
We have no preudices against law yers
Some Of our best friends are of that profes
sion, and some Of the most upright men we
have known we're and are among its mem
hers. But the total number OF lawyers il
any given community bears only a small
proportion to the whole. From this small
number we are compelled to select oul
judges and other officers Of the law. Now take
the average percentage of ability and integ
rity among men, aud is it likely that afte
furnishing occupants for these important of
fees profession numerically so limited cal
also supply good material to fill, as they do
a very large proportion, if not the majority
of all the important legislative and executive
Offices, in the country
An ideal lawyer is almost an ideal man
and some of them in purity aud patriotism
have been almost Heal men--men as pur
as Washington. Sumner was one Of them
But what Of that class Of lawyers that run
caucuses, manipulate conventions, and nomi
nate elect, and appoint one another to al
most every important place under govern
ment? 1t is from this class that the countr,
cries out to be preserved. And we do no
believe the country would suffer any detri
ment if every one of them was to-day replac
ed by men selected from among the indus
trous working men Of this state and nation
We believe that the farmers have ROt1
sufficient number OF men fully competent to
supply their pro rata of ofice.holders
Aud We think, too, that they are going Il
supply them. When they do we shall be ii
better position to institute their comparison
suggested by the Herald as to the relativ
honesty and ability compared with lawyers