The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-06-30
THE VERMONTER AND CON
GRESS.

Once give man an office and he will
never willingly rclinquish his hold thereon.
Send an individual to Washington as a
senator or representative in Congress, and
only death or the fiat of the people will re-
move him from that atmosphere. These
are general rules with only here and there
an exception. Massachusetts furnishes
some, but who has heard of more than one
or two IN Vermont? After one of onr del
egation has helped one of his constituents
to fat little Office, it is pleasant sightto
see the helped turn around and help the
helper. We do not presume to say that
any such thing ever took place, or is now
taking place, we only say that it is a beau
tiful sight to see. We like to see graft
tude even in politics; although we cannot,
of course, believe that any such motive
ever actuates men. Passing from these
spcculations to something tangible; al
though we may promise that the one
couldn't have suggested the othor--hecause,
how can they possibly be connected ?--we
come to the congressional question. The
Nergennes Jerm0nter, whose editor is n
politician, supports Mr.. Willard Tor re-
election, as he has right to, and why?
We will select some of his arguments, com
menting, a we go along-we omit only
those parts which we presume every one
admits, that he is a inan Of honor, hasn't
sold his vote, has more experience now
than he had six years ago, and SO forth and
so on. We presume that the frcemen of
the district will he glad to be Informed,
upon authority, that MIR. Willard " does
mot spend his substance in rolous living"
hut this is the first time we have heard such
an argument used in favor Of one man for
Congress rs against another Upon this
argument nearly all the citizens of the dis
trict of proper age ought to be members of
Congress.
But to proceed with the argument. ''lIc
has familari2cd himself with all the
great questions upon which Congress has
- been called TO act, and when he speaks
his words receive prompt attention and
carry weight" We don't doubt it, What,
pray tell Us, was he sent 10 Congress for, il
not to "fGmiliariAe himself with the Ques-
tons upon which he was to vote? ANY
man of common sense would do that,
would he not But having "familiarzed
himself with questions which have been
disposed of, does not make him familiar
with questions yet to arise. or prove that
he ought to be reelected, does it A new
man, of average talents and ability -whlcl
is all that can be claimed for Mr.. Willard
by his best friends-can "familiarize him
self with all the great questions upor
which Congress" will be called, hereafter
" to act, as well as he can-can he not
Or Is Mr.. Willard the only man in the dis
trict capable of doing this? In reference
to the ''prompt attention paid TO hi
speeches and the weight they carry" i
might be difficult to determine, it bein!
simply matter of opinion. We should b,
disposed to differ from this estimate. Mr.
Willard is not forcble or able speaker
although he is as a writer With him the pei
is mightier than the mouth. But for him
we are told, we should have had but tw,
representatives in Congress" Withou
stopping to inquire whether he alone is en-
titled to all the credit, it will be pertinen
TO ask if this did not take place more thai
two years ago, if he was not unanimousl,
re'nominated on that account, and HOY
many times he is to be paid therefor? Thi