Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-08-07

of the remarks of Hon. G. W. Willard, in
response to the invitation of the Washing
ton County Convention to address them
slr. Willard said There was no
need OF a political speech in Yer
mont. No State in the Union is 80
little bothered with politics as our own.
The people are mainly of one accord. Near
~ all are agreed that there should be a
reasonable protective tariff; there is no dit
ference Of opinion as to the currency, Demo
Gratis and Republicans here thinking alike
though this is to be one Of the serious ques-
tons of the future. So, too, the Caughna-
waga canal is favored by both parties. Pos
sibly the question of prohibition Is of party
significance in Vermont. The prohibitOry
law was put on the statute book by the
Wing party and has been kept there by the
Republican party. If either party stand,
committed to it it i the Republican. But
probably there can be no serious purpose
after these years to overturn it. Certainly
the Republican party will stand by it,
There are some questions left over by the
rebellion. \ part of the results of the war
have been embodied in the constitution
Other results are but temporarily settled
all such "a legislation can affect. The~e
latter must always be open questions. like
the tariff or the currency. And the Repub-
licans are right in saying that this beng
so. the Cover nment should remain in the
hands of those who are friendly TO the new
PRINCIPLES. Within the Republican party
are contained the men who, deep down ir
their hearts, believe in these principle.
There are Others in the party. 1t is true.
those who have Joined il as camp-il.l0wer-.
who seek only their own profit. But the
fact remains that ninety-ninc hundreitis of
the men who believe in the new PRINCIPLES
put in the constitution, are now found IN
the Republican organization
The speaker said he had been ready To de
nouncc cOrruptiOns that hid under the
shadow Of the Republican name The crit-
cism of a friend i not only honest but often
serviccable. Both parties have men who
belong 10 them solely for the purposes I'd
cain. Such men are often active In party
organization, and 1t IA when they obtain
control that party drill becomes trying.
1t is often SAID :" the convention has been
fairly conducted nobody can bolt" There
j. force in this 10Y there are almost alway,
differing interests, and men 20 into "a con-
ventIon to adjust their differences, 10 agree.
50 much force Is there in this that honest
men 20 to the polls and vote ticket that is
very unsatisfactory to them frequently.
When corrupt men get the machinery a
crisis comes.
In old times. when editing the fr.alq.
he used to criticiSe the people a. Wei -
their officers The representatives are on
an average a fair representation OF the pcl-
pie. They rise no higher because the pei
pie DO not demand that they should. When
corrupt men get into office 1t i because there
are corrupt men enough to elect them lr
because honest men allow themselves O.
sleep away their opportunity. The remedy
for evil in the Republican party j. not 10
bolt except in extreme eases. The right
and available remedy i 10 afisgH rho Homi-
iiGfiHy c0HrcHi50Hs. The September vote
only registers the nominations made az these
conventions. After the horse Is stolen there
are enough 10 Sty the door should have
been locked. What Is wanted FOR homes,
government i the sagacity O. see that the
martm.rg Of the party Is kept guarded a-
carefully a. the ballot box j. guarded. That
], the remedy for corruption We may cure
disease. bat the best way Is % .eli such
lie that di-tempers Will rot come in. Main
tain the party organization - it snail need
no bolt. This requires not only intelligence
but also watchfdiness, and sometimes fear
les,ne~- and independence These last yoa
demand in your representatives and should
be lost There i too much complacencY
and good nature all the way through poll
ties. Remember that You look well to the
begiH4ngs of things and the caucus l. the
beginning oi the election and 50 practically
shapes the government.
Mr.. Willard ~Iid that he considered civil
service reform . fully A. likely u benefit
the legislative branch Of government a the
executive department. Ii i very probable
that we could hy 1t secure better clerks or
other officers 10 which Z might be applied
than the system of political iavorIti~m al
fords. Bat more than this. it would leave
the legislators of the nation more NJ liberty
to attend to the work of giving well-cOn-
sidcred laws 10 the country and members OF
Congress would he judged according TO their
real value a. legislators instead of by their
success or failure in the disposal OF their
- patronage. ANY system that takes
away the patronage business will make q
change for the better in our congresses.
W neither this takes place by establishing
examinations, or other means
say in the ease Of pOst-masterS. an cleo
ton by direct vote OF the peoples not Of
50 much Importance a it l. to get a system
which shall not be distribution of spoils'
and shall leave our representatives. TO be
judged by the legitimate work which they DO.
Inc tendency Is nowadays toward cen
;ralizai;0n- The Washington government
travis 70 itself powers, some OF which be
long properly enough % 1t. while Others
would be lar better exercised By the States.
The smaller States have more reason to fear
this centraIlzlnc process than the larger
lues. As their representatives are les IN
number. To guard against national legiS-
alton upon subjects better dealt with hv
state legislation and enterprise, and to have
iue influence in such national legislation a.
: night and proper, the smaller States need
20 look with great care 10 their representa-
ION In Congress. Nerm0nt's influence in
congress cannot be in numbers but in the
Orce OF her ideas and the way in which her
representatives. put them. She certainly
las great weight in the councils Of the IA
ION now. Mr.. Morrill, upon the finance
ommlItee IN the Senate l. IN a position per
laps 10 benefit the material interests of hi
tate more than any other man in his dele
alton. and he l. certainly verv inhueu-
ial member of that committee Ifyou ask
len who are the able>t men in the niteI
'ate- Senate, most, in answering. Will
anne Mr. Edmunds among the very first
ir. Edmunts' training and peculiar abili-
les ms &c him most truly national lcsi>ia-
OF. Judge Po.and's service in revising the
nlted States Statutes has been labYriou~
nd such a to command continued respect
)r his abilities, and his place upon Import
Mt committees would only have been
warded to man of superior intellectual
lrcc and influence. Mr.. ueulcc D., -aininsu
God in position the House.
Massachusetts has had in Congress % won
sriul power Her Sumner when first in
nc Senate could hardly ce. audience he
we'd 70 shape national policy. This came
the ~oundneNs of the principles be main
-inei md OF his ability % drive home and
inch the nails that fastened them where
wished "a the frame of government Yer
oniers c. preserve FOR their own State
lweriul y -= ia shaping national lc-i>n-
On The men have named certainly give
n such voice now, and make her not un-
luai IN Influence with many of her appl-
utiv much more powerful uclghhOrs