Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-07-03
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

- -shO hhON' wi It's
Editor Of the Vermont Farmer -
As the time is approaching when tho state
election is to take place, aud the different
towns, counties, and districts are getting
their candidates ready, few words In re.
gard to the relation of the individual voter
to his party, and OF the masses to the rings
which rule so much in our politics, may not
be out Of place.
The time is coming, sooner or later, when
"the men who perform the labor of the ma.
ton will rule in its councils" when one set
or class Of men will no longer be expected
or allowed to monopolize the governing pow
er, when politicians as a class will be al.
lowed to step down and permit their places
to be filed by better men, when the sun
burnt farmers and hard-fsted mechanics who
to-day make up tho masses Of the people
will be able to assert and maintain the in-
fuence aud power due their numbers. The
time is coming when no ring or clique Of
half dozen men in every township can
manage the political matters of that town
as effectually as the Shah Of Persia rules
his empire the time is going by when the
hAaonto Sau bS lNN W thN BOlio Nuu NuCNN bN
made to support the men and measures des-
ignated by the ruling ring with the same
ease and with the exercise Of nearly as lit
tic thought on the voters part as the bull is
led by the ring in his nose.
Let us hope that by and by independence
Of thought and action will be the rule in
American politics 1t is true that concert
of action is necessary, therefore political
parties are necessary. Parties are called
into existence not for the purpose of giving
place to demagogues and professional polti-
clans, or to reward military leaders who
may be great in the field but imbecile in
the cabinet, but for the promotion Of great
measures or for the correction Of great evils.
When the object has been attained which
led to party organization, and the party is
only held together by the cohesive power
of plumber" it must give way for new par
ty founded upon new questions and new is
sues.
Political parties long in power become
corrupt, sharp, shrewd, selfish. Designing
men naturally gravitate toward the party in
power, consequently the party machinery is
directed by those having selfish ends in view,
the interest Of those in power instead Of the
good of the people being the governing prin-
ciple. As matter Of course those in pow.
er wish and intend to continue that power
They have the inside track and mean To keep
it.
As at present managed the people have
no voice in the matter except at the primary
caucus, aud usually but few attend that
Sometimes from six to ten men living in the
village will meet, called together in the in
terests Of the candidate of some ring, elect
themselves delegates to county, district, OF
state convention, and in convention nominate
the men they arc hidden to, while, no mat
ter how corrupt or Objectionable the caudi'
date may be, the cry of Support the reg.
ular nomination" is expected to rope ia
every voter.
The party lines are tightly drawn and the
party whip smartly cracked about the heads
of such as may show any signs of indepen
dence or individuality OF action, and cries Of
traitor, renegade, and turncoat, are freely
banded and unsparingly applied. But thu
signs Of the times seem TO indicate that thu
caucus rule is being broken; that thu
time is at hand when there may be some in
dependence of action among the individuals
composing political parties and that mel
will no longer feel bound TO follow the leaC
Of party managers, right or wrong, but will
dare to break away without fear Of beinl
bounded to their political death.
In the Roman Catholic Church there is NJ
individuality Of thought or action allowed
the church claims to be the sure and tn,
only sure guide in matters OF religious faith
This infallibility is not TO be questioned o
doubted. Against this blind belief a larg
portion of the Christian world has protested
but closely akin to this Romish dogma i
the demand of our political parties that
right or wrong, unquestioning adhereuc
must at all times be given TO party action
Hereafter lie. the farmers Of Vermont at
tend the primary meetings Of their respec
tive parties that they may exercise the 20
itical influence which belongs TO them b.
virtue of their superior numbers and tina
they may know that upon election day the
are not merely ratifying the action of fe'
professional politicians who are themselve
seeking the loaves and fishes, and il b
means of the chicanery and wire pulling 81
well understood by party managers III
wrong men are put in nomination, let III
working men remember that they are III
slaves Of no party, and exercise the priyileg
of voting as they please, independent Of eau
Gus or convention. j. ii. p.
Grafton, w., June 27.