The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-08-06

avail herself of such an argument. To US
1t seems that the proper question TO be put
to our representatives is--what have Won
done? And that is pertinent question to
ask Mr.. Willard.
If MIR. Wizards virtues are all of this
negative character he is hardly the man
that Vermont should send to Congress, If
Tor no other purpose than looking after
those members who have positive virtues
Cor vices). II is not enough that Mr.. Will
lard has stood aloof and allowed none of
the corruptious which have characterized
Congress during the years that he has been
a member, to drip on him. Passive indif-
ference and apathy are hardly the elements
requisite to the making of good repre-
sentative, and if Mr.. Wizards friends haye
nothing better to offer as his services than
what they have, up to this time offered,
they certainly have made out but very
weak case. 1t was this passive indiffer-
ence, this confiding acqulescence in Mr..
Willard that permitted another member
from Vermont to distinguish himself in
quite another way-by exercising one of
the positive virtues % during the closing
hours of the last session of Congress. We
refer to the passage of the "gag-law," as it
is stigmatized all overthe country. That job
was reserved for and performed by Judge
Poland, Mr.. Wizards colleague, and
already thp of tho lie
cussing the question of the best means of
relieving the country of the odium INSOFAR
able from that act. Mr. Wizards explana-
ton of that transaction is this "Judge
Poland told me the bill was all
right. Judge Poland has pro-
badly changed his mind ON that
question. Mr.. Willard, in allowing that
bill to go through, simply threw away an
opportunity to render the country signal
service, and to honor the state that sent
him to congress. And now, that it is too
late, he knows it, but pleads his confidence
in what Judge Poland told him. TO our
mind, the distinction between Judge Po-
lands act, and Mr.. Wizards failure to act
in that matter is a misnomer.
We have referred to this matter some
what at length, because 1t so aptly illus
trates Mr. Willard in congress. 1t also cx-
PLAINS how it is that his friends are able to
say 81 his hands are clean, &c" Some
body's hands ought to have been soiled to
the extent of handling that odious bill in
congress us the press and the people have
handled it since its passage. This pretense
that Mr.. Willard ought to receive a fourth
nomination, because he has not been iden-
tilted with anything dishonorable, will hard
ly pass among men of integrity and intcl-
gence in Vermont, and Mr.. Willard well
knows it.
He is conscious of his lack of confidence
of the people, and hence he is visiting the
various towns in his district to curry favor,
or, as one of his satellites has it, .sto dis
cuss the currency and transportation oues-
tions." 1t is not little remarkable that at
this particular time " the currency and
transportation questions have assumed so
great Importance in obscure villages that
Mr.. Willard deems his presence necessary
for their proper settlement
How much easier had it been for him to
discuss those questions in Congress
(Mr. Willard ought in self-defense to put
q step to the reporting of his discussions of
these questionsslwith country postmasters
by enjolning silence on all who hear his re-
marks. He should remember that personal
vanity in his hearers sometimes prompts
them to make known the fact of his having
been amongst them, by sending a report of
it to the nearest printing oflice.)
First-We say in conclusion that Mr..
Willard having had the nomination three
terms, ought not to ask for it fourth time.
Second-We say also that such was the
express agreement and understanding at the
time of his third nomination.
Third-We say that nothing that he has
done in congress merits a fourth nomina-
ton in preference to others and that he
has had the office longer than many of his
predecessors had it. who were confessedly
his equals as representatives.
Fourth--Wc say that Rutland county is
better entitled to the representative than
Washington county.
Fifth-We say that the fact that he feels
the necessity of making the extraordinary
effort that he is making is proof of his
consciousness that he has not done anything
in congress to make his denomination prob
able.
Sixth-We say that there are many men
in the district fully his equal in ability and
much more entitled to the nomination, and
that one of those men is Charles Ii. Joyce.
And finally, we simply ask the people of
this district to consider who has done more
for the republican party during the last six
years, Mr.. Willard in congress, or Col
Joyce at home and in their midst -.