The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-05

nepsr disregardcd. II men will not regard
the solemnity Of ordinary oatbs, hos can
we expect politicians or office seekers to
hesitate about taking test Oh "iron clad"
oa,hs Our recent experience, 10 this
country, with test oaths commenced Ia
1852, when, on account Of the rebcllion,all
persons holding or accepting office under
the United States were required to swear,
among other things, that they had "volun-
tarily given no aid, countenance, counsel,
or encouragement" to persons engaged In
armed hostility against the country. But
what did 1t amount to? Loyal citizens
took the oath conscientlously, secret foes
took 1t with wry face, and, as our forces
conquered peace open notorious rebels
were allowed to be indicted into Office
without 1t the law was pronounced I'M
constitutional In part, and, finally, repealed
in whole. While In force, 1t accomplished
nothing, 1t did not aid in putting down the
rebellion, neither did it keep the enemies
of the Union out OF Office.
The state ofjNew York, out of tue spasm
Of virtue consequent upon the exposure of
the corruption of the old "Tammany ring"
is now making an experiment with an
Iron clad" oath to I've taken by individuals
before entering upon the duties of certain
offices. The object being commendablc -
that Of securing purity of elections and pre-
vent the bribery or buying of voters by
candidates for Object is not surprising
that the adherents OF the new Tammany
recorded their votes against it Tut the re-
quirement for the oath taking the form OF
d constitutional amendment, the "couniry
parts" of the state overwhelmed the vote
Of Tammany and made the taking Of the
oath binding from and after Friday last.
The provision requires, that members Of
tho legislature and all officers, executive
md judicial except such minor offices as
shall be by law exempted shall, before
they enter upon the duties of their respec-
tive offices, take and subscribe an oath
that they shave not directly or Indirectly
paid, offered or promised to pay, con-
trlbuted, offered or promised to contribute
my money or other valuable thing as a
consideration or reward for the giving or
withholding of vote" nor made any
promise to influence the same, at the cleo
lion at which they were elected. This
oath is probably comprehensive enough to
include, If it had occurred 10 New York,
| the government bacon intended for
The overlooked country In Alabama and
elsewhere, which is said to have been dis
tributed, before election, at points from
seventy to hundred miles distant there
from, and, also, the promises which Ala
bama negroes say were made to them by
| certain republican candidates, to the effect
hat they-the candidates would divide
Imong the negroes, the land, furniture,
bedding and household property of the
white democrats but we apprehend that
istute, scheming politicians would find nc
difficulty in driving cart and four horses
through the loop holes with which the pre-
scribed oath is FULL The oath seems to be
made to be evaded, aud Boss Tweed, him.
self, would have found no difficulty, in sc
managing his elections, that, even IL he
0ad otherwise been conscientiously scrupu
lous, he could have taken and subscribed
the oath without the least difficulty
Its beneficial effect. we greatly fear, will
De something like Alabama promises, and
earnest, practical reformers will complain.
as the negroes did, that the promise is no,
fulfilled. Whether it shall accomplish til,
much desired reform, whether elections
shall hereafter be fair or corrupt, will de
pend more on the temper of the peopl,
than tho obligations of an oath. If tn,
reputable part of the voters, both republi
cans and democrats, shall earnestly Civ,
their attention TO politics, purify the prim
aries, nominate only the best men TO
Office, and personally attend the polls, they
can secure fair, honest elections. II, how
eyer, they act as in times past, all til,
''iron-clad' test oaths that can be devised
will not prevent the brbing Of voters o
keep scoundrels out of office. The election
having taken place in November, and tn
oath not being an indispensable prerequisite
to Office until January LIST, has afforded u
either striking commentary on that cleo
ton, or an illustration of that WHOLESOME
fear with which, at first, new lest oath
are received. Before Friday last, only al
oath TO support the national and state con
stitutions and to faithfully discharge tn
duties of the Office was required, and, con
sequently, nearly one half of the member
elect fastened to take the oath of offic
prior TO that day, thus escaping the ne,
oath. DO they intend the people to under
stand that they bought their way into ofllc
and, therefore, hesitate about taking tn
new oath? 1t looks 30, but we apprehen
that another year will so familiarize Their
with the test, that they will subscribe
without wincing.
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Public Debt Statement.