Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1875-03-25
A study of Town Meeting Leg
islation.
THE BRIGHT SIDE

A prolonged continuance OF the pres
ent condition OF our national polltics'can
hardly be enthusiastically advocated by
ANYBODY. Indeed, considerable amount
of determined optimism is quite essen
tial to all believers in "the great future
of American democracy, and, even
with this in store, man should receive
ssome credit for being jolly" under the
present circumstances. One need not be
of gloomy.temperament to think 1t may
become necessary to provide Jeremiah
10 chant lamentations after the singing
of the centennial hymn. Not only do
the conflicting clements of some trouble
some questions place their solution out
side the limits of ordinary prophecy, but
there are also many active political ten
denotes so thoroughly bad that it is only
perception of the probable growth of
counteracting influences that can cause a
looker-on to be hopeful of the result.
Are we always to be astounded by
giant schemes for ''internal improve
ment," and, if so, are their accompani-
ments always to be like those of Pacific
Mail, Ell Paso and the Credit Mobilier
Must we forever hammer away on the
tariff-welding broadening, contract
ing? viii the currency ever be put on
the right track, and kept there, not to
be thrown off by an infiation-switch at
the next Congressional crossing? viii
Reconstruction end in anything recon-
structed, or is it an everlasting process,
in which nothing can ever "stay put"
There are perhaps dozen different mat
tiers, the fruitless discussion of which
occupies at least eight-tenths of the time
of Congress, all of which matters many
voters would like to have decided, if
possible, in accordance with general
principles-so thoroughly disposed of,
in fact that they would for ever cease
to be political issues, and be heard of,
if at all, only in the courts. Neverthe-
less, we do not believe the time has yet
come for correct solution of many of
these disturbing problems of our poll
tics. 1t is no disparagement of the av-
erage intelligence to say that the people
of this country have not yet formed
any definite opinion with regard to the
proper settlement of many of these
matters. 1t is quite probable that the
majority of voters to-day do not believe
it is possible, for instance, to dispose of
the railroad question, or the tariff ques-
ton, or the currency question, ia the
light of general principles, but believe
that we must continue to do the best we
can from year to year, each succeeding
Congress correcting as much as possible
the plumbers of its predecessor There
are probably very few people who have
any belief whatever in q science of leg
islation. But there are very many, and
the number daily increases, who believe
that study and reflection are of value as
helps to something better than the hap
hazard legislation in which we have of
late so much INDUCED. These last will
agree with US that even a town meeting
may throw light on some questions of
national interest. The town has been
called the unit of our political system,
and, if the whole exhibit the character
of It's parts, its political methods should
be studied before those of the country
at large. Besides, where the field is so
small that all portions can be viewed at
once, some relations may be understood
which would escape notice altogether
where the field is the nation.
Most New England towns still exhibit
that same simplicity of organization \
with which all have become familiar in
De Tocquevilles well known descrip-
ton. The inhabitants are of the same
descent, traditions, and religious feel
ings, are engaged in the same occupa-
tions, and their interests are almost ab-
solutely identical Naturally given to
order, sobriety and economy, they need
only that which they already possess-a
simple form of self government. We
are speaking now only of the agricultu-
raj towns, some of which are, In fact,
so purely bucolic that under the name of
farmer may be placed almost every man
within their borders. We thought once
that we had reached the limit of same
ness when, in New Hampshire, we
found town all the men of which were
farmers with the exception of two-the
regular Puritan minister, who also taught
school, and q storekeeper, who was also
postmaster; but the very next town had
not even minister, and the postmaster
was also farmer. The only political
change in these towns for many years
Is that "the parish committee, who audit
the expenses for public worship" no
longer exist, each sect now paying its
own expenses. AT the annual meetings |
of these small and homogeneous commu-
mites, voters divide upon the choice of |
chairman or moderator" the select |
men, the assessors, and other town off. |
GERS, the representative to the State |
to be paid for teaching and for road re
pairs. Once in a generation, perhaps, |
some great questionable building of
town hall or the purchase of new GEN.
etery- may create unusual contention.
1t is hardly possible for these little and
monotonous towns to furnish any hint
whatever for the conduct of national
affairs. If the whole nation had SINH
lar homogeneous population, with the
same circumscribed pursuits, with the
same feelings, from those of religion to
those which control the government of |
poor house, and with identical public
aims-the preservation of order, the re-
pair of roads, and provision for elemen-
tary education-we should need no the
DRY of legislation. Conflicting interests
are scarcely conceivable where all desire
to procure essentially the same things,
and are willing to vote the taxes neces-
sary to procure them. 1t is only when |
We pass from these agricultural towns to |
other towns in which the character and |
interests Of the people have become |
almost as heterogeneous as has the ma
ton itself, that we feel any necessity |
for a system of legislation, or are tempt |
ed to wish for definite science of gov
eminent In these latter towns, self |
government passes with wonderful and
almost imperceptible rapidity into some
thing closely akin to despotsm, and
this transition furnishes a theme for
useful reflection.
For the sake of unity and greater dis
tinctness, we shall confine our descrip-
ton and illustrations TO one large inland
town of about ten thousand Inhabitants.
Here the farmer is slowly disappearing
Already manufacturer, mechanic, and
merchant either outnumber him or OBJ
scure him by superior activity Run
ming streams have built cotton and pa
per mills, and these have brought in the
lrishman and the French Canadian, so !
that the Calyanist walks to town meet |
Ing with the Catholic, and both shake |
hands with the modern rationalis, as
they ask him how he intends to vote |
on the proposed town loan TO the new
railroad. Notwithstanding the different
nationalities represented and the varie-
ties OF character to be found, the old |
New England element is yet largely |
predominant, and, for special reasons
which need not be here given, the Puri-
a