Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-12-01
Honest Politics.

Since upon the farmers, together with the
other industrial classes rests the whole bur
den Of production, and consequently Of tax
alton, Ca. well rs the entire support and
maintenance Of the uon-producing classes, }
it behooves farmers in particular to concern
themselves actively that the public revenue,
drawn primarily from the wear aud tear Of
their own bodies and brains, shall not only
not he stolen, but that it be economically
levied, collected and dsbur-ed aud not
alone economically but also wisely, aud 10y
competent persons
Such are the evil times upon which We
have fallen, that nowadays it is common
subject Of congratulations and even of com
plimcnt to a public functionary, that he is
honest-that he does not steal Shades of
Washington, jefferson and Adams Who
would have thought it a compliment TO you,
or to your coadmtors and successors for the
first fifty years OF the Republic, that you
were not thieves? Wouldnot such compli-
ment offered to the public men of your
days have ensured IA sudden kicking down
stairs lint now, in the centennial Of oui
government, it has become feather in a
stateanan's cap, not that he is able, far-see
ing, Jealous for the public welfare, but that
he is not public robber Well might We
exclaim with the indignant Roman--" oh
the times and the manners l''
SO bad are the times, indeed, in this as in
other respects, that from their very badness
we are now looking to see them mend. Tho
rapacity Of these public plunderers has be
come so great that it can no longer he coy
cred from view, aud some of them, at least
are doiIng the livery of the nation to don
that of the state prison consistent yet IN
this, that they will still feed and lodge at the
public expense. Who are to blame for thi,
great Generalization Where is remed,
for this evil to be found The blame rest
primarilyupon us who pay the bills ;-upor
voting majority Of the nation have PLACED
these thieves where they could reach thei
hands into the national treasury. Did w
then intend to get ourselves robbed in thi
way Have we consciously selected III,
thieves to hold office, aud allowed the homes
and capable citizens, who would have serve,
rs faithfully and well, to remain in the pri
yate stations which they have embellishe,
under our very eyes, while Che rascals W
have taken in their stead have filed thci
pockets with money coined from the swea
Of our brows and the wear of our bones anc
flesh The answer must be that in mos
cases we have done that very thing. Wh'
among the citizens of this country has beer
for years unaware of the immoral characte
Of the majority Of the men inside of pol
tiles 2" We have all known it, and there j.
no use in trying TO blink the truth. Blu
these rascdls whose common haunts are tn,
barroom, the gambling house, and wors'
places, have been allowed (by the people, t,
control the machinery Of the political par
ties, and nominate each other to office, witt
the perfect assurance that the rank and fill
Of the party, with the minister at their hea,
and all the farmers and workingmen fol
lerin arter,' would come up to the polls an,
signify their assent to the little arrange
ment. That's the matter. That's what all
the times, brother farmers. Who did it
We did it, Who can undo it? We can
How Study on II yourselves and see il
you cannot hit ON the right way