The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-08
POLITICAL PROGRESS.

Meyer was there greater advance In the
right direction in political sentiment than
has been witnessed in this country during
the past six months. In the results of the
elections of last fall, the opportunity was
offered but it seemed as if there was not
wisdom enough on the part of the people
or the real leaders of public sentiment to
take advantage of it. Perhaps one reason
of this is to be found in the fact, that the
people no longer are content to take their
opinions at second hand, will no longer
blndly follow the beck or dictation of this
man or that simply because he holds high
station, but form their own opinions and,
when so formed, act upon them. The fall
canvass was certainly conducted in this
way. Each district or state regarded only
its own interests, its own nominees, and
voted, or withheld their votes, without re-
gard to politics or national issues. Cand-
dates were considered simply on their mer-
its, and without much regard to anything
else. If the nominations were fit TO be
made, the returns showed about the same
political complexion we are accustomed to
look for at the election half way between
presidential elections. So decided and ap-
parently overwhelming had been the repub-
lican majority of two years before, that the
bummers and wire pullers of the party had
come to regard nomination as equivalent
to an election, and therefore turned their
Of ttno
the securing of nominating conventions in
the interest, not of the most capable man,
but of that politician who would be the
most sure to reward his friends regardless
of the question of honesty or capacity. The
result was such series of nominations as
never ought to have been made, and as
never would have been made where sue
cess might not be almost certainly dis
counted in advance. Such nominations
resulted as they ought to have done-in an
overwhelming defeat of all such candidates,
and consequent defeat of the republican
party.
The democratic party unexpectedly
found itself in majority in the national
house of representatives, and If the rcpub-
licans were paralyzed by their unexpected
defeat, they were equally demoralzed by
their victory. AS the school boys used to
say Zone was afraid and the other dare
not" Neither party seemed prepared to
accept the lesson of the result, and each
drifted along hopelessly, aimlessly Neither
was ready to adopt or foreshadow a policy
that should meet the wants of the country.
Everything seemed to conspire to aid the
democracy, to dshearten the republicans
Nothing having been done, both parties
waiting for something to turn up" Janu-
AIRY came, and quickly followed the outrage
at New Orleans, then the presidents mes
sage relative to Arkansas, and finally the
attempt 10 pass the force bill. Here were
the opportunities of the democracy, but
they were FILTERED away; while the republi-
cans, after hesitation, placed themselves
squarely in favor of constitutional govern
ment and against federal interference in
the internal affairs of the state. The usur-
pa,ions of the Louisiana returning board
were set aside, the right of self govern
ment secured to Arkansas, the force bill
buried out of sight. and the republican
party, after much tribuatlon, were on
record, pledged to the same treatment OF
the south as of the north.
We need not refer to the war against
corruption, dishonest rings. and the third
term in which the party became the party
of reform, of progress of good government
and good men, honest and capable, to ad
minister the government and legislate fol
it. We pass this by and come to the fl
nancial question. The resolution of The
Iowa republican convention, of year ago
probably expressed the average sentiment
of the country, at least of the great west
and was as follows: "Resoloed, That as
"the policy of the republican party in re-
81 ation to the finances has afforded the
"people not only a safe. sound, and popu
lar currency of equal and uniform worti
" in every portion of our commonwealth
"but has likewise greatly improved the
" credit of the country at home and abroad
"we point with pride to its record and &C
complishments in this regard, and, while