Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-10-20
" "CrOss-ROads Statesmen"

| One obstacle in the WAY of political re-
form not enough considered. We fear. bv
! l,oliiril doctors and d0cfrinairtS. is the
| Crnss-Roals Statesman. His pen portrait.
is we outline it. will be recognized by all
who familiar with - practical politics"
| The Gross Roads Statesman is a product of
he c:tucns system. and is of the same
genus, whether in rural district or citv
ward. He is tn. politicians rIppct. and
jumps when the manager pulls the wire
He is one of the leading men referred
to in the committees circular letters ZEN
closing little money : 10 assist in getting
out The vote,O He is d" reliable'' with
all that includes in politics il is Il good
deal, He is = sound" He ftvur> reform
within the party" though r:,scality be per-
~onificd in it> candidates and dishonesty
in its platform. He is on the local COM
mitlceS. and has held numerous town Of
fees. and may even. if useful " enough,
have been sent to the legislature He is
always at political conventions. As busy
and rs mysterious rs I" snpe at ii theatre.
He reads party organ reliable" like
himself. ani >we;lrs by it. He i severely
>:trc cistic on - impraciicableS and - sore
heads who bother around about honesty
and principle and convictions. instead of
pitching IN To the other Darfy.
Our reason for fearing that the Cross
Roads Statesman Is not enough considered
IS a factor in the problem of political re-
form is this: He controls the caucu>es:
the cancuses make delegates; delegates
constitute conventions, and conventions
declare principles and select candidates.
! The platform and the figure heads stand
for the party. and the party rules the coun-
try-if it gets votes enough. Therefore it
seems clear that wiselv-ridical reformers
in the political field must 90 to the root
of decentralization. when it appears. and
put down this petty potentate-extirpate
this primlry bal force in politics A we'll
trained corps of such tools of a shrewd
political managers. intent upon carrying
his point, will do more to give a wrong di-
rection To public aff:,ir> than all the essays
and speeches and theoriZing of political
pressimi>ts can counterict. The Cross
Roads statesman can no more be put down
bv fine words than the caucus system IL
self can be brought up To lis ideal excel
lence by refOrmers who won't take the
trouble TO attend the primaries. or TO revolt
from their pernicious edicts- But Just here
the independent voter comes to the front
He is the natural enemy of both the wire
puller and the -pulled-as they have
found To their sorrow in several recent
lections The independent voter, tired of
useless protests. changed his tack He
beat the candidates ef the professional pol
ilicians. little and big-hitting head
wherever he saw it. The result has been
To give us, this year. a more general NOM
in:tton of men Whose names and charac-
tiers afford conspicuous proof of the sin
ceritv of partisan professions in favor of
honest and good government 50 far, II
is we'll We are not of tho who suppose
that our government can be carried on
without the intervention of parties: Bush
whacking Is not war. Neither is it in our
Judgment essential to true independence
that man shall view AL parties with
equal di>truSt or uuconcern: Cynicism Is
not the best expression of manhood But
the abuses which grew up under the self
imposed management of public atflirs by
the elias, We have been ncon>id"ring-abuses
incident to all ptries if long in power
are best cured by heroic treatment. And
unless We miSre;ld the signs of the time,
the independent voter has considerable
work still on hand. and proposes TO do it
Those who do not like his WAY. had better
stand from un.ler-Goliei Rule.