The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-07-01


and nominating conventions, or who have
controlled elections by stufllng ballot
boxes, by bribing voters, hiring repeat
ers, furnishing fraudulent naturalization
papers, and falsifying the canvass of votes
and altering and forging the returns there
OFF, We may proclaim ourselves in favor
of civil service reform, but will we pro-
mote its adoption by elevating men to of
fee who have all along held TO and prac-
ticed upon the doctrine that to the victor
belongs the spolsf We may declare our
devotion to free, non.sectarian public
schools, but will we show that devotion by
elcva!ing ignorant, bigoted sectarians to
office, or those who rely for support upon
those whose every political thought tends
toward the breaking down of such schoolsp
We may declare against extravagance and
corruption in office, but will we obtain
men who will honestly and economically
administer the government by giving our
sulfrages TO one who has obtained his
wealth by dishonorable means, whose
whole influence in public life has been 10
support of corrupt and extravagant men,
who has openly or covertly cobnived at ex-
trsvagance and corruption to help the par
ty and enrich party or personal friends !?
We may feel the demoralizipg effect of
railioad rings on politics, but can we smash
the rings by nominating and electing to
high office the head and front of railroad
rings2
We have no desire or intention, this
morning, of discussing the personal quail
tlcations of the several andidstes-indeed,
there is not much necessity for 1t. SO far
as personal integrity is concerned conced-
ing all that the friends of Governor Tilden
claim for him, yet the objection urged by
James Freeman Clarke to the candidacy of
James G.. Blaine applies to Samuel j. Til
den and is, of itself, sufficient to determine
the canvass. Though, ead he, "there was
"no evidence of his having done anything
corrupt, yet his own letters showed him
"to be mixed up with railroad specu-
lstions, and railroad rings, and railroad
stock jobbers, and that he was an unfit
man TO present as candidate now" Yet
when this was said about Mr.. Blaine it was
called "throwiDg mud" 1t is Throwing
"mud' at Governor Tilden, but it Is true
nevertheless, and it is proper that the at
tention of the country should be called toi
IN order that they may know for whom
they are voting.
Taking the democratic national platform
as presented and, with the exception of the
financial plank, it may be unexceptionable,
so fsr as it is a declaration of principles.
| The same is true of the republican plat.
form, the financial plank and all. Save
the financial question, there is no issue re.
| ally presented. The question then becomes
one of purely a personal nature. Is the
| personnel of the democratic candidates and
of the democratic party such as to invite
confidence and command support ? Is Sam.
uel j. Tilden such man as the people
would desire to see president of the United
States Is there any hope for reform with
him? Will the country ever be free, in
whole or in part, from the domination OF
political or other rings-and they all be.
come political in the end-with him as ex.
ecutive? viii his election promote the
speedy return 10 specie payment Will il
tend to secure civil service reform, purity
of elections, and an honest economical ad
ministra,ion of the government? These
questions we propose, from time to time
to consider-and if it can be done imper
sonally we should be pleased to know how
We have deemed it proper to say this mucl
a, the present time, because We have heart
so much of late deprecating the discussion
of the personal rec ord OF candidates, solely
because, as we believe. such discussion
showed the unftness of the candidate, be
cause the truth hit hard, and the people
when enlightened, would not advocate tn,
election of, or give their sutfrages to, al
unworthy man.