Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-09-06
A Personal Canvass.

| AFFAIRS IN TINS country NJ Is one OF the SIN
gular things that we can never nominate for
a high public office any but the most reck'
less, corrupt and abandoned OF men that
even those men supposed to be honest aud
capable become Immediately upon their
nomination exposed hypocrites Of long stand
ing, who have robbed the government the
railroads. the soldiers, aud done other mean
and uniustifable acts. II we want TO find
ont what depths Of iniquity there is in the
best men of the country, it is only necessary
10 make them candidates for an official posi-
ton. Even the members Of the party, the
ordinary voters. are at once transformed into
persons who are not sufficiently described in
the foul language Of political yituperation
| The canvass of an important election degen-
crates at once into a personal controversy or
a series Of bitter personal wranglcs. Old
neighbors mingle in the fray with mutual
abuse. Every missile that can be sharpened
by hate, scurrility, SANDER and ferocity is
hurled back and forth from side to side. At
once the whole community become liars,
thieves. robbers, corruptonists.
Now in all this there is an distinct political
issue. There is no question Of higher poll
tics raised no question Of finance, education.
morality, or administration to be settled
The issue rapidly degenerates into personal
one. The lower elements aud ideas quickly
get into the ascendant just as the scum rises
10. 10 10.
and boil. We had dim hope based upon
our wishes probably, aud not upon anything
that would justify it, that the present politi-
cal canvass would be conducted upon
higher plan. The candidates were, as all
supposed, able and unexceptonable men.
Their politics were different. Their asso-
ciates were different, and their supporters
were different; and their general notions in re-
spect to the administration of public affairs
were unlike. There was enough Of unlike
ness in political relations and opinions TO
have made warm and reasonable canvass
There were questions of finance, of civil
policy, in respect to which the two platforms
were at variance. There were questions of
confidence and trust, as to which party
"ou'i W Mus. ',Ne'y 70 carry OUT inc p'inc'-
PICS e'""oi'eu III 'h',' ueo'i'a'ionS' i"e
peop,' Vo"'a nave ''oN'' At '1eSe un'nSs
calmly, and have chosen wisely Which
p."''o''" n"i ."e 'rups' anu oeS' statement
Vi 'ne lIlhclp'es "iich ne a. .'ie iou'''at'ou
oi our c'vl' prosperity "nich party would
W i'oS' i'Ne'S 10 niee' 'ne "opeS anu WISHES
" 'io p'op'o :" '"' oo"u"o' VI puo,io al
'a''s 'ne Pi"'lor'n ueciareu eApiIcl'iy lo'
','e resumption oi specie payments anu LOT
| 'ne pI"cucai apPl'c"uloh Vi ene civil service
'eiornh' Inc other eVaueu tne essential
n""no'"' question: ana eiV 'ne country III
douot' whether oy civil service reform IL
meant 10 retain honest hepuoneah lhcuhi'
ocn'S III uhce' OF turn Vheiil I'LL out 10 make
room Tor honest democratic aspirants' One
party mas had long possession oil power ana
so mas become infested with political rats
ana pharmacies the other mad once proved
recreaht 10 It's trust IN question vital TO The
existence OF the Ihlon' IL was falr ques
ton between them winch can be most safely
trusted with the administration The per
sonal issues ought to have been left out oil
Slght and not been brought INTO such promi
nence as to make us forget the real issues
before the country Then we could have
had campaign that would have been wor
my oil the centennial oil the republic.
Altogether the best exposition OF the topic
oil the day was made by MIR. Brlstow in hi
speeches. IN TINS state lhey were not pop
ular harangues, but calm and Judicial state
ments, satisfactory to the Intelligence aud Il
the common sense oil his hearers. Ills speecl
was better To read than to hear Tor 1t wa
VOID oil any OF the rhetorical arts that pleas
Tue attehtloh' ana deals larry ana compact
with the man questions OF difference be
tween the parties ana their candidates
ouch speeches dignity canvass and redeer
" rom us intense ana disgusting person
AMY lhey make the electoral right q
honor 70 man. When he can use II not as
smart OF personal contempt and hatred, bu
as an instrument oil expressing his matur
aud hearty convictions oil public policy