Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-03-15
Tho Next President.

we have reason TO fear. 10 docs not seem now
as If either party was in fit condition to nom
mate or elect the man who ought TO he in
years. The great mass Of the electors are
not quite sure that they will have a candi-
date who will be in most respects what they
would like TO have. The qualifications
which they sometimes imagine to belong to
that high position do not impress the active
party managers, who determine our candi-
dates, quite so favorably as they do the in
telligent average voter. Hence, it is much
easier to tell beforehand what the next Pres
ident ought to be, than what he will be.
lie ought to be, at least, a gentleman. In
a country whose first officer is elected 10y the
people, we are without excuse If we elect
boor or clown. If the Presidency was
hereditary, and the succession was estab-
lished in n single family as in empires aud
monarchies, it would be inevitable that we
should sometimes have a fool, sometimes a
brute, and sometimes an ignorant, careless,
dissipated roue for President But as long
as the succession is not fixed by law, we can
have such man as we choose. We do not
think much of the fine gentleman, whose
gentlemanly qualities reside in his clothes
or his address, but real gentleman Of self
respect and respect for others, Of easy access
and yet dignity Of character, without af-
fectation and without display, equal to the
4 II h.. lt,tr al
home with the proudest or with the low
liest; such a man as Washington or Liu-
coin, we certainly ought TO have for Presi-
dent. To elect vulgar man, Of tobacco aud
whiskey, fond of low society and low CONVEX
sation, who is never at home except among
boon companions, and who has no respect
for himself for others, or for the dignity Of
the Office, would not seem TO be necessary so
long as the country contains men who are
both statesmen aud gentlemen. A man Of
good breeding is desirable. The people are
judges Of thoroughbred horses. They ought
to be able TO pick out thoroughbred man.
The next President ought to be an honest
man. II is not enough that he has never
been charged with being thief, or that
there have been no suspicious entertained Of
his integrity. His integrity should be tested
II should have been tried and not found
wanting. The virtue that has endured the
fire aud been found true and strong is need
full in President. 1t is not perhaps best
to have such belligerent integrity as
Andrew johnson had, but ii is necessary for
the honor Of the people, and for the success
of our institutions, that the first officer in
aud integrity enough to discharge his duties
with Just regard TO the welfare and honor
of the country. lie should not be governed
10y selfish or partisan aims. No man can be
an honest President who uses the powers of
his Office for the promotion Of individual or
partisan ends. When he becomes President,
If he is an honest man, he sinks the partisan
in the patriot and consults the good Of his
country and not the emohment of political
associates or the advancement of party pur-
poses and plans
lie ought also to have fixed public pol
icy. 1t is not too much to say that the coun-
try has been drifting for many years with
out any settled policy that commends itself
to the people. Once, within eight years
the Supreme Court has been packed in or
der to reverse one of its decisions, and the
decision was reversed in the interest of ma
tional dishonesty Several unsuccessful
movements have been made in the foreign
policy of the government, because there was
no harmony between the President and Con
gress No result Of any value or Importance
has been reached on the financial question,
for the want of clear perception of what is
right and for the honor Of the country, and
decided policy to secure it, The finances
are at the mercy of the winds and the waves
They are used for party purposes. Whether
we shall be an honest people, paying oul
Just debts in coin of fixed value, or whether
we shall be dishonest people, doing oul
business and paying our creditors in a cur
rency of variable value, is an open question
still, notwithstanding the war was endet
thirteen years ago. The country is in finan
cial distraction, the business Of the countr,
is paralyzed -except that of agriculture
which is the buoyant float attached to tn
wreck, and is all that keeps it from sinking
The great need of the country is to hav
at its head a man who knows the constitu
ton and its Limitations, the laws and thei
operation, its history and its necessities, am
who has wisdom and strength sufficient +
put his hand on the helm of the old ship an,
bring her out of her helpless drift in th
troubled sea, and steer her on her true course
We need man imbued with the principle
of the fathers OF the republic, and with powe
and sagacity TO determine the future cours
OF the government in the interest OF civi
and religious freedom, of financial and bust
ness honesty and prosperity, and Of up
rightness in our dealings with foreign ma
tions. He should know the difference be
tween coin and paper, between right and eS
pediency, between craftsmanship and part
sanship. This haphazard way of admins
tering the government, in order to build u
personal or party ends, or in order TO NEE
the exigencies which have been begotten q
ignorance and want Of definite policy, ha
gone on long enough.
The next President ought TO he devote
TO the reform OF the civil service. The fa
of the Secretary of War the charges agains
public men of all parties, some of which ar
true and some of which are false the Credi