The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-21
LETTER ON CURRENT TOPICS.
The Drift of Politics.

Editor Of RutMnd Globe III we take
the indications of the hour, it would seem
that the republican party OF to-day can
elect to the office of president of the United
States any one it shall choose TO nominate
at its approaching national convention. 1t
would indeed appear that the only reason
why it will not do 80, will be because OF
the fancied security it may feel in the pop.
ular verdict of the country and the loose
ness and careessness resulting therefrom.
To superficial observer, the Babcock
and Belknap disclosures seemed entirely
sufficient TO overthrow the ascendency of
the republican party in New Hampshire,
and also in Connecticut. The result has
shown, SO far as the former state is con-
cerned, that these national calamlties have
rather strengthened than otherwise the at
tachment of the people to that party.
To mere looker-on in the movements
of parties for the past year has come the
conviction, that both the great national
parties must put their very best, ablest and
purest men before the people, to command
anything like reasonable promise of sue
cess, and that then the contest for popular
favor would be an even and happy one
1t was certainly TO be hoped that circum-
stances would compel this state of national
politics. If they do not it will be cause
for national regret. Where the popular
will, under and by virtue of the constitu-
lion and laws, is the supreme power, it is
surely desirable that there should be two
great parties, both striving with moral
''might and NAM for ascendancy in the
administration of state affairs. In such a
case no great and permanent harm can
come to the people from the success Of
either.
| need not enlarge upon the dangers OF
one great party impregnably fortified in
place and power, nor speak of the inevita-
BILE tendency of such power. This thought
will occur to every one who reads. Wise
and good men over the whole country have
variously pointed out the alarming tenden-
cies Of one thing and another as threaten
ing the perpetuity of free government.
But, however wise or otherwise their pre-
dictions may be, the real security of the re-
public lies in the virtue and intelligence of
the people. This generalization includes
everything else. The real danger to the
republic lies in the vice and corruption of
the people.
Our republic is one hundred years old,
and yet it is very young, and is still an ex-
periment--an experiment Of the virtue and
intelligence of the governing and the gov
erned. The example of the old republics
is not hidden. 1t is not mysterious. We
may learn much or little from history
little indeed If we do not demand in thun-
der tones that impurity and vice shall be
dethroned, and purity and virtue en-
throned.
Does anybody's heart bleed when the as
ISOLATED press dispatches proclaim TO the
world that the freemen of New Hamp.
shire were bought and sold In the late
election like sheep and cattle in the market I?
Does this familiarity with political vice
and .wickedness "breed contempt" for DO
litical virtue Is there nothing in all this
to make the heart sick Alas we are be-
coming too familiar with these scenes and
they do not auger well for the
well being Of the country. Questions Of
tariff and free trade, banks and no banks,
greenbacks and gold, the bible aud the
public schools, are mighty questions, that
may well tax to the utmost the brain OF
the nation but the question that over
shadows all others and makes them posi-
BILE is, shall corruption silence the voice Of
patriotism forever and the sun of our
promise go down in darkness and oblivionp
Two great parties nearly evenly balanced
will give always, 1t may DO hoped, the bal
ance of power to those who hold that vir-