St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-07-07

want. There Is reason in that To
morrow, the party wants what do no
want. What further claim has il oI
my cooperation As parties originat,
III the association of persons having the
same views of public policy, and unitin.
to carry out their views in the admins
,ratl"h OF public affairs, they ought +,
have no bond of union except this.-n,
NE after the accomplishment of thi,
purpose. They have no right to an,
mans service. The terror of their lasl
should make no brave man coward
and this all the more when they persist
III living after all excuse for living i.
gone. and their members are only held
together by the ties of former associa-
tion, by the hope of personal advan-
tage, or 10y the conStraint of Il domineel-
ing and despotic party spirit The re-
publican party Is not, to-day, agreed
upon any measure of public policy. AT
Cincinnati, among other things, it de
clired tor IL jHdjciOus tariff, for IL pro-
yresS're return to specie payments. that
1t was opposed to polygamy in Utah
and afraid that the Caucasian is so fan
played out as to hardly he able to hold
his own against the MOngolian, that il
VIII III the future, as in the past. give
woman suffrage Il respectful consideration.
These are not principles, they are only
eNaSlve expressions upon subjects, re-
specting which the convention was ex-
pccted to express an opinion, and even
upon these topics the members of the
party hold every shade of opinion. The
remaining uttclances ut Cincinnati are
of us doubtful meaning. and cover with
their clever ambiguity as wide diver
SltN of Individual views. The democra-
cH are no more united. What ST. Louis
VIII give us, Il day OF two will disclose.
but II will he for neither hard money
nor soft money, neither for free trade
nor projections. for no civil-Scryicc re-
form that will keep democrats out of
office. for the time honored principles
"i the democratic party. for Il vigorous
foreign policy, and for unlimited re-
tcnchnent and reform until after
election. What is there in all this for
eight millions of voters to quarrel
about! An assurance of honest and III
tclllg"nt government. no matter what
It's party name, Is worth more than all
the ftlgncd or forced ISSUES OF these
party platforms. If we must have IL
watchword, if We must have party or
ganlZatiolIs. let the dead past bury its
dead. let us make ont of the wants of
to-day the ISSUES of to-day, and turn
"ul faces forward. and strike omr steps
I" the music of the future into which
We march.
The scholar may use the party he
should never suffer it to use him. He
may send his delegates To Cincinnati or
81. Louis or both. He may ask for the.
the recognition of his idea OF of his
on account of their worth.
10y any body of men. But he cannot
safely make any farther alliance What
ever wind his sails invite. he should
never change his couI>c or surrender
the helm. This makes the scholar the
true independent. the new and growing
force III politics. But h, cannot br this
and he an otficc-seeker To he steady in
his resolve and work. and he an office
holder. L. difficult enough. There is Il
serNllIty which is fatal to independence
III HIM who seeks office either bN ap-
polntIncnt or suffrage. He may bc hon
est himself. but blindness. deafness.
iumhneSS are likely soon to atflict him.
He heal>. sees and speaks only what Is
pleasing +" Il watrhtul constituency or
II watchtul official. He wears the par
tN Label on his back. on his breast.
IN his forehead. and the tunes he yrindS
are all from the organ made at the par-
tI shop. This may he the inevitable
result of our frequent elections. and
he just responsibility that it WAS sup
posed t" secure. Vet it kills. utterly.
frcc Thought and speech and action.
without which II republic cannot be
kept pure OF free. SuhSerVicncy to
party. intense parti>lnShip, and indus
try and skill III the distribution of offices.
make officials popular: steady attention
t" public affairs and sturdy fight
against wrong win small applause The
scholar who really undertakes the work
If lntclligently and honestly serving his
country may. therefore. at the outset
put aside any thought of reward either
IN popularity or III office indeed. he i
not likely to serve his country well un-
less he can hc Indifferent to public
opinion. expecting only partial success
IN the present. but content to do his
iutN and leave results To take care of
themselves. For the scholar has no
light t" expect popularity. 1t is seldom
won except 10y sacrifice which he can
not make. He may he known. he may
1t" feared, he may be hated. he NAV he
misunderstood. he is pretty sure to be
all these. if he interests himself in pub
ic affairs. While he confines himself
b" the learning of the Greek particle. or
the distances of the stars. he
will excite n" hostility from the politi-
ian. But those who understand the
ISeS of the party machine will resent
my interference ot the impractical
dcalistS who come from their studies to
ak about candidates and the functions
If government.
There are grades of intellect. and it |
: the average intellect that apparently |
'ules the multitude. Those whom the |
'c"ple understand and they under !
stand those who speak their language
md have common Sympathy-are the |
popular tavaritcs. They do not turn |
lway from ability they applaud it
ather, but il is only when it falls in
With their humor and feeds their pIeiu-
Ices. They learn slowly. In fact.
hought ever wins its way slowly where
I has to contend with human interest
II human sNmpathics, or human preiu-
Ices. The reformer has all these to
block the way before him. So most
,ood or evil Is the good or evil of to-
lay. They have neither time nor in
to hunt for causes. or remedies
II the philosophy of humanity or the
"nduct of life. They credit their party
With the present good, charge the pres
mt evil on the opposition, aud rally
nder party banners to save the country
y keeping their party friends in office.
nd the other fellows out and the men
inside politics. and who enjoy the har-
est thus reaped for them. in private
IIan thtiI tinmtrs lnl snnil.. ut th.. IL.