Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-06-07
The Ambitious Tendency sr tie Times.

The Ambitious Tendency 81 re IllheS'
We recently had OCCASION TO criti-
else somewhat in detail the reyolu-
tionary purposes and objects Of the
actors in the ridiculous emeute headed
by one Clarkson n. Potter, and we
are naturally now led to an examina-
ton of the soil out Of which could so
suddenly spring such an unhealthy
production. We are almost led to
wonder whether q considerable portion
of our people haven't forgot our gov
-ernment is grand proceeding in rem
instead Of one in psrSondm; that it Is
founded on loyalty to principle, hav-
ing for its object the maintenance Of
certain principles Of government, in
stead of the qualification Of certain
men who desire TO govern. All good
loyal citizens are most thoroughly dis
gustcd when they remember that the
country was on the eve of revolution,
and fears were entertained of u repe-
tition Of the horrible scenes of the re-
bellion, and, when all the conservative
clements Of the country were brought
together to reconcile all differences,
and to declare and soIidify by an ell
actment those elements, which, put in
active operation, were the only means
of salvation to the country; and, when
law was enacted which declared the
final settlement Of the disturbances
and when they now see u handful Of
malcontents breaking away from prin-
ciples thus established, aud allying
themselves TO men whose ambitious
fortunes were thus broken, and at
tempting to establish themselves upon
tho ruins of an administration, which,
whatever may be its faults, has res
tored the country to harmony beyond
the expecta' ion Of the most sanguine.
What evils are there in the times
which engendcrs these results? Is it
not the placing Of selfish designs of
men above principle? We seldom
hear of principle having ga following"
but men are spoken OF AS having it.
1t is an attribute of man, and not
principle as the times arc. When q
minister Of the gospel speaks Of his
congregation rs This following it is
maniIessly not the following OF the
Saviour. When politician does the
like, it is the following Of man.
Thus do the times run US into follow
ing men instead of priRciple. Where
do we see money, vigilance and en-
thusiasm expended in the establish
ment of principles? Where TO we
not see them ali expended in the e.
Establishment Of men in places, where
they can further their ambitious de-
signs? Therefore. we say that the
tendency of the times is SO strongly
toward personal interest, that the
principles on which the safety of the
government depend, are too much
lost sight of. Tilden is the chief lead
4er Of these tendencies. But does not
his example run down through all
classes Of political society? Where
in th, strife that is going on all around
US do we hear single political princi-
pie discussed? and, where in and
through it all, do we not hear the
claims-personal and local--of men
yehemently urged,
This government was founded on,
and derives its support from tie sub
ordination of all personal prejudices
and interest to those rules Of govern
ment which require, and, Of right, de-
.man'l the best energies OF all men fol
their support. Its safety and perpot.
nty can be accomplished only by turn.
ing from the Tilden's of this country
to the work of establishing q sounC
theory of government irrespective Of
men or their petty schemes.
In these selfish "foIlowings" oil
men the people do not and never will
rule. When conventions assemble
not simply to compare the strength o
men acquired by organized influence
but to deliberate as to the bast priu
,ciples to be adopted and the best men
to carry them out, uutrammeled by
organized personal following, then
and not Till then, will the theory on
which this government was established
he practically in operation. TIen
and not till then, will it be govern
ment Of the people, and by the people