St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-02-27
The Independent Voter.

The Independent Voter.
There was a time when this designa-
ton had an honorable significance, but
it is fast coming to represent the most
contemplate and pernicious element in
the political field. The indications are
of the existence of "ring" composed
of men whose wisdom, and patriotism
have not been so conspicuous in the
past as to gain for them any cosidera-
BILE following, and who, therefore, have
uOt been able to exert the influence to
which they have imagined themselves
entitled in shaping the policy of the Re-
publican party, whose aim now is by
the use of this catch phrase of indepen-
dent voting to consolidate force suffi-
cient to enable them to dictate to that
party its candidates, and platform.
Indeed their ''independent" organs loud
ly proclaim their purpose to rule or ru
in the Republican party. They GER
tainly ought not to be able to do either,
nor do believe they will be able. Yet
it is well for Republicans to remember
that there are worse things for IL party
than defeat. A party may be defeated
and yet not ruined, but if to avoid de-
feat it surrenders those principles which
have rendered it worthy of support
there is for it no honorable future.
AS nearly as l can make out the po-
sitiOn of the leaders of this movement,
it is about this they would like to be
Republicans, and yet they hate Repub-
licanism. They would like to be Re
publicans, provided Republicanism can
be modified, and toned down, so as to
represent about the same thing that
Democracy has represented. The
Democratic party has record which
hangs like a milestone about its neck,
while in the main the record of the Re
publican party is one which will well
] bear examination. They are in SYM
pathy with the principles or rather lack
of principle, of the Democratic party,
but wish to hold on to the honest name
of Republicans. Hence, the nearer a
man comes to representing nothing III
particular, the more acceptable he is as
candidate to these men, and for a man
to stand up squarely for the kind of
Republicanism which saved the Union,
is with them the objectionable sin.
These men undertook to control the
Gubernatorial election of New York,
and failed as they deserved to fail, and
as believe that they will fail in theil
attempt to defeat the manifest purpose
of the masses of the Republican party
to have man for their candidate fol
President whose past shall be in some
measure guarantee for his future-a
man who has brains, backbone, anG
principle.
Perhaps it ought not to surprise u:
that journal which manifests its yea
for religion by sneering at Orthodoxy
and ridiculing Joseph Cook, which con
tends that its issue of Sunday edition
should be regarded as in the interest o
public morality, and of a proper OBJ
servance of the Lords day, which la
bors to promote the cause of temper
ance by opposing prohibition, and ad
vocating the effort to make dram sell
ing respectable by legalizing it, ant
which regards jeff. Davis as the mos
suitable teacher of patriotism for thu
rising generation of its locality, shoult
regard any thing Of the nature o
"Grantism" as the one thing not to b.
endured, and should bury itself in seek
y ing to promote the interests of goOt
: government and of the Republican par
ty by organizing bolt in case eithe
of two gentlemen who have certainl,
{ demonstrated that they are capable O
discharging with dignity, honesty, ant
signal ability the duties of any posi-
tion in which they may be PLACED
q should receive the presidential nomina
II ton. Such uniform success in gettinj
: on the wrong side of important aues
e tions may however very well sugges
It the propriety of taking its advice, as
IS is said dreams are to be taken 'sby con
s traries." P.