Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-05-31

for candidates possessing the most serious dis
qualifications for office, under that test II we
should go to the towns where they live and ask
some OF the very best OF their fellow-townsmen
for their political history IN It's principles and
methods, 1t Is almost certain that we should get
the same story, In nearly all instances OF career
of petty politician, marked throughout by
methods that will not bear open discussion The
writer has heard, In regard 10 two prominent
candidates Of this class repeated statements that
their political magnate Ia by no means thoroughly
respected at home. A good many people OF the
best standing In these towns secretly depore the
career OF their chief politician and would bear his
defeat with resignation, to say the least.
But what shall we do about all this 2 Some
thing must be done. The country will look to
Vermont for healthy political sentiment In the
next presidential election. The danger Is that
she will fall behind Pennsylvania and other states
In leadership of the best sentiment of the party,
and she will have greatly weakened vote unless
her hold on the suffrages Of some OF her best cit
liens Is stronger than II will be II the present
vicious management continues. She has no large
| cities to support the methods Of the +" machine,
as in other states, and can, so far IA conditions
go, more easily adopt high political principles and
methods than any other state. Maine should be
standing warning to Vermont against the
| boss system In New England
| Let us speak our minds. There IL a good dea
Of secret feeling that needs public utterance Pri
| yate expressions Of opinion have been made by
| those OF the highest standing In the party and o.
| the very best personal knowledge OF what they
say, that completely justify both the confidence
OF the great body OF the criticisms that come from
the press outside and inside the state and also NJ
| arraignment OF our state leaders before the PEG
pie Let us demand in the interests OF the party
and the state that the arrangements on the slat,
| be wiped out and the people be given n fa
chance for independent action. Renominate, 1
best, the old state officers give us a candidat,
| from the honest, able, Independent men who ar,
not down on the managers slate. Let 1t he un
| derstood that the caucus and convention mus
make good nominations, OF expect an Independent
| movement, OF independent voting Give Mr.. Pagi
| to understand that the people want him, and /
| they cannot have him they will name one of thu
| many able business men OF the state who are FREE
| from entangling political and railroad alliance
| that may either weaken the confidence OF tn,
| people at home or the credit OF the state abroad
| Let the other offices be kept or put into hand
that will use them in unselfsh public service anC
| not for self-aggrandzement, Let the custom o
giving every man afflicted with the itch for offic
| his turn as town representative be displaced TO
| the one OF selecting the best man, and let count,
| nominations of senator be sifted more carefully
| In this way we should have better chance o
| getting the few men OF real statesmanship WI
have into congress and do great deal to encour
| age statesmanike qualities where now we temp
men to be low politicians
These words are written without malice Ia
| wards any and it is believed with kindly feeling
for those whose course they criticise. They ar
uttered in the interest of one man or set of mel
| but simply in the conscientious discharge OF
| duty. Had others taken these positions publicly
| the writer would have remained silent except Ii
| simple approval He wishes them Judged entirel
| on their own merits and free from all PERSONAL
ties. CITIZEN.