Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-06-21
The Paramount Duty.

So far as the selection OF candidates Tor
the three elective state offices in concerned,
the work of the convention which assem-
bles to-day will not severely tax its powers
The preference of the party, so far as it
has found expression in the private utter
ances of individuals and through the press
of the state, is substantially unanimous
for the promotion of LieutenantGovernor
Barstow to be governor, and Inspector OF
Finance Dubois to be treasurer. For the Of
fee CT lieutenant-governor, there is some good
natured rivalry. Senator Dwinells name
has been received with favor in different
parts of the state, but who will be the sue
cessful man cannot be predicted with any
great degree of confidence.
In whatever respect the work of the con-
vention may have been anticipated by the
conclusive development of public sentiment,
there is field in which its influence, hon
estly and energetically exerted, may be
made most salutary and achieve results that
shall be commensurate with the time, ex-
pense and trouble which great state as
sembly involves. In so far as the prosperity
of the state is the result OF its political
government, the party in power in Vermont
can reasonably claim it as triumph OF
republicanism and, in so far as the state has
been non-progressive for reasons apart from
insuperable natural obstacles, the republican
government must be held accountable. Not
only this, but national republlcanism Is al
fected favorably or adversely by the record
the party makes In the control Oh state
The republican party OF Vermont assembled
TO deliberate upon matters solely anecung
the state should present In It's DECLARATION
OF its policy an example Oh vigorous ana
enlightened effort Tor progressive sta.e gov
eminent. The young repuohcahs IN par
tcular Will hardly be satished WIN rehasn'
ing OF old political platitudes ana common
places. They demand tnat the party 40
something more than point WIN piiue
to past achievements, view "i'h alarhl
the unlaid spooks Oh dead issues OF III the
future as IN the past piedge ltseil W lnarcn
to battle shouting the slogans OF the con-
ilcts oil past political era Inc heeu OF
national reforms may enlist It's interest," Out
the convention shouid not De obvious 10
opportunities ior reforms al nome, WINE
resolving In favor Oh national ciVli service
reform, 1t should lay the ak reientieSSiy al
the roots OF grave civil abuses IN the STATE
The constitution PROVIDES tnat ne mouse
OF representatives oil the 1reemeh Oh this
state shall consist OF persons most noted ior
wisdom and virtue" 1t Is hardly necessary
to explain now grossly latter-day practices
have prcsotuted the oihce oil representa-
tive OF the freemen OF this state 10 the
qualification OF personal ambition, and now
from the itching Tor oihce has come the
vicious practice oil rotation now as .ne
result oil rotation the business Of making
the laws OF the state one oil the most I'M
portant trusts winch can De committed 10
the hands oil men, Tor years past mas oeen
done py legislatures composed LOT the most
part Oh new nien' tyros III Legislation ho"'
as natural consequence, the greater part
OF legislative session is spent by members
In becoming even measurably familiar win
the mere forms Oh procedure, ana the lesser
part In enacting some good laws which per-
maps are crudeiy iramed' passing some laws
which an experienced oody OF men would
REJECT ana reJecting some winch shouiu pe
passed OF now al the next eiectoh 'nis
oouy Vi NELL scnooieu a' grea' expense
10 tne state IN the business Oh iaw-making'
Is MISPLACED py new levy Oh crude WIS
oom ana virtue VINO re-enac' "ha' 10
somethihg very IKE iegisia'iVe iarce' COT
fecting' IL may De- 'ne errors Oh 'pe previous
legislatures but making possibly new crop
lor the next ana business lor the courts ana
lawyers. lnese SUBSTANTIALLY are .he iruits
Oh ROTATION IN once as appieo 10 'he choice
Oh members OF the legislature WIN as
much reason IN banking corporation might
zach inui'iuuai s.ochnoiuer insis' upon MS
sovereign rign' u 'e'in as president OF
CASHIER Ut Oh 'he ooaru Vi u'rec'ors' An
arcny greater OF consequences more uisas-
Irous couio haruiy oVertake the nnahclai
institution whose STOCKHOLDERS heiu ana
practiced such Ideas oil oank management
tnan tne Wretched custom OF rotation In
once mas introduced into the legislative de-
partment oil the state government what
Is the remedy Not only to elect to the leg
lslature, IN accordance with the letter and
spirit OF the constitution, the persons most
noted for wisdom and virtue" but to give
them reasonably stable tenure OF office by
successive reflections. Experience is most
essential element in the wisdom" contem-
plated by the constitution, and this costly ele
ment is lost by customarily filling up the leg
stature with new men. The business princi-
pies which the thrifty voters of the state
r-ao",' ~ 'n'" p,''''o "A','s 'Aouu ~
,'iii'u inoU INC pe'ioi in"n'o y, 'ne" Puoi'0
uu'ieS' ne convention Will uo 'ne s.a'e d
rear sefVioe IL IL VIII III ciear anu QUIZ
SPOKEN MANNER condemn a custom "hlcn
Dienniaiiy Pe0pieS 'he legislature WIN III
experienced mep' ana recommend the towns