Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-11-21
:. he freema
MONTPELIER, VT
Wednesday, NOV. 81. 1883.
A Wrong Start.

"A Wrong Start.
4 Washington newspaper publishes a
article which In substance sets forth lh;
President Arthur wishes, if the countr
ends in his administration that which
o, cd, to be his own successor. The articl
is very mildly worded and, if written b
authority as is by some suggested,
nothing more than the statement of a
ambition that as the world goes is natura
enough and not to be severely condemned
The men who have been presidents as
lule, and good many men who haven
been residents have had plenty of ambi
Ton ne president.
Bat lhe Washington paper, and tn
president, if he approves the ulterance O
the paper, begin at the wrong end Of the
line. 1t is true that in England the leader
who dwell in London mark out part,
policies and pick the men to administer
the government when new administers
t'on is to come in. Suffrage is restricted
ia England and the whole government
gees on the basis of an "aristocracy" OF
better class, and it is consistent that those
who are the leaders of the classes thai
may take part in government should conlro
the choice of men to do things.
But in America all men Except down
in Rhode Island and here and there still
smaller exception) have voice in choos-
ing officers. A free ballot Is tho basis,
That is the rule at the polls and it is
coming TO be the lule at the preliminary
gatherings that proceeds the meeting at
the polls. In mary of the States in wears
gone by, this rule of the general public
has been limited, but the last few wears
have done much 10 make The body OF
voters active political agents from the
outset.
Iamm ny Hall in New York, which
was sort of incorporated political ma.
chine. went on the English principle and
the nominations were in eff -ct made by H
lew members o. portion of party The
republican "machine' in New York city
was run on the same principle. While
this sort of thing did not in form prevail
over large portion of the Union, in con.
nection with it there grew up the political
system by which Roscoe Conkine, stand
ing at the head of New York repubI icans,
dictated to all the party in his State what
should be done; by which Samuel J. Til.
den established his mastership of the
whole d, mocratic party for a time-s time
that may or may not have terminated; by
which James G. Blaine ordered the com
ing out and going in of Maine republicans
BY which the Camerons of PENNSYLVANIA
ruled their party in that State; BY which.
IN way of his own, Gen. Butler holds
md owns conventions in Massachusetts,
composed of democrats aud republicans:
md by which Malone run for some years
he politics of Virginia.
we are not saying that all these men
ire bad men, or that they did not aim TO
rive good government, -various men
you'd say different things as TO the men.
heir aims and all that; but in every case
is the English system of leadership-of
he leader marshaling forces whose only
uty it is to be marshaled and 90 forward
nder a leaders direction perhaps led
'ell and to good things, but led all the
anne. ,
Now Iammany is considerably broken
enough of rock about it vet TO
ave wrecked Gov. Cleveland's presden-
al canoe, The governor made verv g
God mayor of Buffalo but spread over 9
ew York he got thin and every body :,
w it when he wrote to John Kelly ask. n
g that Mr.. Grady who bothered him 5
ouId be 'bossed" out of denominations ii
r the state Senate. Mr.. Tiden never u
titles the wires when he works his ma. i,
llne and Grover Cleveland ought TO have a
ken lots of lessons of Samuel before he o
led to boss by boss. Is
And in the republican party the leadino O
ring business of Conkling, Cameron "
id that of Blaine which was somewhat b
its own kind as Buffers is, have come =,
grief; and the theory now all about is o
all republicans to have voics in party CT
alters. The practice should follow the te
cory. The next presidential nomination
ould not go because somebody in lead Ii
g place in Washington thinks a certain j.
'mlnatlon should be made. That is not Z
e end of the line that the start should
taken from. The men who are TO do sc
Re voting should do the thinking and see P
at their thought is carried ont in action n
hen the time for csucuses and conven. A
ms comes.
That is the way the next presidential P
that is to he sanctioned by an
ection will be made. The suggestion
Ill not come from Washng,on; it will
art from the folks who live at home and
convention will do their will or 81
man who will get beaten 1t 4,
ny be Mr.. Arthur or anybody else, hut
1oever is to be the successful nominee t
III be so because folks rs they think of &C
matter in their own homes want him ~ I,
d not because he or somebody for him III
1rks from any position however exalted A
bat he thinks is down to the men who do h
e voting. '"
The American doctrine is that a peo IN
with full capacity therefore shall HI
ect IFS governmental agents and dictate or
air policy. And the time has come when OK
English doctrine of political leader on
p must finally yield place to its new gu
MD successor. Mr.. Arthur has made
cd president but he cannot get nomi.
ed and elected from Washington, and nJ
ides the voters who will elect the next in,
'sident prefer to attend to their other tn,
'iness I'LL the proper time for that DC
mes. W,
eff,
up