The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-16
correspondence Watchman.

"the ruling passion strong in death " was
never vouchsafed to mortal ken than the
"foreordaining" of Pingree by Nichols.
Struck with premature political death himself
because of too much Encouragement, so
strong way the force of habit within him he
could not even give up the ghost without en-
failing the same fatality on poor Pingree by
making him his residuary legatee. He couldn't
trust the people to name his successor. Its
said he acted under advice, and after full and
free consultation with all parties in interest,
except the people. So much the worse. Was
such obtruseness ever before known? Cannot
these manipulators be made to comprehend
what this great popular uprising means? Is it
impossible, by any process known to science,
to beat into their stubborn heads the simple
idea that what the people want, and all they
want, is to be let alone to manage their own
affairs in their own way, and that they are
capable of doing it? 1t is not. and never has
been, to any considerable extent a war on
Nichols personally-though he confessedly
lacks proper gubernatorial proportions--but
upon the offensive and vicious methods of
which he is the exponent and the embodi-
ment. 1t is a stern and relentless protest
of the people against all forms of bossism, big
and little--ageinst political REORGANIZATION and
predestination, against that painstaking and
minute supervision and guardianship, so long
assumed and exercised by the alert ring ma
nipulators, over the timely setting apart and
the proper grooming and training of all can
didates for high Office, leaving the people
little or no voice in the selection of their own
rulers. This has gone on year after year, I'M
til it has become too rank and offeneive, and
too subversive of all self-respect, to be longer
endured. Hence this upheaval. The people at
length are thoroughly aroused, and in dead
earnest have called halt Their righteous
Indignation ought not to subside, and | be-
leve never will subside, until the whole Of
fensive, disgraceful and corrupt system is
rooted out and annihilated. Nichols has
gone (peace to his ashes), but Pingree re.
mains. He is now, by inheritance, the full
iedged machine candidate. DR.. Nichols
under advice, and upon conditions and under
standings not known to the ptople, but easily
surmsed-has formerly and publicly made
over to him all assets of every name and ma
ture belonging to the ring; and he, apparent
ly totally unconscious of the true drift of
popular sentiment as Nichols himself, has
publicly accepted the ill-omend legacy and its
consequences. Thus these two gentlemen, in
the usual ring manner, have quietly settled be-
tween themselves who shall be the next gov
eruor OF Vermont, without putting the people |
to any trouble about ia most eprepious
blunder on both sides. Their letters addressed
to each other and not t. the peuple, are sus-
piciously alike in tone and drift, and belong
to the you tickle me and I'll tickle you' sort
of literature, of which there has been no lack
in our later history. There seems, therefore,
to be no apprecable difference in the attitude
OF these two men-Nichols then, and Pingree
now. Nichols was, Pingree is, the favorile
candidate of the ring-an organization that
never. INDUCES in favorites not expected to be
both useful and obcdient. So far they are
equal. In point of ability, Pingree is no i'm
provement on Nichols. Neither possesses
such marked talents, or can boast such pro-
nounced achievements in any walk of life. as
farly entitled him to aspire to be governor of
Vermont. And if all this excitement should
eliminate simply in exchanging Nichols for
Pingree, it would emphaticaly be case of
great cry and little WOOL 1t would be an
other labor OF the mountain to bring forth a
mouse. Instead of being content with medi-
ocrity, and sometimes less, we ought to have
respect enough for, and pride enough in, the
good name and fair fame of the state to seek
for, and be satisfied with, nothing less than
selection from her worthiest and ablest citi-
zens for chief magistrate. l therefore say
with you: "Keep up the canvass" Let the
purifying and health-giving agitation continue
not only until all offensive and corrupt meth.
DDS are wiped out, but until healthier and
more enlightened public sentiment shall COM
pell the selection for high office only men of
the highest character and ability and the
broadcast equipment for the service required.
And to this end, all good men should hold
themselves aloof from all csmmittals or en-
auglements that will interfere with a cordial !
lnon with all other good men, at the proper
line, in securing nominations that will rebound |
% The honor and dignity of the state. t