The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-05-07
Letters from the People.
STILL FoREoRDAINING."


Mr.. Editor "A more signal instance of the
ruling passion strong in death was never
vouchsafed to mortal ken than the foreor-
daning" Of Pingree by Nichols. Struck with
premature political death himself because of
too much pre-arrangement so strong was the
force of habit within him he could not even
give up the ghost without entaiing the same
fatality on poor Pingree by making him his
residuary legatee. He couldn't trust the peo-
pie to name his successor. 1t Is said he acted
under advice, and after full and free consulta-
ton with all parties in interest, except the peo
pie So much the worse Was such obtuse-
ness ever before known Cannot these manipu-
lators be made to comprehend what this great
popular uprising means? Is itquite impossible,
by any process known to science, to beat into
their stubborn heads the simple idea that what
the people wants 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 itY 1t
is not, and never has been, to any considerable
extent, war on Nichols persona!ly-though
he confessedly lacks proper gubernatorial pro-
portions-but upon the offensive and vicious
methods of which he is the exponent and the
embodiment 1t is stern and relentless pro-
test of the people against all forms OF bossism,
big and litte-against political generalization
and predestination, against that painstaking
and minute supervision and guardianship, so
long assumed and exercised by the alert ring
manipuators, over the timely setting apart and
the proper grooming and training OF all candi-
dates for high office, leaving the people little
or no voice in the selection Of their own rulers.
This has gone on year after year, until 1t has
become too rank and offensive, and too SUBJ
versive 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 indigna-
tion ought not to subside, and believe never
will subside, until the whole offensive, dis
graceful and corrupt system Is rooted out and
annihilated Nichols has gone (peace to his
lalnal hut pinpraa rqnaina He ie nv
inheritance the ful-fledged machine" candi-
date. DR.. Nchols-under advice, and upon
conditions and understandings not known to
the people, but easily surmised--has formally
and publicly made over to him all assets
of every name and nature belonging to the
ring; and he, apparently as totally unconscious
of the true drift of popular sentiment as Nichols
himself, has publicly accepted the ill-omened
legacy and its consequences. Thus these two
gentlemen, in the usual ring manner, have
quietly settled between themselves who shall
be the next governor of Vermont, without put
ting the people to any trouble about it-a
most egregious blunder on both sides. Their
letters, addressed to each other and not to the
people, are suspiciously 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 appreciable differ
ence in the attitude of these two men-Nichols
then and Pingree nolo. Nichols was, Pingree
is, the favorite candidate of the ring-an organ
ization that never INDUCES in favorites not ex-
pected to be both useful and obedient So far
they are equal. In point of ability, Pingree is
no improvement on Nichols Neither possesses
such marked talents, or can boast of such pro-
nounced achievements in any walk of life, as
fairly entitle him to aspire to be governor of
Vermont And If all this excitement should
culminate simply in exchanging Nichols for
Pingree, it would emphatically be case Of
"great Cry and little wool" 1t would be
anOthpr labor Of tho n N RI brinn forth
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 citizens
for chief magistrate. therefore say with you
Keep up the canvass" Let the purifying and
health-giving agitation continue, not only until
all offensive and corrupt methods are wiped
out but until a healthier and more enlightened
public sentiment shall compel 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
committals or entanglements that will interfere
with a cordial union with all other good men,
at the proper time in securing nominations
that will rebound to the honor and dignity of
the state. AsCUTNEY.
NOT SETTLED MATTER.
prominent citizen of Rutland county, ga
veteran republican close verging on fourscore
years, with no axe to grind, but who retains
all the vigor and clearness of full manhood,
writes US private letter, from which we make
the following extract: "There are some things
in that letter do not like. Why was 1t d.
rected to Colonel Pingree? 1t seems to me if
1t was prompted solely by patriotism and a
desire to harmonize the party, it should have
been an open letter to his friends, or to the pub
lie at large, leaving the party to select its own
candidate What right or reason had the doc
tor to assume that Colonel Pingree was the can
didate OF those opposed to himself? AS look
at it, that matter was and is now very far from
being settled, and not likely to be settled, per-
haps, till the state convention. It looks as
though the doctor, true to his machine in
stincts, claimed the right, while withdrawing
his own name, to name the candidate which
the party must adopt. Has he made terms
assurance that his own strength and, by impli-
cation, that of his friends, shall be given to
Colonel Pingree Has he been promised any
thing in return? Did he exact stipulation
that he should retain his present office, and
that his co-workers of the ring should not be
disturbed? wait for light from other parts OF
the state. The Rutland Herald, you know is
and has been, dumb on the governor question,
being sileneed by its proprietors connection
with the public, printing. 1t now represents
all is quiet along the Potomac Now | take
1t that the uprising of the people to prevent the
nomination OF DR.. Nichols was not personal to
himself. Nobody denies that the doctor would
make very respectable governor, as far as
personality is concerned. The effort has been
TO- smash the machine; and shall all that
effort be wasted by leaving the machine in full
force and vigor? This will surely be done If
the doctor and his conferees are retained in
their present Offices This should not be DONE
Let the good work 60 on and let George Mich
OILS, at any rate, be eliminated from the politics
OF the state. am not prejudiced against Col
onel Pingree, and shall cheerfully support him
If he fairly becomes the standard bearer of the
good old republican party"
WANTS A GENERAL WAKING UP.
Mr.. Editor Il have watched with a good
deal OF interest the discussion of the governor
question in your paper. am pleased to know
that there Is one paper in the state that is not
run in the interest of the machine. and is will
ing to give the people hearing. Now wish
to suggest name for governor, and that Is the
Hon. Justus Dartt. believe that it has been a
long time since farmer has sat in the gov
ernors chair in Vermont. | do not believe that
the above named would soil the chair, If he is
tiller OF the soil, and his clothes do have little
SAVIOR OF phosphate and Of the barn-yard. |
think the honorable position he holds now is
enough to recommend him to the position of
governor. The voters throughout the state
ought to know pretty generally what and who
they are voting for II they vote for him. rs
large part Of them have had the opportunity of
meeting him face to face | well remember