The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-02-27
Vigorous Voices from the People.
SHALL THE PEOPLE RULE ?

Vigorous Voices from the People.
SHALL THE PEOPLE RULE2
Mr. Editor Il would tender you my personal
thanks for the manly fight you are making for
cleaner political methods and higher political
aims and ends in this state. And | warn you
that you and your cotemporaries of the inde-
pendent republican press are not moving for
ward day too soon; for, in my opinion, you
are still far In the rear of the people, and will
be compelled to make vigorous forced marches
to overtake and put yourselves in the lead OF
public sentiment where you properly belong.
| hold that public journal, at this day, can
not be credited with doing its whole duty, nor
even the weightier part of it, that contents
itself with trailing along behind, and simply
gathering up and rejecting public opinion, the
good and bad alike 1t should aspire rather to
educate and lead in right directions, and, to
this end, should place duty before friend or
foe, person or party. And | esteem it an en-
couraging omen of future good that so many
of the intelligent and influential journals of
Vermont are gradually emancipating them
selves from the old-time servility, through
thick and thin, to party or patron. With
truly honest, independent press, alive to its
duties and resolute to perform them offensive
ring methods and management would quickly
disappear. Under such methods, the guidance
of public affairs in this state for the last tif-
teen years, with occasional honorable excep-
tions (for which "the ring" are in no wise
responsibility, has been committed to men who,
by no possible stretch of generosity, can fairly
be classed among our abest citizens. And so
the period named has been, in the main, an
| era of small things. Instead of putting our
best men at the helm-men having brains, ed
| ucated and broadened by familiarity with af-
fairs as well as books, with capacity to grasp
| and solve problems involving the material
| prosperity and the educational and moral ad-
| vancement of the people-high trusts and re-
| sponsblities have too often been committed to
men Of inferior capacity, having neither the
power clearly to comprehend, nor the nerve
and independence properly to execute, the
duties devolving upon them. And how could
| it be otherwise? Third-rate attorneys, whose
experience of life and knowledge of affairs
| have been acquired in the discharge OF very
| limited and modest professional duties in their
| own immediate neighborhood, however admir-
able in other respects, scarcely furnish the ma
| terial out of which great leaders and rulers are
made. Must this state of things continue?
| Only 80 long, answer, as the people supinely
tolerate what vast majority condemn and
| detest. The suggestion of Frederick Billings
| for governor seemed for time to be the begin
ming Of a solution of the whole matter; and
the prompt and enthusiastic responses that
came up from all quarters attested the popular
recognition of the evil complained of and an
eager desire to apply the remedy. The quick
rising tide for Billings promised speedily to
overwhelm all opposition, and his declining
letter afforded corresponding relief to the
ring, for once abashed by such a phenomenal
exhibition of popular independence. 1t is to
| be hoped that Mr.. Billings, in Difference to so
obvious and emphatic a call to duty, involving
far more than his own candidacy-even the po-
litical regeneration of the state-may yet be
persuaded to subordinate his own will to the
| public good. Ii not, then some other suitable
man must be found for Vermont is not so
poor as to possess but one son worthy to serve
her. She has many such; but they must be
sought for, as in the case of Mr.. Billings, out
side the noisy crowd of time-servers and self
seekers. who persistently keep themselves in
the focus of the public eye. The right man,
besides other requisite qualifications will have
self-respect also. MANSFIELD
THE GOVERNOR QUESTION.
Mr. Editor II agree with you that :" the gov
ernorship is greater than either Nichols or Pin
gree" have tried to find out, from reading
the Burlington Free Press, what public qualities
Hon. George Nichols of Northteld possesses that
should designate him for governor OF Vermont.
The Free Press argument, boiled down, is
that his long experience as secretary OF state
has given him considerable knowledge OF state
affairs and very large acquaintance through
out Vermont. The knowledge of state affairs
obtained by service in the office OF secretary OF
state is not of a quality superior to that pos
sessed by any man of mediocre intelligence,
who has served single term in the state legs-
lature from any one of fifty of the largest towns
in Vermont. The large acquaintance of Doctor
Nichols would be valuable il he was canvass
ing for " Picturesque America" or selling a
patent right, or soliciting insurance, or ling
by sample for Boston dry goods tiIm-but we
do not see that it is of any pre-eminent worth To
the state in the governors chair. These linn
tied qualifications are respectable, but OF COM
paratively little consequence to constitute any
overpC weriDg recommendation for the office.
The Free Press speaks of the quiet, but excel
lent, influence of Doctor Nichols upon legisla-
ton. We do not remember any such influence
more noteworthy than the passage OF a
law in 1874 which increased the income OF the
secretary of state-a law which was subse
quently changed, SO that the secretary OF state
turned two-thirds of this dollar into the state
treasury, instead of putting it all in his pocket
as his law originally provided. We do not re-
member any other exhibition OF influence upon
current legislation while he was in office. II
we are wrong on this matter, THE WAToHMAN
will correct us. Doctor Nichols is man OF
good presence, of excellent clerical ability, a
respectable member OF an honorable rofession
which we believe he has pretty much aban'
doned for petty politics; he is secretary of the
Central Vermont railroad company; he Is u
man conspicuous for courtesy and urbanity
J rather than for political ability or knowledge
} Of any sort that stamps him as OF superior
fitness for the governdfship OF Vermont lie
is not distinguished for superior powers OF
public speech; he Is not gifted in written ex
preston; he Is in political counsel, thought ol
} action not above intelligent and respectable
} mediocrity; he cannot be fairly said to belong
to the first rank Of public men in Vermont;
there is not a county in Vermont that does mol
contain large number of citizens rs conspicu-
GUS as Doctor Nichols for the public qualities
that illuminate and adorn the governors chair
Lieutenant governor PiDgree is In all respects
as we'll equipped for the place as Nichols, and IL
many respects he is a great deal better
equipped he is an aber political thinker, q
, good lawyer and excellent scholar; he is a
, man Of great deal more personal indie
: pendence and courageous convictions thar
Doctor Nichols; and he was as brave and skill
full colonel as the Vermont brigade contained
He is entirely above Doctor Nichols in public
! achievement and public ability, for there is NJ
, smell of political sycophant or parasite abou
' his garments. And yet we are not ready Il
I say that Vermont cannot do better than t
I make either Nichols or Pingree governor. 1
a we are to have lawyer for governor, why no