The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-12


done, the preponderant sentiment Of voters is
likely 10 fasten on a candidate who is not
simply respectable" but who has some pre-
eminent fitness for the position for which he is
named. Let us have the best man and free
choice, II possible-but, at any rate, let us
have FREE CHOICE.
STICK FOR BILLINGS.
The people won't give him up. Having care
fully considered all the objections to his can
didacy urged by himself and Others a vast
majority Of the voters still persist in their pur
pose to support him. and this purpose, am
glad to see, is again finding voice in the utter
ances of the Independent press. Only speak
out and the thing is done; and, when done, 1t
means ability, independence, manliness, breadth
and culture in the executive chair. 1t means
| more-it means emancipation, now and here
| after, from the mediocrity and contamination
| OF ring " rule, under which the state has suf-
| fered detriment both in her material interests
| and her fair fame. No sane man is so unob-
servant Of the signs OF the times as not to know
| that the people are heartily dsgusted with ma
| chine politics, and that, IL the popular will can
| find free expression in caucuses and conven-
| tions, bossism and all its belongings will go
down here with an emphasis a. signal as that
which marked its recent overthrow in New
| York, burying its astonished devotees under
an avalanche of two hundred thousand indig.
nant votes Popular discomfort Is everywhere
| increasing, and will not long, in any event,
lack concentration and fit leadership And
why? Because for fifteen years, with only
| enough honorable exceptions to prove the
rule little compact band OF mutual ad-
visers, composed largely of members of our
perpetual and sefperpetuating state COM
mittee and its select circle OF friends,
guided and controlled by an adroit MASTER
hand, has kindly parceled out sometimes
years in advance, all important state offices
and emoluments-frst making sure that the
official crumbs, great and small, should fall
only to faithful adherents neither too great
nor too independent to obey the power that
made them. The people have had nothing to
do but quietly to vote for such candidates as
had been kindly selected for them. So much.
for the past. And now, taking courage from Mr..
Billings reluctance to be candidate, the ring"
puts in prompt and smiling appearance,
and very generously offers up, as kind of
atOning sacrifice, its irst-lieutenant and chief
executive officer for governor-the man who,
almost from the time when the memory of
man runneth not to the contrary, has been, NOR 3
than any other, the very essence and embodi-
ment OF ring politics. Personally, have no
fault to find with DR.. Nichols. He is very
amiable and suave gentleman, whom 1t is al
ways pleasure to meet, but entirely lacking
in those pronounced successes or achievements,
either 10 public or private life, indicating supe-
ror ability and emitting to rank above the great
mass of intelligent citizens of whom every town
can boast. Why, then, is such man, however
worthy in the ordinary walks of life, thought Of
for governor OF Vermont-a position to which
only the ablest and best that the state can pro-
duce should aspire? The answer is manifest In
his own proper person he represents in fact is,
the ring" and, If chosen, will faithfully serve
its purposes Can he be nominated and
> elected? Certainly not, as have already indi-
, Gated, II the people are permitted to rule. But
he is supported by the men who have control of
all the political machinery and organizations,
who are adrot in manipulation and in packing
apI -tt,rx ...,A t,aN
strings to pull and just how to go slyly about
the state fixing things" to suit. In these
cunning men, who make politics trade and
can handle the machine with infinite skill, the
honest voter, who wants nothing but good gov
i ernment through the best available men, finds
himself fearfuly overmatched. II Nichols sue
ceeds, it will be clear triumph OF the "ring -
over the people. | end as began-stick for
, Billings. 1t cannot be that he will obstinately y
: refuse to serve his native state when called as
he nowis If he does, then let US hope that
! his candidacy, even so far as 1t has gone, has
begotten such aspirations for higher and cleaner
politics as will make a return to the low plane
of the past impossible, and that some man, out
side of machine circles and fit to take his place,
: will be substituted for him. MANSFIELD.
= YOUNG AMERICA TO THE FRONT.
, Mr.. Editor Il would tender my thanks to
= | you for the manly course taken by your paper
! in the struggle for purer political methods in
. this state. And / think it is high time that
some leading newspaper should champion the
!, cause of purity in politics. especially when the
people demand publication OF political meth
!. L DDS as strongly as they do at the present time
1t is needless to say that fully agree with the
!, sentiments expressed, through the columns o.
= : The WATERMAN, both by yourself and othel
i persons who have treated this subj act. Being
:, v a minor and not yet possessing the right tC
u Il vote, but soon to acquire that privilege, rep
resent more fully that class of voters Whose
- future action in politics is supposed to be pre-
, ordained, or transmitted to them through tht
:, blood Of their ancestors. Consequently, OF
a /. election days they are expected to run at the
:, beck and nod of some "wire-puler," to vot'
g g according to orders, regardless of any and al
! principle. So think the political sages as they
q q prepare the "slate" for the coming election
But here they are mistaken. There are youthi
,; in Vermont with eager, observing minds, who
a :, make the plans of the politicians carefu
:. study, to discern whether these plans arr
=. fraught with good to the best interests of th
~ people or to that body of politicians who form
y y the machine" The best interests of the peo
70 best men as candidates for the highest offices
u and giving the mediocre class of politician
VI the "back seat" And, furthermore, wheI
% we see that power which is delegated by peo
/. pie to few of its leading men, to be used BY
- - them for the promotion of the peoples best in
70 70 terests, usurped for the advancement OF indi
% vidual interests, is it not time for the young
!. men of Vermont who have witnessed such
~ proceedings TO hold themselves aloof, TO re
u frain from countenancing such methods will
"a n their ballots If mediocrity is the STANDARD
70 by which our candidates for public offices arr
70 to be selected, then have nothing to say.
~ men possessing the qualities of true statesman
u u ship are sought after, then the youthful voter
"a ~ should, by voice and by ballot, help to Civ
10 those persons who represent this age of medi
u ocrity in politics back seat" OBSERVER.
i Warren.-About seventy-five of the man,
f..A Il. Dfn n. N
p bled quite Unexpectedly at their house on Mon
:, day evening, March g. to remind them that tn
Ie fifth anniversary of their marriage was clos
70 at hand. After a pleasant evening spent II
rs ,Sar bv 'he
y when Dr.. W. Slayton presented to Mr.. ant
T. Mrs Greene gifts valued at about $50. Dr.
10 Greene responded with much feeling Cake
., coffee and oranges were then served =. Mardi
a. Gleason, who has been spending the past few
rs weeks in town. went to Burlington las