The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-04-30
Letters from the People.
HOW IT STRIKES THIN.

We give the following extract from private
letter to show how Dr. Nichols letter strikes
the people: GO 1t to my mind completes. II
needed, the demonstration Of the need of po-
litical reform in Vermont 1t is a piece of
rank Blaineism-build up as strong follow
fail, transfer the following to a candidate you
name. DR.. Nichols, by his naming Mr.. Pin
gree, has killed the latter as man for whom
anti-machine men can vote. To accept Dr.
Nichols proposal is 10 admit the contest to be
a personal one, and to continue the essential
principles Of the machine. Who nominates
the governor? What is the convention for?
To register the arrangements Of wire-pullersP
What is the use of talking about the crying
evil OF this in national convention and trying to
make that what it should be, a deliberative
body, and then listening to this talk Of nomina-
ton by acclamation' ? The fact that Mr.. Pin
gree conld be q party to the acceptance Of such
a letter convicts him of either being machine
man himself or of great stupidity, or both
hope you will follow up the victory gained by
DR.. Nichols letter and push 1t until the whole
field is ours. To relax effort now is a confess
sion that we fight man and not q machine
on personalities and not principles"
THE PEOPLES RIGHT.
Mr.. Editor Il like what THE WAToHMAN
has said in the last few weeks in regard to
public office as q trust, and the importance OF
state as well as national government. The
subject cannot be too thoroughly discussed
and its impOrtarc ce too earnestly urged upon
the attention Of the people, Time was when
the office sought the man, and men Of genuine
character were chosen to fill places OF honor
1t. The question was not "Who wants the
ofice?" "Whose turn ia it?" "Who by
party service has earned it?" but, Who is the
best man for it?" There were no rngs, pack
ing of caucuses and conventions, shrewd polit-
ical manipulations, but the machinery was OF
the simplest sort and the voice Of the people
was distinctly heard. The call was for men OF
wel-known integrity and fitness for ofhce-meu
who would adorn the Office and not seek II as q
means Of self-aggrandizement; men Of large
hearted patriotism and wise craftsmanship;
men who were themselves the platform as
well as the candidate. and commanded and
deserved the confidence of the people. Every
effort to reform modern political methods, tc
defeat selfish and unrighteous combinations
for the accomplishment OF personal ends rather
than the public good, and to bring about a re-
turn to the earlier spirit and methods, must re-
ceive the hearty endorsement OF all intelligent
citizens and true patriots. 1t Ia refreshing tc
know that the people are becoming SO much in
earnest In the matter that the leaders OF botf
the two great parties already feel that II they
would have any hope OF success at the ap
preaching presidential election they must pu'
now not so much for principles as for men who
are the embodiment OF principles One effec
tive means Of encouraging this feeling 80 tha
it shall bring forth fruit in action is for thu
different states 10 place their best men in office
many of whom have been kept In comparativ,
obscurity by ambitious demagogues. As Yer
mont Is the first state to speak, on account oi
her earlier election, II is Of the utmost impor
tance that she speak wisely, so that her influ
ence may be most potent. Not the man who
wants the office, who has done political work
and therefore whose turn 1t Is to have It,
should be nominated for governor, but tn,
man who stands for the purest and best ther'
is in politics, who will give the state the wises
and most intelligent administration in lookinl
after her interests and developing her re
sources Such a one the people want, and
will demand, II they have the opportunity Il
rings" " combinations" are afraid Of
Hence their anxiety and "still hunt" by ques
tionable methods to suppress the voice of thu
people. Still 1t is the peoples business Il
nominate the governor. Now let them do it
1t is said that Abraham Lincoln once said Il
Richard Ogelsby: Dick, remember to keel
close to the people; they are always right ant
will never misead any one." We plead TO
the rights Of the people, and only ask that the,
have the privilege OF naming the next governor
ONE OF THE PEOPLE.
NOT THE WEIGHT BUT THE USE.
Mr.. Editor A friend calls my attention h
the work doing by THE WAToHMAN for thu
elevation OF political aims and methods. II
that work 30 far say, Amen. 1t becomes al
| friends OF the commonwealth to insist on th
execution Of law, and as a means TO that ent
to insist that all Lawmakers and all judges
and executive agents OF the law be men VIII,
themselves obey the law. II we cannot safel,
trust thieves and murderers to legislate and h
| judge for us, neither can we trust men who re
turn false lists OF no lists, or who draw thei
incomes from Unlawful traffic, to represent Il
high places the collective wisdom and will o