St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-11-13
Public Opinion.
THE PREsIpENT-ELECr.


We go to press on Tuesday morning
of this week, and hence cannot state
the result of the election held on the
same day. What is certain at this
writing is that James G. Blaine OF
Grover Cleveland win be our next
president. We have not, for moral
reasons, given eur support to either of
these candidates, and have frankly and
explicitly stated our objections to
both and this, under like circum-
stances, we would do again. We claim,
and shall always exercise, the right of
Judging for ourselves as to the merits
of candidates for public office, and OPP
pose or advocate their election accord
ing to that judgment.
The president-elect is, however, no
longer candidate before the people !;
and the duty of endeavoring to en-
tighten the public as to his qualifica-
tlons, intellectual and moral, for the
office has ceased with his candidacy
The people having heard the argument
as to candidates.: and having exercised
the constitutional right of choosing the
supreme executive magistrate of this
great nation, we shall cheerfully pay
all due Difference to that decision, and
treat the successful candidate, no mat
ter to which party he belongs, as pres
ident of the United States, giving him
our hearty support in respect to all
means of his administration which we
deem to be wise and proper, and as
freely criticising any measures that we
do not approve. Our earnest hope is
that he will so conduct the government
fl...t Il, Il. L
just occasion to regret his election, and
that those who opposed him will be
compelled to approve and commend
his course. Let him do his duty in
the fear of God, and in the exercise of
that wisdom which is profitable to di-
rect, having an eye to the greatest
good of the whole people; and he may
be sure that the great body of the
American people will sustain him.
What they want is good government
and the president who most success
fully meets this demand has the best
guaranty of popular favor. "He serves
his party best who serves his country
best"
| If any of our readers have, during
the recent canvass, supposed that the
| Independent was about to change its
position, deserting the republican par
ty, and passing over to the democracy,
they were certainly mistaken. No
such purpose has been entertained for
il moment. We opposed the republi
can ticket for president and vice presi-
dent because we could not conscien-
tiously support it. Though we did so
regretfully. we could take no other
course and yet keep a good conscience
| And now that the contest is ended,
and the people have settled the ques-
ton in debate between the two great
parties of the country, we expect, as
hitherto, to continue our support of the
republican party and all its principles,
holding ourselves at liberty, at all
times, to oppose bad nominations, as
well as to criticise and condemn Objec-
tionable measures, and meaning to dc
what we can to lift the politics of this
country to a higher plane of moral ex-
cellence. Our allegiance to the party
must always rest on what it is, and not
on its name, or even on its past rec
ord. We do not claim perfection fol
this party; yet we do believe it to be
the best organized expression of the
better sentiments of the people that
can be found in this land, and, in this
respect, far superior to the democratic
party New York Independent.
THE PROHIBITION PARTY.
Before we dismiss the discussion OF
the political relations of prohibition
it is timely to make few observations
in regard to the party that is organized
upon this issue. The campaign now
just at an end has resulted in a more
extended organization of the party
than ever before. This result is the
only one which the friends of the
movement expected to reach, and while
they will be encouraged by the record
of the vote by the party, the organiza-
ton is the only tangible attainment OF
the campaign. This organization has
been effected, not simply for this cam
paign, not merely to record a protest
of to-day, but with a view to perma.
nency. The members of the party arG
not in it to secure honors, titles and
emOluments. They are of the class
who care little for politics, according
to the ordinary Specification of tho
term, but care greatly for the welfare
of the community. Hence, they dc
care for politics, according to the tru,
Interpretation of the term as "the sci
ence of government" as contrastet
with the prevailing practice of making
it the science of robbery, plunder, self
agrandizement and sensuality. There
fore, they have gone out from former
political associations, intending to re
main out. The separation has no
been without its features of regret, ans
even of pain, for these associations ar,
of historical interest and represent the
memories of honor and virtue, al
though since degenerated by base in
fluences. But, if there was few
months ago any lingering hope in thu
hearts of prohibitiOnists that the sepa
ration was only for a time, and tina
the results of the campaign would re
move the occasion for separation ant
lead to harmonious reunion, the hop,
has been dissipated by the experienc,
of the campaign. The experience ha
been one of abusive. ungenerous ant
treacherous treatment throughout
The partisan press has spared no ef
fort, and scrupled at no means to heal
ridicule and abuse upon those wht
have dared to reject the party nomina
tions and to defy party discipline. Th
misrepresentation, emascnlation of re
corded facts and statements for parti
san effect, and practices which ar,
mean and dishonest, have been tin
stock in trade of the party manager
and their most subservient servants
the partisan papers. If, therefore, TIN
prohibitionists left their former part,
associations in disappointment becaus
of their lack of principle they viii nov
plan for a permanent divorce from
them in disgust for their want of com
mon honesty. We believe, therefore
that the prohibition party is destine'
to live, to grow, and to see in its ma