Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-06-13
A POLITICAL CREED.

Washington GLADDEN., who has made
name for himself as one Of the very few
strong writer's upon questions of great pub
lie importance in this country, has an ex
cellent article in the Century magazine fo
Jane, upon the relation of the citizen to 20
litical parties. The writer takes up the va
rious opinions of those who look upon th,
matter from different standpoints, ant
criiciscs them in turn. His disclim
inatlon is 81 keen, and his concu
sious arc SO strongly fortified, tina
the reader cannot help admitting that b,
has the right of the matter. The article il
particularly opportunc at the present time
MIR Gladden. is political conser
va'ist, but not a political bigot. HC
believes in holding to what is good il
the old, and importing what is best in the
new. H Sits the tendencies of the time
and Oh oscs TO commend those which seen
prmarcct and valuable, while he rejects
those which are worthless and transient
The creed OF many, in the present
critical and disheartcning asrect of political
life is, Keep out of political life altogether
|, is hoplrssy corrupt. You can do moth
ing to purify it. Let 1t alone" This, says
Mr.. GLADDEN., is the argument of despair,
lightly urged BY many frivolous aud faith.
less sous bat not - be entertained. by any
patriot.
The creed Of another, and very r0pidly
growing party, is: vote always, but be-
long TO II party. join tue unorganized mob
Of Independents; take your place on what
Charles Flancis Adams. Jr., calls the CEN
tire Of the tiltirg board and put your votes
in every election where they will do the most
good--voiug always for the best man, or, at
any rate against the worst rascals"
Mr.. Glad!en's criticism upon the indepcn-
dent policy is that 1t is too comfortable
way of doing political duty. The practical
| difficulty is 10 determining which raj is
the worst. Both are SOMETIMES so bad that
ii is had to choose.
A third section o. voters say Maintain
Il ioose lealion to one party or the other
but take 10 part in the primary meetings.
and holt when they offer YOU bad
candidates or bad measures. The theory is
that i'll his scmi-attachcd condition you will
influence somewhat the nominations that
the party managers will he thinking OF YOU
when they make up the ticket,
The criticism which MIR. GLADDEN. passes
upon this position, is that it is apt to leave
the voter simply choice of two ey,ls
The gentlemen left by you in charge of
the primary meetings are not sure to tbirk
oil you, aud If they do, they console them
selves with the reflection that the other
fellows will probably nominate worse man
than theirs"
Mr.. GLADDEN. states his own political creed
as follows;
JOIN one party Or the other. Go into the
caucuscs II you Can get in. Take yuur
pluck aud your independence along with
you: Tell tue gentleman in charge that Won
are lntere ted in the success OF the party
ana YOU want to help keep 1t in a shape in
"hlch u VIII deserve to succeed. Give
them distinctly to understand that,
"hie you ask nothing for yourself, you in
policy and IN making the nominations and
'Eat you will be guided in all this by a SUI
preme regard for national interests rather
IMAM personaTntorests. If, in spite of your
protests, they made bad nominations hojt
Tue nominations and return to the charge the
next time, taking with you as many as Won
can Ut your well hlentOned peighbors n
you can preserve your temper and use rea-
son, ana Keep standing up for men and
lhlhgs that are honest and OF good report.
p iauVenlure they will listen to Won at
lehSlh, and You may succeed in lifting nm
lpe standards and in purifying party man
agemeHt. "N
This a good manly creed, suf.
nclenlly progrc ssive to satisfy the
reform party, and yet conservative so far ss
the meliods Of long-estabished political
usage are Concerned. We cannot get along
without parties, and the Republican and
Democratic lines will fairly enough divide
The people. Without the mutual check of
Two great rival parties, the government, OF |
TINS country would run headopg into untold |
abuses. As to third party, politics are
very much like lovc-muking, Two is
company, three is crowd" There is room
Tor any reasonable Independent notions in
eilhtr OF the Old parties. The best creed for
every cltz n, We think, is to stick by his
own patty, aid q IN for reform, if reform il
necessary, within the lines of that party
~ Res q. BLAtNE.