The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-02-20

cacy. Our contemporary says:
"The secretary OF state-especially one who
has held the office as long and become as
familiar with the state business as Secretary
Nichos-is In position to exercise great influ-
ence on legislation. With what job or I'M
worthy scheme at Montpelier, for the last
twenty years, has Dr. Nichols name been
connected? What man about the state-house
has cleaner record On the other hand,
how many good laws-as, for one our present
excellent tax law-have had his valuable help,
and how many unwise and unworthy meas
ures have largely owed their defeat TO his per-
haps transformations but effective oppositionl
His influence, so far as we are aware, and we
have watched his course closely, has always
been thrown on the side Of education, re-
ligion, good order, temperance, economy and
strict accountability in public affairs. In these
ways and as the wise counsellor OF many
county and town officials, he has been very
valuable public servant-more.valuabl than
many are aware Of, though the worth of his
service has been recognized by a dozen or
more reflections. 1t is now, we doubt not, to
be more fully recognized by his selection as
the candidate OF his party, and his consequent
elevation to the chief executive office in our
commonwealth. He Is not the greatest man in
Vermont; but he Is a very good man-proved,
honest, capable and faithful in public and in
private life. And he will make, II chosen, an
honest, capable dignifed and popular gov
ernor."
"For these reasons, and these alone, the
Free Press favors his nomination" Now
we do not hesitate to say that such "rea-
sons " why candidate should prevail,
and such way of regarding and enforc-
ing his claims will, and ought to, beat
Dr. Nichols or any other man. They are
not flattering to the intelligence and inde-
pendence of the citizens to whom they
are addressed. II the Free Press can
give no better reasons why DR.. Nichols
should be made governor, the people should
see to it that he is not made governor. If
faithful performance of duty constitutes
claim upon the governorship, there are
scores of citizens who have like " claim !"
to the office. In the faithful and skillful
discharge of very weighty and response
BILE duties, let alone general or special ca
liabilities, no state officer is the peer of
ex-Treasurer John A. Page; and the bill
of virtues, which, in our contemporaries
estimation, alone are sufficient "reasons |"
why one man should be nominated, could
be applied to him, with no risk that the
incredulous would laugh or the judicious
grieve. Why, two years ago, when the
ex-treasurer laid down his Office, after six
teen years of honorable tenure, did not
the Free Press recognize his claims to
a nomination to the governorship And
why not this year? Here was shining
opportunity to reward faithfulness, to
honor ability, and to prove its devotion
to temperance, religion, morality, and all
estimable things. Instances of fidelity to
duty under more laborious and distress
ing circumstances than have attended the
administration of the Office of secretary
of state, and the possession of the quail
ties and abilities which the Free Press
outlines, are not, we are glad to believe,
uncommon in public or private life in
Vermont. If, however, their possessors
were all made governors, there would be
realization of ARENAS Wards famous
regiment of brigadier generals.
But the idea that rams through the
Free Press editorial endorsements of DR..
Nichols seems to be that he has acquired
some sort of title to the Office of gov
ernor; and that it is only matter of his
individual pleasure when, having enjoyed
the honors and emoluments of the Office
of secretary of state to his hearts content,
he should order the governorship to be
served up to him as sort of dessert to
round off his career of public service.
1t would be difficult to imagine more
unhappy or more offensive statement than
the following: ave could as cheerfully
support Colonel Pingree, who is one OF
Vermont's worthiest citizens, if it were
possible to retain Dr.. Nichols in his pres.
emit Office. But he has, as we understand,
definitely decided to retire from that
matter of course wholy ,oahin his oDn dis
erection to determine" Our contemporary
closes with an expression of its belief that
DR.. Nichols nomination will be no long
postponement of Colonel Pingree's ad
vancement." Here is the machine policy
in a nut-shell-the distribution of the
Offices among an ofice-holding caste
without any direct reference to eminent
fitness. DR.. Nichols must have the gov
ernorship, and he must take it now or
never. The last year of grace is run
Colonel Pingree must wait his turn. II
seems, after all, to be matter of oppor
tunity, not of fitness, with the doctors
sponsor, for the Free Press would cheer
fully" see its candidates light burn low
in his present office if the fated hour had
not struck when he should take the option
Of the governorship, which he has held fol-
years, but which he has considerably
postponed. 1t is the clause which we have
italicised that must have curious SOUND
to Vermont ears. The candor of our con