The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-04-30
Keep Up the Canvass.

published in full in another column of
this paper, and our readers will find his
reasons for his course given in his own
language, in his own way. We regret
DR.. Nichols withdrawal from, as we re-
gard it, the most important political con-
test in the recent history of the state.
We believe it would have been more cred
table to him, and more wholesome for
the politics of the state, if the contest had
been fought out and decided at the con-
vention in June. Candidacy for Office
should not be controlled by considerations
of personal friendship simply. There
are sterner and higher claims upon a
mans political action than those which
spring from the amenities or the courtesies
of personal relations, even if ones political
course should necessarily involve the sum
dering or interruption of personal attach.
ments. In the present instance it is diff
fcult to see even if the contest had gone
on, why or how there could have been any
occasion for the disturbance of anybody's
personal relations, or the interruption of
party harmony. Close personal friends
have before now engaged in warm politi-
cal contests without forfeiting each 9th
er's respect or losing each others regard /;
and spirited rivalry has often prevailed
between the members of the same party
for the attainment of the same end with
out thereby endangering party harmony.
And there are many things of far greater
concern than the maintenance of agreea-
BILE personal relations or of party har-
mony. These desirable things should not
be lightly esteemed, but occasions some
times arise when they should be reso-
lutely sacrificed. The canvass, however,
had hardly reached the heroic stage.
Colonel Pingree is in the field by no will
or desire of his own. He does not
"aspire" to the governorship. His posi-
ton is one which must command the
respect which men intuitively pay to hon.
est manhood, and win the regard due to
modest disinclination to assume public
trust except when imposed under condi-
tions the disregard of which would imply
either moral cowardice or the Sinking
Of plain duty. His position in respect
of his candidacy for the governorship is
his defense against personal jealousies or
resentments or suspicious. This contest,
whoever are the persons who may become
involved in it, should be decided on its
merits. No considerations of a personal
character should enter into it, nor need
any fears relating to any bearing it may
have on the presidential canvass swerve
it from its proper course. 1t is the peo-
ple's affair. and what the people of Yer
mont decree they will sbundantly ratify
at the polls. Effeminacy, or faint-heart-
edness, should not intervene to check the
progress and thwart the complete tri-
umph of true political principles. Offices
have too often gone by good fellowship or
an amisble inability or disinclination of
the people to say No. Such practice as
fatally enervates the morals of the state
and blights its manhood as in some of the
minor affairs of life. Let the office be
awarded on some well.deined principle,
rigidly adhered to, however individual
aspirations may be affected thereby. Es-
pecially do we regret the appearance in
state politics of the old feudal feeling
of proprietorship in a political following
following which, at the nod of some
political lord, can be placed at the dis
posal of another or arrayed against him.
Innocently enough, we presume, DR.. Mich
OILS has addressed his letter to Colonel
Pingree personally, and has assured that
individual of his own and his friends
support as if Colonel Pingree were the
chieftain of some rival clan, and the head
of the clan from whose banners fortune had
flown, by his fiat could transfer his clans
men to whichever standard interest or in
clination or policy might dictate. The
abdication of one candidate in favor of
another is an act of no binding force upon
the people. They may ratify or reject it,
or spurn it as an impudent attempt at
dictation.
The withdrawal of DIR. Nichols should
not be the end of the canvass for a gov.
ernor and for the subordinate state officers.
This contest was not engaged in, by The
WATCHMAN at least, to make or unmake
the candidacy of any man. The with
drawal of DR.. Nichols simply eliminates
an Objectionable element. The discussion
should 60 on and the determination should
not be relaxed TO get the best available
men for the state officers. If there should
be manifest disposition to let the nomi
nations 60 by default, the trouble of enact
ing farce ct Burlington in June may