The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-05-28
Letters from the People.
THE POT STILL, ROLLING.

THE fOT STILL BOlLlNG.
Mr.. Editor ANY observant man who trav-
els through Vermont "about these days las old
Josiah Thomas almanac used to have it) will
not fail to notice very unusual condition OF
the public mind and temper regarding political
affairs Instead of the old-time apathetic,
matter-of-course acquiescence in the cut-and-
dried arrangements of the bosses, he finds the
great mass of the voters wide-awake indepen-
dent and even pugnacious; ready on the in
slant to enlist in the " free lance" brigade, to
uproot and overthrow everything obnoxious
and corrupt in our political management. Boss
ism, and everything squirting towards rings,
cliques, trades and carefully made-up states,
they heartily abominate; and all the more so
because they are conscious that they them
selves are not entirely blameless for the pres
ent discreditable state Of affairs, by reason of
their timd and time-serving federation in days
that have gone by all for the sake of peace
and harmony. All this Is changed. Being
now fully aroused, and good beginning hav-
ing already been made, and no serious harm
done, they will never be satisfied short OF
thorough work. And any man who is lulling
himself to sleep in the belief that the mere SUBJ
stitution by the ring managers of one insult
able candidate for another, or the "pooing Of
their issues - by any two or more candidates,
on terms and conditions agreeable to them
selves, leaving the people entirely out of the
account, will be accepted as satisfactory out
come of all this unwonted earnestness and in.
q x.
But" it is asked, "are not both Nichols and
Pingree respectable and intelligent men, pos
sessing fair ability?' Certainly; nobody says
to the contrary, or desires in any degree to be-
little their merits Then what is all this row
about?" persists the enquirer. will try to en-
tighten him. First and foremost, it is a re-
bellion earnest and relentless, against boss
/ rule and all manner OF machine politics. It is
an unmistakable notice. direct from the people
themselves, that they desire and intend to be
let alone-that they feel themselves COM
petent to manage, however mistaken this no.
ton may appear to the manipulating politi-
clans, and are determined henceforth to manage
their own affairs in their own way; and,
furthermore, that any man who undertakes to
block the way is quite liable to get hurt.
Second, it is determined purpose, while re-
forming political methods to secure better,
cleaner and higher results. And obviously the
first thing to be done in this direction is to de-
mand and get better nominations, and so Sc
cure much higher order Of ability in the men
selected for high positions Nichols and Pin
gree are respectable In character, ability and
intelligence, as all readily admit but so are
ten to twenty thousand other citizens Of Ver-
mont Of whom the same might be said in equal
degree. and with equal truth. Is this enough?
AS things go, each successive generation of sc
tive men furnishes only ten or twelve chief
most to the welfare, honor and dignity of
the state; to select our chief magistrates during
any given generation from her ten or twenty
abest and worthiest citizens, or to take an
average from the ten or twenty thousand? The
very question, and the fact that existing cir
cumstances make it pertinent, suggest solid
food for reflection. Time was, even within
| the recollection of those now living, when YER
mont honored herself at home and gained
credit and high standing abroad, by choosing
such men as Chief Justice Royce, Chief Justice
Williams, Charles Paine, Asshel Peck and
| Paul Dillingham;, and others of like calibre
| for her governors-men endowed with large
ability, supplemented by scholarship, industry
and usefulness, who honestly earned, in their
several walks of life, the marked successes and
the eminent positions they attained Each, in
his day, was pre-eminent. Compare these
men, If comparison is possible, with the aver
age candidates of to-day And to what and
to whom are we indebted for the fall? Is the
great decline because we no longer have large
men, or is it because large men will not be
subservient to the machine? With rare excep-
tions, what has ring rule given u.s. during its
| long and almost unbroken reign, in which
good citizens can fairly take pride? And have
not these rare and respectable exceptions come
maehine"? And where, Mr.. Editor, II this
thing continues, is it to end? word on
another point. | regret to learn that DR.. Mich
OILS is again in the field as a candidate for sec
rotary OF state, and regret still more to hear
that the support for him of Pingrees especial
|
for his withdrawal from the gubernatorial race
and making Pingree his resduary legatee.
Taken altogether, the coquetting between
these two gentlemen is exceedingly unfortu-
nate, and has not been conducted with that
ceverness and adroitness for which the par
ties have had credit After his explicit and
peremptory refusal of further service as secre-
tary OF state In the early days of this canvass,
and while he was seeking the governorship, 1t
y certainly surprising that he should now
change his purpose. He has enjoyed the office
and its emoluments (the best paying civil office
in the state) for nineteen years, and has dis
charged its duties acceptably. But there are
other men who are equally well qualified for
the position; and, as officers have no life tenure
in this state, there seems propriety in pass
ing it along to a new and capable man. Such
man can be found, in my opinion, in Charles
W. Porter, Esq, DIR. Nichols present efficient
| deputy. INDEPENDENT
LET THE DISCUSSION GO ON.
Mr.. Editor As the time for holding the
state convention approaches, 1t is we'll to call
attention to its work, with special reference to
| the present needs Of the state. There Is some
| danger that the true aims OF those who call for
| reform may be misunderstood. For there
seems to be some who think present COM
plants are largely or wholly grounded in sell
fish considerations. 1t happens that the writer