The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-04-09
Letters from the People.
THE TRUE REASON.

many indications on every hand that the peo- |
pie are awakening early to the Importance Of
action by themselves and for themselves in the
way of moulding the gubernatorial question in |
There Is ample time for the independent repub |
lican voters Of the state to concentrate their
voices upon an independent candidate You
are going the right way to work to bring this
about 1t Is now some months since the affa-
BILE and genial DR.. Nichols formally presented
his name. His announcement was made with
deliberation, after possible rivals had been
carefully interviewed, the usual political COM
binations set on foot, and all customary prep
arations made to secure an uprising of the peo-
pie But, somehow or other, the people do not
seem to rise. The machinery apparently needs
oiling. Three or four newspapers hailed the
selection with enthusiasm, and accepted the
result as foregone conclusion. Sundry we'll
known =" "tooters rallied round the standard,
and have proclaimed themselves, like the gal
liant George w. Hooker, for Nichols-first, last,
and all the time. Yet the people still fail to
enthuse. Rumblings Of discomfort are heard
on every side. Scarcely county can be relied
upon, and all the larger towns are confessedly
In doubt. Even Washington county, the home
OF the versatile doctor, apparently leads the
opposition to his aspirations. Ali this Is new
departure in Vermont politics, and evidently
strikes the management with alarm. II the peo-
pie are not going to march up to the convention
and ratify, what will become of the machine
why the sheep should not 60 through the gate
as usual. To the mind Of the writer, in the
multiplicity of objections, the true point Is in
danger of being overlooked. The announced
candidacy is Objectionable. That fact is ap-
parent. Why? What is the overmastering
and sufficient reason ? Let us eliminate the
little reasons, each OF them perhaps good
enough, but overshadowed by great one.
Not because DR.. Nichols has sold intoxicating
liquor contrary to law; he is druggist and
probably had to. Not because he has been re-
ceiving large stipends from the state; he was
duly elected and was entitled to his salary, and
to all the other fees and emoluments of his
office, as we'll as to the patronage implied by
his practical control of the state printing and
other jobs. Not because he has been accus-
toned to get his clerk-hire in part from the
state treasury contrary to express statute; the
bills all got engrossed to the satisfaction of the
legislature, as we may assume though done
with paper fasteners and mucilage instead of
OF by copyist. Not because he has assumed
the part OF general counsel to the listers; his
advice was well intended, no doubt, and proba-
bly, as correct as anybody's would have BEEN
Not because he has been connected with certain
unfortunate insurance companies; being er-
o6icio insurance commissioner, the use Of his
name was naturally sought, and he probably
never put very much money in it. Not be-
cause he is clerk OF the Central Vermont Rail-
road Company; he does not formulate their
policy, nor is he responsible for the impoverish-
| ment OF our farmers at their hands, but Is
| merely clay in the hands of the potter. Not
because he is pledged in advance upon certain
senatorial possibilities he had to be-his
| name couldn't have been trotted out by the
organs otherwise. The true and supreme rea-
| son why the people do not relish the situation
| is this: They have become sick and disgusted
with the manipulation Of our politics by few
| magnates who assume to be leaders and are
merely fuglers. 1t is a clear case Of oligarchy.
When the citizens Of the state of New York
found that they were controlled by an evident
| ring within the party, and that strong mea-
| sures were necessary to throw off the yoke,
| they rose in their might and showed it under
| by 200. 600 majority. The temperament Of the
| voters OF Vermont to-day Is the same. II
broke out at the last convention when the lieu
| tenantgovernor was nominated. There was
no personal objection whatever to Mr.. Fuller,
but the thing had obviously been " fixed," and
the majority of the convention took solid com
fort in unfixing 1t. Aspiration to the high
| office OF governor is honorable to any citizen,
but 1t should be an aspiration in subservience
| to the will of the people, not one which seeks
to overbear and direct their will. II the peo.
| pie want any citizen for their governor he has
no right, unless under most extraordinary cir
cumstances, to refuse II a citizen wants tc
be governor it should be dependent upon his
finding himself the untrammeled choice Of the
| voters; it should not be want that leads him
to choke himself down the voters throats, by
J manipulating delegates and packing conven
| tons through personal agencies in every town
and bringing to bear all the wel,-known ma
chinery of petty politicians now rafting or
every side. How can we but protest agains
| the machine politics that have 80 long con
trolled our submissive state Simply by see
ing to it in each town that independent dele
gates are chosen to the state convention
good rule would be this: Send no man who
has ever before been to Montpelier in any pub
| lie or official capacity. In q convention 81
made up, Dr. Nichols would not secure fifty
votes. II, however, it is necessary in advance
to solidify the opposition by uniting upon al
| adverse candidate, there is no dearth Of mate
rial. The only question is, Who will most &C
ceptably satisfy the greatest number? In tn,
judgment OF the writer, the man is nance
| when you mention the quiet, independent, fear
less, modest, studious and able gentleman wht
| for two years has filled the office of lieutenant
governor, Hon. Samuel E. Pingree. At al
events, let us BREAK THE SLATE.
WHO ARE REsPoNsIBAE?
Mr.. Editor In the discussions of who shall
be governor, am glad to see a manifest dispo
sition to have such nomination made by in
dependent voters, without fear or favor
Should not the voice of the people be heard IL
the selection Of those whom they are to elec
as their rulers and governors? | believe tn
| declaration of rights as set forth in the consti
tuition to the inhabitants of the state, should b.
impressed upon the mind of each voter In tn
state. That all power being originally inner
ent in, and consequently derived from, the pee
ple thereforeall officers Of government, whethe
legislative or executive are their trustees an
servants" That government is, or ought t
be- instituted for the common benefit, proteC
tion and security of the people, nation, or com
munity, and not for the emo,ument or advan
tage OF any single man, or set of men, who ar
part only of that community" From tn
fact that all power is derived from the people
who but the people are responsible for the nom
nations and elections? Is 1t not the right an,
privilege, nay duty, of every freeman +
strengthen or weaken every election by hi
vote? In fact, no election is complete unless
tells of the entire strength of its elective dis
trict. What freeman, | ask, has a right to sa,
aught against any officer at whose election h
did not participate? Judging the future by tn
past, can see no good reason why the people, es
pecially the taxpayers should not feel deep in
terest In the affairs OF state. There seems to b
a new era dawning upon us, and we are begin
ming to reap some of the rewards of wise legis
lation. The result of the new tax law of 1888
was to add near seventy-fve per cent OF prop
erty not before taxed to our grand list, thu
correspondingly diminishing the rate. In tn
same year there was law providing for thu
appraisal of railroad property by q commission
and although that appraisal proved to be fare
and libel upon the law, yet the discussion
following the developments OF majority an,
OF the people for what soon followed-a law L
tax the corporate franchises Of the corporation
Of the state Thus near two hundred thousan,
dollars OF the burden Of taxation is lifted fron
the common Taxpayers, and made to bear upo
| the COrDOratiOnR of the atQta IL not This al