The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-01-07

of abuse and misrepresentation but the
fact has been recognized that I" the
voters were intelligent beings" and
it was "more important to convince
their minds than to stun their ears or
dazzle their eyes" "The great polit-
ical meetings this year have been
mainly matters of torches and bands
and banners, and red lights and Roman
candles" The discussions have been
matters of secondary consequence, and
the daily papers reporting the assem-
blages have given the public three col
umns describing the sights that were to
be seen to one column telling of the
things that were said. OF this kind of
campaigning, the Century says:
Such method is essentially boyish, if
not barbaric. 1t expresses an estimate of
the popular intelligence which is not, let us
hope, just estimate. The forces on which
the parties seem chiefly to depend are physi-
cal forces; noise, parade, spectacles, de-
monstrations,' strike the physical senses,
and do not appeal to the reason. Doubtless
there are reasoning beings in these capari-
soned companies; but one would say be-
fore-hand that the man who consents to be-
deck himself with tinsel and trumpery, and
goes marching night after night to show his
cheap regalia, is not likely to be very pro-
found student of political questions. If the
time which has been spent during the last
three months in devising gaudy uniforms,
and beating drums, and carrying kerosene
torches, had been partly devoted to some
serious inquiry into the questions at issue
between the two parties--or, perhaps, to the
preliminary inquiry whether there are any
questions at issue between the two par
ties-the country would have been in far
better condition to-day"
The writer believes that the govern
ment of this country is great trust,
and that it " can be administered only
by serious and intelligent men-by
men who have had a different kind of
training from that which is gained in
firing sky-rockets and leading torch
light professions" He does not, how
ever, condemn all parades alike--such
as are of spontaneous character and
sustain proper relation to the work
of a canvass. The writer closes what
he has to say of the degradation of
politics." as follows:
Evidences are not wanting of revolt
in the minds of the sober people against
the mendacity and the buffoonery of cur
rent politics. Many are saying that it is
time to put aside the arts of the ASSASSIN
and the pettifogger and the mountebank,
and to make appeal to the intelligence and
judgment of the people. The presidential
= n
Quoted, intiicts upon the material interests
of the nation no small damage, and upon
its morals an injury from which it does not
recover in four years. 1t is an urgent ques-
ton whether it is possible to rescue our
presidential politics from brutal and SEN
sational practices, and make the quadren-
NAL contest-if it must come so often-an
occasion of thorough and earnest discussion
of political principles; time when the
whole people shall receive, in candid and
fair debate, some sound political education
spectacle in which the reason and con-
science of the people shall be as evidently
exalted and honored as they now are thrust
down and condemned. 1t is gratifying to
note that a reaction has taken place, even
among political managers, against the spec
tacular character of the late canvass, and
that they are beginning to appreciate the
value of solid argument and sensible dis
cussion."
Passing to the consideration of the
part played by the newspapers in the
late canvass, the Century thinks "the
recent quadrennial political upheaval -
must have suggested to close observers
that the newspaper must, in the end
"be divorced from the low work of par
tisan politics." 1t finds that the duties
of newspaper, as an organ and as 6
trustworthy publisher of the news, are
entirely inconsistent. 1t says, and the
Century is right, that extremely few
prominent newspapers, during the re-
cent campaign, published the politica
news fairly. News unfavorable to the
organs" candidate was delayed, OF
suppressed, or doctored" when its
suppression was inexpedient. Such
were the orders, tacit or express, il
nearly every newspaper office. Skill
full correspondents were sent out t(
write up the struggle in the October
states" and ascertain the drift o.
pubic ScuIliueul III Cerldl1 lOCdlllleS
The mission was a farce. These men
as a rule, were sent not to find the
facts, but to manufacture facts; il
other words, to deceive and concea
{" for the good of the cause" The
Century thus draws the line between
the organ and the newspaper:
"The task of supporting party, right o.
wrong-blind to its mistakes, lenient to it.
faults, oblivious of its abuse of power, o
its dishonest and disingenuous efforts to oh
tain power-is the congenial work of the or
gan; but it is beneath the dignity of tn,
newspaper. 1t is the Office of the newspa
per, primarily, to collect and publish thu
news, including, of course, political news
with reasonable accuracy and perfect fair
ness. To this may be added the editorial
critical, and literary contributions, whicl
form such valuable and interesting feature
OF the best modern newspapers. But tn
value of a journal built upon this model i
almost entirely destroyed when, in addition
to its legitimate work, it undertakes that O
the organ. The more of an organ it be
comes-the more complete the satisfaction
1t gives to the politicians who rely upon
for support-the more unstable, unreliable
and distasteful does 1t become to fair-minde
and discriminating readers
If, besides the newspaper, there mus
be the partisan organ, the two shout