The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-22
Can tho Republican party ailord Il?

thought worthy to be mentioned in con-
ncction with the Chief Magistracv. In
those days, such men as Carlos Coolidge
Stephen Royce, Charles X. Williams,
Erastus Fairbanks, Paul Dillingham;
and Asahel Peck--men of mature wears
and experience, eminent ability, pure
lives and distinguished public services,
were made governors by the people, be-
cause of their universally recognized
standing and fitness, and not Mrough
He}r ora importantly dad seJ-seeh-
ing. Not one Of these men ever raised
a finger or uttered a word TO procure
his own nomination and election. Not
one Of them was capable of such self
degradation as nearly all of our mod
cm candidates cherfully submit to in
their scramble for positions entirely a.
bove their merits. OF late years the
question of fitness and merit has hardly
been asked. Instead of the people them
selves coming together and deliberately
selecting their most eminent and wor-
thy citizen for governor, il has now
practically become a disreputable con-
test, ia most cases, between small and
unfit aspirants who unblushingly cham
pion their own candidacy and proclaim
their own merits from the housetops.
In such a contest, men like the distin-
guished governors above named, (and
we are not without such mcn now, can
take no part. Their self respect which,
is worth more to them than Office, for
bids; and so the course, except in rare
instances, is abandoned to Il class of
small political beggars, who feel no
degradation in the sclf-pushing, caucus
packing methods of getting Office that
now prevail. The result is that the
of first class man for gov
ernor or acknowledgements, such as
filled these Offices in days gone by, is
an event that has happened only once
or twice within the memory of a major
ity Of present voters. Now only third
to tenth rate men, as a rule, in ability
or character, force themselves to the
front, generally through superior skill
in political intrigue and management
and by the free use of money, backed
up by the favor of the great political
and railroad boss at St. Adams, who
delights in little men, of whose obcdi-
encc he is always sure. Men of large
caliber have minds and wills of their
own, and for such he has no use.
These things have gone on from bad
to worse until the people have grown
first indifferent and then thoroughly
Disguised with the whole business.
They ere in dangerous mood to be fur
ther trihcd with. Thousands of men
who have always voted the republican
tiunu, III 'Uins6no diU no" utSInIIIIS
seriously to inquire whether such voting
promotes either the public good or is
consistent with honest manhood. And
many more voters are making this in
quiry today than ever before; and not
unnaturally, for never before has there
been such humiliating reason for dis
content-especially in the nomination
made for acknowledgements at the
last State convention. In other parts Of
the State where the nominee is but lit
tie known, and that little has been learn
ed chiefly from his autobiography writ
ten and published by himself, the feel
ing Of disgust is probably not so intense
rs here in Windham county, where he
is known for just what he is, and where
his nomination is regarded by fourfifths
Of the people as the weakest and worst
ever made by the republican party of
Vermont.
We therefore end as we began with
tho question: "Can the republican par
ty afford it?' we say 10, emphatically.
If it means to retain the ascendency G.
ven in Vermont, it must at once and
forever abandon the evil and disreputa-
BILE practices it has tolerated of late,
and return to the simplicity, dignity,
and high aims that character
lied its earlier years. The people, sin
;ercly attached as they have been and
ire to the party, will moi follow it lon
ger in its evil ways. The ties of party
allegiance has been fearfully weakened
and will bear no further strains; and
we warn the self-constituted leaders
Of the danger right before them. The
people will right these wrongs-thcy
will put these crying evils under foot,
even in so doing, they are compelled
10 aid in the temporary humiliation of
The republican party itself, in order to
be rid of the curse that has fastened
Itself upon its vitals. The republican
party of Vermont never needed wise
leadership as it does today. Bossism,
and little, self-seeking, caucus-packing
candidates must 60, or the republican
party itself must go. 1t must give us
worthy of support or the
people will cease to vote for them. The
crack of the party whip no longer
frightens. The people are beginning to
think and act for themselves, and the
party must get up higher, almost inf
nitely higher, in its nominations and
its methods, or it will still go down and
finally go ont.
AT II again!
Didn't we tell you so? Levi has