Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-06-04
She essex County 8trala.
ISLAND POND, JUNE a, 1886.

1t is a deplorable condition of
journalism when the discussion of
the merits of different men for po-
sitions in the State cannot be con-
Quoted on a plane higher than
that of billingsgate, and it is not to
be wondered at in this degenerate
manner of conducting State cam
paIgns. Modest men of ability
shrink from being put before the
people knowing that misrepresenta-
ton and false impressions will in
evitably assail them, and no man
desires to be the object of ridicule,
no matter what his character may
be. The friends of Mr.. Batchelder,
for instance, suggested his name for
the Office of governor; the adherents
of some other man or men have, as
it seems to us, utterly failed to find
any fault in his character, or that he
is wanting in any respect for ability.
AT any rate nothing of the kind is
suggested. But in poverty of any
real substantial objection they charge
him with going about the State like
a shallow, scheming wire puller,"
seeking the office of governor. Then
they say although he has sufficient
ability, Mr. Somebody, whom many
people regard as very much his In
ferior in that respect, is superior
man manifestly because their inch
nation is in that direction. Again,
they say although he has been Speak
er of the House of Representatives
and performed the duties of that po-
sitlon with marked ability and
courtesy, that he is comparatively
unknown throughout the State; yet
he has more warm friends and per-
sonal acquaintance even in this re-
mote section of the State than any
other man that has been mentioned,
save perhaps Judge Poland and
Barrett. Having occupied that po-
sition, one which would test the man
as much as any other that he could
occupy, not an instance of single
deviation from the line of strict i'm
Partially has been suggested. Glass
legislation, military preferences, and
all sorts of specialties have been
sought to be made available, but no
insinuation, as far as we have been
able to discover, has been in any de,
gree effectual to disturb the settled
confidence of his friends in this sec.
ton in him, or their firm conviction
in his peculiar fitness for the place.
They feel that the party and the
people will be proud of and safe
with him as the Chief Magistrate OF
the State. 1t is not to be wondered
at, and perhaps not to be severely
condemned, that men of wealth and
influence should have aspirations ir
this direction, and when they use
those means to further their pur
poses that is to be expected. But
when man stands without them
upon his OWE merits, they ought not
to be used to misrepresent or to ere
ate false impressions of him. The
people at large know very little per
sonally about any man in the list
and this fact attaches high respon
sibility to those who make represen
tations of either. We have spoken
in the highest terms, as we think
they deserve, of other men men,
toned, as we regard it our duty tc
in fairness and justice to them, and
we had hoped that nothing but q
generous rivalry among the adher
ents of the various candidates would
prevail; and we now feel assured
that anything else will not mislcad
the people in respect to any of the
good, honest, fair men who have
been mentioned. We still believe
that Mr.. Batchelder is the man tc
whom most of the people of oul
State are looking to head the tickle,
in the coming State campaign.
"
Ex-Alderman Jaehne learning tc