Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-04-16
Jbs Gss@ County 9fralA.
OUR POLITICAL SITUATION.
Theory and Practice in Government.

government must combine theory |
and practice. The practice of con-
slant laudation of ones country, es-
pecially its form of government, is
by no means the only duty Of citi-
zen. No form of government, how
ever perfect, will BRING prosperity
or happiness to a people unless the
theory is practically accomplished
in the use of that government. To
talk about the people electing their
rulers and about having a govern
ment that secures that right to them,
if they in fact have no more to do
with electing their rulers than the
people of England do in beget-
ting their kings and queens, is an
idle imagination, sham. Now to
elect representatives by the people
is not to select from two or three,
but from the whole mass. To say
that A ought to be elected because
he is better than B, and for the peo-
pie to be confined to that issue is
NOT the exercise of free choice by
the people. Take the situation of
our own State at the present time.
A campaign has been progressing,
involving the election of United
States Senator. When have we
heard the question asked:-Who of
all the able and patriotic leaders of
the people of Vermont is the best
man to occupy the position? On
the other hand how often have we
heard that such man has strong
personal following The idea of
fitness, separated from partisanship
and personal considerations, has not
yet been apparent. 1t is just as i'm
portant, as we view it, that the pco-
pie should be as free to make the
list out of which the officers shall be
selected as to determine which par
ticular man in that list shall hold
the Office If man has occupied a
position, become eminent, and has
brought great credit to his constit-
ucnts so as to stand high in their es-
timation and the estimation of the
world, all those things are proper to
be suggested and considered. But
when the issue is formed independ
emily of the people and they are told
that it is better to elect him than to
elect some other individual named,
combining the issue to those two men,
then it is not government by the
people practically.
Nsw reader, you think a moment,
and tell us when and where and
how the people have indicated then
preference for a single man to any
Office in Vermont i'll the coming
election. You have no doubt but
that one of the persons already
named will be elected to each Of the
offices to be filled. Now if that is
so, the selection is practically made
in some cases, and is reduced to two
or three names in nearly or quite
every instance. Who for Senator
is considered at all except two men
aud yet the people have been abso
lutely silent in reference thereto
Designs are going on behind the
back of the people of Vermont fol
nearly every Office in their gift, from
the highest to the lowest, which, if
published, would startle the masses
and defeat a majority of the plans
now being laid.
But, it will be asked, how do you
propose to accomplish a true cleo
ton; do you not believe in con
ventions and primary meetings
We are not warning against them
but we want the men who compose
those conventions to come and sit
down together and deliberate as tc
who is the best man to select from
all. We do not wish or believe il
his coming to carry out any persona
schemes or to advocate any such in
tcrests. We do not want him to &C
as the representative of any persona
following. We do not want him tc
go committed to any particular man
having upon him personal obliga
tions to that man, or bound up tc
him by any complications or comb
nations. What we are objecting tc
is the indecent haste in which by
the use of money and other mcrcen-
airy means the masses are led to be
lieve that a great majority of then
are in favor Of any man or policy
before they have had an opportuni
ty to consult with themselves to SEE
what they really do want.
When it is practically demon
strated that arrangements are made
for the disposition of State, County
and Town officers years In advance
and those arrangements are carried
ont to the letter, it is manifest how