Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1894-03-16
essrs County 9rrala.
ISLAND POND. Vt. MARCH 10.
The Political Situation in Vermont.

or tnelr iTlenuS lOT pOSlllOlls Oh
the State or County ticket, and
condemn ardent efforts of indi-
viduals in their behalf and in be-
half of others in that direction,
and those who do not believe in
any personal following, and those
who do not believe in personal
claims for position, and even
those who believe in the old
maxim that the Office should seek
the man and not the man the
Office, must admit that a calm
and temperate discussion of the
fitness of particular men for par
ticular positions is not only prop
er but beneficial. Very few men
have national reputation, and
without that man can scarcely
be known, especially in respect to
his peculiarly personal qualihca-
tions for any Office, even entirely
throughout the little State OF
Vermont. The knowledge of
many strong men by the swift
and varied enterprises and OBJ
jects quickly moving about III
these fast times is most surpris-
ingly limited. And how else can
the public be enlightened but by
an open discussion of them before
the people? 1t cannot be done
orally before the masses. The
number and frequency of our
elections forbid time and oppor-
tunity to do this. The only real
opportunity for this is i'll the
nominating conventions, and
that is after delegates are elected
and when the subjects are gone
beyond the people. We by no
means suggest the encourage
ment of impudent pretenders, or
an unseemly advancement of per-
sonal ambitions, combinations
for individual purposes, or indi-
vidual arrangement for the indi-
vidual advancement OF any man
or set OF men; but an open dis
cussion OF every man and every
subject upon which the people
are to act at the polls. There is
not so much danger arising out
Of these latter conditions from
even a lively discussion as from
the supineness and indifference OF
the people in respect to elections
In intelligent, courteous and
properly conducted discussions
manifesting a lively interest in
public affairs, is found the great
est safety of a popular govern
ment. In an indolent Indifference
to them is found the greatest op
portunity for designing men ant
the greatest danger to our insti
tutions. Endeavoring to con
form to this line of action we beg
the indulgence of our readers il
saying a word in reference to thu
present situation.
There is no need of saying any
thing about the man, Col. Wood
bury, to whom alleges are turned
for the first position upon Thu
State ticket. And we have sale
elsewhere in this issue all we de
sire to say at present concerning
the second, about whose per
sonal character and qualihca
tions there is no question. No
do we understand that there i
any hesitancy as to who shoul,
occupy any Of the other posi-
tions on the State ticket. w
may he pardoned if, moved some
what by local pride, we take thi
occasion to say that the work o
our present State Auditor in ex
cellence has surpassed the expec
tations of his most sanguin
friends. And this leads us to tn
further purpose of a word in rel
erence to the congressional cleo
tions that will soon be upon us
In the candidates for Congress
there also seems to be a genera
acquiescence. There comes iron
no source, as we understand ii
any complaints either in gros
or detail that any interests c
Vermont people are being hand
led either negligentiy or ipeffici
emily BY our present delegation
and theiF capacity and opportr
nifty for doing the work is increas
ing yearly year through industr
and experience. So much so tina
no word of complaint is hear
anywhere. There is one thing i