Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-05-18

dered permanent by private interest
seeking patronage. Organization
hnds perfection in the rule of single
man and he despot, absolute in his
sphere in proportion to the success
Of his measures.
Such political conditions, whatever
their good results, are not democrat
lc. In so far as the ''ringo and the
boss dominate our political system
the rule Is set aside. The great body
interests we'll and fairly managed land
1t elections were free from the inter-
vention of self seeking politicians,
would place in office natural political
leaders, born statesmen, gifted with
political instinct, able and unselfish
enough to ad minister the public trust
for the public good. This is the prob
lem of the hour; how in a government
nominally democratic, but fast be-
coming despotic, to give once more
vital force to the people.
How is it to be done? The way is
not far to seek. Courage and energy,
a lively sense Of civic duty and unself
ish and devoted patriotism are the
needed virtues. The enlargement of
the civil service on competitive ba-
sis is gradually destroying the power
of patronage and fast removing the
strongest incentive to corruption.
The press with it's growing spirit of
free criticism and it's increasing ten
dency to suggestive comment, is
arousing sluggish citizens, checking
corrupt practices and becoming more
any more the orator and the organ of
public opinion. Active partisans view
with distrust growing body of indie
pendent political thinkers, men who
want nothing for themselves, but who
insist on voting for the welfare of the
country and not at the dictates of po
litical managers. Give the independ
ent citizens freedom in making nom
nations and the protection of Sc
cret ballot, and retribution for politi-
cal knavery will accompany every
election.
Remedies of this sort, however, are
outside of party and opposed to the
party theory. Let us rather hope and
believe that publication will come
from within. Party, born in the spir-
it and responsibility, must be made
responsible; rightly the servant of the
people, it must be taught obedience
and efficiency. The first duty of a
party is to execute in good faith the
policy committed to it's charge; then
it should face new problems, raise liv
ing issues and advance new measures
consistent with it's former principles.
To fulfill this ideal party must have
leaders. What we need is not less of
leadership, but security that what we
have shall be of the best quality. Good
citizens must force good men to pow
err, make them ''bosses," if we must
have 'bosses'' and the moment they
cease to represent the highest ideal
for which the party stands, replace
them by better men. The call is for
men, far sighted, thinking men, able
to outline policy for nation; men
of courage who dare to take the in
itiative, accept the place waiting for
them at the head of their party, and
lead it to victory by the power of
principles; men who when issues fail
command loyal support, not by the
power of patronage, but by strict in
tegrity and fidelity to the public trust.
Powerful parties, based on real is
sues and led by great men in open
and generous rivalry, are the safe
guard of democracy. By their wise
direction, angry social and economic
conditions will be relieved, and the
principles Of free institutions still
maintained. Our salvation in the
past, they must be our reliance in the
future.