Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-02-24

come over Vermont if every true
man rallied to do his public duties in
a Christian spirit. We should not
frequently in the local press, and in
many papers out of the state limits,
see it said that Vermont liquor law
was farce, and that the state was so
unequally divided politically as to be
very corrupt in its government.
Christian men should at once and
unitedly resolve to attend the caucus,
vote at all elections, and never shun
any political duty whatever. If this
was the case the strongly intrenched
forces of evil in political methods
could not stand the onslaught a sim
gle day. Men of character are large
ly to blame for the very evils they
lament; the CORE elton for which they
pray, can only be found in a sense of
their own obligation. We want our
young men imbued with the spirit Of
old Vermont, that spirit manifested
by duties done in our early history
without remuneration, yet no man
could point the finger of scorn, and
accuse Of neglect in those days. Yer
monters who to many of our first
state assemblies came many miles on
foot, and boarded themselves while
in attendance. What a change has
been wrought by the marvellous in
strument the telephone. 1t has be-
come a part of every day existence,
but better, a thousand times better,
that the telephone perish, than that
the spirit of the love of duty and
| patriotism shown by Vermont in the
past should perish. But | am often
! told that politics have come to be SO
corrupt that true men can not med
die with them without becoming
themselves defiled; but allow me to
filed by corrupt methods he does not
countenance. Who ever heard it
suggested that the soldier fighting
for his country was dishonOred be-
cause there were traitors in his reg
iment. Go to the caucus, strive to
nominate good men, not to share in
the crime of those who seek the nom
ination for those who are unfit can
didates. Vote for the better of two
candidates; this will not make you
self-responsible for any of the short
| 6 h.
times it will be your plain duty to
prefer measures over men.
When voting under these circum-
stances vote for him who represents
the better policy though the oppo-
nent is superioc in moral character.
The Christian must use Judgment as
we'll as conscience, his faculties
should be guided to right action, not
to find excuses for Indifference and
inaction. Do all the good in polit-
ical way you can. Do not refuse to
do anything because your ideal good
is not attainable. l doubt the asser
ton that American politics are de-
generating. We live in an age of
great publicity. We breakfast with
all the rascalities and horrors that
the sun has gazed upon during his
last diurnal journey, therefore it is
to make a mistake to assume that
there is more evil, because there is
more made public. 1t is the public
ity that makes men think there is
more evil. We read of corruption of
some political party and of their
questionable methods, and we think
the skies of political morality are
good men in politics than to-day,
never more champions of upright
methods, never disposition to scru
tinize candidates and select the best
as to day. Never since Washington,
Lincoln and Mckinley, have men had
greater confidence in the purity OF
motive of the man in power at the
seat of government than to-day
You ask the reason for the integrity
of these men; they were Christians
who honored their profession while
at the helm of state, they sought the
life out of self in high places. VIVA,
of being candidates, is 1t the proper
thing for a Christian? Yes, service
of the State should always be ac
counted honorable. If a man has {
conscious aptitude for public affairs
why should he not seek a public ca
reer, yet he must not make the terri
BILE mistake of forgetting the max
inns of the Master. When he consider
} the ways and means OF advancement
let him believe that the last shall b.
, first, the least greatest. If he ha
t misgivings on this subject let hin
study the life of Grant and Roosevelt
Grant did not touch the summit be
causa his ewes were on WashiuptO