Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-10-16
Let Well Enough Alone.

for state TO be continually, for long
term of years, controlled by the same
political party, with a majority so large
as to preclude any opposing party from
entertaining hopes of coming into power;
and the suggestion is applied to our own
state.
1t matters not whether it comes from
a republican or democratic source, the
thought is worthy of consideration, for,
involved in the solution of the problem
presented, there is vital element of
government. For many years one polit-
ical party has dominated the internal
policy of this state; and its repeated
majority has been so large as to give to
the opposition simply the ambition to
affect if possible the numbers of the
majority, and TO maintain healthy, if
not hopeful organization. Outlines, so
far as internal policies have been con-
cerned, there could hardly have been any
very marked change had the other party
gained the ascendency. Both republicans
and democrats in Vermont, in all their
policies, declared in convention plat
forms or inaugurated into effect as law,
have been actuated by the true principles
of state pride and loyalty. In legislative
matters, seldom are the votes an index
OF party utilization; rather does each
member vote for himself and his cor
stituency. The party whip is seldom if
ever called into use. All seem to under
stand that in the general execution of
the laws as safeguarding the rights and
interests of the people it matters not
whether officers be republican or demo-
cratic. The general policy of the party
in power has been always along such
ways as to promote the highest degree
of prosperity to the greatest number of
citizens. Judging the future by the past
no democrat fears that his rights as a
citizen taxpayer of the common wealth
will be violated, or his privileges cur
tailed because he votes not with the
party in power. He knows his children
enjoy equal chances for the places of
highest honor; that his wife is Just as
prominent in social and moral life as
the wife OF his republican neighbor
and that in his business life he enjoys
equal privileges, and is inspired to earn
est effort by the same honorable ambi-
ton to succeed as his honest and honor
able competitor who votes the other
ticket Discussion is free, as the air of
our mountains. Republican editors are
as quick to see and condemn improper
or unwise theories as their democratic
brothers, even though those theories and
policies be advanced and promulgated
by leaders in their own political ranks.
Freedom from absolute political dicta-
ton is one of the blessings Of the condi.
ton in our state; and the annual sharp
and bitter contests of party fights, with
all the personal and local animosities
left to develop and tester, is not condi-
ton permissible to poison our springs of
honor, to demoralize our purposes and
degrade our citizenship. Occasionally,
as in the last campaign, questions of
personality or elements of policy enter
the campaign, within the dominant party
itself in such a way, and to such an ex-
tent, as to make us all, in the sober
moments of after contemplation, ashamed
and sorrowful at the spectacle we have
presented to the world but such condi-
tious are not often repeated, and such
strife in its weakening influence does
but seldom blot the pages of history in
Vermont.
How would it be if the political parties
were about equal in numbers, and much
in national affairs depended on results
here? What then of the strife and tur-
moil and the bitterness of the crimna-
tion and reGrimination crossing the
thresholds of many homes, sowing seeds
OF discord even in the schoolroom, and |
causing difficulties, even like tares, to
endanger the strength of Christian char
acter? Do we want in Vermont the
conditions which prevail in New Y, rk
or any other state in which the parties
are about equal in voting strength
Would such contest every one, two or
four years tend to better the condition
of our people? Would our farms be
more abundant in their products? our
schools of higher order? our churches
more influential in their uplifting inhu.
encef our homes happier? or our citi-
zenship rise nearer to the level of the
golden rule of human brotherhood?
How has it been in New Hampshire,
and Connecticut, and New jersey, and
Indiana, and New York, where so much
depended upon the money value of
mans vote? The greater the strife, the
closer the vote, the greater power of
money in the hands of that robber of
personal honor-the bribe giver. We
know of the terribly demoralizing inau-
ences of nearly equal division of the
vote between political parties. Are we
sorry we do not have it in Vermont?