The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-08-04
TO THE COUNTY DELEGATES
BOLDLY.

Is it to execute there the individual
wishes of this aspirant to office or
that, without regard to other consid-
erations? Is it to carry out the
schemes or projects of this clique or
that, in this section of the county or
that, with only incidental reference
or without any at ALTO those great
objects for which, under the Consti-
tuition and laws, men are selected for
the responsible duties of making and
executing the laws?
1t is highly incumbent on you to
consider these questions seriously, to
answer them honestly, and to act
upon them fully impressed by a SOL
emn sense of your responsibility, un-
der your oath as Freemen of the State
of Vermont, "that whenever you give
your vote of suffrage, touching any
matter that concerns the State of YER
mont, you will do it SO as in your
conscience you shall judge will most
conduce to the best good of the same,
as established by the Constitution,
without fear or favor of any man. -
This oath is binding on the citizen,
in every act of his citizenship, in
caucus and convention as we'll as in
voting at the polls,
Mindful of your duty under your
freemans oath, in voting for candi-
dates for county office you will do it
so as in your conscience you shall
judge will most conduce to the best
good of the State of Vermont, as es-
tablished by the Constitution, without
fear or favor of any man" You will
vote for the nomination only of men
whom your conscience and your judg.
ment tells you are fit, on the score of
wisdom and virtue" to hold pub
lie office.
Delegates ought not to need, or to
be hampered by, instruction in the
matter Of their duty, or to have the
path of duty pointed out to them. II
any feels himself so infirm OF mind or
morals that he cannot discern the
path of duty, or is not strong or in
dependent enough to pursue the course
of Righteousness, he ought to keep out
of the convention. They stultify
themselves who enter that body and
vote for the nomination of candi-
date for any Office whom their judg-
ment and their consciences tell them
ought not to be chosen at the polls.
The straight course, the honorable
course, the course pointed out by duty
and law is both the course demanded
by principle and by just regard
for party welfare. "a party is of
worth only in SO far as it promotes the
national interest," said Roosevelt in
his speech accepting the presidential
nomination of the Republican party.
A party is Of worth, also, only so tar
as it promotes the interests of State,
county and town. If the Republican
party OF Washington county has not a
true and enlightened regard for public
interests, and exemplifies its disregard
by its acts in convention, it invites
aOhCae nhu uhO pOOpiO may dOOOpO VITO
invitation, as they have done, some-
times, and in the not remote past
An appeal to virtue and Righteousness
on partisan grounds is equally an ap-
peal to virtue and righteousness on
the broad merits of these qualities.
The appeal for consideration by Sec
tions of State, county or town, is just
only when sections have MEN to back
the appeal. In memorable State
convention of the Republican party,
for the nomination of candidate for
Governor, the argument addressed to
the delegates on the score of the
rights or feelings of the people of a
certain county was urged with We
hemence. A delegate from Washing.
ton county, Hiram A. Huse-of dis
tinguished memory-towerin every
inch of his commanding stature and
pitching his voice to that stentoriar
key that enforced unresisting atten-
tion, thundered out, Mr.. Chairman,
we are here to nominate a MAN, MOI
county p
Delegates to Washington county
convention, nominate MEN for county
officers, not city, town or section O.
the county. Take every candidate
from one section, if by this mean
only can be insured officials OF funda
mental wisdom and virtue, " You
choice is not limited to the list OF tn
mentioned.
The vital interests of the State de
mand men. They imperatively de
mand men in the office of Senator
They demand experience. also. Dealt
has placed one of the Senators chose
in 1902 beyond the jurisdiction o
county conventions. One of the part
organization remains. 1t is for tn
delegates to the Republican count
convention to consider if it would b
the part OF political wisdom to sen
him again to the Senate. Certainly
out of three, the leaven of one Sent