News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-01-15
WE THE PEOPLE
Editor Ne,os and Citizen.

E"HoT NeWS ana tttt@eH'
la your issue of December 20. 1912, oc
ours an article from the Montpelier Jour
nal, under the caption "Political Signs
The writer began to read 10 with expec
tation, and did not find all that he hac
anticipated, when he reached its close
So with your permission, he will at
tempt, of himself, to present to your
readers what additional matter he thinks
might have been written probably in
that Journal article.
Behold, signs political which arose
from higher source than a banquet OF
prominent men. 1--WE the People" have
set "signs;" and"he who runs" may read
their meaning. The first lesson to be
learned from these "sgns" is this:-"We
the People" have long since ceased to
be led about aud voted il packs by self
constituted "leaders." The days have
forever passe ed when "We' publicly vote
into civil offices, or make political dele
gates, men who, behind closed doors phi
valey nominate one another.
The second lesson is like unto the first
At political caucuses and conventions,
and at town meetings. the people will de-
mand parliamentary proceedings and
| fairness.
For years measures have been crowded
| through such assemblies in this manner.
A offers motion, b promptly seconds.
The chairman as promptly exclaims "All
in favor say l." A few scattering re-
sponses "The affirmative is SO general"
| says the chairman, THAT it seems unnec-
essary to call for the negative, but if any
| one present, having paid his taxes and
| being other wise qualified to vote, is real
ly opposed, let him say No" Instantly
| the chairman declares that he hears mo
negative" The measure is proclaimed
as carried unanimously" and the next
issue of the local newspaper informs the
people that the meeting was "a very love
feast" and that every proposition was
passed without a dissenting voice!"
Against such abuses the people have
declared in overwhelming majority.
The New England town meeting came
from our Germanic ancestors. There the
people laid the foundations of states and
of the Nation itself. The town meeting
and similar assemblies constitute the
peoples parliament. 1t is now our only
possible pure democracy.
The people have been urged from all
quarters to 'attend the primaries" They
have long remained away, because the
primaries have become farce. Now
and henceforth the people propose to
chairmen shall be chosen by their own,
untrammelled votes expressed by meth !
DDS to them most satisfactory. |
Every chairman shall repeat clearly to |
the house each motion that has been |
duly seconded. He shall then inquire,
Does any one desire to speak for or
against this proposition before it is put
to vott?"
Then ample time shall be givenf for full,
free and appropriate discussion and TIL
house itself shall beside by what method
ballot. show of hands, Wye voce, div
ision OF house-the vote is to be taken
The best of order shall be secured, and
no one shall be allowed to interrupt or
9mbarrass another in the exercise of his
rights and privileges, in the
Meeting.
These parliamentary rights are binding
md ancient as the common law, but they
rave been repeatedly stolen from the peo-
lie by self-imposed dictators and rings of
men whose brazen impu-
ence is equalled only by their incapacity
or public service.
The people are no longer swayed by
he "past glorious achievements of po-
tical parties, nor are they "thrilled'' by |
inging the changes on great names.
efferson, Hamilton, Lincoln, all are ma
IOnal heroes, are held in grateful mem,
ry; but the people know that present
ay demagogues are actual enemies of
be heroes whose deeds they Haunt in
oisy defamation.
The people have basiy toiled on farms, :
4 shops and stores, wherever duty has
allied them, and they have borne the
urdens of taxation along with additional
urdens of artifcially enhanced costs of
leir common necessities, imposed by '
lonOpolistic combinations which have :
cen aided and allotted by professional g
olitlcians. To overthrow those intrench- .
1 powers of wrong, is the long, hard s
Isk of the people; and they know full i
ell that mere change of administra-
on, the defeat of one party and the cleo I
on of another to office, is far from a So d
tion of their problems.
"The plain people" will be radical,
thoroughly iconoclastic yet wisely con- Il
Iuctive; and all who would rise into
lblic positions, must serve the people
)nestly and well.
These are some of the political signs" p
the times, not local but national, yet "
nanating from every. farmstead, hamlet, o