Quote by Henry David Thoreau
I hear of a convention to be held at Baltimore, or elsewhere, for the selection of a candidate for the Presidency, made up chiefly of editors, and men who are politicians by profession; but I think, what is it to any independent, intellegent, and respectable man what decision they may come to? Shall we not have the advantage of his wisdom and honesty, nevertheless? Can we not count upon some independent votes? Are there not many individuals in the country who do not attend conventions? But no: I find that the respectable man, so called, has immediately drifted from his position, and despairs of his country, when his country has more reason to despair of him. He forthwith adopts one of the candidates thus selected as his only AVAILABLE one, thus proving that he is himself AVAILABLE for any purposes of the demagogue. His vote is of no more worth than that of any unprincipled foreigner or hireling native, who may have been bought.
Summary
This quote highlights the speaker's cynicism towards political conventions and the candidates chosen through these processes. The speaker questions the relevance of such conventions, arguing that independent and respectable individuals do not need to rely on them for wisdom and honesty. They express disappointment in how the "respectable man" quickly aligns himself with the chosen candidate, essentially becoming available for the demagogues. The quote suggests that this person's vote holds as little value as that of an unprincipled foreigner or a native who can be bought, implying a lack of trust in the political system and the integrity of its participants.
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