Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-09-28
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wbips ran two other tickets. This is proof
ofa popularity not to DO winked away and
there would be something unjust as well os
impolitic, in attempting to thrust aside the
leader under whom we had obtained such
unexpected success, and to put another less
O favoric with the people into his place.
We therefore decidedly avow ourselves
in favor of Gene al Harrison as the Wing
candidate tor President, on the precise
ground, that while he possesses every quail
i,y requisite to an able and patriotic admin
istration of the government, he for surpas.
ses his other two competitors, in the all es.
sen,ial qualifications of popularity. He is
the peoples candidate.
We know very well that there ore many
ardent and devoted friends Of Mr.. Clay
and of Mr.. Webster. both in this Common
wealth and elsewhere, who will read this
article with no very pleasurable feelings.
To them we saw that equally with them
our individual choice would have been dit.
ferent. We have studied the indications
of the political sky with unwearying atten.
ton, ever since the assembly Of Congress
at the Extra Session, in hopes to find some
sigma, o. success for one or the other Of
our favorite candidates. But none could
we, nor can we find. On tho contrary
we early saw proofs, and from time to time
they have been growing stronger and
stronger, that the only chance for the
Wing party was, to uni'c, heart and hand
upon Gen. Harrison. 1t is very true, that
the great ma jority of the merchants, the
professional men, the capitalists and the
leading politicians, would prefer, greatly
prefer, one Of the other candidates; but it
is to be considered that the very circum.
stance Of this preference is unfavorable to
those statesmen IN whose behalf it exists J;
for it is in vain TO deny, that the classes
above alluded to, notwithstanding their in
fluence and their merits. arc still looked
upon by the great mass Of the people,
with certain feelings of distrust and dislike
and with sort of envy, which takes pleas
ure in thwar'iDg their political aspirations.
The favorite candidate Of these classes Is
always obnoxious to the charge,--which
Influence -of oristocracy, of sllk'stocking.
ism, of preferrng the interests of the few
to those OF the many. A these common
place reproaches, which, however we may
denounce them as the creations Of fasehood
and malignity, are yet always urged, and
hardly ever without powerful effect, by
oil who are poorer and humber, against all
who are richer or more elevate ed, --these
commonplace reproaches, when directed
against General Harrison,Ila imbecile and
harmless. He is not the favorite of those
who, in common parlance, are distinguished
as the aristOcracy; and that very circum.
stance increases his popularity with the
mass Of the people. But whose favorite
soever he may be, he is unquestionably q
generous, sensible and honest man and
when it comes to question of preference
and who shall yield, is it not fit and proper
that the few yield to the many? Is it not
reasonable that those who arrogote to them
selves superior wisdom and discernment,
should give some proofs of it, by yielding
up for the common good, preferences,
which have nothing essential in them, and
securing substantial victory, by sacrifice
Of caprice and self will?
Mr.. Webster and Mr.. Clay, by giving
their support to the election of General
Harrison, can obtain for themselves a far
higher dist met ion than that of being Presi-
dent. With Harrison for candidate we
are certain Of success; with any body else
tho contest at bes, is doubtful The sac
rifce of his own personal advancement to
the good Of his country, is the highest ex
hbilIon of patriotism and the highest claim
10 glory, in any statesman's power.
These are our serious and deliberate
views. They are conclusions to which we
have come after long and careful study
of the whole ground; and conclusions
which appear 10 US so very weighty,that we
feel obliged to throw them out for the con.
sideration, not only Of our more immediate
readers, but of the Wings Of the whole
country. 1t is for them not for Us, to de.
eide.
Whatever candidates they may finally
fix upon, whether Harrison, Clay or Web.
ster, he will have Of course our enthusiastic
and unwavering support. 1t is our destiny
10 do battle in The Wing cause; and wheh
or victory speeds US through the disordered
ranks of our opponents, or whether defeat
pushes US into the last ditch, we shall still
fight on, steady and undsmuyed, for the
good cause to which we are weddel. But
The aim Of every contest is victory, and
,ha, in the long run depends less upon
courage or perseverance, than upon pru
dence and policy. The course, which in
The present case prudence and policy de.
mands, appear to Us abundantly obvious.
Let the Wings of the country consider and
dpc1e unon n