Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-08-19
Comments of the Press on the Middle.
Dury COnVentlOn.

The competing candidates before the
convention of the First Congressional Dis
trict at Middlebury yesterday were the
present incumbent, Hon. Charles w. Will
lard of Montpelier, and Col. Charles H.
Joyce of Rutland Mr. Willard came be-
fore the convention with unusual claims
for reelection. His service of six years
in the 41st, AID and 43d Congresses had
been long enough to win a nltional repu-
taiion for excellent ability and unblemish
ell integrity. In natural ability he was
the superior of his competitor, in acquired
ability he was his superior, in purity of
personal character he was at least his
peer; as an independent political thinker
and speaker, he had attracted the attention
and won the praise of the leading men of
both parties in Congress. Mr.. Willard
had by his industry and capacity made
himself far more than the mere reprcsen-
tative of his constituents in his own Dis
trict; that is, he had done something noh'er
and better than bend his entire brains to
the problem of how he could most liar
moniously and shrewdly distribute the
patronage in his District, he had made his
name terror to lobbyists, u title of honor
for his entire state.
Recognizing this fact. we. in common
with nearly every paper in the state, have
expressed hope that he might he again
returned to the sphere of public duty he
has filled with such exceptional worthinesS
in these days of Congressional decadence.
In face of coming opposition ut the con-
vention, Mr. Willard stuck to his high
standard of political conduct and never
stopped to the petty acts of II drmagogue
to capture the nomination. He had done
his duty noblv in the opinion of the State
and nltiCn in Conor .ss, and on this reputa-
ton alone would e consent to 90 before
the convention Our friends of the Rut-
land press have intimated that any outside
expression of opinion ftvoring Mr.. Will
lard over Mr.. Joyce was improper.
and vet both papers have exercised the
privilege they deny us. in reference to the
nomination of Judge Poland. The deciar-
alton that no paper in Vermont can with
propriety express its impression of the
comparative political AMI personal ability
of candidates for Congress outside of its
own district is too absurd to neel argI-
ment in its exposition. fla Nun makes
himself / ,rge enough to fill the nations
eye ut Washington, he is certainly large
enough to attract attention, and to interest
the whole state in his success.
Col. Charles II, Joyce, who has been
nominated to succeed Mr.. Willard, owes
his success to his energetic work through
out his District during The lust year in his
own behalf, a kinl of work for which Mr..
Willard has la | neither time nor nltural
inclination. Col. JOYCE is fitted for thi,
kind of pcrs nal effort by the popularity
hat usually goes with Il man of agreeable
personal qualities, Il good voice lnl an
impulSive manner of speaking, and if So
cal talent rather than marked public capt
city is to be the power tn It wins L SCAT in
Congress, why Col. joyce is likely tn stay
in Congress the rest of his mt Irtl life fot
tught we Gun see now; Col. Joyce was
Lieut. Col of the u VI. for Il time during
the w.,r; he has Il long list of warm f-ien Is
that are Justly a:t,che.l to him for his go1l
fellowship. But if We grant rs use 10 he
believed that something more diff ult tlan
-, ere COOL fellowship is wanted 10 m Ike
him the compe,en5 lcces>or of Mr.. Will
l., rd. then it mus. he trIthfully sail thai rs
llwyer and public spe ,ker the new
is Il man not much if ut all
above mediocrity.
Gov Stewart, Col. Velzev AMI G neral
Ripley all live in Rutlani county. but I'M
der this latter day theory of politics. goo
fellowship and 2 BOD loph,, are nil tn 1t the
people want for II Congressm IN to win
their sweet voices. and until thay want
more Col. joyce is rs COOL
rs Vermont could wish for;
he is Il bright, pleasant, afflble, good look
ing man.