Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-06-24
The Convention and Its Work.

met in Vermont convened at Burlington
Wednesday, and it is not too much to say
that it was model in its makeup of what
n political convention should be, in free
state where the citizens send their repre-
sentative men to consult as to public af-
fairs. There could have been but one Opln-
mas to the condition of the republican
party in Vermont in the mind of any one
who watched the appearance of the con-
ventiOn and its modes Of action, and that
is that the organization is today as solid
as the mountains.
The republican state convention IN effect
elects our state officers. This renders 4
canvass within the party more spirited
than elsewhere, and transfers the zeal
which in other states exhibits itself in the
days Immediately preceding the election
and at the polls, to the earlier stages of
political contest. Two years ago there was
some degree of bitterness engenGered, but
at Burlington, last week, we saw nothing
of this. There were several candidates
who had each earnest friends, but there
was little of the feeling known as any
thing to beat Grant," and there was no
thought of anything other than giving the
heartiest support to such men as the con-
vention should select.
The friends of the successful candidate
thought they had found the right man for
the place, and that majority fthe conven-
ton thought with them. If they had found
themselves mistaken as to the last point it
was generally understood that no g dead
lock" would result, but that some other of
the estimable candidates named among the
delegates would have received their hear
ty support. 1t proved as the FREEMAN
has said, and as his friends believed, that
Judge Peck a0as the choice of the people,
and thus this nomination, most fit to be
made, was easily accomplished by the con-
vention.
The interest of the morning session was
in the speech of Senator Edmund5. The
Senator was not in his best health, and ev-
identity wanted time for the elaboration of
certain points that the convention would
he would as gladly have discussed. His
have. been glad to hear him upon, and that
speech, as delivered, was a calm argument,
showing the necessity of retaining the re-
publican party intact as the only security
for the full fruitage of results which lovers
of equal rights know were made possible
by the war, and also showing that with all
the sins of omission and commission laid
ut the door of the party, its administration
of the affairs of the country has been more
economical than the democratic rule which
preceded. Senator Edmunds is one who
works for economy in Congress; he is one
of those republicans whose record there
has been one of hostility to all the schemes
of designing men who have attached them
selves to the party because it was powerful,
who have by Sanborn contracts and Credit
Mobilierism made many good republican
FESTIVE, and given the old enemies of the
party hopes of Il return of democracy to
the spoils. 1t was well that he who has
himself so little patience with the money
changers in the temple of the republican
party and whose effort is to cast them ont
should calmly state the reasons that make
it right and necessary for republicans to
work for good government within the
party, and to keep that party an organized
power which shall prevent the democracy,
under pretexts of reform, to come in and
unsettle, so far as in them lies, the legitimate
results of the war. The issue is between
republicanism and democracy. With Sem
atOr Edmunds, we believe that so fur as
honest and economical administration goes
the country is far better off under the form
er than it has been or would be under the
latter. and that SO far as equal rights, the
equality of all men before the law, are con-
cerned, the only course to make them liv-
ing reality, as was designed when the con-
stitutional amendments were adopted, is to
establish and guard them against reaction
lists by the unbroken lines of the republican
party hereafter. The power of that party
has made them possible and founded them
in the past; it must build them up and
guard them in the future.
The)voting for candidates in the after
noon was quiet and decisive. The round
majority for Judge Peck showed that in
Vermont the office yet seeks the man.
The nomination was Il platform of itself
of the best kind, showing where the repub-
lican party of Vermont stands today upon
the living issues of the time, and so plain
that he who runs may read, and ponder
thereon when he stops and has time to
think
The vote by which Mr.. Hinckley was
nominated was an exceedingly fattering
one, as he was opposed by two gentlemen
who naturally drew about them a large
portion Of the Convention, and Mr.. Pages
denomination was a high but deserved
compliment.
The platform was pretty good as plat
forms go, but to tell the truth, the real :" res
olutions were in the ticket, and the plat
form containing no "heresy" the conven-
ton straightway adopted it and went
home. Though not SO deep as a well, nor
so wide as a church door, Its enough,
twill serve"
The Democrats in the New Hampshire
Legislature are resorting to the old disrep-
utable device of gerrymandering in order
to strengthen themselves in power. Man
chester is well known to be Republican
city by some 400 or 500 majority, and vet
bill is pending dividing it up in such a
way that there would be twenty Demo-
cratic Representatives to six Republicans.