Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-10-21


contest close, and acrimonious on the
past OF our opponents, in which,
through 30 fault of your own, the in
dividuality Of the party has become,
in Il measure, lost. The unforeseen
refusal of our nominee to become our
candidate for Congress LETT us, owing
to the lateness Of the day, in very un-
propitious circumstances, and threw
upon each votert the responsibility Of
casting his influence in favor of can
didate of his own, and without any
unity of action with others, or Of Civ
ing his vote to either the one or the
other of the two opposing candidates,
who were equally representatives Of
principles antagonistic to our own.
For want of time, no opportunity was
given your Committee to act directly,
and communicate their action to the
voters of the district they. therefore
made no nomination at the time, but
left the matter in the hands Of each
voter to act as his best judgement
might prompt him. The result was
that large portion of the Democrats
of the District, falling to discern any
preference between the two opposing
candidates, adhered tenaciously to
Mr.. Davenport, while others, as each
perceived some preference for the one
over the other, gave their votes to
either Mr.. Denison or Judge Poland.
Neither the Convention nor your
committee endorsed either of these
gentlemen, but your committee did
then, and do now, regard vote given
to either Of them as vote in favor of
Grants administration. Your COM
mittee has been imDortuned by the
friends of Mr.. Denison to refrain IRON
bringing a candidate into the field at
this time, and it is urged that because
many Democrats voted for him at the
late election they are bound in honor
to vote for him in the coming con-
test.
In reply, we say that the support
heretofore given by Democrats to Mr..
Denison was given under the peculiar
circumstances of the case, and signi-
fed nothing except their preference
for him over Judge Poland. He is
understood to be a friend to and sup,
porter of Grants administration, and
in that respect is equally as obnoxious
to Democrats as is Judge Poland.
He was nominated by Republicans
and as Republican, and whatever
aid he received from Democrats is to
be ascribed to the unfortunate circum.
stances of our being left without a
candidate, and as expressive only Of
their preference for him over Judge
Poland. And we assume that had
; Mr.. Davenport not declined, the votes
that would have been given by the
Democrats to both Judge Poland and
Mr.. Denison would have been neut
rallied by a much larger number OF
Republican votes being given to Mr.
Davenport.
Now that we have a candidate Of
our own, we fail to see the obligations
Of Democrats to yield their support to
Mr.. Denison in the coming election
simply because they voted for him
when we had no candidate.
Neither Judge Poland or Mr.. Den
ison represent the principles Of our
party, and neither of them would, ev.
en- if elected by our votes, affiliate
with us. So the question crises, ii
what way should we be compensated
for the sacrifice they ask us TO make
Furthermore, as Judge Poland has de
clined being further used as candi
date, it leaves at the disposal Of Mr..
Denison's friends the entire Republi-
can vote of the District. Hence he
does not need our votes to ensure his
election, and if given TO him they
could not be expected to receive such
recognition as would justify us in civ
ing them.
All experience Of the past teaches
us that no minority is ever ultimately
benefited by union with Il majority
for any purpose in the sorting out
to return some are always left behind,
and in all candor we inquire why
should we peril our party organization
without q prospect of even temporary
advantage =?
Democrats of the Second District,
the time has come for us to act. anC
let us act with fidelity to our country
we shall thereby give character to our
party, and inspire with confidence
those in sympathy with us elsewhere,
Let us be true to ourselves and oul
principles. Let confidence and ON
country's good stimulate lis to action
and we shall need no casting about
for solace, nor yearning to know ON
own, when the record Of the Mir0
day of November shall come to be
known.
BY vote of the Convention, the
District Committee were empowered
to fill the vacancy in the case OF Mr..
Davenport's declination We there
fore present the name of Alexander
MLane, of Fairlee, as suitable per
son to represent this District in the
Congress of the United States, and
confidently ask for him your earnest