Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-08-05
The Parties.

The numerous conventions and tnelT
declarations of principles, the long address
of the Republican congressional commit
tee which we gave last week, and such po-
litical speeches as the late one of Senator
Morton, are fit subjects for the American
voter to make note of before carrying
his ballot to the polls the coming fall. The
republican party has held the government
for fourteen wears, and of course as an or
political places it has, in the sight of those
who hold those plices or expect to get
them by its aid, claims upon all who ever
belonged to it. But the voter himself is
inclined to look about a great deal this
year, and if he votes the republican ticket
it will be for other and better reasons than
thlt office-holders or office-seekers wish for
his ballot
The arguments put forth will have to
stand more than is usual upon their own
merits this year. The fact that stands
most prominent is that after all the talk of
the last three years the republican organi-
cation is confronted by the old organized
democracy. You pay your taxes and you
take your choice. Sung by the over
whelming defeat of two years ago the
democrats propose to themselves this year
supreme effort to win, not deserve, n
success that shall be preparatory to Il COM
plete victory in the next presidential cam
paign. That is what republicans who have
acted with their party from conviction
have placed before them as the opposition
plan of campaign. We do not believe are
they ready TO help carry it out, but that
they will prefer to stay in their own ranks,
reforming them if need be, kut not breaking
them in the face of their old enemies.
The independent press, and Il very lively
press it is, has been greatly troubled by
the Republican congressional address for
what it has been pleased to term its alb
stract of ancient history, and the Tribu4ao
facetiously remarks that it really is CON
vincing dorum cnt in the matter of prov-
ing that James Buchanan should not be
reelected president. As matters are go
ing, that is about all the address was re-
quirei TO prove, and in flct, granting for
the argument that is all it does prove, il
censured it should be for not going still
farther back to find the issues presented
by the democracy. The platform of the
Maine democracy has for its chief plank
free-tra lie, Il "Reminiscences of the Polk cam
paign of A. The Indiana democracy ia
vorS reputation, a theory put in practice
by their early Mississippi kindred just as
soon as they coull get into debt. The IL
llnos democrats. on the contrary, are 90
ing to bring 10 their fold the hard-money
men; they for some reason not agreeing
with their next neighbors. Down in Ala
bama, the idea of white mans govern
ment'' is revampel in the convention iusi
held by them. Here III Vermont they arc
going back to democratic principles, but
modify the general terms of their resolu-
ton which would never get them further
down the stream of time than the g free
trade and sailors rights of 1912, by a
couple of modern doctrines. They ac-
tually favor n canal which brings them
past the years when Clinton's ditch was
denounced and reveals them rs awake to
the merits of external improvements they
will eventually come to the old whig doc
trine of internal ones. Their utmost reach
towards the present time is proposed re-
peal of the prohibitory law which was
passed us lately rs 1852.
Confronted by such party as this that.
crab-like, forever progresses backward, i
was fit AMI proper thlt the republican ad
dress should compare former democratic
administrations with the republican re-
gime. Honest administration will never
come ont of a purity that advocates repu-
diation, and lasting remedy will never BIZ |
fonnd for the troubles of the south by put |
ting affairs into the hands of reactionists |
Thousands of republicans ut the north de- |
plore the stealing of the South Carolina |
Moses and his mob, who are equally dis |
gusted at the bourbon spirit displayed in |
the Alabama resolutions. The result is an |
Indifference to the real burdens of a set OF |
men who learn nothing and forget nothing |
1t is the mostarrant fooishn .ss to attribute |
negro supremacy and its evil results to thu |
vindictiveness Of the north. Negro slpre-
macy is the legitimate fruit of the southern |
hatred of negro equ ,ity When the south |
accepts this last us the situation AMI stops
bowling against civil rights bills it will be |
time enough to con slider whether the re
suits of the war th 1t Legislation can effect |
are so secured As to permit republican |
voter to cast his ballot for II democratic |
candidate. on the doubtful chance of II more |
honest conduct Of the machinery of tax
gathering and tax-disbursing
One item in Senator Morton's speecb in |
opening the republican campaign in India |
ma, is interesting in view of one of the |
democratic planks in the Vermont plat |
form. The senator. who is, we believe. not |
given to ultra views upon the temperance |
question. gives it as his experience, that
wherever there has been had or is PROOFS
ed anyisort of legislation whatever, aiming
to promote temperance, the democracy are |
opposed to the particular form of legisla-
ton used. Where a prohibitory law is in
question, they favor license law; where
n license law is in force, modification if |
not n repeal is their desire; Baxter"
law is an abomination to them, and in fact.
the senator's idea is that free trade is, at
bottom. their doctrine in this as other mat
tiers. and Senator Morton, though a bad in
fiaiionist. sees good many things very
clearly.