Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-05-24

lnt tInttnnhi 'NuNcntiVHs
The Cincinnati Convention for the noini.
nation Of candidates for President aud Vice
President is close at hand Our Vermont
delegates were wisely left without instruo-
lions, and are free to act according to their
best Judgment when the sme comes. They
will desire, of course, to do not only what is
wisest and best for the party and the coun-
try, but also what will he approved by the
Republicans of Vermont \ few suggestions
as TO what large portion Of the Republican
voters in this section Of the state desire to
have them do may not, therefore be inap-
propriate at this time.
We sincerely feel that the success Of the
Republican party is indispensable to the
welfare of the country. We can all see what
a democratic victory would mean. 1t would
simply place the rule and control Of the
country in the hands Of the very men who
attempted to destroy il by the rebellion. But
clear as this is the danger is great, and
something must be done that will unite
and make available the entire Republican
strength to avert it. If this can be done, it
is our plain duty to do It, We do not desire
to be understood that we should nominate
or vote for bad men TO accomplish it. This
is the very thing to be avoided; this is the
very way ho,r not 10 10 Il.
-Four men are prominently named as can
didates for President Blaine, Bristow,
&. far
the preference of all the Republicans in New
England is for Blaine or Bristow. We have
seen no journal, nor any man, who advocated
either of the others. Now why is this
Both Morton and Conkling are men Of de-
cded ability, and stand in the very front
rank in the Senate. They have both been
leading and steadfast Republicans ever since
the party was formed Neither of them
ever faltered in the party race. Why, then,
should neither have any support among the
Republicans Of New England We think
the reason is that they are regarded as too
entirely and exclusively political partisans.
Not that they are too strongly attached TO
the principles, or devoted 10 the measures of
the party but that they believe in deyoting
the entire patronage aud machinery OF the
government TO the promotion and advance
ment of party interests. Now within the
past few years public attention has been at
tracted to this matter in a great variety Of
ways, and great numbers of Republicans
have come to believe that by reason of this
use Of the public patronage the public ser
vice has become very corrupt, and that the
great political issue now is the publication
of the public service. It is doubtless true
that the general Generalization brought on
10y the war and other connected causes has
affected men in places of public trust, as it
has men in places Of private trust, and that
defalcations and peculations have become
alarmingly frequent in both. But we do not
suppose that the public patronage has been
used for political and partisan ends any more
during the present administration than it
has been ever since General Jackson's time.
II has, however, been brought forward and
dwelt upon until it has attracted public at
tention, and great numbers of people believe
that the public service has become terribly
corrupt, and they do not intend to vote for
any man or ticket which they do not under.
stand is pledged to work the reform they
seek and expect.
These men will not vote for Morton OF
Conkling because they do not at all represent
their idea OF reform. A great many OF
them will not vote for Mr.. Blaine, for the
same reason. And is there not just the SAINT
reason for objecting to Mr.. Blaine on thi
score as to Morton or Conkling? Mr.. Blaine
has been all his life in politics. He may be
said to be professional politician. lie has
always been accustomed TO use the power
and patronage Of official positions and places
for the good of the party. lie believes in il
as the proper mode of advancing and up
holding party interests. Now in this respect
many people believe he is wrong, aud, so be
lieving, will not vote for him, because hi,
election would be no promise or profession
of reform. All this class OF people would
vote for Bristow. The energy and persis
fence he has shown in prosecuting and pun
ishing dishonest officials has satisfied thos,
parties who desire above all things to pre-
mote reform in official administration, tina
he is the proper man for President. Nov
we cannot spare the support of this numer
Gus class of voters. They will vote foi Bris
low, but not, as a class, for any one else.
Is there any good reason why Republican
should not support Bristow The only OBJ
lection which ever came TO our knowledge is
that he is a Southern man. ave do no
want 10 be Johnsonized." But Bristow'
history shows that he has been a Republ
can ever since there has been such a party
that he was an anti-slavery man while SLAYER
existed; that he raised a regiment of Uniol
soldiers and commanded it during the rebel
lion and treason of the South. No possibl
guarantee of his Unionism and Republican
ism could be better than these Andrey
johnson belonged 10 the strictest school o
state's-rights democrats. The trouble witt
him grew out of his state's-rights views
When this war was over he insisted tina
the states held their places just as before
and only wanted their machinery wound N
and set running, aud that Congress possesse,
no power 10 exact conditions aud guarantee
from them. But Bristow was brought u
in wholly different school of politics-th
old Henry Clay sehool-who held doctrine
Numerically opposite from those whiel
played the mischief with johnson.
There is yet another point to which we dc
sire to call attention. The success Of gu
ticket in New York is essential 10 our sue
cess in the country. 1t looks now as If Go,
enor Tilden would be the nominee of Tia
democrats. II so, Blaine's success IN Ne,
York would be very doubtful. 1t is yer
generally known that between Blaine an
Conkling there exists strong feeling a
personal hostility of several years duration
so severe that they are not ON even speakin
terms. Now If Mr.. Blaine should be GU
candidate, it is impossible that be would no
TO some considerable extent, injure on
cause in that state. We canot afford Il
peril vote ia this important issue.
But while the nomination of Blaine wonl,
certainly imperi New York, the Cincinnati
lanv.ns q. =. 4. A. 4 --