St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-05-12
The Centennial Campaign.

The coming Presidential campaign
promises to he one of the most interest
ing and important that the country has
ever passed through. The feeling
aroused 10y the first success of the Re
publicans in l-OD WAS probably more
intense and the crisis greater than
at present. since il WAS in the formative
period of the Republic. Neither will
civil wal threaten the states lis in l-tiO.
should the Republican party succeed
III the approaching contest nor has the
North Il sectional principle to maintain
as in "a. Yet the issues this wear are
of almost equal Importance. Not only
do they concern the immediate future
of the nitcd States. but the result will
definitely determine questions of policy
which have not. as vet, been Sati>tac-
tnIilN settled. Though the candidate
must he the platform to II great extent.
yet the party giving the best assurances
"i hare, money, civil service reform.
and honest administrations. will win the
day. other things being equal.
Both parties will. no doubt. adopt IL
>tr"n" hard money plank. but since il
Democratic House has failed t" agree
on ANY plan for assumptions, it is not
probable that their specie professions
will win many votes. The record of
the Republican party on this question
is nearly clean. and we may safely say
that it will hc the only honest champion
OF Il sound currency. la - civil service
reform WAS advocated 10y both convcn-
tion>: but after the election. the Jack
>uniau apnIhcgm was again adopted.
and the poor infant WAS suffered to die
in the Presidents aims in order that
til" administration might reward its
hackers aud the senators and reprcScrI-
tati\r> THEN faithful constituents. That
WAS the work of the politicians. but
now the people propose to take the
matter in hand. and see whether or not
the dents and Bahc"ckS and CasevS and
Dclan"> are to monopolizc the offices
Until the civil service Is absolutely
independent of political parties. will
the shameful record OF the past hc re
pratrd. This. we hope, will he brought
about during the next four Years What
really seems to Ice the most important
ISSUE is whether the people shall man
age the elections and have honest GOV
eminent, 81 the politicians. For this
the Democratic and Republican papclS
aIr alike clamnrouS. While We must
confess that the course pursued bN the
present administration would scarcely
variant much h"a>ling ON the Rcpub-
lican side, Vet We think that il is not
he politicians now in power who are to
rule the Cincinnati CnnVcntinn hut the
Republican MASSES. And if them voices
are not heard for thorough reform. and
If II man whom the people can trust is
not nominated. then look out for Il
Democratic victory in November. Such
a result, if We are to Judge 10y the utter
InccS of those who We're constituted the
right wing of that party. would indeed
tie IL national calamity at this time.
This, then, can hc assured That the
party which honestly accepts the prin-
ciplrs mcnti"med above and takes aS its
candidate Il man whose name is in itself
an cmhodimrnt If these principles, will
win the election. Mere platform plati-
nur history have men been 81 indcprnd-
cnt of party ties and SO ready To cast
their votes for honest men of whatever
political faith.