Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-06-07
The Cincinnati Convention.

One week from to-day the delegates Of the
Republican party Of this country meet at
Cincinnati for the purpose Of nominating
their standard.bearers for the next four
years. The time is close, and yet II is i'm
possible to predict what may transpire dur
ing this period. II is an era Of making and
unmaking public men-an era OF whirl and
excitement and turmoil--which happily oc-
ours with us but once in four years. The
past week has certainly demonstrated the
fact that one who, at its beginning, stood in
the fore rank Of candidates for the ir>t 20
sition in the country, is, II nothing worse,
at least an aspirant whose strong points and
whose weak points should be most care
fully considered before he is adopted at Gin.
cinnati.
We are among the last TO do any injustice
u Mr. Blaine lie has for years been a
courageous and acceptable party leader.
His ability and his devotion TO the princi-
pies Of the Republican party are undoubted,
while his aggressiveness has often won adj
miration, If it has not always commanded
confidence. Yet he has never been our beau
ideal of an unselfsh and incorruptble states.
mau-such leader as the country and the
times demand. Aud 50, when called upon
the high office of President Of the United
States, we could not feel that Mr.. Blaine
represented that element in politics which
we thought desirable should prevail at the
coming election. The rumor Of his transac-
tions, while in Congress, in securities whose
value depended upon Congressional bounty,
have been very current and generally cred
tied during the past few years, and whether
he traded in them on his own account, or in
behalf of his friends, as he now claims, the
offence is the same. II is the use of official
position for personal aggrandizement, and
this is one of the most crying evils in this
country to-day.
Nor do we say that even in this matter
Mr., Blaine is a sinner above others. 1t is
an evil far more prevalent aud widely ex-
tended, both in and out of Congress- than
many suppose. Nor, indeed have we great
sympathy with the hyena-like ferocity with
which the present Congress has endeavored
TO besmirch the fair fame of the leading
members of the Republican party. Yet we
must remember that 1t is not the exposure,
il is the commission of such offences, that we
should deprecate and Mr.. Blaine stands be-
| fore the country to-day, self-convicted of this
misdeed, and compromised to such an extent
as to render the serious presentation of his
name at Cincinnati matter of great I'M
certainty
II such should prove TO be the case, the
natural inquiry will arise, how will the stu
alton of the others named in this connection
be affected This is very difficult and
complicated matter to determine. We have
little doubt that the New England delegates
who favored Blaine would naturally grayi-
tate toward Bristow. In fact, aside from
Brstow and Blaine, no other candidate has
at present any following in New England.
Whether the result would be the same in
other sections of the country we cannot tell.
OF one thing, however, we do feel sure-that
If the Cincinnati Convention will give us the
have a ticket composed of honest Republi-
cans, which would sweep the country like a
whirlwind, and insure the country four years
of honest and intelligent government.