Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-06-23
The Republican Ticket.

The Republican Ticket.
"Hayes, Hayes, who is Hayes 2" were
the words dropped from thousands oflips when
the result of Fridays seventh ballot was an
nounced to the country. And the wisdom of
the choice Of comparatively unknown man
is yet to be demonstrated. 1t was evident
almost from the first that Blaine whose
"pluck" has been admired alike by friend
and foe, had passed the meridian Of his
strength, while the devotees Of Bristow must
have known earlyin the fight that their portion
was to hope against hope. These two men were
emphatically the peoples leaders, and there
was an expectation, not warranted by history
but yet deep-rooted, that the coming man
was likely to be either the one or the other.
But the goddess of politics, if we can SO pro.
fame mythology as to speak of such dvin-
ity in connection with modern wire-pulling,
had fixed different decree, and 10 Hayes
was sprung upon US, bearing in one hand
hard-money record, in the other the prestige
of having done notable military service
With TIE other name upon the ticket no
fault can DO found, though the selection of
Wheeler was dictated by the policy of carr
rying doubtful state,-indeed giant state
in politics. Many have the opinion that had
the order of the names been reversed far
better satisfaction would have been given.
There can be no doubt as to the degree Of
local influence exerted in behalf Of the nom.
inee. When it became evident that to bal
lot dd infnitum could nominate neither
Blaine nor Bristow, the necessity of a compro-
mise arose, and by a coalition of the Morton
and Bristow forces with the Hayes delega.
ton, the vanquisher of "Olebiallen" was
rung as the candidate for republican honors.
"Hayes and Wheeler" then, make the
ticket which all true republicans must sup.
port. To us it seems like a colorless ticket,
lacking those assurances of reform that the
names Of some other candidates would have
given. Aud while the republican journals
laud it as one that will carry the great hone
and sinew of the party, they all imply ex.
ccpt few color.blind with partzanship,
tacit disappointment that the nominations
were not better. "They might have been
worse" says one. There is much negative
merit in the ticket But has it come to such
pass that we must accept the result Of
uumberless tradings, compromises and bribe-
ries and swallow all in the name and for the
sake Of keeping republicanism afoat2 Who
cares for name so long as there is an
earnest, intelligent sentiment yearning for
something better than the politicians give
us2 Of course the platform was good
sound in all essential regards. But in that
declaration of principles no recognition is
made of positive, national demand for re-
form. A safe ticket-by which we are to
understand, one that will secure republican
victory. The hinge on which the whole con-
vention swung was party success, republican
majority. Whoever was likely to give another
four years conference to repubicanism, he was
the man. 1t is not enough that Hayes has
clean record is a man of principle and
modest merit has thrice routed democratic
opponent What the country wanted was a
person who had been actively and earnestly
identified with the spirit of reform with the
spirit which finds satisfaction not in the
memory of distinguished service, but rather
in the guarantee of larger and better future
political achievement. There were men before
the people who had shown ability to weed
out corruptions and purify the whole
system of civil service; muscle and grit
withal, not alone to spar against the democ.
racy as such but to bottle the leeches, para
sites, and borers that tester upon their own
party.
But while the love Of the unknown, the
desire for something new and uutried, was in
the heart of the people, fortified by the lucky
accident of Lincoln's nomination, the man.
ayers, on the whole, were 10th to accept u
man whom they knew to be inaexiblo. 1t
seems to be an objection TO a mau that he
has convictions, talent, and ripe political ex-
peicnce.
There will be the usual superauity Of Gu
logy for the new ticket. Each name will DO
exhumed, polished aud emblazoned upon the
political sky, and much of the force of the
coming campaign will be to wean the people
from the remembrance Of the old and nurse
them into a respect for tho new. There is
now no real issue before the people. The
soul Of enthusiasm in Grants first campaign
was the remembrance of him as hero. At his
denomination he was simply the man whose
name could still muster the people for repub-
lican victory. But why will the people
rally around the new ticket Because II