Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-06-21
The Nominations.

The recent convention at Cincinnati was
the most important that has been held by
the Republican party since that which nomi-
mated Mr.. Lincoln In 1860. Then the country
was entering upon the prolonged strife of
civil war, which issued in the emancipation
of millions of slaves in the formation and
disbanding Of immense armies in the crea-
ton Of debt in four years larger than any
other national debt of thousand years ac-
emulation in an unparalleled expansion of
all the departments of business in the in
PRODUCTION Of paper currency and the utter
exclusion of gold in the addition to the cleo
tors Of nearly million of ignorant and de-
graded voters, and in all the problems of
finance and civil administration which such
results involved. The progress Of tho war,
in which the government Games into the
market as the competitor of all private buy
ers and enhanced the price Of every product
to an almost fabulous SUN, and which also
stimulated unnaturally all the industries of
the country, both created and gratifed the
thirst for wealth, rapidly acquired, which
has resulted in the wide spread corruption
that prevails among public men, and set at
work those causes which have produced the
present business depression, that will con
time to exist until, in the progress Of time,
by prudence and economy the country has
lifted the larger part of the debts under
which II is 50 heavily staggering.
1t is perhaps the most critical period in
tho history OF the United States The saga
cious men Of the country are looking with
anxiety and dismay upon the troubled con
dition Of public affairs. They see that
the real hope for the country lies in the
abandonment of that reckless use OF the
public funds which was generated 10y the
war. They comprehend the fact that the
safety of the republic can be provided only
by retrenchment Of expenditures, reform of
the civil service, the conduct of public af-
fairs on business principles, and the sacri-
flee of the empty politicians of the country,
whose highest ambition has been to fiji them.
selves and dispense official patronage.
The Cincinnati Convention was the arena
where the policies of administration and ac-
ton, generated by the war, came into sharp
collision with the principles which are vital
TO the integrity the honor and the safety Of
the government, now that the war is ended
and peace established. The two leading
candidates there represented the two sides
Of the Republican party. Mr.. Blaine was
the leader of that section of the party whose
ideas of civil policy have been formed by
and during the war. Mr.. Bristow was the
leader of that section of the party which
felt the necessity Of the most unqualified re-
form. The leaders were good representa-
tiyes Of their respective sides. The former
was full Of pluck, dash and fight, with moral
ideas little confused, and political action a
little exceptionable. The latter had stood
the fire Of rings who hang on the rear OF
great wars, as suffers and camp followers
hang on the rear Of armies, and had utterly
routed and dispersed them. lie had an
eagle eye for the purity Of the civil service
and trenchant determination TO administer
civil affairs on correct moral and bushes,
principles.