Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-08-18
The Du,y Of vermont RepuDIIcan..

In the State of Vermont which has been
Republican by decisive majority ever
since the organization of the Republican
party, the principal danger in the pending
campaign is that the voters will estimate
their political duties too lightly, resting
content in the assurance that the State is
sure anyway, and that it can make little
difference as TO the size of the vote. Not
even the New York World arithmetic
man, We believe, has any hopes of YER
mont, and no Democratic politician is SAN
guino enough To suppose that the election
can even be made reasonably close. with
the result of the election thus conceded be-
forehand, on all sides, the Vermont Re-
publicans may easily suffer themselves to
fall into an apathetic condition, and TO
make the canvass dull and spirillcss. So
far from this, they ought TO consider that 1t
is not enough TO carry the state by the ac-
customcd majority, 10 elect their State tick
eli and to put the usual large Republican
majority into the Legislature. The effect
of the election will be felt this year far be-
yond the limits of the Slate. As the cleo
ton occurs on the first Tuesday in Seplem-
Der it will exert an important influence on
the elections which follow in other States;
and great deal Of significance will attach
to the size of tie Republican majority, as
indicative either of apathy or enthusiasm
with regard TO national issues. Tic Yer
mont Republicans, therefore, should re-
member that they are not lighting merely
local contest. the result Of which Is dis
counted in advance, but that their votes
will tell in a very important way upon the
graver and more momentous contest which
engages the nation at large.
The point which we have in view may
be easily illustrated by comparing YER
mont with New Hampshire. New Hamp-
shire is as uncertain State, politically, as
Vermont is sure, and consequently both
parties make strenuous effort to get out u
full vote. The population of Vermont, ac-
cording TO the census of 1870, is $780, /,
that of New Hampshire is 3lS,300; ASSUME
ing that the proportion Of voters is the
same in each, the vote of Vermont, if il
were once fully got TO the polls, should be
larger than that of New Hampshire. But
what do We find? At the last Gubornato-
| rial election in New Hampshire, in 1915,
the aggregate vote was 79,1S7; Willie at the
last Gubernatorial election in Vermont, in
| 1874, the aggregate vote was only 40, $50. In
other words, New Hampshire, State OF
smaller population than Vermont, polled
nearly twice as many votes. Very nearly
the same proportion is observable in other
recent elections in the two States, thus Yer.
| mont in 1872 cast SIS $50 votes, and in 1870
As, 425, while New Hampshire in 1874 cast
Il, 1893, in 1873 67,SlS, and in 1872 GS,502
These figures show that at the last Presi-
dental election Vermont was so far arous
ed as to poll from 1900 to 1900 more
votes than at the election before or amer
but even then her vote was 10000 less than
that thrown by her next ncighbOr, New
Hampshire.
These facts ought TO engage the attention
OF Vermont Republicans. The canvass
now in progress, and which has been open
cd very favorably, ought TO be prosecuted
in an aggressive manner, and the cam
paign should be sharp and decisive. Re
gard should he had to national as well a.
| State issues, and the Republican MAORI J
should be rolled up accordingly. The Yer
mont Republicans are fortunate in having
unxceptional nominees on their State tick
ct and they are thoroughly in sympathy
with the issues involved in the election o
Hayes and Wheeler. We shall eXpCc
them therefore not merely to give thei
old fashioned majority for the Republican
ticket, but to take measures for bringing
oui every vote possible, and SO pile up al
aggregate so large and so hearty rs to siv'
strength and encouragement to the Rcpub
| licans of other States who have more diff
ticult task before them. -BOStOn Journal.