Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-04-05
The state Convention

dom have we seen larger, or, on the whole,
better representation Of the Republican
voters Of the state brought together in our
ordinary gubernatorial convention. In these
respects 1t as much exceeded the convention
of four years ago as the present exigcncy'
and the imperative duty Of every genuine
Republican to meet that exigency, exceeds
that of 1872. As was well said by one Of
the speakers, it furnished a gratifying proof
that the Republican party Of the state is fully
alive to the demands Of the hour, and fur
nished conclusive evidence Of its implicit
belief that our country can only be delivered
from It's enemies in peace by that political
organization which safely rescued it from
It's far more formidable enemies in war
And yet, in respect to the delegates Sc
lected to represent the state at Cincinnati,
We confess to a shade of disappointment.
Not that we believe for moment that the
convention was captured by bummers,' or
that any unjustifable means were used to
promote the interests Of any particular can
didatc Our disappointment, so far as we
had any arose from the fact that we realized
most profoundly the public peril, as all
others seemed to, and so had great expecta-
tons as to the delegates to be chosen. While
the ticket is not bad one, on the whole,
even according to the critics-only weak
in spots-in ordinary times il would have
been regarded as unexceptionable, and so
pronounced. BUTT should not be forgotten
that the universal and determined spirit of
reform which has taken so deep a hold Of the
Republican party Of the state, as whole,
must necessarily extend TO its constituent
parts and that these delegates partake Of
that feeling, and will be animated by that
spirit equally with their constituents. With a
single exception, they were all present at the
convention, and drank in the resolute and I'M
compromising spirit of those whose chosen
mouth-piece they are and woe be to the
man who fails to give voice and vote to that
spirit when the trial hour shall come But
we confidently look for united, effective,
and more than satisfactory discharge Of duty
on the part of our delegation.
If any one doubted the high tone Of the
convention, the demonstration attendant
upon the lively episode introduced by dele
gate harrington, of st. Adams, must have
dispelled all his fears When he arose, as
he said, to perform most disagreeable duty
and which, in that light, must have re-
quired a degree of moral courage as remark
able as it is rare-and pointedly denounced
one of the nominees from the First Congress
sional District as professional ring-master
and lobbyist, aud whom common report
charged with having had profitable connec-
ton with jobs, while a member of Congress,
and demanded Of the convention TO save the
party of the state from the reproach of such
a Misrepresentation clearly took the
convention with him, and nothing, in our
judgment, but the broad, unqualified, in
dignant, eloquent denial, on the part of the
accused of each and every charge-coupled
with the suggestion of Governor Page, that
the nomination in question belonged to the
district alone, and had been agreed upon
in district convention, aud was a matter over
which the state convention had no jurisdic-
tion-prevented the substitution of another
name. Had the charges been credited, we
firmly believe the protest of Mr. Harrington
would have prevailed despite the questiona
BILE authority of the convention. OF the
truth or falsity of these charges we have nc
knowledge, but from what we do know OF
the gentleman's superior ability, his large ac
quaintance, and his characteristic state and
personal pride, we predict that he will TAXI
position and WELD an influence in thai
convention Of which the whole state will be
proud.
Some of our contemporaries have endeay
ored to report the preferences of the conven
ton in respect to Presidential candidates
OF course this could only be done by indi
vidual expressions, as no action was had il
county, district or state gatherings From
what we, as an outsider, were able to learn
we conclude that the Republicans of Vernon
are looking more to ends than to means
more TO principles than to men. While Their
Is no lack OF appreciation OF DIANE sPlen
did qualities as a legislator and party leader
they are also most profoundly impressed will
BRIsrow's certainly not less remarkabl
gifts as leader in the warfare against col
ruption in high places. While they glor
in the gigantic blows which the one, a
champion of our forlorn hope in the lowe
House of Congress, deals upon the head o
5 the common enemy, they have perhaps
I greater glory in the work of the unostenta
e tious but determined executioner Of the vii
cormorants who are surfeiting themselye
upon the life-blood Of the nation. But the
do not forget that the triumphs of the on
!, have been chiefly in the line of partisan pc
itics, hardly attaining the highest ends O
> craftsmanship, while the other seems prov
dentially clothed upon with those element
l of administrative aud executive reform fo
! which the true friends of our country ar
= now searching as with lighted candles
We refer our readers to the official pr
r ceedngs for the speeches and resolutions
3 A CoNsUMMATE SCouNDREL.-The seq