Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-12-27
correspondence.
H.ctte. from EHariiand.

NiR. EDITOR - Dear Sir : The pure
patriot and great Republican leader,
Charles Summer who "has gone for
ever and forever by"-whose memory
we all love to revele,--four years ago
warned rs m our danger in his Place
in the Senate il these memorable
words -"The present Incumbent
(Grant) knows little OF our form OF
Government. BY 4 military educa
ton an | military genius he represents
the idea of force. Nor is he an eX-
ccption to the rule of his profession,
which appreciates only slightly a Gov
eminent that Is not arbitrary. The
time for the soldier is past" Would
not Charles Sumner, were he alive to-
day be on the side of Democracy and
Reform Would he not he a strong
and faithful supporter OF the only par
! ty that today stands Ly the Constltu-
ton and the law Certainly he
would. Now what We ask and most
naturally desire is that these Presiden-
tai complications may be settled by
both Houses Of Congress without in
reference from the Executive. Grants
conduct is such that the people Of this
country are ahla2e with excitement.
lie has repeatedly, with the aid OF the
bayonet set aside the will Of the peo
ple in Louisiana, and has, it is report
cd, recently declared in the presence
of Mr.. Hewitt. Chairman of the Dem
ccratic National Committee, that there
has not been fair and honest election
in that State since the war, and that
this year was no exception. Then
why count in the Hayes electors now =?
Well may the people of this country
cry out rs this a Government Of law
or Il Government of men 2 Is there
Il conspiracy at Washington to over
turn our republican institutions Re
pubicanS as well as Democrats may
well have cause Tor alarm, for we all
have the same interests at stake. Ii
a dictator like Grant eau send troops
to Suuth Carolina and drive legally
elected Democratic majority from the
hnll5 Of the State House, may he uot
do the same in the State of Vermont
should our Legislature see cause for
alarm and pass resolutions OF censure
in regard to the course he is taking.
Thousands of fair minded Republicans
have ever since tie eighth Of Novem-
Der conceded the election of Gov. Til
den by n far majority in the Electoral
College, and it is well known that on
the popular vote he has ma
jority Of nearly $4,000. This large
} majority is made up in part Of many
thousands Of disailected Republicans
who feel unsafe and believe tnat q
demoralized, arrogant anu sooundrelly
: band of Office holders, drunken with
long years OF power, riotng and ca
rousing with money stolen from the
; treas lry and wrung from the honest
+ laboring classes-wtapped in their sci
fish desires, greedy and rotten to the
. core re--thiS class still refuse to let gC
! their hold of power and through
| Grant their willing tool, with the aic
of the army, are now trying to rob Us
| Of thee States and thereby seat in the
= Presidential chair Hayes, Il man who
| when in Congress never cast II vote
| against corruption and never raised his
voice against the thieying 'uspiracie'
of the Robesons, the Belknaps, the
Boss Shepherds, and hundreds of 9th.
ers OF less note. But in this awtu
, state of things can we appeal to the
more candid and conservative men il
t the Senate =? The Conkliugs, Edmund
= ses and others to use their influence
? in favor fjustice and right and ris'
: above low partisapship to patriotic