Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-11-08
The Presidential Elecilon.


The Presidential Election.
There is a grandeur in the thought that,
as we write, seven or eight millions Of free |
and Independent citizens are quietly repair
ing to the polls, in the discharge Of their
high privilege and duty, to choose national
executive for the ensuing Presidential term.
We say free and independent citizens" for,
while with some exceptions, notably among
the freedmen Of the South, and to a far too
great extent among the employees in the
North, there is virtual intimidation, as
rule the suffragcs cast to-day will express
the free will and wish of the indiyid-
ual voter. However men may be blinded by
partisan prejudice, or mised through ignor-
ance, or imposed upon by unprincipled lead
ers, the great mass are honestly seeking for
good government, and will endeavor TO be.
stow their SURFACES to that end. However
greatly the result Of this days election may
fail of securing the end sought; however
deeply the honest friends of good and pure
government may lament this days proceed
ings, we still maintain that no other coun-
try can present a spectacle so grand as is
this day seen in the United States-of seven
or eight millions Of freemen, more intelli-
gent and better principled than the people
of any other nation under the whole heaven,
going quietly up TO the ballotbox to decide
the great Presidential contest by the use of
that weapon
Which comes down as still
As snow-lakes fall upon the sod,
But executes the Freemans will
As lightning does the will of God.
Of course, we believe the best interests OF
the nation imperatively demand the election
of Hayes and Wheeler, and that the choice
of the opposing candidates will mark new
departure in the wrong direction. The res
toraton OF the democratic party to power
especially through the aid of solid South
would inevitably revive the old sectiona
controversy, and place the country substan
TALLY under the control Of that section whicl
has always ruled the democratic party, an
through that fundamentally dominated th
whole country, until the tyrannous reign wa
wiped out in blood. That many and rad
cal reforms in administration are demanded
we do not question-and the best Republ
cans in the country are the men who realz
the truth most deeply, and labor the mos
inteligenty and earnestly to secure tn;
end. The hope Of such a reform as
needed rests alone with them. The can
paign cry of " Tilden and reform is a d
fusion and q snare. 1t was adopted by
set of men who never knew what honest a.
ministration and pure civil service meant
and so we hope and believe that the int
ligent freemen of this broad land will pen
trate the fimsy disguise, aud refuse to d
liver over this government, bound har
and foot, to its enemies.
But supposing we prove to be mistaken
our views of the situation, and in our con
dent assurance that the American Peep
will decide to-days contest in acoordan
with the views expressed. Surprising T
den is elected, and the democratic party
restored to power; shall we despair of t
republic? Shall we, after single defe
in sixteen years, cast of our armor and &C
clude that all is lost J.? Not at all. All {
more reason TO stand faithfully at the pc
of duty, il we honestly believe that our go
old ship Of state is among the breakers.
such an event, the democratic party will
put upon its good behavior. II the cons
tutional amendments are honestly observe
il the saeredly guaranteed rights of
freedmen are acknowledged; if Mr.. Tild
holds inviolate his solemn pledges regard
southern claims if even a tithe of the .
forms embodied in the national democra
platform are carried out-then indeed IN
we congratulate ourselves that our wo
fears were groundless. But if the reye
party returns TO its old Southern allegian
and yields itself up to work the works
those who sought TO destroy the goyernm'
when they could no longer rule it, then
deed shall we see such apolitical reaction
this country as was never witnessed befol
fora single term of such misrule will stuff
to restore a purified aud regenerated Rep,
lican party to power by wave of popular
thusiasm even greater than that which b
the lamented Lincoln into the President
chair during the dark days of the rebelli
So let all good Republicans abide cali
In the ship