Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-04-07
senator MOrriII's Letter 10 the DurIIng-
ton Convention.

senator MorriITs Letter 10 the DurIIng-
ton Convention.
To me II appears TO bo evident that the
election Of a Republican President in our
Centennial year is quite possible, and pos
sible only because he will deserve to be
elected. Our candidate must DO the en-
bodment of the Union sentiment of the
country-neither ready TO apologize for the
preservation OF the UAiou nor the enamel
patton OF race, and true, not only to The
fundamental principles which have ever
given vitality to tho Republican party, pre-
served the national credit, protected the
great industrial interests Of the country
and opened the way for a return 10 specie
payments, but our candidate must also
furnish in his own behalf name and char
acter, as a man OF affairs, With robust con-
viclions OF duty, that shall be sufficient
guaranty TO secure ability, purity and strict
economy in all branches Of the executive
departments.
The coming national contest is likely Ia
be conducted with earnestness, perhaps by
a resort to all tho vituperative eloquence
and extravagant abuse which extreme par
tisanship is apt TO esteem as among its III ost
potent weapons of political warfare, but this
system of tactics has slgnally failed where
it might have been expected TO have been
the most effective, and we may well feel
our courage REINFORCED by the late over
throw of the New Hampshire democracy,
whose hatred of Republcanism suffers no
diminution from any disadvantage of a
Northern latitude.
A sad mistake, as it turns out, was made
in the selection of General Delknap for Sec
rotary of War-a mistake now happily cor
rected by the selection of a successor Of I'M
questioned fitness as well as of unqucstiOn-
ed Republicanism-yet even those who
may have had most cause to dislike the late
Secretary never suspected his personal in
tegrity until he dropped forever from his
high position. In fact, it is the truth of
history 10 say that military officers have al
most universally escaped such inlputatons
an exception being so rare as TO provoke
worldwide commentary; but even mil
itary men, had they been placed in the gar
den of Eden, might not have done much
better than he who said, she lUOmdn gave
me and I did eat" The flaming sword is
already drawn 10 execute justice.
No true Republicans desire that any
guilty man shall escape, and they have pur-
sued and will pursue and punish rascals as
swiftly when found stealing in their own
party as when found in any other; but
they do not connive at the escape of a
Tweed, nor do they stop the pursuit on any
tr all because it leads 10 their own camp.
T he Republican party does not attempt to
crock all mankind by one general indlct-
ment based upon the offence of single in
dividual, although II will be found TO pos
sess sufficient health and righteous wrath
to cut off all offending members, knowing
that II will then still hold in its patriotic
ranks large majority Of the people.
A House Of Representatives, where
Northern Democrats are mainly excluded
| by their speaker from the lead on commit
tees, and where ex Conf lrate officers now
| hold the dominating Influence, cannot be
expected 10 act with exalted ideas OF pl,ri-
otism, but solely inspired, as it would seem,
wi tn tho purpose TO rule the government
they so lately sought TO ruin. Tho meas
ures proposed under the plausible guise oil
reform may he 50 gaunt and gro,esquc as
to raise painful doubt whether or not the
real design may not be 10 cripple the or
| binary administration Of the Government
and to produce at length imbecility by slow
starvation. Some better return for amues-
| ty might possibly have been exhibited.
Ever since the close Of the war every Re-
| publican Congress has resolutely reduced
by many millions the annual expenditures
OF The Government, and in 10 equal por-
ton Of our history for half OF n century
has the per centage of losses been so small,
| by defalcalions in the collection Of customs
and internal revenue, as in tho terms OF
Lincoln and Grant. All just aud reasona-
bic curlalments of expenditures, howev-
er, should be eagerly accepted, whether
| coming from unusual and reckless quar-
ters CT otherwise but absolute public no.
ccssities should not be left unproy ided for,
even though the Democratic party never
more needed to talk loudly OF economy,
credited as 1t is everywhere with so little,
| and TO that little nowhere holding any val
| id title.
Vermont wears no mans livery, but, by
her thorough devotion TO principles which
| adorn free governments, the work she can
be relied upon to do may always be safely
predicted.
With much regard, very truly yours,
JUSTIN S. MORRILL,.