Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-04-07

Captured by bu-nmer- is what peo-
ole say Of the State Convention and it
must he owned that tlcre l. too much
ground for the comment. The general
capture began hv tie capture Of the State
Committee. in the matter Of selecting the
President of the Convention. The selection
Is byusage conceded 10 the Committee. The
Convention had a right to expect from the
Committee tie nomination OF man for
President with a persona. character above
rour1ach. Of recognized high standing, with
a prominence gained by something better
than trickery and low intrigue, with some
qualifications ior the position other than
mere readiness as chairman one who
could and would strike the keynote IF the
Convention ia a manly and able opening
speech. Instead Of this the Committee gave
the Convention Russ" Taft. The nomina-
ton was received with surprise and dis
gust and the speech, with it, clumsy SEN
teuce-. it, feeble llatitudes. and its insincere
tribute To Grant and .-Grantism we say
in-incere. for few men in Vermont have
sneered more at Gen. Grant than Mr.. Taft
fell like a wet blanket on the Convention.
We wish % lo understood in what We say.
The Republicans of Vermont are not "down
on President Grant They believe him
honest they remember his services. They
have uothin. to apologize for in their sup
port of him Bu; they DO not think his prac-
teal wisdom or success in selecting his ad-
yi~ers and IN his appointments To office, has
on the whole been 50 striking that it is best to
spend much breath at this time in talking
about it They are looking ahead and not
hack and the men of the Convention would
have given mere for ringing declaration in
favor of sending bummers 10 the rear, - and
of taking fur every position of honor and
trust the cleano,t and lest men of the party,
than for ail the talk about the past, or
praise Of the Administration, that could
have been crowded into it, entire session.
The next capture was that Of the First
District. Itwould seem incredible. if We
had not seen IT.. that Mr. Woodbridge should
present himself TO represent the Republicans
Of Vermont In their National Convention,
at a time when every honest man in the
party Is crying out for purity and reform.
What, pray can the little honor Of being a
district delegate To Cincinnati be worth,
coupled with such an arraignment 10 the
Convention. with charges met only by his
own unsupported and reckless denial, with
an election secured only ty the technical
doubt If the power of the Convention at
large over the nomination of the dis
trict, and with the revival Of the mem
DRY Of the vhiSkey speculations, the
Cuban-bond .chemes the things-we need
not enumerate then-which have given Mr.
Woodbridge hi~ notorious reputation j n
Washington We have nothing 70 say
against Mr. Woodbridge as long as he re
mains in private life but when he pro-
poses to represent the Republicans Of Yer
mont in any capacity, We must say that
We believe the fats to he very much against
him that whatever the facts may be,
his reputation Is against him and that, a
Capt. Harrington said. be i not the kind Of |
man We wish to represent Us. We under
stand that his presentation by the First Dis
trict was secured by sharp practice, that
lie had but l. votes out OF the IS delegates
from his own county thar his nomination
was carried in the sub-conyention 10y but
thee majority, and that by hurrying up
tie vote before a number Of the delegates
got in. BE that As it may, by fair means
Or foul, the bnmners captured the district.
and the Convention unwi!lingly surrendered
with the district.
Other thing, were Of piece with these.
We do not ike to dilate on matters in many
aspects 50 Notifying The choice Of dele
cation, barely relieved by several good
names, if it be relieved. from mediocrity, or
tame and insipid resolutions
ne lack If earnestness and enthusiasm in
lie Convention. make not the happiest open
n Of the campaign. Yet Vermont Will DO
Ter duty IN the contest.