Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-08-18
The Duty ofVermor, Republicans.

la the State Of Vermont, wni;h has been
Republican by 4 decisive majoIitv ever since
the organization Of the Republican party,
tie principal danger in the pending cam
paign Is that the voters viii estimate their
political duties too lightly, resting content
IN the assurance that the State Is sure any
way, and it can make little difference as to
the size of the vote. Not even the New
York World arithmetic man. we believe,
has any homes Of Vermont, and no Demo-
cratic politician l. sanguine enough TO sup
pose that the election can even be made rea-
souably close. With the result of the cleo
tion thus conceded beforehand, on all sides.
the Vermont Republicans may easily suffer
themselve. to fail into an apathetic c0ndi-
ton, and to make the canvass dull aad spirit
le~>. 81 far from this, they ought to con-
-lder that 1t i not enough to carry the
State by the accustomed majority, to elect
their State ticket and to pa: the usual large
Republican majority into the Legislature
The effect Of the election will be felt this
year far beyond the limits Of the State As
the election occurs on the first Tuesday in
September 1t viii exert an important in
huence on the elections which follow in
other States; and a great deal of significance
will attach to the size Of the Republican ma
j0rity, a. Indicative either Of apathy or enthu-
~iasm with regard to national issues The
Vermont Republicans therefore, should re-
member that they are not fighting merely
local contest, the result Of which Is discount
ed in advance, bat that their votes will te
10 very important way upon the graTer
and more mOmentOus contest which engages
the nation a: large.
1 e point which We have in view may be
easily illustrated by comparing Vermont
with New Hampshire New Hampshire Is
a. uncertain a State, politically, as Vermont
l. sure. and consequently both parties make
a strenuous effort 10 get out full vote. The
population of Vermont, according to the
census Of $50, i $50, ,jjI, that Of New
Hampshire is SIS 300, assuming that the
proportion Of voters Is the same in each,
the vote of Vermont, if it were once fully
got to the polls. shopli be larger than that
OF New Hampshire, but what do we find
At the last Guhernatorial election in New
Hampshire, in ls1j the aggregate vote was
-. Is while at the last GubernatOrial
election in Vermont. in lS14, the aggregate
vote was only 10. 50. In other words, New
Hampshire, State Of smaller population
than Vermont, p1liel nearly twice as many
votes. Very nearly the same proportion is
observable in other recent elections in the
two states thus Vermont. in 1872. east 5S,-
80 votes, and in $50, 1926, while New
HAMPSHIRE. in lS7l cast Il ,s93. in 1873
o. Sis, and in lS72, o., ,jg2. These fg-
ures show that. at the last Presidential
election. Vermont was - far aroused as to
roll from $4,000 ID II 900 more votes than
a, the election before or after but even
then her vote was l0.000 less than that
thrown by her hex, nei.hb0r, New EamY-
shire
These facts ought to engage the attention
Of Vermont Republicans. The canvass now
in progress. and which has been opened very
tavorabiv, ought 70 be prosecuted N IN az
sreSsive manner, and the campaign should
be should he sharp and decisive. Regard
should he hal u NATIONAL as well as Safe
ISSUES, and the Republican majority should
he rolled up accordingly. The Vermont
Republicans are fortunate in having GncX-
ceptional nominees on their State ticket
and they are thoroughly in sympathy with
the issues involved in the election Of Hayes
and Wheeler. We shall expect them there
fore not merely To give their old fashioned
majority for the Republican ticket. but 10
take measures for bringing every vote posi-
Die, and 50 pile up an aggregate 50 large and
- hearty as to give strength and encourage
ment to the Republicans Of other States who
have more difficult task before them
Boston J9uruqi