Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-08-15
The Maine Convention.

There is very little comfort to be extracted
from the doings of the Maine Republican
state convention, held last Thursday, ex-
cept that they have placed an excellent
ticket in nomination, one which will sweep
the state with fully the accustomed majority.
The platform, however, is weak affair.
1t resolves properly upon most OF the stock
political questions of the day, but is omin-
ously silent as to the really vital question
the Southern policy of the President. The
committee on resolutions, who were said to
be in favor of the Presidents course by a
majority of one, reported a wishy-washy
platform, expressing alarm at the concen-
tration of power in the hands of the South ;
and declaring that South Carolina, Florida
and Louisiana were lawfully carried by the
Republicans at the November elections of
last year. Not one word, however, of conf
dence in the integrity and patriotism of the
federal administration. An injudicious
Blaine man moved the previous question on
the adoption of the platform. He was
however, promptly and properly squelched
and that gallant soldier, Governor Chamber
lain, who has led the Republicans of Maine
to victory four times, introduced the follow
ing resolution:
Resoirod, That we reaffirm our mistaken conf
dence in the integrity, patriotism and statesman
ship of Rutherford B. Hayes, and we cordial,
approve his efforts to carry out in good faith thu
principles avowed by the Cincinnati convention
Governor Chamberlain supported his res
olution with ringing speech, which will b.
found elsewhere, and which we wish could
be read by every voter in the country.
Then Mr.. c. A. Boutele, editor of
Blaine paper at Bangor, moved the follow
ing amendment, which he supported in
lengthy speech:
ReSolred That this convention declares its be
lief that Governor Packard, of Louisiana, an,
| Governor Chamberlain, OF South Carolina, wer
entitled to their respective offices by the sam
votes which elected Rutherford b. Hayes Pres
dent of the United States, and that both Govern
ors were clearly entitled to recognition by the ma
tional government, and by the failure to recogniz
them placed the national government in the hu
| initiating attitude of snrrendering to rebels threat
ening, with arms in their hands, to resist its legi
innate authority.
At this point things looked squally. Tn
fre-brand which the committee on resor
tions had endeavored to avoid had bee
thrown directly into camp 1t would nc
down at their bidding, nor at the biddin
of anybody else. 1t was there and had ev
IDENTIFY come to stay.
Just here Mr.. Blaine appeared. He sal
that he was opposed to both resolutions
He poured oil upon the troubled waters an
besought unity in their counsels, and declare
that harmony was essential to success, an
upon his motion both resolutions were TABLED
and Maine has no opinion upon this mos
important question of the day.
This course strikes us as both coward
and dangerous. They neither dared to al
prove or condemn the policy of the Pres
dent, and when Mr.. Blaine told them
drop it, they quietly ignored the whole ma
ter. On every question which is no pract
cal account at present, they adopted length
windy resolutions, full of fire and huste
but not word expressing confidence in IL
President, not word in condemnation
his course. Upon the most vital questio
Maine is nonentity, and there is no one
blame for it but the Republicans of Main
If they had simply said, that, while the
had fears as to the issue of the President
course, as who has not but endorsed h
honesty of purpose aud his patriotic inten
that would have been something. But the
didn't dare to do even this and this waste
opportunity most of them will live to regre