Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-08-16

To the Republicans Of the Third COHgTes siOJai Dis
tricf
The widespread discomfort with the recent Hyde
dark convention calls upon u 10 reconsider the
nomination and to declare our principles. The can
that preceded the convention was characterized
by practices that not credtahle to tho plrty anu
the success of which ought not to he binding upon
its members.
In the county of Orleans nearl, all the primaries
were held within a lew days after the convention
was called and were packed (as We are creiibly IN
iOrmed) in the interest OF the aspiraut from that
county. one instance there has Come to our know
ledge where the meeting was held and the delegates
chosen by only about half dozen men and before
the hour al hich the meeting '"Gs TIrHed. Another
instance, in Essex county. reported, in which one
man from adjoining town and two residents OF
tho town question selected the delegate by deGi3
| ing lots and held NJ public meeting at all.
In Franklin county, an aspirant for tho nomina-
who had no prospect apparent TO others entered
upon a canvass in which he freely offered money FOR
| the influence and support of loading men, and em-
ployed both Republicans and Democrats to dill tbs
primaries with men OF either party ~ho would favor
| him or oppose ths gentleman most prominently
namel from this county. Fortunately ne carried no
towns but there reason to believe that he carried
the practices, under an alliance with other as
prants into other parts Oi the district where they
met " iih some SUCCESS.
1t appears that from the frat there were two
prumrrnt candidates for the nomination. and
others ~hs hoped and lab"red for dead lock
the ultimate selection OF one of their number.
Against the one who vas generally regarded the
most formidable, warfare OF personal misrepre-
scntatiuu VAS wasei. altogether without precedent
In our political history, and for the purpose, We
siicve of div-rtinS attention ON important Puo-
lie questions Which his views had been years
before pronounced. and because OF which he en-
countered the combined opposition of some Of the
National Banks. suca covert warfare, making use
1i scandal and class prejudice, Is not eTeditahle 10
L olitics calculated to ALLOW lar consideration
an d proper determination of the public interests
that are really involved.
The conduct OF the gentleman assailed and that
of MS Supporters. was in marked AMI honorable
contra aad tended to preserve respect for pol't
icnl di,,.ussipn and party met hods
The result q. the campaign. therefore, was not an
EXPRESSION of the unbiased Judgment OF the party,
hut OF a conspiracy, at least Of common effort,
OF candidates who figured against tho strongest Ia
the hOpe tn at each might succeed. result thus
secured, even il the xsGtlemin who received the
nomination were peis9nlllJ unohiectlonahle would
not deserve the ratification OF Republ cans
nomination should be the choice OF the party and
not tie accident OF asvrsntS.
The unsuccessful fOrt that was made IN the coz
yentIon on behalf OF the nominee, 10 apply diner
emit method OF voting from that always hitherto cm-
ployed in this District. the sole object OF which was
to intimidste delegates to vote as they had been
badgered or bought, and the Subsequent use BY the
same men of tickets printed on red card board the
only purpose of which was To prevent delegates
from ENJOYING the Pfyaey al b rhs UaivI 'ns xsr
both unrepubcan and deserving oI rebnke al the
polls. .
an effort 10 purchase the candida ts the vote Of
delegate no was elected and instructed for another
There is ground for suspicion that other ehlr's OF
the same character aud in the same interest met
with better and that the sreatcry OF bribery
made by that section OF the party prior to the con-
rontiOn was aimed to cove. up the nissFaois ousi-
ness to which some OF them had resorted
1t has become known since the convention that It
WAS the settled purpose of the leading supporters
OF tho ddate If not OF the Candidate himself TO
holt the nomination If conferred upon his chief
competitor. Had this been understood 1t Is hardly
10 be supposed that independents men would have
rewarded II threat with 3 nomination, much les.
with uusnimity And, however. the delegates may
now consider themselves obligated hy thelr action
there, it certainly cannot hlnd AMI ought not 10
bind the party. Unity, 10 be OF any value, must
imply mutuslity Of good iaith, and not the mure
submission on one side 10 whatever the other may
impose.
with such unexpected maguaulmtty- they had
right to pect good treatment snd h"nurshIe con
,ideration for q 'nselves and their candidate from
those Who's province II WAS 10 give expression 10
the sentiment Of the NIctOrs- There IA, been some
measure OF thus but il Il overshAd WED hy reiiec
tions upon the the campaign which are, AS We Dc
Ii,v, unyarrauted in fact, and are. under the
cumstances, ungenerUus unrepublcan and unnan-
w. and they constitute sufficient pr"Socauon-L L
no other existed, Tor the independent action that
ws now propose,
Therefore, in view oi the foregoing con- sacrations
and of the fact that the convention was mere
struggle for place and neglected en rely 10 declare
any pripcip. rs by which the candidate is to he
bound or the p,ople guided, the undersigned, Re
publcsns. Ia ther own behalf anu that oil az IN the
Dstrct who are dissatisfied with the result hereby
unite in callin a mass convention OF the kepubh-
cans of the Third Congressional bistrict OF Yer
mont, to assemhle ct Armory Hal, IN 81. hloans'
,u Saturday, the ITth day o August, Instant at IL
o,elnck In the uren,ruu, To take into consolidation
what the interests Of the party and the country
NAV r,auire at their hands. and To nominate a can
didate lor Coo gress If thou sht advisable.
The usual courtesies OF low fares and special train
will be extended by the several
railroads ard trains will he run So as to return al
TO their homes the ssne day
August 8. ISIS
~ IL shattuek s. o. Tillotson, Henry Ladd, A,
Moore j. +. Marsh, ". L. Hutchinson, Isaac T.
Raamau Harry s. ltfnrd, IL : Gilbert. j. A. SOule,
Rinshum kinsley. Nelson ". Church, John P.
Olds Bart whitney, VIM. \. Caldwell, n Parker,
ION. n. p story, s. ". Lsngdonu II J. Brown. Henry
NJ stevens, Joseph IL Crosby. Moses Catlin, Den
nison DOrman.
- L. In In, Ii I,rnar-