Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-08-16
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To the Editor Of the Free Press and lines.
When q party, or any section Of party
becomes so enamored of a man as to ignore
great principles, then all well-wishers Of
society and Of government haYe cause OF
alarm. Tho present is critical hour in the
in the House of Congress may be a casting
vote on questions of the gravest conse-
quence. Tho North, which laid down the
lives OF many thousands of her best sons,
which poured out her treasure like water,
and incurred thousands Of millions of indebt-
edness to savo this Union, is now in danger
Of being compelled to pay the rebellion the
cost Of defeating that high-hsnded assault
upon the nation, made in the interest Of
slavery and aimed at the very heart of per-
sonal freedom and national authority. To
pay or not to pay the rebel claims will be
tho dividing question in the near future.
This Third District of Vermont may. for
ought anybody now can predict, give the
casting vote on this grave question 4; and
IL Is mhkktI uUt W w " ltu tuU sd Nc
Of toadying to the isyorite Of any particular
locality in the District The writer. with
ont discussing the personal merits of in
diyidusl aspirsnts or the claims that either
may have on the regard of the people for
benefcent acts of local character. asks the
freemen Of the District to consider the
claims that the Nation and the Republican
party have upon them to return reliable,
trsightforward Republican who will at all
times and under any and every stress OF
temptation express their will on all impor
tant questions.
A nomination has been made in manner
which all impartial and fair-minded men
believe to be just and right. Whether both
aspirants did all that they did do to gain
the nomination in high-minded honorable
way is not now the question. Both sides.
probably, did things that but for an excit-
ed feeling they would not have done. Tho
decision was finally made by the tribunal
whose choice all honorable men accept
as final. and if accepted, all doubt as
to the result in this District would be at
rest and the voice of the Third District
in Congress would be a certain voice. But
in this District, tho Democratic party cast
about one-third Of the votes. That party
have put in nomination u strong man who
will poll its full strength. Is it to be sup
posed that any wing of the Republican
party is so lost to their high prestige as to
the representation of the District
by boiling fair nomination and reducing
the campaign to three cornered fight, in
which the Democrats are likely to have the
best of it? Is this the way in which Mr..
Barlow's loyalty to the Republican party is
to manifest itself? II he be the high-mind-
ed man that all bis whitewashers have made
him out to be, he certainly ought to have
some respect for the Republican party. But
what is the fair Interpretation of his course
as now prescribed in calling Convention
to bolt the regular nomination? Is it not q
bold proposition either to rule or ruin the
party? None of the reasons assigned for
Suiiihk WIS SOhNChbOh uhoWSAS sahS
question. Mr.. Barlow's personal honor may
DO at stake. but will the Republicans of
Franklin county encourage him in putting
in jeopardy the success OF the party for the
sake Of rebukipg some real or imaginary
indignity to himself, personality Suppose
bis competitor did get the start Of him in
the common appliances of political strife
must the whole party pay the penalty to
atone for his grief? Must the Third Dis
trict be disipteRrated, demoralized and dis
graced, to wipe out his personal chagrin
We greatly mistake the spirit Of the peo-
pie if they do not at the polls rebuke a
proposition so utterly humiliaring to the
honest voters of tho District. and 50 threat
,ning to fair representation Of their senti-
nepts in Congress.
STARS AND STRIPES.