Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-03-28
The Messenger on Mr.. BarlOW's Position.

had voted for the Greenback nominee he
would have supported Democrat, between
whom and himself there is little harmony of
opinion save on the financial issues and not
perfect harmony there. So he set up a
candidate of his own, independent of party
dictation, and voted for VIM. ID. Kelley, a
Republican Greenbacker, the Oldest member
of the House and one of the ableSt and hon
estest men in either party.
But the FREE Press says this was dis
| tinct Misrepresentation of his State, and that
this was the first time the Republican candi-
date for Speaker has failed to receive the full
vote of Vermont. Well, as to the second
statement, it is the first time there has been
an issue, save between Republicans and
| Democrats. There has had to be a first time
in everything, and the right or wrong OF
anything is not determinable by It's novelty
or antiquity. As for the alleged msrepre
| sentatiOn Of the State, what right Els the
FREE Press to assume this! The position
indicated by his vote Is the very one that he
occupied, most cOnspicuoGSly too, during
the campaign. 1t is the one against which the
only creditable and decent part of the FREE
| PREss's battle was wagei. And yet Mr.
Brlow was elected By sIme three thousand
majority, defeating the regular" Republic
can, who flew the dag Of hard money.
And as for Mr. Barlow and his constituents,
there Is no reason to suppose they have
failed to understand each Other.-N. 4banS
Messenger.
The only issue in the election Of Speaker
was between the Republicans and Democrats.
Every Republican voted for Gen. Grfeld.
The Democrats all voted Tor Mr. Randall.
The Greenbackers chose to vote for
neither, as the most distinct notice
possible that they acknowledged allegisnce
to neither OF the contesting parties. That
was all their vote amounted to, and all 1t
meant Mr.. Barlow's vote amounted to
nothing more Mr.. Kelley does not pretend
to be Republican. The financial issue, he
claims, has swallowed all others, and on that
be is an out-and-out and an extreme greeL-
backer, inaationist, and believer in irreteem-
able paper currency. lie voted for llendrick
B. Wright, a Greenbacker who Was formerly
Democrat. That showed exactly where
Mr. Kelley is and Mr.. Barlow, 50 Tar as his
vote was definition Of his position, might
as well have voted for Wright, as iJr Mr..
Wright's chief supporter. The Messenger
thinks it was honest aud courageous for
Mr.. Barlow to vote as he did: aud We do
not dispute it. 1t is II much honester posi-
ton, certainly, than the one he occupied
when he was keeping dark abOlt his fl
naneial views while he was trying to get the
nomination of the regular honest money Re-
publicans or when he was denying, through
his organ, that he had anything to do with
the Greenback movement at time when his
agents and money were giving 10 that move
ment all the vitality it possessed; or when
he permitted his friends to claim, as they
have done right along, that he was good
Republican and that his greenbackism was
only dodge 1t was only the other day that
the Messenger asserted with flourish that
Mr.. Barlow had had no conference with
the Greenbackers at Washington, an an
nouncement evidently intended to convey
the impression that he was not going to
trail in that crowd.
As for representing his Sla.e, il anybody
affects to believe that a majority of the peo-
ple of Vermont or even OF the Third Dis
trict were represented by Mr.. BIrlow : vote
for the Greenbaek champion. We certainly
shall not argue the point.
There is pertinencc to the HeSssAger's
last remark quoted above. There was no
reason why anybody ,hould have support
ed Mr.. Barlow As Republican. Ii the
Republicans who voted for him did not do it
with their eyes olen, it was because they
chose to do it with their eyes shut. 1t was
no iault OF the FREE PREss, certainly,
tha they did not understand Mr. Barlow )
unrelability as Republican. Mr.. Barlow
had the vote of more Democrats than the
amount of his majority. They, Of course.
are well suited with his independent
position. They would have been very gal
to have lin vote 10: Speaker Randall, but
are very glad to compromise on a vote iOr
Kelley, which was Il vote against fairfield.
Mr.. Forest and the few GreenbackerS on
principle are OF course exactly suited. When
these are counted out Of the number of Mr..
Birlow's supporters, there will remain Re
publicans by thousands, to whom Mr..
Barlow's distinct announcement By his vote
that he has cut loose from the Republican
party, must be disappointment and re
buke.
The Messengers approval of Mr. Bar
lows position will hardly be sufh-
lent consolation for these. Mr.. Barlow
could not say or do anything which would
forfeit that approval. What Mr.. Barlow
believes or processes to believe the heSseH-
ger will believe or profess to believe. lt IS
but few months since the Messenger was
an open advocate OF fiat money and it
has nothing to lose, OF its character for CON
sistency or for adherence TO Republican
principles. 1t will follow Mr.. Barlow, with
Mrs. -Micawber-like devotion, wherever he
goes. But the Republicans OF Vermont and
of the Third District could only have been
represented, on the Speaker question, by a
vote for Gen. Garfield. the gallant leader OF
the Republican party in the House