The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1880-03-10
The Outlook.

ing Is tO-ual may NC seeh itoth VIZ ASA
lowing statistics which We take from
exchanges:
Circulars have been sent out from Wash
ington to the editors OF some two thou
sand newspapers Of different politics TO
ascertain the presidential preferences of
the editors and prOprietors. The returns
for all the states and a number of terrific
ries are given with about the same average
result. A footing by candidates results
as fellows: First choice,-Blaine ZIG,
Grant 50. Sherman 80, Washburn %, Ed
munds Is. Hayes 6, Garfield 2, COnkling
8; second chOice.-Blaine ll5, Grant 40,
Sherman G1. Washburn a. Edmunds IL,
Garfield IL, Hayes 8. This gives Blaine
for the first choice majority over all of39.
The vote taken among the members of
the Massachusetts House Of Representa-
tives on Friday showed the preference OF
the Republican members for President to
be as follows: For Sherman &c, Grant p,
Edmunds 10, Hayes Is, Washburn 8, Gar
field 5.
The above, coupled with the result of
the T'ribune'S canvass of Pennsylyania's
committeeman, first choice, Blaine
1868, Grant 2S0) conveys, it would
seem, no uncertain sound from that
deservingly all-powerful, but too often
unheard of element, in political circles,
the common people. State conventions
may decide pro or con, but the masses,
free to choose, say Blaine in preference
to Grant and third, term.
The Republican voters throughout
the country believe that the coming
struggle should be upon issues re-
garding which they may be on the ag-
gressive rather than on the defensive.
ave have" says the Tribune, "two
such issues. One of these is the ques-
ton of nationality, with all the issues
that cluster around that central idea,
the maintenance of the Union, the
overthrow of the dogma of State
rights, the enforcing ofthe Constitution
al Amendments, the securing to every
man suffrage, and to every citizen
personal protection, - with all the
phases and forms which this question,
in its original essence and in fifteen
years of discussion and development,
has assumed. The second of these
great issues on which Republicans now
hold an aggressive attitude is the finan-
cial question, involving the resumption
of specie payments, the unfolding of
the public credit, the securing Of an
honest currency, the restoration of in
dustrial prosperity in all the channels
of enterprise, and the thousand and
one advantages which have been real
lied within the past year by steady adj
herence to the policy of the Republi-
can party" Regarding these issues,
issues upon which it has grown into its
present influence, the Republican
party can be and always will be boldly
aggressive. Going into the struggle
with these weapons at command, it
may safely rely upon the interest and
honor of the American people to carry
it forward to victory in November.
On the other hand the moment Gen.
Grant is nominated for the presidency,
a new issue is forced upon the country,
an issue upon which Republicans must
be defensive; upon which Democrats
may be and in all certainty will be ag-
gressive. Is it the desire of the Re-
publican voters to-day to provoke
this issue and make victory, other
wise reasonably certain, to depend up
on the chance result of a defensive
campaign? What say the voices that
come to us from Republican journalism?
What says Pennsylvania? What the
feeling may be three or six months
hence it is impossible to predict. 1t
is barely possible that the affairs of
the country, the proceedings in Con-
gress may assume such an aspect as
to demand the nomination of Gen.
Grant in June. In the face of such an
exigency, though at present inconceiv-
able, he should of course be nominated.
Gen. Grant has received the highest
military and civil honors in the gift of
the nation, and should be content not
to ask Republican voters in their sup
port for him to do violence to that
unwritten law of the land, promulgated
by Washington and enforced by JefTer-
son, Madison, Monroe and jackson
to take, as many believe, the first
step towards government of men
rather than a government of laws.
However chimerical it may appear at
present, yet in view of the general in
terests of the party and of the country,
in view of the growing wish of the
people it is to be hoped that Gen.
Grant and his adherents will refuse to
embarrass the action of the Chicago
convention with candidacy at once
distasteful to Republicanism and pleas
ing to Democracy, because promis-
ing an easy victory. Vermont wants
neither Blaine nor Grant, but,
were she to choose to-day between
the two, her choice would be
Blaine. Vermont is first and last
for Edmunds and not without some
hope of success, if patient to the end.
Vermont can we'll be proud of this po-
sition. In presenting the name of her
senator to the convention at Chicago,
as candidate for the Presidency, she
will do it with the full consciousness
that she is presenting the name of a
man of integrity in public and private
affairs, man worthy the confidence
of the party and the nation, man that
is to-day receiving the spontaneous
approval of the best element of Repub-
licanism all over the country, a man
that would undoubtedly receive the
nomination at Chicago were it not for
the fact that New York is larger than
Vermont. This, to say the least, is
an unpleasant phase of American poll
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