Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-07-30

! POssiOle WITHOUT btaDle money values and
sound currency system. And what pruden
man would now risk these great results b.
turning over our financial policy to the hand
OF party which, as have shown, is the ref
| uge of all destructive elements threatenint
new uncertainty and confusion?
WHY REWARD THE SOLDIER CANDIDATE
| What is there then on the democratic sid,
which could seduce you from the path O
safetyr Is it the nomination for the presi
dency OF soldier who, during the war, die
brave deeds and deserved well of the country
LIS 1t sense of gratitude for those brave deed,
that should make you elevate the soldier tc
the place in which statesman is wanted
Gratitude to those who on the field of battl,
barred their breasts to the enemies of the
country is sentiment of which 1 shall moi
shghtingly speak it is noble sentiment
but is the presidency of the United States a
mere bauole that should be given as a reward
for things done on the field Of action wholly
different Is the presidency like presenta-
ton sword, or gift horse or a donation of
money, or country house, given to a victori-
Gus soldier to please him II SO, then simple
justice would compel us to look for the most
merltorious of our soldiers and reward them
IN the order of their merit and, brave and
sklllful us Gen Hancock has been, there are
others who have claims of still higher order
Then, Gen. Grant having already been presi.
dent, We should reward Gen. Sherman and
LieutGen Sheridan first before we come to
the major-general nominated by the Demo-
cratic party. Certainly let us be grateful; but
let us not degrade the highest and most re-
sponsible trust of the republic to the level of
a mere gift of gratitude. Let military heroes
be lifted up to the highest rank in the service
which belongs to the soldier Let them be
rewarded with the esteem of their country
men and, if need be, let wealth and luxury
be showered upon them to brighten that life
which they were ready to sacrifice for their
country. But let it never be forgotten that
the presidency is a trust that is due TO no man.
that nobody has ever earned it as thing be-
longing to him, and that it should not be be-
slowed but for services TO be rendered in the
way Of patriotic and enlightened statesman
snip. But, above all things, the presidency
should never be pointed out as the attainable
goal OF ambition to the professional soldier.
certainly do not mean to depreciate the high
character OF the regular army. But cannot
refrain from saying that i'll a republic like
ours great care should be taken not to demor
alize 1t by instlling political ambition into the
minds of its officers. The army is there to
obey the orders of the civil power under the
law as it stands, without looking to the RIGHT
or the left. And it will be an evil day for
THIS republic when we inspire the generals of
our army with the ambition to secure the
highest power by paving their way 10 it with
polltlcal pronunciamentos. l will not impute
10 Gen. Hancock any such design. He may
have meant ever so well when he issued Gen
eral Order No 40, which is now held up by n
political party as his principal title to the
But you once establish such n
precedent, and who knows how long it will be
before you hear of other general orders issued
or purposes somewhat similar to those for
which they are now issued in Mexico? l am
or the subordination of the military to the
,lvil power. Aud therefore l am for making
Congressman Garfield president, and for let
ing Gen. Hancock remain what he is, a gen
.ral, always ready to draw the soldiers sword
It the lawful command of the civil power
TAKE, RATHER, THE TRAINED STATESMAN.
What have we on the other hand in the Re-
publican candidate His youth was that of a
Door boy. He lived by his daily labor. He
ose up from that estate gradually by his own
mort, ia KING with him the experience of pov-
rty and hard work and living sympathy
With the poor and hard-working man. He |
his mind by diligent study and he |
tored it with useful knowledge. From a |
Garner he became teacher When the re- |
,ublc called her sons TO her defense he ioined |
he army and achieved distinction in active
ervice as one of the brave on the battlefield. |
lie was called into the great council of the ma
ion, and has sat there for nearly 20 years.
10 great question was discussed without his
ontributing the store of his knowledge to the
lnd OF information necessary for wise decis-
IN. His speeches have ranked not only
mong the most eloquent, but among the most
Instructive and useful Scarcely single great
ieasure of legislation was passed during that
ing period without the imprint of his mind.
10 man in Congress has devoted more thor
ugh inquiry to larger number of important
lblects and formed upon them opinions
lore matured and valuable He was not as
reat soldier as his competitor for the pres
lency, but he has made himself, and is uni
ersally recognized as, what president ought
} be, statesman. He understands all phases
life, from the lowest to the highest, for he
rs lived through them. He understands the
reat problems of politics, for he has studied
lem and actively participated in their discus
on and solution. Few men in this country
ould enter the presidential Office with its
-eat duties aud responsibilities better or even
well equipped with knowledge and expert.
lee He need only be true TO his record in
der to become wise, safe and successful
resident II the people elect him it will be
lly because his services rendered in the past
e Just OF that nature which will give assur-
ice of his ability to render greater service in
o future. The country wants a statesman
ability, knowledge, experience and princi-
at the head of affairs. His conduct as u
sslator gives ample guaranty of great prom
IN all these things. In a few months you
ii have to make your choice.
WHY CHANGE WOULD NOT BE REFORM.
know that when party has been so long
power as the Republican party, many citi-
us may be moved by desire for change.
not few cases it may be desire for the
ke of change. While the impulse is nat
AL 1t should not be followed without calm
Prudent men will never fail
consider whether the only change possible
Is fair to be change for the better. It is C
10 that parties are apt to degenerate by the
lg possession of power. The Republican
rty cannot expect to escape the common lot n
humanity bat no candid observer will de- 8,
that within a late period the Republican
rty has shown signs rather of Improvement "
IN deterioration and that it possesses the
St share OF the intelligence, virtue and pa
otism OF the country. In matters of most
ential moment to the public welfare, it can il
safely better counted upon for efficient and
thful service, while its opponent opens only NJ
respect of uncertainty and confusion. The
nocracy may in the course of time gain the
lhdence of the people; but that should be
y when the repudationists and the advo- la
es of unsound money have ceased to be in
ranks so powerful and influential an eIe-
Mt as seriously to threaten the great econ 70
ical interests of the country when by en-
etic and successful action in protecting the
hts of the voter, whether white or black,
ether Republican or Democratic, in all parts
the country, and by the suppression of
I'd at the ballot-box through healthy and H
sistible power of public opinion within it.
, it will have won the right to appear in
platforms as the protector of the freedom N,
purity of it's elections, and when it will
1t no longer necessary to discard the
'st of its statesmen and to put a general
he army who has never been anything
a soldier, in nomination for the presiden- Gl
to make for itself certificate OF loyalty tu,
be settlements of the great conflict of the wi
;. And for all these reasons, in my opin- ha
the interests of the republic demand the the
ton of James A. Garfield 10 the presiden- he