Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-04-14
Our Washington Letter.


M. Editor while congress Is droninR away
on the army appropriation bill, making speeches
and political capital, every day develops some
thing new in
THE POLITICAL SITUATION,
as regards candidates for the presidency and their
relative strength. As more interest seems to be
taken In this question, the country through, II
may be well to note the progressive steps taken in
the contest for the Chicago nomination. One Of
the most interesting phases Of the campaign of
late has been the attemp: made by the adherents
Of Grant and Blaine 10 secure letter from Sena-
tor Edmunds withdrawing the use OF his name AZ
a candidate for the presidency and absolutely re-
fusng to run, which letter these persons could
have published and stop II possible the strong
tide OF public opinion which was bearing In that
direction. The surprising strength Of the Ed
| munds movement rs shown in the Connecticut
| convention and already seen by the election OF
delegates to the coming convention In Massachu-
sets, has been reason enough for such an at
| tempt to be made. The Boston TrdUeilcr has been
| especially earnest in its efforts to have the public
| understand that Mr.. Edmunds would under no.
circumstances, be a candidate and its correspond
ent here has been telegraphing some very silly
stories in confirmation Of this idea Some two
| weeks ago this correspondent OF the Traveller
telegraphed his paper that Senator Edmunds had
told member Of the Vermont delegation that he
did not want to be president and would not ac-
| cept the nomination even II the whole country
| should rise up and demand it." The Vermont
member alluded to as responsible for such state
ment has, up TO the present time, failed to put in
| an appearance here, and must, we think be a
| member OF the third house." This enterprising
reporter also said that the senator would shortly
| withdraw his name from the contest in a public
way, either by letter or in interview for publi-
| cation. This statement clearly shows that its
author knows but very little Of Senator Edmunds
senator is not in the habit of writing letters,
nor anxious to be " interviewed in fact he IL
| known to be very much averse to both. The
TrdDeuer will, therefore, have to wait for the
promised letter OF withdrawal and In the mean
time the sentiment Of its own city and state il
being shown every day strongly against Its par
| ticuar candidate. and mainly divided between Ed
munds and Sherman. Too bad, but true, never
theess. We are not authorized to make public
| SENATOR EDMuNDs' POSITION
upon the question Of the presidential candidacy;
no more is any one else. But it is very well
known that he does hot desire to enter into any
scramble for the nomination. No one who knows
|
gard would expect him to stand upon any other
ground. He has never sought any public office,
and would sooner cut off his right hand than to
ask a man to vote for him. For this reason he is
looked upon by those who are scrambling for
place and power as an interloper, and IL he won't
fight for it he should publicly withdraw and al
| low no one to work or vote for him In the opin-
ion OF the many, office belongs to those who work
| ha dpat tn uat fha fapv
for it do not deserve it. This is fast becoming the
criterion Of success in all our political conven-
tons and campaigns. Whether it will be proved
successful at Chicago, the next two months will
| determine Hon. Geo. c, Gorham the former
secretary OF the senate, and one of the most en-
thusiastic workers for Grant, is in the city, and
| very confident of Grants complete success at
Chicago. In fact, he is said to believe that Gen
| Grants name will be the only one that will go
before the convention. He laughs at the figuring
Of the Blaine club and the expectations Of the
Sherman men, and says even IL they have bal
| lot Grant will have majority OF two hundred
| over ALL Mr.. Gorham has been very prominent
political worker here for some years. and his
| opinions, although perhaps trihe enthused by
prejudice for Grant, entitled to some weight |
In our last letter we referred very briefly to the
SPEECH OF COLONEL JOYCE
on the appointment OF commission on the sub |
ect Of the alcoholic liquor traffic. In closing his
strong appeal the colonel very eloquenty referred
| to the temperance work in Vermont as follows:
The history of the temperance movement in my
own state, while it has not been all that we could
wish, yet has been such that all good men have
been inclined to thank God and take courage |
Vermont passed prohibitory liquor law in 1852 |
and she has been strengthening it and making it |
more stringent and effective since. In the
main, it has been fairly and wisely executed 1t |
has always been sustained by sound and healthy
public sentiment, and in my opinion there has
never been moment since its passage when 1t |
stood 80 strong and firm in the good sense and
hearts of the people as 1t does to-day. That IL
has, in connection with the moral sentiment Of |
the people, had the effect to greatly diminish the
sale and use of Intoxicating liquors in our state
no man who has examined the figures and who |
has long been acquainted with our people and
their habits will deny. During this whole period
Of twenty-seven years the law, morals and reli-
gion have gone hand in hand and worked har- |
moniously together, and while there is yet much
to be accomplished, we rejoice with exceeding
great joy in the progress that has been made, and
with renewed efforts and courage, inspired by
| success, our people are pushing the good
work with more vigor than ever, in the confident
hope that with the aid Of the general govern |
ment, they will be able finally to rid the people OF
this curse 1t is a source of honest pride to our
people that they have been able to achieve so
great success in this terrible conflict They |
have labored, preached, prayed, and voted; and
the result is that to-day, thank God there is not
spot upon the soil of noble little state where