Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-04-21

Mr. Editor But little has transpired here
during the past week to stir the troubled waters
of political congressional life, and the prnci-
pal topic Of interest has, consequently, been
THE MASSACHUSETTS CONVENTION.
Just about these days every meeting relating,
even in the most remote way, to the presidential
nomination ia topic of universal interest, par
ticulary to the immediate friends of the different
candidates, and to the public generally. One by
one as each state speaks, the chances of this or
that candidate are increased or diminished and the
hopes ardently cherished by their bosom friends
are correspondingly strengthened or weakened,
as the may be. "Where the carcass is there
will the eagles be gathered together" So it is
with these conventions, and as Il rule the biggest
bird gets the best of it. Massachusetts may be
considered as an exception this year The Repub-
Leans of that stanch commonwealth by good
majority, decided to 60 out of the way which the
prominent old-time leaders had marked out for
them, and vote for a man whom they considered
was The best man, although believing that they
were following a nearly fororn hope" and
knowing that the man whom they preferred was
not seeking the honor they wished TO confer upon
him and, in fact, did not desire it. In voting thus
they voted for a principle. Principles, not
men, is often quoted as party motto; Massa-
chusetts, like Vermont, prefers to unite the two
principles and men believing that in doing so
they not only serve their party but their country
also. The speeches of Ex-Governor Boutwell, and
General Banks in favor of the Grant ticket were
ingenious arguments and calculated to influence
an assembly such as political convention is sup
posed to be, The speeches seem to have been
well received and the claims of their candidate,
as advanced by the speakers, were recognized by
indulgent applause That they served to turn a
vote to their side, however, is not evident
and, so considered, they proved n failure. Stump
speaking" by the way, as it is usually termed, is
fast going out OF date, in our humble opinion, par
ticularly in New England, The great mass of the
people there are reading people. The more
they read the more independent they become
They don't need to be told which is the best man
to vote for, nor who is more likely to be elected
They feel perfectly competent to think and act for
themselves. They know very well, and knew at
the time of the assembling of the convention,
that General Grant stands the best chance of
obtaining
THE NOMINATION AT CHICAGO,
BY joining the long procession of followers for
nun thtN Nouiu 10 tpplhuutu W lht hhJpihg VI
the leaders of the party, and be on the popular
side. They chose the opposite course from pure
onviction-nothing else. There were no Ed
munds agents on hand to offer the hope of future
reward; they were not led by set of politicians
who expect anything from Senator Edmunds or
any one else, They voted, not from personal die
tation, but from principle. The reasons for their
choice are well laid down in the resolutions
adopted.
General Banks, by the way, failed to give the
reasons why so great change has come over " the
spirit of his dreams " since IL. lie tells to he
sure, why he thinks differently from what he did
five years ago-when the celebrations OF Concord
Lexington and Bunker Hill brought the northern
and southern people together in fraternal reunion
lie thought then the southern people would do
what they had promised, that they would support
the Union and show fealty to our institutions.
They had not lived up to that promise, and for
that reason he was in favor OF General Grant for
president Why he thinks so much more of the
ex-president now than he did in 1872, when he
went over to Greeley, he does not say. lie only
recounts the deeds OF Grant done previous to ~,
but recites nothing new as an argument for his
candidacy. 1t would be interesting il General
Banks would tell why General Grant has risen so
high in his estimation in the last eight years. or in
the past four. Governor Boutwell,, ON the other
hand, spoke with more frankness. In his opinion
all that the convention had TO do was to choose
between Grant and Blaine. lie felt 1t his duty,
he said, to say that the only thing remaining to
us, politically, Ia this country to-day is the
choice between these two men" Here is political
dictation with vengeancel The men whom he
had governed officially, and influenced politically,
in years gone by were not OF the same opinion,
They preferred 10 pick out their own candidate
rather than have Que set up for them. The iso-
lation" which the ex-governor feared had no
declares that Edmunds, il nominated, would
fail altogether To produce that condition of things
In the south and In the country which is the
essential thing in political affairs which should
be accomplished, Is rs ridiculous AN argument rs
could well DO brought forward, either in favor oil
General Grant or against MIR. Edmunds This is
one of the most provoking characteristics OF the
Grant men. They will not admit that any body
can do for this country IA much rs General Grant
You refer them To the past three years and they
will ignore ii completely, or attempt to give Grant
all the praise for our present prosperity. Logical
argument nor stern fact has any effect upon the
conventional Grant man.
As To the situation we can see nothing that
leads us to change our opinion, heretofore ex
pressed, that Grant will be Nominated at Chicago
His friends are not helping his cause any, how
ever by the course referred tO, but on tn other
hand are making themselves and their con; est
obnoxious to many who would otherwise be
friendly toward them and the cause they are up
holding. Sol.