Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-19
Edmunds at Chicago.

Mr.. Blaine since the holding of the Massa-
chusetts state convention, has been emphat
ically recalled to the candidacy Of Mr.. Ed
munds during the past week. George
William Curtis in au editorial in Hdrper's
Weekly, after abiding to the struggle be-
tween candidates, and pertinently discussing
the question of availability, gives the Yer
mont senator the following unqualified en-
dorsement
As this important discussion now draws to an
| end II seems TO us evident that no candidate for
| the Republican nomination has been mentioned
| who would be 30 sure of election as Mr.. Edmunds.
The reason IL obvious II II that no other possible
| objection could be urged against him than that he
| Is a Republican. lie Is man Of spotless charac.
ter, profoundly respected and trusted by men Of
all parties; OF great ability, and OF long expert
ence In public affairs; thoroughly trained states
man; party leader in the senate and in his state
| for many years, who has the undivided confidence
| OF his party associates man OF strong convic-
tons, Of judicial temperament OF forcible char
acter, neither demagogue nor a boss" simple
| in manner without conceit or buster; n genuine
| American, who has established his remarkable
capacity for the public service, and against whom
| as n candidate no Republican Of any view could
raise an objection, and for whom the independent
| vote would be cast most gladly as man singu-
larry fitted for the chief magistracy. The nomin-
alton Of Mr.. Edmunds, who is not especially a
reformer," yet who has entire sympathy with
the reform instinct Of the party, wocd at once de-
| prive the Democratic party OF every campaign cry
which they are hoping to raise against the Repub-
leans, and 1t would be the earnest that the
| Republican party proposes TO continue the clean
course OF the present administration, which we
believe to be heartily approved by the conscience
| and common sense OF the country. III this be
| true and II will not be denied, the fact that Mr.
Edmunds has not large number OF delegates at
| the outset Is OF no importance. That has been
| true Of many successful candidates. That he has
| not large personal following like that OF Mr.
| Clay and Mr.. Douglass is also of no Importance
| Henry Clay had great and enthusiastic follow
| ing, but a handful OF Liberty-party men In New
| York defeated him. Mr. Lincoln had no such fol-
lowing at Chicago in 1860, while Mr. Seward GER
| tany had. There were many OF the best Repub-
licans who were bitterly disappointed by the de
| feat of Mr.. Stewards nomination, but we have
never heard of one who regretted the election of
| Mr.. Lincoln. 1t is incontestable that Mr.. Ed
munds would receive every Republican vote that
| any other candidate would receive; that a large
independent and Republican vote which would
not be given to all his more prominent competi-
tors, would be surely given to him; and that the
deep dissatisfaction, the personal ryalres and
hostlities, which, in case of other nominations,
would certainly endanger New York, and perhaps
other states, would not be aroused by his candi.
dacy. No sensible man can look at the figures OF
the last years election in New York and not see
how indispensable to Republican success Is wise
nomination upon careful consideration OF the sit
ture event Of the kind can be that the nomination
OF Mr.. Edmunds would be equivalent to an cleo
ton. No defenses, no explanations, no depreca-
tions, would be necessary. New York and Ohio
would at to be questionable states, and
the convention would have justified the conf
dence reposed in 1t by the Republican party
The inference to be drawn from the &C.
ton of the various state conventions thus
far held, and which cannot be materially
changed by conventions yet to be held, is
that neither Grant, Blaine nor Sherman can
receive the nomination at Chicago. The re-
cent conflict between the friends of Grant
and Washburne in Cook county, Illinois,
will hardly help the chances of the latter in
any event. Mr.. Edmunds popularity is not
confined to New England. Throughout the
west and the northwest there is a strong I'M
dercurrent of feeling in his favor, which is
the natural outgrowth of the great qualities |
so strongly set forth by Mr.. Curtis. He is
not magnetic man, but he is far more. He |
has the happy faculty of differing sharply |
with individuals without arousing their per- |
sonal hostility. He was as outspoken in his |
opposition to General Grants San Domingo |
scheme as was Charles Sumner, yet he had |
the tact to maintain pleasant relations with |
the president in this as well as in other diff |
ferences, and thus retained his influence for |
good in the councils of the administration. |
His course during the first year of the pres
ent administration will also rise up in sharp |
and pleasant contrast with that of the purely |
magnetic " senator from Maine. That the |
nomination of Mr.. Edmunds will be equiva-
lent to success" is popular belief founded |
on certain almost incontestable data. 1t is |
not the opinion of over-sanguine partisans,
and it will be strange indeed if the Repub- |
lcans are so far false to their traditional |
wisdom as, under such circumstances, to i'm |
peril success by making hazardous nom
nation. We believe that in this crisis of |
the party's existence, when the margin for |
success is so narrow that breath of pop |
ular disfavor may dissipate it, the Re-
publican leaders at Chicago will look the
ground over coolly, estimate the chances
carefully, and in the end choose wisely. If |
their choice should fall on George f. Ed
munds, they will have fully justified the con-
fidence reposed in them by their vast con-
stituency. "Put the Vermonters in front
and keep the ranks well closed up was
General Sedgwick's significant order when
he decided to make rapid and successful
movement Vermont has placed its delega-
ton at the head of the Edmunds column and |
expects it to hold that position. The tradi-
tional victory that followed her soldiers in
the war may crown the steadfast adherence
of her delegation to Edmunds. No waver-
ing, no half-hearted support, will be accepted
for the resolute service enjoined upon the
delegation by the state convention in Feb
ruary. The people of Vermont were in earn
est then, and they are in dead earnest now.