The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-05-14
Harper's Weekly on Edmunds.

AS this important discussion now
draws to an end, it seems to us evident
that 10 candidate for the Republican
nomination has been mentioned who
would be so sure of election as Mr.. Ed
munds. The reason Is obvious. II is
that no other possible objection could
be urged against him than that he is a
Republican. He is a man of spotless
character, profoundly respected and
trusted by men of all parties; of great
ability, and of long experience in public
affairs; a thoroughly trained statesman ;
a party leader in the Senate and in his
state for many years, who has the I'M
divided confidence of his party asso-
%ciates; a man of strong convictions, of
judicial temperament, of forcible char
%acter, neither a demagogue nor q
"boss;" simple in manner, without
conceit OF bluster; a genuine Ameri-
can, who has, established his rcmarka-
BILE capacity for the public service, and
against whom as q candidate no Repub-
lican of any view could raise an objec-
ton, and for whom tile independent
vote wonld be cast most gladly as a
man ~singularly fitted for the chief mag
istracy. The nomination OF Mr.. Ed
munds, who Is not especially a "reform-
err" yet who has entire sympathy with
the reform instinct Of the party, would
at onc deprive the Democratic party
of every campaign cry which they are
hoping to raise against the Republicans,
and It would be tho earnest that the
Republican party proposes to continue
the clean course of the present admins
tration, which we believe to be heartily
approved by the conscience and COM
mon sense of the country. II this be
true, and it will not be denied, the fact
that Mr.. Edmunds has not a large num-
Der of delegates at the outset is of no
Importance. That has been true of
many successful candidates. That he
has not a large personal following, like
that of Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Douglas, is al
30 of no importance. Henry Clay had
a great and enthusiastic following, but
a handful of Liberty-party men in New
York defeated him. Mr.. Lincoln had
no such following at Chicago in 1860,
while Mr.. Seward certainly had. There
were many of tho best Republicans
who were bitterly disappointed by the
defeat of Mr.. Stewards nomination, but
wo have never heard of one who regret
ted the election of Mr.. Lincoln. IL Is
incontestablc that Mr.. Edmunds would
receive every Republican vote that any
other candidate would receive, that q
large independent and Republican vote,
which would not be given to all his
more prominent competitors, would be
surely given TO him; and that the deep
dissatisfaction, the personal rivalries
and hOstilities, which, in case of other
nominations, would certainly endanger
New York, and perhaps other states,
would not be aroused by his candidacy.
No sensible man can look at the figures
of tho last years election in New York
and not SEQ how indispensable to Re-
publican success is q wise nomination
upOn careful consideration of the situa-
ton. In that situation IL is "a plain as
any future event of the kind can be that
the nomination of MI. Edmunds would
DO equivalent to an election. No de-
f%enscs, no explanations, no depreca-
tions would be necessary. New York
and Ohio would at once cease TO be
questionable states, and the convention
would have justified the confidence re-
posed In 1t by the Republican party.