Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-06-18
CHICAGO, June 8, 1880

TIE Chicago Convention
CHICAGO, June s, 1880.
To the Editor OF the Free Press and Times:
The 'long agony" is over; and the coun-
try is rejoicing over a result which is GER
tainly good, if not the best. Hundreds Of
delegates and spectators have said, since the
close of the convention, that Edmunds and
Washburne would have pleased them better.
But that was not to be, though it came
much nearer to being than most people sup
pose. 1t is fact that the Grant managers
the splendid organization and drill of whose
forces must he admired even by their stout
est opponents - had selected Edmunds as
their second choice. Had there been dozen
less votes for Grant and dozen more for
Blaine, on the first ballot, or had the conf
dent boastings Of the Blaine men at any sub
scquent time been near fulflment, doubtless
A combination, fully planned, would have
been consummatcd which would have car
ried the day, and given the party Mr. Ed
munds for President. At II O'Clock on
Tuesday morning, Mr.. Conkling, if he had
chosen so 10 do, could have named the head
| Ct the ticket. An hour later all
that was left to him was to
name the tail of it. When, on the thirty-fi
ballot, the signs that the collapse of the
deadlock had come became unmistakable,
the Grant leaders hurricdly passed the word
that they would 60 for Edmunds the next
ballot But it was then too late The dam
had broken, and the Garfield freshet swept
away everything. but that solid Grant COL
umn OF 306 which stood united and stead
fast to the end
The Vermont delegates, looking back over
the prolonged contest, feel that they have
nothing to regret or be ashamed of in their
course. Under Mr. Edmunds's refusal to be
Considered a candidate, they were not war
rantcd in opening distinctive Edmunds
headquarters. They illunted no badges or
banners but they brought to corven-
tion the best name. and they supported
it with absolute steadfastness, and with
the best judgment and ability at
their command. They had the coun-
Sci and support of a host Of friends, in
and out of the Notwithstanding large
number of delegates who, held by instruc-
tions or personal pledges 10 other candidates,
were really anxious for an opportunity to
turn in and vote for Edmunds. A solitary
delegate from Ohio, Capt. Glover, and an
other from Tennessee, Mr.. Elliot, voted
steadily for Edmunds, as long as there was
a ghost of chance for his nomination. There
is room for question whether the support of
Massachusetts was not of more harm than
help to him. They were 50 bitter in their
opposition to Grant and So utterly out of
relations with the quarters from which the
first strong start 10 Mr.. Edmunds must come.
if it was TO come at all, that they could ac-
cOmplsh little for their candidate. And their
abandonment of him, for Sherman, on Tuesday
morning, at time when ii was quite clear
that in no event could Mr.. Sherman be nomi-
mated, was naturally taken for a distinct sign
that EGmunGs's irit ntis had given up all hope
of combination on him. Had the Massa-
chusetts men held back their vote on Mon
day, ard thrown il for Edmunds Tuesday
morning, it would probably have been of
more service TO him. 1t is true that they
said they world come hack to him, if occa-
sion demanded but of course no such occa-
sion came, and they did not expect that one
would come, or do anything to bring It on.
OF couIse there have been wheels within
wheels, currents and counter currents, In
trigues and efforts during the past exciting
week, which it would be lons story TO de-
scribe, and many Of which will never be
given to the public; but, throughout all, the
Nermonters have kept steadily in view their
main object, and worked industriously and
faithfully to secure it. They came here
with barely chance for success. That
chance strengthened at one time into prob
ability. 1t failed through no fault of theirs.
The result is one in which they can and do
cordially acgui,scc.
l might speak, ii hal space, of the iu-
dividull services oi members of the dclega-
ton. Governor Smith as chairman of the
delegation was attentive, able and Influential
Mr. Billings's wide acquaintance and force
of character, were Of much service and his
speech, presenting Mr.. Edmunds, has been
universally praised as one of the very best,
in series of able speeches Governor
Stewards share in the arduous duties of the
Committee on Credentials, was important
and commended by his associates on the
committee. Gen. Mccullough. Nlr. Belden,
and in short the delegates. with hardly an
exception, won friends by their frank course
and genial courtesy and none ot them, or
of the hundreds who have participated in
this mos, exciting and eXL;usting conven-
ton, will ever forget its scenes and expe-
ricnces. No such gathering as To some of ITS
E,ain features is likely to he seen again in this
or any country. Some of those features
may try TO describe hercafte-e
Yours, L.