Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-03-17
The New England Candidate.

SO hearty is the response in Massachu
sets and Connecticut TO the action of oul
recent state convention that the chances ar,
perhaps more than even that they will botf
send Edmunds delegates to Chicago. w,
copy below from leading journal in each
state:
From The Worcester Spy.
The mention Of Mr.. Edmunds name as can
didate for the presidency Is received with respect
everywhere All sorts and conditions OF Repub
licans. stalwarts, liberals independents, civil ser
vice reformers, agree that in character, talent
experience In public affairs, he has no superior
among our public men Upon his reputation fol
absolute integrity no shadow OF suspicion has ever
rested His courage, frmness and tenacity Of
purpose are well proved. There Is no member oil
lily trusted TO surrender nothing OF Republican
principle, or who, In the stormy conflicts OF the
past, when the party had been divided as TO ques.
tions OF policy, has provoked less censure from
either side for conceding too much or not enough.
Yet there Is no one who has held more decided
opinions or expressed them with less reserve.
Many miscbievous scheme seeking the approval
OF the senate has been exposed by his shrewd
questioning, or made ridiculous by his pungent
satire. Though a fearless and hard hitter In de-
bate, he has made no enemies among his senator
rial associates, because he IL always fair and
courteous, and Is manifestly actuated by public,
newer Dy personal motives. ftb HAS always
strictly observed the boundaries that separate the
executive from the senatorial functions has
never obtruded his advice upon the president I'M
asked, nor sought TO control appointments. He
has not been member OF any senatorial group,
and II he were president there can be no doubt
that he would maintain the dignity and assert
the authority OF the executive Office not delegat-
ing any OF bis powers TO purchase compliance or
reward servility. Every interest Of the country,
or OF the party, would be "a safe In his hands as
In those Of m whom thpy cpuld N
trusted. All this IL undisputed. IL will hardly
be questioned that II he were nominated he would
be az strong candidate as any one who has been
proposed. The stalwart Republicans, Of course,
would vote for him, as they would for any thor
ough going party man as against any possible
Democratic candidate. The Independents with
Republican leanings would accept him gladly, as
Mt least the equal In ability and uprghness Of his
opponent, whoever the latter might be. The
civil service reformers would acknowledge his
declarations and conduct rs satisfaSory evidence
OF soundness in their faith and woi lrust In his
sincerity and firmness to give effe 10 his con-
vctions. The liberals would iud in oils recorded
utterances no evidence Of sectional hatred or I'M
charitabeDess. No one who desired would be
willing to support n Republican candidate could
find In his acts or speech anything that needs de-
Tense or excuse or explanation. Is there any
other Republican whose nomination has been sug
gested who has 80 many and so great conceded
merits with so few drawbacks, and upon whom
all sections OF the party and those hanging
upon the verge OF 1t would 80 co daily unite
We do not know OF any. 1t may be con-
coded that General Grant would be stronger
In tho south, and might possibly carry one
or two southern states. but that Is at the
best extremely doubtful, and there Is no doubt
that he would fail to poll the full Repub-
lican vote In many northern states, and would
perhaps lose some OF them. No other candidate
has been proposed who would be sure OF carrying
any state that could not with at least equal conf
dence be claimed for Mr. Edmunds. But even
l.A sol Ia
been said, lis impossible to nominate him, and
effort for that end will be thrown away. We do
not admit It, On the contrary, it is our opinion
that, with the exception Of General Grant, who
may not improbably have majority Of all the
votes in the convention on the first ballot, but
whose strength as 1t seems to us, is likely to
decline rather than to increase II the contest is
prolonged, no one has much better prospect of
the nomination than Mr. Edmunds provided he
has In the convention such support as New
England can give him with reasonable effort
Grant Blaine and Sherman the leading can
idatea; the partsans OF each are becoming some
what embittered as the contest for delegates goes
on, and 1t Is not unlikely that the votes will be
divided among them rs to make the nomination
Df either impossible Mr. Edmunds Is personally
acceptable TO all he has no enmties to over
come; his conceded strength as a candidate will
lend To concentrate upon him the votes OF those
VINO lind that the nomination of the man OF their
first choice is hopeless But, Of course, the NOM
nation Of Mr.. Edmunds or anybody else, is inn
possible unless those who desire 1t willing b.
make some effort for it. What may be possible
elsewhere is not for us to say Oar first business
Il with Massachusetts,. II, as we believe, the ma
lority OF the Republicans of Massachusetts would
be better satisfied with the nomination of Mr..
Edmunds than with that of Grant Blaine or Sher-
man, 1t is their duty to see that their delegates to
Chicago are men who will truly represent Massa-
'husetts Republcanism, and will use every legiti-
mate means to secure his nomination. Whether
hey succeed or fail they will have made an hon.
)rabe effort for desirable result and Massa-
,husetts will have no occasion to be ashamed OF
hem or of herself
From the Hartford Courdnt.
lnnumerable times the question has been asked,
y Why not nominate Senator Edmunds?' And
appeal to the experience of every Republican
voter. The common reply is, THAT would suit
ne. Edmunds would be the man II we could
nominate him." We have yet to hear an objec-
ion to the man. Everybody says he would make
IN admirable president. Take notice that the
iame always ELECTS cordial Endorsement, and not
'eldom personal enthusiasm. "1 should like to
work for Edmunds;" " ] should like to take the
'tump for Edmunds!!' there would be no de-
,bout Edmunds that needs explanation - This
private conviction IL exactly the thing that makes
great public enthusiasm. Edmunds Is one Of
he ablest men Of this generation in the senate he
) thoroughly trained In politics and statesman
'hip. lie has mastery comprehension OF all
he great subjects that have been before us. In
iebate he Is great power, not by the use OF
rhetoric or what Is termed eloquence for he de-
ests all display and pretense, but by sheer force
II brains. Like Webster, he has the clearness OF
statement that amounts to demonstration. He il
! great lawyer. lie unites the rare greatness OF
Seenness in details with the most comprehensive
mastery OF principles. His mind is lucid and I'M
confused, through and through His moral sound
Tess is equal 10 his mental. No man ever had so
much rs thought Of questioning his integrity
N politics his " stalwartsm is acceptable to the
most stalwart. Nor is there disciple OF the
: generous discomfort in criticism who does not
aspect him. 1t is rarely never given to man
% so unite the respect of all shades and classes
every Democrat In congress will speak well OF
lin. Yet he IL the sharpest critic In the senate |
md compels himself to perform great deal OF
'asty important service in Directing TO party or
inwise legislation He Is able In every field
aw legislation, craftsmanship, practical politics
lie Is careful In making up his Judgments and
irm In maintaining them. He is utterly without |
ear or embarrassment in expressing and main |
,quity and courage He is permeated in every
irop and fiber with the spirit OF American ideas
u liberty and political progress He is available
every Republican newspaper would speak well Of
one, ststlwart or liberal-every neu- |
raj paper, every religious paper with Republican
eaniDgs indeed every Democratic paper would
his ability his learning his expert
'nce, his honesty, his fearless adherence to prnc
Die. In two weeks after his nomination every
ournal and every orator would be enthusiastic
The Republicans would only have TO say, There
le standsl An insinuation against his reputa-
ion would cause only a laugh every where. That
5 unassailable. He would unite every faction OF
he party, and sweep in every honest independent
'oter Why should not New England present Ed