Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-03-10
Our Washington Letter.

your correspondent that the chief and al-absorb-
ing topic OF interest here, ms everywhere else, is
rHE PRESIDENTIAL QUESTION.
Congress Is doing but very little so far and every
other confederation, political and Legislative,
seemed to be swallowed up in the race for the
presidential nomination. Speaker Randall Is still
hopeful that congress will be able to adjourn by
the middle Of May. and many others are anxious
to get away by that time no M to be able to at
tend the national conventions In June The APP
preparation committee will be ready with all the
bills AZ fast rs the house Ia ready TO dspose Of
them, and II is fast becoming a settled conviction
that there will be legislation this session ex-
cept the passage Of the regular appropriation bills
Yet, notwithstanding all this, II Is very liable that
July will be upon us ere congress adjourns
Although Grant is still the popular candidate
among presdent-makers In this city, it is evident
to us that the belief is growing that his chances
are on the wane. Talking with a prominent
champion Of Grant to-day, we find the inclination
to be to give moro respectful hearing to the
claims Of other candidates than was the case ak
weeks ago We are led to the belief that the
Grant men in this locality begin to think Of
"hedging." It is becoming more and more APP
parent every day, also, who they will go for when
/
less we are greatly mistaken, they will endeavor
| TO swing the Grant column around to the support
Of +. b washburne. It's acknowledged by them
that he Is the strongest candidate OF their partc-
ular party, after Grant, and II they cannot have
whom they want they will do the next best thing
washburne would unite the party as well as any
one, except vermont's favorite son, Edmunds, and
to our mind would he much stronger candidate
| m fact vvh iob
better established every day, that the cry for
Grant is getting weaker should make the friends
Of other candidates stand firm. Even the boom
for Edmunds, which has been started In small
way and at a late date, should not be allowed to
die out on account Of the great noise made over
other names.
| EDMUNDs' CANDIDACY
needs, and asks, no such impetus as is attempted
to be given to the entries of other candidates 1t
is grounded on principle recognized many times
In the history OF our country, by the different
political parties, that party should place at It's
head its ablest and wsest man. No matter that
the great leaders like Webster, Clay, Seward, and
men like them, were kept from the executive
chair, and others, less thought Of at the time,
were chosen instead. A party should put for
ward its best man always and when they do the
| enlightened public opinion OF the nineteenth
century will confirm its choice. The delegation
| TO Chicago from Vermont should keep the name
| OF Edmunds to the front. They shond not listen
| to the syreD tongue Of more powerful combina.
tons, but act with eye single to the interests
| OF their candidate They should hang the Ed
munds banner on the outer wall and keep 1t there
Already his name is becoming to be placed side by
side with that Of Washburne and the two are rec
| ognized everywhere rs good men and true
| such az the Republican party would do well to
| tie to. No matter IL Edmunds Ia not himself
candidate. The more reason why he should be
championed. Let the country see that some one
man has few steadfast friends although he has
not asked for their votes. The Grant interest il
liable to split. in the event OF failure to nom-
nate on the first ballot The Blaine men will
stick, az they did In '76 Let the Ednunds men
follow their example and rely solely upon the
wisdom Of their choice and the justice OF their
cause. Other states are looking toward the Ed
munds movement rs happy thought His nom- |
nation at Chicago would unite every element OF
the party, and we had occasion to argue in |
this correspondence nearly two years ago, is a |
contamination devoutly to be wished
THE PLANS or THE DEMOCRACY
arc developing daily and show the terrible earn
will be fought ON their side The hope which |
springs eternal in the Democratic breast just now
is that the presidential election will be thrown |
into the house OF representatives One Of the |
ways by which they hope this will be effected is
the nomination, by the Republicans, OF some one |
who will divide the party and make third can |
didate possible. In this complication the theory |
being that one candidate could secure a ma |
~ tba
go to the house. and there be determined by vote
by states in favor of the Democratic candidate |
This is one Of the main hopes OF success upon |
which the Democracy is building, and therefore |
planning to secure This Is evidenced by the |
fact that the state Of Minnesota Is to be stolen by
unseating Mr. washburne and putting Mr. Igna-
thus Donnelly, the contestant who was beaten |
by majority OF three thousand votes
Added to this, is the probable unseating Of Mr. |
Orth Of Indiana, by which the Democracy will |
secure the Hoosier state without depending upon
the uncertainty Of the Rev. Greenback De la |
Matyr, who claimed to hold the balance OF power
This wonld make assurance douby sure, and give
the Democracy a majority Of two on vote by
states should the presidency be relegated to the
house for decision 1t is morally certain that the
Democracy will make desperate effort, and
leave no stone unturned, to secure the presidency
ut the coming election So far the difficult feat
has been successfully performed OF keeping the
mouths of unruly Democratic congressman Sc
curely muzzed. No ammunition il to be fur
nished the Republicans for campaign purposes
the present session, and party discipline has thus
far been maintained intact The Importance of
the election this year seems to be recognized by
both parties, and the general feeling seems to be
that whichever party obtains possession OF the
government at that time will enjoy the benefits
of long lease Mr. Tilden evidently appreciates
this view, as shown In his letter to the Democratic
association Of Massachusetts,. In 1t he says that
no one better than he understands 4" the vast
power acquired by the federal government over
the elections by its ofiice-holders its patronage
the money II levies. and its various forms of cor
rupt influences" His varied experience in New
York politics has taught him all this although
his criticism is the devil preaching Scripture.
ODDS AND ENDS
Count Delesseps who Ia now In the city, called
on the president to-day, at noon, accompanied by
Secretary Eyarts. The interview lasted about an
hour and half The count explained the fea-
lures OF his canal project and pointed out its ad-
vantages. lie said 1t was not contemplated that
1t should be under foreign control nor under any
circumstance Interfere with the interest Of the
United States. lie wanted the most OF the stock
taken in this country; that would be guarantee
that 1t would not be controlled by foreign inhu
ences. The interview had no significance what
ever, but simply call OF respect to the president
Senator Matt Carpenter made lengthy argu-
ment in the senate to-day In opposition to the
fitz John Porter bill, and will be followed on
Monday by Senator Bayard in its favor, The de-
bate Is liable to last several weeks.
Miss Eva Mills, who has been singing in SPIN
afore " at the Standard theater New York, dur