Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-09-15
The Victory.

Full returns do not diminish the fair pro
portions of the splendid Republican victory
in this state. Farnham's majority will
somewhat exceed $4,000, the senate is unan-
imously Republican, and out of 1856 mem
bers of the house of representatives PIG are
Republicans, nineteen are Democrats and
one is Observation-Disclosures being no choice
in five towns. The last house contained IT'S
Republicans, forty-two Democrats, nine
Greenbackers and five Independents. Ju-
bilant as Vermont Republicans justly are
over this grand result, their joy is fully
matched by rejoicings all over the Union.
National Republicans have waited with an
interest not devoid of solicitude for the YER
dict in this state, as the first authoritative
expression of public sentiment, the issue of
the first pitched battle of the campaign.
Here no disturbing local issues or quarrels
have interviewed to deprive the contest of
its national significance 1t was square,
stand-up fight between Republicanism and
Democracy as they stand arrayed against
each other in the great national contest, and
the intense interest felt by each of the two
great political parties, all over the nation,
was attributable to this fact. The distin-
guished gentlemen from outside the state,
who represented their respective parties ma
tionally before the people of the state, con-
ceded this point at the outset If Vermont
should hold her own, or should give an in
creased majority it was conceded to be
sure indication of the failure of the entire
line of Democratic attack upon Republican
ism. On the other hand if the Democracy
succeeded in materially reducing the Repub-
lican majority, which with great flourish
of trumpets they announced their purpose
to do, it would have been disheartening
sign to the Republicans, and presage of
defeat in the national contest.
The purely military candidate, the figure
head qualities of the Democratic nominee,
have not only not drawn away single Re-
publican vote, but have been powerless to
win the votes of those whose allegiance to
any party is lightly felt. The gain in the
Republican vote shows that this independ
ent element has gravitated toward the Re
publican party, and can be counted on for
Garfield and Arthur in November. The de-
termination of this element in favor of the
Republicans throughout the northern states
will alone decide the election in their favor.
The total vote for president in 1872 was
6,466,156. In 1875, s,412,605, gain in
four years of 1,946,449. In 1872 General
Grant had 1857, O7O; Greeley 2,S34,O79. In
1876 Hayes had 4, O33950; Tilden 4,2S4,757.
These figures are given by the Boston
Herald. That journal, assuming that the
increase in the vote in four years was d.
vided equally between the two parties,
argues from them that about five hundred
thousand voters who went with the Repub-
lcans in 1872 voted the Democratic ticket
in 1876. The independent vote in the
country is reckoned at about five hundred
thousand. If three-fourths of this vote is
cast for Garfield and Arthur they will carry
every doubtful northern state. "The indi-
cations of this result the Herald says,
would be even stronger if we could take the
very large vote of Vermont-twenty per
cent of the whole population-as an exam
pie to be generally followed; for those peo
pie in the northern states who do not ordi
narily take the trouble to vote would nearly
all vote for Garfield this year, if they should
vote at ALL
Another notable and gratifying lesson Of
the result is the utter futility of the cam
paign lie and the campaign Islander to wiz
votes. On state issues, as well as national
the Democracy have grossly perverted the
facts, and, in view of their indecent and un
warrantable assaults on the character o.
General Garfield, they can now reflect upor
the sagacious caution of Alexander Stephens
who warned his partisan brethren that " i
they assail Garfelds character they will
surely elect him."
"Put the Vermonters in front, and keel
the column well closed up" was frequentl..
the inspiriting suggestion during the cam
paign. The Green Mountain voters hav
advanced to victory on the double quick
Now, Republicans of the Union, Keep tn
column well closed up" and the victory i
ours.