Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-07-28
JULY 2S, 1880.


is task which would tax man Of phenomenal
genius to the utmost of his capacity. What have
we right to expect from Democratic victory
Is 1t the maintenance Of the public faith? Nearly
all the states that have repudiated or talk OF re-
pudiating their own debts are Democratic states,
furnishing Democratic electoral votes and Con-
gressmen. Who will say they will be more con-
scentious regarding the national debts than for
those OF their own states
IT Is FINANCIALLY USsoUND.
Have we a right to expect sound financial
policy? In the Democratic fold found very
large majority of the Greenbackers, infatonists
and fiat-money men. While speaking of sound
money in their national platforms is it not equally
true in large number of the states that the most
prominent inflationists put forward for the
highest honors, followed by the masses OF their
party? So General Ewing in Ohio, so General
Butler in Massachusetts, so Mr. Landers in In
diana, while in Maine Democrats and Green
hackers fuse in cordial embrace, and in many Of
the western and most Of the southern states the
Democrats represent unsound financial ideas.
When General Hancock was nominated, Peter
Cooper OF New York and General Sam Cary of
Ohio were among the first to wait upon him and
wish him success. In all these matters the bust
ness men of the country will take a gambling
chance in voting for Hancock, with that chance
rather against them.
DEMOCRATIC REFORM.
The Democratic party will certainly reform the
civil service in accordance with old Demo-
cratic principle, which IL that to the vctors be-
long the spos." 1t may abandon any other prn-
cipe, but not that 1t Is closely interviewer
with the traditions of that party that doubt very
much whether it could be abandoned without de-
stroying the party's existence. When such reform
there is spoken of, the meaning is the putting
out of all Republicans and the filling OF their
places with Democrats. Need tell the taxpayers
what such an experiment would cost? Suppose,
after success Of the Democratic party, all the
offices, high and low, in all the banks and savings
institutions Of the country were to be filled sud-
denly with Democratic politicians, upon the rec
ommendation of Democratic congressman and
campaign committees, what would the stockhod-
ers and depostors think OF the safety of their
money? And yet the interests involved in the
banks are certainly not greater than those in
volved in the conduct of the government of the
United States. General Hancock may mean WELL
and form decided plan Of action in all these mat
ters yet it is obvious that he will be completely at
the mercy of the wind and waves, and there
would be power of wind in the Democratic vic
tors sufficient to upset the ingenuity of the firm
est and most skilled politician in his party. Let
nobody indulge in deluson about it; Democrotic
victory means that the vctors will take the spoils
at once, and this means the complete destruction
for time, of the whole administrative machinery
of the government, with all its checks and safe
guards and the people will have to foot the bills for
the carnival. This will be reform of the civil ser
vice to make the ears of the taxpayers Jingle
THE REPUBLICAN SIDE
No one can fail to be repealed by such prospects
unless AS great, or greater dangers, threaten from
l
assert that the Republican party has been without
fault. 1t has undoubtedly made great mistakes.
With regard to the question Of the public debt at
one time, and to the question of currency for a
more extended period, there in the Republic
party conflict of opinions, contest of ends.
When, in 1869 the Republican majority in con-
gress declared for the payment of the public debt,
principal and interest, in coin, there was an end
of reputation in the Republican party, at once
and forever. When in 1875, the Republican ma
jority in congress passed the resumption act there
was an end, forever, of the unredeemable paper
money business in the Republican party. Those
who still retained reputation or fiat money ideas
left the party, and most of them finally landed in
the Democratic party and the rest will doubtless
finally materiaze as sound Democrats. In this
way the Republican party has become the reliable
sound-money party of the country. If you want
to study the reasons why the public faith should
be inevitably maintained, why an irredeemable
paper currency is, and always has been, curse
to all the economic interests Of this and all other
countries, why confidence can be restored and
maintained, why business can obtain healthy
development, why foreign commerce can be most
profitably conducted only with money system of
stable and intrinsic value, you will find in the
speeches Of James A. Garfield upon this subject
the most instructive and convincing information.
There is double assurance in the traditions and
acts of the party and in the character Of the leader
at its head.
REPUBLICAN REFORM.
As to civil service, one thing is certain in the
event of Republican success the administration
machinery OF tne government Will not De taken 10
pieces and disorganized, to be recomposed Of raw
material. In so far as 1t has shown itself honest
and efficient it will be preserved in its integrity
and efficiency, and upon the good foundation laid
there is reason for assurance that 1t will be de-
veloped to greater perfection.
A PLEA FOR THOUGHTFUL ATTENTION.
appeal to the conservative citizens of the re-
public to you who desire the public faith sacredly
maintained, where will you go? Can you, in
view OF present circumstances, go to the Demo-
cratic party? You will find on that side every
state that has repudiated speaks OF repudiating
its public debt you will find there all those who
decried the public creditor as the public enemy,
and whom no loyal tradition and impulse attaches
to the national honor. You will find there party
inside of which the public faith has still to fight
a battle with its enemies, without any certainty
Of its issue Is that your place? Or will you go
to the Republican side, where the loyal main
tenanee of the public faith has become a funda-
mental principle, universally adhered to with I'M
swervng fidelity. in spite of the gusts Of adverse
public sentiment in former days might go ON
with the catalogue to show you where the path
OF safey lies, but it is enough.
GOOD ILLUSTRATION
Your own state of Indiana furnishes at this mo-
ment most instructive illustration, Look at the
contendDg forces here! On the one hand man
put forward by the Democrats as their candidate
for governor, Of the leaders of the widest in
hation movement one of the most vociferous ad-
yocates of the repeal of the resumption act, the
successful execution of which has conferred upon
the American people such inestimable blessings.
On the other side, the Republican candidate for
governor, one of the purest, best informed and
most useful and patriotic men, who, on every ques-
ton of public interest stands the honor OF the
country and the welfare Of its citizens whom
even the voice of Islander cannot reach, and to
whose hands his very opponents would without
hesitation commit their interests That is the
illustration Indiana gives of the character OF our
national contest
QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE PRESIDENCY.
Is the presidency like gift horse. a presenta-
ton sword a donation OF money, or a gift house,
given TO victorious soldier to please him II so,
then simple justice would compel us to look for
the most mertorious of our soldiers, and reward
them in order Of merit Let us be grateful, but
lat not denrAde the hi..hast aud