The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-02-06
Vermont in the National Republican
Convention.

There is no occasion for the Vermont
delegation to the National Republican
convention to go hopeless of the nomi-
nation of Senator Edmunds for the pres.
idency. 1t seems to be a settled point
that the Republican candidate will not
be from any of the doubtful states
Grant, Blaire, Sherman, Washburne, and
in fact all the prominent candidates
are from sure Republican states.
The question before the convention
will be which of the candidates can be
elected if nominated-which Of them
would arouse the least aAtagonism with
in the party, and al the same time bring
out its fullest vote. There is apparent.
ly no man who would fulfill the requis-
ito conditions more satisfactorily than
Mr.. Edmunds. 1t is not alone the OBJ
lection to third term which would
weaken Gen. Grant, but the fact that
the people have not yet forgotten the
positive faults of his administration.
His nomination would chill the ardor of
thousands of Republican voters and
would make the number of stay-at-
homes OH election day dangerously
large. Blaine would draw out larger
vote than Grant, but party purists can
point to weak places in his record, like
his alleged connection with the Hots
Springs business, his trucking TO the
anti-Chinese sentiment of California.
his lack of backbone OH the force bill
question, and. generally TO the symp-
toms of the presidential fever which
stand out all over him. There is little
to be said against Sherman, except that
he is not wholly invulnerable to an at
tack upon his record as a consistent Re-
publican with backbone. Now
against Edmunds none of these obiec-
tions can lie. Whether we view him as
a man, Republican, or statesman, he
is alike honorable, pure, slalwart. and
great. No suspicion of trickery or req
reancy to any of the grand principles of
the Republican party for the sake of OBJ
tanning popularity with any of its enc
mics, attaches to him. Above all, these
things are known to the whole country.
No statesman has more universal and
solid reputation throughout the United
States. Public opinion as expressed by
The press, is wholly and loudly in his
lavor. In commenting him no ifs and
butts are used, but language of hearty
and unreserved praise. His populari-
y is not like that of the successful SOL
1ier orthe erratic statesman, but is built
IN the solid ground of public respect
md confidence in his power and ability.
In view of all this it would be burning
shame if Vermont should not give evil
ience of its appreciation of one whom
is not too much to call the soundest
statesman of the country, by presenting
lis name at the convention and giving
lin the vote of its delegates on the first
'allct. 1t is urged by some would-be
POLITICAL luminaries that Vermont is a
mall state TO offer candidate when
here are so many bigger states yearn-
ng Tor the prize. There would be
title sense in this if the large states
we're uncertain to give majority for
he Republican candidate, whoever he
night be. But the only doubtful state
# importance is New York. But New
FORK is not presenting any candidate
# its own at present, neither are the
mailer so-called doubtful states, like
and New Jersey. The fact
s, the field is entirely open to the best
nan; more so perhaps than at any pre-
'ious time. 1t is also urged that Grant
" Blaine is going to get the nomination
anyway, SO that 1t Ia of no use to vote
or Edmunds. To this sufficient and
Tery obvious reply is that, as has SO Of
en- happened before, the antagonisms
between the candidates who are "going
o get II any way" are likely TO render
t necessary to unite upon some third
,erson unobjeciionsble 10 all parties.
There is no certainty that the Vermont
delegation would be alone In support
ng Edmunds. He is likely to have
espectable vote from other states at the
utset. And II this should DO so, what
billy II would DO for the delegation
rom bis own state to throw away his
hances by casting possibly deciding !
rota for annihar candidate phan hu 4