Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-16
A JudIcIous Nomination.

During the week that has passed since
the conclusion Of the Chicago convention,
the smoke Of the great conflict that was
waged there has lifted, the fever Of the bat
tie has cooled, the vebemence OF personal
preferences has abated, and the nation is
deliberately estimating the quality Of the
work done by the most eventful Of Republic
can national assemblages. A glance at the
comments Of the press published elsewhere
in this paper will family show that different
phases of Republican sentiment, which only
few days ago seemed more irreconcilable
than oil and water have hailed the nomin-
alton with degree Of enthusiasm, and
hearty, sincere unanimity, which give con-
elusive proof that the convention has chosen
well and wisely. II has been a characters.
tic feature of Republicanism from its ear
lest days to tolerate perfect freedom of in
dividual action and the widest range of dis
cussion on all preliminary questions. The
final action Of the party has been dictated
by the conclusions developed from free and
unrestrained expression of individual opin-
ion. The purposes and tendencies Of indi.
vidual action and of given lines of policy
have never been tenderly handled by the
press, or in the state or national councils of
the party, for fear of any loss of prestige or
power that might result from presenting to
their opponents an appearance of discord.
Great principles have always determined the
action of the great body of Republicans, and
healthy and invigorating discussions have
always had the effect to disencumber those
principles from any load of personal ambi-
tions with which they may have become
weighed down. This process has often pro-
duced keen personal disappointments, but in
no instance has it been the source of serious
disaffecticn in Republican ranks. 1t has, in
fact, been an element of party strength. Re-
publicans have differed like men animated
by common principle, but disagreeing
sometimes on the method of carrying out
their principles. They have fought their
battles inside their own organization; and,
when the contest has been decided, all the
vigor they had displayed in their trials Of
strength with each other has been turned
with cordial unanimity, intensified ten
fold, against the common enemy. Thus
we believed it would be at Chicago, and
thus it has been to an extent never before
witnessed even in the Republican party.
The nomination of General Garfield was
the Legitimate outcome of a party, indie
pendent in its action, jealous of personal
domination, and guided by the cardinal
principles that gave it birth and have kept
it in power during five successive admins
trations. If not the strongest nomination
that might have been made under certain
circumstances, it is undoubtedly the strong
est nomination that could have been made
listed. Indeed, it may be broadly stated that
the Republican party never made better
nomination. Personally the candidate is a
splendid representative of that type of self
made Americans of which Washington,
Franklin, Greeley, Lincoln and Grant, are
brilliant exemplars. A commanding per-
sonal appearance, strong and vigorous
intellect, powerful orator, charac-
ter of unimpeachable integrity, broad, gen.
GUS human sympathies, simple tastes and
habits, coupled with long, active and lead
ing career in public affairs which has been
marked by almost judicial fairness and free
dom from partisan bias,-constitute the
strongest possible combination of popular
and intrinsic qualities in the candidate Of
the party of equal rights to all. Every ele-
ment in the character and experience Of
General Garfield points to an administra
tion of the office of president 1--WE use no
"if" in connection with the question of his
election) as benefcent as, and. perhaps nnoI-
aggressive in some important respects than
that of President Hayes. The present feel
ing of stability and confidence will not be
disturbed by the transfer of the government
to new hands, and much of the solicitude
created by the projection of presidential
campaign into the business of the country
at this time has been removed by this most
iudicious nomination.