Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-04-16
General Badly Smith for Vernon. Delegate.


A good many Vermont Democrats are dis
posed to kick stoutly against the proposition
to make prominent New Yorker, identified
in his intcres, and feelings with New York
politics, chairman of the Vermont delegation
at the Democratic National Convention.
The Lyndon Union says
For thirty years or more Gen. Smith has
been citizen of New York and, though In
patriotism and political sentiment, he could
faithfully represent Vermont Democrats, the
fact of nOn-re1dence still stands out consplcu-
ously. The fact that Gen. Smith was called
into the State, as an educated military man,
to lead Vermont soldiers duringthc rebellion,
is very different thing from calling Gen
Smith into the State To represent Vermont
politics in a Democratic National convention.
One was necessary and quite proper. The
other is unnecessary and emincntly mprop-
or. The party cannot go out OF the Stale Tor
a delegate, no matter how good man he
NAV be, without confcssing lack of suitable
material in the home ranks. 1t cannot he
done without a sacrifice of party dignity, and
we haven't a sufficient superabundance of
that commodity on hand TO justify the sacrl-
flee 1t ought not be thought of for mo-
ment.
-. y. J"-dorbtlcss J. n. johnson, Esq,
lawyer of Mortified writes as follows to
the Messenger:
NoITHFIELD, April 8, 1880.
EditOr Of Messenger: 4 long Demo-
crat from principle and not profit, and one
of the invited council who met our State
committee at Waterbury, last week, for con-
sultation, want to say few things as they
appeared 10 me. And first, it appeared
plain that the leading men of our State com
mittec (mainly through the persistence OF
our irrepressible chairman) for some untold
reason and by some outside influence, are
working up combination to elect Hancock
delegates to the Cincinnati Convention, re-
CARELESS of the claims of such statesmen as
Samuel J. Tildcn, Horatio Seymour, Jas. A.
Bayard, Thos. A. Hendricks, Allen g.
Thurman and othcrs-Democratic states
men. tried and true, who have led the party
and kept il intact through all the dark days
of the war and since. If success is the only
god worth worshippins, it may be that
Gen. Hancock will turn out to be the most
available candidate but even that fact is
premature yet.
A close inspection of the programme at
Montpelier and Waterbury on the LIST inst,
nlaut IL pain tIut INT WnDlt tllIH Wis tc-
signed to start Hancock boom in Vermont
for use outside against 7ilden There was a
handspring to the business, not much hid
den in the person of Gen. Badly Smith. 1t
is more than limited that Gen. Smith, how
ever honorable war record he may have,
comes to us now as the sent ambassador of
Tammany and Of the political treason of John
Kelly and his coadjutors. Democrats in
Vermont and everywhere should he very
careful not TO swallow such n bait at this
time. Samuel j. Tilden is now the Presi
dent de jure of the United States, and he
should be reelected for second term unless
there are insurmountable reasons against it.
1t will not only be justice TO him but to the
Democratic party and to the Nation.
The Democratic party is not war party,
at this distance from the war, and will not
swing the bloody shirt in the coming cam
pagn with much effect. 1t yet remains, rs
it always has been, peace party (unless
much is to be gained by war;, ever anxious
for the peace and prosperity of the people of
the whole country. Its leaders have been,
and should be, ripe statesmen and not SEC
ond rate generals, who are out of employ
ment. 1t sounds too much like the old
Greeley cry of Anything to beat Grant
not good omen but an evil bird. The al
lllOSt uuiNtfsil 1T w "do
for Tilden. if he could be elected and no
speaker gave reasons why he could not be.
No reason can be given except John Kelly
personal enmity and treason, which is not a
new thing and should be made as odious as
the treason of Benedict Arnold. Democrats
should see to it that the Vermont State Con-
vcntion is not packed in the interest of any
one candidate, with Badly Smith as the
leader of the delegation
He has no claims to be delegate from
Vermont. lie has never identified himself
with the Vermont Democracy, but has re-
sided in New York city for years, holding
office there until recently. lie may have
been a gallant general. but his loud praise by
the argus in that direction is suspicious. 1t
sounds unnatural. Hiram Atkins, leading
round fighting Union general for show, is
the latest wonder. 1t is an ill-matched pair,
and there is a cat under the meal somewhere.
The writer heard Gen. Smith say in sub
stance that it was his opinion that if Tildcn
was not the candidate, he CTilden) would
prefer TO have the party defeated. Docs
any Vermont Democrat believe that, or want
our delegation led in that direction by a
foreigner? ] do not think the party in Yer
mont will tolerate it. They have heretofore
been party of principle and never held up
the banner of Win anyhor." | will except,
perhaps, the Greeley campaign brt its les
on~ shn..ia 10 -"'-'o-'''"-"a by al n-'"c"-"'s