Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-23
Cincinnati.

Cincinnati.
The scene changes and the metropolis of
the Ohio valley usurps in the public interest
the feverish place held by Chicago through
seven eventful days. The party whose del
egates met in Chicago three weeks ago to-
day was freighted with the hopes and fears
of those who were trembling for the perpe-
tuity of the grand work commenced by
Republican national convention in that same
city one score years ago. Grave apprehen-
sons had grown out of the hot strife which
burned between the supporters of rival can
didates that Chicago would witness the end
as well as the beginning of the patriotic ca
reer of the Republican party Those fears
have been replaced by buoyant and hope
full feeling, born Of consciousness, as near
akin to certainty as anything in the future
can be, that the wisdom and sagacity which
prevailed in the national council of the
party insures national victory at the polls
in November. The party which has suffered
unvarying defeat in five memorable conflicts
with Republicanism, and which saw in the
prospect of Republican broils and folly the
sure and easy solution Of their own troubles,
now finds itself the heir of all the perplex-
tiles that recently harassed the Republi-
cans, aggravated ten.fold by the good sense
that finally selected General Garfield, and
dashed all hopes the Democracy had built
on Republican discord or Republican folly.
We confess to an utter unconcern as to who
may be the nominee at Cincinnati. The &C.
tion Of the convention will add no new fac
tor to the campaign nor eliminate any old
issue from it, Back of the nominee, who
ever he may be, stands the Democratic
party. The full significance of this fact
will be readily comprehended by any one
measurably familiar with the record of that
party, not merely in the remoter periods of
the past twenty years of political history,
but more especially during the very recent
period covered by its partial return to power
1t is not necessary to remind the people that
it is the same party that was once identified
with slavery extension, and all the crimes
and woes those words suggest; the party
that plunged the nation into the most gigan.
tic civil war the world ever saw, simply be-
cause it was defeated in a national cleo
ton; the party that, after a four years
course of open, unpatriotic resistance to the
government, and secret, treacherous aid to
rebels, in national convention assembled
pronounced the war a failure; the party,
which, at later period with the shotgun,
with the tissue ballot, and by terrorism, ST.
fenced opposing voters in three states of the
Union the party whose emissaries traversed
the continent from Gramercy Park to Ore
gon and Florida with instructions in cipher
to buy electors they had failed to defeat the
party that in open day attempted to steal an
entire state in New England to make sure
of its electoral vote in November; the party
which has revived the heresy of state SOW
ereignty; the party whose future course, if
it shall gain the entire control of the gov
eminent, is foreshadowed by the record of
the extra session Of congress one year ago
the party that in war and in peace has been
found on the wrong side of every great ques-
ton for twenty years past, and has stuck
there till forced off by the pressure of pub
lie sentiment,-this is the party that now
dominates candidate for the presidency,
and whoever that candidate may be, if
elected, he cannot do less than register the
mandates of his party. However pure and
honorable in his personal character, he can
not administer the government on a higher
plane than his own party level, and the
record of that party in the past is the stand
ard by which its future action must be
judged. In the interest of political moral
ity, and for the purpose of promoting the
discusson'of national issues, we trust the
Democrats will put their best man in the
field, but they cannot, by this act, acquire a
stronger claim to votes than if they put
in nomination the undisguised advocate of
extreme Bourbonism.
The party that has nominated at Chicago
whatever may have been its mistakes and
sins, in war and in peace has labored stead
tasty and successfully for the welfare of all
the people during the past twenty years.
Without going back beyond the administra
tration of President Hayes, we find that its
prudent, patriotic course, its freedom from
stain or scandal stand out sin letters of
living light against the dark background
painted by Democratic congress during
this same period. The Democrats may
"steal the livery of heaven to serve the devil
in" as they have done before, but they
should not thus deceive any one. If the
party should elect its candidate, though an
angel of light, he could not stand up agains.
their revolutionary schemes. The question
at issue is broader than individuals. II is
still the old issue between Republicanism
and Democracy. In the presence Of these
great representatives of antagonistic prin-
ciples, individuals lose utterly their identity
Chicago must win against Cincinnati. To
doubt it is to impugn the aggregate sense
and patriotism of the American people