Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-19
The First District.

from this district. In saying that we TAKE
pleasure in announcing this fact, no reflec
ton is intended 10 be cast upon our present
representative. Colonel Joyce has held the
position for six years, thesame length of ser
vice as his immediate predecessors, Messrs
Willard, Woodbridge and Walton. While al
will concede that he has been an industrious
and faithful representative, we do not un
derstand that either he, or his friends fol
him, make any further claims in his behalf
His position is doubtless correctly defined
in late number of the Rutland Herald
which says ave understand that the pres
ent incumbent, while he has declined to per
sonally press himself for denomination, is
already strongly urged by his friends through
out the district to be his own successor
Colonel Joyce's friends argue that the cleo
ton of 1880 will be the last when three con
gressmen will be elected from Vermont
that it would be hardly good policy to send
a new and inexperienced man from this sec
ton for one term, as the enlargement of the
field Of competition in 1882 would make il
somewhat doubtful whether any one who
should now be selected would be then re.
turned, since other counties than our pres.
ent district would then have voice in the
nomination. A large number of influential
men among Colonel Joyce's constituents
have written him urging that, under all cir.
cumstances, it seemed desirable that he
should serve out our last term under the old
assignment of three districts to Vermont,
and make no change until the new apportion-
ment of two districts was in force in 1892
While this is plausible view of the case,
and will doubtless satisfy a few of Colonel
Joyce's personal friends and admirers, we
apprehend the mass of the Republicans Of
the district will not be disposed to lose their
balance and adopt new presidents on ac-
count of anticipated changes in our repre-
sentation. They were not greatly moved by
the same argument ten years ago, and found
good results from preserving their equilib-
rum. The same experience may be re.
peated. At any rate, it will be safe to do
the best possible thing that can now be done,
and leave the future to take care of itself
Very possibly the wisest choice now will
prove to be the wisest for the next six years,
and that what serves our present district
best will be equally advantageous to any
newly-constructed district.
In endorsing the candidacy of Mr.. Stew
art, we have no need to dwell upon his ex-
ceptional qualifications for position to
which he has long been virtually assigned by
the people of his district, we might add al.
most without distinction of party. His long
and eminent service in almost every station
of trust within the gift of our people has
gained for him measure of confidence and
regard enjoyed by few of our public men.
To superior educational advantages, rare So
cial qualities, refined tastes and cultivated
habits, he adds the sterling qualities of prac-
tical good sense and unquestoned integrity.
And these qualities of his mind and heart
have become so thoroughly well established
through many years of familiar intercourse
with the people of the state that his name
has become synonym for honesty of pur-
pose and independence of action. Modest
in his pretensions, and never seeking prefer
ment, he has nevertheless held the office of
governor of the state, the responsible du-
ties of which he discharged with credit to
himself and satisfaction to the people, For
two sessions he has been chosen speaker of
the house of representatives, and has pre-
sided with great dignity and impartiality.
In the courts where he practices we learn he
is almost uniformly selected as special master,
arbitrator or referee, and his manly and judi
cial impartiality has gained for him the es-
TEEN and confidence of all parties These
are the qualities which the Republicans of
the district seek to combine in their repre-
sentative to congress. As rule, Vermont
has been fortunate in her choice for this i'm
portant service, and the reason is because
she has selected her best men. 1t is of the
most vital Importance that such men should
be selected at this juncture. If there was
ever danger that our good ship of state
would drift into the control of demagogues
and reckless partisans, that time is now.
But with such able, tried and true represen-
tatives as John W. Stewart, we may safely
feel that our hands are clean, whatever may
betide.
Ex-Governor Stewards long and eminent
service in connection with the legislature
has rendered him almost as familiarly and
favorably known to the people of Washing
ton county as to his immediate neighbors,
and if his nomination and election are not
substantially unanimous, we do not believe
it will lie at the door of our county.
Nor, in saying this much do we mean to
either ignore or belittle the fact that Ben.
nington county proposes to present candi-
date for the succession to Colonel Joyce,
based upon the combined facts that she has
eminently worthy men and has had no rep
resentative for more than quarter of a CEN
fury. Both these considerations are unde-
niably true, and should receive due weight.
In Messrs Munson and Colburn of Manches-
ter, McCulloch and Root of Bennington, and
Batchelder of Arlington, she has candi-
dates either of whom would faithfully rep
resent the district, and who under ordin-
airy circumstances would receive the cordial
support of the Republicans of Washington
county. And it would be especially graft
flying in this campaign-possibly the last in
which we shall be yoke-fellows with our
longtime allies of old Bennington-to aid
in bestowing upon one of her sterling Re
publicans this welldeserved and long-delayed
honor. But notwithstanding all this, we
cannot doubt that the Republicans of Ben
nington county, while they may feel it due
to themselves to present candidate for the
nomination, and give him a solid support
in the convention, will yield hearty acqui-
escence should the combined voice of the
district, in view of his superior qualifca-
lions and the exigencies of the times, be-
stow the nomination upon Mr.. Stewart
Surely the Republicans of any county in
this district can but be honored in his sup
port. His candidacy will be to the loss Of
no county, but to the gain Of all. Such men
belong, not to any county alone, but to the
state and country.
For GovERNoR.-" Orleans County" in
another column, proposes to advance our