Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-09
ConklIng nj Chicago.

task OF presenting General Grants name TO
the Chicago convention. The New York
senator, as all the world knows, is a con.
summate master Of the art Of political ora
tory. The occasion which called forth the
following effort was the event of a lifetime,
and right royalty did the great champion
improve It, So far as relates 10 brilliant
leadership and eloquent, effective oratory, il
must be conceded that all the substantial
honors were borne away by the chivalrous
New Yorker. The case Of General Grant is
massively stated. His speech fairly bristles
with points in favor Of the first citizen Of
the nation.
When asked whence comes our candidate, we say
from Appomattox. Obeying instructions should
never dare TO disregard, expressing, also, my own
conviction, rise in behalf OF the state OF New
York to propose nomination with which the
country and Republican party can grandy win.
The election before MS will be the Austerltz OF
American politics. II will decide whether, for
years to come, the country shall be Republican
or Cossack." The need Of the hour is candidate
who can carry doubtful states north and SOUTH
and believing that he, more surely than any other
can carry New York against any opponent, and
the south, New York Ia for Ulysses s. Grant
He alone Of living Republicans has carried New
York as presidential candidate Once he carried
1t, even according to Democratic count, and twice
he carried 1t by the peoples votes, and he is
stronger now. The Republican party with its
standard in his hand Is stronger now than in 1868
or 1872. Never defeated In war or In peace, his
name is the most llustrious borne by any living
man. His services attest his greatness and the
country knows them by heart. His fame was born
not alone OF things written and said but OF the
arduous greatness OF things done, and dangers
and emergencies will search in vain in the future
as they have searched In vain in the past for any
other on whom the nation leans with such conf.
dence and trust. Standing on the highest emil
nence OF human distinction, and having filled all
lands with his renown, modest, firm, simple and
selfpoised, he has seen not only the titled but the
poor and the lowy In the uttermost ends OF the
earth rise and uncover before him. He has stud
led the needs and the defects OF many systems OF
government, and he comes back better man
than ever, with wealth of knowledge and ex-
perence added TO the hard common sense which
so conspicuously distinguished him In all the
fierce light that beat upon him throughout the
most eventfnl, trying and perous sixteen years
OF the nations history. Never having had policy
to enforce against the will Of the people, he never
betrayed a cause or friend, and the people will
never betray or desert him. Vilified and reviled
truthessly aspersed by numberless presses, not in
other lands, but in his own the assaults upon him
have strengthened and seasoned his hold on the
pubuC uetIl. Inc ammunition OF CAlumuy HAS
all been exploded. The powder has all been
burned once. It's force is spent, and Grants name
will glitter as bright and imperishabe star Ia
the diadem Of the republic when those who have
tried to trnish it have moldered in forgotten
graves and their memories and epitaphs have
vanished utterly. Never elated by success,
never depressed by adversely he has ever, in
peace as In war, shown the very genius Of common
sense. The terms he prescribed for Lees surren-
der foreshadowed the wisest principles and
prophecies OF rpcDuatrurtiOn Victor In the
greatest Of modern wars, he quickly signalized
his aversion to war and his love OF peace by an
arbitration OF international disputes which stands
as the wisest and most majestic example of its
kind in the worlds diplomacy. When imitation,
at the height of its popularity and frenzy, had
swept both houses Of congress, 1t was the action
OF Grant which, single and alone, overthrow ex-
panson and cleared the way for specie resumption.
To him measurably more than to any other man
is due the fact that every paper dollar Is as good
as gold With him as our leader we shall have
no defensive campaign; no apologies or explana-
tons to make; the shafts and arrows have all
been aimed at him and lie broken and harmless
at his feet. Life, liberty and property will find a
safeguard In him. When he said of the black
men in Florida, wherever am they may come
Also he meant that had he the power to help II
the poor jewellers in the cabins Of the south should
not be driven in terror from the homes OF their
childhood and the graves Of their murdered dead.
When he refused to see Denis kearney, he
meant that lawlessness and communism, although
it should dictate laws to a whole city, everywhere
would meet rebuke from him, and, popular or
unpopular he will hew to the line of right let the
chips fly where they may. His integrity, his
common sense, his courage and his unequaled ex-
perence are the qualities offered to his country.
The only argument against accepting them would
amaze Solomon. lie thought there could be
nothing new under the sun. Having tried Grant
twice and found him faithful, we are told we
must not, even after an interval OF years, trust
him again. What qualification does not such a
fa1l No Ind.
jefferson Davis from public trust Why? Be
cause he was the arch traitor and would-be-de-
stroyer, and now the same people are asked to os-
tracise General Grant and not trust him. Why?
Because he was the archpreserver OF his country;
because, not only in war but afterward, twice rs
civil magistrate he gave his highest, nobest efforts
To the republic. Is such absurdty electoneering
juggle, or hypocrisy masquerade? There is no
field of human activity, responsibility or reason
in which rational beings object to General Grant,
because he has been weighed in the balance and
has not been found wanting, and because he has
unequaled experience, making him exceptionally
confident and tit From the man who shoes your
horse to the lawyer who pleads your case; the Of
ticers who manage your railways or the doctors
into whose hands you give your life; the minister
who seeks to save your soul; what man do you
reject because you have tried him and by his
works have known him? What makes the presi-
dental office an exception to all things else? Is
common sense to be applied to electing It's incum-
bent? Who dares To put letters on the free choice
and judgment, which is the birthright OF the
American people Can 1t be said that Grant has
used official power to perpetuate his place lie
has no place, and no official power has been used
for HIM Without patronage or power, without
telegraph wires running from his house to this
convention, without election contrivances, with
out effort on his part, his name is his country
lips, and he is struck at by the whole Democratic
party because his nomination will be the death
blow to Democratic success. He is struck at by
Others who find ofiense and disqualification in
the very services he has rendered and in the very
experience he has gained. Show me better
man. Name one and | am answered; but do not
point as disqualification To the very facts which
make this man fit beyond all others Let not ex-
perience dlsqnalify or excellence impeach him.
There is no third term In the case, and the pre-
tense will die with the political dog-days which
engendered 1t. Nobody is really worried about a
third term except those hopelessly longing for a
first term and the dupes they have made. Without
bureaus committees officials or emssaries u
manufacture sentiment in his favor, without in
trigue or effort on his part, Grant is the candi-
date whose supporters have never threatened to
bolt unless the convention do as they say He is
Republican who never waivers. He and his
friends stand by the creed and the candidates OF
the Republican party, holding the right of a ma.
jority as the very essence OF their faith, and
meaning to uphold that faith against the common
enemy and the charlatans and guerillas who from
time To time deploy between the lines of forage
on the one side or the other. The Democratic
party is standing protest against progress. it
purpose is spoils, It's hope and very existence a
solid south. 1t is menace to prosperity and or
der. his convention Is master oil supreme OPP
portunity. 1t can name the next president OF the
United States and make sure Of his election and
his peaceful Inauguration. 1t can break the power
which dominates and mildews the south. 1t can
speed the nation in career OF grandeur eclipsinR
all past achievements. We have only to listen
| above the din and look beyond the dust Of an
hour to behold the Republican party advancing to
victory with its greatest marshal al its head.