Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-09-08
Montpelier In the Canvass.

A canvass of unprecedented vigor and ag
gressiveness has just closed. As the capita
of the state, Montpelier might reasonably bt
expected to be the center Of political inAu
ence, and the tone and tendency of the
campaign would naturally be judged out
side the state, as well as within its borders
by the spirit and energy and ability dis
played in its conduct by the political agen.
Giles gathered here. In enumerating the
forces which have emanated from Montpelier
and which have exercised most decisive
influence, extending in its scope far beyond
the state campaign, was the speech of Hon.
b. +. Fifield delivered in this village on the
evening Of Aug. 8. This speech was published
in full in the WATcHMAN of August 18th.
Its immense power for good, and the re-
markable character of its facts and conclu-
sions were instantly recognized, and an edi.
ton of five thousand copies was printed by
the direction of the state commtte. It took
| like wildfire and the demand for more became
80 imperative that the entire speech was reset
and five thousand additional copies printed
and distributed. Who shall say that the
startling array of facts so succinctly pre-
sented in this speech, 10 comprehensive in
their scope as to put girdle round the
whole question at issue in this campaign
and place its essential bearings clearly
within the grasp of the humblest hearer or
reader, has not been the potential factor
which has produced this grand political up
tional contest itself has been conceded to
hinge by the orators of both parties We
place this speech first and chief among
the ablest efforts which have been made
in this state during this campaign. Be
sides this grand effort, Montpelier has sent
out busy corps of workers through every
precinct of Washington county, and some
to the state at large, and in the course of
fifty speeches they have left their footprints
on every stump, either where the faith of the
wagering needed confirmation, or where po-
litical sinner was to be warned TO flee from
the wrath to come. These all have done
yeoman service. The Republican clubs in
this village, too, have been powerful agen-
cies for the dissemination of the political
gospel. Each member has been constituted
q committee of one to labor with his fellow
man of doubtful political faith. This SER
vice has not been confined to men of posi-
ton or gentlemen Of leisure, but the working
men, the Boys in Blue, the young men have
engaged with Jealous and intelligent energy
in the labor. Their club rooms have been
political reading rooms, and sources from
whence vital information has been dissent
mated. Their discussions have gone on, not
on the low plane of pot-house politics, but
in that free interchange of views expressed
in the homely phrase comparing notes."
where many sharp wit has cracked the
nut of truth and taken out the kernel in a
rude but effective way that more practiced
debater might envy.
Early in the campaign the WArcHMAN
" hung out its banner on the outer WALL"
and nailed it there. Since then we have la
bored to maintain the ascendency of that
banner, and if we have not done much good
for the cause the names of Garfield and Ar
thur represent, we trust it has received no
wounds at our hands. The columns of our
regular edition have been crowded weekly
with the reports of meetings, speeches and
other campaign matter, and we have re.
peatedly issued supplemental edition filed |
with solid meat, a gratuity to our subscrib-
ers and the cause We have been pleased |
to see our general editorial matter apprecia- |
lively copied by the state press, and our va
rious articles on state expenses have been
not only authoritatively quoted by the press
and on the stump, but the state committee
issued the series in broadside form, and scat
tered twenty-five thousand copies through
out the state.
The town and county committees, through |
their chairmen and each individual men,
Der, have worked with tireless energy in Sc.
curing speakers and arranging for the series
Of effective rallies which have been held
throughout the county, and which so bril-
iantly signalized the close of the campaign
in this village. Altogether, we claim for
Montpelier the exercise of decisive infu.
ence in this canvass through services which
have been gladly, unreservedly and CALAMITY