St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-03-05
Vermont's Platform.
THE EDMUNDs RESOLUTION.


This was offered at the opening of
the convention, and OH motion of
Judge Poland, passed without being
referred to the committee on resou-
tions. 1t is said to have been drawn
by Hon. c.. w. Willard:
The Republicans of Vermont present
to the Republicans of the country
George F. Edmunds as il suitable per
son to be made the candidate of the
Republican party for the next Presi-
dent. We do this not wholly or chiefly
from our state pride in a man whose
public vice has been SO honorable
to the people whom he has represented,
bnt because his pure life, his eminent
ability, his valuable public service and
his unfiinching republicanism have
marked him by higher title than the
accident of birthplace or residence, as
a person fit to be President of the Unit
ed States. Himself a representative
of what the Republican party ought to
hold as its most precious possession, AN
| unwavering fidelity to the principles
upon which tho ParSy WAS built and
has won its great reputation, and of
the intellectual power and moral sense
and courage through which alone it can
preserve what it has so worthily
self declaration of principles and the
| sign of success.
THE OTHER RESOLUTIONS.
l. ResolUed, That the Republican
party, organized in the interest of free
dom and equal rights, has established
its right to live, not only by carrying
the Nation through the most gigantic
civil war in history but by successful
maintenance of the theory that this is
Nation and not mere confederation
of independent sOvereignties by the
payment of nearly eight hundred mil
lions of the public debt; by the ac-
cOmplishment of a return to a specie
basis Of the currency, and by important
retrenchments and economies in the
administration of the Government.
2. ResOlUed, That the developments
of the past four years, in the disclosures
of plots to subvert the choice of the
people in the election of a President by
bribery of electors: in the practical
overthrow of popular government in
seven states of the Union by terrorism
and ballOt-box frauds, and in the re-
cent desperate attempt to steal the
state government of Maine, as part of
a scheme to taint the vote of the state
in the next electoral college, furnish Oc-
casion for just alarm on the part of
friends of Republican form of govern
ment; and that all honest and patriotic
citizens should resist these tendencies
to anarchy, and put the stamp of their
condemnation on such practices, by
their votes at the polls.
i. 3. ResOlUed, That the Republican
party must be sustained, as the only
effective barrier to the success of such
reasonable schemes, and as the eff
cient supporter of the National unity,
credit and honor, until free thought,
, free speech, free press, protection of
the persons, property and civil rights
of the citizens in any part of the Union
in which he sees fit to reside, irrespec-
} tive of color, party or religion, and the
right to cast one free, unmOlested bal
lot at each election, and to have it hon
/ estly counted, shall be established
: throughout the length and breadth OF
: the Union.
: 4. ReSolUed, That while we record
our firm determination that the results
h. of the war for the UuiOn shall not be
! lost, we have no hatred toward oul
e brethren of the South We ask Of
d them only what we hold ourselves
: bound to render-Obedience to law,
: maintenance of order, equality of rights
o and acceptance of the fair rule of the
S majority in elections; and for all who
s honestly accept these fundamental
i principles of Democratic government
b we have only the kindly and fraterna
E, feeling which should animate the cit
g izens of one nation.
t 5. ResOlUed, That we commend tn,
It administration of President Hayes, fo
t its successful resistance to the attempt
!. of the Democratic party in Congress t,
: subvert the independence of the con
d stituent departments of the Govern
ment and to cOerce the president int,
n the signing of bills making importan
changes which he could not approve
d for its support of honest money and
It currency of intrinsic value; and for it
It efforts to purify and keep clean TIN
e public service.
J. 6. Resolued, That we welcome ever
welldirected effort to raise the stan
: dard of official and personal characte
d in the public servants and representa-
tives, and to elevate the civil seryic
> by making the choice and retention {
e. public officials dependent ON honest,
rs capacity, and fidelity. rather than o
J. the caprice or personal favor of Cor