Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-05-25
Amid the Breakers.


dumb" The loud noises Of the wrathful
waters Of superficial political warfare has
pealed upon the ear of the nation till the
prayer for peace ascends from every patriotic
heart. The present commotion may be only
the chickering's of the shallow waters of in
tensepolitical partisanship, but calmer heads
and clearer eyes seeing beyond the conflicts
of the passing moment feel grave apprehen-
sions that II greater caution and prudence
be not observed in the future the waters of
the great political deep itself may not long
remain undisturbed. This uproar and this
anxious forecasting of events proceed from
the same cause.-the unaccountable course
of the president in his nominations of GER
tain conspicuous officials. Certain news
papers which year ago were the ardent adj
vocates Of prominent presidential aspirant's
nomination at Chicago, with significant har-
mony, are pouring out their walls of wrath
upon Mr.. Conkling's head as the responsible
author of all this political unpleasantness
The New York ex-senator's offenses are only
too apparent. 1t requires no great acuteness
to discern his weakness, and little courage to
condemn him. 1t is clear enough that even
his great services to the republican party
should not shield him when he elevates his
personal ambitions above the general well
fare. IL he has been wantonly assailed, a
stout and dignifed and honorable resistance
by legitimate methods and on high and
patriotic grounds would have added to his
prestige even in defeat. This unfortunate
schsm will not be healed or its disastrous
consequences averted by blind condemna-
tion of Mr.. Conkling and indiscriminating
justification or approval OF the presidents
action. Mr.. Conkling's course is indefen-
sible, but the presidents is not above criti-
cism. High expectations of government
of the people by the people and for the
people" were raised by Mr.. Garfeld's
candidacy and election. No man in these |
later days has been elected to the presidency |
under circumstances that left him more free |
to choose and pursue strictly independent |
course. Mr.. Hayes, through much tribula-
ton, had made it plain that in a contest be-
tween the president on the one hand and the |
politicians and spoilsmen on the other, the
people would rally with a magnetic impulse
to the side of the president, and that the
politicians must either move along with the
popular current or be overborne by it. He
had no occasion to seek to conciliate Mr..
Conkling or Mr.. Blaine, or any other faction,
in making his appointments. The people
who elected him expected that he would
choose the best men without regard to any
political faction. The first disappointment
to conservative and independent republicans
was the choice of Mr.. Blaine for secretary OF
state. Mr.. Hayes was under as great obli-
cation to call either Mr.. Blaine or Mr.. Bris-
tow into his cabinet. He had the good sense
to let them both alone. The choice of Mr..
Blaine, especially, was unfortunate and I'M
accountable. He is magazine of personal
and political animosities and intrigues his
arbitrary and exclusive management had
forced into political retirement some of the
ablest and purest men in Maine, and lost
the control of state once as strongly re-
publican as Vermont. lie has twice been
rejected by republicans of the nation as an
unfit man to be their presidential candidate,
and he was outgeneraled and beaten in the
last state election. Iispresence in the cabinet
foreboded mischief, and to him is directly
traceable the initiatory acts which have
brought on this lamentable conflict but
to the president belongs the responsible
ity. great mistake was made in de.
parting from the solid ground which Mr..
Hayes had cleared up and rendered tenable.
There was no occasion to step again upon
the dangerous quicksands of official patron
age IL would he idle to attempt to defend
the administration in some of its important
either on the ground of Justice
or consistency. Thousands of republicans
who labored and voted for Mr.. Garfield in the
interest OF good government will take dis !
passionate view of this controversy. Their
loyalty to the administration is unimpeach- q
able but their first allegiance is to the cardi- t
nal principles of republicanism which seem v
to have been equally disregarded by each
party to the contest. They would stand
hrm as a rock for the president in Just t
cause and would have him return at once to ,
hat high ground Of official action where his v
motives or his deeds cannot be successfully Z
Questioned. "Thrice is he armed who hath d
lis quarrel just" and in this triple armor a
'very true republican would see the presi. $
lent clad. n