Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-09-20
After the Fair,

Sundry of our editorial brethren have had
their little thrusts at the WATCHMAN for
the part it bore in the late congressional
campaign in the second district We feel
under obligation to the amiable dat sters,
especially for the currency they have given
to the WATcHMAN's exposure of the ami
mus which prevailed and the agencies
which dominated in the canvass previous
to the convention, and which, it has turned
out, were extremely active afterwards, and
s--I;--'lo-is L.ar election day.
There were developments in the nature
and character of the opposition to Judge
Poland's nomination which came sharply
under our observation, developments of the
practices and influences which have too
long prevailed in the selection of candidates
for important offices in this state, and which
are subversive of the exercise of independ.
ent judgment and free choice by the people.
The WATcHMAN believes it is time for
these influences to GO, in Vermont as
well as New York and Pennsylvania,
and, as in the canvass preceding
tuo hoihindtiou III Ine SECOND ulStrlct,
they Extensively cropped out and were
busily employed to thwart the dictates of
common sense and the ambition of the peo-
pie for the best attainable representation
in congress, the WArcHMAN drew pop.
ular attention TO them quite sharply
while they were fresh in the popular reco-
lection. 1t was unsparing as it was DELHI
crate in its Characterization of some of the
agents employed and the methods used to
hoodwink the people and induce them to
make nomination which did not commend
itself to the unbiased good judgment OF
the disinterested voters of the second dis
trict or of the state at large. Judge Po-
lands nomination was the work of men dis
satisfied with the past and determined in
their purpose TO have change for the bet
ter in the future. The WATERMAN made
no personal warfare upon General Grout,
and it has been very far from its purpose
to cast any reflections upon the sincere and
honorable gentlemen who may have sup
ported him, however much it may have
suited the mischievous purpose of certain
newspaper scribbeIs and plotting malcon-
tents to misdirect the WATcnMAY's words
and misconstrue its purpose, Nor have we
any self-reproact es as TO any influence our
criticisms may have had in suggesting the
conspiracy which was formed to defeat
Judge Poland's election. 1t may serve the
ends of personal pique to take this super
fetal view of things, but the spirit and the
purpose of revolt, if Judge Poland was NOM
mated, existed from the beginning. They
sprang from other causes than passing
newspaper article. No one believes that
the friends of Judge Poland would have
bolted General CIRCUITS nomination and yet
II newspaper abuse and offensive personal
attacks could have been procuring cause,
his friends would have had no end of iusti-
tcation for such course of action as it is
now attempted to excuse in his enemies and
on such fiimsy pretexts to cover final dis
graceful discontinue.
Furthermore, the WATCHMAN's structures
had only passing application to the con.
gressional canvass. They related as well
to the selection of future candidates for
high official position, and with this view of
the matter their significance is chiefly con-
cerned. We have abundant and gratifying
evidence of having struck an exceed.
ingly sympathetic chord in the popular
heart, and, as we left the matter after the
convention for more important present
duties, 80 we leave it now till time or cir.
cumstances demand its revival.