Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-05-16

The RreatuemNAal nutloohs
The progress Of the presidential campaign
brings more and more clearly to view the fact
that victory leans toward the Republican
standard. The tone Of party feeling as man
ifested among Republicans in all sections Of
the country is one Of hope and confidence,
while the Democrats are detected and sullen.
Nor have we to look far for the causes
which have brought about this state Of feel
ing. The sources Of the Republican strength
are two.fold. On the one hand the country
is prospecting under one Of the wisest and best
administrations which It ever experienced, at
whose behest rascals are ferreted out and
handed over to the tender mercies Of the law,
genuine and far preaching reforms are institut-
ed abuses are corrected public expenditures
are cut down, national obligations are met,
the national honor is upheld and the indus
tries Of the people are protected and the
masses know and feel that the party which
placed this administration in power and sus-
tains it is still fit to be trusted-that it is still
the party of progress and continues to rep
resent the brains the honor the intelligence
and the loyalty Of the country.
On the other hand, what is the condition Of
the Democratic party, and what does its sue
cess promise 1t isa house divided against
itself. It is a mere party Of opposition, with
out intelligent leadership, without settled
policy, without unity OF ideas or purposes,
save the purpose to acquire power. The
course pursued by the present Democratic
House Of Representatives has also helped the
Republicans, by demonstrating anew the
weakness of the Democracy. In session
now lasting more than five months, the Dem
ocratic majority have failed to unite upon
much less TO carry, single measure of i'm
portauce and when finally brought to vote
upon bill embodying what is claimed as one
Of the cardinal principles Of the party, it dis
solved anew into the discordant elements Of
which it is composed. The spectacle which
the Democratic party everywhere presents is
i'll calculated to awaken the enthusiasm Of its
followers or the confidence Of the people.
But though the Republican party has at no
time in recent years had a better chance Of
winning in the presidential race, its success is
by no means assured. 1t can win only by
placing in nomination men who represent its
better element-men who are personally above
reproach, and whose past records are such as
proclaim them to be in sympathy with the
progressive and reformatory demands Of the
people. The independent element in our pol
itics was never so widespread and powerful as
it is to day, and the party which fails to rec
ognize and conciiate this element invites de-
feat. Particularly is this true with regard to
the doubtful states, like New York-which,
with its large electoral vote, promises, as here
| tofore, to form the chief battle ground in the
coming contest The strength OF the indie
pendent element in that state is shown by the
fact that the reform spirit has taken posses
sion of the Legislature and TO great degree
| controls its action. Reluctant politicians have
/ been forced to admit that it is useless to re
sist it, II displayed power in the recen
convention at Utica which filled the party
| hacks with dismay. The leaders and active
opponents of this movement are resolute anC
| independent men, but their strength is due
| to a popular feeling behind them on which
they can confidently rely The voters whom
they represent are numerous enough to de
eide the election in that state and they can
not by any argument, appeal or inducemen
be made to support a nomination which eth
er means nothing for reform or means dis
courRgement for tine cause There is con
siderable element Of the same kind in all tn
eastern states, and it is making its way through
the North. The great opportunity of the Re
publican party lies in winning the support o
this reform and independent element. Will
that support, success is practically assured
Without it, success is not merely uncertain, j
is altogether improbable and nothing but tn
most egregious laundering on the part of tn
Democratic party will make it possible. Thi
aspect Of the situation ought to be thorough.
impressed upon the minds OF the delegate
who are to gather at Chicago next month
Some of them may not like 10 recognize it
but il is a stubborn fact which must be takel
into their calculations if they propose to &C
with q view to party success. Neither Of tn
two men who will 60 into the convention witt
the largest number Of delegates favorable +
their nomination can bring to the party tn
support OF this element which Is so essentia
to success. To nominate either Blaine or Ar
thur is to invite defeat because, while III
honor and integrity Of the former, as man
is widely distrusted, and he rests his claims t
party support upon the brilliancy rather tina
the wisdom of his leadership, the acknowl
edged faultlessness and moderation of Pres
dent Arthurs course during the nearly thre
years that he has occupied the chair made We
cant by the death of Garfield has not suffice
to heal the discussions of the party in his ow
state or give him the strength necessary t
render his candidacy free from party peril.
These facts are plain and incontrovertib!t
and We confidently believe, despite the larg
talk at present INDUCED in by the particula
friends Of these two candidates, that ere tn
die be cast at Chicago considerations of avail
ability will compel their abandonment an
the substitution Of leader possessing the e
ements of strength which in them are lAcl
ing-Edmunds being in our opinion tn
strongest.