The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-05-14

ciples which is matter of undisputed
record; third, in the strength of his fol.
lowing among men who were not politi.
clans and who vote from sincere convic-
tions and always for the most trustworthy
candidate. This large class of indepen-
dent voters, we believe, will hold the bal
ance of power this year. The indepen-
dent men in politics have not made them.
selves obnoxious by obtrudipg their ideas
upon the republican party. They have
formulated their views and have placed
them before the public. We are among
those who believe that these views are
worthy of most thoughtful consideration
by the republican party. Shall they have
it2 If Senator Edmunds is nominated,
he will antagonize no element of his
party, and while repelling none he will
bring to his following all the united
strength of the independent vote, which
must be an unusually important factor in
the coming struggle. Senator Edmunds
is all the stronger that he is not pushing
his canvass by the slightest personal effort.
He is not even candidate, and no word
of his has implied that he has sought to
be considered as in the field. The nomi-
nation of such man as Senator Edmunds
would simply be his we'll deserved but
unsought promotion"
BRATTLEBoRo PHOENIX cit is a
healthy sign in our state politics that
there is clearly-manifested disposition
throughout the state not to take too much
for granted with regard to our next gov
ernorship at this early dsy-almost two
months before the state convention meets.
As seen, both in newspaper expression
and in a pronounced sentiment among
leading men N all parts of the state, there
is very decided determination not to
take it for granted-because Lieutenant
governor Pingree's friends have brought
him out as candidate, and because
Hon. George Nichols has withdrawn
from the field and pledged Colonel Pin
gree the support of his followers-that
Colonel Pingree is to be our next COVER
nor. And this sentiment arises from no
feeling of hostility to either Colonel Pin.
gree or Mr.. Nichols. 1t is simply an
earnest protest of the people against the
practice which has come too much to pre-.
vail of having everything fixed for them
long before the conventions, which are
supposed to voice the popular will, meet.
Twice in succession the lieu
tenant-governor has been promoted, and
should Colonel Pingree's promotion fol.
low, the precedent would become one
which we believe would be found to be
very difficult to break over. Presently it
would come to be said that the lieutenant
governor must be made governor, because
this is the rule-because it is an estab.
lished precedent that he should be, and
not to promote him would be to express q
lack of confidence in him and would be
an affront to both him and his friends. Lei
this rule prevail, and of what sort of tim
Der will our governors come to be made
This whole matter is one
which we hope the republicans of Yer
mont, and especially those of Windhan
county, will think and talk of seriously
We hope for the next six weeks it will bt
| the theme of conversation on the farm ir
the shop, wherever men meet to discuss
public affairs, and we hope the outcome
of it will be the election in every town o.
independent, unpledged delegations to &C
to Burlington on the 18th of June. Fol
our own part we should like to see tina
convention rise up to the point of tender
ing to Frederick Billings unanimous
nomination, and try whether he would re
fuse nomination for the governorshiI
coming to him under such circumstances