Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-01-18
Che essex County 1frald.
EsLASn POND. IAN. Is. 1854.
TIE PRESIDENCY.

Tor the Presidency, HOW swiftly
time passes! How much history and
ioy and sadness have been crowded
into the less than four years that
have elapsed since Garfield was NOM
mated and elected But the course
of time flows steadily forward and
waits for nothing. The Republican
National Committee have met and
fixed a time and place for holding
the next National Convention. This
reminds everybody that the Presi-
dental campaign is approaching;
vet it is a fact that the campaign
for the nomination has not yet open
cd. This is very different from what
it was four years or eight years ago.
-Four years ago at this time there
were thrvo prominent candidates IN
the field, viz: Grant, Blaine, and
Sherman, and their respective ad-
herentS were hard at work contend
ing with each other Eight years
ago the candidates were Morton,
Blaine, and Bristow. 1t is true that
neither was successful, and expert
ence has demonstrated that candi-
dates who make an active campaign
for the nomination rarely if ever
succeed. Antagonisms are created
that usually open the way for some
one that had not been in the con-
test. This was what led to the nomi-
nation of Hayes in 1876, and Gar
field in 1880. Very likely this is
the reason why there is now no one
prominently in the field. 1t is GER
tainly true that the Republican
party is at sea as to candidates.
Names are sometimes mentioned,
but there is no disposition to push
anybody, and there is no candidate
at the front pushing his own claims.
There are aspirants, no doubt, but
they are keeping still.
1t is we'll that it is so. If dele
gates are permitted to go to the
Convention unpledged and without
commitment, they will be more like
ly to make wise choice, and never
in the history of the Republican
party was such choice more import
amt than on this occasion. While
the Republican party as a whole is
in good condition for the contest,
no one is bold enough to claim that
the nomination will be equivalent
to an election; nor to claim that the
result will largely depend upon the
action of the Convention. 1t will
require the united strength of the
Republican States to elect; and to
secure an election, the candidate
must deserve success. We do not
suppose it will be possible to nomi-
nate candidate who would be the
first choice of everybody, but with
a good Convention and a wise choice
fairly made, there would be gener-
al acquiescence in the result AT the
present time the minds of the Re-
publicans were never more free from
preconceived opinions, or prefer
ences or prejudices. Who is the
ablest man for the country and the
party? This is the prevailing in
quiry. Let such man be chosen,
and he will be unitedly and heartily
supported. That person might not
be the first choice of everybody, but
he would be either the first or Sec
ond choice, and would be elected.
The Republican party has nc
strength to waste upon preliminar.
les. And it is cheering to notice
that no strength is being wasted
If this spirit shall continue to the
end, the Convention will he in bet
ter condition to make wise choice
and satisfy the party than either o.
those that preceded.
The Importance, therefore, of hav
ing good Convention becomes APP
parent. The responsibility for thi
must rest with the districts tina
elect the delegates. These SHOULD
be strong men, who Will have tn
welfare of the party prominent il
their minds, rather than the promo
tion of any particular man. Their
is no man near so great as the party
and there is no man who has near S
great claim upon the party as tn
welfare of the party itself This
a point that should not be forgotten
There should be no obstacle throw
this year in the way of the success
of the Republican party. 1t is e'
sential in the interest Of the countr
that it should succeed, and it wi
succeed if the Convention soon t