The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-05-21

to be as much genuine enthusiasm for |
Edmunds in the thoroughly western state
of Minnesota as in Massachusetts,, and he
is the second choice of the whole Blaine
delegation from Nevada, and of at least
four of Oregon's six delegates"
New York EVENING PosT "Tweed
said on a certain memorable occasion,
when city election had gone overwhelm-
ingly against him There are some cleo
lions in which money is of no account
whatever There was such an election
in this state in 1882, and one very much
like it again in 1883. In the first there
was patronage and influence and money
on the republican side, but majority of
10000 on the democratic. In the sec
ond there was no money on the republican
side, no patronage, no influence, and abso-
lutely no campaign, yet the democratic
majority of the previous year almost
totally disappeared, because the republi
can ticket was 80 clean that it almost
elected itself. A clean ticket this year
will elect itself but there is no power of
any kind which will be equal to the task
of electing an unclean ticket no matter
what may be its popularity"
In an appreciative article on the propo-
sal to place General Grant upon the army
retired list, the New York Times says:
The promotion which some others sought
in Washington he won in the presence of
the enemy, and no honor was ever ten
dered him which he did not amply deserve
and richly repay. Whatever may be his
relative rank in military history-and
competent critics abroad place it even
higher than bis own countrymen do-and
whatever may be invented or imagined as
to how the country might have been other
wise saved, the plain fact is that it was
saved by him, and that, humanity speak.
ing, this great people owes its existence,
with its vast achievements and its wonder
full possibilities as a united nation, to him
more than to any other one man. Cir
cumstances in which every honest man
will give him his hearty sympathy have
involved him in misfortune, and the coun-
try will respond with profound approval
to the action of congress in extending to
him an honorable and secure position in
the army which owes to him so much of
its glory. This action, we are confident,
will be taken with no less cordial consent
by the brave men who fought against him
than by the representatives of those for
and with whom he fought"
New YORK TRIBUNE: "For what is
this demand for dark horse In the
last analysis it is premium upon incom-
potency. 1t cannot but result in dis
couraging laudable ambition for the
honorable distinction in public service
which logically should attend good and
faithful service. 1t enforces with VEN
geance the doctrine that the last shall be
first. 1t calls for unique merit system
under which the men who do nothing
shall get the prizes and the men who do
everything the blanks. Applied in the
military service during the late war the
dark horse policy would have sent Grant
and Sherman to the rear and given the
command to soldiers who either had never
smelt gunpowder or were distinguished
chiefly for their inability to win battles.
Obviously it would work similar disaster
if applied to the world of business. To
state the proposition is to expose its
conspicuous injustice. But its injustice
is not its worst feature. Let it come to
be understood as the law of American
politics that when president is to be
chosen the leaders who have commended
themselves to their party and the country
must stand aside and make room fol
second-rate or unknown men, and g
serious blow will have been struck at our
system of popular government. No coun
Try can permanently thrive, that goe;
about selecting its chief magistrate OIL
the theory of the survival of the unfittest.