Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-06-13

An attempt to disguise the fact that the
Chicago nominations were great surprise
and disappointment to the people of this state
would be useless A general impression had
prevailed that, II the Edmunds men we're un-
able to retain the balance Of power and final
ly secure the nomination OF their favorite, a
OZARK horse" In the person of Lincoln, Haw
ley or Gresham, would be brought into the
field and win the race and this action SEEM
ed probable until the announcement Of the
second ballot, when it appeared that a disin-
tegration of the anti Blaine elements was 60
ing on Blaine's strength being increased by
drawing eight votes from Edmunds, three
from Logan, and two each from Arthur and
sherman-giving him $40 against 1874 cast
for him on the first ballot On the third bal
lot he received further accession Of twenty
five votes, most Of which came from the Ed
munds and Logan men. On the fourth ballot
nearly the entire Logan force, sixty-soven
Arthur and twenty eight Edmunds men went
over TO Blaine, raising his vote to 541, which
was one hundred and thirty more than a ma
jority of the votes in the convention. Gen.
John A. Logan was subsequently nominated
for Vice President by reclamation.
Since the formation OF the party no con-
vention has been the centre of such high
hopes and expectations as the one just held.
The issues between the two great parties are
not as distinct as they formerly were the
lines are not now very sharply Defined hence
the better element among the Republicans
earnestly desired the nomination of men of
the purest character and of the highest states
msnship, believing as it did that the campaign
would be more largely personal one between
opposing candidates than had been the case
at any former election. This was necessary
in order to unite all factions, and that young
men who have never become identified with
either party, and men who for two years past
have been hating between two opinions, might
be attracted, by the conspicuous abilities and
worth of the candidates, to the party which
saved the nation from treason and slavery
and which has given long line of illustrious
men to the country.
The great occasion came and has passed,
and the Republicans of Vermont mourn for
what might have been. Edmunds and Lin
coin had been prominently named as candi
dates for months before the convention. The
first was peerless in statesmanship and blame
less in his public and private life; the latter
had highly commended himself to the people
by his efficient though short public service,
and by the honesty and kindness of his ma
ture. Besides, the sentiment that attaches to
the name he bears would alone have drawn to
him large support. The wisdom of nomi-
mating these men was so apparent that way
faring delegates, however unwise, need not
have erred. But, carried away by an enthu-
siasm that was in part spontaneous and in
part manufactured for the occasion, instead
of acting under the guidance of sober iudg-
ment, the convention passed by these cand-
dates and other unexceptionRble and available
ones, and nominated Blaine and Logan. 1t
seemed to forget that tho convention did not
elect, and that the Democrats are likely a
month later to nominate a strong ticket when
four months of a heated campaign will fol-
low in which each candidates record will be
searched and every questionable act heralded
to the country, and at the end of that time
the people will express their approval or dis
approval of the respective tickets at the polls
All Republicans recognize the distinguished
abilities of the men placed in nomination and
the great services they have performed for
the party but the best men were demanded
of the convention, and they have not been
given.
We expect to support the ticket, but we
shall do so feeling that it might and ought to
have been a better one-one entirely unob.
jectionable to all Republicans everywhere. A
large majority of the convention was for Mr..
Blaine. In this country majorites govern,
and loyal people must accept the situation.