Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-02-22
"IERM0NTs NEXT GOVERNOR

a certain censorship Of Vermont politics, and
has sort of reflex influence upol them-any
one whom it opposes being very sure to be
elected-is exercised over the suggestion of
DR.. George Nichols, for Governor, and of
course sees in his candidacy fresh exempt.
ficatlon of ring influence and boss rule in our
Green Mountain State. The RepuJhcqn'S
craze on this subject is amusing. Whatever
is done in Vermont it thinks is done by
Boss Smith" With two U. S. Senators,
the Congressman from his own district, "A Gov
| ernor and Lieutenant Governor, not one of
whom is so much as accused Of being under
his control, and Legislature which has for
the first time effectively taxed the railroads,
the Repu5ltean still affects to believe that
Governor Smith parcels out all the Offices,
and that nothing happens in Vermont except
as he pulls the wires. The truth is that there
is not a State in New England, if there Is in the
Union, 30 free from ring rule and bossisln as
Vermont. As for this paper, we will
| say once for all-not for intelligent
Vermonters, who need no such assur.
ance-that the Republicans assertion
that the FREE PRESS in its declaration of a
preference for DR.. Nichols, has simply voiced
the decision Of ring" or of "b)ss, us
| absolutely without foundation. We enter
tain high respect for Governor Smith and any
advice from him will always have weight
with us. We trust the time will never come
when man as iar-seeing and sagacous as
he, at the head of great public interest, in
timatey connected with the material welfare
of our commonwealth, will not have large
influence in Its affairs. But in this case. rs
1t happens, Governor Smith has favored Us
with no advice. or indication, direct or indi-
rect. The FREE Press favored Mr. Billings.
till he withdrew his name, not because Gov
ernor Smith or any ring desired hun ior
Governor. 1t now favors DIR. Nichols, not
because Governor Smith or any ring, if there
be any, desires him, but because he will
make II good governor. We are almos,
ashamed to make a declaration which ou.ht
to be SO needless, and for our constant read.
ers Is needless.
The case is as transparent and simple, so far
as this paper is c)ncerned,a AS it appears to be.
DR.. Nicholss position and standing in the
State has been such as to make it inevitable
| that he should he considered in any open
| canvass for a candidate. He could have
been Governor before this if he had cared to
| crowd himself forward. And he has espe-
cial qualifications in his long experience as
well as personal merits, to serve the State
TAI hfully, honestly and capably. The Re
put tclns suggestion that 'as Secretary of
S ate he has been very useful to Boss Smith
for many ycars"-meaning that in his office
he has served Gov. Smith instead of ,he
public-is, as every well Informed Vermont.
er knows, absolutely false. The Secretary
of S ate-especlally one who has held the
| the State business as Secretary NchoIs-is
| in position to exercise great intlue &C on
| legislation. With what job or uuwor nv
| scheme at Montpelier, for the last twenty
years, has Dr., Nicholss name been con-
| nected' What man about the State House
| has cleaner record? On the other
hand, how many good laws, - as,
Tor one, our present excellent tax law
have had his valuable help, and how many
unwise and unworthy measures have largely
| owed their defeat to his unostentatiJ us
but effective opposition HIS inf uencc
so far as we are aware, and we have watched
his course closely, has always been thrown
on the side of education, religion, good order
temperance, economy and strict accountable.
ity in public affairs. In these ways and As
the wise counsellor of many county and
town officials, he has been a very valuable
pubic servant, more valuable than MANY ar,.
aware OF, though the worth of his service has
been recognized by dozen or more re.elec-
lions. 1t ls now, we doubt not to be more
fully recognized by his selection as the can
date OF his party aud his conse-
quert elevation to the chief executive Office
In our commonwealth. He is not the greatest
man In Vermont; but he is very good man
proved honest, capable and faithful IN
public and in private life And he will
make, If chosen, an honest, capa-
bic, dlgnided ard popular Governor.
For these reasons, and for these alone,
Impossible as it will be to convince can.
tious and suspicious souls, who are always
diVining some deep plot, of some invisible
and otherwise undiscoverable "ring,n as the
cause OF everything that happens in politics,
oil the iact-Ihe FREE Press fayors his nom.
lnalion. We could as cheerfully supper,
!, Colonel Iingree, who is one of Vermont's
worthiest citizens, if 1t were possible to re.
tain DR.. Nichols in his present office. But
he has, as we understand, definitely decided
, 10 retire from that-a matter Of course
: wholly within his own discretion to deter
mine. And in the belief that his nomination
! Will be noIong postponement of Col. Pingre e.,
advancement, 1t seems tous, as we have said
| that II the one-term rule must prevail, tht
State Convention cannot, under all the cir
cumstances, do better than to place III,
name of DR.. Nichols at the head OF Tn,
/ ticket.
lion, Herkimer County, N. Y, has tn,
honor OF organizing the first Republican clut
10 that State for the Presidential campaign
OF 1884 The season is very forward a
lion. 'N q