The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-04-30


birthday. Mr.. Theodore Roosevelt stands
upon the same ground. He opposes the
nomination of either Arthur or Blaine,
and is disposed to regard Edmunds as
the strongest candidate the republicans
can name. President Andrew d. White
is republican to whose good judgment
and outspoken preference for honest poll
tics the republicans of the state may i'm
plicitly trust to guide him Alright at
Chicago. President White may be set
down as a republican who will strive
earnestly to avert the necessity and the
occasion for another lesson such as New
York gave the Arthur bosses in 1882.
Senator Gilbert's position and preferences
are less well known to republicans outside
of st. Lawrence county, but by those who
know his sentiments he is set down with.
out qualification as an Edmunds man."
New YORK HERALD: "Mr. Blaine
cannot be nominated at Chicago. That
much seems to us certain. He could not
carry either New York or Ohio in the
election, and the republicans know that
they cannot afford to lose those two states,
or, in fact, either of them. But If this is
true, or probable enough to be 80 posi-
lively stated, how comes it, then, that Mr..
Blaine, reputed to be shrewd politician,
does not see this and withdraw from
contest in which he would receive his
third defeat for nomination ? We have
no doubt Mr.. Blaine sees the situation
precisely as we have stated it. He has all
along very prudently given out that he is
not candidate, and thus provided for a
safe retreat; but many indications COM
bine to show that he is collecting the del
egates who are getting drummed together
under his banner, to use them to secure
the nomination of candidate who shall
thus be under the greatest obligations to
him, and whose character he will take
care shall be weak enough. to leave Mr..
Blaine the master of his administration,
as he made himself the master of the too
confiding and unsuspicious Garfield"
SPRINGFIELD REPUBLICAN: "In the
eighteen years of his service in the
United States senate, Mr.. Edmunds has
given a large amount of attention to the
administrative needs and machinery of
the government. No man probably has
watched more closely the operation of the
American government as great admins
trative machine. He introduced in the
senate the Jenckes civil.service reform
bill of 1871, and in speech in its favor
he stated then the fundamental ground of
the reform legislation which has since
been adopted. He said The very theory
of civil-service reform is invested in the
fact that it is to withdraw from executive
or congressional patronage-and the pat
ronage is much more largely congressional
than it is executive-the Offices of the
government. Il should hope that,
wherever there is public duty to be per-
formed which does not require political
administration, great political principle,
or political policy, but only requires the
fidelity of the citizen best known for his
virtue and his education aud his capacity
to ill that trust, we might, as in the early
days of the republic, select him without
asking him whether he believes in this or
that particular policy Thus early did he
apprehend and succinctly state the truth
that the basis of introduction to the civil.
service should be an educational test of
fitness and not personal or political favor"
AT a meeting of the American Geo
graphical Society in New York, a few
days ago, General James G. Wilson, in
the course of lecture on Memorials and
Footprints of Columbus" read letter
from the duke de Veragua, lineal de.
scendant of the explorer, in which he
stated that the Spanish celebration of
the uater.centenary of the discovery of
America in 1892 is to be grand affair,
and that the first place among the nations
invited to join in the ceremonies is to be
given to the United States. The duke
expressed his hope that should this repub-
lie decide upon commemoration Gin the
great metropolis of the new world" it will
be 80 timed as not to conflict with the
programme of the king of Spain, and
consequently that no definite arrangement
be made until full intelligence of the
Spanish plans is received. There are
already preparations for the New York
commemoration. Liberal subscriptions
are made for statue of Columbus, to be
placed in Central Park. In this respect it
is interesting to learn from the duke de
Veragua that he regards as the most au-
thentic portrait of his great ancestor one
in the national library of Spain at Madrid,
recently " restored" and the best statue one
on the Columbus monument in that city.
A CURIOUS insight into the life of
Madrid, with its strange contrasts of
solemnity and gayety, during the recent
celebration of Holy Week, is given by
correspondent of the Paris Figaro. From
Wednesday morning till Saturday after
noon no vehicles were to be seen in the
streets, not horse or an ass was visible;
even the cavalry sentinels in front of the