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

10 his district. He says; "Out my way
the feeling is all toward Mr.. Edmunds. lie
has always been popular with US, AMI never
more 80 than now. In 1880 our part of the
state was decidedly antiGrant, and for Ed.
munds. This year Mr. Edmunds is equally
preferred to Mr. Arthur, and this is so
among the masses OF the people. find
among them decided liking for Senator Ed
munds. They are not accustomed to be
overridden in their political desires, and they
will not be now. II they had been for Grant,
he would have had the delegates, and the
people will have things as they want them
this year"
Colonel Stone of Newburyport and Mr..
Russell of Lawrence arc not prepared with
any opinion as to candidates. except that the
former says he was one of the first TO come
out for Elmunds four years ago, and secs no
reason for not supporting him again; and
Mr.. Russell thinks that Arthur, Blaine, Ed
munds, General Sherman, or Senator Shcr-
mad would make a good President, and
could carry New England, but is disposed to
| wait until affairs in New York are more de-
| veloped before saying who, in his opinion,
! would he the best candidate. "Of the Sen
ators the dduertiser correspondent says
| These gentlemen have not been asked for
| their opinions. Their well known support
| of Mr.. Edmunds aud of lack of intimate re-
lations with the President make their posi-
ton as between the two too well understood
to require cxplanati m
| AS 10 the press, the advocacy of Senator
Edmunds's candidacy by the Boston Herald,
the Boston Transcript, the Springfield Re.
publican and other papers of less note, il
familiar. That old and influential paper the
| Worcester Spy has just come out with no
table editorial, the substance Of which is as
follows.
| Four years ago when Massachusetts Re-
publicans were called upon to do their part
toward selecting the candidate of their party
| for tue Presidency, the four delegates at
large selected by he state convention pre-.
ferred Mr. Edmunds rs the Presidential
candidate, and nearly all of the district
delegates we're OF the same opinion. There
was no mstaking the prevailing Republl-
can opinion of Massachusetts at that time
A decided majority of the party wished
rather than hoped that Mr.. Edmunds might
be nominated, and was distinctly adverse to
the nomination of either Of the two leading
candidates, Grant and Blaine. The Massa-
chusctts delegates went to Chicago to secure
,the nomination Of Mr.. Edmunds, if that
should prove possible, but without any con
| hdent expectation that it could be accom-
| m nd hair 4
| they attended il, TO prevent the nomination
Of either Grant or Blaine and to Obtain, il
possible, candidate more acceptable to the
| Republicans of Massachusetts than either of
them.
MIR. Edmunds was then Massachusetts
| choice, though our people did not expect
| that he would be the choice of the conven-
| ton. The opinion of the Republicans OF
this state has not changed. Their dsnclna-
ton to accept Mr. Blaine as a candidate has
not in the least diminished if it has changed
| at all, it has increased. General Grant is
not now in question. President Arthur is re-
garded not uufavorahly; his denleanor in Of
| nee has won their speCt and approval.
They would doubtless accept him cbccrfully
AS Il candidate and support him cordially,
If the convention should give him the
nomination, but they do not regard him
as the best or strongest candidate.
| There is something captivating in
General Shcrman's candidacy, but it is rather
in his supposed strength due to his military
reputation than to belief in his peculiar quail.
ticatlons for the office. Mr.. Edmunds is
still the choice of the Massachusetts Repub-
leans, and this time they have not only the
wish, but the hope also, that he may be NOM
mated. 1t is needless to speak of his merits,
his Integrity, his tirmness his indie
pendence of character, his experience as
| legislator, his large knowledge of pub
lie business, his freedom from faction
al entanglements, the great position which
he holds by common consent Of men of all
parties, as ont of the wsest and ablcst of our
public men, These are familiar to every
body. They are recognized in the more dis
tant states as well as in New England, and
it is not only in Massachusetts and Vermont
that his candidacy is now regarded with
favor. He will have delegates from the
West and probably from the South. 1t is
too early rs yet to say that his nomination is
probable, but it is, at least not unlikely.