Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-06-20
Look az she situation.

earnest and make ready to give the ticket an
old fashioned majority in September.
A Look at the situation.
II is timely and well-said word which We
copy this week in a short paragraph from
the Burlington Free Press on the attitude to
be observed toward those Republicans who
protest against the nomination of Mr.. Blaine
We firmly believe that the course of Henry
Cabot Lodge, Theodore Roosevelt and OK
Gov. Long in standing by the nominations is
wiser, and in the end will be productive of
more good, than is that of George William
Curtis and the New York and Boston indie
pendents in boiling. But OF the same time
we fully recognize the fact that it is entirely
useless to attempt to belttle and cry down
men like Col. 7. w. Higginson, James Free.
man Clarke, President Eliot of Harvard,
Julius II. Seelye and Henry L. Pierce, who,
believing that an essential political principle
is at stake, have seen fit to come out with
square boiling protest. To call these men
'old women" political dudes," or CON
ceited morRlists," does not change q fact or
answer an argument. Nor will it do so to
cans in Vermont who have refused to smoth-
err their convictions and raise shout for
Blaine and Logan at the outset. II republi-
can principles mean anything they mean a
right to individual opinion and individual e1-
preston, a right TO protest and right to act
under protest if need DO. The half-column
and more of opinion from the Republican
newspapers of the state on the national nom
nations, which we copy this week, is signif-
cant on this point. We have made these ex-
tracts with absolute impartiality, and on the
best showing that can be made four-fifths of
them are in the nature of protests.
The real question for consideration is, the
protests having been made, whether by news.
papers or individuals, what shall be done
with the honest, outspoken opinion which
lies behind them. In our view it is far bet
ter that it should be saved as a vitalizng
force in the Republican party than that
it should be repealed by denunciation or
ridicule. Believing as we do that the Re-
publicans will be successful in this campaign
there seems to US to be no question that Mr.
Curtis and the New York and Boston indie
pendents could have made their protests of
more real service TO their party by remaining
within its ranks and so exerting friendly infu-
ence ON the new administration, than they can
now do, having in advance arrayed themselves
as its enemies. But all the same their opin-
ion and the opinion of the Vermont protest
ers is entitled to decent and respectful treat
ment. To attempt to boot them down will
only mako the hooters ridiculous.
The first thing which every man who is
Republican at heart is bound to consider, is
the fact that Mr.. Blaine's nomination was
made with unquestioned fairness. 1t is true
that, the case was one where the politicians
and the men who are accustomed to take the
laboring oar in our political gatherings had
the courage of their desires and nominated
the man of their choice. But it is also true that
the convention was as thoroughly represen.
tative body as it is possible for such con-
vention to be. Its state and district delegates
were elected in separate conventions on the
worry plan urged by Mr.. Curtis and his CO.
workers. 1t is not charged that in any state
an attempt was made to smother or misrep-
resent the will of the people no gag law or
unit rule was in force and, moreover it is
not even alleged that the outcome of the con-
venton in the nomination of Blaine and Lo-
gan does not correctly represent the sponta-
neous choice of the Republican masses in
the great states that cast very large MAORI
ty of the Republican vote of the country. If
the event proves that a mistake was made,
Vermont Republicans were not responsible
for it, nor do they become responsible by
abiding by the rule that msjorities govern
Next to this will come the consideration, to
which we referred last week, as to how much
of the Vermont feeling against Mr. Blaine is
due to actual knowledge of wrong principle
or wrong action on his part, and how much
of it arises from unfounded prejudice. Less
than four years ago, after witnessing his
course in the Conkling Garfield episode, Yer
mont Republicans would not have given their
votes to Chester A. Arthur for any Office for
which he might have been nominated, and
they were distrustful of him and felt GER
tain humiliation when he finally came TO the
presidential chair. But his wise, prudent
and digniied course in his high office soon
changed all that and made him the cordial
second choice of Vermonters for his own
successor. That such a change will take
place in regard to Mr. Blaine is by no means
improbable. Certain it is that, should he
come to the Office of the Chief Executive OF
the Nation, he would have every possible in.
element to give the country q clean, able
and helpful adminlstrstion-precisel such
an administration, in short, as Garfield had
mapped out for himself, with Mr.. Blaine as
his chief adviser.
Beyond and above all this will come con-
sideration as to what opposition or GOODNESS
toward the Republican party means. No
matter whom the Democratic party may NOM
mate or elect to the presidency, it will still
be the Democratic party that is behind him ;
and aside from any question of political prin.
oiple. II takes q stronger heart than ours 10
look forward with complaoency, or even with
courage, to see the country overrun by a
great horde Of ofice-seekers with a 25-years'
hunger upon them, to see every federal Office
holder in our country towns removed, and
our civil service system turned topsy furry,
because a Democratic administration has
come into power. Aud this is precisely what
we should see follow a Democratic victory.
The time is one when individual opinion
and individual prejudice must be respected
and It will be the greatest mistake possible "a
attempt to read protesters and dissenters out
of the party. But on the other hand the
time is also one when the professors mus
look the situation squArely in the face and
say what is the wise and common-sens thing
to do. Those who sulk in their tents only
make themselves seem mean and humanity,
while they hinder those who fight the battle
A stand must be taken either on one side OF
p the other. We sincerely believe that moth
ing cap pc gained either for political princi
p pie or good government by boiling or By
p nursing ones disappointment. The time fo
organization is near. With this weeks con
ventiOn our state campaign opens. and th,