St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-12-04

south the negro will steadily come to
his own. ....-..
1t is, however, the fate of the party,
almost as much as the fate of the negro
or of the nation, that concerns many
good republicans. The party has met
a mortifying defeat Is this the begin
ming of its decline and fall A kind of
sacredness attaches to the orgaDiza-
ton. 1t is Identified with so much
that is honorable and glorious in the
history of the nation that the thought
of its extinction is intolerable; and the
party is one that causes them great
anxiety. ~.
The question what is to become of
the republican party is, nevertheless,
one that is of considerable interest to
many men in this country who did not,
mt the late election, vote for its candi-
dates. They are men who have hither-
to acted, generally, with the party;
because its policy has, in the main,
commended itself to their Judgment,
and its candidates to their confidence.
1t is not doubted that many thousands
of these men are scattered throughout
the country. Governor Cleveland re-
ceived the votes of some of them, Mr..
st. John of more, but the great majori-
ty of them desire to affiliate neither
with the democrats nor with the pro-
libitionists. VIII they return to the
republican ranks? 1t is not easy to
answer. Much will depend on the
course taken by the republican organs
and managers. 1t seems to be the
present policy to force them ont of the
party. The most violent language is
continually applied to them. They
are denounced, on every hand, as
cranks, fanatics, Pharisees and sore-
heads-the vocabulary of vituperation
pitiful amusement in all this for phil
osophic on-looker; but the question
naturally arises in his mind whether it
is good policy just how much these
wrathy orgauists aud orators expect to
gain by itP The class of persons at
whom these missiles are hurled are not
likely to be hurt by them or badly
scared. The great majority of them
are persons who have no axes to grind
and no tavors to ask of the politicians.
A letter lies before me from Il well-be-
loved and greatly honored Clergyman
of Massachusetts, in which he says: ~
voted for st. John so did eight of the
club :" and he gives me their names.
1t is club of fifteen ministers, in the
heart of Massachusetts; and it is prob
able that none of the eight ever before
voted any other than the republican
ticket ut presidential election. Out
of another ministerial club of seven
teen of the ablest and best clergymen of
New York city, fifteen refused to vote
for the republican candidate. These
gentlemen, who are not solitary, are
neither cranks nor sore heads. In vOt-
| ing as they did they exercised their
best Judgment, and followed their con-
sciences. 1t may be iudicious to con-
time the abuse which has been heaped
upon such men throughout the cam
paign to insist that every man whO
refused to vote for Mr.. Blaine was
either Il fool or IA Pharisee. This is a
matter for the ''loyan republicans
| themselves to decide. The present
funeral is wholly under their direction,
and they must manage it to suit them
selves. To one who is not a politician,
and who has never learned the politi-
clans ways Of getting people to unite
and work together. it would appear
! that the exercise of IL little liberation
toward the voters who decline to sup
port Il candidate to them objectionable
might be good policy New York In
dependent.