The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-05-06

there is thus far-to Cleveand's credit be it
said, and God help us If anything happen to
him-evidence of good purpose and efficient
work in some lines. II is a better admins
traton than was expected of the democratic
party and therein lies the reason of much of
the praise 1t has been getting. How much
longer it will receive as much remains to be
seen. IL Is fortunate in being subjected to
a comparison with democratic possibilities
and precedents. Had the republican party
remained i'm power, it would have gained no
credit by the retention of Pearson, because
his retention would have been matter of
course There Is always more Joy over
signs of reformation in one black sheep than
in the unbroken virtue of ninety and nine
white ones. There could be no finer tribute
to the republican party and its twenty-four
years Of administration than the general re-
lief and satisfaction expressed because the
new democratic government goes " slow " in
departing from the republican pattern
1t is, OF course, too soon TO estimate results
These are now only the careful preliminary
outfeelers of the new regime. When all is
well in hand, especially when congress shall
meet, then vital questions of public policy
will be up and then the democratic admins
tration and its republican opposition will try
the issue before the country. / wish that
some of our leaders might have indicated,
or may yet indicate, the high ground which
that opposition should take. The time
since the war has been a time of unexampled
material development. In that constructive
work the republican party, being charged
with the government, has taken the lead.
In the popular mind it has become identi-
fed with the achievements and, therefore,
with the interests Of capital the popular
mind sometimes forgetting that only in that
way was it possible to open our public do
main to the poor man seeking a home, to
belt our continent with rails and cheaper
the transportation of food, to erect our mills
and employ labor, and to do the other enter
prises which have given industry i'm this
country its paradise. By change of adj
mnistration the republican party yields to
its competitor this control of the great ma
terial interests of the country. Not in the
spirit of the demagogue, but in the spirit of
cooperation, yea, in its early anti-slavery
spirit of sympathy with men as fellow-be-
ings equal in all their rights, let the repub-
lican party improve its opportunity to renew
its alliance with the masses and to recall
their allegiance to its standard. Let our
leaders lead a high-minded, resoute, search
ing and eXacting opposition, helping
whatever is good for the country whence
| sOever 1t comes and resisting whatever is
against the public welfare faithful to our
original principles of human rights and
! loyal to honest government. There will be
enough to do. The thin edge of the demo-
cratic wedge may seem harmless and even
shine a little, but it is the butt end that
tears Let us have an intelligent and sound
| opposition, and you may then be assured
| to say " am a republican," there will be
no straighter way to the confidence of the
masses and the enthusiasm of young men
than under the republican banner; and
| there will be no surer earnest of victory
| than that of the republican party.