The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-03-21
They are IncOrrigible.

Just now some of the mugwump
papers are very free with their advice
as to the correct thing for the republic
can party to do in the selection of a
presidential candidate. For the most
part their suggestions are not put forth
with good intent, but are insidious and
contemplate. For nearly every man
thus far named in connection with the
republican presidential nomination they
have plenty of unfavorable criticism.
We are of those who believe that the
republican party has nothing to hope
for from the mugwumps. 1t is appar-
ent that they are inhexibly joined to
their idol (Cleveland), and their adj
vice TO republicans should be accepted
in the same spirit as if rendered from
a democratic source.
We have been much interested in
little canvass recently made by the
Springfield Republican to obtain the
personal preferences of distinguished
citizens of Massachusetts, in relation to
presidential candidates. The list in
cludes two or three of the prominent
mugwumps. Colonel T. w. Higginson
writes that while he should prefer the
ticket suggested by the Republican
Oincoln and Hawley) to one headed
by Mr.. Blaine, he expects to vote for
Cleveland in any case. President Car
ter of Williams College thinks the
ticket is an admirable one, but says:
81 can, however, conceive of condi-
tons in which in November next l
should vote for the honorable patriot
who, as president, has shown himself SO
much better than his party, and who
will, in all probability, be renominated."
There is no use in counting upon a man
who processes to believe that the presi-
dent is an honorable patriot" and
"better than his party" He will
probably vote for Cleveland in any
event, and so will most of the leading
mugwumps who are in sympathy with
the free-trade policy of the admins
tration.
The booming" of Lincoln and
Judge Gresham by several of the mug
wump and free-trade journals can be
explained in but one way. AT first
view these distinguished gentlemen
would appear to have nothing in COM
mon with the mugwumps. They are
accounted as good republicans, and
Mr.. Lincoln has unequivocally declared
in favor of the American system of pro-
lection. Judge Gresham's position on
the tariff question is in more doubt.
1t is generally known, however, that
both Lincoln and Gresham dislike Mr..
Blaine. This is the one thing that
commends them to the favor of the
mugwumps; but we conclude that it
will not help either of them to nom
nation. We have said that the repub-
licans have little to hope for from the
mugwumps, and yet we believe there
are certain conditions by which Gf re-
pubicans are prepared to make the
sacrifice) the mugwumps may be re-
stored to the republican party. If re-
publicans should let the mugwumps
name the presidential ticket, frame the
platform and control the future policy of
the party we think the greater part of the
deserters would return to their former
allegiance. But there are a number of
mugwumps, like Colonel Higginson
and DR.. William Everett, who are in
corrigible in their political apostasy
and probably would not come back on
any terms. They are feeding on the
dry husks of the sham reform which
Mr.. Cleveland has dealt out to them
with no unsparing hand, and though
this diet is unpalatable and innutritious
they pretend to like it. George Will
lam Curtis, in a recent article, admits
that the mugwumps have stuck to Mr..
message, sacrificing all there was of
their civil service reform convictions.
This is true, but Mr.. Curtis INDUCES
in an unwarranted presumption when
he intimates that the position of the
mugwumps will have an important in
huence on the coming campaign. The
hypocrisy and duplicity and utter lack
of principle of the mugwumps have
been so fully demonstrated to the
country that their political influence
this year will be about as potent as that
of so many craven images.
TLa n.,.;ff Dill,