The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-11
The Conventions.

The republican state and district
conventions last week did their work
" neatly and with Dispatch" The dele
gates from all parts of the state were
representative men, and there was
wholesome enthusiasm and earnest
work for the republican party, ire
spective of personal preference as to a
presidential candidate. The delegation
chosen to Chicago is an excellent one,
led as it is by so experienced and able
a man as Ex-Governor Proctor, and
having in its composition throughout
men of tried and unfinching republic
canism-bright, active and judicious-
who may be depended upon to give
Vermont good measure of influence
in the convention. The delegation
goes unpledged, but none the less will
it reflect the sentiment of the republic
cans of the state who desire the NOM
ination of the best and strongest candi-
date. AS we had every reason to
anticipate, the sentiment of the state
convention was pronounced for Mr..
Blaine. In fact, every reference to the
Maine statesman produced storm of
applause, and this carries its own COM
ment. After Mr.. Blaine, the favorites
evidently were Depew, Sheridan, Har-
rison and Hawley, in the order named,
though no one now counts General
Sheridan as a possible presidential can
didate. The platform adopted is direct
and explicit in its declarations, but
could have been improved by judicious
condensation and thus secured wider
publication in the state papers and
more attention from readers. On the
tariff question it speaks with no uncer-
tain sound and generally contains good
republican doctrine. We publish the
platform in full elsewhere, but, boiled
down." it declares that it is funda-
mental that elections must be pure and
honest, that undisputed facts show that
in several states majorities are prac-
tically disfranchsed by intimidation,
frauds upon the ballot-boX and false
returns; that all revenue laws require
occasional revision TO adapt them to
changing circumstances of the coun-
try, but that the revision should pre-
serve tariff that will protect American
producers and artisans from serious
competition here with the productions
of foreign capital and degraded labor.
1t favors civil service reform and con-
dennis President Cleveland for violation
of civil service reform pledges. 1t
favors the interstate commerce law,
indorses the measure before congress
for reducing the surplus by the pur-
chase of bonds by the government,
favors generous pensions to Union
veterans and the education of the
ignorant at the government expense,
welcomes women to equal participation
in the government whenever they give
an earnest of their desire for enfran-
chisement in sufficient numbers to
indicate its practical success, and de-
clares in favor of the prohibition of the
liquor traffic. The speeches of Chair
man Gleed, General Mccullough and
Mr.. Plumley were true reflex of the
sentiment of Vermont republicans and
aroused much enthusiasm. The pro-
ceedings of the district conventions,
though lacking something of the inter-
est developed in the state convention,
were no less earnest and enthusiastic,
and all evinced spirit that augurs well
for the work the republican party has
to do in the campaign.