St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-07-05
COUNTY CONVENTION.
Enthusiastic Republicans.-The Speech
es, Resolutions and Nominations.

moniously. Convention was called to
order by Alex Dunnett of the county
committee, Capt. Blair of the commit
tee reading the cali. Prayer was offer
ed by Rev. t. P. Frost of the Metho-
dist church, who prayed for ''nO party
and no creed" and for deliverance from
"partisan narrowness." The county
committee presented w. p. Smith of
st. Johnsbury as candidate for per-
manent chairman of the convention and
he was elected by acclamation, Charles
Rogers of Wheelock and Pringle Glib
son of Ryegate escorting him to the
chair.
Judge Smith on assuming the chair
delivered ringing speech on the situ
alton and the outlook. 1t was cheer
ing thought, he said, that this conven-
ton, meeting in a small part of a small
state, forms q component part of a
mighty force in the nation. We belong
to a party that after 30 years of demo-
cratic rule assumed the reins of govern
ment and pilOted it through the great
est contest the world ever saw, re- unit
ing it under the old flag, and for a
quarter of a century so fostered it's in
stitutiOns and developed it's resources
that it occupies grand place in histO-
ry and fame world wide. Some say
the party has outlived it's usefulness,
but it has not lost it's fidelity to the in
terests of the country; certainly, un-
like many parties it can point with
pride to its past record. 1t is still q
Its platform of principles recently
enunciated is SO plain that he who runs
may read and he who reads may un-
derstand its meaning is not hid in
ambiguous language but is candid
statement of the parties principles.
QO The party believes this country is
for Americans, supporting the institu-
tions of this country, and it is not an
annex to any foreign power or poten-
tate. 1t is for protecting our own in
dustries and our own labOrers. (2)
The party is for granting every voter
everywhere a flee ballot, the right to
deposit it unmolested and the right to
have it honestly counted. (3) The
platform is broad enough for all to
stand on. The temperance party so
far as its members would crush the
liquor traffic is right, but if all the Ii
quor in The land we're swept away there
would still be something to do to sus-
tain our institutions. They should
Join with us in this issue. Vermont,
he said in conclusion, was small state
but her voice can and should be heard
the country over at her state election
when it should return a majority of
$4,000 or 10000.
Hon. H. G. Ide was called out and
introduced by the chairman as Zone of
the delegates to the national convention
where Vermont covered herself all over
with glory without the loss of sin
gle man." After thanking the republi-
cans of the county for the honor con-
ferred upon him as their delegate to
Chicago, Mr.. Ide proceeded to explain
Vermont's part in the Chicago conven-
tion. Out of confusion, strife, chaos,
anxiety came union, harmony and a
result that means victory next NOvem-
ber. With two letters of declinatiOn
in the field from Mr.. Blaine the Yer
mont delegation felt it unjust to him
self, the party and the ether candi-
dates to support Mr.. Blaine. On Mon
day before the convention the delega-
ton voted to surrender all individual
preferences and to consolidate upon
one man. The question then arose who
was the strongest candidate today in
the republican party. There was al
most too much good material to choose
from. After considering the merits OF
all the candidates we said to the dele
gates from Indiana, "We nail our flag
and we fight for victory" So Vermont
, stood first and last for Benjamin Har-
rison. He it was who could carry the
= doubtful state of Indiana as he had
l carried it in 1886.
The democrats find two objections tt
our candidate. They say we nominal
ed him because he had grandfather
Well, he had an ancestor who sat with
s Oliver Cromwell upon Charles th'
s First, but we did not nominate for tina
4 reason or for the other. The SECOND
= objection they find is that he left th
= service in wartime to run for office
= Let us see if this is true. He left hi
# office as reporter of the supreme cOur
= to enter the war. The democrats pu
:. him out of office while he was at th,
front and the republicans nominate,
}. him again for the office. Abraham
8 Lincoln said to him "You have bee
O fighting the democrats faithfully a
1 the front; we will give you 80 days t.
lick the democrats at home." In clos
a ing Mr.. Ide urged all to rally aroun'
D the ticket and stand united.
= After the conclusion of Mr.. Ide's ad
h dress the organization of the conven
g ton was completed by the election O
: Charles It. Walter as secretary. o.
It motion of Harry Blodgett it was vote
J. that the nominating committee consis
= of two from each town in the count
e and one additional for each 100 or frac
e ton of 100 over so that voted the re
r publican ticket in 1884. This gave