The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-06-25

L uO LhlAlhS up VI oIdIO anu ulobllCJ
issues and the clashing of two conven-
tons, deeply stirred, was detrimental
to all interests. They managed these
things better in the first district.
Good and conclusive reasons why a
change of representative in the second
district should be made at this time
were given. These reasons power
fully affected the public welfare, but
there was insufficient time to i'm
press them upon the voters of the dis
trict, even if their minds had not been
engrossed by the governor contest.
The illusion, the infatuation, diligent
and artfu employment of the patronage
and Establishments that many years of
ofiice-holding creates are not dis
PEELED in day. The greater the illu-
sion, sometimes, the more affection
ately it is Rugged.
Another cause for Colonel Hooker's
defeat, and a powerful one, was the
fact that certain individuals in various
parts of the district, ambitious to sue
coed General Grout, were not ready to
enter the race, and preferred that
General Grout should have the track
two years longer. AT the next election
it would be anybody's race, but should
Hooker be nominated now, there would
probably be, to change the figure, a
close season in district politics for
several years to come. So the politicians
were against him. But is there any
reason to believe that General Grout
will not come up again in 1892 as per-
sistent a candidate as he has been in
the past?
The very reason that should have
had greatest weight with the people
brought down upon Colonel Hooker
opposition and methods of resistance
that have been too frequently success
full in Vermont politics. The railways
in particular have never forgiven the
colonel for the part he took in the en-
actment of the corporation tax law
Nor have they forgotten the important
part General Circuit played in multiplying
the will of the people in 1886, in the
formation of the house railway COM
mittee at the legislative session of that
year. Hostility to the one and graft
tude to the other also explain, in some
large measure, Colonel Hooker's defeat
and General CIRCUITS victory. And the
people of the district, unwittingly in
most cases, we believe, have been a
party to the temporary discontinue of
the man to whom they are so deeply in
debted.
The events of last week showed how
hollow were the chief objections made
to Colonel Hooker in the district can
vass. The very men who, in the alb
sence of any reasonable pretext for OPP
posing him, had waged an indecent
personal warfare upon him, were willir g
to see him made lieutenant-governor
and clergyman was his eloquent
eulogist in the state convention. Now
if, on moral grounds, he was "a good
enough Morgan" for the state office
second in rank, he certainly was fit
man for the office of representative in
congress. The campaign against him
is tacitly conceded to have been both
insincere and heartless.
For four years Colonel Hooker served
his state in the war of the rebellion
with conspicuous valor and gallantry.
In civil life he has shown that "Peace
hath her victories no less renowned
than war" Great-hearted. free-handed
fearless and true in the performance of
public duty, he has merited promotions
that have been grasped by others who
can not show an equal title to popular
preferment. We trust Colonel Hooker
will be of good cheer and bide his
time.