The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-04-20
The GOYernOrShin.

est and is entitled to precedence. The
conventions at Montpelier, last week,
afforded, through the delegates and
visitors, an opportunity to judge of the
trend of public opinion. The matter
of the personnel of the candidate was
naturally and properly the subject of
informal discussion. 1t was very clear
to every impartial inquirer or observer
that the large majority of popular pref
erence was in favor of the candidacy of
Colonel Fuller-and this preference was
both spontaneous and cordial.
Lieutenant-Govern Fletcher was in
attendance, and was reported to be in
the hands of his friends, although he
had in writing positively declined in
January to enter the canvass. A con-
ference of the men of st. Adams and
elsewhere who are believed to be egg
ing on the Fletcher movement-if in
deed there is movement of this kind
is said to have been held at the Pa
vilion. If it was so held, it was very
quiet affair. 1t is observable, however,
that the st. Adams Messenger of Satur-
day had apparently decided, after
weeks of finessing, to lead from its
Fletcher suit. So it is possible that a
deal was effected at Montpelier. In
the course of its article the Messenger
says;
1.-THE only objection that has been or can
be urged against the nomination of Henry
A. Fletcher rests upon his expressed opinion
that the Acknowledgements is not, by vir-
tue of his office, entitled to promotion, and
this is not worthy moments consideration
if, as the Messenger believes, his candidacy
would more surely than that of any other
republican whose name has been promi-
nently considered accomplish the desired
result"
Divested of any lurking subtlety of
phraseology, the plain English of the
Messengers paragraph is that it pro-
poses to disregard the non-promotion
rule and, further, that Lieutenant Gov
ernor Fletcher is not bonud to stand by
his former declarations on this subject,
or to observe the rule and law he laid
down for Lieutenant, Governor Wood
bury. The Messenger, its pretenses to
the contrary Notwithstanding, evidently
has some end to gain which it believes
can be better gained by Lieutenant
Governor Fletcher's candidacy than by
Colonel Fuller's. Therefore it proposes
to disregard the non-promotion prece-
dent and to make the lieutenant-gov-
ernor-willing or unwilling-an accom-
plice in its scheme. 1t matters little
whether or not this is the true explana-
ton of the Messengers course. That
paper may not believe in the non
promotion rule. The majority of the
republicans of Vermont do. Lieuten-
ant-Governor Fletcher may have be-
lieved that the rule was good one to
enforce against Colonel Woodbury. in
1890, and he may now be persuaded
that it is bad one to apply to him in
1892; but honest republicans, of all
shades of opinion respecting the nom
promotion rule, believe in fair play,
and in this case will use on Colonel
Fletcher's gander the sauce they COM
pounded for Colonel Woodbury's goose.
AT the convention of 1890, the lieu
tenant-governor pledged himself to his
leading champions to abide by the rule
he had helped to enforce against Colonel
Woodbury., and he will be held to a
faithful adherence to the rule and to
his pledges. He should understand
that there is no middle course for him
to pursue. To keep silent and allow
his supporters, with their peculiar ideas
of political morality, to put him into
the canvass, is as bad as if he entered it
openly and actively.
1.-The only objection" in the Ian
guage of the Messenger, to Lieutenant
Governor Fletcher's candidacy may be
wholesome and well-settled prece-
dent; " the only objection against his
nomination may be his personal agency
in establishing that precedent and his
pledge that if nominated to the lieu
tenant-governorship he would not be
candidate for direct promotion to the
higher office. This COLLECTION " would
seem to be conclusive with men who
prize consistency and regard pledges 4;
but the Messenger waves it aside as if
ii were light as air. Will the republi-
cans of Vermont sanction this appli-
cation of the principles of Machiavel to
the management Of their party affairs?
The canvass in Vermont will be made
on national issues. No question of
state policy will in the slightest degree
enter into the election. The speakers
will discuss only national issues; the