The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-02-24

Albany on Monday. The convention
was almost unanimous, only nine out
of three hundred eighty-four delegates
opposing him. The delegates were in
structed to present his name to the
democratic national convention, and
the instructions were clinched by the
adoption of the unit rule. The pro-
tests of the Cleveland men against hold
ing the convention at this time were
summarily shelved. The resolutions
denounce everything republican-the
Sherman silver law, the Mckinley act,
the Blaine reciprocity attachment, ETC.,
etc. Some two thousand Tammany
followers filed Albany from Saturday
night to Monday night. In conven-
ton, when the name of Hill was men
toned, the air shook with the din of
cheering braves, and when the chief
was presented TO them for speech, he
received reception that is rarely ac-
corded to mortal man. Up to this
point Mr.. Hills triumph is complete.
Has "the conquering hero" reached
the end of his victories? The develop
ment of the democratic canvass for the
honors at Chicago will be watched with
growing interest, and the democracy
will not have monopoly of the inter-
est.
The state press is passing through
an epidemic of double leads. Some
weeks ago the St. Adams Messenger
in double leads raised its voice for a
representative farmer" for governor.
Then the ST. Johnsbury Republican in
double leads blazoned forth the candi-
dacy of Colonel franklin Fairbanks
Not to be outdone in enterprise, the
Herald of Rutland worked its weary
way through long column of double
leads in learned disquisition on Thin
bles and pipe lines which it vainly
imagined to be a discussion of current
state politics. During the past week
the Hardwick Gazette-democratic, but
republican for evenue-indicted, in
double leads, the republican leaguers
who recently assembled at Burlington
for their evident preferences for can
didate from Windham rather than from
Orleans county, and the Ludlow
Tribune in a column of double leads
denounced everything and everybody
in general, the Mountain rule in partic-
ular, and, having fetched compass,
anchored on the ice in Burlington bay,
flying the pennaut of Colonel Urban A.
Woodbury.. Double leads add consid-
erably to the metallic weight of an
editorial. If they added as much to
the moral and intellectual weight of
the illusions of our double loaded con-
temporaries, these would be hefty in
deed
SENATOR PROCTOR has introduced a
joint resolution proposing to amend the
national constitution in respect of the
election of president and vice-president.
The new article provides that from and
after March 4, 1901, the term of presi-
dent and vice-president shall be six
years, and that after that date no per-
son holding the Office of president shall
be eligible for reelection. A PROPOSE
ton of this kind has been often dis
cussed. The lengthening of the presi-
initial term has seemed desirable for
many reasons. Conditions have greatly
changed since the original adoption of
the constitution. Absolute monarch
ism has practically disappeared am ong
civilized peoples. The fear of back
ward drift to monarchy is now a night
mare of the past. In longer term OF
the presidential Office not even the
most ardent of republicans now sees a
man on horseback. Senator Proctor's
proposal of amendment once adopted
should add business efficiency to the adj
ministration of the affairs of the gov,
eminent. With six years term there
would be three congresses. Under the
existing order the first congress of {
new administration may be " too fresh
to accomplish great things in legisla
ton, and the second congress is apt t.
legislate with reference to securing thu
next election for the party of the ma
jority. Under the new order of thing
which would follow the adoption o
Senator Proctor's amendment Their
would be one congress that would b.
sufficiently remote from either election
to legislate with wisdom and with sol
reference to the best welfare of all tn
people. AS to the single term rule Their
is something to be said for and agains
the proposition; but with an intelligen
and patriotic body of citizens electin
men of high integrity to the Office G
chief executive, fear of recklessness i