The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-03-18

sous for its existence. 1t has no con-
neci)n with the general welfare.
There is back of IL, TO justify it, no
vaua lie service to the public and no
promise of such service. There are
good reasons, particular and general,
why his candidacy should not prevail.
1t s largely the product of long contin-
ued and persistent personal importantly.
A. farmers meetings, al musters, at con-
ventions aud assemblages-wherever
and whenever two or three republicans
have been gathered together, Major
Grout has been in their midst. He has
sought the chief seats in the synagogues
of his party or the people, aud his quest
has been ever the governorship. Such
candidature is not in accord with the
spirit and traditions of the people of
Vermont.
Candor and duty as a public journal
compel the WATCHMAN to state these
things plainly, and to oppose them to
the misleading and disingenuous state
meuts, not to say absurd and impudent
pretentions, of some of Major CIRCUITS
newspaper spokesman, of which the
subioined are common examples:
"Maior Grout has never crowded himself
upon the republican party of Vermont
Free Press.
Whenever before has the sponsor
of u candidate for governor of Yer
mont found it necessary to commend
him to the people by averring that he
had never crowded himself upon his
partyp
1--WE fail to see how, in case somebody
happened to suggest, in days gone by, that
somebody else might be governor some fine
day. the frst-named somebody can be ac-
cused of perpetrating crime against the
popular will. And yet this is just what
some of our contemporaries are trying to
convince the people-that it was a desper-
ately wicked thing for anybody to hint, in
former days, that somebody else would make
| BOOu RONeTuOr anu OuRHJ W udNo OluCo III
the course OF time'-St. Johnsbury Re-
publican.
Will Farmer Grout shake down to
his cattle such mouldy fodder as his
man at ST. Johnsbury is feeding out to
the people, and expect them to swal-
low it?
"Some of the Stickney papers are claiming
that Major Grout has desire to be gov
ernor, and for that reason should not be
supported. There is this difference in the
case OF the two men, Major Grout has been
the ideal candidate of many men in this
state for ten years, and in more senses than
one it has been thrust upon him. In regard
to Mr.. Stickney, it can be truthfully said
that as a candidate for governor he is a very
recent discovery Barton Monitor.
As the ambition of the CIRCUITS for
Office has been the most conspicuous
thing in state politics for half a genera
ton, more or less, there would seem tc
be some ground for the claim respect
ing the Majors "desire," but as be-
tween him and Speaker Stickney "thert
is this difference: The character o.
Major CIRCUITS candidature has beer
faithfully portrayed. Mr.. Stickney hat
never been seeker after the executive
office; not that he or any other maj
may not, in proper way, aspire to ant
seek the governorship or any othe
office; but he came to the front on thu
direct solicitation of large body of thu
people themselves. The suggestion O
his name was caught up with enthusi
asm and approved in all parts of tn
state. His candidacy is a protes
against Groutism. 1t is an assertion
/ of Vermont's traditional spirit of indie
pendence, of the right and determine
ton of her people to nominate thei
own governor, declaration that tn
, doctrine of Reorganization has no plac
, in the political creed of Vermont reput
licans.