The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-06-24
THE STATE CONVENTION
NoMINATES JOSIAH GROUT As THE
CANDIDATE FOR GOpERNOR.

The Convention Closes the Most Exciting
Canvass Ever Held in the State-Every
Delegate Answers to His Name - The
Platform Adopted and the story In
Detail
The republican state convention held
in Burlington was the most exciting
and remarkable of any ever held, by
any party, within the borders Of the
Green Mountain State. Before it the
intense heat of the Page Woodbury
canvass in 1890 grows dim, and all
future political contests where party
spirit or personal choice may run high
will be compared to the forever famous
Grout-Stickney campaign of this year
of grace. Never before was state or
district convention of any party held
within the borders of the Green Noun
tain State when roll-call at the open
ing of the convention was not dispensed
with, and never before was conven-
ton of nearly 700 delegates held in this
or any other state, with every delegate
in his place ready to answer when his
name was called.
The convention was called to order
shortly before eleven o'clock in Armory
Hall, Burlington, by Hon. Olin Merrill,
chairman of the republican state COM
mittee. Prayer was offered by Rev.
DIR. Edward Halves of Burlington, and
Judge Hamilton S. Peck, secretary of
the state committee, called the roll of
the convention, proceeding that occu
pied over an hour. Only one delegate,
W. P. Noble of Bakersfield, was absent,
and he arrived in time to answer to his
name before the roll-call was COM
pleted.
Colonel A. A. Hall of st. Adams was
then introduced by Mr.. Merrill as tenn
porary chairman of the convention.
Colonel Hall said:
Gentlemen Of the Convention:-My friend
who presided over the recent democratic
convention said, in substance, in his opening,
that he regarded it as higher honor than
to be elected president of the United States
by any other party. Misguided mani He
could not have read in the Scripture that
it is better to be a door-keeper in the house
of my God than to dwell in the tents of
wickedness.' Had the gift of eloquence,
or the power of rhetoric, should be glad to
sound the keynote of a campaign that
should resound throughout the length and
breadth Of this state until the last notes
should echo the triumphant victory which
is sure to be ours in September and Novem-
Der next; but we have something better
than eloquence or rhetoric. tits republican
enthusiasm, born of republican atmos-
phere, surcharged with the purest ozone;
you have breathed it upon the mountains
and down in the valleys, and one cannot
look into the faces Of this splendid audience
without noting its effect. 1 see there an
earnest Of success which nothing demo-
cratic-earthly though it be-can either give
or take away. l might arraign that party
for its sins of commission and omission, its
broken promises and ignominous failures
God knows 1t would be true bill, but their
punishment has already been more than
they can bear. And almost the last reliance
OF the party, the chief executive and his
political household will soon be relegated
to private life, where so many members Of
the congress which was to assist him in
bringing about political millennium have
gone before, there to make a study Of the
high duties of craftsmanship in the pleasant
occupation of Isaak Walton, or in such man
ner as shall be most congenial to their
tastes.
"The leaders of our party will nominate
his successor, and while the wires may not
bring the intelligence before our adjourn
ment, we know that it will be that grand
Major William Mckinley Of Ohio, whose
great faith has been shown here and every
where, from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
from Canada to the Gulf, as, with unan-
ciples of republicanism. No wonder tidal
wave set in that has swept the country and
that will safely land him in the presiden-
tial chair.
cit is not time nor place for me to
speak at length of the platform, but we
word, syllable and letter. The Ohio del.
egation wears as it's badge at st. Louis sur
rounding the profile of their favorite son,
the following motto: Patriotism, Protec-
ton, Prosperity and 80 sure as the three
fatal Rs lost for US the campaign OF 1884, 80
sure will the three talismanic Ps win in 1896.
Patriotism means not only love OF
country, but the defence OF life, liberty
and property OF every citizen at home and
abroad; 1t means an emphatic endorse
ment Of the Monroe doctrine, and while
it does not call for jingoism, we shall con.
tinue the champions Of the oppressed
upon both continents and afford our SYM
pathy and our all when necessary.
Protection and reciprocity will give an
impulse to the spindle and loom and
other industry; the artisan, the merchant
and the farmer will feel the influence of
these planks in the platform.
Prosperity demands an honest dollar in
homely parlance Of the value of one hun
bred cents, and the party that was instru-
mental 30 soon after the war in bringing
about the resumption Of specie payment
can be relied upon now. By such action
capital will be inspired with confidence,
and peace and prosperity follow.
The other questions-political, ethical
and social-are safe in the hands of party
that has given to us Lincoln, Grant, a
Hayes, a Garfield, an Arthur and Har-
rison. Aye, more, such men as Reed, the
broad-minded, fearless and wise statesman,
whom many would: have been pleased to
see president; our own grand old man,
the Nestor Of the senate; his colleague,
whose national reputation makes him a
possible candidate for the second position;
our Circuit and our Powers-able, wise and
discreet, fitted for the highest duties of
craftsmanship.
:" The past of our party is memory grand
and complete. Its future success is more
fully assured than at any time since the war.
Gentlemen, important business awaits
your attention; spirited canvass is just
completed, but when the standard-b bearer
Of our party in the old Green Mountain
State is named by the convention every re-
publican will recognize him as his choice,
and in September next will testify to his
loyalty to him and the party by giving the
greatest majority that has ever been given
in Vermont"
Not only by his admirable address,
but by his exceptional ability as a pre-
siding officer did Colonel Hall iustify