The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-04-22
Fer Delegates at-Large,

The state convention will assemble
in this city a week from to-day to choose
four delegates-at-large, and their alter
mates, to the national republican con-
vention at 81. Louis, for the nomination
OF candidates for the presidency and
vice-presidency.
This is the business that appears most
conspicuously as the work of the con-
vention. Of greater real Importance is
the formulation Of Vermont's opinions
on the two leading issues of the day
protection to American industry and
the financial policy of the national gov
eminent. This is of primary impor-
lance; the selection of the men to bear
the states commission to the assembly
in which the representatives of forty
FIVE proud commonwealth will meet is
matter of secondary magnitude. Ver-
mont's voice will unquestionably be
heard again for those principles of
sound finance with which the name of
her venerable senator, Justin s. Morrill,,
has been so prominently and honorably
and consistently associated for more
than a generation, and which have
found in her junior senator, Redfeld
Proctor, a champion worthy of their
magnitude and Importance. Senator
Proctor is the exponent of another line
Of vital national policy. Vermont has
ne ocean front to defend, but she will
give her patriotic endorsement to the
policy of arming the national coasts, of
preparing shore defences for the great
maritime cities, for which Mr.. Proctor,
in the United States senate, has argued
with convincing force and eloquence.
Vermont will put the Monroe Doctrine,
untainted by any later-day and enervat-
ing limitations and notifications, into
the statement of her political creed; the
young eagles in this Eagle-nest of
Freedom" will scream for free Cuba,
and the employment by the national
government of every proper and allow
able means to help on the cause of
Cuban independence.
As the man whose vote has been cast
or whose voice has been heard on the
right side, the American side, Free
dom's side, of all these questions, it is
peculiarly fit that Senator Proctor
should lead Vermont's delegation in the
great conclave of republicans at St.
Louis. Nature gave him wisdom. His
talents have not been wrapped in a
napkin and buried in the earth. Active
use and rich experience have added
many fold to his natural endowment.
He is the one man, competent by nature
and appointed BY circumstances, for the
leadership of Vermonters under the pc.
culiar conditions, domestic and foreign,
that confront the government of the
United States in these perilous times.
Colonel e. G. Smith OF vt. Adams is
in the early prime of manhood, but
veteran in experience; he is a Ver-
monter with big V, an American from
head to foot; he is man who will sub
scribe to every tenet of the national re-
publican faith and fight for the whole
creed; his sympathies are broad enough
to take in, without too much cold calcu-
lation, or too strict adherence to tech
nicalities, every people on these Amer
lean continents struggling against wrong
or oppression. He is the right kind of
man for an associate with Senator Proc
tor, and no rival appears to contest
with him the honors of the convention.
The WATCHMAN had the pleasure
recently of suggesting for one of the
delegates from the east side the name
of Colonel Robert j. Kimball of Ran
dolph. The suggestion has been re-
ceived with great unanimity on both
sides of the mountain line. Colonel