The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-01-01
Vermont at st, Louis.

Vermont at st. Louis.
The proposition that Senator Proctor
shall head Vermont's delegation to the
republican national convention at st.
Louis grows out of the desire that this
state shall contribute of its best TO the
astuteness and wisdom of the assem-
blage that shall formulate the policy
and select the leader of the republican
party in the coming national canvass.
The policy framed at St. Louis, the
man nominated for the presidency at
st. Louis, will unquestionably be the
policy and the president of the United
States for the four years from March 4,
1897. The importance of constituting
the convention from the men of the
highest wisdom and clearest sagacity
needs no enforcement. The industrial
coalition of the country, the state of
the nations financial affairs, the clouds
gathering over the governments rela-
tons with foreign powers, all call for
wisdom in deliberation and action, and
the imperiousness of the call has never
been exceeded. 1t is detracting from
no mans fame, it is doing injustice to
no mans ability, to say that no one in
Vermont is SO we'll equipped with ex-
perience, with knowledge of the ele-
ments of the existing situation, or has
shown himself 30 masterful in dealing,
in body like a national convention,
with the issues that are made and the
emergencies that arise there, as Senator
Proctor. 1t seems to be the quite
unanimous opinion that the exigencies
of the times require that the senator
shall lead the Vermonters at st. Louis.
The WATCHMAN is solicitous only
that Vermont shall send to this great
national conclave of republicans dele
cation of it's best and strongest men.
1t is Influenced in its preference for
this man or that neither by proposes
sion nor prejudice. 1t has taken occasion
to illustrate by examples some of the
qualities it regards IS essential in dele
gates. Another example is Colonel E.
G. Smith of St. Adams, man who pos
sesses combination of qualities that
would render him an exceedingly valu-
able associate with Senator Proctor.
Governor Smith, his father, was re-
peatedly Vermont's representative in
republican national conventions, and
several times the leader of it's delega.
ton. But Colonel Smiths title to pub
lie honor is not inherited. He has won
his spurs. His abilities are his own.
He has a natural aptitude for important
undertakings. He has had large expe.
rience and. achieved signal success in
managing extensive and difficult bust.
ness affairs. He has a wide acquaint-
ance with men. He has the mental
alertness and sharpened perception that
come with training such as his.
These varied possessions peculiarly
qualify him for the Office of delegate,
aud to judge wisely and act judiciously
in the emergencies that arise in ma
tional convention having to deliberate
and act upon questions involving not
the present welfare of the people alone,
but decisively affecting the nations
existence for generations to come.
The questions for delegates to state
and district conventions to decide is
not simply who shall be sent to st.
Louis, but who can best bear Vermont's
commission in that assemblage of the
representatives of the great party that
had it's birth and won it's first signal
victory amid political commissions; that
saved the nation from political dis
memberment; that will be summoned
to rescue it from industrial and finan.
cial disaster, and to guard it from
danger impending from European ag-
erosion. The political questions OF
the times are not those of partisan poll
tics, Of the triumph of one party over
another, but of the resuscitation of do
mestic material prosperity and the safe
guarding of the nation from foreign
menace. These are questions for men
of large mind, broad views and sturdy
patriotism.