Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1896-05-08
essex County Arrala.
Vermont Republican League.

was the one at MOntpclirr last week
However that NAV be 1t was an exceed
iu,ly interesting and grand occasion. IL
would I've diffi'ult, almost impossible, 10
hear from the same platform two men
sneak with such courtesy aud union, and
toward Ihe same point, whose natural
qualities are so different as are those OF
senator Thurston and Representative
Linney, the principal speakers OF that
evening. The one a fat, sleek, lovial
gentleman from North Carolina, | should
think a type otacertain class of southern
ers. perhaps of the southern republicans;
the other a tall serious, almost sad, and |
cultured combination of the elements pc |
culiar TO Vermont and the west. Such as
these they appeared at once tn me. The |
one having been seriously wounded IN the
confederate army and the other being the
son of a Union soldier killed in service,
draws the contrast more distinctly. In
their STYLE of speaking. also they are OPP
posites. Linney is the stunp-speaker,
Thurston is the orator. The one stormed
with shot and shell, b Idly he rode and
well, and then recedng there came wrlnk-
les around his eyes, wherein perpetual
smiles would play; the other, while he
possessed the power to touch that chord,
which being strung next to pathos al
WAYS starts its vibrations, and causes
men to laugh in keen pleasure, with tear
brimmed ewes. Seldom smiled, and smiled
in such sort as it he Knocked the spirit
IuaI could Dc nIU,~d to srniiS at any
thing" The climaxes OF the one were at
tanned as by physical force, III the onward
rush of many men, the clash OF arms, and
shout of voices, which dropped at lastin-
to yawning guls; those OF the other
came like the rising of a storm across the
lake on clear day till, gathering force,
the wind and wave and all the reused
clements of uatu eCombined, swept shore
ward, passed up the mountain, and lett
again the quiet which had preceded 1t.
While differing i'll these respects each held
the close attention of the vast audience
for more than an hour, each demonstrat-
ing the political characteristics OF widely
separated sections of our country. Both
speeches gave evidence OF thoughtful
earnestness in public affairs and of the
same loyalty to Republican principles,
and to these United States as one nation.
Mr.. Linnev's references to the war were
most reasonable and generous, and he
made the best climax OF his speech when
he concluded them with the avowal that
he never met Union veteran with an
empty sleeve but he wasimpelIed to grasp
him by the hand, and walking toward
Col Mansur, who rose to meet him, the
two soldiers shook hands heartily amid
tremendous applause. Among other
things, Mr.. Linney gave most logical rea
sons why he was Republican, outlined
the effects Of the Republican policy as II
had influenced the south, and, better, a:
it might influence it, described southern
methods of election under Democratic
rule where even dead men voted, (Which
Senator Proctor thought was quite APP
propriate), and closed with fine sentl
ment touching the sacred rights of the
ballot,box and an assurance that Yer
mont would hear such news next Novem
Der from the old "tar-heef' state as W. le
gladden. her loyal heart.
Senator Thurston paid mastery trib
ute of affection to his native state, anc
especially to it's women one of whom h
says he is still counting and has been fol
twenty-eight years. The speaker referred
with touching effect to Abraham Lincoln
and the war; he mentioned with fine tao
The peculiar attributes which fitted eacl
OF the leading candidates to be our mex
president, and in most thrilling fgurativt
speech PORTRAYED the condition; e -: :,
country as it 10 and as he prophes,ed II
will be. He gave a most concise anC
scholarly outline of the work OF the Re
publican party, into which were mos
beautifully woven the names of Lincoln
Grant, Garfield and Blaine; and in cen
clusion employed another splendid hgur
to describe the coming back TO power o
the old party, and the restoration o
prosperity.
And now a few thoughts perhaps some
what at random. Mr.. Linney spoke O
the noble services of Senator Morrill, coy
ering period of nearly fifty years. AnC
when that subject is approached a Grea
enthusiasm possesses me which were i
not for certain reverential feeling whc
accompanies it, would be hard to check
When think it possible that any MAJ,
and especially any young man, can b
spoken of as his successor l am impele,
to cry out mo, when in the wisdom o
Providence we are compelled to par
with him let us consider who will attemp
to take his place, and may we find MAJ
Wh) has not been so fascinated with him
self as to think he has long been AN able
man than the great Senator whom tn
people of Vermont intend to return to hi
position while he may live and accept it.
Senator Proctor, who presided at tn
meeting consider one of the grandes
types of the true Vermonter. The ex
preston OF his face, the pronunciation o
words. his form and gestures all carry
one back to those old days of which w
read, because the voice which related thei
events and first taught us of him, is now
silent. 1t is privilege to see and heal
him which we cannot long enjoy, for h
belongs to that grand old school of met
now rapidly passing away. Men whom
we do well to appreciate.
AS to the Mckinley enthusiasm it wa
overwhelming from the first. The Boston
papers are announcing that it is believed
i'll Washington that the result was du,
to the efforts OF Senator Proctor, but any
man on the ground could see that tn,
delegates were pronounced as individual.
on their arrival at Montpelier. Col
Benton, formerly of our own county
in Vermont, and many Others here il
Boston, have expressed themselves a:
astonished, and some are provoked al
the resolution adopted by the convention
cannot refrain from saying of those who
thus announce themselves in the Journal
that Vermont has not been convinced by
that paper as yet that we are to nomi
nate president of New England.
Boston, May 4th 1896,