The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-09-16
Dermmt @attbman.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER IS, 1896.
Verm0nters at Canton,

at ten O'Clock the party was escorted
by the City Band to the residence
Major Mckinley. Chairman Merrill
of the state committee introduced the
party in these words
We come from a great and sur prising
victory The battle was fought solely on
national issues. Every man, republican or
democrat, who helped by his vote to make
the Vermont majority cast his ballot with
the deliberate purpose and full knowledge
that In so doing he was voting for you and
the platform upon which you stand. Every
such ballot was intended as an emphatic
condemnation of the false doctrines which
our people believe would bring disgrace
and disaster upon our country. The battle
in our state was won because the freemen
OF Vermont, after full hearing and con-
sideration of both sides, rejected with I'M
alterable determination the pernicious here
sizes of our opponents. In this action the
republicans Of Vermont were unanimous,
and the sense of their individual duty in
this great crisis brought them all to the
polls. We also had the direct aud active
aid Of a large number of patriotic demo-
Gratis who placed love of country above
party affiliations. The $4,000 plurality was
by 10000 the largest plurality given any
party within the history of the state in a.
gubernatorial election Coming the first of
September, our campaign was of necessity
OF less duration than that of any Of our
sister states.
Colonel George T. Chids, editor of
the st. Adams Messenger, was the next
speaker. He said:
Although the state conventions of both
the two great political parties had declared
unequivocally in favor of the gold standard
of value, the action of the democratic ma
tional convention at Chicago, in demand
ing the free and unlimited coinage of silver,
and selecting as the standard bearer of the
party an earnest advocate OF that financial
policy, forced the republicans of Vermont
to carry on their campaign along unfamiliar
lines. The leaders of the party were con-
fronted with frequent and constantly in
cleasing reports of large defections from
their ranks and large accretions to the
forces OF democracy by reason of the fnan-
cial issue They knew the voters of Yer
mont were honest, favored the payment of
every honest debt with an honest dollar,
and would follow the way where honor led;
but the question at issue was comparatively
new, the people demanding discussion of
the currency to the exclusion of other mat
tiers of national import. They organized for
victory, and, on the first day OF September,
by majority double that given the
publican gubernatorial candidate of four
years ago, majority larger by 10000 than
ever before given candidate for public
Office in the history of the state, the voice
OF our good old state again rings out clear,
emphatic, reverberating along her mountain
tops and resounding through her valleys
echoing from Maine to the Golden Gate,
from the lakes upon our northern borders
to the gulf whose waters wash her southern
shores. In William Mckinley we recognize
the first choice of the republicans for the
presidency Of this mighty nation.
We have journeyed from our homes in
our beloved state to bring to you the
greetings of her republican voters, because,
although the issue upon which they were
called upon to pass ten days ago transcends
all questions of personality, yet the victory
won for the cause of honest finance by them
does in some measure partake of personal
character. AS you were the first choice of
large majority of them, as you have been
declared the first choice Of all of them, we
bring to you something more than the It'd
ings of political triumph.
And not alone are we permitted to speak
in the name Of the republicans of Vermont.
We bring as well the cordial greetings of
5000 freemen of the state, who have fol-
lowed proudly the standard of the demo-
cratic party through more than third of
century Of uninterrupted defeat-5,000 pa
triotic democrats of the dear old common
wealth unite with nearly $4,000 of her re-
publican voters in declaring for financial
honor, the rule of law, the safety of repub-
lican institutions, and for William McKin-
ley OF Ohio az their choice for president
While we are proud to place the tribute of
Vermont upon the brow of honor ackno vi
edge Just pride in the overwhelming YER
dict OF last Tuesday week, we can, if needs
must be, say for Vermont as Lowell said of
her sister commonwealth of Massachusetts,:
But of old deeds she need not brag,
How she broke sword and fetter,
I'll up again the dear old flag,
III do yet more and better.
In response Mr.. Mckinley said:
Mr.. Chairman and Ny FeloD- CitizenS:-I
give you welcome, generous welcome, from
an overlooking heart, to my state, my city
and my home / would be unjust to my
feelings and irresponsible to the kind senti-
ments uttered by your spokesman ii L per-
United to pass unobserved the fact that in
the preliminary contest for the nomination
OF president the State of Vermont gave to
me united vote. (Applause)
The Green Mountain State is endeared to
us all by tradition and history, in song and
story, but above all, in good work manifest
in glorious results. Whether in the days of
the Revolution, when her hardy noun
taineers repulsed the best soldiers of
Europe, in the days Of the Rebellion, when
her soldiers displayed the same resolute
courage at Big Bethel, Champions Gap
or Gettysburg, or in the no less i'm.
portant and decisive conflicts in civil life,
the people of Vermont have always been
loyal to the best ideal and highest obliga-
tions of duty and active, distinguished and
useful in every great emergency. No one
will deny to them glorious part in achiev-
ing the independence of the Colonies. None
will question that they did much to check
the aggressions of human slavery and in the
final triumph Of the Union in the hour of its
greatest peril. (Applause) Nor in our later
trials will any doubt that the example and
voice of Vermont have always been most
potential on the right side of justice, honor
and right. (Cheers)
Some of the newspapers have asked me
10 interpret the result of the elections in
Vermont on September l. but il seems to
me that they are their own best interpreter
(Applause). They have simply declared,
what every student of your history must al
ready have discovered, that your thought
full and patriotic citizens are as true as ever
aye truer than ever-to the tenets of good
morals, good politics and good government
Great applause),
They have shown by their ballots, by
greater preponderance than ever that they
are more devoted TO the honor OF the gov
ernment TO the maintenance Of law and or
der, and the restoration of that sound, wise
and economic system which has always
been our chief pride and source OF strength
Qf anu Iona .nrfn In