The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-07-30
ARTHUR ROPES, General Editor.
THE DEMOCRATIC TOURNA-
MENT.

People who went to Burlington
seeking entertainment from the Dem
ocratic State convention got what
they went for-full measure, pressed
down and running over. In scrap.
piness, in dramatic interest, the pro-
ceedings outside the convention and
in were rivalled only by those of the
famous assemblage of 1892, and in
many interesting incidents they eX-
ceeded that remarkable battle for the
overthrow of Hiram Atkins
The Journal report has given but
faint idea of the series Of sharp en-
counters on the skirmish line, preced-
ing the general battle after all the
forces were marshalled in battle array
in the convention arena. These con-
tinued with increasing acuteness far
past midnight and in the early morn
ing the skirmishers, who had slept OH
their arms, were popping away at
each other with vigor undated by
loss of sleep, and with directness of
aim enhanced in precision by the tar
get practice of the night before By
daylight pandemonium overhowed the
spacious precincts Of general head
quarters, out upon the environing
porches and down on to the sidewalks.
1t was political Mt. Pelee in full
blast. Scrapping delegates were load
ed to the chin with dynamite and the
slightest impact of opposing opinion
or purpose resulted III an explosion
that shook the pillars of the earth"
locally. The gladiators were speed
lily surrounded by their sympathizers
and the curious whose chief interest
was to see the fun and enjoy clever
thrust or dexterous parry. 1t was a
body of men which, politics aside,
Nermonters of any political faith might
be proud to recognize as countrymen.
They knew how to give and take, and
they gave with ungloved hands and
took with what complaisance and Sc
renity the circumstances allowed, but
always with the traditional grit and
fortitude of their race.
In the convention these forces lined up
for decisive battle, and contended with
skill and adroitness, with the force
and gallantry, that characterize Yer
monters in action. Seldom has bet
ter-rarely has so good-convention
soratory been heard in this State. The
orators of the body were surcharged
with the spirit of the occasion and i'll
it were presented many of the ele-
ments of the best speaking. 1t is to
be remarked that the speakers-on
either side-who most impressed their
views and opinions on the delegates
as well as the pectators-belonge to
the race famous for forensic power.
They were Irishmen. Molony of Rut-
land, with his clear thinking, short,
incisive periods and winning express
sion, tipped the delegates who had
eemed to be wavering decisively to
the side of the regulars. Burke, the
Burlington blacksmith, speaking for
the Clement forces, was touched with
something of the fire of his namesake
who defended the American colonists
in the British Parliament and who
made Warren Hastings feel that he
was the biggest culprit on earth. 1t
is due to them to say that, in the
matter of oratory the Yankee blood
was best represented by Senter, Sib-
ley and Jackson of Montpelier, who
with force and dignity pleaded for
party integrity.
So much for the partisan, or gladi-
atorial, aspect of the convention. a
locker on likes to see a good fight and
naturally commends a good fighter.
1t may be sometimes the bull, it may
be sometimes the toreador, which en-
lists the spectator S sympathies or COM
mands his admiration, So it was at
Burlington to the spectator who had
no particular interest trembling in the
balance, nothing to be won or lost in
the issue of the fight.
As tactical matter the Republican
spectator might have desired-and
probably did desire-to see the orators
and managers of the Clement forces
lead their party into the doing of q
deed which, as Molony said, would
be suicidal, which would make the
Democratic party the laughing stocl
of the State. AS matter of morals
ones sympathy must have been turne
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