Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-08-28
THE VERMONT DEMOCRACY
How Little it Has Changed in Two
Generations.

Democracy in Vermont says cores
pendent of the New York Sun. who secs
tit to date from Essex Junction, is a fami-
ly trait that desccnds from generation to
generation. All the men who voted for
Bryan Ia 1900 were the grandsons Of those
who had voted for Van Buren in 1896.
In the year 1886 the people voted for
President in - States. In every one of
them except Vermont the vote cast for
Van Buren, at that time was a mere frac-
ton of that cast for Bryan in 1890. In New
Hampshire, which adjoins Vermont on the
east, the democratic vote increased in
those GA years from IS. 722 to 50. 4S9 1t had
been enormously higher in more favorable
years. In Massachusetts, which borders
Vermont on the south. there were 335Ol
democratic votes In lo56 and l56 1914 in 1900.
In New York Nermonts next door neigh
Dor on the west there were l66Sl5 demo
cratic ballots for Van Buren, and GIS,3S6 for
Bryan. But the Green mountain demo-
Gratis, who mustered 1907 strong in 1876,
cast only T. $40 votes Ga years later.
In all other States there have been
mighty Gibbs and flows in politics. The
Vermont democracy alone has been I'M
moved by tho tides of passion 1t cast
Is orJ votes in 1910 for Martin Van Buren
when Maine went he'll bent for GOV.
kcrt" and it cast exactly % more votes
in 1874 FOR James X. Polk when everything
outside was going democratic.
There stood up to be counted 1881 Yer
monters for Mcclellan against Lincoln
while sherman was marching through
Georsia and 1927 Of them rallied for Hor-
ace Greeley in the rout of 1872 In the 10
successive presidential elections during
which the electors have been chosen by the
people, from the Jackson campaign of ISIS
to the last Bryan campaign Of - years
later, the democratic vote of Vermont has
never once varied 1900 either way from
that cast for Martin Van Buren, In 1886
Meanwhile the opposition vote has varied
over 30 0Hc from that cast for Harrison on
the same occasion,
This stcadfastness OF two generations of
Vermont democrats has been displayed
without any hope OF victory. Other States
but very few Of them, have had an un-
broken succession OF republican triumphs
but Vermont's aversion to democracy he
gan even before the birth of the Whe
party and has continued unchanged dowr
to the present day. II supported the ma
tional republican" movement of Adams
and Clay against Jackson; It supported
every whig and every republican ticket
and since the time Of James X. Polk it ha'
never given a democratic presidential can
didate as much as one-third of It's tota
vote.
Democracy In Vermont thrives hes
when the party in the nation Is out O
power because then the Vermont demo
Gratis are all at home to vote. When
democratic administration is In once som,
OF them are holding consulates and othc
places that keep them away from the bal
lot box. They cast 1881 votes for Cleve
land at his first election in 1884 and onl,
,7sS In his second campaign In 1855 Tha
must have been because Edward j. Phelp
lost his vote In 1855 on account Of being II
England as minister, and several othe
democratic office holders from Vernon
were DISTINGUISHED In a similar manner
Democracy In Vermont Is hereditary
Whether a license to vote the Democrat
ticket would he granted to a man who's
grandfather had not voted for Andrey
Jackson is uncertain. The point has neve
been raised.
Vermont democrats are born, not made
They constitute an order like the Cincin
natl. III there are not quite SO many c
them az there used to be 80 years ago, tina
Is merely another illustration OF the de
porable decline in the New England brit
rate,