The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-08-12

him out Tor all he is worth ~ 4 Western
career would have done this, and then, az
speaker, he would have mastery not
only Of the conscience and judgment, but
also Of the emotions Of men.
AS Western man he would have be.
come a great leader Of men. The stern,
unconquerable will, the domineering,
though quiet, iirmness, merging at times
into stubbornness,the arrogance of intel.
lect which is so sure tsat it has looked
upon oil sides OF the subject that it treats
opposing views with a scant courtesy -
these qualities. without which leadership
of men is impossible, abound in Edmunds.
New England, with its school houses, its
general intelligence, its town meetings, its
Congregational (Orthodox and Unitarian)
politics, has been productive of too much
individuality to make leadership possible.
You will examine her records in vain for
one great, conspicuous personal leader,
Edwards, Adams, Webster, like Edmunds,
were merely leaders in morals or ideas.
Blaine is no exception to this rule, for
least of all sections Of tho country did
New England greet him as its leader.
Hence his defeat. This fact, though com.
plimentary to the Puritan blood, is barren
of romance and of those salient points
which delight the correspondent and pen.
photographer. Human leadership, though
it docs not speak we'll for the people, is
nevertheless the crown of gifts, and ia.
munds would have won that crown, If The
West instead Of the East had been his
home.
Though MS New England surroundings
may have prevented the fnll development
Of those qualities that attract the public
eye, yet in the development OF intellect,
of conscience. Of love of justice, of all that
goes to make up character he is the bost
representative Of New England, the near.
est approach to the ideal Puritan now in
Congress. Some one has said that pu.
ritau is being to admire more than to
love, and perchance Edmunds awakes
more OF respect and confidence than aifec.
.ion. AS was said of Macauey, "be is
always too conioundedly right to be popu.
lar" Personal acquaintanocship with him
might lead ME to revise this opinion.
Edmunde' strength is not in his iute.
lect, great and clear though that be, bat
primarily in hs character. Whoever
hears him. no matter what the circum.
stances, whether his mood is amiabe or
unamiable. feels that the man is speaking
Sumner was not more transparent, nor
more lofty in bis integrity, nor moro
capable of grand scorn for everything
mean and small When he speaks, char.
acter speaks, and the senate listens
fancy that Ben Butler. in The height OF
his audacity defending tho Credit Mobiier
would cover before the lofty scoyn of
Edmunds.
He always seems to me like pillar Of
integrity, around which the cable of state
could be fastened, assuring safety and
peace. Disappointed political friends
may fume at him, and aneer at his every
refusal TO wear the party yoke as being
"crotchety." but none would ever dare,
even to his own heart, to asperse his in.
tegrity. The truest accusation that can
be fastened upon him is that he has too
much pride of opinion. Like the Scotch.
man, he might well pray, Lord, keep me
right for thou knowest how hard it is for
me to change my tack
Edmunds' stand upon the Pnchback
question exhibited degree o. moral
herosm rare in any era Of public meu.
He is an ardent Republican and ,as far as
an honest man can be, partisan. lie
loves tho principles Of bs party as only
an Intelligent, consideration, mao can. lie
saw that the United States Senate stood
between the freedmen and Ia, Onward
march of the Democracy. He realized
that the Republican majority in the Sen.
ate was waning,an that, humanity speak
ing, Pinchback's vote might soon be ueo.
essary to preserve the result, Of The war.
All the aspirations snd inspirations OF bis
native Green Mountains moved him to
keep step with the party. The yials Of
investigation were soon to be opened,
threatening that party with snbmerging.
A Republican secretary Of war but yes
terday stood an arraigned criminal at the
bar ol the senate. Fully realizing the
situation, because he believed that Pinch.
back had never been duly elected sen.
ator. he defeated him. IL was his work,
and | doubt not he did il with as great
reluctance as did Charles Sumner arraign
General Grant. Had he not done it he
might have strengthened his hold upon
his party but, believing az he did he
would have ceased to he the man who for
twenty-five years has stood unblinking
before the searching gaze OF the nation.
For awhile his vote angered me- and
was ready to denouncc the senator as
"ironbed with an eruption Of con.
science = but now, still believing tha, his
conclusions were based upon too narrow
premises, honor him Cor that fidelity %
conscience which alone can ensure ,uc.
cession OF such statesmen as George +
Edumunds.--Cor. 81 PM lWan1l
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