Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-08-31
The Presidents Order.
INTERVIEW WITH SENATOR EDNUNDs.
Correspondence Of the Boston Gl"he
RrRIIScraN. Vi Aug. -

Correspondence of thu Boston Gl"he
BURLINGTON, VI, Aug. -
knowing that the policy of the Giobe is to
report facts, and that the opinions oil Sena-
tor Edmund- would be of value on account
OF his standing IN the party rs well as Of his
great ability, to-day visited Burlington
and called at the home of the Senator
Most of your readers have no doubt visited
the Queen City OF New England. Situated
on the brow OF a hill, gently sloping to
wards the lake, 1t presents a beautiful ap-
pearance. The home of Senator Edmunds
the man who of all Others drove through
the Senate the law for the Electoral Com
mission by the force of an iron Wills
situated about halfway between the foot
and the crest of the hill, in the middle OF
beautiful, well-cut lawn. Here your cor
respondent found him about the middle oil
the afternoon.
The correspondent having read II the
Senator the statement of his Mr.. Edmunds')
views sent to the Tribune by Mr.. f v.
Smalley, Mr.. Edmunds said.
"Mr. Smalley does not intend that the en-
tire paragraph should be attributed to me.
The first sentence is mine; but the one
reading that order does not commend
itself to the Judgment OF the average Yer
mont Republican is intended for his own
observations, together with the remainder
OF the paragraph. But Mr.. Smalley Is very
nearly right. OF course he has not seen and
cunversed with the 10000 Republicans IN
our State, but he has no doubt talked with
some of the representative men OF the party
"YeS. | think he has got about the ieel-
ing of Vermont Republicans. ! have the
same impression of Vermont Republicans
that Mr.. Smalley has, and | have not yet
seen one who does not think the order Il
mistake. and, while it Is founded on correct
motives, it is not advantageous to the pub
lie interests"
lie didn't see that when man was able
to fill an Office. and worked hard to get the
place he should be debarred from having
ANYTHING to say about his party or taking
further action in support OF 1t. In the
Senator'S own words:
There is no more reasfn that he should cease to
talk about currency than that Mr. Sherman should.
If Mr.. Sherman talks about the policy OF the "ov
eminent. remOnetizng silver. resumption, etc.. IN
Ohio, why not petty postmaster here in the uids
Of our Green Mountains about the plans Of his
office his desire 10 accommodate the public, and
his attempts Tor improving mail facilities
The idea that man in office is a sort OF
king, Mr. Edmund- thought, was simply
preposterous. Instead Of being king, the
people make a servant of the oihce-holder.
This order" said he, will simply de
stroy for the time being any practical work
in the Republican party"
Mr.. Edmunds spoke Of the many abuses
in the party which ought to he corrected,
and could easily have been done without
striking at the foundation of the party ma
chinery. In New York City, he said. the
great body of Republicans had worked hard
to ge: this system. There the m.n in the
off @ had to do the work and pay the bills.
There are men there" said he. who
would not come out and vote unless sent
after with fOur-hOrse barOuche.
There are men who find fault with the
Administration on ACCOUNT of its gold poll
icy, or its Indian policy, and nearly every
thing it does. Let the policy he changed
or not, they are never suited. They never
did work for the success OF the party; they
never will.
Il have always been in favor of clvl, ser
vice reform, especially during the last iour
years, and always expect to be; but
don't see how this order is going 10 assist
it,"
"Do you, Mr. Edmunds. expect that
there will be trouble IN the party when
Congress assemblies"
Yes, but not from this order OF the
Presidents or even from his so-called South
ern policy. The difficulty will be about
weightier subjects. The remonetlzing OF
silver. resumption, the tariff, are questions
which will cause discussion. | think the
President will allow US the liberty OF ex-
pressing opinion, which he seems dcslrou>
the office holders should not have"
Now shall expect some other newspa-
per man here to interview me about what
have said to you,' he added. The fact Is.
unless my remarks are taken verbatim, 1t is
very difficult for you or any other CORES
pendent to give the public my exact mean
ing, for am in the habit of weighing every
word say"
"If you give me permission | will write
out the interview tonight and submit 1t to
you in the morning for correction"
mo. | have not the time to spare. 1t
was Just chance that you caught me this at
ternOon Do the best you can to convey
my true meaning and will acquit you OF
intentional mistakes"
The appearance of the Senator, his man
ner in talking with me. in connection with
a few general remarks winch do not give.
strongly conveyed TO my mind the idea that
Mr.. Edmunds was greatly disappointed IN
the President. Whether he intends to take
sides with Blaine and COnkling Is matter
for the future to decide, and | think 1t will
decided according to circumstances