The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-03
EDMUvDs or rERMONT.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The central figure
in the Senate chamber the past week. during
tho Republican struggle against fate, has been
George f. Edmunds Of Vermont. His personal
appearance is rather striking. Not very tall
wh,n upon his legs. he has that great length of
spino which is regarded in insurance Offices ~
promise. If not n guarantee. of longevity. For
all l know to the contrary. Elmunds may loo
one hundred years old already. The tough
ruddiness Of his skin and the uncertain gray
ness OF his hair and beard are Of the kind that
defy conjecture a. to age With his long. fur
rowcd forehead running up to point above.
his long gray beard running down to a point
below. his ghosty attitudes and gestures and
his archiepiscopal habits of attire. L imunds
looks like a wcl-prcscryed specimen OF tho
ancient Christian Fathers.
A dozen years ago this long-headed lawyer
came into the United States Senate from "a
region chiefly famed for its verdure and its
maple sugar sap But there was nothing YER
dant and nothing sugary about the new senator
from Nermont-an accidental Senator. by the
way. for lac emerged from ohscurty TO hll a
chair vacated by death. He first made himself
respected on the floor by his singuarly accurate
memory and his close knowledge of technical
law. He came to be consi dercd by the majority
as a dry but Indispensable work Of reference.
II was appealed TO on points that men Of af-
fairs are too busy to hunt up and men Of genius
do not care 10 burden their brains with. Grad
ually he built up the little poinp Of law library
on and around his desk This imposing adj
iunrt and the venerable appearance Of his beard
inspired certain awe in the galleries. The
awe was lost in yawns whenever Edmunds
arose to speak.
As ihc evolution Of Elmunds advanced. he
began to manifest new abilities. His memory
gave him great advantage. his power of AZ pi
cation 4 greater. For ten years he has boon
dig.ing away at the Rules Of tn Senate and the
prin 'iplns Of parliamentary law. Tho rcsul, Of
his industry was apparent in the Electoral IN
debate of one year ago when No. stepped to ths
front ms the Very hest rnrlamrntnrian in Con
gross. not excepting Blaine If Maine. FL
munds's mastery OF tho quirks. prorodcnts.
lodges. tricks, and surprises Of legislative
strategy is wonderful. H. never Founders in
any question OF procedure; he il never of his
! feet.
Now. 70 those qualities In dolator add the
| still more valuable one Of perfect sef-eoniro.
! l. munds angry, Ednunds dlseomposcl FL
mund- discouraged. Ednunls tlkcn aba 'k. -
a spectacle reserved l fcnr. for the day of
| judgment II kcs II nitro-ell ,crine shout
explode under tho Senate Chamber and hurl
int, space every honorable gentleman except
! himself and the Chair. Elmunls would wris-:lc
UP out OF his seat and move u call Of the roll. To-
ascertain whether a quorum was present. as
| calmly and dlspas ionatcly us If he WIZ
moving the previous question on a sluUuD
appropriation bill. NJ unexpected motion.
argument. or vote ever surprised hin
or cut him OF from his resources. No
accusation or insnurion over cxasperatad
him. Attacking him with s.reasms or nnu-
enlpcs is like throwing India crackers at an
| iceberg. His perfect GOODNESS In debate re-
semhlos Ben Buffers. only Buffers is II
sheer triumph Of will. The General is naturally
an irl-cible man. and has nerves; Elmun IS
docs not know how to be wrathlul. and makes n
poor bot,h Of II when it serves his purpose 70
appear 50.
The Vermont senator has improved greatly
both in III" matter and in the manner of his
oratory. Formerly no had the reputation of
being the dulcst speaker in the Senate. Ii
speeches were phrased like legal hricf and
his rhetoric Wa, that OF mortgage decd. His
delivery was like the music Of a rheumatic
wooden pump. Practice and constant sclf-dis-
ciplno have infused some life into his pareh-
mcns sentences. and be now says what he has
to say without clearing the galleries.
Cold. crRr-hoaicd. logical and mcrcllnss.
shrcwd and ady in rotort. intellectually UNI
srrupulous, caring nothing about consistency
or Inconsistency, except n a weapon To- USE
against other, partisan TO the end Of every hair
in his er1led beard capable OF lending his
great powers 10 ignoble PURPOSES, Edmund, Is
a dangerous man on the wrong siie of ques-
ton Of right and wrong. Nobody in the Senate
can toss nhout moral principles with II moro
careless air OF lofty patr.. rnsnl. Nobody can
Mll', va, 't"9N % S..'orty moro gracefully, II
Sen ,b",,r, .naintnnro with Mr. ldmunis o.
'"' 80 le.e-ted it can mover DE lost TO sight