The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-12-16
Pom Picture OF the Radical Leader, Edmunds, Of
Vermont.

The central figure in the Senate cham ber
week before last, during the Republican
struggte against fate, has been George F.
pearance is rather striking. Not very tall
when upon his fegs, he Las that great
length of spine which i'd regarded in insn-
rance olices as promise, If not a guaran-
tee, of longevity. For ali L know to the
contrary, Edmunds may be ope hundred
years old already. The tough Iuddiness of
his skin and the uncertain grayness of his
hair and beard are of the kind that defy
conjecture as to age. With his long, fur
rowed forehead running up to point above,
his long gray beard running down to q
point below, his ghostly attitudes aud ges
lures, and his archiepiscopat habits of attire,
Edmunds looks like well preserved speci
men of the ancient Christian Fathers.
A dozen yeara ago this long headed law
yer came into the United States Senate
from region chiefly famed for its verdure
aud its maple sugar sap. But there was
nothing yerdapt and nothing sugary about
the new Seaator from Vermont-an acci-
dental Senator, by the way, for he emerged
from obscurity to fill a chair vacated by
death. He fret made himself respected on
the floor by his sipguiar!y accurate memo
ry and bis close knowledge of technical
law. He came to be considered by the
majority as a dry hut Indispensable work
of reference. He was appealed to on points
that men of affairs are too busy to hunt
up and men of genius do not care to
burden their brains with. rsdnaily be
built up the little pomp of a law library on
and around his desk. This imposing g
adjunct and the venerable appearance of
his beard inspired certain awe in the
galleries. The awe wac Loaf in yawns
whenever Edmpnds arose to speak.
As the evolution of Edmunds advanced,
he began to manifest new abilities. His
memory gave him q great advantage, his
power of application q greater. For ten
years he has been digging away at the
Rules of the Senate and the principles of
parliamentary law. The result of his in
dustry was apparent in the Electoral bill
debate of one year ago, when he stepped TO
the front as the very best parliamentarian
in Congress, not excepting Blaine, of Maine.
Edmunds' mastery of the Quirks, prece-
dents, dodges, tricks and surprises of leg
isiative strategy is wonderful. He never
founders in any question of procedure; be
ia never of his feet.
Now, to these qualities in a debater add
the still more valuable one of perfect self-
control. Edmunds angry; Edmonds dis
composed; Edmunds discouraged Ed
munds taken aback, is spectacle reserved,
fear, for the day of judgment. If a keg
the Senate Chamber and hnrl into space
every honorable member except himself
and the Chair, Edmonds would wriggie up
ont of his seat and move a call of the roll,
to ascertain W neither quorum was present,
as calmly and dispassionateiy as if he was
moving the previous question on $40, 900
appropriation bill. No unexpected motion,
argument, or vote ever surprised him or
cut him of from his resources. Nd accnsa-
ton or lnslnuation ever exasperAted him.
Attacking him with sarcasms or innuendoes
is like throwing India crackers at an ice
berg. His perfect coolness in debate re,
sem bies Ben Buffers, only Batier's ia a
naturally al iraacibie man and has nerves;
Edmurds does not know how to be wrath
full, and makes Il poor botch of it when it
serves his purpose to appear SO.
The Vermont Senator has improved
greatly both in the matter and in the man
ner of his oratory. Formerly he had the
reputation of being the dutfest speaker in
tue Senate. His speeches we're pbrased
like legal brief, aud his rhetoric was that
of mortgage deed, His delivery was like
the music of q Rheumatic wooden pump.
Practice and canstaut self-discipline have
infuse" acme life into his parchment SEN
.snces, and be DOW says what be has to say
without clearing the galleries.
Cold, clear headed, logical and merciiess,
ahrewd and ready in retort, intellectually
inscriptions, caring nothing about con
sistency or Inconsistency, except as a
weapon TO nee against others, partizan to
the end of every hair in his grizzled beard,
capable OF lending his great powers to
ienobe purposes, Edmunds is a dangerous
mau on the wrong side of a question of
right or wrong. Nobody in the Senate eau
toes about moral principles with more
careless air of lofty patriotism. Nobody
can wear the mask of sincerity more grace
fnliy. 1t takes some acquaintance with
Mr.. Edmunds TO see the grin that is alwsys
behind the mask, tut once detected it can
never be lost to sight.
Oliver Wendell Holmes says: 1t was a
young womsn with many white louuces
around ner as the Dlanet Saturn haa rim pR tn at