Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-08-06
c.ca Mere.

To iilc Editor q. The Free Press a'.d Time;
justice 10 myself requires that y"llG read
or; should Ic Informed that my former ar-
ticlc, which appeared in the FEE Pass OF
aug. 81, WIS written with reference TO voai
editorial OF July ed, and the speech of Mr..
PHELPS reported in the same number of y"uI
papcr. do not complain of the delay in
The publication of my article, but | do Oh
ject To comments which could not have been
properly made if there had been no delay.
read your description Of Mr.. Phelps, and,
accepting 1t AS III the main correct AMI
charmed by it. | proceeded TO taste The
fruit of such Il c0mcly and beautiful tree.
You can hardly imagine my disappointment
when found such an awful discrepancy
between the tree and lis fruit. between such
eminent personal accomplishments and
fitness and such a development of them as
that speech presents. ! see now where my
mistake lay had TIE old fashioned notion
that the most, or among the most. Important
personal accomplishments of A gentleman,
were entire caldor and trutliulncss that
these waning, there is little COM arativcly
valuable left. | WAS green enough. so
when | saw a man at the head of his party
bearer. addressing the representatives of his
constituents, deliberately assail the motives
and traducc the character and misrcprcscnt
the spirit and pm poses of a great majority
of our people, it seemed To me that there
mus; he a vitality defective quality
in the personal character of our dis
tinguishcd Democratic candidate. ! found
no fault with Mr.. Phelps for his political
faith but his want of candur and truthful
ness seemed To me to call FOR severe oondcal-
nation The more capable, accomplished
and brilliant, a man may be, the less excuse
can he offered for his moral pcrvcrsencss.
If what Mr.. Phelps gays of Republicans is
true, of course my criticism ialls 10 the
ground If Mr. Phelps labors under a mis-
take. the possibility OF which his eminent
ability would seem 10 preclude, then the
edge Of my complaint Is turned. would
not do him an injustice. His fame, 81 far as
well grounded, belongs To las all but | ia
feel that in estimating the characters and
personal accompl shmcnts Of Il man, we can
not properly ignore personal honor and truth.
We ought To insist upon the fair treatment
of u party as well Of individual men.
A party is what lis members m;i!,c il. To
exalt the individual and condemn, without
stint, the party which he has adopted AS the
expression III MS WINS tlp'N ll'l H''ii w
reasonable. q that the day may hurry I" lis
tawning when it shall lie regarded as an
essential personal accomplishment that Il
mans character shall hc built upon truth.
We admircs brilliant talents, but We honor
truth and manifest sincerity mora. Whatever
may he truhfully affirmed q: individuals,
doubtless the great mass OF both the Rrpnh-
lican and Democratic parties are patriotic
and intend the highest welfare "i the
people and the honor al the Republic.
What they differ in is as To- the best way Ia
do this. the hest policy Ia adopt. IKE t"
see men in Il political campaign krc? them
selves 10 the discussion ni the r,al issue. !
shonlh not have thought ni 'rllcisinT Nr
Phelps. ii he had charged upon ill" r'al pan
cipIcs of the Republican lariv, instead OF
accusing them of What they az not .inliy-
Whoever wrongfully accus'an.S ia'iy H.. o
ly, assills me, personality. O. g.. W