Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-08-13
Senator Edmunds en- the National Issues
HIS SPEECH AT WATERBURY.


Senator Edmunds was introduced by the
venerable Ex-Governor Dillingham; and re-
ccived with hearty applause. The Senator
spoke about an hour. He had not the art,
be said, to make his audience laugh, neither
did he wish to make 1t cry, especially any
Democrats, if they were present. unless they
shed the tears that precede repentance Ii
passing aliusion TO the flag just raised, he
referred to the recent outrage on the National
colors in Missouri as illustrating the actual
feeling towards the National government
among the masses of the people in the old
slave States, where Democratic party is su-
preme in its power, for even In Missouri,
though not one of the States in rebellion,
there is no Republican party outside OF st.
Louis.
He briefly reviewed those safeguards OF
the constitution OF Vermont which secure to
every citizen equal rights and the privilege
of casting his ballot in accordance with his
free choice, and of having it honestly count
ed. Democrats in this State would tight,
and if necessary, die for the maintenance OF
this privilege. But outside of Vermont or
the Northern States. in all of which Demo-
as IL party organization in Washington.
Democrats vote against all these rights and
liberties. The individual Northern Demo-
cratic Senator or representative, who would
lay down his life for equal rights in his own
State, doesn't like To be looked at askance
by his party associates and SO bends to the
dictalion OF the caucus Of party, the vot-
ing strength of which lies in the South.
Out of forty-two Democratic Senators, thir-
ty come from the South. Eleven of these
Southern States tried to destroy the govern
mont because the North insisted that Il
guarantee proposed by Democrat, Mr..
Wilmot of Pennsylvania, securing our un-
settled territories TO the domain of freedom,
should be held sacred. The ratio of South
ern vote to Northern in the solid Democratic
vote in the United States senate is thirty to
twelve. The Democratic party having its
power and weight in the South is the rea-
son why it votes against making the National
constitution like those ot the Northern
States. They want 10 tiN the national laws
to suit themselves \ Democrat in Yer
mont believes in the honesty aud dignity OF
labor, the right of every citizen To have a
voice in making the laws. Slavery instilled
different belief into the minds OF Southern
men They believe in an aristocracy-it is
not changed any since the days of slavery.
1t is amazing, separating judgment from
partisan feelings, that any intelligent being
desiring justice and equality, is willing to
put his destiny in the hands of these men
If the Democratic party wins, who is going
to make the laws? Only four Northern
States gave Democratic majorities in the last
election. 1t is quite certain there will be u
smaller number of Northern States Demo-
cratic in the coming election, and there Will
be no Southern States going Republlcan-
Where is the power to elect Il Democratic
President and house of Representatives 1t
is the same power that rcbelled. suppose
the South is in earnest in Its desire that by
cones should be by-gones that fraternal
feeling should prevail, does this furnish any
reason why we should put the Government
in their hands, instead Of keeping ii in our
own Suppose they are admitted back TO the
Union after the srcritice of hundreds of thou
sands of lives, and millions of money wasted
for money spent in war is vast
ed, suppose they are sorry, is this any rea-
sou why the North should want 10 turn the
Government over into their hands, for when
you turn il over TO the Democratic party you
turn it over To the South. The Democratic
party has no hopes of carrying any Northern
iNtultS lutN Hot Ntho hSo
Turn the Government over TO them-they
have got the President, thirty members Of
the Senate and the House of Representatives
in the same ratio-where is the President of
the United States; Do you think he is
going To save you: The President is the
party, of the party, and can he nothing
else.
What measures do they want TO carry out
In 1864, on the adoption of the thirteenth
amendment TO the constitution abolishing
slavery, the Democrats in Congress from
free States voted against it. On the adop-
ton of the fourteenth and fifteenth amend
mcnts, securing to every citizen the posses
sion Of his property, his life, equal rights and
enfranchising race, every Democrat in
Congress from the Northern States voted
with the South against them, even when his
State voted for the amendments. Why :
Because these amendments were contrary to
the Southern idea of Government-thata II
few men should rule, Government by the