Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-08-13
Che Democratic N,minee for Governor.
IN, III. D-nItInl.nr., p-I1..nlY l


Mr.. Edward j. Phelps of Burlington, tie
Democratic nominee for Governor OF Yer
mont, is a gentleman Of whom we desire to
speak with all possible respect and candor.
He is man Of fine abilities, superior eduoa-
ton and culture and has long held a leading
position as lawyer Young Phelps imbibed
his fathers political sentiments, and started
out in political life ''silver gray Wing,
and 50 continued until the breaking up of
the Wing, and the formation of the Republi-
can party. lie then, as was natural, became
Il Democrat. and his political affiliations,
more or less pronounced. have since been
with that party. His intense hostility TO the
anti-slayery principles and purposes OF the
Republican party left him no choice. lie
must be n Democrat or nothing, politically ;
and so. sympathizing fully with that party
in IFS pro-slavery spirit, though having little
else in common with it, he cast his lot with
the Democracy Ordinarily lie has taken
but little part, and apparently but little in
tcrcst, in public affairs, and has seldom ap
poarcd as the champion of Democratic prin-
ciplcs, and never, we believe, as an active
party manager. lie has little taste, VIC
think, tor such things, and no very high
opinion, personally, of most of his political
associates. Young Phelps was born, as the
saving is, with silver spoon in his mouth,
was nurturcd in aflluence, educated without
regard TO economy, and grew up to manhood
surrounded by all the Injuries. as well az by
all the refining influences, which wealth and
high position give lie has never known.
for moment, from his infancy up, anything
Of the ragged and thorny pathway which
nearly all American youths are compelled to
tread, imbibing, the while, those broad and
deep sympathies with struggling humanity
which actual experience alone can develop.
He has lived all lis life in kind Of higher
social atmosphere, having little to do, and
absolutely nothing in common, with the
great mass of the people. BY birth, educa-
ton, social position, habit and taste, he is
probably the most Intensely aristocratic gen.
ileman in the State of Vermont.
His record during the war was not such as
10 commend him TO patriotic citizens. Too
refined and gan,cmanly to be guilty OF the
gross d;sioyalty in speech and indecencies in
action in which some of his present political
friends and supporters INDUCED, he was yet
a chronic Pathfinder and grumbler, whose
influence, we arc sorry 10 be complied to say,
tended to obstruct and discourage all meas
urcs and efforts looking to n vigorous prose-
cutiOu OF INC W.I- W lille uOl u
perhcad, like some We wot of-instinct and
breeding made this impossible-he was yet a
copperhea,!. whose sympathies were always
understood TO bc against those who were
struggling to suppress the shareholders re-
bellion
And this i; the gentlemen whom the De
mocracy of Vermont have selected as their
candidate for Governor A greater burlesque
could be hardly be imagined. He is the
very aniipode of any possible conception OF
Democracy, either as regards principles, or
the elements of which the party is composed !;
and the very men who have put him in NOM
ination know it. lie is put forward, as is
Gen. Hancock, simply as a respectable mask,
to conceal all manner of iniquity in the party
behind him. But this too common dodge
will deceive nobody in the world, not even
themselves and the vote, on the eth day OF
September, will show that the people of Yer
mont are not to be taken in by any such jug
uliufr trir,-a