Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-05-31
Mr.. EdmundS' Record as
Senator.

but if it be asked what Senator of all
the rs who represent the States in that
| great chamber has in the course of his
Senatorship served the public interest,
as distinguished from personal and pri-
vate interests, most faithfully and we'll,
what Senator to-day stands foremost as
the guardian of the laws and the inter-
tests of the whole people, L fancy the
question would give rise to no dispute
in any well-informed circle of journal
lists or politicians. Neither partisan
ship nor personal prejudice or preference
would prevent them from agreeing that
George F. Edmunds, Senator from Ver-
mont, is the man who deserves this high
need of praise. Others may rise high
er in the public admiration and esteem,
but surely no man deserves better of
the American people than the man who
represents the people, not of his own
State alone, but of all the States, with
invincible courage and unremitting care.
in the United States Senate. 1t is this
high quality of serving the public and
the government as whole, and never
letting local or individual interest come
uppermost. which distinguishes Mr..
Edmunds above other Senators. These
are to be found in the Senate men who
are more adventurers and spectators,
men who represent States, but labor
wholly for personal and private ends.
Happily, they are far from being in the
majority. Most Senators do undoubt-
edly try to do their duty, but always
with sharp eye to what will chiefly
benefit their own State or section. Mr..
Edmunds, more fortunate than others
in his constituency as we'll as in his
statesmanlike instincts, is the man who
is freest to serve, and serves most ably
the nation in the Senate. 1t is not nee
essary to ascribe to him patriotism or
desire for the public welfare above 9TH
ers, who, like Bayard, are able and
faithful servitors of the public. Mr..
Edmunds shares with. Mr.. Bayard the
advantage which comes from represent
ing small and homogeneous common
wealth-an advantage which many a
Senator from larger States would gladly
give all his legislative honors in ex-
change for. But Edmunds has genius
for the details of legislation, and to him
the smallest question seems as worthy
of faithful study and careful settlement
as the largest.
The truth is that it has almost gone
out of fashion for men to be Senators
and nothing more. The kind of devo-
tion to the public service shown in the
career of Mr.. Sumner, for instance, who
never permitted himself to be called out
of the champer while the Senate was in
session, and who was never dissociated
from his Office for a day in his own
thought and activity-such devotion to
public interests is becoming scarcer
every day. 1t seems to be less and less
easy for men to be satisfied with Sen
atorship. 1t is more and more the fash
ion to regard an election to the United
States Senate much as decorations are
regarded in other countries by the sue
cessful men who obtain them-some-
thing to be worn on the person, looked
looked at and enjoyed. But there are a
few Senators, of whom Mr.. Edmunds is
the most noteworthy, who are still salts
fed to be Senators and nothing more.
He is the only Senator, so far as l
know, whe makes the whole business Of
the Senate matter of study and per-
sonal attention. No bill ever passes
that body which has not received his
careful study and criticism. If he does
not know the merits of a measure he
objects to its consideration when it
comes up and it goes over to another
day. He forces the friends of every
private scheme that comes before the
Senate to explain and justify it. He
studies the language of all bills, and
whenever he detects fault he seeks to
remedy it. He never absents himself
from the Senate chamber, except when
some long speech is being made or when
he has obtained the assurance that no
important step will be taken in his ab-
sence. In short, he treats all public
business exactly as if he were "retain-
ed'' by the public as an attorney to care
for their interests. He has saved mil
lions on millions of dollars to the pub
lie treasury, and he never grows weary
in well-doing. He never has any pri-
vate measures of his own to advance,
and his criticism of measures is so i'm
partial that he makes no enemies among
his fellow-senators. He is perfectly sat
isfed with the Office of Senator and the
only other position in public life which
has any attraction for him is that of
justice of the supreme court. If he
could be chief justice of that august tri-
bunal he would probably think himself
at the summit of human dignity and
honor. No man lives who is better fit.
ted for the nIace