Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-03-19
Edmunds for President.



mundss" And nobody has given reasons in
the negative. We appeal to the experience
of every Republican voter. The common
reply is, .s'rhat would suit me :" ed
munds would he the man if we could NOM
mate him." We have yet to hear an objcc
ton TO the man. Everybody says he would
make an admirable President. Take notice
that the name always elicits cordial endorse
mcnt, and not seldom personal enthusiasm.
al should like to work for Edmunds :" Il
should like to take the stump for Edmunds;
"there would be no defence to make for Ed
munds :" There is nothing about Edmunds
that needs explanation" This private con-
viction is exactly the thing that makes great
public enthusiasm.
Edmunds is one of the ablest men Of this
generation in the Senate, he is thoroughly
trained in politics and craftsmanship. lie
has a mastery comprehension of all the great
subjects that have been before us. In debate
he is great power. not by the use OF rhetoric
or what is termed eloquence, for he detests
all display and pretence, but by sheer force
of brains. Like Webster, he has the clear
ness of statement that amounts todemonstra-
ito n. He is a great lawyer. He unites the
rare greatness Of keenness in details with the
most comprehensive mastery of principles.
His mind is lucid and unconfused, through
and through. His moral soundness is
equal to his mental. No man ever had so
much as a thought of questioning his intcg-
rity.
In politics his ''stalwartism" is acceptable
to the most stalwart. Nor is there disciple
of the generous discomfort" in criticism
who does not respect him. 1t is rarely or
never given to a man TO SO unite the respect
of all shades and classes. Every Democrat
in Congress will speak well of him. Yet he
is the sharpest critic in the Senate, and conf
pels himself to perform great deal of vastly
important service in objecting to party or
unwise legislation.
He is able in every field-law. legislation,
craftsmanship, practical politics.
lie is careful in making up his judgments.
and firm in maintaining them.
He is utterly without fear or embarrass-
| ment in expressing and maintaining opin
lens. He has the great qualities of equity
and courage.
lie is permcated in every drop and fibre
with the spirit of American ideas of liberty
and political progress.
He is available. Every Republican news
paper would speak well of him-every one,
stalwart or liberal-evcry neutral paper,
every religious paper with Republican lean
inss indeed every Democratic paper would
acknowledge his ability, his learning, his ex-
perience his honesty. his fearless adherence
| to principle In two weeks after his NOM
ina.ion every journal and every orator would
he enthusiastic The Republicans would
only have to say, There he stands" An
insinuation against his reputation would
cause only laugh everywhere. That is un-
assailable He would unite every faction of
the party, and sweep in every honest indie
pendent voter.
Why should not New England present Ed
munds at Chicago?
From the Worcester Spy, March 1O,l
THE NEW ENGLAND CANDIDATE.
The mention of Mr. Edmunds's name as a
candidate for the Presidency is received with
respect everywhere. All sortsand conditions
of Republicans. stalwarts, liberals, independ-
ents, civil service reformers, agree that in
character, talent. experience in public af-
fairs, he has no superior among our public
men. Upon his reputation for absolute in
tegrity no shadow of suspicion has ever rest
ed. His courage, tirmness and tenacity OF
purpose are well proved. There is no men,
Der of either House of Congress who can be
more implicitly trusted to surrender nothing
of Republican principle, or who, in the
stormy conflicts of the past, when the party
has been divided as to questions of policy,
has provoked less censure from either side for
conceding too much or not enough Yet
there is no one who has held more decided
opinions or expressed them with less reserve.
Many mischievous scheme seeking the APP
prevail of the Senate has been exposed by his
shrewd questioning, or made ridiculous by
his pungent satire. Though a fearless and
hard hitter in the debate he has made nc
enemies among his Senatorial associates, be-
cause he is always fair and courteous, and is
manifestly actuated by public, never by
personal motives. He has always strictly
observed the boundaries that separate the
executive from the Senatorial functions, has
never obtruded his Twice upon the Presi-
dent unasked nor sought to control appoint
ments He has not been member of any
Senatorial group. and if he were President
there can be no doubt that he would main
tain the dignity an assert the authority OF
the executive office, not delegatlng any OF
his powers to purchase compliance or reward
servilty. Every interest of the country, oil
of the party, would be rs safe in his hands
as in those Of any man to whom they could
be entrusted.
All this is undisputed. II will hardly be
questioned that if he were nominated hi
| would I've M sirnng q candidate as any ont
| who has been proposed. The stalwalt Re
publicans, of course. would vote for him, as
they would for any thorough going party
man as against any possible Democratic can
ddate The independents with Republican
leanlngs would accept him gladly, as at least
the equal in ability and uprightness of his
opponent, whoever the latter might be. The
civil service reformers would acknowledge
his declarations and conduct as satisfactory
evidence of soundness in their faith ant
would trust in his sincerity and firmness &c
give effect to his convictions. The liberals
would find in his recorded utteranccs no evi
dence of sectional hatred or uncharitable
ness. No one who desired or would be will
ing to support Republican candidate could
find in his acts or speech anything that needs
defence or excuse or explanation. Is there
any other Republican whose nomination ha.
been suggested who has so many and so great
conceded merits with so few drawbacks, and
upon whom all sections OF the party and
those hanging upon the verge of it would SC
cordially unite We do not know of any.
1t NAV be conceded that Gen. Grant would
be stronger in the South, and might possibly
carry one or two Southern States, but thai
is at the best extremely doubtful, and ther,
is no doubt that he would Il to poll the full
Republican vote in many Northern States
and would perhaps lose some of them. Nc
other candidate has been proposed who
would be sure of carrying any State thai
could not with at least equal confidence bt
claimed for Mr. Edmunds.
But even this may be granted, yet 1t vii
be said, as it has been said, it is Impossible
to nominate him. and effort for that end vii
be threwn away We do not admit it. Or
the contrary it is our opinion that, with til,
exception of Gen. Grant, who may not I'M
probably have majority of all the votes IL
the convention on the first ballot, but whost
strength as it seems to u.s. is likely to DECLINE
rather than to increase if the contest is pro
longed, no one has much better prospect o.
the nomination than Mr.. Edmunds. PROVIDED
he has in the convention such support a:
New England can give him with reasonable
effort. Grant, Blaine and Sherman are The
leading candidates; the partsans OF each art
becoming somewhat embittered as the con
test for delegates goes on, and 1t IS not un
likely that the votes will I've so divided among
them as to make the nomination OF either
impossible. Mr.. Edmunds is personally &C
ceptabe to all; he has no enmitics to over
come; his conceded strength as candidate
will tend to concentrate upon HIM the votes
of those who find that the nomination of the
man OF their nrSt cnolce Is hopeless. bu'. VI
course, the nomination of MIR. Edmunds, o.
anybody else, is impossible unless thos'
who desire it are willing 10 MAXI
some effort for it, What may be pos
sible elsewhere is not for us TO say. Oul
first business is with Massachusetts,. If
as we believe, the majority of the Republi
cans of Massachusetts would he better salts
fed with the nomination of Mr.. Edmund.
than with that of Grant, Blaine or Sherman
it is their duty to see that their delegates t'
Chicago are men who will truly represent
Massachusetts Republicanism, and will us'
every legitimate means to secure his nomna
ton.
PERSONAL.
Henry Hubert, son of President Hubert
! ! LII i..rS Z l4