Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-03-26
why Not Edmunds 7"
From the Utica Herald. |

Some New England journals have been
propounding this conundrum, until they fiat
ter themselves that it contains the essence of
political wisdom. George F. Edmunds is a
man of high ability, of thorough conversance
with the legislation and politics of the past
twenty years, good lawyer, and Of undoubt-
ed personal integrity. We have heard a gen.
tleman of large experience and observation
testify that Mr.. Edmunds is by head and
shoulders the ablest man he has ever known
in public life. His intellect Is critical and
his industry is unfailing; he is naturally OBJ
structivc l. the Senate. and has done great
deal of good in stopping mischievous meas
ures. He has none Of the gifts of popularity.
He repels those who come near to him. He
has few personal and intimate friends even
among those with whom he has been asso-
ciated for years. His acquaintance with the
leading men of the party and the country is
quite as limited as that of most Senators who
have spent even decade at Washington. Out
side the Capital he has never put himself in
accord with the thought or the action of the
people or of their leaders. The severity of
the correspondents has styled him ''St. Je-
rome" to portray his personal appearance
not simply but to intimate his retiring dis
position and his repellant qualities. Instead
of being the ideal candidate. Mr.. Edmunds
possesses a character in which even the excel
lencies arc at variance with popular strength
and with harmonious and effective admins
tration, il he were ever to become Presi-
dent
Why not Edmunds? Because. first, the
dangers TO the Republican party and to the
institutions of the Republic are threat
ened by the third term movement,
and the advocacy of Edmunds tends
to take from the practical opposition
TO that movement votes in the Chicago
convention which ought not to be 80 di-
verted. Popular preference points very d.
reclly to Blaine or Sherman as the choice Of
the large body of those who deprecate the
influences which are abusing the name Of
Grant and organizing an assault on the tradi-
tions of a century under shield of his repu-
tation. To divide the opposition to a third
term is to render easier and more probable
the nomination Of Grant and thus to pave
the way TO the defeat of the Republican
party.
Why not Edmunds Because, in the
second place, if he is not himself to be the
candidate, MIR. Edmunds favors the selection
of Gen. Grant and thus indicates his own
inclination TO fall under the control of the
faction which disregards the spirit Of the
constitution and to sacrifice the best inter-
ests of the nation and of popular institutions
to the fallacy of u strong man."
Why not Edmunds? Because in the third
place, he is negative man, u critic rather
than builder, and because in his practical
action in the Senate he has seldom if ever
broken away from the influences which dom
mated the second administration Of Grant,
and which are now promising the return of
the Bourbons to power though the renomi-
nation of the ex-President He has nothing
of the independence Of William A. Wheeler,
or Joseph r. Hawley, nothing Of the prac-
teal craftsmanship of John Sherman, moth
ing of the brilliant and constructive and
magnetic leadership of Blaine. and of the
personal friendships which would render the
latter by all odds the candidate best calcu-
lated to arouse an enthusiasm which would
break down hostility and carry the country
with storm the like of which we have not
seen since 1910.
Alr. Edmunds comes very near being the
ideal Senator, though his best friends have
often wished that he would assert himself with
more courage against the Senatorial ring. He
would come very near being the ideal justice
of the Supreme Court, for in theory he is al
most always right. 1t is when he is called
to action that he lets his colleagues Of less
elevated convictions and of more ready skill
in partisan manipulation get the benefit Of
his alliance. For either Of these positions
Mr. Edmunds would distance the candidates
likely to be brought into comparison with
him. 1t is no lack Of appreciation of his
worth or of his peculiar abilities that induces
us to say why in our judgment he is not
who ought now TO be pressed for
the presidency. Those who are pressing
him are not all DESTROYS to strengthen the
Grant movement. But the multiplicity of
men who would gladly become Vice-Presi-
dent on the ticket with Grant suggests that
perhaps without their own recognition some
If the advocates Of Edmunds wo,.ld be will
ing to bestow the presidency for third
term on the wandering general, IN order to
perfect the ticket with name personally d
Tavoritc with themselves.
IL the third term is to be prevented, the
need now is for the concentration of its oppo-
lents. The advocacy of E,munds is divi-
sion. Concentration aboutIhis name is impos-
,ible, because the vast array OF the forces is
already committed to another. If he were
o become real candidate his supporters
would be found in the ranks of those who
ire now for Grant. But they would never |
link of him for the presidency, because they |
lgree that he lacks the faculty Of inspiring |
popular favor, even repels those who want |
o be his friends, and has beyond most men |
he disposition Of the '.fretful porcupine."
With the record Of his alliances in the Sen
lte before them. it is one of the curiosites Of |
politics that the harshest critics of Cameron
md Carpenter and the second Grant admins
ration should invent him as candidate for
he Presidency.