Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-13
Northern Editors and Senators.


Colonel Albert Clarke, formerly editor Of
the st. Adams Messenger, has written some
very interesting letters to that journal from
Washington, where he has been spending
the winter. He has been close and intel
| igent observer of the progress of recent po-
litical events at the capital. His opportu-
mites for observation, together with his
former intimate acquaintance with national
politics, entitle his words to very respectful
consideration. He has been an interested
spectator of the great debate now going on
in the senate, and it is interesting to note
the effect of the impressions made upon his
mind and opinions by seeing with his own
eyes, and hearing with his own ears, the
combatants in this struggle. Colonel Clarke
writes of northern editors and senators:
"And here let me say that in my Judgment the
cause of republicanism would be greatly strength
ened in the country II all the editors were to look
down upon this contest from the senate galleries
for about one day. At home they do not see the
brazen impudence of manner with which the
words they tamely print are uttered. In their
distant sanctums they do not appreciate, az they
would here, the cool audacity of men who Justify,
destroy the government, and In the very next
sentence claim now TO be the very best friends
that the government and the constitutional
amendments and the negroes have. From their
cool and critical distance in the north our editors
do not realize how the republican senators feel,
evenly matched in members as they are, strug
Cling to uphold blood-beught results that are
practically overthrow under the government by
the men opposite them who failed to destroy the
government; laboring to maintain the truths Of
history and finding themselves confronted by
denial, at times plausible, at other times an
CRY, but at all times the most positive and aston
ishing; desiring to proceed in order, under the
rule Of the majority, and accomplish the business
of the session. but prevented by a minorty's taxi
ing advantage Of datory motions and falsely pre-
tending that thus they are serving, not their
party, but the country, while the majority are
willing to serve the country only after the party
has been provided for; tainted with party divls-
ions and dread to go into executive session for
fear 10 will reveal breaches that cannot he healed
while their opponents, drawn up in a semi-circle,
are solid aggressive and insulting This Is the
situation Of the republican senators, and IL 1t had
been foretold fifteen years ago, the prophet would
have been laughed to scorn as the widest dreamer
in the land The south Is solid because II is igno
rant. The north is divided because every man
thinks, and is allowed to think, and act for him
self. But the solid south is a constant menace
not perhaps, of the Union, but Of political liberty
and of intellectual and material development
People in the north are wont to think that because
the war is over there is nothing to be done but go
forward This is true so far as they are concerned
But let them sit down, as the senators have done,
and face the solid south a while; try to go forward
in their own way, and find that the south has
way of its own and will not consent; try to illus
trate the freedom of individual judgment and find
themselves laughed at for divisions try to
strengthen party by customary political patron
age, and find every so-called reform faction aided
and allotted by the enemy, not because 1t is re-
formatory, but because it is schismatic and weak
ening-let them face all this, and they will real
ize far more than the thunder of any campaign
has impressed them that the first duty Of the re-
publicans is to unite, and stay united until all
men, everywhere in the country, are as free and
enlightened as themselves