Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-31
Senator Edmunds' Letter.

The Massachusetts republicans invited
Senator Edmunds TO speak to them on ma
tional political questions at their approach
ing state convention. The senator declines
the invitation, but in his letter Of declina-
ton briefly outlines the work which the
party should now take up. II has been
warmly commended by all the leading papers
of the country. The letter is as follows;
Dear Sir II have received yours Of the 10th
instant. am sincerely sorry that cannot, prop
erly, have the pleasure OF accepting the very
gratifying invitation Of the republican state CEN
trial committee OF Massachusetts, to attend and
| address the convention ut Worcester on the 21st
proximo. My ll-health In the spring led me to
devote the summer to Its restoration by appealing
to the forest and the sky las have with success)
and by complete abstention from public speaking
So have hitherto declined several invitations to
speak-one or two OF them for the very day Of
your meeting. | cannot, therefore, fairly make
an exception now, tempting as the occasion Is.
Could ! do so, should be happy to visit Worces-
ter and meet the representatives OF the republic
cans OF Massachusetts, who, not long ago. did me
great, undeserved, and very much undesired
honor. To those who have faith In republican
government, every convention OF any political
party is a matter Of interest. The character,
Independence and courage Of its members are a
valuable index OF the progress OF the people who
have chosen them, and n comparison Of the make
up OF the conventions Of the different parties will
usually throw light on political tendencies quite
as significant as the declarations OF platforms.
The history OF your convention shows that your
political faith has come down in living stream
from the times OF Samuel Adams and John Han
cock, and, like all great truths, 1t can be applied
to the affairs OF to-day az conveniently and justly
as to those Of a century ago. The contest for the
practical supremacy Of our principles is one that,
In the nature OF things, rarely ends for, In some
nt1, lat,, Of
in benefit and equal in burden-is always men,
aced Some Of the immediate measures for these
final objects OF good government, think, ought
to be To preserve and improve the laws for the
security of national civil rights to make as
effective as possible provisions for the purity and
fairness Of congressional elections TO establish
by law the methods OF ascertaining the result Of
presidential elections, r. to give the conclusive
effect the constitution demands to the action Of
each state, and to prevent the exercise by the
Of Of tb "a, ae ntS{e P
constituted authority of the state In such case to
so Improve the civil service to diminish and, IL
possible remove the evils of place hunting and
the interchange OF favors between the members
OF the legislative and executive branches of the
government, and to free the tenure OF great
number OF officers from dependence upon political
favor or political opinion TO read Just the revenue
laws upon the basis Of producing the greatest
revenue with the least and nearest equal burden
70 the people, and of developing and encouraging
the industrial pursuits Of every calling of our
citizens to bring both the theory and practice Of
the government In regard to the currency TO the
point OF fixed and uniform metallic standard OF
values and making coin only legal tender in the
payment OF debts and TO promote 80 far as the
national government can lawfully do so, the
increase and diffusion Of education among all the
citizens, and in every part OF the republic
Surely, II am right in these views there is occu-
patton enough for one grand party to induce us
to drop all internal rivalries and dssensions,
wherever they may exist, and to strive, In unity
and with zeal, for the success that am confident
Will follow. do not doubt that the republicans
OF Massachusetts will do their full share in this
good work. Very respectfully yours
GEORGE +. EDMUNDs.
Charles A. Scott, Chairman Massachusetts Repub
Hcdn State Central Committee Lo,ceu, Mass.