Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-18
An INTERVIEW WITH SENATOR Ed
MINDS,

lHc nHducIIulu tHttS PRINTS WuhI pur-
ports to be an interview with Senator Ed
munds. There are some points in it-such
for instance as the rather frank criticism of
President Arthur - that make us doubt
whether Senator Edmunds had such an In
tervew with the newspaper man but in
certain other respects the views he is repre-
sented as holding are those that it is well
known he cntertains. The report of the in
terview is as follows
Your correspondent having observed that
very cmiuent Republican had remarked to
him that Of the many prominent men IN the
Republican party MIR. Eimunds would
carry most weight before the people as Prtsi
DENTAL candidate the Senator, srokng his
flowing gray beard, replied in voice half
serious and half jOcular Now my very
estimable friend, you are very kind indeed,
but do not place me in that list. Now, if my
real friends desire to do me service they
will not talk about me in that connection. |
am now happy man and why should !
wish to be burdened with the cares of an Of
fee, the duties of which are enough to keep
ten men busy. The "a hours are not long
enough for the work of the President. |
have tried to serve my country in the SEN
ate, and have done the same thing for the
people of the good State of Vermont. | be-
leve | have their confidence and respect, and
| believe | can always rely on that then
why should allow myself to be drawn into
the perpleXities and trials of national politics /?
| have, | believe, the courage of my convic-
tons, and | sometimes think that that is not
an element of strength in modern politics."
THAT may be true, g." was replied, but the
attempt has been made to place politics upon
higher plane, and it is the duty of any citi-
zen TO respond to the call of service to the
State when that call comes unsolicited"
"That may all be very fine as an abstract
proposition" said the learned Senator from
Vermont. at sounds well enough, ard
have no doubt that recent experiences in the
Republican party have been productive of
substantial good | believe that the Repub-
lican party is stronger to-day than it has
been at any time within the past decade !
am confident that the Republican candidate
will be elected if the selection be made with
reference to party regeneration through the
reverses of 1882. These were but the warn
Jugs of the people. They did not mean
change OF principles was wanted or that
there was any loss of confidence in the abil-
ity of the Republican party to govern the
country wisely, honestly, economically and
VIGIL, llHl lHtIc eAlsleu u u.s.
agreement as to methods aud personal cou.
troll of internal party management. The peo-
plc-the great majority of the pcople-are at
heart with US, | can Judge This well from my
own sources ofinformation for this same opin-
i'm with respoctto myself asa pros pective eau
didate, and of which wish, as friend,
you would dispose IS your mind, has brought
me mass of letters, | might say appalling
in numbers and beyond the measure of my
strength to answer, and all uniting in express
sions of the confidence of the people every
where in Republican principles, but show at
The same time the importance OF the selection
Of both candidates on the ticket in Difference
20 the sentiments of the great mass of the
people. A large number OF these letters have
come from persons with whom | have per-
sonal acquaintance, but many more, both
from near and far-some from away out on
the Pacific coast and down in the Southern
States-about the merits of the writer's of
which | can only judge by excellent writing,
purity of grammar and righteousness of eX-
preston, and all find agree upon the pros
poets OF Republican success. / have not
been able to answer these letters. | should
certainly like to do 81, as they deserve
"All this being so, you do injustice to
yourself aud tQ your friends not to encourage
them in their party zeal"
"Ihat | am willing to do 50 far as | can, ="
said the Senator; "but they so very kindly
associate my own name with what they have
to say that it would fret require an arsu-
ment to convince them and perhaps they
might not be satisfied even then that | am
not candidate, that would have little time
left for their main proposition, that the safe
ty OF Republican institutions and the insure
ment of just government, judicious expeudi-
furgs npacp and prOSDpiitV buSinpas security