The semi-weekly miner., 1884-05-03
RpMUNDs.

The unlocked for result of th
Utica convention has brought tn
name of Senator Edmunds promi
nently before the American peopl
as q candidate for the Presidency
and ss q consequence he is brough
under fire from the press of tn
country. His political friends an
quite as severe in their criticisms q
are his opponents. The Chicago
Tribune, 40 Influential Republican
journal, has this to say about him
Senator Edmunds occupies an ex-
certional, almost an anomalous, po
sition in public life. Though .
Senator Of the United States, he ID
better known as an abls and indus
| trious lawyer, whose abilities have
been employed oflate years by great
corporations. His time, his talent,
and his industry are mainly engaged
in this kind of law practice. He Is
in receipt of an immense income
from the same, estimated as high as
SEQ, 600 q year. He represents In the
United States Senate . small State
whose interests make little demand
upon his time, aud his constituents
are satisfied with the usual dignity
of hie appearance and the general
recognition of his ability. No man
in public life Is so far removed from
the people. He has but q limited
acquaintance even In Congress.
where he has occupied seat so
many years, and almost none among
the people. He has never taken the
pains to inform himself concerning
the standing and the merits of pub
uo men.
If he were elected President it
would be necessary for him to dele
gate the appointing power to some
body more familiar with the availa-
BILE political material Of the day. He
is completely engrossed in his law
practice. He is firm believer in the
of "vested rights" and nat
urally . partisan Of corporation In
fluences. He has stood up in the
courts against the people as an advo-
cate for the corporations so long that
he is not always able to make prop
er distinction when he is In the Sen
ate chamber. An instance of this
may be found in his introduction
during the present session Of q bill
which is designed to extend the time
fifty years and reduce the interest one.
half on the government'ssecond mort
zsge on the subsidized Pacific rail-
roads, the effect of which would be to |
enable them to shirk their obligation,
while the obligation assumed by the |
in their behalf would re-
main as it is. Nobody suspects that
senator Edmunds Is in this case, or
would be in any case, Influenced by
corrupt motives, tut he Is first, last,
md all the time a corporation lawyer
md devoted to tho Interests of mo-
lopolies.
The fact must be admitted by Mr..
Cdmunds' friends that his promi-
renee in this particular would be un-
ortunate in a Presidential candidate
vhen the feeling against corpora
ions, and the apprehension of dan
er from monopolies are as great as
t present in many Northern states.
gain there is no personal magne-
ism in Mr.. Ed,uunds. He could
rouse no enthusiasm or bring out
be full strength of the Republican
ote. His integrity and ability are
OF doubted, but his judgment in
lany things may we'll be questioned.
he fact Of his having opposed by
oeech and vote, the Chinese restric-
on bill, would lose him the Pacific ,
tates and make large lnroads in his
lpport among the trades unions and
nights of Labor in the Northern
nd New England States. These
cts will be taken into consideration
y the Chicago convention and de-
roy his chances for q nomination at
le hands of that body. The Repub-
cans are looking for All available f,
AN, rather than an able statesman
Id wise counsellor. 9