Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-05-23
A CANVASS or THE CANDIDATES.
with Compliments for some Euinnnt
Vernonters,

Arthur, trine ruddier and stouter than
when he was collector at New York. He
wears the same fashionable clothes, and his
hat never can get well back on his head.
Looks like man who enjoyed fast horse
and good dinner, but, after all, careful
President and very appreciative Of the
etiquette Of his Office. His father, fifty years
ago, was poor, struggling Baptist preacher
up in Vermont. The years when Parson
Arthur received five hundred dollars we're
favorable ones. Later when he had drifted
down into New York, his circumstances
became better, and the boy never real
lied actual poverty. STILL it was a
frugal household, full OF kindly LONELINESS
and simplicity, as good DR.. Gregory OF the
civil service commission tells me, for he
used, when senior in college, to 20 over to
the minister's house and sing psalm tunes
with the girls OF Sabbath evening. And il
Mr.. Arthur, Influenced by his wife, became
an Episcopaian, and more worldly than his
pious father, he has never lost the good i'm
pulses OF his youth. He may have done
some lndisCreet things, but they have been
errors OF the head. | do not believe that he
would do anything which he saw was wrong
The Irish blood crops out occasionally, but
In general the President keeps a very good
control over himself. Naturally, he is a
happy man, looks on the bright side. He
knows that he can not be reelected Presi-
dent, but 1t does not sour him, and when he
leaves the White House it will not be to
NOPE, but again to enter active life. The
Presidency was an altogether unexpected
gift. He has taken it philosophically, and
used 1t well.
Blaine never has been so happy as in those
years when as Speaker he had everything
before him. Now he realizes that he has
touched his highest point and his restless,
ambitious. spirit is dissatisfied. He was
great in success, but failure lays heavy
hand upon him. Before he had been in
Washington four years he was one of the
most popular members. He grew rich.
Jealousy arose again.t him. His fight with
Conkling and his famous attack on Mas
sachuselts made him enemies who have
followed him unrelenllugly. | do not be-
lieve that he was ever deliberately
dishonest. His perceptions Of exac,
propriety may not be over fine, but
that any money transaction ever influenced
his vote is not probable. lie wanted TO tie
rich, and his friends constantly gave HIM
dtas Of how to buy securities. Rich men
in Maine, Ike Ex-Governor Coburn, loaned
him what be needed, and some fortunate
speculations followed. He has a kuack of
accretion, AMI the days alter the war were
pulmy ones. And yet his wealth is much
less than many sulp pose. He is not worth
third of million to-day. But the suspicion
Is abroad, and it will never be erased
Vastly different is the calm style of Sem
ator Edmunds's life. He looks older than he
s. The bent figure, white hair and beard,
and solemn voice betoken a man of age.
But he is young, ranking with Messrs.
Erro Hoor nd yulov Mr. 10
never of his guard. He was never known
to do foolish thing. So self possessedis
he that it would be a relief to see him once
make little mistake and 50 have chance
to correct himself. The very opposite of
Blaine; much liked by few, but rather
| feared by the many Blaine likes to enter
tain, rejoices in great dinners, dresses well,
would like always to be in the public eye.
Edmunds lives quietly, has small parties
over pleasant table, wears an old
hat. Meet him anywhere and he is
the courtly, elegant gentleman, equal TO any
occasion. His father and mother were plain
people, small Vermont farmers of the best
stamp. The son, a thoughtful boy, they
sent him to school, but not to college. Some
discussion was had in the family about his
| being doctor, hut it came IT, nothing, and
he went to Burlington to study law. Iu
all New England there is no more
cultivated place than Burlington with
| its University, whose corner stone Llfay-
cite laid, aud its refined society. To this
| day subtle fragrance hangs over the town.
| lis bar is made OF wits its library, statues,
| and hospital are indicative Of liberality and
| taste. II was the atmosphere in which
young Elmunds would thrive and in time
he came H. be great lawyer. Being
| a Republican politics were open to him.
Another young attorney of the town, Edward
| J. Phelps, The most brilliant man III New
England to-day. was dCbarrcd thcrefron
because he was a Democra' but to Z l.
| munds every honor cane almost unsouIh'.
Added to great aw practice, easily netting
him twenty thousand Il liars year from his
arguments in the Supreme Court, he has
been undsiurhed by financial pressure. A
man Of his habits will always save money
and | have no doubt that he is worth a:
much as Blaine At home in Bur
lliugton the people set him dowr
So He is not liberal not popular bu
respected. His law, his books, his study o
internal, nal law. make upa nell-blauceC
life, such as is only possible to man who il
out of he whiil of great city, far from th'
anxieties of politics, at liberty to cultivate
himself, and s,il self made. One of the
most practical of people, careful Of the pen
MES, having no sympathy with over Jealous
reformers. an sdmirer Of Conkling, to
lower of Gen. Grant, believer in old ways
he is the idol of those from whom he is tn,
opposite, because they have faith in his sta
bility and Judgment.
Take the others-Liucoln, Harrison, HaW
ley. Lincoln VISA Presidents son and {
graduate Of Harvard. But he was born in s
democratic home, and never had other sur
roundings. To-day he is simple, unassum
irg, modest. He lives quietly with hi
family. HIS wife was gentle Mary Harlan
whose father was an Iowa St nator durln.
the war. Lincoln is a stoutly built man
with deep chest, strong limbs, and heavy
brown heard. Go into his office at the Wa
Department and he meets you with hearty
frankuese. There IS not concealed alou
him. He is nothing so able a man as eithe
Blaine or Edmuuds. But he is thoroughly
Trustworthy aud ambitious to C
right. His associations are good, and thost
who know him hest vOuch for his future
Harrisun's family is iliustri0us, His grea
grandfather was governor 81 Virginia in tu'
last century his grauiflt.cr WAS President
| His father Was An active man, but GuI Ttct
and young Ben Was forced 10 work Tor hl
leduca,inp. When the war broke out lie " at
young lawyer, with money enough taveC
to buy him house, and that was all. Iher
he went to the war, rose to be general ant
only came DO when the war had closed
The Republicans OF Indiana have made hin
their leader lie is As clean as the day, an ablt
lawyer against whom no unkind word il
ever said, aud typical Western man Of th'
best description. Hawley has in him essen
tial qualities for success. Although born II
I North Carolina, his father was New Eng
land man, and he has lived in Connection
since he was thirteen years old. 10 the wa
) he rose from a lleuteuancy to be msjo
general has been governor, and in boil
branches of Congress s. His management o