The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-06-10
Senator Rdmunds.

tor Edmunds overheard. Talk of such
purpose is puerile and its serious con-
sideratiou downright imbecility. Here
and there in the state can original
Blaine mans" disappointment may
have got the better of his good
sense-in talk, and outside newspapers,
like the Boston Journal and Ne,c York
Tribune, conspicuous for their partisan
devotion to Mr.. Blaine's political for
tunes at the expense of even national
republican success, in spirit of petty
personal revenge, have been reaching
out for Mr. Edmunds' throat. Neither
the people of Vermont nor the repub-
licans of the Union are so foolhardy.
Mr.. Edmunds was acknowledged by
political friends and enemies to be the
man having superior qualifications for
the presidency of this nation. He was
an ideal candidate. He has done no
act that detracts from, or in the slight
est degree modifies, except to heighten,
the just eulogiums his name called
forth before and at the Chicago con-
vention. SO there would be embarrass-
ment and qualification to any self
respecting person in an attempt to
give any sufficient reason for engaging
in scheme to drop him out of the SEN
ate at the end of his present term. 1t
is folly to consider the matter at all, I'M
less the senator shall express a desire
to retire from the service of the state,
and give very substantial and conclu-
sive reasons why his wishes should be
respected. That, or equivalent contin-
gencies, might open the lists to con-
test which might be spirited and in
which there might be very deter
mined competition, but neitherth state
nor the republicans of the nation will
allow Mr.. Edmunds to leave the senate
for any trivial or insufficient reason.
One of the alleged competitors for the
senatorship, in the alleged scheme to
"punish Mr.. Edmunds for grim adj
herence to honest and reasonable con-
victons, Hon. John W. Stewart, repre-
sentative in congress from the first
district, makes to reporter of the
Free Press the following emphatic and
honorable avowals: 81 authorize you
to say that | am not nursing any sena-
torial BOOM and that am not and
will not be a candidate for the senate
against Mr.. Edmunds. The public
welfare, in my opinion, demands the
retention of Mr.. Edmunds. He is the
most influential man in cOngress-the
longest-headed, the most industrious,
the most trusted. His long experience,
intimate acquaintance with the legisla-
ton of the last fifteen years, practical
wisdom, acknowledged honesty, and
his strength as counsellor and de-
batter, make him power at Washing
ton. How influential he is there, can
hardly be understood by persons who
do not visit Washington. Those who
do, know the truth of what l say. 1t
would be regarded as public calamity,
there and among intelligent men all
over the country, if the people of YER
mont should fail to return him to the
senate-and / do not believe they will
fail to return him. We have no man
who can fill his shoes, and he would be
q hold yphn ohnul1 hin,
self as Mr.. Edmunds' successor if he
should be defeated. BE he who he may,
he would be subjected to most unfavor-
able comparisons. The opinion of the
value of Mr.. Edmunds' services to the
public, and especially to the republican
party, to which l allude, is not confined
to personal or even political friends.
1t is shared by men of our party who
do not like Mr.. Edmunds personally
and l have heard intelligent and infu-
entail democrats say that Mr.. Edmunds
could not be spared from the senate.
1t is not time when the republican
party can afford to dispense with a
leader and supporter such as Mr.. Ed
munds is; and if there are republicans
in Vermont who do not care about re-
tanning the position and influence which
our state possesses in congress, they
should regard the interests of the party
at Washington and at large, and be
careful about taking any false steps in a
matter of such importance" This is
all there need be said about the matter
1t is not creditable to republicans that
occasion has been made for saying sc
much, true as every word of it is
known and proudly claimed to be true
an expanding truth, these many year;
of faithful and distinguished service
The truth will grow mightier, and viii
nightly prevail in the Vermont legis
lature and in the United States senate
The Offices