The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-04-08
MINISTER PHELPS MAXIMs.
Contained in a Letter to Congressman
Stewart of Middleburg In 1888.


%IDDLEBURY, VT, March 31.-When Hon
John W. Stewart, Of Middleburg. first took
his seat in the lower House OF CONGRESS as
the representative OF the First Vermont
District, In December, 1888, he received
letter of setircal coed sdvice from q distin-
been personal and professional friend. The
letter was passed aIouLd at the time among
Mr.. Stewards friends in both Houses of Con-
gress. The letter is of public interest now,
from the fact that the distinguished Yer.
mont Democrat Who wrote it is Hon. Edward
]. Phelps OF Burlington, who has jast been
appointed Minister to England. The letter
contains the following maxims:
1. Always vote in favor OF q motion to
adjourn, and If the period Of adjournment
is in question, vote for the longest time and
the earliest day.
2. Vote steadily against all other pre-
positions Whatsoever.
(s) There is already legislation enough for
the next $50 years Oh No honest man
wants any more. (c) Even unconstitutional
bills for tie further enlargement of the
negro should form no exception to this rule.
3. Make no speeches. Nobody attends to
congressional oratory when delivered. When
printed nobody reads it, aud it is q nuisance
to the mails. l have Tad more than four
million such speeches ssnt me, and never
read one in my life,
L. Do not allow yourself to bs drawn into
nspeTsiops upoJ the memory of Guy FaWkes.
He has been much censuIed by sh sllow men.
History will in the end do him justice. Be.
fore you have been long in Congress you will
perceive that one such man nowadays, with
better luck, might do the country more SER
vice than hundred Presidential candidates
or Christian statesmen.
3. Do not be seen much in pubic in .he
company o. Republicans Outside o; New
ENGLAND they a-e not, IS a rule, ssvory.
Some aFsOcistio1ls will be tolerated thou III
known to exist, when 6eceDtly veiied. Bat
there is no excuse Tor par2ding them in pub.
lie.
6. Practice rigid economy. TIE expert
ence Of the average Congressman shows u Is
possible by iudicious frugslity 20 save aboat
! $780, COO each session out of his salary Thos
! the true psttiot in standing by his country
makes the country stand By him.
- Cultivate asSidu 1usly all newspaper
correspondents. All there IS Of public life is
what the papers say, and they viii say any.
thing that is made worth their while.
s. Do not b come q candidate for the
Presidency. The idea that the country is
anxious to elect you to tia. Office is chImer.
| zeal. Nor fas .5e country anything TO DO
with it, except to vc.e IS Il told
9 In case Of doub, take The trick.
10. Keep your Dost:ils open your m0ulh
shut, your head cool, and Jour feet warm.
Aveid congressional whiskey, Bob Ingersoll,
the game OF poker. ard The ceurts of the
District OF Columbia.
II. Beware OF statesmen with great moral
IDEAS. You will find immoral ideas more
| honest as well as more interesting.
II. Whatever happens, do not relinquish
hops. AS Cicero observes, nil despsrandum,
DO not despair. You have oncs bsen a re-
spec,ed member Of the Addison County
bar Rticlve TO regain tina. position. Live
fox the future snd I've down Re pfeteni.