National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-04-14
Between the pevu Ond the Deep Sea.

Between the DeviI and the Deep Sea,
Mr.. Phelps, the new minister to Eng
land, is rather late and appears very awk-
ward in Attempting, even in qualified
phrase, to dony the authentic character
of his famous anti-war speech Of 1864. II
was taken down at the time by
stenographor was printed first, we be-
lieye, in the Rutland Herald, just after.
ward in all the Republican papers of
Vermont. 1t would, doubtless, have been
moro widely published, except that Ar,
Phelps was an unknown man beyond his
state, as indeed he continued practically
to the time of his appointment. More.
over, ''copperhead" speeches were so com
mon that year that Mr.. Phelps was only
keeping himself abreast Of tho treasouous
gang whose frankest exponent was Brick
pomeroy and whose most respectable
representative in New England was
Thomas II. seym our, of Connecticut.
Mr. Phelps, instead ofdenying his speech
at tho time, just as it was published
and republished under his very nose in
Burlington, chose rather to glory in it,
according to contemporary evidence.
Sixteen years later, in 1880, Mr.. Phelps
was the Democratic candidate for gov
ernor of Vermont. Again tho famous
anti-war speech, with all its slurs on
Abraham Lincoln, and all its abuse of
the Union soldiers, all its "copperhoad"
venom, was produced aud reproduced,
and again AIR. Phelps and all his party
organs, by silent acquiesconce and occa
sionally by defense of its sentiments,
fully acknowledged not only Its genuine
ness, but its literal correctness,
We submit therefore, that Mr.. Phelps S
qualified denial comes too late.
In court Of justice he would not be
permitted to put in denial after twenty
years Rcquescenco in its truth, especially
when, for the first time, he has strong
interest in disavowing it.
Mr., Phelps has made one plea thot
might have somo merit, but has since
boen disproved out Of his own mouth and
from his own pen. He argues that he
could not have used such coarse phrase
as quoted In the speech of 1864. But just
as we are disposed to credit him at least
with repentance on that plea there Il
published letter he wrote only two
years ago to Mr.. Stewart, q Republican
member Of Congress from Vermont. II
is Intended to be humorous, but IL is only
vulgar. The same hostility to Republic
cans, the same coarse tone, the SAINT
credulity In respect to everything 'bat
among his opponents is visible in thiI
letter as distinguished the famous cop
perhesd" speech Of 1864, The author Of
the letter and tho author of tho speech
arc one.
One word further. 1t isreally piece o
base ingratitudc in Mr.. Phelps to dis
own the speech, for it was the speech
and the political creed that tho speecl
embodied, which secured him the favo
of Mr. Bayard aud consequently his ap
pointment
lfMr, PhelpS's qualified denial had ap
pcared before the 4th Of March last h
would not have been dug out of his OBJ
scurity by Mr., Bayard
But We really do pity the new minister
With "copperhead" record behind to fire.
and worry his supporters aud an "Emmi
Mine" reputation preceding him il
England, he finds himself between th'
devil and the deep sea- Mr. Bayard, OF
this occasion. represents the devil and tht
splendid loyalty of America represent
the doep sea-