Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-10-16
senator Edmunds.


There have been limitations that the
reunion Of Vermont legislators at Mont |
pelier this week was projected by friends /
of Gov. Smith as an opportunity to pro- |
mote his alleged ambition to succ led Sen |
ator Edmunds next year. This Is proba
bly, mistake or SANDER, but it is not in
human nature for so many politicians to
assemble, with nothing to do but visit,
without talking over the most interesting
topic in State politics that is now impend-
ing,
That there was widespread dissatisfac-
ton with Senator Edmunds for the cool
support that he gave to Mr.. Blaine last
year, need not be repeated. That there
has been studied effort to keep alive this
displeasure is equally apparent. And
that this effort is confined to the friends
of only one of the four or five gentlemen
who are considered available candidates,
requires no calculation. 1t is PLAN to all
observers that the displeaSure has been
waning and would probably by this time
have disappeared, or at least have come to
he very charitable, but for these efforts to
keep 1t alive.
Vermonters begin to ask themselves
how they would appear in the eyes of
mankind if they, the most liberty loving
and personally independent people in the
world, should depose from his proud emf
hence the most distinguished and intluen-
tial man they ever sent to the National
councils, for no offence but the exercise of
that right of personal judgment and con
duct without which he would be an un-
worthy representatives of these people. AS
earnest Republicans, devoted to that party
because they consider that it affords the
best hope for good legislation as well as
for good administration, they begin to in
quire wnat Jod 1t would do to recall to
private life the man who has proposed
more beneficial measures than have come
from the entire Democratic party in the
last 20 years. AS friends of honesty and
good morals, they begin to think it wOulu
he a monumental blunder for them to re-
fuse to return to the Senate the man whom
every jObber and cOrruptiOnSt, every
grasping monopoist, every foe of free cleo,
tions, every apOlogist for the Mormon
cancer, most fears and hates.
1t is the great good fortune of Vermont
/ to possess many men who would WOrthily
, fill any post of honor in the State or ma
ton. The men are more numerous than
, the places But the State owes hr intlu-
euce not to the fact that she has been eX-
erting herself to make all these men con-
spicuous, but rather to her wisdom Of
choice and to the persstency with which
she has kept in public service, for periods
, long enough to enable them to make II
mark for themselves and her, the servants
WHO nave NOll ucI HlSl uppIoDdllpll
1t would be a great mistake to depart
from this policy, and especially now. when
the party That is dominant in the State is
, under in the nation, and needs its strong
: est leaders in the field, and when, too,
, measures for the improvement of
t the public service, the currency, the
: government of territories. Interstate
p commerce, the laws regulating the Presi-
dental election and observation-disclosures
4 with which the name of George F. Ed
munds is most conspcuously and honor
ably cOnuected-are pending and ought to
, be carried to successful issue by the
f men who best understand the strength
and tactics of the opposition.
: There is no occasion now to discuss OF
o even to remember the events of the last
:. campaign. Many men supported Mr.
/ Blaine who did not think him the bes,
g representative of the party of great
moral ideas" hut who could not endure
l. the thought of Democratic ascendency
i Many others who held the same opinions
withheld their support because they fear
l. ed success more than defeat Both classes
i. were equally patriotic, equally good Re
n publicans. In New York and MasSachu
: sets the men who then divided ar,
A now substantially reunited. 1t is no
e to be expected that always and in al
J. respects public man can please n major
!. ity of his constituents He owes some
l. thing to himself, and we must conced'
something to his better opportunity Of un
derstanding. 1t Is not very long since
Massachusetts, III moment of unbecon
ing heat, cast vote of cenSure upon
Charles Sumner; but she has expunged i
- from the records and reared his statue il
= the public garden of her capital. Vermont
d should stand serene, like her lofty hills
It in an upper atmosphere of public judg
h ment. Her garments may he rutfi.d by
- passing storm, but she will remain stead
. fast 10 the principles, the policies and tn,
e men who have made her illustrious.
II From the Brattlcboro Pheuix.l
y The sentiment of the people of Vernon
:, with regard to the retention of Mr. Ed
4 munds III his place in the Senate ha
=. never been given more tOrcible and CON
n pact expression than is done in the fore
=. gongl article from the st. Juhnsburl
"a Californian.
ii