Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-07-31
aennaor RdnunsIs.

Ever since the suggestion was made dur
ing the session Of the legislature, last fall,
that there might be opposition to the re cleo
ton Of Senator Edmunds at the end OF his
present term. The Phoenix has held and
said that no such opposition would ever dare
show itself in earnest. To that opinion we
still hold. Certain signs are cropping out
here and there, however, in the shape Of
newspaper and individual expression, which
show that influences are at work against
which the friends Of the Senator and Of
clean. handed politics must be on their guard.
The method undoubtedly will be to industri-
ously cultivate q feeling that Mr.. Edmunds
betrayed" his party last year. that as the VIC
tim of disappointed ambition" he 'sulked
in his tent" and by his silence made Demo
cratic victory possible. Epithets and charges
like those here indicated, with q score of
Others are now being freely banded about
in certain newspapers and il is impossible TO
believe that such q course does not mean
something.
For Republicans who hold ability and per
sonsl purity superior to political bosslsm and
self. seeking, who own themselves and will be
the tool Of no man, It is time to speak out
and let IL be known where they stand. On
our own part We can tell any man or ring Of
men who have designs on George F. Ed
munds or his place in the Senate that Wind
ham county will stand solid for him, aud il
a serious effort is made to contest his RI cleo
ton the Republicans Of the county will join
hands to help forward such a fight as this
state has not recently seen. We care not
what attempts are made TO work up show
of feeling in opposition, the people of south
eastern Vermont will stand as we have said.
Let nobody have the slightest doubt on this
point
Last fall when it began to be said that
there was feeling against Mr.. Edmunds in
the legislature which would have defeated
him had he then come up for r election, the
present writer publicly said that il 1ght
should be undertaken in 1886 to prevent the
Senator's TT election it would make rupture
in the Republican party in Vermont which
would never be healed, and to that opinion
we still hold.
During last years presidential canvass we
regretted Mr.. Edmundss inaction we thought
him needlessly frigid, and said so. But
when the campaign was over and we came to
have personal knowledge of the good moral
grounds on which Mr.. Edmunds had refused
to actively enter the canvass and give bis
| personal endorsement to the nominees of his
party, we held him in higher respect than
ever before. And to this opinion, also We
still hold
Whatever and however political self seek
ers may hold to the contrary, II is not q po
litical crime to have refused to pull on ones
coat and work ones self into a white heal
for Mr. Blaine last year, and it will not be &C
regarded in the future. The quicker self
respecting Republicans frankly take THU
ground the better it will be for them ant
their party. 1t was the ground on which the
mass of Windham county Republicans gave
their cordial support to their party ticket last
year, steadily refusing to upbraid or malgr
any man who differed from them on ques
ton of principle.
Some astute political observers see in the
removal Of Gen. Wells and the elevation OF
Col. Smalley evidence that the President
counts on home opposition enough to Mr
Edmunds to make sure that the administra
ton will win in a possible fight in the Senate
over the removal. However this may be
we are not now called upon to decide, but o.
one thing we are convinced that there il
greatly more danger that the Senator will be
come 80 disguised with the talk about oppos
ing him that he will peremptorily decline q
reelection than there is that any opposition
can defeat him. II it should be the first
named event that happens, the people of the
state will none the less hold to a strict ac
count those who are responsible for It.