Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-05-14

An Answer From the East Side of the
State.
Editor Bcll0ics Fails Times =:

An Answer From the East Side of the
state
EditOr BcllOicS Rats Times.
The preliminary diminishing for the
biennial campaign and election in this
state this year is already begun. Having
full confidence in the intelligence and hon
esty of the people, |, for one, am well sat
islied that the campaign has been opened
thus early for it insures with greater
certainty Il wise termination. What, then,
are the real issues to be decided?
!. To my mind, the choice of a United
States Senator to succeed George f. Ed
munds is by far the most important mat
ter claiming our attention. A mistake
| here would be without remedy, while a
| Dlunder in the enactment of laws might
| be cured by subsequent legislation. 10
opponent of Mr.. Edmunds, so far as
| know, certainly no Republican opponent,
pretends to claim that he has not dis
charged every duty of his official position
with marked industry and entire fidelity,
| and with such pre.eminentaud statesman
| like ability as has made him cOnfe~ sedly
| the leader of the most august legislative
| body on earth-the Senate of the United
States-and the most active and useful
man in that body in originating and
shaping Alright our national legislation.
His firm adherence to sound principles
and his stern incOrruplDiity no friend
You'd this he is universally recognized
! as an unaprOachable and uncOmprOmis-
ing enemy of all .jObbery and corruption,
and the most efficient fighter against the
bold aggressons of the monster monopo-
| lies of the country, that override the
rights and menace the liberties of the
people. No one even pretends to believe
| that Vermont, though She has many
| worthy SONS can put any man into his
place who, in all or any of these respects,
! even after long experience, could attain
! his commanding position, or approach
him in real usefulness to the state and
nation. The only complaint against
| him, and how weak, pHerie and un-
worthy it is when all the circumstances
are fairly weighed, is that, while earnestly
sustaining his party and voting for its
| candidates, he did not eDthuSe for Blaine
to the extent of making stump speeches
in his behalf-having long before put
| himself on record regarding Mr. Blaine
in terms that made such speeches from
him impolitic for the party itself, and in
consistent with his own integrity and
manliuess Mr. Edmunds is an honest
and sturdy man. whom no considerations,
personal or public can move to dishonor
truth. Is there not a chord in the hearts
of all true sons of Vermont that Vibrat Is
i'll responsive sympathy And are the
people of Vermont, on such frivolous pre-
texts a. these, capable of the monumental
folly of dlSmiS~lng such II man from then
service | will not believe it. For more
= than Il third of a century their bosom,
have thrilled with honest pride in the I'M
. sullied character and great ability OF the
eminent men who have represented them
III the senate of the United States, anC
who have given to little Vermont greater
r power in that body than any other state
can boast during the period named. Foot
COllamer, Poland, Edmunds and Morril
are names that are honored wherever
\ mn igln hiStl Il hA m n
. mentous epoch of our national life, i:
known for they have taken an import
. ant part in making that history 1t ca n
not be that Vermont will now dl5honor
her past and belittle herself in the eyes of
, all mankind by discardng from her ser
, vice the abest of all these able and useful
. men.
>. Next in Importance among the issues
to be decided, in my judgment, is some
railroad legislation similar to that pro
posed and defeated at the last session o
the legislature. \ bill to create an effect
, i've railroad commission, based substan
= italy on laws III force in New Hampshire
/ | Massachusetts, I Ounecticut. New Orl
: and many other states, introduced b
n Senator Hoton of Windham county an
n ably advocated by him and others, wa
q quickly killed 10y the combined power o
= the railroad corporations, und"r the skill
ful leadership of a dominant power amon
them. And so of the so-called short nau
II bill, fOrDiddng Il higher tariff for tn
same class of service for carrying les
!. than greater distance-the less being
part of the greater, In both cases, tn
> rights, interests and wishes OF the peOpl
e We're unheeded. In all states where sue
IS laws prevail, they have operated satisfat
h torlly to all parties, and the people on tn
one hand. and the railroads ON the Other
i cheeriuilv accept them rs an cqul,abl
" and satisfactory remedy for many gray
C and admitted evils. Nowhere are sue
- laws more lmperatiVely needed than /
!, Vermont.
~ 3. Another pressing matter, though pc
! hapS not 50 much a we'll defined and con
u troverted issue, is the legislation necess;
=, ry To unity and inVigOrate the eduCatiOni
u system of the state. This is n matter {
% grave public concern that should engal
- the earnest attention and efforts of Il
, thoughtful men and women. Vermont
~ year by year growing relatively less an
- less important in wealth ana population
~ and can only hope to escape positive II
'o significance by the superior physical, mel
~. tai anC moral stamina with which she el
y dOWs her sons and daughters, and in tn
=" iudicious and thorough educational trail
. ing must play an important part.
Ii the people desire to press these issue
= as believe they do, they have only to s.
- lect for members of the Legislature and I
" represent them in nominating CONVEX
- tiOuS, men who can be trusted to carry OF
- their wishes. \ERMONTER.
e State Politics.
u THE GOVERNOReIIIP.
a. However much the friends of the mo:
Il prominent candidates may regret it,
I seems inevitable that the canvass for til
y pONtruOrShip Will be complicated with I'll