Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-02-26

the great party, with the support and
maintenance and brilliant record of which
he has had so much to do. But with these
outside enemies, and prompted in part no
doubt by them, the friends and followers
of II prominent aspirant to the sena-
tors place, have seen, as they
thought, their opportunity. They began
many months ago IA canvass of calumny
-distorting facts, misrepresenting the
senator's motives, charging to him results,
for which he was not responsible, decry-
ing his services, and protesting to doubt |
his party loyalty, even while he has been |
all these months past doing his utmost by |
voice and vote and counsel to sustain the
| Republican organization, working WITH |
and trusted by, the truest and ablest Re |
publicans in Congress, and put forward by |
them as the spokesman and leader OF the |
Republican cause. Our friend has heard !
a good deal of criticism of the Senator We
want him to understand that it has been
for u purpose; and that not patriotic or
public purpose, but a purpose of private
advantage and personal ambition This
purpose has been disclosed, if there was
any room for doubt about it before, by the
open newspaper abuse of Mr. Edmunds
into which it has broken out, in certain
quarters.
Another thing is worthy Of note-that is
that these home enemies of the senator,
aware of their weakness before the people
have made an alliance with the boss of the
spoils Democracy of Vermont; have been
rendering him distinct assistance in some
of his partisan schemes connected with
the allotment of the spoils and are to
have the help of Democratic votes when it
comes to the election.
Here then is the situation. Here is a
prominent man, born among our hills,
identified with our State from his early
manhood, who stepped to the front at the
first organization of the Republican par
, ty; and who for twenty years, has been
one OF the most prominent and effective
supporters of Republican principles and
main stay of the Republican organization.
He has been placed and kept by his asso-
ciates in the Senate in the highest posi-
tions of influence and honor in their gift.
He occupies such positions to-day, not by
any seeking of his own, but by the free
choice of the men on whose shoulders
rests the support of the Republican party
in Congress. Does our friend suppose that
p they do not know their man; They know
p
p friend cannot name the statesman who
= has done more in the past or is doing more
to-day to sustain the party which EN-
= bodies and represents the great principles
of freedom and honesty Of elections, pro-
. lection of American industry, reform of
q the civil service, retrenchment and econo
, my in public expenditures, sound cur
: rency, and eradication of the blot
i,f Oh ;,,+a, III
l. is denied by none Placed where
he could have made millions in the
/ last twenty years, by simply agree
. ing to absent himself from the Senate
q when votes on sjobs and subsidies, and
!. steals from the treasury were to be taken,
=. no man has ever charged him with max
ing Il cent Eby his public action. Such a
# charge would be folly in the face of the
: facts that he is always in his seat, always
y on the alert, always an effective opponent
: of all schemes of government plunder
n No lobby-agent dare approach him. He i,
= IA man of devouring industry; of remark
=, able readiness and strength in debate
a strong at all times, but if possible trmer
n and stronger in times of trouble and re
verses to his party than when it is in the
=. full tide of success
Now does our friend really suppose that
,s the Republicans of Vermont are not aware
% of these facts, or that to any considerable
~ extent they can be made to forget them
~ This suppositon would be simple SANDER
n. We tell him that the people of Vermont
20 are proud of the position and influence
Il held by the representatives of Vermont ii
~ the national councils. They know how
;o Mr.. Edmunds has contributed to thai
=. position and influence. They are not go
- ing back on him for a single instance o
70 lukewarmness, which was shared by hal
- of the party. They have not lost faith il
Republican, principles or hope of IA restora
-, ton of the party to its old place of control
"a And they see with perfect distinctnes
~ that there is no surer road to continued
~ defeat than to pull down the strong men
~ the experienced and able leaders, who ar
- now maintaining those principles and tina
IN Organization at the front,
=, There was gathering at MOntpelie
~, last fall of 1900 representative men of Y FL
H. mont, the great mass of them of cou rs
-, Republicans There had been no effort t
~ call friends of Mr.. Edmunds to that gath
j., ering but Il good deal of effort to rail-
No his opponents there. All understood tn
IL situation. Did any man have heartie
ir reception there than Senator Edmunds
Does not our friend know that if the queS
of ton of the senator's reelection had bee
90 put to that body, it would have voted t
~ return him, 10 or II to /. 1t would hay
of represented the people by its vote Ha
ID anything happened since to impair thei
an confidence in Mr.. Edmunds Nothin
\, whatever The still hunt of SANDER ha
II broken out into open attack-that is all
:, This will have less effect than the forme
OF process, for it is more easily met ON
nn friend will find that the peopl
a of Vermont can not be mad
Nc either the dupes or tools of con
~ bination of monopolists, corruptionists
n. wire-pulers and Democratic bosses. Thl
~, will become plain enough to all before tn
,o meeting of the legislature, 1t is alread
lLl.LIn IN Ln ulnn nf hullI nlrllrs. host ST