The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-04-07
The Vermont Press.
THE SITUATION AS IT WAS.

[From the st. Albans Mcssengerl
In explanation of the relations OF Mr.. Ed
munds with the republican party on the eve
of our state election that year qSSD, the fol-
lowing letter of friend to MIR. Edmunds,
addressed to Senator Morrill,, is produced
from the letter copy-book of the republican
state committees
VERMONT REPUBLICAN STATE CoMMITTEE,l
Hon. gyHLINe gS A%g%st - P Is
pE MScS M ESn Of SATURDAY ~ is
ment II gives. Our state committee meet here to-
morrow evening the 10Th, by Colonel lloqkers re-
campaign lie ought to do it. both in justice to hin.
IS s the way our All feel about sf
to me that Senator Edmunds does not desire to stand
man would get left Mr.. Edmunds makes our troubles
hest friends and those who have always been his
best friends. 1t Is his friends who are In trouble,
seek the opportunity to use these things against
him sometime, somewhere. wish you could sug-
gest to him the situation and II possible induce him
to say just word publish card, be interviewed.
MIR Edmunds need not extol Mr.. Blaine, but say,a
engaged in battle; say something to encourage the
troops Oh how much good good i t, would do
WARREN GIBBS.
Colonel George w. Hooker of the national
committee met with the state committee on
the evening of August 20th and, among other
things, the importance of obtaining Mr.. Ed
munds' endorsement of the party and its
nominees was discussed. Colonel Hooker
desired such a statement to insert in the
New York papers, but it was never inserted.
The writer accompanied Colonel Hooker,
who called on Senator Edmunds the next
morning, and all the argument and persua-
sive eloquence that the gallant colonel could
muster was utterly powerless to move SEN
ator Edmunds from the position he had
taken. Mr.. Edmunds asserted, in substance,
that the greatest favor he could bestow on
L..
4" Tell them," said he, " that ! sullS in my
tent" Colonel Hooker went away down
cast and disappointed. But the writer was
not in the least surprised, as he had had
foretaste in a former interview with the
senator, Immediately on his return from
Washington month before. On the after
noon of August 25th the following dispatch
was received from republican headquarters
at New York 90 Is Edmunds at Burlington?
Answer quick.-W. f. Norton" An affirma-
tive reply was returned. The next day was
the occasion of the mass-meeting at Burlng-
ton, which was addressed by Congressman
Horn of Michigan, Governor Stewart of
Middlebury, Hon. John [. Gilbert of Malone
and others. During the evening a gentle
man high in the councils and confidence
of the party arrived and spoke at that meet
ing. Upon his return to the Van Ness
House, upon invitation, he consented to
spend three or four days in the state and
could make as many speeches, saying Le
" would see Senator Edmunds and take the
stump with him." The next forenoon he
called on Mr. Edmunds, and when he got
back to the Van Ness House he informed
the writer that he had decided to take the
first conveyance out of town; and he took
the afternoon boat for Port Kent. Senator
Edmunds had utterly refused to say or do
anything, and had frozen him out. The gem
tleman was ex-senator Henderson of Mis-
souri, the president of the Chicago conven-
ton How Mr.. Edmunds could have con-
Quoted himself as he did, and then have
voted the ticket, as was claimed, is a mys-
terry.
From the Rutland Telegram
WHAT more conclusive argument is needed
to prove that it was because of Mr.. Ed
munds very conspicuous silence that New
York was lost to the republican cause. 1t
was the judgment of the national committee
that the voice of Mr.. Edmunds was needed
to neutralize the effect that was being made
by the misrepresentation of the opponents
of the republican party. st. John, Butler,
and score of prominent democratic orators
were stumping the state, and doing all in
their power to weaken the republican party
by assailing it at every imaginary vulnera-
BILE point. And it was at this critical juno
ture- when the fact that the vote was going
to be very close one and the issue therefore
doubtful was particularly apparent-that
Mr. Edmunds positively declined not only
to speak for the cause, but even refused to
write letter that would in any manner
help the party Now what kind of a repub-
lican is this? Having unquestionably lost
to the party the State of New York by his
course, and consequently caused Mr.. Blaine's
defeat what claim has he now upon the
suffrages of the party for reelection? So
long as there was a doubt about his having
refused to make an address the aspect of the
case was slightly different; but now, in the
light of the recent developments, there is no
excuse for him whatever He can honestly
be pronounced a mugwump of the mug
wumps, and the discussion of the propriety
of his return to the senate will now resolve
itself into one question, viz: Can the repub-
lican party afford, with full knowledge of
his antipathy to Mr.. Blaine, as evinced by
his course in 1SS4-any regrets for which
have never been heard to pass his lips-and
with the full probability every day becom-
ing more apparent that he (Blaine) will
again be the candidate in 1888, can the re-
publican party afford, we say, to run the
risk of a repetition of such conduct in the
next campaign? We do not believe that it
can; and even if it could afford to run some
risk, even if the election of the next presi-
dent by the republicans was practically as
sured, we do not believe that the party
would be acting honestly to return senator
who is known to be the enemy of its candi-
date for the presidency, and who not only
refused to assist in his election in 1884, but
from all present appearances can be de-
peHueu upon W w the SAINT again.
INCoNsIDERATE MARRIAGES.
From the Rutland Herald
THERE is one phase of the social problem
which tends at once to the decadence of the
family and to the increase of divorce, and
that is inconsiderate marriages. Clergymen
and magistrates have erred far more in
solemnizing these without preliminary in
quiry than courts have erred afterwards in
affording relief from intolerable conditions.
And yet the fault is not so much with indi-
viduals as with our marriage system. The
laws of the several states are so different,
and the facilities of travel so great, that we
may be said to have no system If the con-
ditions imposed by one state are found bur
densome, they are easily escaped by making
journey to another. If Mr.. Dixie can Sc
cure uniformity in this respect as well as in
the laws of divorce, and can cause the en-
actment of stringent regulations for inquiry,
parental or family consent, publicity and
sufficient procrastination, he will accomplish
a far greater good in the line of prevention
than is possible in the way of cure.
THE DEMOCRATIC sCARECRow.
Correspondence of Windsor Journal
| THE idea banded about that Mr.. Blaine
| has personal hand in the matter, out of re.
venge for the inactivity of Mr.. Edmunds
| two years ago, seems too trifiing for consid.
Grafton That there are good men who hon.
orably aspire to the seat occupied by Mr.
Edmunds there may be little doubt. There
| has been no time since 1866 that this has moi
| been the case. All this talk-it cannot be