Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-05-07
THE SENATORIAL QUESTION.

[St. Johnsbury Republican,

For our own part-and we are sure we
speak for the overwhelming majority of
the Republicans of this part of the State
we think that Senator Edmunds ought
to be reelected We believe that he ought
to be re elected simply because he is the
best man for the place. We do not pro
pose, nor IS it necessary, to review his pub
nc record and point out the great things
ne mas done for the country and for the
! party. The history of the National legis-
lature Tor the past score of years is his
history. The story of the two decades can
not be truthfully written which does not
make him potent and illustrious actor
IN 1t. But, avoiding details, this much
can be said in general way
Mr.. Edmunds has now been n member
of the United States Senate for 20 wears.
lie took high position from the first. and
Tor II or ID years he has been recognized
throughout this country and throughout
EUROPE, as the ablest statesman in the
senate Thls statement is pretty broad
one, but we believe that it is strictly true
and that every intelligent man of any SORT
OF candor knows it to be true 1t is equal
~ well known that for many wears Mr.
Edmunds has been the leader of the sen.
ate, on the Republican side-a position bv
no means sought or struggled for by him,
out accorded him by the general consent.
as the Republican senator best fitted for
II, by aplilty and experience by profound
knowledge OF the constitution and the
law, ana by force and power in debate.
lhal ne mas made mistakes, we have no
reason 10 doubt. 1t Is the common lot
statesman never lived in this erring world
VINO ana not commit mistakes, from the
Hebrew laWglvers, in the dawn of history.
GOWN 10 thlS present year of grace. His
Warmest admirers will admit that Sena-
lor f-uhuhus Is mortal, and the admission
carries with IT the liability to err. His
mlstakes-we are not sure that we know
Whal they are-we do not propose to de-
lend or gloss over. But when all is said
and done, Senator Edmunds's errors are
fewer ana sllEhter, in comparison with
his great public services, than those IF
any llNlng pubic man of equal eminence
Up TO within year and half auo Yer
mont was proud of Senator Edmunds and
regarded nm us her most llustrious son.
newspaper would have been pretty bold
lhai dared to attack him with mudballs,
AS the st. Adams MESSENGER is attackinG
him nowadays. What is the cause of The
apparent change? Well, as nearly as we
can ascertain from careful and self-den
ing perusal of the MCSSeHgcr during the
penltentlal season of Lent, just past, Sen
ator Edmunds did not make speeches for
Mr. Blaine in the memorable citmpaipn of
1854. Worse than that, the editor Of The
McSS1hQcf asked him to and still he
wouldn't. Now let us reason together
me editors of 1hc RCpUblican voted for
MI Blalne Just as they have voted the
9tralShl republican ticket ever since they !
became legally entitled to vote. and they
expect to continue to 50 vote, until the
enc Oh lhe chapter and they regarded |
ana SUI regard, Democratic triumph i'm
national politics as ii great national mis- |
fortune Mr. Edmunds voted for MIR
Dialne' Dut would not speak for him. The .
question why, voting for him, he would
not speak Tor him, is one to which our
poor understanding fails to find a salts
factory answer. But the present question
Is, what are we going to do about it The
Yea yea OF me messenger and the other anti |
ihn n,un W, Papers seems to be that we
should build tremendously high. tipht
renee around the Republican party and
admit within its sacred limits free only
those who voted for Mr. Blaine, chargin1
al others moderate admission fee or
perhaps Tor the anti-Edmunds opinion
seems 10 dl1ter as to the degree of punish |
ment That should be inflicted on alleged
cksllders-hanging out sign, neatly |
painted upon smooth board, bearing the |
simple but comprehensive legend. "No |
muEwumPs need apply" At the last
national election our glorious old party
proved to be just little--a very little |
smaller Than was pleasant or desirable : |
anu lhe newspapers we have mentioned |
seem to think that the best preparation !
Tor the tremendous struggle of iSSS will |
be TO make the party still smaller. The |
Democrats have the president and the
mousse, ana the senate is so evenly divided |
mat there's no fun in it and the Messcn.
ger ana ITS friends propose to strengthen
Ihe republican party at Washington by |
deprlvlng 1t of its strongest man and ac-
khoWledged leader. Now these opinions
may be emlnently just and wise, but they
40 not entirely commend themselves to
our humble apprehension. 1t seems to ms
mat TWO years hence we ofIthe Republican
party VIII be engaged in a life-or death
struggle, that we shall need every man
we can summon to our ranks, that we
shall be called upon to use every instru-
ilel'al,ty ana every agency that we can
honorably employ. We will not he able
10 spare single man, much less one of
our greatest men. There is nothing pleas
anter, we admit than a small and select
company, each bound to the other by SYM
pathy of thought and feeling, and 70
many people there is something very dis.
tastelul IN great, mixed crowd and
were the Messenger trying to drive an IN
desirable intruder from a pleasant com
pany OF gentlemen out in its back ward
why' we should try to help it by heayinga