Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-05-28

why NOV Aei Ahe AENhhi
The leading editorial in the Montpelier
Waterman this week is devoted to an attempt
to show that there is mo room for mug
wumps" in the Republican party, and that
the party should be kept as small as possible
by refusing fellowship to those Of it's mem
bers who could not or would not support Mr..
Blaine two years ago. The real purpose Of
the article is covertly 10 convey the improf-
sion that Mr.. Edmunds was mugwump in
the last presidential campaign, that he "be-
trayed" his party, and that be ought not to
be further supported or allowed ITO hold an
influential position" until after "a long pro
batop" One of it's main allegations is that
vermont seems to offer promising field for
their the mugwumpsl hopes. They believe
that il the Republicans of Vermont condone
the mugv umpish conduct Of Mr.. Edmunds
in the presidential campaign Of 1884, this
will be equivalent to justification of their
own course in the national contest, and so
remove q strong barrier to their reinsate-
ment in the party" The intimstion which
the Waterman here seeks to convey is that
Mr.. Edmuuds wss a mugwump in 1884, and
in this way to poison the public mind against
him. The insinustion is utterly false, and
the watchman knows that II is false. From
the beginning to the end of the campaign Mr..
Edmunds let it be known that be believed the
success Of the Republican party to be essen
tial to the well-being Of the country, and that
every honorable means should be used to Sc
cure the election Of its ticket. At grand
Republican rally held in Burlington in Aug
ust, Senator Edmunds presided, and on tax
ing the chair and introducing the speakers be
made this opening speech
~ must say that very close study aud observation
Of the professions and practices Of the Democratic
party in Congress and in the country that the gene
rous confidence Of my tellowctizens has enabled mt
| to make for long PERIOD has demonstrated to my
mind that the safety aud welfare of the people OF thu
United States continue to demand its exclusion from
! power. Whatever doubts difficulties may embar
rass our countrymen here or elsewhere in the Unet
States, it seems to that in the present attitude
political affairs the defeat Of the Democratic party
| a need fairly paramount to any other. | recognize
fully the liberty of belief, Of opinion and Of actiot
that belongs to citizenship; II is fundamental par
Of creed, and Of fail to feel the grea
| responsibility that results from that freedom. Unde
such responsibility and looking at every aspect Of tn
public veal, the people OF the state OF Vermont ar
again to express their opinions of the principles tn
methods aud the purposes of the Democratic party
1t has been wrong for more than quarter Of cen
tury, and fear will continue for great length
time to come In the recent periods, when 1t has ha
control of one or other OF the houses Of Congress,
demonstrated its unhtness for government In respeC
to nearly all the important measures 1t proposed O
resisted and every succeeding year seems to decorat
1t with new folly"
There is no uncertainty at out this language
1t is an earnest appeal for support of the r.
publican party, and an unqualified expressio
of distrust of the principles and animus {
the Democratic party. On previous occt
sion Mr.. Elmunds had said The evils
Democratic President and Congress are s
enormous, as l think, that hope everythin
that honest and honorable and patriotic me
can do will be done to avert such calamity
This was his attitude throughout, and whe
the day Of election came he showed his sii
cerity by coming on from Washington to We
mont to cast bis vote for bis party's tickle
This was not the attitude or the action Of
"mugwump."
The only thing that can be alleged again
. the Senator, so far as the campaign of 1884
is concerned, is that he did not take Il
stump and make speeches. The Watchmt
is welcome to go on with its attempt to VIII
tie down the party to as select a few as pos
A BILE. Our only purpose now is to show Il
fal4ity of its assumption about Mr.. Edmun
/ as party man.