Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-04-30
THE SENATORIAL QUESTION:
An Unwise Test.

An hmWhaB Aeebs
From the Burlington Free Press, April 22d.l
While attacks upon Senator Edmunds, for
alleged disloyalty 10 the Republican party,
continue with greater or less frequency and
more or less viTulence, the organs OF the op-
position to him do not name their man for bis
place. They say they have no candidate.
Assuming for the present and for the purpos
es of this argument that this Is an ingenious
let us see in what position II leaves
those who make it. They are, 1t seems, at
tacking a very prominent member OF the Re
publican party not because he bolted the Re
publican national ticket-he voted it not be-
cause he thought the party had outlived It's
usefulness-he publicly declared his attach
ment to the party and hii belief that the pub
lie welfare demanded its retention in power; |
not because he was plotting with the Democ-
Tacy and the mugwump annex to the Demo
cratic party-he had nothing to do with eith- |
or. On the contrary, he publicly declared |
that the Democratic party could not be trust
ed with power that it had been wrong for a
quarter Of a century and would continue to
be, and that every year 1t decorated itself
with some new folly. What, then, was his
crime2 He declined to take the stump for
MIR. Blaine. That is Mr.. Edmunds's offence;
and it was so serious a one, we are told, that
it cannot be forgiven. Mr. Edmunds's omis-
sion to take the stump, his opponents say,
cost us the state of New York. IL that Is
true, or half true, then Mr Edmunds is man
of considerable const quenoe II his mere
silenoe-hs deadly silence," as one Of his
detracturs has called it-cost us the state OF
New York, then Mr. Edmunds must have
good many friends in the state of New York,
who admire him aud follow his leadership.
Is it wise TO permanently detach these from
the r. publican partyp Has the state OF New
York ceased to be Of any cons, quence to the
success Of the Republican party in national
campaign? Will any man tell us how the
Republican party is to elect the next Presi-
dent without the vote of the state of New
York. Can any man tell how the Rpubli-
cans can Carry the state OF New York without
the aid of some Of the Independents who
either omitted to vote or voted for Cleveland
Many of these are in way TO see their folly
and be brought back to the Republican party,
where they rightfully belong by reason of
past association and present principles. Can
they be got back IL the Republicans enforce
such a test as Mr.. Edmunds's opponents are
trying to enforce against him2 Would 1t
help to bring them back, to strike down ths
man they honor and trust and desire to fol-
low
But the state OF New York is not the only
battle ground. This matter has relations wild
er than the limits of any state. There are
thousands of Il publicans in every Northern
state who would resent, in the strongest way
open 10 them, any attempt to punish Mr.. Ed
munds for his attitude in the last canvass.
blow at him on such grounds they consider \
| blow at themselves. We do not often agree
with HArpers Weekly in its political utterau-
| ces no owadays but on this subject its head is
| level and it talks words of truth and sober
ness in the following sentences:
"senaior EdPundss opinion Of Mr.. Blaine is 80
well known aud represents serious difference IN
the Republican party, that the attention which Is now
called TO can hardly be intended to serve the inter
Of the party. Mr Edmuuds did not take an active
part In the campaign Of 1854 but he did express bis
strong conviction Of the necessity Of retaining hepub
ucan ascendancy, and he voted for Mr.. Blaine OF
| Mr Edmundss RepublicaniHm, tried by any reasonA-
BILE party Standard there is no more doubt than OF
Mr., Blaines. But it is known that be does not ad-
| mtre Mr.. Blaine.
''Now the present attack upon Mr Edmunds implies
that the true test OF Republicausm Is admiration OF
Mr. Blaine Is that iudicious test to spply4 Or is
the test satisfied If Republican who does not admire
Mr. Blaine takes the stump for him, and exposes him
self aud the party to the inquiry why he does not ad
| mre him Mr.. Edmunds's opinion Of MI Blaine
formed upon long and intimate observation OF bis
public life, was not changed BY his nomination. To
that he might have spoken for the party Is to FOR
get that under the circumstances Of the campaign
have spoken for the party without personally com
mending the candidate could have been interpreted II
but way-and it would have been more disAstrou
for Mr.. Blaine than the course actually pursued.
The simple question for every sensible Republican
which Is raised by this attack upon Mr.. Edmunds IL
this: II Republican, upon survey of all the fact
and letters and testimony and papers, is Of the opn
ion that with all his undoubted gifts and personal at
fractions, Mr.. Blaine ia not q man to be supported
earnestly for the presidency although he il to be yot
| ed for ii nominated does such man to be
Republican, II he does, the attack is attempt l.
put Mr. Edmunds out Of the party. But u such
man, who although voting for the candidate, esnno
praise him. does not TO be Republican, what
gained for the party by tbrusting persstently upo
public attention the unquestionable fact that one
the strongest aud most trusted and most spotless
Republican leaders does not admire Another7 Woul
1t help Mr.: Blaine, should he be nominated ag9it
Edmunds thought him unht for the presidency ~
These questions can be answered in but on
way by any fair minded and candid Republi
can. The men who are attempting to enforc
this test against Senator Elmunds are dis
tinctly subordinaIing the welfare of the Re
publican party to something they do not ss
what. II they should succeed in enforciu
this test the Republican party might "hanl
up its hat, so far as any hope OF success il
the next national campaign is concerned. w
are glad to believe that they are making pros
ress backwa in their raid sgainst the RI
publican party as represented in the perso
of the Republican leader in Congress Th
fact that, OF the Republican papers of Vel
mont, a sjority both in numbers, standin
and circulation support Mr.. Edmunds, show
where the majority of Vermont Republican
: stand in this matter. A large and good poi
ton of the party in the state, it il not TO b
r forgotten, took an attitude very similar I
that of Mr.. Edmunds in the last campaign
!. They meant to sustain their party the
a would not help the Democrats they hope
$ for the success of the Republican ticket an
!, voted the ticket but further than that the
Il did not take any very active part. Rapubl
d cans OF this class and they are men who cal
= not be very easily read out of the party an
: whom it will hardly do to disregard-of cour,
D, find no fault with Mr.. Edmunds From IL
+ other and perhaps larger class, who talkt
: and labored earnestly and enthusiastically fC
the national ticket, we have had numero'
'e expressions of earnest depreciation Of the wa
- fare upon Mr.. Edmunds, and of cordial su
: port OF him for reelection to the senate,
- One such man writes US as follows: &C
course there have been rumblings and scol
ings because Mr.. Edmunds 'sulked' at Il
time of the last election but nobody can a
ford to do so great injury to his better jud
ment aud to his state aud country as to
back on one who is making Vermont still
nous for the grand men she places in Il
United States Senate. have always been
strong Blaine man. and felt the sting of Il
defeat as keenly as any one, and l am n
sure but that in the extremely close conte
I Edmunds might have saved the day but
not go back on man for acting up TO
convictions hich have never doubted n
p. Edmunds did"
: Another says: My sympathies are wi
=. you in the fight which the Free Press is ma
, ing for our noble senator, Edmunda-G
bless him Mr. Edmunds did not ent
ce heartily into the Baiue campaign, and
~ that respect greatly greved me; but l q
d d not ready for that reason to throw him Ov'
a. board. No, no we cannot afford to sacnti
the position which he holds, aud that throu
nd him Vermont holds, at the risk of putting
al- | his place we know not whom"
re Another says: II am not an unqualif
4R admirer of Mr. L lmunds but l regard I
- attempt to d feat his election rs the mt
cir discreditable thing ever undertaken by V
fdSy monters. Its success would be an irrepara
he loss to the nation. Eminent Republicans {
o., of our state, 80 far AZ my personal intercou
extends, say this without single exception
The writer's of these sentences are men
. different callings, 10 diff ,rent sections of