Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-08-20
SENATE EDMUNDS.

A PEN AND INK PORTRAIT OF MAN WHO TOWERS
AMONG HIS FELLOWS 'oRAND, CLEAN AND
WHITE Az THE JANUARY SHOWS WHICH CROWN
THE MOUNTAINS OF HIS NATIVE STATE
From John n. French's "Ten Years Among the SEN
ators."1
One Of the most remarkable men OF these
famous men Of the Senate Is George +. Ed
munds. OF all his colleagues second in clear
cut ability only to Mr.. Fessenden and,
had he enjoyed the wide training and long
experience of that great man, perhaps he
would have ranked in every way az his equal.
He ia tall, long. limbed, with the STOPPING
shoulders Of the student and the bowed head
Of the Thoughtful man. Prematurely bald,
and with heavy gray beard, he looks as If
he we're one Of the elder men Of the Senate
but in reality, in years as we'll as in genuine
vim, he Is one OF the young men OF the body.
MIR. Edmuuds had reached quite the years
of manhood, with slight opportunity for edu-
cation, and then began aud pursued his stud
les under the dire ction OF q private tutor
and under circumstances and with SUCCESS
which deserve great communication. From
his solitary studies he went to the lawyers Of
fee, aud in few years by the stern Effort OF
manly purpose, aud strong intellect com
mandtd an honorable place among the fore
most men of his chosen profession.
No Senator is more attentive or oonscien
tous in the discharge Of the duties OF his Of
fee. At 8 O'Clock he il always in his com
mittee room at ~ in his seat and no mat
ter how wearisome or long the session, he re-
mains there and no Questionable bill esoap, 3
his challenge. II he IL not familiar with It's
purpose, or its right to live is not apparent
upon it6 face, he then aud there demands ex-
PLANTATION and explanation, full aud clear, he
will have All jobs aud schemes hud In MI
IL. uks., rula htsN oil
that il bent iicent aud wholesome he IL AZ the
shadow OF great rock in a thirsty land. 10
the running, sharp debate, which so distn-
cuisines the Senate, no man il his match, aud
few excel him in the longer argument or more
formal speech.
In the thoroughnesa OF the Investigations Of
| the committee room, in the clear presenta-
| ton OF bis subj ct TO the Senate, In the Keen
ness Of the cross-eIaminaiion Of his oppo-
nent, in the quickness OF rejonder, and in
the overwhelming weight Of clean logical an
swer, Mr.. Edmunds is peerless. In every
point Of Senatorial duty and character he ID
mastery equipped.
Fully recognizing the or, at trust and high
| honor Of a seat in the Senate, Mr.. Eimundt
is conscientiousy and earnestly attentive to
| his Office. He has no hours 70 g-nteel pleas
ure, or lettering ease. All are gwen to prep.
| aration for his great duties, and hence his re
markable preparation for the consideration oil
every question as it presents itself.
Mr.. Edmunds il both politician and states
man. ReIolutely party man, yet always OBJ
servant Of the prophecies and dignity Of the
place. no IN the warmest debate, while deliv
ering the hardest blows, he gives no persona
| offense, aud utters no word that in cooler
hours may demand Withdrawal Taking
larger part in the business aud debate thar
perhaps any other man, never a word Of BIZ
finds correction before appearing in the Rec
ord. Always published just 1t falls from
his lips aud however decid, and outspoken
always decOrous and in Order-And in gOOt
perspicuous English.
Not the least honorable OF his Senatorial &C
complishments is his soornful disregard OF al
the tricks Of demagogy. Nj Eimunds nevel
addresses the galleries aud makes no speeches
for campaign use" Always q clear, forci
bic speaker, often trenchant and pointed
sometimes rising into feTvd eloquenoe, bu
never a declaimer; makes no appeal to pas
sion or prejudice and invites no chance wind
by trimming sail.
Some years ago had the pleasur OF tw
months journeying in the beautiful countr
from San Francisco TO Victoria, and remem
Der how often Mount Baker was a grand fea
ture in the distant view. Day after day an
from points far apart one had but TO turn hi
eyes to the north, and there stood solitary
grand. clean and white, Mount Il ,ker, liftiu
its crown of spotless snow / 900 feet into tn
clear upper atmosphere. So stands Georg
+ Edmunds in the Senate Of the nation. l
no phase OF Senatorial life since the death c
Fessend,n and sumner and Morton, has b
had rival. 1t is not alone In grand abilit
that he towers among his fellows. His Ion
and attentive experience, his large accumuli
ton OF knowledge, his brilliant intellectuI
force and logical acuteness are not more cor
spicuous aud honorable than his unbendin
honesty.
Mr., Edmunds has been in Washington lii
twenty years where the downfall Of the wea
is only paralleled by the slandering OF the III
highland the first whisper Of connivanC
with wrong is yet to attach to his fair name
name as clean al the January SHOWS whiC
. | crown the mountains Of his native state.