Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-09-03

The Lies about senator Edmunds's
Habit. C0nctusiVely Answered.
The following article from the Burlington
Free Press was called out by the contempt
BILE act of the Montpelier watchman to which
we referred last week, in printing one Of Eli
Perkinss yarns and treating it as il it we're
statement Of fact, simply because it CHANGED
to have the name of Senator Eimunds tackled
to il to give it currency
A4the Waterman and anti L imunds papers
have been in other ways circulating insnua-
lions that ME-. Edmunds Is victim OF Intern
perance, and NJ the charge has been pri-
vately circulated in outrageously gross and
lying forms, we take occasion-not without a
sense Of modification that it should bo nee
essary to defend an honUred public citizon OF
Vermont against so despicable an assault-to
brand the charge az falsehood. On this
point Mr.. Eimundss friends invite the full.
est inquiry, and defy his slanderers. They
are quite willing that any person who is in
doubt on the subject should come to Burling.
ton and inquire Of NJ T. imunds's townsmen
and neighbors, who see him every day, and
at all hours of the day or he may go to
Washington and inquire OF NJ. Edmunds's
associates iu the Senate, Of the chaplain Of
that body of any one who knows Mr.. Ed
muuds or who has opportunities for correct
observation in this matter. IL is not among
those who know Me-. Elmunds that this Sian
der has currency II obtains any only where
he is not personally known.
This calumny, it should be understood, is
not the mere loose gossip, which often does
so much careless injury to character. 1t is a
deliberate piece Of political machinery in.
vented and circulated az campaign instrp-
ment. 1t first made it's appearance, we think,
at the national Republican convention in
! 1850, in the effort there made in behalf of
certain candidate, to dispose Of Mr.. Edmuuds
as a possible candidate Tor the national nom
nation II was Indignantly coltradicted by
| every Nermonter and by every member Of the
| Senate present at the convention and though
| 1t is the kind Of Islander that once started Is
hardest to kill, it made little Roadway at that
time 1t appeared again at the Republican
| national convention of 1881, as a tool il the
hands of the partisans Of one or two of the
candidates who were terribly afraid that Mr..
Edmunds's name might crowd theirs from
the,track. Fortunately Hon. John W. Stew
art was on the ground, and as he had been
| living with MIR. l. imuuds at the lattet's
house for half year he was able to give, "a
he did give, to the story, an authoritative and
emphatic contradiction, aud it again fell fl At.
1t has now been brought out again, for use in
this campaign Of Islander and it is rumored
! Nuht u IL W DC supported, as a last CAfu, Dy
some letter or statement from some congress-
man. As the opposition to MIR. Eimunds
has some heavy private purses aud the treas
uries of the Western Union aud Pacific rail
road monopolies TO draw on, they can proba
bly, hire congressman as well rs Bohe uians
to lie for them but the lie, If published with
any responsible name, will be tffcctively met
Mr.. Edmunds's supporters need have no fear
on that score
NJ ,antime, there is witness whose testi-
mony any can consult. 1t is the pages of
the Congressional Record. 1t is a simple i'm
possibility that man who is as constantly in
his seat As NJ Elmunds, who il always alert
and active as ne is, who is as frequent and
effective in debate, as often discussing mat
tiers requiring severe and prolonged study,
who is on as many hard working committees,
who sustains himself in all these capacities
and maintains his influence and standing as
he most obviously does, and Who in addition
to all his Legislative duties, is constantly en-
ployed and receiving large fees, as his oppo
nents SO often assert, as counsel in heavy
cases in the United States supreme court-it
is simply impossible we say, that such man
can be drunkard, or one whose powers are
, in any degree weakened by strong drink. II
this untirlng industry and large power aut
influence are results Of whiskey in his case
good many states would like to know tn,
brand he drinks-as Lincoln said OF Grant -
in order to send their senators some.