The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-25
EDMUNDS, OF VERMONT,
TO BE REELECTED TO THE SEN.
ATE,
Notwithstanding His silence During
the Campaign Of 1854 and Its
Effect Upon His Party.

Will G 1Ntne next llult uuFlhk Tue
FIRST week 10 October. The ses ions
usually last from the first OF October
til Than ksgiying Diy, but there is no
definite limit to the term. The most
important thing the next session will
have 10 DO sto elect United States
Senator 10 succeed Senator E1munds
That Mr.. Edmunds will be returned
there is not aBy Iefson TO doubt. The
State Convention OF the Republican S
lust held was, Ia 20 far as II bore on
the su ject, forecast OF his re cleo
ton, III II no such pubic expression
had been made, cns ccu'd easily dis
cover by talking with Republicans
anywhere in the State that Verm mt
was as likely TO sscsde from the Union
as II is TO take its senior Senator away
from Washington. The expression Of
the convention was negative. BY
consent of both the friends aud the
enemies OF Senator Edmunds, the sub
iect Of the Senatorship wss let acne.
1t was large y discussed on the
ground, which was natural, the Re-
public. politicians not having been
together before since Senator Ed
munds committed the ofisnse which
gave fiss to a discussion OF his fitness
10 be returned. That offense was his
refusal 20 do campaign work for
Blaine ia 1884
II cannot b. denied that Mr.. Ed.
munds has lost political ground in his
own State by his course in that cam
paign. His indifference to the fate OF
the Republican ticket was felt as a
shock. Republicans up TO that time
cherished toward their party a 10y.
atty like that which the State felt for
the Union when the civil war broke
ou.. II had not occurred 10 them
that the party could nominate a can
ddate for the Presidency who was
not entitled to the support OF
every Vermont Republican, just as the
State believed that the command
er OF the Union Army during the war
could issue no order that should not
be obeyed with alaCTity by every Yer.
mont soldier. The support OF the tick
ct was expected from Senator Ed
munds, not because Mr.. Blaine was at
the head OF II, but because II was
Republican ticket. The active party
men had heard Of disafection, and
boiling, and other species Of indepen-
dence in other States. These affairs
had not disturbe d them, however, be-
cause they occurred somewhere else.
Such thing was thought to be be-
yond the Possibilities Ia Vermont.
When, therefore, the chairman OF the
State Committee, going 10 the Senator
and laying before him the campaign
work he was expected to perform, was
told that his services were not at the
disposal Of the committee, the chair
man was much surprised.
II Mr.. Edmunds was less prominent
in national afIaire, II might be said
that the chances OF being returned by
the next Legislature were against
him. A mere politician in bis shoes
would sand a good chance OF having
II e lea tdlionis applied. II the Legis-
la'ure had met last year instead Of
this, there would have been undoubt-
eddy a stray effort to defeat even SEN
ator Edmunds, for at that time the
VeImanteTs were still dsEed by the
shock OF his refufal TO speak in behalf
OF the Republican candidate, regard
less OF who the candidate might be.
A lloyd supporter OF Mr.. Edmunds
said to the writer that when the
canvass for the recent State conven-
ton set in, he was alarmed at the
start which the opposition to Ed
munds got a his friends. 1t was not,
he said, till sentiment outside OF the
State began TO be quoted by The pa
pers within the State that the party
began to realize what stupendous
blunder II would make by laying its
great leader on the shell. Papers, he
said, like the Boston Herald, the
Springfield Republican, and the. New
York Etening Post started the demand
for the Senator's reelection, and they
were followed by some of the most
Kronounced Blaine papers in New York
and New England. Thbse Vermont
papers which were not controlled by
influences personally interested in
pulling Senator Edmunes dtwn, took
up the subject and eHeCtually wiped
out anything like organized opposition
TO him 80 far aa the State convention
NuH NbnNNAntus lANNiH NIt ullN LOTtt
Republican papers of consequeuoe in
Vermont which oppcs Sc his reelection,
and they do not lead any force that can
be organized, These are the st. Al
bans Messenger, whose editor, Mr..
Gibbs, ie chairman OF the State com.
mittee he Montpelier Wdtchmdn and
the Rut 4 7eicgrGm. The first two
are said TO be controlled by ex-Goy.
ernoT Smith, whose friends say there
are only two positions IN public life
that would confer on him desired
hon1g, these being United States
S.nat rship and the Presidency. There
are Vermonters, however, who cay
thai a ticket in 1888 Of Somebody OF
Somewhere end Smith of Vermont
V uld not be bolted by the ex-Gov-
ernor
To The question whether in the APP
Tr hing canvass for members # the
LIZ latuie he question OF re-electing
Sent Edna ds win be prominent,
the enerd eply isthatit will be- The
oppone t'o' ne Senator say that they
abstained m making this matter en-
issue at Mon p,lier the other day he
cause they wanted 10 r. serve their fire
for time when it could be made most
effectual, meaning that when the can
vsss for members of the Legislature
sets in they vi put IN their work. In
a few districts it may be effectual for
electiug auu Edmunds repIesenta-
tives. The State Senate, it is generally
conceded, viii be strongly for Ed
munds, and the Chaaces are ten to one
that the populgr brauch will be equally
united before the time comes for vot.
ing for senator. At all events. il
there ehall be developed any CON
siderable support Of any other man, il
will have IFS inspiration not from Ed
munds's sympathy in the Blaine cam.
paign, but from personal rivalry
cloaked by pIoiuse worship Of party
loyalty. Mr.. Edmunds entered the
United States Senate twenty years ago
last April Is it mot strange that in a
State where nominations are eauiya-
lent to erection there should be men
who, growing in personal influence at
home while the Senator has been
engaged at the capital, believe they
are p ole OF gegtiUg a Legislature
elfc d hat will 80 as break the fofd
ffOnf " iCr as go ,lnq stood for tbie