The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-04-29
NOW AND THEN.

Mr. Efmunds Trying to Explain His For
mer Treatment of BIaine-A Fooli-h
Defense for a Man Who Pretends to BE
Honest.
Nearly two years have passed away
since the country was filled with the
noise and fury of a Presidential cam
paign. In those two years, as is nat
ural, many things have happened. and
many regulations have been shattered;
but what greater and more distressful
contrast is presented by this lapse of time
than that between George F. EdmunGs
of to-day and George F. Edmunds OF
1882 Then he sat on the cold shores
of Lake Champlain, in the icy dignity
of his presumed political integrity, and
the mugwumps admired him. He re-
fused to speak in behalf of the candi-
date of his party. There were iutima-
tons of a letter which had been written
by Mr.. Edmunds strongly condemna-
tory of Mr.. Blaine's attitude on the
Thurman act. There was a much
quoted phrase, in which Mr.. Blaine
was represented as skulking behind
Union Pacific breastworks, and car
rying a furtive metaphorical gun,
out of the muzzle of which he was ac-
customed to pour shot into the backs OF
Mr.. Edmunds and Mr. Thurman. The
existence of some such letter as this
was never denied. On the contrary.
since the opening of the Senatorial
campaign in Vermont Mr.. Edmunds'
friends have induced a correspondent
of the Boston 1ddUerttSer to say that
Mr.. Edmunds was willing to speak for
Mr.. Blaine on general principles, but
that, having frankly shown certain let
tiers to the National committee, he was
advised not TO take the stump, his pre-
viOusly expressed opinions of the can
didate not being consistent with adj
vOcacy of him for the Presidency. 1t
was gravely put forth that. though Mr.
Edmunds thought Mr.. Blaine bad
man. he was perfectly willing to speak
for the party which nominated the bad
man.
1t would seem, in the calm and peace
of the present, that one whose words
carry authority and who is trusted
servant of the public should actively
contend against the candidate for
whom he can not conscientiously speak.
Moreover it is understood that Mr.
EdmundS voted for Mr.. Blaine, not
outstanding his low opinion of his
character. 1t really seems strange
that good man should have expressed
his desire that a bad man should be
President. As we have said, ho~ever.
Mr.. EdmundS was forgiven. by the
Mugwumps, and more than a few of
them have asserted since 1884 that they
would be glad to vote for George F.
Edmunds for President.
1t is not probable that Mr.. Edmunds
has now nearly so many admirers as
he had at the beginning of the
present session of Congress. Ju-
dicious people who had studied his
speeches and deeds rather than the
adulatiOns of his admirers were not
surprised when he entered upon his
present course of tricksy partisanship.
Mr.. Edmunds would have made his
issue with the President even if the end
of his Senatorial term was not in the
near future. He loves the bywayS of
partisanship. He delights in the small
arts of the attorney. He has never
been the author of great statute, but
he has made innumerable verbal
changes in measures that have been
discussed by the Senate. 1t would be
a miracle almost if Senator Edmunds
should say generous word of a polit-
zeal opponent, unless, like Mr.. Thur
man, a Democrat should happen to be
his intimate friend. The contest for
the Vermont Senatorship, which is
now in its preliminary stages, is fresh
incentive, but his own nature and in
tellectual constitution are at the bot
tom of the fight heIis making against
The President. The facts in the Dusikn
case clearly show that Mr.. Edmunds in
SistS on the right of the Senate to de-
mand papers touching suspensions be-
cause the President is Democrat. lie
is moved by no other consid Grafton,
and the country knows it. N Y. Star.