New-York tribune., 1886-05-07
SUPERSERVICkABLE FRIENDS.

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SUPERSERVICkABLE FPIENDS
There began some time ago little ripple of
discussion through the newspapers as to
whether there would be any opposition among
the Republicans of Vermont to the return of
Mr.. Edmnnds to the Senate. The fountain and
source of this debate we do not know. 1t may
have started in the Green Mountain Businesses
themselves, from local aud natural causes, or it
may have been set running by the drill Of some
Washington correspondent boring through the
provincial press. At any rate. it went purlng
along for several days, in mildly proper way,
without bosterousness or disturbance, and no.
body got excited. As Mr.. Edmunds's term is
about to explre and it is as certain as anything
in the future can be that tho Legislature which
will elect his successor will be Republican, the
question was raised in a tentative way whether
the ardor and enthusiasm with which Vermont
Republicans supported the Republican candi-
date and party in the last Presidential election
would appear in their support of Mr.. Edmunds
for reelection, or be chilled in the measure in
which they remembered that gcnteman's
mastery inactivity during the same campaign
That was all. There was nothing strange or
unusual in it. 1t was a sort of family debate
inside the Republican party over little matter
of domestic discipline. Such things are by
no means infrequent i'll political parties
Parties being organized for the carrying out of
certain principles and ideas, and their success
being dependent upon the harmony with which
the leaders pull together, it is perfectly natural
that any proposition to continue in office leaders
who have manifested disposition to kick or
set back in the harness should excite dis
cusson To the superior persons who view
with alarm anything like party harmony, be-
lieving that the world gets on, not by keeping
step, but by kicking, this is a sad and solemn
circumstance. 1t is none the less true.
This discussion WAS not in the nature of n
political racket. 1t was placid, calm, dispas-
sionate. 1t seemed to be admitted by every
body that the Vermont Senator did not, as it
were carry torch during the campaign. 1t
was not claimed for him that he had lain awake
nights, worn out his shoes, or hurrahed the rim
off his hat for the cause. This was not ex-
pected. He rarely docs it. 1t is not necessary
in Vermont. 1t was said, however, that having
been candidate himself for the nomination. he
might at least have said something to Indicate
that he knew the result of the convention and
the name of the successful candidate. To this
it was answered. first, that he was not feeling
well durlng the campaign; second, that he was
not apt to get excited anyhow; and third, that
whatever he did OF failed to do "a party man,
he was so great man that the Government
could not get along without him and he must
consequently be reelected.
All at once, as the debate went simmerng
along, there was sOnDl of Gathering hOofs
and clanking spurs and Hiram Atkins, of Yer
mont, newspaper editor and Democratic party
manager, plunged in, mounted and red hot. 1t
is hardly too much to say that Hiram Atkins
WAS surprise. He was not expected to take
part in this Entertainment. For this was, as
before stated, purely family matter inside the
Republican party, and Hiram Atkins is Yer
mont Democrat. bound and copper
fastened. With a whoop and yell Hiram
Atkins seized the ball of discussion which had
before been quietly passing back and forth
among the Republicans. and whirled it high in
air. In an outburst of rhetoric, red headed and
ftful, he contender that Mr.. Edmunds should
not be returned to the Senate because he had
been lukewarm in tie support of Mr. Blaine,
and his election under the circum stances would
break up the Republican party. He was joined
by chorus of Democratic editors in the same
strain. Before any Republican had recovered
from the shock of this rruption the peppery
Mugwump press in this city and Boston, to
which it is chiefly contined, broke out in
an answering and defiant howl. And their con-
tention is that Mr.. Edmunds must be re elected,
not in spite Of his lukewarmness in the Presi-
dental campaign, but because of it. They say
he showed an uncommon degree of greatness in
his behavior in 1884, and that the Republican
party would be- administering its own death
blow should it fail to re-elect him. Notwith-
standing the fact that he is the most pro-
nounced and aggressive OF all the Republican
Senators against the Mu2wump President the
Mugwump press never leaves of admring him.
They say he is original and dunaccommodating
grand, gloomy andspccullar. They are FILTERED
by his notice ever when he snorts his contempt
for them. They know that he is ugly, but they
believe that he is great.
And 80 of late Republicans have ceased dis
cussing the question of Mr.. Edmundss re-
election, while they listen to the Democratic
and Mugwumpian debate, Democrats maintain
ing that his defeat is necessary to the salvation
Of the Republican party, while the Mugwumps