The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-09-01
A Futile Defence.

/
Burlington Free Press made desper-
ate effort to demonstrate the untruth-
fulness of the current statements and
allegations regarding Senator Edmunds'
use of intoxicating liquors. We can
imagine the amazement of many Of the
Burlington people at such a display of
shameless audacity and unveracity.
OF course the intent of the article is to
convey the impression that all that has
been alleged in reference to Mr.. Ed
munds' intemperance is destitute of
foundation; yet it will be found that
the writer was extremely careful not to
deny that Mr.. Edmunds is an habtual
user of Intoxicating drinks. The de-
NAL of the Free Press merely covers
the charge that he is a victim of in
temperance" II is difficult to deter
mine the border-line between temper
ate and Incorporate drinking. Per-
haps the Free Press can define the
precise limit. We cannot. Neither
can we undertake to decide how much
intoxicating liquor man must drink,
or for what length of time he must
drink it, to impair his efficiency and re-
liability as a legislator or bring discredit
upon his official position and his con-
stituency. We only know that for
some years past scores of persons with
a good reputation for veracity, both in
Vermont and in other states, have told
us that Mr.. Edmunds' habitual use of
intoxicants was a positive and I'M
doubted fact. The Free Press admits
that it was used againat him at the re-
publican national conventions of 1880
and 1884, but denounces the charge as
calumny. This is cheap and easy
way to dispose of an unpleasant fact,
but it is not always effective or conclu-
sive. The fact has been discussed
occasionally for at least six years in
many reputable newspapers through
out the country, and not as mere idle
gossip; we have heard more or less
said about it in Washington, Boston,
and in other places where we CHANGED
to meet persons who knew about it;
we have heard it privately discussed
by many prominent men in Vermont,
some of whom are to-day favorable to
Mr.. Edmunds' reelection. We have
been informed by certain temperance
men, who have taken pains to investi-
gate the matter, that the charge can be
amply sustained by proof. Now where
there is so much smoke there must be
some fire. 1t is true that it is not
pleasant matter to discuss, and its de-
velopments are notifying to the pride
of Vermonters, but the truth was bound
to come out sooner or later, and who
will say that it should not be brought
out? Would it be creditable to the re-
publican party and people of Vermont
to elect such man to the United
States senate, even though he is not
worse than what is termed "moder-
ate drinker?" The moral degradation
into which the Free Press has plunged
itself in this matter is we'll illustrated
in what it says in a brief review of Mr..
Edmunds' labors in the senate. 1t re-
marks:
If this untiring industry and large power
and influence are results of whiskey in his
case, good many states would like to know
the brand he drinks-as Lincoln said of
Grant-in order to send their senators some.
What wholesome moral sentiment
is this for the youthful readers of the
Free Press The moral sense of the
Free Press Cor rather the lack of it) is
again eXemplified in its treatment of
the WATCHMAN's introduction to the
Eli Perkins paragraph printed last
week. The WATCHMAN said:
Under the head of Temperance in Rhode
Island" the Albany Evening journal prints
the following yarn from Eli Perkins. 1t
must be case of mistaken identity or
something
In copying the above, the Free Press
omits the words, " IL must be case of
mistaken identity or something" with
the view, doubtless, of making it APP
pear that the WATCHMAN gave full
credit to the Perkins statement. On
the contrary, while we did not deem
the incident as altogether improbable,
we doubted that Mr.. Edmunds had re-
Gently visited Newport. This is not
the first time the Free Press has garbled
extracts from other papers to convey a
false impression of their meaning. Eli
Perkins may be " monumental liar"
as the Free Press charges, though he is
probably competent TO tell the truth