New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-08

though thirteen years older than his colleague,
was chosen a Senator from Vermont eleven
months later. and consequently is still the junior
colleague. Mr.. Edmunds. in fact. is now but
sixty-three years Of age, comparative youth In
body which numbered at its last session probably
dozen or more members of more than three
score and ten.
No brief summary can be made now-nor need
it be made-of Mr. Edmundss legislative record.
To give fair idea Of the part he has had in the
legislation of Congress for the last twenty-five
years would be TO write history of practically all
Republican legislation since 1856. From the be-
ginning of his service Mr. Edmunds took strong
ground as an exponent of Republican IDEAS. and
bis devotion to his party and its principles has
always been both pronounced and outspoken lie
had large share in Reconstruction legislation and
in the Electoral College enactments Of 1S76-'17.
lie Of the representatives OF the Senate on
the Electoral Commission. and has maintained
with courage and vigor the justice OF its findings
In recent years Mr.. Edmunds has concentrated
his interest and labors in public affairs more
directly on the subject matter which has come be-
fore the two committees Of the judiciary and OF
Foreign Affairs OF the Judiciary Committee he
has long been chairman-and chairman in most
active and comprehensive sense-and of the For
eign Affairs Committee he is now the second men-
Der. No LEGISLATION which has been proposed by
these two committees for many years has untll
within the last session Or two OF Con,
gess failed to show the marks oil
his long experience and trained sa-
gacity On all matters affecting the Judiciary
OF the country he has been an acknowledged mas
ter, and in his committee he has been un-
doubtedly the controlling force since he became
its chairman. Not until last sumger was TINS
control and authority successfully disputed, Mr..
Evarts then pushing through the committee by
iaritv no hill fhp relief of The supreme
Court. which has SINCE become known as the
Evarts law. But in the main the work OF the
Judiciary Committee for many Congresses mas
been the work practically Of Senator Edmunds;
His retirement will make necessary a complete
reconstruction of that committee, Tor TWO other
Of its members ut the last session of Congress,
Nessrs ingalls, and Evarts have also retired to prl-
vate life The membership Of the Foreign Affairs
Committee will also he seriously Affected Dy
Mr.. Edmundss resignation, for il has already lost
Mr.. Evarts and all Of its minority members, eX-
cept Mr.. Morgan, of Alabama Mr. Edmuaas
will also I've missed greatly the floor of the
Senate He was one of the most regular OF at
tendants on the sessions of the Senate, though he
took advantage of the privilege granted TO his
committee to sit during the sessions of the Sen
ate to escape from good deal of the tedlum OF
the regular proceedings and of the almost In
tolerabe flow Of general debate" When he spoke
something pithy and sarcastic was to he expected
and few listeners were ever disappointed lie
made few set" speeches, and seldom, II ever used
notes. But Of all Senate orators his speeches.
haps the most striking and the most effective
1t is needless to add that his loss to public iie
is one to be regretted from every possible point
view