The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-04-09
EDMUNDS RESIGNS.

Notwithstanding the numerous denials on
the part of his friends and the radical Re-
publican press, there was more than idle
rumor'' in the story theat Senator Ed
MUNDs intended to resign. The rumor was
absolutely true, for old St. JEROME has
stepped down and out, Or, rather, has
given notice that he will go on November l.
An explanation for his not going now is
readily found. There will be nothing for
the Senator to do, in an official way, for the
next seven months, while the salary will
be paid as regularly as if the Senate were
in session and the old man was in his seat
every day. His New England thrift sug-
gests to him the wisdom of hanging on to
the office until the work shall be resumed,
and taking in the 81, GIG which will follow.
Perhaps there are some who will regret
the retirement of EDMUNDs from the Sen
ate, but we cannot believe their number
will be many, for it is a matter of public
notoriety that his admirers have been
numerically declining during the past sew
eral years, in fact, ever since 1876, when
he was conspicuous member of the cleo
toral commission and cast his vote accord
TO be right. During the past ten years he
has grown more and more grabbed and
cranky. He assumed the leadership Of his
party in the Senate, and by reason of that
assumption lorded it over the chamber,
sometimes quite after the manner Of ty-
rant But one result could follow the
course he pursued, and that would be his
overthrow. The revolt was certain to
come, and it came in the Fifty-frst Con-
gress when first one and then another Re-
publican Senator found courage to assert
his independence and declare himself free
from the oppressive and unreasonable mas
terry which EDMUNDs had maintained for
more than decade. His rule was broken
and in several instances he was defied and
beaten by members Of his own party. tits
believed that he was just shrewd enough to
know that he had lost his power and could
not recover it, and his pride was so touched
that he could not longer sit in chamber
where he had been dethroned.
His friends, of course, will attempt to
explain his retirement Cd the ground of his
age and his WEAKNESS Of public life, but
those familiar with the characteristics OF
his nature and who have been watching the
decline of his influence will rightly at
tribute his resignation TO disappointment
ana wounded pride. EDMUNDs is not an old
man as the ages of Senators go. Perhaps
one third of the Senators are older than he
The Vlce-President leads him by four
years, and his own colleague is his senior
by eighteen years; hence his resignation
ought not TO be charged to his age If il
were in his nature to become weary Of pub
lie life his going out might be ex plalned on
that score, as he entered the Vermont legis
lature al the age Of twenty six, and has
since been continuously in Office, twenty.
five years of the time, on April 5, baving
been passed in the United States Senate
but EDMUNDs' record is such as to scout the
idea that he would ever get tired of Office
holding.
The HERALD confesses to a certain degre,
of pleasure over the going from
the Senate of the old fanatic
He has been the unreasonable, viciou
and malicious enemy of this territory, pur
suing this community with hatred whicl
should have put the evil one himself to tn
blush. His senseless hate has cost Utal
many thousands of dollars, has retarde,
for years development and progress, ha
inflicted untold suffering upon men, womel
and children and has sent people to III
timely graves. When men shall be Judge
for their deeds in the flesh it will be a
awful record which will face GEORGE T
EDMUNDs in his heartless persecution O
the people of Utah. We are heartily gla
that he has gone. We are glad that he goe
in way to reflect no credit upon himselt
and we hope he viii never again be in pt
Eition where his vicious, abnormal natur
can infiict injury upon his fellow creature!