Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-08-03
EX-SENATOR EDMUNDS
Talks About Various Timely
Topics

In an Interview at Newport, Il. l., and
Takes "A General Hopeful View of the
FIXTURE.
George V. S. Michaelis interviewed Ex-
Senator Edmunds at Newport, r. l., last
week for the Boston Sunday journal, and
was accompanied by an artist who intro
duced series of very good outline sketches
Of Mr.. Edmunds in characteristic attitudes
Here are some of the opinions which the
interview brought out:
Remembering that Gov. Levi X. Fuller
had told me at Squantum the week before
that his Green Mountainers would not be
happy until they had their most noted son
back in the senate, l began my catechism
with the question: "Vermonters seem very
anxious to put you back into the Senate,
and there is a strong feeling in the party
that you are needed there. Will you con-
sent to go back?"
thought the sea breeze had blown in,
and started to turn up my coat collar, but
was restrained by warning glance from
the artist, and | realized that it merely was
the result of the senator's tones. 81 do
not know any reason, he was saying, "why
| should return. When ! resigned from the
senate in 1891 did it after a careful con-
SlutIdllOn OI lut NuOle IldJJeT, anu Ill Jue
fixed conviction that | was entitled to a
rest. When l became private citizen on
November of that year, | reioiced in the
thought that, at last should have peace
and an opportunity to enjoy my family and
home life. | think | will be pardoned if l
say that | think | have earned the right to
rest, and can most emphatcally say that,
under no circumstances, shall | return to
public life
When | asked his ideas as to the Repub-
lican outlook, there was noticeable i'm
provement in the temperature of the room,
and the Green Mountainer relaxed some
what
81 think there can be no question but
that we shall carry the next presidential
election, and the prospect is very encourag-
ing as to our prospect this fall. The coun-
try is slowly emerging from a period of
great depression, and people are seeing that
Republican rule was by far the better"
A Hopeful Forecast.
Speaking of Democratic evils, what do
you think of the prospects for complete
house cleaning. in the fall in New York?'
81 have strong hopes that the movement
will prove as successful as it was last year"
'Do you think that this is just a spasm
of virtue, or do you think that the public
conscience is steadily improving?"
"There has been a steady growth in the
direction of healthier public sentiment
regarding political morality. Anybody who
has read the detailed history of this coun-
try, England France and all civilized ma
tions cannot help knowing that the state of
things now, however corrupt they may
seem, is enormously better than 100 years
ago."
How about the past % years, when
through the prominent political position
you have occupied, you have had an oppor
tunity to study the people?"
Eyes, better than in the past % years"
81 should say from this and your speech
at Squantum the other day, when you told
us not to despair, that you are an opti-
mist?"
The senator gazed at me with a shrewd
look in those keen, deep eyes, and he smiled
with certain grim Yankee humor as he
said:
young man, when you have lived as
long as | have you will see that there is
very little in life if we fret over each gall
/ ing trial. Nothing is worth despairing
over. History shows that Fate is steadily
, growing kinder
, Utah and Hawaii.
I When l broached the topic of Utah the
interest that had been killing the assumed
chlliness in Mr. Edmund's manner became
more and more noticeable.
e whether it has been a wise measure to
5 give ftatehood to Utah depends entirely
= upon polygamy." The man to whose un-
tiring efforts is due the credit for stamping
., out "the twin relic of barbarism" spoke
with the utmost deliberation but with
S much warmth, nevertheless. polygamy
}. has been given up for good, then it was a
q wise movement, but every effort should
have been made to determine whether this
last step was not taken too soon and thai
y there is not an element that will raise uI
y a reactionary party. | hope that this will
not happen, and don't think that it will
| do think, though, that it would have
| been more prudent to have waited a couple
g of years. 1t may be that had present in
formation | would hold different views.
is very likely that things have changed
s there, since three-fourths of the member
"a of the Senate and House committees de
lie clared in favor of statehood"
Something brought up the subject o
, Hawaiian annexation and | was surprised
i to hear Mr.. Edmunds say, with much de
'e cision, "No, do not believe in Hawaiian
y annexation There would then be DANCE
of the hurried admission of Hawaii as
IN state, and now and for some time to com
. that country is not fitted for statehood
- l am in favor, though, of the independ
y ence of Hawaii as a republic and on
IN standing by her through good or evil"
W At this time conversation became some
what wandering, and we touched on man
i, subjects of personal interest to the grea
:! leader, who told us many funny stories
Cd but qualified everything with the remar
Of that "of course you will regard that as pei
/ sonal and not for publication.
x Before we knew it the Vermonter had Il
10 laughing bosterously with his very dr.
" drollery. Bill Nye lost dangerous CON
u petitor when George F. Edmunds took II
law and politics.
w No Occasion for Despair.
" "What do you think of the present pC
u sition of the Republican party?" asked.
IS "The Republican party is firmly situate
r. and is Just what it has been. 1t stand
for fol and hOnact alaotiOnc tho oOuptr -