The times., 1898-11-20
A Fallen Leader.

In the early days of Summer when
frozen Vermont was beginning TO thaw
| out, but while there was still a stiffness
OF the mental joints of the Republican
| Green hountaineers, a convention was
held and a platform was made As usu-
al. for half a century, ex-senator Ed
munds was allowed TO write the resolu-
tions. II was stin too early for the peo-
pie to warm up to anything and so the
proposition TO annex the Philippines was
viewed with the alarm that was TO be
expected from Mr.. Edmundss pen. But
now comes an astonishing thing. That
politician has lost his grip on his own
State. His leadership is repudiated He is,
next TO Carl Schurz. the most active of
the enemies OF expansion, and he is by
all odds the ablest, not excepting the
accidental citizen who came to America
because Germany would no longer toler-
ate his presence In the renewal of their
campaign against the acquisition of the
Philippines. the little band OF citizens of
foreign birth or sympathes decided that
an article from the pen of Mr.. Edmunds
would go far and would, at the least.
arouse Vermont into a state of hysterical
opposition to the Presidents policy. But
it has failed to do anything of the kind.
one of the leading Republican newspa-
pers of the State is the Montpelier Jour-
nal which has hitherto acknowledged the
party domination of Mr.. Edmunds. Here
is what it says:
1t is the simple truth to say that Mr. Edmunds
seems no longer to be the stalwart that once
bore Vermont $ commission in the United States
Senate His letter on the Philippines neither
adds anything new to the discussion of the ques-
ton from his point of view, or OF others with
him who are opposing the retention of the Philip
pines, nor does he present the stock arguments
against the acquisition of the islands with great
er force or effect than they have commonly been
stated. There appears TO be an air of queruious-
ness or pettiness in his treatment Of the subject
that one remarks with pain and regret. The
feeling cannot be repressed that it might have
been better for the reputation Mr.. Edmunds ac-
quired for astuteness in the palmy days of his
public career if this letter had not been published
This expression Of his views will give satisfac-
ton to the Mugwump editors, those noisy and ir-
rational accusers of the Government OF baseness
in its motives, and to other enemies of the coun-
try at home and abroad. 1t can have inhu-
ence in changing the policy OF the Government
or the views OF the people. Mr.. Edmunds has
nothing to say OF the moral responsibility of
the United States for the future of the peoples
who have been given taste OF freedom and the
prospect OF a full enjoyment OF its blessings
through the encouragement and instrumentality
of this Government, and which is the chief stone
of the of its policy in settling the issues
of the war with Spain.
In what Mr. Edmunds says now, and has been
| saying, there is a cold disregard OF this primal
phase OF the question. What shall We do with
the people we made our allies in the with
Spain and whom have released from the Span
iSh yoke? The people, and the Administration
that represents the people, recognize the respon-
sibility they have incurred. and will meet it like
men and Christians So would Mr. Edmunds il
he were twenty years younger.
This is enough to make the statue of
Ethan Allen fall down the State House
steps If Edmunds can no longer COM
mand the thoughts of Vermont Republic
ans, nothing is secure.