Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-05-29
SENATOR EDMUNDs AND COLONEL.
WATTERSON.

When white-haired champions meet
each other in verbal contests over the
merits Of battles in which they engaged
long ago the result is likely to be en-
tightening to the generation of the pres
ent in different way from that intend
ed by the authors Of the debate.
Colonel Henry Watterson was a MEM
Der of the National House of Represen-
tatves back IN 1876 when the Hayes
Tilden controversy was raging and the
election to the presidency of the United
States was hanging in the balance so
nearly equal on it's two sides that 1t
seems as If straw might turn 1t either
way. George f. Edmunds Of Vermont
was member of the United States SEN
ate. The Century Magazine, as one of its
series of historical articles written by
thoes who had a hand in the events de-
scribed, published an account of the
Hayes Tilden controversy written by Col
one Watterson who was Tfllmans
spokesman in Congress
In the June issue of the same magazine
is an answering article by Senator Ed
munds, who was one of the commission
! deciding in favor of Hayes, and a re-
joinder by Colonel Watterson.
Both articles make the past live again.
Each makes strong bid for the readers
sympathy. Senator Edmunds convinces
one of the legality Of his side and of
the depths and dignity and necessity OF
the principles he uphods Colonel Wat
terson makes a human appeal and causes
| the reader to wonder as to the equities
of the case
Probably the question is one Of those
which Will never be perfectly settled. But
the controversy reveals much TO US of
to-day. To anyone who has followed the
speeches and writings of our present-day
statesmen it is too clear for argument
that, with the possible exception of Sem
ator Root, there is not a man in the
United States Senate to-day possessed of
the breadth Of view, the mastery of fun
damental principles, and the compelling
clearness of vision and statement neces-
sary to write an article like that Of SEN
ator Edmunds.
If George f. Edmunds were a young
man to-day he might become a great
corporation lawyer. He would not be-
come United States senator, because he
never resorted to sensational methods and
never cultivated personal popularity, the
two qualities upon which the choice Of
the people is now predicated. Men of
his type never did these things and do
learning and breadth have no time for
such things and no liking for them And
yet there is probably somewhere COM
pensaton equal to our loss. The sur
roundings of public life are in many re-
spects better now than in those times,
though individual genius and efficiency
in office seem to he on the decline.
The words with which Colonel Waiter
son concludes his rejoinder are decidedly
in point: I'VE have outlived secession;
we have survived reconstruction: we have
weathered a disputed succession. compli-
Gated and embttered we are passing
through and shall surmount other still
more insidous approaches Of revolution
Tilden Is dead Hayes is dead They are
but atoms in a sum total which sweeps
onward unaffected by either OF them,
then. or slnce--a few loaves and a few
goal the yet more perfect day. that
| shines before uRn