The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-01-21
senatorial Contests.

The manner in which the CANVASS
for United States Senators has been
conducted this Winter, in several of
the States, is not creditable to the
Republican party. L. cannot be de-
MED that the personalities INDUCED
IN and the bitterness of feeling dis
played have cast shadow over the
triumphs achieved by the party at the
polls. There was no occasion for
such folly The whole trouble has
originated in the fact that certain
leading Republicans have assumed to
themselves the merit of the victory
last year, and claimed Senatorships
as the only just ,recompense for their
Invaluable services. These claims par
tyand personal friends have conceded
and attempted to enforce. and the result
has been clashing and jangling of the
most disgraceful character. In New
York money was lavishly used-as
much as $500, 600, it is alleged-to in
fuenee the impeounious and corrupt,
and the same is charged with reference
to the contest in Michigan. 1t is
gratifying to state, however. that in
New York the aspirant who had the
least money proved successful, and
secured the coveted prize. In Mis-
souri, the contest for Senator was
bitter in the extreme, and the com
petitors were forced to appear be
fore the Legislative Caucus like
contestants in a prize ring, and
give each other a word pun
melting, to the great delight of the
spectators. In our own State the con.
test has assumed phase that is most
deplorable. While it is evident that
n large majority of the Republicans
of the Legislature favor the election
OF Mr. CUMBACK, minority openly
avow that they will resort to any in
strumentality, however indecent and
corrupt" to accomplish his defeat. L
is even asserted that they will traffic
with the Democratic members Of the
Legislature, and bargain off the yari
GUS offices within the gift of that body
In order to crafty their personal NAL
ice against the Lieutenant-Go
Most of the gentlemen engaged il
this personal warfare upon Mr.. Gun
BACK are politicians, aud have
been noted for nothing else. Al
their lives, they have either been il
Office Or were seeking a position o
that character. They have been in
debted for success to the loyalty Of
p.inorities. Mr.. HUGHES himself, the
originator OF the bolt and principal
manager of the boilers, owes his pc.
sition in the Senate to the fact tina
the Republicans Of his District, wht
hate him as much as he dislikes Mr.
CUMBACK, would not bolt the actor
of the Convention through which b,
received the nomination, notwith
standing the belief on the part 0
many that his nomination was Sc
cured by political trickery known t
all who have had to do with Count,
Conventions. That the gentlemen
who, for years past, have been hon
ored with official positions, out o
which some of them have re
allied handsome fortunes, have b
their conduct betrayed the trust re
posed Ia them by their constituent
can hardly be denied. Their blow
are not now directed at Mr.. CUMBAcR
but at the Republican party. Prio
to the meeting of the Republieal
caucus, and the taking definite actio
as a party upon the Senatorship the
had the privilege of striking nj,
CUMBACK as often and as hard a
they pleased. They had the rirht !,
use every instrumentality within thei
power to defeat him. But after tn
party, in legislative convention az
sembled, by an overwhelming vot,
decided to nominate him as its car
didate for Senator, the members VIII
bolt the nomination array themsclve
against the party itself. It is n
longer hostility to Mr.. CUMBACE
but hostility to the candidate-of en-
Republican party. While we believ
there are other men in he State VIII
will make fully as good, if not bette