Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-26
Letter from Washington,


WASHINGTON, d. c., March "a, 1872.
"TYPHUs NFUNDUs AMERICANUs"
In English, according to Theodore Parker,
that means simply "the presidential fever. J"
There are some men who have it badly We
who live here see them every day, and the one
who now appears in all human probability to be
almost sure of winning the prize, the desire to
| possess which causes such outrageous symp-
toms to appear, gives no sign at all of being
under the influence of this disease. The most
virueDt attack I have known, since the very
violent one experienced by Chief Justice Chase,
from three to tour years ago, is that which has
seized on David Davis, associate justice of the
supreme court. Some of his symptoms are
amazingly like those SO wittily described by Mr..
Parker. Here are some extracts:
''At first, the patient is filled with vague long
ings after things too high for him. He gazes at
them with fixed stare; the pupils expand but
he cannot see distinctly; crooked ways seem
straight; the shortest curve he thinks is a right
angle; dirty things look clean, and he lays hold
Of them without perceiying their condition.
Some things he sees double, especially the num-
Der of his friends; others with a semi. vision,
and it is always the lower half he
sees All the time he hears con-
fused noise, ike that of men declaring
votes, state after state. This noise obScures all
other sounds, so that he cannot hear the still,
small voice which yet moves the world OF men.
His organ of locality is crazed and cratic in its
action; combativeness is irreguarly active; de-
structiYeneSs is intense; cauSaity has become
idiotic; ideality fills him with the fOOlishest of
dreams. The organ of seli-eSteem swes to a
mOnstrous size-like huge wen on the top OF
the head, ga sight to behold" Disease is in
durable; yields TO no medicine; not hellebore
enough in all Anticyra to affect the case"
Though the diagnosis was prepared when the
south and slavery was in all ambitious mems
eyes, still there's enough truth IN it to make it
kin to and apt at present. Judge Davis has
certainly fearful attack; it has been slow in
coming, but it's there, and there to stay Nothing
will cure it in HIM or his judicial confrere
Chase-but the grave. Defeat won't do it, for
here is the latter busily engaged in paving the
way for hoped for democratic nomination.
Nothing has shown the anxiety of Judge Davis
for real nomination so much as the denals
made regarding the authenticity of an alleged
| letter of acceptance, which Boston paper pub
| lished in dispatch from here. The little i'm
broglio also proves conclusvely how much re
| spect, or rather contempt is really felt for the
Columbus labor nominations aud convention
even by him who accepted it.
NO FORMAL ACCEPTANCE-ANXIETY TO PROVE
THIS.
Those who are sincere in their belief that
what has been somewhat vaguely termed '1abor
reform, contained the germs of principles and
efforts which would do something practical to-
wards righting the burden and inequalities of
which 81 al
er .thrives, must be woelully deceived if they
accept the Columbus movement in its present
shape, as likely to lead to any beneficial result
Evidently Mr.. Davis holds it in onor only as
far as it affords him leverage to win another
nomination from some important party-at
least so far as votes are concerned. The proof
of this is found in the letter of acceptance bust
ness.
The labor relormers' executive committee met
here Immediately after the Columbus conven.
ton adjourned While the chairman, S. P.
Cummings, was in the city | met him, as well
as one or two of the body Apparently they
were quite delighted with their nominee. |
don't wonder at it, for personally, Judge Davis
is an estimabe gentleman, though it is not in
his temperament to have one particle of genuine
sympathy with the policies or principles of any
real labor movement. The letter which
appeared in the Traveller, and which is
now deuied so vehcmently, was undoubtedly
written by Mr. Sawyer, correspondent of that
paper, on the authority of Mr.. Cummings who
gave it to him as in substance (Which is lust
what it purported to be), the formal letter in
which Mr.. Davis promised the labor committee
be would announce the acceptance of their nom
nation. have no doubt, from all the circum-
stances have learned about it, that Mr.. Cum
mngs was justified in the statement he made to
the correspondent Of journal so friendly to Gen.
Butler, and therefore one to which he was him
self kindly disposed
It's noticeable, however, that no denial was
made OF the authenticity of the letter, as to its
representing in general Mr.. Davis's views, until
after the small labor vote cast in New Hamp.
shire gave proof Of the numerical unimportance
Of the issue-at least, in presidential contest
Ever since that, correspondents of democratic or
liberal proelivities have been extremely active
first in denying the authenticity of the letter
itself, and next in denying that Mr. Davis accepts
the platform on which he was nominated at
Columbus.
The latter declaration is probably more nearly
representative Of the judges real view than the
impressions which lie undoubtedly left on the
minds of the committee men aforesaid That
the nominee did 50 place himself en- rapoOr
with them is proven by the following extract
from editorial correspondence find in the Chi
cago Workngman's Advocate, the official organ
| of the national la nor mi
cameron, is member Of their executive com
mlt'ee He writes Of his attendance in Wash.
| ington as follows:
u the afternoon we had the pleasure of
maltllS on Judge Davis, the nominee of the la
Dor reform party, and found him TO be an nm
assuming, earnest gentleman, in full symnathv
| WIN the labor movement. His views "a
| broad, siatesmanlike and comprehensive
stamped him. in our judgment, as one of tbe
| elvitest lleLl OF ms Time The attempt of the
party press TO belittle or ridicule such man Is
| IKE gnat nibbling at the wings of an eagie--
| certainly as ridiculous. With him for stendard
bearer the reform party marches 70 assured Vie
| tory" Wy
The paragraph is good as an illustration Of
incipient hero-worsbip and pungent metaphor
which / should hardly have expected to find in
my friend Cameron. / am in doubt which
most TO admire, the penetration which sees one
Of "the greatest men Of his times" in Judge
Davis, or the wit which compares him to an
eagle and his critics to the gnat nibbling at its
| wings.
But be that as 1t may il seems evident to me
that Judge Davis is troubled with that second
Sooer thought that sometimes comes even to
enthusiastic eagles. It is the White house eyrie
~ = alter and New Hampshire teaches that to
op'ain II, aid FROM other than the labor reform.
erS must De had. Sowe are now told that Judge
! DAVIS IS not in full sympathy with the labor