New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-12
THE CONNECTICUT SENATORSHIP.

The Democrats and Liberals in the COnnec-
ticut Legislature are to meet tomorrow even
ing in caucus to nominate a candidate for
United States Senator. The leading candi-
dates for the nomination it is understood are
William II. BarDum, the present representa-
tive in Congress from the WITH District Will
liam w. Eaton, member of the Legislature
from Hartford, and Charles r. Ingersoll, the
present Governor of the State. OF these it is
believed that Messrs. Barnum and Eaton will
have about an equal number of votes, each
leading Gov. mgersoll, whose friends hope to
hold the balance of power, and by persistently
holding on to secure his nomination at last.
Mr.. Barnum is an iron manufactures of great
wealth. He was first elected to Congress i'll
1867, running against p. T. Barnum, Repubh-
can. 1t was well understood that the election
was carried by lavish and corrupt use of
money. Never in the history of the State had
there been such open and unbushing bribery,
never such wholesale purchasing of votes. An
effort was made by the Republican majority
in Congress to unseat Mr.. Barnum for this
cause, and committee of investigation was
amounted in the matter. The committee en-
tered upon the inquiry with great enthusiasm.
The testimony was overwhelming. Unfortu-
nately for the case, however. the committee
had to uncover both sides, and it was found
that the bribery was not confined to one
side, but that both candidates and
both parties had been up to their ears in it.
So the matter was dropped, not because of
lack of proof Of bribery and corruption, but
because both parties had been guilty of
the offense, and there was nothing to be
gained by pursuing the matter. Mr.. Barnum
has been three times elected to Congress since
then, and is still member He is very
sbrewd business man, with the capacity TO
conduct successfully large enterprises, and
belongs to a class which of late years has
come forward prominently in representative
positions; the class of men whose theories of
government are materialistic purely, and
whose notions of progress are confined to the
development Of the cOuntry's physical re-
sources. Such a man was the late Cakes
Ames of Massachusetts,. 1t is not
pretended by Mr.. Barnums friends that
he has the qualities of statesman in
any sense. He is supported by majority
of the State Committee and by the managing
politicians, because he has always contributed
literally to the party, and if elected to the
Senate would continue to do so, and to furnish
the sinews of war with which the politicians
NAV be able to retain political control and
patronage, and without which they are power
less. We do not suppose that Mr.. Barnum
himself or any of his supporters pretend that
he has the qualifications which under any
ordinary rules Of selection cntitle him to be
one of two men TO represent Connecticut in the
United States Senate. He is brought forward
Just as Gov. buckingham, Gov. English and
Gov. Jewell were successfully nominated for
the Office of Governor-because he wants the
place and can afford and is willing to pay the
largest price for it. That, we think, is fair
and unprejudced statement of it, to which
neither he nor his friends can interpose objec-
tion or denial.
Consider now for moment that the party
from which Mr.. Barnum seeks elevation to
the Senate has succeeded to power upon the
strength of its protestatioDs of reform that
the corruption and bribery of the Administra-
ton party have been staple argument with
them, and that the reenforcements which gave
them the power TO elect a Senator came from
those who abandoned the Republican organi-
cation for just such offenses as the election Of
Mr.. Barnum would be. Simply as a matter
of policy, is it wise Is it honestf
Mr.. Eaton, the other leading candidate, has
been for many years prominent Democratic