Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-23

AU q u . II A. A
TUESDAY MORNING. March 23. 1878.
THE iEDEPENDEYT SENA TORS.
Several senators ID Congress occupy a
position by which they are classed as In
dependents. The distinction in nearly
every case comes from the manner in
which they were elected. They are Chris
tiancy of Michigan, Mcmillan of Mime
sofa, Cameron OF Wisconsin, Booth of CAL
ifornia and Hamilton of Texas. The lat
ter is classed as an Independent on account
of the interest he took in the Liberal
movement, but all the others are reckoned
Independents because Of the mode in
which they were elected rather than from
any pronounced opposition to the republic
can party. su-,,- s.,..
The democrats insisted up to the organ
ization of the new Senate in extra session
that all these Independents were sure to
act in harmony with them, but when it
was found that all but Booth went into
caucus with the republicans the calcula.
tons of the democrats were seen to be in
correct. Still farther to ascertain the
views of these gentlemen in regard to
their political relations and duties, cor
respondent of the New York Times took
pains to interview them and reported the
result in that paper, whereupon an edito-
rial In the Times says: 1.-The new Sena-
tor from Michigan emphatically declares
that he is a republican, and will act with
the party in carrying out the policy which
its most intelligent members believe to be
the true and safe one. But he will not
blindly surrender his private judgment to
the will of the majority any more than he
will be bound by caucus decisions, which
he may consider equally at variance with
sound party policy and with the highest
interests of the country. He will yield no
jot or little OF the constitutional amend
ments, and would sustain all legislation
designed in good faith to carry them into
effect. He evidently does not consider
legislation like the Force bill'' as coming
under that head, but rather as "a wrong
means to accomplish right end He
respects the motives and patriotic impulses
of the President, while taking exception
to the policy which he has lately seemed
to favor, and he thinks that the present is
a very good time for insisting on the ne
cessity for increased respect for the obi
cations of the Constitution. On the whole.
Senator Christiancy seems to be speci-
men Of republican of which the party
could afford to have a good many more.
Senator Mcmillan. of Minnesota, de-
fined his party status with equal empha-
sis. He had always been republican,
he was elected by republicans as repub-
lican, and could not have been elected
otherwise." He was as little disposed as
Senator Christiancy to surrender his pri-
vate judgment to the will of party eau
Gus, while he was equally willing to CO.
operate to any reasonable extent with the
party majority.
0cu6lUE NaiucIOuS vi w iSSOuSius
elected by a combination Of democrats
with republicans. claims that there never
was any doubt about his party fealty. even
among the democrats who voted for him.
The platform which he subscribed and
which the Albany Argus printed, as
containing the very quintessence of
democratic doctrine does not in the opin-
ion of Senator Cameron, any more than in
that of his predecessor, Mr.. Carpenter.
contain anything anti-republican. He said
he had gone into the republican caucus in
good faith, and expected to cooperate
heartily with the republican party.
Senator Booth occupies position of is
olation from both political parties. He
does not expect to co operate with either
for political purposes. He conceives it
possible, however, that some condition of
affairs, at present unforeseen, might lead
him to change his purpose. He fully rec
ognizes the difficulties Of maintaining a
strictly independent position, but seems to
tuiuh buot uC CohhOt al PtCsChe OoSuPO
from the peculiar responsibilities which
the circumstances of his election forced
upon him. He therefore remains. as we
have already classified him. the only Sen
ator whom neither party can claim"
The speech of senator Christiancy
against the admission of Pinchback has
been widely quoted by the democrats as
proof that he will act with the opposition.
but they are careful not to publish the
whole speech. especially that part which
approves the course of President Grant in
relation to Louisiana. They forget, too,
to mention that there are republicans in
the Senate in full fellowship with the par
ty who have opposed the admission of
Pinchback as strongly as Mr.. Christiancy.
The probability is that the current Of
events will sweep every Independent in
TO the republican ranks. 1t will be i'm
possible as political feeling rises in anti