Smyrna times., 1876-02-23
mise eIIUn e OMS.
The Change of Fifteen Years.
STRANGE FACES IN CONGRESS.

Col A. K. Mcclure, the editor-in-chief
of the Philadelphia Times. who visited
Washington in the interest of the Congress
sional appropriation for the Centennial,
gives an interesting retrospect of times
changes in the Legislative Department of
the Government during the last fifteen
years. He says:
"I looked down upon the Senate to-day
and was startled as 1 turned from chair to
chair only to meet with strange faces. But
l had forgotten that since the coming of
those men in 1864, well nigh half a genera
ton has passed away from the earth, and
the sands of the glass ran as ceaselessly in
high places as among the lowly and un-
known. OF all the men who will be re-
membered as of those who builded wiser
than they knew for the disenthrallment of
popular government, but few remain, and
they are bowed and furrowed by the waste
fyears.
Hamlin is still in his place, but when
recall that twenty years have hastened by
since, in the old Senate Chamber of Clay
and Webster and Calhoun and Buchanan
and Benton, he proclaimed the resolution
of his State to the coming supremacy, it is
not strange that his eye is dimmed and his
step unsteady.
Cameron answers Senate roll call as he
did third of century ago, but he ap-
proaches his four-score years with visible
sunset shadows gathering about him.
Anthony is yet here, but withered by the
frosts of many winters, and Sherman,
younger than his fellow-veterans, has lost
the fire and elasticity of his brilliant lead
ership in the House two decades ago. And
there the chapter ends.
All, all of those who made up the mem
orable Senate of 1861, save the few name
have passed from the scenes of their great
ness, and few are among the living to see
the fruition of their work.
The younger Bayard worthily fills hi
fathers chair, and the Confederate warri
ors, Gordon and Ransom, sit face to fac'
with Bruce, the dusky bondsman, whC
reached the full statute of citizenship
through the fame of battle that discom
fitted them.
The carpetbagger still fingers over tn
desolation he has wrought in the Common
wealths he mocks in the name of Freedom
and shames the Senate with each returnin
day, as he struts about it, awkwardly COW
ardly with his withered chaplets. One
one they fell unwept as the reconstruct
insurgents take their places, and step b
step, like the advance of great army, th
Democrat and the Independent answC
where were heard the voices of men VIII
forgot country in blind or corrupt partisan
ship.
Two speak for the land of steady habits
one sits beside Conkling, another is ii
colleague Of Cameron; another fills tt
place of Wade; another foreshows the fat
Of Morton; another tells Of the revolutio
in Michigan; another reflects the protes
of Minnesota another bears testimor
that Wisconsin will not bow to the par
yoke; another tells the story Of William
overthrow in the far Northwest, and fro
the Golden State comes the fearless adm
milton of Booth. OF all the original Ii
coin administration, only Cameron, Well
and Blair survive, and Cameron fifty stan
alone in the party line. Such are I
changes Of fifteen years; such the lesso
of human ambition.
turned to the House to note how til
and the mutations of political conflicts b
there done their sleepless work. As il
approached every avenue TO every dooi
crowded by anxious throngs New peol
gaze at you as you pass, and the unrest
hope deferred writes its story on the strar
faces which greet you.
They come from every clime--the emp
ing of the long-muazled Democratic OK
who have trodden the party corn and co
for reward; the New England Yank
thewestern Hoosier and Sucker; the stu
disciple of Jackson from the Keyst
State; the far Northwesterner, who
heard the music of Oregon; the rolliek