The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-04

The gravest ana most important duty of
the Legislature of Illinois which has just
convened, is the el elton of a United States
senator To succeed JoHN \. LOAN.
Happily our popular elections have not
been without avail in lifting the senate
from the degradation following upon the
civil war and the de polling of the carpet
Bigger sPENcERof Alabama is in his death
rattle. CLAYTON Of Arkansas has cold
ness of extremitie~, aud PATTERSON of
South Carolina only cumbtrs the ground
for brief season. In what respect senator
LOGAN SURPRISES this mass of spawn aud
sediment, the drift and doat of evil strife
and political chaos, we cannot determine.
However. he Is native of the state he
represents, aud has no faint Of the nomad
o. the tramp. What he lacks is character,
ami this want il chronic HeIs n constitu-
tional black -ulrl In his earlier life, he
was a member of the Legislature of Illinois.
aud dciiled its record with the un-
trained bnrharty of his utternnces.
He belongs to the subterranean 'oootocos
of tho olden time. He IL an earth worm
ana Il ground mole. At the beginning. a
mud-slll of Democracy, lie has converted
himself to IA common sewer for GrantisIn.
Without convictions. aud with no
promptings but those OF n debascd self
interest, he has no scrupes of honor
in the way of his ambition. At the
opening of the war his sympathies with
the rebellion were active and open
in demonstration. He IL accused of enlist
ing soldiers for the Confederate army.
aud the charge has never been dlsprOved.
After the battle OF Bull Run his amnesty
to the North was bitter and not ba ed III
expression. Yet he entered the Union serv-
ice at Il later period, without, as We believe,
an inspiration of love of country, or Il sig-
gestion of patriotism. IL was The love for
place, and rapacity for pay aud allow
ances.
After the death of President LINCOLN,
he would have brought his tiihes of mint
anse. and cumin to ANDREW JoHN-
son, but IT is an open secret that the
disallowance of Il large cotton claim so
moved his indignant patriotism thut he
again renewed his VOWS, aud went forth
slaughtermg and to slaughter. Ut
terly dissolute in life when the Sen
atoral election was impending in Illi-
nois. he became suddenly dcvout, burnt
his poker deck Of cards, sawed of
his whl-koy spiggot took to ascetic
picty, and wrcstled in prayer in the
Methodist Church, the most numerous
and potent religious body of the State.
How long after the election his spasm of
holiness continued is not of our knowl-
edge II his zeal was maintained, it must
have been by hypodermic doses of some
mysterious religious tonic. With his
readiness Of resource he probably had
catholic mussal in one pocket, aud n Com
mon Prayer book IN the other, with the
covenant o. the Presbyterian and Con-
grogaiional sects in his coat sleeves or
the legs of his boots.
The Legislature which is to elevate itself
IN character and reputation by retiring him
from further Senatorial duty, has, in JOINT
ballot, l0l Republicans 9S Democrats, and
five Independents. Upon these five rests
weight Of responsibility which we trust
Whey viii appreciate. There are men
.of character in Illinois, who would bring
honor to the Senate of tho United
States. II Is due to the country that
from among them some one shah he
selected VINO i not n bully aud
brawlcr. Whether of the Republican or
Democratic Gath, is of less consequence
than that he should be gentleman aud