Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-12-25
The United States SenatOrship.

The subject of the election of a SEN
ator to represent Wisconsin. upon the
expiration of Senator Howe's third term
in the United States Senate, now pro-
perly comes to the front. During the
canvass recently ended, we, in common
with most Of the Republican press OF
the State, insisted that this question
should be held in allegiance. The duty
then was, to secure the political power
to elect Senator. That duty the peo-
pie have nobly performed. A legisa-
lure largely Republican, composed of
men representing the solid worth and
best elements of the party, has been
elected. Now it is in order for the
journals Of the State to give expression
90 the Sc timeDts Of the localities they
especially represent, to the end, that
he legislature may, from these sure
opponents, discern the wish of the Re
publicaus of Wisconsin in this impcr.
'ant regard.
In presenting the name of Elisha w.
Reyes as our choice, we know that we
echo the sentiment of the Republicans
Of Dane county-a sentiment general.
spontaneous, hearty, eager and outspok-
en- in an unusual degree. Fully accord
ing, as it does, with our own views of
party policy and public duty, as we'll as
he dictates of long and well-tried
friendship. it is genuine pleasure t.
give it expression.
MIR. Reyes has been for twenty-eight
years resident of Madison. During
all those eveuttul years, always promi-
nent in political struggles, always a
teal less and aggressive champion of the
cause be espoused, he has been con-
stantly and solldly building up in the
esteem OF the people of tins city and
county Always helpful, public spirit
ed, large hearted citizen, it can truly
be said. that, apart from all NEE poll
| tical considerations, no man in Wlscon.
sin can number larger following of
warm and devoted personal friends than
now rally to his support. The magui-
fcent vote given in Madison last No.
vember was her home endorsement of
| Elisha ". Reyes. The sweeping vic.
tory IN Dane county was, in large de-
gree, her testimonial to the merit and
desert of this most prominent of her
Republican sons.
But Mr.. Keyes is not merely the
favorite of locality. Many of the
leading Republican journals of the State
are urging his election in warm and elo-
quent advocacy; and among the veter-
ans of the party, very large and in
tluential portion in every part of the
State, have pronounced for him. His
adherents are among the men to whom
the party in this State owes its prestige
and its victories
| The deserts of Mr.. Reyes, his espec.
ial fitness for this position in this emer
gency. need no rehearsal. For forty
one years resident of Wisconsin, for
thirty years one of its active citizens,
for near y quarter of century one
of its foremost Republicans, he is we'll
| Known. His services to the Republi-
can cause, conspicuously rendered, are
written in the history of its victories,
are craven in the scars and indented in
the battered fronts of its enemies. His
matchless skill as an organizer and
leader OF men; his keen, quick percep-
ton; his intuitive knowledge of men
and their special fitness for special
work; his almost universal acquaintance
with the prominent men of the State,
aud of the local Influences and antag-
onisms of each part of it; his tact in
allaying and removing causes of dis
cord and marshaling the party In har-
mony; infuslng men at far distant
points with his own vim and enthus-
iasm; his readiness to detect blunder
Of the adversary, and to turn it to the
greatest profit; his skill in guarding
against mistake of our own, eviden-
ced, as they have been, III many of the
hardest-fought battles of Republican
ism, long since stamped him a chief
among chiettains. It is natural and
proper that for more than year past.
a strong sentiment should demand his
transfer to the Senate.
Thoughtful Republicans all over the
country look with grave concern at the
future. The fruits of the great strug-
gle for Union are no longer under the
guardianship ola Republican Congress.
La the next session, the Senate will
pass, as the House has passed already,
into the hands Of a party whose ruling
spirits and dominant influences are
those which mustered and led the hosts
of rebellion. The Republican minori-
ty In Congress must enter upon SER
les of struggles like those in which its
leaders, before and during the war, de-