Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-11
SENATOR ARMSTRONG,
OF Missouri, INDUCES in Free-Handed
Criticism of Candidates for the Sue
cessiOn-The Most Thoroughly
Democratic
State in the Union is Not Likely to Elect
ANY Other than Democrat to the
Senate-The Chances for the
Party in Other States.
SpecIal TO the New York World

WASHINGTON, July IL have just had
talk with Senator Armstrong, who was APP
pointed to fill the vacancy occasloned by the
death of Senator Bogy, of Missouri. In
answer to my inquiry whether he expected the
legislature to continue hun IN the position
next winter he said:
| never was candidate for any office IN my
life. have always been an active, working
Democrat, but | never was an office seeker.
The senatorshlp was conferred upon me by
Governor Phelps, not only unsolicited, but
without the least expectation on my part that
it would be rendered to me. l am not max
ing any effort to secure my election to it,
either for the unexpired term of Colonel Bogy
or for the term beginning on the fourth OF
next March. There are as many asprantst
for the position as there are counties In the
State, and the friends of many OF these gem
tlemen are making an active canvass IN their
behalf Among those who have been most
prominently brought forward are Samuel 1.
Glover of st. LOUIS, Thomas Allen OF st.
Louis. Ex-Governor Hardin, Ex-Governor
Woodson, and George G. Vest. MIR;
Glover Is a lawyer of great ability and
is one of the foremost advocates In Missouri.
He is also an accomplished scholar and a man
of unblemished character, but he is not and
never was Democrat, and he mas no claim
whatever upon the Democratic party OF MIS-
souri, Mr.. Allen has been Wing member
of the legislature. He is man OF line char
acter and deserves well OF the state, ana es-
pecially of ST. Louis, for the great service
which he has done in building up the system
of railroads which center in that city, but he
has never pretended to be Democrat, and
certainly has no right to expect the Demo-
cratic party to send him to the senate. Ex-
Governors Hardin and Woodson have both
received as Od-Line Wings the honor OF an
election to the gubernatorial chair of Mis-
souri,. They would represent the State we'll
in the senate or anywhere else, but IN my
Judgment they will have to stand aside now
for an Old-Line Democrat. Missouri is the
most thoroughly Democratic State IN the
Union. 1t could easily give Democratle
majority of from seventy-fve to one hundred
thousand. The legislature will be overwhelm-
ingly Democratic, and there will be no occa-
sion to take up man for availabillty's sake.
1t will, In my opinion, choose the best and
most reliable Democrat to be my successor
some old fashioned Democrat, whose devo-
ton to and sacrifices for the party In the past
| will be the surest guarantee of his fidelity to
| it In the future. They will send no man OF
| doubtful opinions, nor one who will vote his
| own opinions rather than those of the Demo-
| cratic party of Missouri. Great and popular
as Benton was, they cast him aside IN the
| very zenith of his power when he dlsobeyed
their wishes in the Oregon matter. Fortu-
nately there is no lack of good Democratic
material There is, for instance, Governor
| John S. Phelps, who, through good and
| through evil report, has stood by the party
| for more than fortyEyears. He was In con-
| gress for eighteen years, and won great
| reputation as chairman OF the ways ana
means committee. He has had more legls-
| lative experience than any other man
| in the State, and is thoroughly informed
| as to the interests and wants OF his State. 1t
| is no trihing praise to say that throughout his
| long public career he has kept his hands al
ways clean. Among the more conspicuous
Competitors which he will have for the posi-
ton are A. W. Lamb, of Marion; Willard 2.
Hall, of Ray; Judge Morton, of Platte;
Judge Napton, Judge Dryden and Governor
Reynolds, of st. Louis; Judge Carter, of St
| Francois; General Craig, of st. Joseph; Col
onel Davis of Marion, and Waldo L. John
son, of St. Louis. All of these gentlemen
are men of marked ability, and have always
been Democrats, sympathizlng ana aotinf
with the party, and true to its traditions and
principles. Any one of them would repre-
sent the Missouri Democracy ably and faith
fully In the senate. There are others whose
names l don't recall on the instant, and after
all the dark horse may be the winning nag.
T The Missouri delegation In the next congres;
y will be Democratic throughout. We
will regain the four districts which
were unwisely and unnecessarily los
last year, and in both senate and house
the vote of Missouri will be solidly Demo
cratic, and they will be firm and reliable
| Democrats who will stand by their party
under all circumstances, and may be trusted
in caucus and elsewhere. There will be M
occasion to send any other kind of Democra
to the next congress. The policy of the west
ern Democracy in the matter of the tariff ant
currency questions, as well as with reference
to the improvement of the great rivers, seems
to be slowly but constantly diverglng iron
that of the eastern Democracy. Tins IS
subject which ought to be carefully consid
cred by all thoughtful Democrats, so that nj
evil result may follow. 1t is very plain tina
the western people generally are beginniln1s
to act together in matters which concern tn
national interests of the great valley of thu
Mississippi and this fact will exert great In
fuence IN the next Presidential election. L
the Democrats shall act with common pru
dence they can rely upon carrying at tina
time the great States OF Ohio, Indiana, Iii
nois and Wisconsin, and the votes of thes
States would make the election of the Demo
cratic candidates sure beyond any question.