The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-04-05
from our regular Correspondent


saying so fat thing, that there is natu-
raj tendency in the human race to look at
individuals. A Molly Mcguire
on a scaffoId, or a senator in the United
States senate chamber, is a conspicuous
individual, and the actions, words, the very
looks, Of either the senator or the Molly
Mcguire, are, for the moment subjects Of
comment, and maybe in the future Of his
tory. Of how much history, depends
greatly upon circumstances, Napo-
leon thought that his share in the
affairs Of the world, at the close Of his
first Italian campaign, would entitle him
to half page, but as he grew older, he
became less modest. Just at this moment
the most conspicuous member Of Congress
is grim visaged old Senator Howe of Wis
cousin. For long time he had hardly been
heard from, collapsed by his former more
brilliant colleague Matt. Carpenter,
and lurched in the rapid tide of
political events, this old compeer of Sum-
ner, Ben Wade, and Henry Will
son seemed almost as dead as they;
but last week he stood up on his
feet, and spoke, and spoke, and spoke, for
three hours, and made himself conspicu-
Gus. What did he say2 What revelations
came from his lips, what formulated wis
dom from bis hoary experiencep Nothing
of the kind. He simply attacked the ad-
mnistrRtion in words less direct, and 10
specifications less plain, than the press OF
his own and the opposite party has done,
but then he. Is u. s. Senator, aud il
seems there is some advantage of con
spicuousness 10 that fact alone, and since
l have proved that a senator is per Sc 8
conspicuous individual, | will abandon
Senator Howe, and introduce to the
American people some humble senators
whom nature and notoriety have not en-
dowed with fame. The Conklings, Thur
mans, Blaiues, and Lamars, make them
selves heard frequently enough, and most
Of them are too vain of hearing of them
selves. know only one to whom | think
the lines would apply:
That man Is great, and he alone,
Who serves greatness not his own,
For neither praise nor peh,
Content to know, and be unknown
Whole in himself"
But | may be prejudiced in his favor
and you may be prejudiced against him
so l will not mention his name. 1t will bt
difficult TO tell who takes precedence
among the non-co conspicuous senator's, fol
the men who were never heard of, until
inscrutable luck dumped them upon the
floor Of the senate, are numerous. Spencer
COnOver, Jones, of Florida, and Jones, oil
Nevada, Dorsey, Mitchell, Burnsides, An
thony, Butler, Patterson, and Davis, oil
West Virginia, are all, petty men. That
scientific system which attributes to every
human countenance a esemblauce to tn
face of an animal, might fnd another ex
ample in that of Senator Geo. H. Spencer
of Alabama, which may be safely com
pared to the head Of hog. The profoun
sentiments which animate great men
not respire from his heavy face; his mario,
brow is not furrowed with wrinkles, DC
contracted like that of an old king full {
cares; his small grey eyes do not spark
with the chastity imposed by the tyranu
OF ideas, or the interior heat of vast il
telligence, but as Artemus Ward wou
say, far different" Senator Conove
OF Florida. is not altogether inconspicuou
and as L approach him, l find my wol
half done, Tor q newspaper has recent
put its hand in its pocket and made him
present of new hat, and this bright ep
sode of his political career has been notice
generally by the press, and has brOugl
his craftsmanship to the notice of a crate
full nation. While a clerk in drug stol
In his native state, New Jersey, one of h
customers asked him for bottle of vC
pOpUi, he replied that he was Just on
but would send for some by next mail
he had been asked for UoI Del, the tutul
statesman would have been none the LEI
ready to supply the demand The tV
Senators Jones, one from Florida and IL
other from Nevada, although representa-
by their votes opposite political partie
may be described together as gross, ia
followers of beaten tracks, without eppr
citation or aspiration for anything beyon
an easy life. and high wheeled carriag
with four horses, such as the Nevada SCI
atOr drives, and which, since the departul
OF President Grant, is the only one of tt
kind IN Washington. Senator BurnsiC
was once undistinguished, then he b,
came distinguished then he lapse
into non distinction, like a warrior fro
Rhode Island in an era of peace, then
lapsed again into the mixed distinction
a senator from Rhode Island. There is |
lack OF eOnspicuousness of certain kind
Senator General Burnside he is the mob
est Senator 10 the chamber, and the i
ventors of that style of whiskers Gale
Burnsides which he still recommend
He is much admired by the ladies on az
count OF his heroic size, Faulty faultless
clothes, grey skull cap, the vestiges
West Point that may still be detected
his poses, and his Burnsides. Gen. Bur
side Is Unfortunately vain, as may be SEE
IN his Tuses to attract attention. NoboC
else IN Washington has such two wheele
one horse shay as he drives on the Avenu
1t is not comfortable vehicle for an oil
man, but then it is so odd and French
and when the spectator sees it, he is remi
ded that there is state of Burnside, ar
Senator from Rhode Island.
1t may seem invidious to write abol
public men in this way, but may ne do
from sense OF patriotic duty. If thel
Is an American citizens who can see, will
out indignation, the little impudent uT
qualified men who have intruded then
selves into the councils of his country, an
upon the pages of his country's history, {
much the worse for the American citize,
and what is sadder still, SO much the wor,
ior America. We are righteously lp6i
nant against the shyster that ruins a caus
or the quaek that kills friend: but .
tolerate with Inconsistent leniencv in n
imminent and infinite affairs of a nation
Dold bungllng charletans who are no more
lot the delicate stupendous work of COVER
ment' than was the rash boy who attemr