The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1878-01-04
WASHINGTON. D. G. Dec %

OF Eustis, of Louisiana, were the chief
subjects of interest Senator Matthews
OF Ohio made strong argument in fa-
vor Of silver currency He was sec
onded br Senator Thurman, and or
| posed by Senators Conkling and Ed
munds. This question will occupy
much Of the time of the Senate until
the day Of adjournment, and the bill, it
is conceded, will be passed in spite Of
Presidential opposition. To-day Alex.
Stephens. of Georgia. will address the
Henss in favor of admitting the Dem
ocratic claimant from Colorado, and q
crowded gallery may be expected. Rr.
Stephens is by no means the largest
member physically, and. perhaps, not
Intellectually, but, as lion, he divides
attention with Gen. Butler, and his
words are supposed by many to be the
strained drippings of wisdom. He sits
In threo-wheeled chair, In front of the
Speakers desk, wearing a soft felt black
bat and gloves as a protection against
drafts; but he Is a happy, eontented-
boxing invalid, nervousIy rotating his
little chariot back and forth in a space
of ten inches.
Since the admission of Mr. Enstis.
for the first time in many years every
State has full Senatorial representa-
tion, and it may not be unintercsting
te say something about the intellectual
inequality of the States as they appear
on the Senate floor The State repre-
sented by the ablest men, l think, is
Ohio. Many viii say that Edmunds,
of Vermont, or Conkling. of New York,
IS ablsr than either Thurman or Ma
thews. This is matter of opinion or
prejudice, and, of course, cannot be de-
eided. since we have no unit of measure
for the accurate estimation of states
nanship, but neither New York, Yer
mont, nor any other State, can boast Of
two Senators both SO profound and YER
satile as the Senators from Ohio. (Your
correspondent, you know, is not an
oaioan, but as A. Ward would say, s.far
differently Mr. Mathews has not had
the opportunities that Senator Thurman
has had to give the world assurance Of
man, but he is not unknown, and in
everything he says and does there is the
stamp Of sterling ability, and fresh
masculinity that places him high above
the place of Senatorial mediocrity. As
for Senator Thurman, he is eonfessedly,
and by odds, the broadest and most
statesmanlike leader his party has ever
had in the Senate. For nine years he
has borne alone the brunt of Republi-
can attack, and, whether in light repair
tee or heavy argument, with Conkline,
Elmunds or Morton, he never came off
second best. Dir. Thurman is not
man Of magnetism, as the saying is,
and cares not at all for average cheap
popularity, but the blunt simplicity of
his outward manners hangs so grandly
on his gigantic strength that he is es-
teened by bis enemies. use enemies
in political OF diplomatic sense. Per
sonal enemies presume he has none,
for although no man has struck harder
or moro etectively,,ao one has accused
him of striking in the dark, OF Of deal
ing an unfair blow. He is not an orator
in the old Ciceronian sense he is GER
tainly not graceful speaker; his voice
IS harsh and monotonous, and / presume
he has never once thought of the adj
vantages which the old masters say are
derived from graceful gesture and per-
feet elocution. But if he has not stu
died the trick of suiting ''ths action to
the word, the word to the action" no
man is more profoundly skilled in the
more erudite accomplishment Of suiting
the woi % the idea.
bslieS will be pretty generally
conceded tha hhio has the strongest
ssnatoriOl dualtj ut with regard to
the State holding tl' md place there
will be wide difference s. aion. The
only way we flave of jud ssnztaf
is by what he says His adm isz CON
stisuents. may insist that, though silent,
he IS sagacious. aud hint that he is
mighty in counsel and wonderful in
working, but this cheap, mysterious
fame imposes on no one any more. So
many nediocres come from deserved OBJ
security, and retire thither, after sitting
in chair in the u s. Senate for six
years or longer shatths silent sagaciousl
dodge is about played out. # ! man
has any luminousness about him, any
ideas in his head, or any FIRE in his belly
e,nicat, it will shine forth. The second
place, some will say, should be given to
Georgia, others will claim it for Dels-
ware; Massachusetts has two compare
lively able men in the Senate, and it
would be easy to mention other States
that send one man who is Distinguished
in our highest Legislative body. But