New-York tribune., 1878-01-23
THE BACK FIRE o. SENATOR EATON.


If we mistake not, there is missionary work
for Senator Eaton at his own home i'll Con-
necticut. Tho Democratic party OF that
state are very far from holding the sound
and sensible views Of questions OF finance
which have been put forth by the Senator
His position has been plain and outspOken
from the beginning, and The ThIBUNE
has on two or three occasions commended
him, as well for the untinchng de-
termination ana manly courage with which
he has maintained his Opinions rs Tor their
general correctness and sOundncSs Indeed,
we cannot award too high praise to a Demo
crat like Senator Eaton, known all over the
country for his extreme paItisanShp, whoJe-
sists the blatant dcm,gs gism which has already
fairly run away with tie party, and
makes, against them all, majority of his
poli,cal friends and associates, manly stand
for honest none and the preservation of the
public faith and the Nations credit All good
citizens and honest men respect him for his
blunt refusal TO sign the letter to Mr. Noor-
hees, inviting that gentleman 10 deliver
lis address on Jefferson. lio 10 the
only man who ever stood up on
the HoOr of the United States Senate and
attempted to array labor against capital"
said Senator Eaton, and for this reason he
refused to unite in any demonstration which
might indicate that he tolerated the In
diana Senator's dcmagogism, or had any
confidence in his Judgment or opinions.
Senator Eaton is not, i'll orr judgment, always
wise. by any means. UpOn many qucs-
tions we differ with him widely. We have
had occasion to say as much before, aud to
critic.c his acts very freely. We presume
we shall do so hereafter. But rs a
rule he believes in thing very thoroughly, and
has the courage of his convictions, and we
have great respect for his obstinacy
and his pluck. These qualities never
show to better advantage than in contest
like the present, when the question ~ one ol
National honor and the public faith, or, "A, lis
political opponent and rival, General llaWiey,
recently put it, whether 4O,OOO,OOO OF people
will lie to each other or ted the trnth.
But Senator Eaton, as we have SAID, can do
pood work at home as well ~ IN the Senate.
II appearances are to be trusted, his party at
home. if it sustains him Mt all, IL very much
broken up and divided upon this important
question, and it - by no means certain
that the in1ationists are not in the majority.
The New Haven district, the strongest Demo
cratic district in the State, is represented in
the House by Mr.. Phelps, an avowed infla-
ZIONIST, tho only Representative from
New England, except General Butler who
took part in the Greenback Congressional
caucus on Monday night. Mr.. Ian
ders, of the Hartford district, ia believed
to be in favor Of the Silver scheme, and
limbcr-backcd generally on the financial
question. There is bus one Democratic news
paper in the Siate-1he Hartford Tmes-whch
fayors hard money and resumption, and that
| is a paper which never resists the party tide
when il gets TO be at all Lonesome And, to
crown all, the Democrats in the Legislature
now in session are believed to be
| opcnly opposed to redemption and those
who do not caIe enough about it to
make division on it. Last week, when res
olution opposing the Bland bill was intro
| duced in the Assembly, and its passage was
urged in order to indicate to Congress the at
| titadc Of the people OF the State upon the
subject, the leader of the Democratic side and
candidate e. Speaker IIr. Gallagher, of New
Haven, made Il speech ih opposition to the
resolution, and asked for delay in order that
REPRESENTATIVES, might consult with their con-
stituents before voting. He was supported
by all the leading Democrats, among whom
were Mr.. Llppitt, of NcW-London, and Mr.
Williams, Of StonIngton, prominent and in
fucntia Representatives from the Eastern
part of tho State, ard the postpone
| Jlent was agreed to at their urgent request
| The resolution comes up i'll the Assembly
| to-day, and il is probable that when The vote
IS taken, it will show majority of Demo-
Gratis in favor Of imitation, thereby destroying
or npairing in a great measure the good
effect which was hoped for from prompt and
| harmonious action.
From these facts IL will be seen that, not
withstanding tho positive stand OF Senator
! Eaton and bis undOubted influence with his
party. there is great danger thai The Greenback
element will gain control OF the Organizati0n
and leave the Senator without support mt
| home. This would not only be unfortunate
! for the cause of honest money, but might
| be hurtful to Senator Eaton's future pros
pccts. 1t is worth his while, we think
to give this phase OF the situation a
little consideration. There will undoubt-
cdly be a determined effort on the part
of the Groenback wing,-of which it is only
fair to say, that it is in downright earnest