Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-01-30
Reflection Of Matt. Carpenter.


ne Eiectlon or Matt. Carpenter.
From the Evening Wisconsin Milwaukee
-Four years ago, when Matt. Car.
penter came up for reelection to the
United States Senate, he received the
caucus nomination, but was subse-
quently defeated by combination of
dissatisfied Republicans and Demo-
Gratis, and Angus Cameron elected in
his stead. There were few then who
supposed that the defeated senator
would rise again to more than his old
altitude and recover the senatorial
prize which at that time slipped from
his grasp. But he has recovered. and
again been chosen for a trust than
which none higher could tempt the
ambition of an American citizen And
now Mr.. Carpenter has grand op.
portunity to make a permanent name
for himself and TOR the state which he
represents, not merely as that of a
brilliant but great senator He has
simply to avoid the influences Of the
trading politicians OF our state, and
not to soil his name with appoint
ments which do not legitimately be.
long to the Office of senator. 1t is the
president who shonld nominate, and
it is the senator who should advise on
that nomination to confirm or reject
as to him seemeth best for the public
good.
1t Senator Carpenter should take
an immediate stand now and refuse
his personal interference in urging
appointments upon the president he
would free himself from ties and obi
cations to politicians, which would
UNNECESSARILY add to his reputation
and his national influence. The EN-
plre state once had senator, Silas
Wright, whose influence was un-
bounded with President Van Buren,,
and, like the Cato that he. was, as he
was termed by Col. Benton, he stead
lily refused to press appointments up
on the consideration Of the executive,
though solicited by his nearess and
most influential friends. He Sid that
1t was not his duty as a senator, and,
as consequence Of his moral STAN
ina, there was no senator who ever
sat IN that body who exercised a
greater influence in molding its legis-
lation than Silas Wright, of New
York. He was recognized by Daniel
Webster as the Ajax of the Demo-
cratic party, because it was known
that in advocating measure or a bill,
no matter what it might be, he had
no appointees to advance, but he was
acting for the best and largest inter-
ests of the whole country. Such q
senator we want Matt. II. Carpenter
to become, and such he can be if he
acts true to those convictions which
man OF his cultivated mind must
perceive is the only path that an
American senator can pursue to be
come really great and influential be-
yond the narrow circle Of partisan
politicians.
There is just now very kindly
feeling toward our new senator. In
truth, he was never 40 great a favor.
lite of the people as to-day. His manly
course in 1875. after his defeat, in
sustaining the Republican party and
giving IN his adhesion to what had
been done in the selection of Angus
Cameron, made thousands believe
that he was more thorough Repub
lican than those who had assaulted him.
His retirement from the squabble of
local politics, and his devotion to the
profession of which he is confesseily
an ornament, and his entering upon
the present canvass without the least
aid from the machine politicians or
the Office holding squad, gave him a
warmer place in the hearts of the peo-
pie than he has held in previous years
He has triumphed, all say, honorabIy,
because he was sustained by body
of unselfish friends who believed that
they could not sacrifice too much for
the man they loved and for the at
tractlve qualities of head and heart
which have rendered him so marked
favorite in the United States senate.
The new senator's speech to the
legislature at Madison was in for
tunate tone. 1t indicates that he APP
preciates his errors in the past and
that, subdued and chastened by the
personal affections and humiliations of
the past four years, be will return to
the senate, and there he will appear
not only as the eloquent debater and
defender of Republican measures and
the brilliant assailant of the almost in
Vulnerable bad schemes which the
Democratic majority in both branches
of the next congress will spring upon
the country, but as judicious, wise
and thoughtful leader in the great
exigencies which may arise; and may
he never forget to be the representa-
tive son of a great republic, so that
Each Tomorrow may find him
Further than to-day.