The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-06-20
TERMS $500 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE.
New York Tribune.l
"a Great Big Chip. :"

There are several Senators on the Democrat
ic side who obviously dislike the methods Of
Senator Blaine. In some the feeling amounts
to absolute personal HOSTILITY; this Is apparent
ly the case with Mr.. Hill; and whoever takes
the pains to examine The Record containing
the reports of their occasional discussions and
spicey colloquies, will understand the occasion
for it. Other Democratic Senators, while re-
tanning strong personal regard for the Maine
Senator ON account of his well known social
qualities, have most cordial hatred OF him as
debater, on the floor of the Senate. They
think he is what Mr.. Lincoln used to call too
interruptions" that he has too little regard
for the gravity and decorum of the Senate;
that he is too much on the alert to catch an
adversary tripping; too inquisitiye as to au-
thorities; too pushing and aggressive in de-
manding facts and figures where loose and
general statements are made;-in short, that
he violates all the traditions of that conserva-
tive and dignified body by going about with a
chip on his shoulder, challenging attack and
disturbing the Democratic peace. 1t must be
confessed there is a measure of truth in their
complaint. He does make it unpleasant for
Democratic Senators who quote loosely for par
tisan purposes, or who forget their own while
arraigning the record of their opponents. 1t is
not safe, for instance, when he is in the Sem
ate, for a well-meaning Democratic Senator
like Mr.. Eaton, to undertake to inject into o
speech of Mr.. Dawes the assertion that Daniel
Webster called this Government Confedera-
tion of States, and not Nation; Mr.. Blaine is
apt to interrupt with a point-blank denial.
And that sort of thing is annoying to Senators
who wish to make statements without proof
In the discussion last Saturday of the bill
making appropriations for judicial expenses,
after a running debate in which several Sena-
tors had participated, upon the provision con-
cerning the manner Of drawing jurors in the
United States Courts, Mr.. Wallace is reported
as saying, II have very little to say in reply to
the Senator from Maine. In his peculiar man
ner, he sets great big chip on his shoulder,
and he invites some Southern Senator to knock
it off. There has not been any response.
have not heard any response to that invita-
ton" Curiosity is at once piqued by this allu-
sion to Mr.. Blaines peculiar manner to
know what that gentleman has been doing
that the Pennsylvania Senator should charge
him with setting ga great big chip ON his
shoulder" and inviting "some Southern Sem
ator to knock it off, 1t is easily found. In
support of the proposed change in the
law concerning the drawing Of jurors
it had been charged that under the existing
statute, juries had been drawn in a reckless
and partisan manner. Senator Herman said
he had learned on good authority, that in GER
tain States "they have packed a jury that
would convict the Angel Gabriel and that the
Jury is packed by the public prosecutor"
Thereupon Mr.. Blaine, as is his wont, began to
push his inquiries. He had heard good deal,
he said, about the conviction of men as pure as
the Angel Gabriel, but could never hear Of the
particular man thus convicted. He asked
Senator Herman how it was in his own State;
and that gentleman admitted at once that in
this State 1--WE never fail to have fair iuries."
Then came the great big chip" Now we
understand" said Mr.. Blaine, "that some
where else there have been very corrupt juries
drawn and men have been tried before them
and convicted unjustly, should like to hear
the names of the men. should like to hear
any Southern Senator give me. the name of q
man who was uniustly convicted before one OF
these partisan juries do not profess to bo
able to answer at the moment, but will en-
gage at hazard, within forty-eight hours, from
the records in the Attorney Generals office, to
confute and refute the assertion"
This was ''the great big chip" and this the
peculiar manner" in which Mr.. Blaine set it
on his shoulder and invited some Southern
Senator to knock it off an invitation to which
Mr. Wallace said there W was no response: Well,
now, what would Mr.. Wallace and his con-
.freres have? Here was aproposition to change
an existing law; and the ground upon
which such change was urged was that under
Republican administration, juries had been
drawn in the interests of partisanship to insure
conviction of men charged with political Of
fences and Senator Herman, Of this State, had
given the weight Of his personal character to
the charge by stating, con good authority"
that in States iuries had been packed by the
gel Gabriel''. Mr.. Blaine Immediately brought
him to book and forced him to the virtual ad-
mission that he had INDUCED in loose asser-
ton, for which he could not produce his au-
thority. Having done this" Mr.. Blaine did,
"in his usual manner" broaden his challenge
and invite any Southern Senator to give sim
| gle instance Of hardship and injustice under
| the workings of the present law, to justify
| their demand for a change. Is that "a great
| big chip" of defiance? Do these gentlemen
| who are trying so hard to wipe out the legis-
lation of the past eighteen years." and are
making such blundering mess of Intellectual
endeavor of it, expect to be permitted to rattle
off their unsupported statements like Louisi-
ana witness and never be cross-examined or
called on for their proofs? And after charges
| OF gross maladministration and official corrup-
ton against Republicans have been freely BAN
| died on the floor of the Senate, does the Sena-
tor who calls for one single specific instance in
| support of the charge, "set great big chip on
| his shoulders?' Are not our Democratic
friends getting too sensitive? A Senator can
| not ask them a civil question without their
| constituting it as defiance. They always did
| have great desire to be 'let alone;' but isn't
| it carrying it too far to make such sweeping
! charges against their opponents and insist on
being "let alone" when specifications arc
| called for?