New-York tribune., 1879-04-23
TIE ARMY DEBATE.


SENATOR DAVID DAVIS, OF ILLINOIS, ATTEMPTS ~
POUR OIL oN THE wATEIs-HE COMES TO GRIEF
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. WALLACE MAKES
BAD BLUNDFR.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TBIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, April Ex-senator Garland, VINO
Tod off in the debate on the Army bill in the Senate
TODAY. began by saying that he could not nope 10
sov ANYTHING new upon the subject, nor even to IN
tercst the Senate at this late day His speech q'e
fulfilled The promise Of his opening remark
Senator David Davis followed. From the 1act
that he contitutes a whole party in himself ne was
listened 70 attentivcly. 1t had been rumored that
the honorable Senator would assume the garb OF a
mediator and attempt to throw the mantle OF
charity over the sins of both Of the parties IN the
hone Of ciT.cting n compromise aud winning spolls
from both Sides He made only one point Whlch
was worthy of notice, and his colleague, General
LOGAN. proceeded Immediately to take notice OF IT,
General Logan asked If he understood his col
league Alright in saying that the laws are now
obeyed in all parts Of the country. When Mr..
DAVIS nodded assent lookers-on expected TO near
some ausion 10 the recent election troubles III the
SOuth which would doubtless have provoked not
words from Southern Senators. Senator Logan
nro3uced instead a copy of the annual
report Of the Commissioner of Internal revenue
from which he read a table showing that within
among the II 100000 of the population of the
South was 1.25s, while among the 25,000,O0O Of
.he North thcy numbered only 81. The number of
oersons arrested in the South for the violation OF
internal revenue laws was 1885. against 80 in the
whole North. The number of officers killed while
thriving TO execute the National laws was .. while
The number of wounded was II, and ali OF these
casualties had occurred in the South.
Ii was amusing yet rather painful to see the
honorable Senator's benevolent purpose met in this
,pirt by one of the parties for whose benefit he had
been working. The honorable Senator squ1med
lpeasly while Senator Logan repeated and sum-
married. the results of the years work by the ln-
scrnal Revenue Office.
Senator Davis then replied with some impatience
that there might be more whiskoy thieves in the
South than in the North that was not one of the
points he was discussing
But repeated Senator Logan, "that reply Is
not sufficient put 1t to my colleague whether he
ean point TO a single murder or the wounding of O
Inglc officer in the discharge of his duty In the
North"
Senator Davis YEARLY repeated that the point wa:
not essential and gave il up.
Senator Withers and Senator Gordon, each OF
whom had manifested disposition to reply to Sen
ator Logan, thought better Of 1t.
The matter dropped, and with it the best part o.
Senator DaviSs speech.
Counting the speech Of Senator Davis as Demo
cratic land it was nothing else) there bad beer
when it was concluded six speeches from that sd'
of the Senate upon the Army bill without a reply
from the Republicans. Not one Of the six Senator
who made these speeches had approached the rta
issues in the pending controversy, but all ha'
sought to be-coud It under generallzatlons ahou
The dangers to be appreheudcd from the subordina
ton of the civil to the military powers, and fortified
them with mterminabe prccedents draw
from history. English, Roman, American an'
Colonial There was need for reply
from the Republicans to bring the debate back 4
thc real issue involved. Senator Allison took Tn
floor this afternoon for that purpose. Tie differ
cuce between the tone of debate was noticed a
once II was change from ancient history. II
which the audience only felt a curiosity, TO passing
events m which all had a vital interest.
Mr Wallace took Issue with Mr.. Allison and me
with rather singular disaster. The state of affair
in PENNSYLVANIA having been referred 10, MI
Wallace asserted with vchemcnCe that Pcnnsylva
mia is entirely able TO enforce her own laws an'
maintain peace at the polls, and does not wish 70
Federal Interference. He referred to the Phila
Mar,hals had figured somewhat cOnspicuOnsy.
Mr. Blaine asked what party had asked for th
appointment of those Deputy Marshais
Sir. Wallace admitted that the Democrats hat
done so, adding that II was TO protect them agalns
Republican repe3ieTs.
II was regarded rs somewhat remarkable tina
the man selected for his supposed keennesS to b
the routhpiece and general business manager fO
illustration an instance which completed!
established the very idea which he was contend
Ing against.
Nr. Blame curtly observed that Senator Wallac
seemed to have given bis position away about a
completely as it was possible to do.