New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-17
~ GRE1T BIG CHIP.n

There are several Senators on the Demo-
cratic side who obviously dislike the methods
of Senator Blaine. In some the feeling
amounts to absolute personal hostility; tins
is apparently the case with Mr.. Hill; and
whoever takes the pains TO examine The RccOrd
containing the reports of their occasional
Joint discussions and spicy colloquies, will I'M
derstand the occasion for it.. Other Demo-
cratic Senators, while retaining a strong
personal regard for the Maine Senator on
account of his well-knOwn social quail
tiles, have a most cordial hatred of him
as a 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 Inqusi-
tive as to authorities too pushing ana ag-
gressive in demanding facts and figures where
loose and general statements are made In
short, that lie violates all the traditions OF that
conservative and digniiied body by going about
with chip on his shoulder, challenging at
tack and disturbing the Democratic peace. 1T
must be confessed there is Il measure of truth
in their complaint. He does make It unpleas-
ant for Democratic Senators VINO quote loosely
for partisan purposes, or who forget their
own while arraigning the record OF their OPP
ponents. 1t Is not SAFE for instance, when he
is in the Senate, for well-meaning Demo
cratic Senator, like Mr.. Eaton, 10 undertake
to inject into a speech of Mr.. Dawes the as
sertiOn that Daniel Webster called this Gov
eminent a Confederation of States and not a
Nation; Mr.. Blaine Is liable to interrupt with
a point-bank 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
Senators had participated, upon the provision
concerning the manner of drawing jurors in
the United States Courts, Mr.. Wallace Is
reported as saying, 81 have very little
"to say in reply to the Senator from
Maine. In his peculiar manner, he
sets great big chip on his shoulder, and
"he invites some Southern Senator TO knock
cit off. There has not been any response
a have not heard any response to that in-
L" yitation." Curiosity is at once piqued by
this alluson to Mr.. Blaine's peculiar man
"nern to know what that gentleman has been
doing that the Pennsylvania Senator should
" his shoulder" and inviting some South
"em Senator to knock it off, 1t is easily
found. In support of the proposed change in
the law concerning the drawing OF jurors,
il had been charged that under the existing
statute iuries had been drawn i'll a reckless and
PARTISAN manner. Senator Herman said lie had
learned, on good authority, that in certain
States " they have packed jury that would
" convict the Angel Gabriel, and that the jury
"is packed by the public prosecutor" There
upon Mr.. Blaine, as is bis wont, began to
pusb his inquiries. He had heard good
deal. lac said, about the conviction of men
as pure as the Angel Gabriel, but could
never hear of the particular man thus con-
yicted. He asked Senator KEENAN, how
il was in his own State; and that
gentleman admitted at once that in this State
ave never fail to have fair jures." Then
came the "great big chip" "Now we under
stand,r SAID Mr.. Blaine, THAT somewhere
"else there have been very corrupt juries
drawn, and men have been tried before
them and convicted unjustly. | should ike
I" TO hear the names - the men. | should
like to hear any Southern Senator give me
" the name of a man who was uniustly con-
"vcted before one of these partisan juries.
81 do not profess to be able to answer at the
moment, but / will engage, at hazard within
forty eight hourS from the records in the
Attorney Generals Office, 10 confute and re-
tute 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
|
Well now, what would Mr. Wallace and his
contreres havef Here was proposition to
change an existing law; and the ground