The Mankato free press., 1880-05-07
DAVID DAVIS.
One ef the Greatest Disa appSintnaent
ef the nay.


81 the Day.
lwashington Letter to Cleveland Herald.l
When the first feeler were thrown
ont during the winter of 1s76-77 in favor
Of adopting sothe measure like the
Electoral bill, so that the troubled, stale
question fs to whether Hayes or Tilden
possessed q majority Of the electoral votes
should be decided, there was an unus;t.a,
amount Of attention given to Judge Da-
Wis, Of the Supreme Court. 1t was uni
versally admitted that he was the only
Judge on the Supreme bench about
whose politics there was the slightest
question, for the party lines there were
as well defined as in Congress, or any
where else. Davis, however, was called
an Independent by the Democrats and
great many people, who. themselves,
could not give apy very pleasant assur-
ance Of their faith in his non-partisan-
ship. Davis was placed upon the Su-
preme bench by Lincoln, who appointed
him as Q matter of pure personal friend
ship. 1t was also very clear that Davis
had never taken any political stand
whatever, having always, devoted lIim-
self to his profession, and nothing else,
except land-buying and selling. He is
one Of the greatest real-estate spectators
in the West. He did, however, speak ana
act as an intense Union man when the
Rebellion broke out, but beyond that he
had never taken any part in public af-
fairs. But, on account of some vague
comments which Davis had made after
taking Ills seat on the bench, upon the
management of the Republican party
and its policy in the last days Of Grants
final administration, the Democrats very
correctly regarded him as leaning do
cidedly toward them, and accordingly
began to make use Of his name, Just us
they do that of Judge Field to-day, rs a
fine one to be presented to the American
people by the National Democratic Con-
vention, as "nOn-partisan constitu-
tionalist." The bait took. Davis bit,
and the Dems had him. But in their
delight they exceeded their work, and
Just after the Electoral bill had passed,
Democratic State Legislature in Hi
nois was engaged in fierce contest with
Gen. Logan for his re-electien to the
Senate, and, under the excitement of
the combination of three boiling Repub-
icans, who had agreed to unite with
them in supporting Davis against Lo-
gan, this Democratic Legislature of Hi
nois took the Judge from the Supreme
bench to the Senate of the United States
with rush and hurrah. The only
man and the very man who, had they
let him alone, would have made Tilden
the successor of Grant.
Since Judge Davis has been in the
Senate he has not made the mark, nor
has he shown the great ability which he
was credited with by his hackers. The
Democrats, now that they have him in
their camp, bag and baggage, take but
little stock III him, and to-day in the
State of Illinois, Morrison, the member
Of Congress from the Seventeenth dis
trict, has the lead of Davis among the
Democrats of that great State three to
one for the Presidency. The Bourbons
certainly have no reason to single out
Davis among their number; he does not
compare with their best men for a mo-
ment, physically or mentally. The
processes of his mind are dubious and
doubtful; slow and hesitating in debate,
which he seldom ever is drawn into, al
ways leaving the Senate chamber when
he finishes his speech, and begging for
non-interruption when he is speaking.
He reads his remarks in a querrllous,
cracked voice, with peculiar facial con-
tOrtions of the mouth.