The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-11-19
THE SENATORSHTP.

One Of the important responsibilities
devolving on the next legislature is the
selection Of q Senator to represent Wis
consin in the United States Senate.
The people will hold their representa-
tives responsible for the selection Of
thoroughly capable man for this ex-
allied position; one who can bring a
clear head, q wide knowledge of the
political history Of other nations and
perfect familiarity with our own po-
litical progress and development as
crystali2ed in the laws and constitu-
ton, to the solution of the political
problems of the hour. The Senate is
the highest deliberative body, and it's
members are elected for a much longer
term than those of any other political
or executive Office in the nation, and
the great state of Wisconsin, with it's
10000 popular Republican majority
and its 90 legislative majority, should
be worthily represented in her second
Senator. If our representatives were
unpledged and untrammelled, there
would be no difficulty in the way of
choosing worthy successor to Senator
Angus Cameron. 70 what extent our
representatives are entangled by prom
Uses which secured their own election
can only be surmised now. There are
two candidates for the Senatorship
who have been active in securing in
fluence in every possible quarter in
their own behalf, and their efforts have
been ably seconded by their personal
following. That these gentlemen earn
estly desire the position is not conclu-
siye proof Of their fitness neither is it
proof of their unftness. We are not
among those who would frown upon a
man because he is ambitious and as
pires to serve hisfellow citizens in high
public offices. If his ambition is in
spired by desire to serve the best in
terests Of the public instead Of seeking
to aggrandize himself, he will be en-
nobled by it, and stimulated to qualify
himself for The trust. The opinion of
the Milwaukee Sentinel regarding these
two prominent candidates is. so terselv
expressed, we lay it before our readers:
1.-The qualities which go to make up
a good Senator are not possessed by
either Mr.. Sawyer or Mr.. Keyes. 1t
has been asserted in deprecatory way
that they would vote right. Whenever
either of them has been discussed
their own supporters use a tone of ar
gument which is pitiable. 1t is to the
effect that Notwithstanding the obiec-
tions to them they have some good
points. They are supported negatively
not positively. What they will not do,
rather than What they will do, is as
sumed as the most favorable thing
which can be said for them. What
KIND of q support is this for a man
who is to take his seat beside Carpen-
ter, Edmunds, Conkling, Bayard and
statesmen of that ilk? Is such the
kind of a man Wisconsin wants to rep
resent her for six years in the United
States Senate?
1t is stated that Mr.. Sawyer is a good
business man, and has an influential
way with him: that he can 60 round
among Senators privately and incul-
cate his views with great effect. This
is well enough, but a United States
Senator should be something more than
a button-holing machine. He should
be able to stand up in the deliberative
body of which he is a member and
give the people, as well as his fellow
Senator's collectively, clear exposition
of his thoughts upon the topic he may
have at heart. Oratory is not every
thing by any means, but the power of
expression is a very essential part of
Senatorial qualifications. And behind
this power of expression there should
be wide knowledge and understanding.