Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-10-22
DAVID DAVIS.

After posing on the fence for
some time, fearing to get off on Ell
ther side lest the polish on his polit-
ical boots might be soiled in the
mud OF party strife, the great en-
bodiment of political virtue has
suddenly Topped boots and belly
on the Republican side, and by
force Of his own ponderosity sinks
to the seat of his brooches in parti-
san mire. Notwithstanding the
whole country saw him flop, and
now sees where he squats, he swears
stoutly that he is still on the fence.
While he performed on the fence he
was a source of infinite amusement
and jest TO everybody save himself.
He was in dead earnest himself
about riding into the White House
on rail, but everybody, else OF
course, laughed at the harmless and
ridiculous figure he cut.
We understand that he is called
at Washington, the "oId third par
ty," and was regarded by every one
with good-nstured federation as a
harmless old man into whose bon
net or breeches the presidential bee
was buzzing, and causing him to
cut a great many fantastic tricks, at
which everybody, Of course laugh
ed, while they pitied his weakness.
They credited him with honesty,
and therefore he was not expelled
entirely from the pale of a certain
sort Of public respect.
But even this toleratiOn and dis
position to respect him will now be
withdrawn from him, since he has
suffered the Republican party to
remove him from his lofty and lone
ly perch and seat him in the chair
of the presiding officer OF the SEN
ate.
A report of this extraordinary re-
moval says there was an audible
smile i'm the Senate during the per-
Torrance, in which the old third
party himself Joined. We can We
ny readily understand why the
spectators Of the scene would feel
inclined to smile, though it would
have been more humane If they
had felt like weeping but what the
poor old political hermaphrodite
himself saw to laugh at, we cannot
imagine. He seemed totally oblIv-
ious OF the attitude in which he had
placed himself before the country,
or suffered himself to be placed by
the INSCRIPTIONS men who had ia
ken charge of him.
On reaching the pedestal of his
shame, he made a speech thanking
those who had affixed the indelible
stamp of disgrace upon him, for the
honor conferred upon him, and
holding up his trembling hands,
manacled with the handouts of the
Republican party, he declared that
he was still independent. The
scene must have been one which
excited in the bosoms of many who
witnessed it, mingled feelings Of pi-
ty, contempt, and amusement,
though we think a feeling Of sad
ness and pity would have predomi-
nared in our heart if we had been
present.
of all the mean things ever done
by the Republican party, and they
have a record on that score rarely
equaled and never surpassed, not
the least is their capture and dis
grace of this poor old man. No
body was surprised when they
bought Malone. His commercial
character advertised him for sale,
and the country was not at all shock
ed when the bargain was made
but the weakness Of poor old Da-
vid Davis, consumed as he has been
for years with a ridiculous ambi-
ton, ought to have shielded him
from their approaches. 1t is
shame to their manhood to have
played the arts Of seduction upon
such a subject. And to have the
poor old creature Wanting his in
tegrity while he sits in the foul en-
brace Of the Republican party, re-
minds one of the protestations Of
virtue made by a simple minded
maiden as she lies a willing captive
in the meritricious arms oil hard
ened libertine.
If the ostrich, from time imme-
mortal, has failed to hide his tail by
sticking his head in the sand, how
can the old third party, with his
broad expanse of alluvial bottom,
hope to accomplish the feat? Con-
tracts are Of two kinds, express and
implied. Mr.. Davis has been on
the Supreme Bench and ought to
know this. The circumstances sur
rounding a transaction frequently
impress il with a Character which
all the protestations of innocence
by the actors in it, cannot effaee or
obscure.
IfArthur dies, Mr.. Davis becomes
President of the United States.
That this is the way he long has
sought, and mourned because he
found it not, is a fact Of general no.
toriety. How then can he hope to
escape the imputation of having
bought 'ticket in the lottery of as
sassination ?''
MIR. Davis term in the Senate |
will soon expire, and Illinois is
Republican State. How can he eX-
pect to be exempt from the suspi-
cion Of having bought ticket in
the Senatorial lottery also? If he |
is not an idiot he knows that the
Republicans In the Senate elected |
him President pro tempore, with a
lively sense Of favOrs to come from |
his hands. Should he fail to recip- |
rOcate their kindness when occasion |