Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-21
EX-GOV. SEYMOUR.
The Sage of Utica on the Decadence
of the Republican Party.

Utica Special to Chicago Times
Ex-Governor Seymour was interview
ed today on the political situation. He
begged to be excused from saying much
about the chances or personal merits of
the several Senatorial candidates at
Albany. Because, he observed, ''Sena-
tor Conkling is my brother-in. law, you
know, and it would not be in good taste
for me to enter upon an extended dis.
cussion of that subject" He looks upon
the Albany contest as affording evidence
of the disintegration of the Republican
party. 81 see in it, ;" he said, "a conflict
between elements whose struggles fore
tell the early dIsmemberment of the
party. Recent exposures of corrupt
practices at Albany prove what the
people have long suspected, and /
would not be surprised to hear of still
further and more damaging disclosures
before the investigation is concluded. l
have known Senator Sessions a long
time, and Mr.. Bradley, his accuser,
slightly. The Senator is known as a
man of very peculiar methods and prac-
tices, and have never heard Mr.. Brad
ley's integrity questioned by those who
know him personally. Mr.. Depew, in
whose interest money is said to have
been used, is a clever mana very clever
man, indeed-but not such a one, |
fancy, as the people of the State would
like to have represent them in the United
States Senate. He has represented the
New York Central Railroad in Albany
every winter for years. He has been
there to protect the interests of the
road, and is very familiar with legisla-
tive peculiarities, and the methods in
vogue for influencing legislation. A
man holding such a position must have
well, an extremely flexible conscience
The Republicans are tearing themselves
to pieces, and, as you may imagine, we
Democrats do not feel like interfering.
The result of the wrangle that is now
going on will, in my opinion, be the re-
demption of the State from the control
of the Republicans. New York is
naturally Democratic; 1t is traditlonally
Democratic. It's greatest and most dis
tinguished men have been Democrats,
and the best part of its history is that part
which was made while it was under
Democratic rule. Last fall the State was
taken from the Democrats by false pre-
tences. The tariff issue was raised to
frighten shOrt-sighted men, and the
Democratic party was considerably di-
vided. Prospects are brighter now.
The venerable Ex-Governor was quite
free in the expression of opinions about
President Garfield. He thinks that the
President has made great failure thus
far. 81 have very little faith in men who
quit preaching for politics." he said,
"and General Garfield is no exception to
the rule. He has carried with him much
that is impracticable. 1t was a great
mistake for him to have left the Senate.
There he would have made better i'm.
preston than he can hope to as Presi-
dent. Hels man of very fair general
information and education, and a ready
and forcible talker; yet he is very
yielding man by nature, and
since he entered upon the discharge of
his duties as President that side
of his character has been turned to
the public oftenest. 1t is best for man
in public life to be himself at all times,
and not try to be like somebody else.
Some men are firm and self.willed and
accustomed to having their own way.
General Jackson was that kind of man.
Garfield is entirely different. He is weak
and anxious to please everybody, and
when he sets out to be a second General
Jackson, the effort is unnatural and
must be failure. 1t was natural for
Jackson to command obedience: it is
not so with Garfield. More men have
been ruined trying to be like General
Jackson thap from all other causes com.
bined. Since General Garfield has been
prominent in public life, and more es.
pecially OF late years, his constant and
unceasing prayer has been that he might
be led into temptation. He is the first I
man ever knew who was praying all
the time that he might be tempted. |
Every speech he has made is full of that |
prayer. He is oppressed with a great
fear of Capitalization; yet he invited the |
growth and the development of the idea |
by his every act. After the war there
was a strong reaction against State
rights; nevertheless, States have rights
independent of the General Government
and it is in the recognition and preserya: |
tion of these Tighte that the Safely of the |
people lies. While recognizing the dan
ger of an increase of centralized power.
Gen. Garfield has been and is dong |
all in his power to centralize the gov |
erning power in Washington City. One
of these days the people will take the
Reppblican statesmen Who are struggling
to obliterate States rights at their word |
TO day one-half of the population of the |
United States is embraced within the
boundaries of nine States. These nine
States have eighteen representatives in |
the Senate, or less than one-fourth of |
the whole. New England, with j popu- |
lation of four wiili0ns, has twelve Sena
TORS. and New York State, with A ponu-
lation Of five .::i;iiiiiiiions of people. only
sWo Senators. The great States of Iii. !
nois and Ohio, with Q population as J
large as New England, have one third +
the Represents rtatiYes. Some time the peo-
pie will become so infatuated with the |
idea that the Republican leaders are
preaching but not praeticiAg that they
will take into their heads to change ex-
isting forms and have uniform repre-
resentation in the Senate. Then where
will Maine and the other little States
be2 They will be swallowed up. This
is just what the Republicans are inviting,
if they could see it.
The Constitution protects the States,
but the Constitution has been changed,
and it may undergo additional modifica-
ton when the people want it, The
Senate is the controlling body, and the
Senate, influenced largely by the New
England representatives, has put heavy
burden on the West, and for that matter
upon the whole country, by subsidizing
monopolies and giving them growth.
The great producing region may become
tired of this ana make q change"