The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1881-08-05
pEGENERACy OF THE SENATE.

The two foremost leaders of tho Sen
ate, who for ten years opposed each
other on all the great questions that
separated the Democratic and Republi-
can parties, and whose speeches from
4 part Of the history Of these times, are
retired from public life, with little pro-
spcct of immediate return.
Mr.. Thurman will be sixty-eight
years old next November. and Mr..
ConklinG vii! only have scored fifty
! two years at the close of October.
Though antagonists in the fierce con-
| 1licts, from the reconstruction down to
the inauguration Of Gen. Garfield, they
were personal friends, each respecting
| the other as Z foe-man worthy Of his
steel.
With minds differently organized
and trained, their methods of argu-
ment were wide apart. Mr.. Thurman
Was always clear, direct, and compact,
] with q dash of humor in his speech,
but without the least attempt at orna-
inent. AS q prompt and vigorous
debater, well equipped in constitutional
and politician knowledge an acute
| lawyer, with the superaddcd expert
| cnco Of 4 Judge: and excellent scholar,
familiar with the classics, and Il natu-
| raj lover Of intellectual controversy, he
has had few equals in the Senate. His
best speeches like those Of Pitt, were
! madc on the spur Of the occasion.
Mr.. ConEling, though but thirty
years Of ago when he entered the Sen
ate, carried to that badly reputation
for rare intellectual gifts and for high
attainmcnts, acquired during three
terms in the House Of Representatives.
!Gn ~ ,.,;t =,
TrUmbuIE, Morton, Grimes, Fessentlen,
then the recognized leaders of the Re
publican side, and he grew in fame and
i'll influence until he ovcrtopped them
all. On the day of his resignation he
was the first and most commanding
figure in his party, though among the
least popular Of those who contcndcd
for The primacy.
Conscious Of strong powers, and
ambitious Of distinction, he did not
court favor with the arts Of tho politi-
clan, but aimed at leadership, in right
OF intellectual force. In debate he iu-
variably went to the front ; he was
ready fox any turn it might take, and
he had at band a most varied stock Of
RESOURCES, no matter who took the field
against him. Severe study, Il memory
like q storchouse Of law, literature, sci
cncc, and ilnccn faculties made him a
dreaded conlbatant. An extraordinary
flow Of language and spontaneous
hoWors O! rhetoric, perhaps, decorated
too highly his argument bat all in all,
few men il public life have deserved
more attention than I:. Conkling.
AT any period of the Senate, Thur
man and Conkling would have been
conspicuous characters, who could have
held their own with the best. They
leave \ void which will be hard to fill,
not only tor preference, but as examples
OF honor and Integrity, unstaincd
amid :; DcEvading corruption and loose
notions OF accountability.
The Republicans lost three Of their
ah!c8t men i'll the Senate when Conl1l-
ing, Blaine, aud Carpenter were re-
moved from that scene. The Demo-
crats were equally unfortunate in losing
Thurman, Eaton, Mcdonald, and
others o! a lesser degree who had at.
tanned prolEiilcncc and usefulness. AS
4 body the Senate has fallen from lis
former high estate, and no longer en-
joys the confidence that the country
oHcc Tcp0acd in il. Hhc purchase Of
seats, almost III opcn market, by rich
asl,iralt5 tUr political fame; the cDu-
s:ant secession Of the agents, attornyos,
or creatures of great corporations and
the presence OF notorious jobbCrs in
legislation, have contributed to de-
cline, which is getting worse instead Of
better.
Take; collectively, the members OF
the Senate, with occasional exceptions,
such as Mr.. I,hlnRnus or Mr.. Bayard,
DO not rise above mcdiccrity, and
there axe not i few who are unable to
claim cniuplcto ownership of thcm-
selves.
IN England q comparatively small
number of nicn own the lard but here
the rich corporations, instead OF own
ing the land, lay claim to the mon who
make its laws.
Tho exhibition Of great speed by
Maud s., ut Chicago, OF Saturday, was
yet 4 disappointment "a some people,