New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-18
SENATOR D4FJD DAYS,

The discussion which has been going on OF
late concerning the position of Senator David
Davis and the moral obligation under which
he COnceves himself to be TO give his support
to Democratic men and measures, Omits one
consideration which seems to us an important
one. The Democratic press has been saying
for him for a long time what he lately said
for himself; that the bulk of his vote
in the Illinois Legislature having been
Democratic it was his duty to repre-
sent the party that contributed most to
his election, and he was consequently found
always on the d mocratic side. But neither
he nor anyone else has brought into the case
the very peculiar circumstances OF his cleo
ton. 1t may perhaps he remembered that at
least two events hung in the political balance
at the time the Illinois Legislature lifted him
from the bench of the Supreme Court to the
United States Senate. Ono was the Illinois
SenatOrshIp. the other the Presidency of the
United States, TO both of which Judge Davis
held personal relation.
The Democrats had cOncOcted the Electoral
Commission bll-which they afterwards so
generally and generously curscd-in the cx-
pectatiOn and belief that Judge DAVIS. under the
terms Oh the ,WOull nave DlhCt VII Cbhi
mission, which in the circumstances under
which that body was constituted wonld rrac-
tically place in his hands the decision of the
Presidential question. The hill would never
have been passed except for the provision
which gave this power into the hands oi
Judge Davis. They leaned on him with all
their weight. With the members OF the Com
mission equally divided between the two parties
30 far as Senate and House were concerned,
the purpose was to put Judge Davis on a. the
fifth member from the supreme Court. The
bill was carefully drawn so as to compass
this object, without going so far IL expressly
to name him. 1t was quite n clever con-
trivancc. OF the many Democratic traps that
have been set during the past five or six years
and always sprung with Democratic loot in
them, this was one of the cunningcst.
Before this was ready to be sprung, how
ever, the Illinois Legislature. i'll which four or
five Independent Republicans held the balance
of power, on the fOrticth ballot elected Judge
Davis United States Senator and made him
ineligible for the Commission. The trappcrs
we're trapped. There was no other Democrat
on the Supreme Court bench, nor any Rcpub-
lican like Judge Davis with Democratic
leanings. 1t was too late to retreat; tho
Commission WAS organized with Judge Brad
ley in the place intended for Judge Davis
The inventors of the scheme expressed unfavor-
able opinions of the intelligence of the Illinois
Democrats III various degrees of profanity,
and had the satisfaction presently of seeing it
end in the Inauguration of President Hayes.
When they came to balance their books they
found that they had gained Judge Davis as II
Senator and lost President of the United
States. And of course Judge Davis could not
help knowing of their disappointment and that
he was the cause OF it.
Under such circumstances what could the
man d02 What would any man of n kindly
heart and sympathetic nature dO' Go back
on them after they had euchred themselves
out of the Presidency to give him his scatV
No, no. That would he adding insult to in
Jury. He can hardly do less than vote with
them upon sil questions to compensate them
so far rs he can for having been the instrl-
ment by which they fooled themselves. And
no Republican ever thinks of finding fault
with him for it. 1t shows such good heart.