Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-07-29

At last the agony is over at Albany, in the
return of Mr.. Lapham to the United States
Senate to fill the place vacated by Mr.
Conkling. The struggle has been a pro-
longed and a bitter one. and its termination,
resulting rs it does in the triumph of the
friends of the present Administration, can
not be without the grayest significance.
Notwithstanding that it must be at the ex-
pense of one party, it can scarcely fail to
be matter of graduation to all that so pro-
longed, and at times so unseemly contest,
has been brought to its final close, and that
the result is the election of a gentleman of
undoubted ability and integrity, who has
already done some service to the State. "
Elbrid9e Gerry Lapham, was born in
Pennington, Ontaria County, n. Y, on the
18th of October, 1914 His parents were
far from wealthy but their humble cir
cumstances seemed to exercise no depress-
ing influence upon their son, who even as
lad gave tokens of native cheerfulness,
energy and ability, and soon evinced that
thirst for knowledge and love of indepen-
dence which lie at the bottom of all success
1ul characters To meet the exegencies of
the untoward circumstances by which he
was surrounded. young Laphan struggled
early and late to obtain an education. and
yet contribute to the support of himself and
family. To this end he attended school and
studied closely during the winter months,
and worked as farm hand throughout those
of summer In course of time, he entered
the Canandaigua Academy, where his pro-
iiclency was most marked, and where he was
a classmate of Stephen A. Douglas.
After having studied civil engineering and
law, he was admitted to the bar in 1874, and
commenced the practice of his profession
Ill Canandaigua. In 1867, he was elected
to the constitutional convention, in which
body he may be said to have made his en-
trance into public life. Here he displayed
such acknowledged ability that his constiu-
ency, which was composed of the counties
OF Llvingston, Ontario and Yates, elected
him IN 1874 to the Forty fourth Congress,
and has from that date to the present con-
hnued him in the national legislature. As
civil engineer he had been employed on the
Michigan Southern Railroad line but per-
celvlng IN the law wider scope for his
abilities and ambition, he soon adopted il as
his sole profession, and, as may be per-
celved, with the happiest results.
The past record, the experience. and the
mature years of Mr.. Lapham, must exert
marked influence in the Senate, and tend to
the advancement of the material interests
not only of his State, but of the country at
large He is ready debater, fluent speak
er, and stands high in his profession Bet
ter than any or all of these characteristics,
be is a man of unimpeachable integrity.
Of course the circumstances of his election
will provoke the hostile criticism of certain
parties, but this is to be expected 1t is our
impression, however, that he will survive
such attacks, and that ere long all parties
Will settle down III the conviction, whether
express ed or otherwise, that, all things con-
sldered, MIR. Lapham is the right man in
the right place.