The Ottawa free trader., 1881-10-22
DAVID DAVIS.


papers and leaders seemed TO agree, on the elec
ton of Senator Bayard as President pro tenn
of the senate by the democrats, that 1t was bet
ter for the republicans to have a man in tn,
chair about whose position there was no doub
than man about whom they knew nothing
the subsequent oustng of Bayard by the same
Republicans and putting Davis in his place
certainly has an unpleasant look When, last
spring, the democrats first, and then the repub
lcans, offered Davis the craftsmanship of the
Judiciary committee, he declined both tenders
saying solemnly II can accept no honor at the
hands OF either sidc;" but being indebted for
his seat in the senate to the democrats he felt
under obligations to vote with that party in
the election of senate officers and the organza
ton of the committees.
1t was evident, however, when the senate
met two weeks ago, and thedemocratic caucus
decided instead of electing David Davis presi.
dent pro TEN, to elect Bayard man about
whose position they were IN no doubt-that
Mr.. Davis had changed his mind in regard to
the "obligation" he had felt himself under In
spring to vote with the democrats In the or
canization, and he voted with the republicans
on Edmund's motion TO admit the New York
ard Rhode Island senator's before proceeding
to the election Of president pro tenn; and
when that motion was voted down and the elec.
tion went on, he sulked away, refusing to vote
for either Bayard or Anthony.
Now how is this strange inconsistency be.
tween Senator Davis last spring and Senator
Davis to day to be accounted for except as the
effect of "presidential bee In his bonnet ?'
The democrats had lost his favor by refusing
to humor his weakness in that direction, and
he was surly towards the republicans for the
same reason. He was not OblivIous, however,
it is easy to imagine, of the growing tendency
Of the latter party to coalesce with any odds
and ends which happen to be lying around
loose for the sake of temporary success, and it
is as easy to imagine how the leaders of par
ty which was capable of entering into such an
abnormal coalition as that by which they Sc
cured Malone, would not be slow to approach
the morose, dlscontented, bulky senator from
Illinois on his side where the "bee was buz-
zing" with alike questionable overtures. Any.
how, when the movement was made by the re-
publican leaders to oust Bayard, Davis could
have stopped it by negative vote which he
failed to give, and the surprising failure is ial.
ly accounted tor by the next step, which was
to place David Davis IN the chair from which
his vote, or rather failure to vote had ousted
James A. Bayard
Well-much good may it do HIM. The
presidential bee in his bonnet Is so far graft.
fed that 1t places the life of but one man be-
tween him and a temporary occupancy of the
presidential chair, but 1t Is safe to say that that
Is as near AS he will ever come to the summit
of his ambition. OF course, in view of his
late action, the democrats have done with HIM,
and he can never be their candidate, Aor is It
within the range of reasonable probability
that one who In the last few years has so often
and sharply and bitterly arraigned the repub-
llcan party, can ever be accepted as their lead
er. Yet he has placed himself completely in
their power. However stoutly he may protest
that in accepting the presidency of the senate
at their hands he assumes no party obliga-
TONS" he cannot be so stupid as not to know,
assuming that he has gone through the Ma
honing process untramelled that if at any
time he puts himself ia antagonism to their
Sehes,s, they will no more hesitate to take him
out of the chair and put Anthony in than they
hesitated to oust Bayard for his sake Davis,
1t is evident never accepted the chair without
some provision against the humiliation of
tumblng into such pltfall, and that can only
involve his making himself the creature of
the republicans to obey their commands, and
browse henceforth in their close So having
made his bed, may he have joy in Its keeping.
Vale, David DAVIS.