The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-12-08
TELEGRAPHIC NWSE
Days Grows GraTeIy Eloquent

pays GROWS OEAEety ElOquenC
Washington, Gin the Senate, to.
day, when Edmunds called up his reso-
luton providing for the continuance Of
the committees as they existed ut the
close eff the last session, President pro
tenn Davis, who temporarily occupied
his former seat on the floor, having
vacated the chair to Harris, said:
Mr.. President - The solemn event
which excited the sympathy of the civil
lied world recently, brought about the
unexpected change IN the presidency.
The Forty seventh Congress now meets
under the constitutional successor to the
President who was only inaugurated lsst
March, and who was stricken down in
the maturity of his manhood, after but
four short months experience in the ex-
ecutive chair. Those stern facts are full
of admoRition. They teach US how frail
are human hopes and how transitory is
human power. Ia the presence of this
sad Instruction, Rmhitiie2n may we'll pause
and all of US nay learn how vain are the
aspirations 70 which too much of our
lives is devoted. Great as was the be-
reavement which spread sorrow over
the land and which touched the heart
of every freside, it was sanctifed by the
consolation that the people Of al sections
were brought nearer together bv common
grief end thus came TO understand each
other better. Through the kindred emo
tons that had long existed they were
softened, and the violence Of faction was
chastened By sffliction. Although Pres
ident Arthur represents the party that
elected Garfield, his personal position is
necessarily delicate and lryirg. He is
entitled By his whole bearing thro ugh the
critical ordeal to generous countenance.
As Senator l propose ~ extend 20 his
administration candid treatment, GUS
tanning it when sight ard opposing It
when wrong, on sll public questions,
holding to this purpose and intending to
insist on pure economy and just adj
ministration Of the executive trust. The
new President ought to be aiied by all
proper legislative cooperation in carry
ing out the general policy he may pro-
pose TO the country. Whatever that
policy in future may be, it is entitled to
fair trial aud patient hearing. With
this view OF my duty l shall vote will
lingly to continue the committees
in this body az they are now con-
stituted. 1t is best that the party
which has the President and House of
Representatives should be held answer
able for all public measures. Then there
will be no divided responsibility. If the
opposition s:e wise they will accept this
conclusion. At 8 special session In
March they made but brief and feeble
stand against the organization Of the
committees, which shape the great legis
lation Of the country. Indeed, they al
most conceded that important point to
their adversaries, but in the protracttd
contest for offices Of the Senate, under
the same political conditions my demo-
cratic friends yiel ed ne ground from
the beginning to the end Of it Doubt
less they had satisfactory reasons for this
course of policy. Last spring took &C.
casion to state the reasons why my vote
should be given for the then existing
organization Of the Senate. Although
circumstances have materially changed
since that time, the position which I
voluntarily assumed has not been altered,
hence l adhere to that declaration, always
reserving to myself the right of rejecting
offensive candidates. am greatly
encouraged in this decision by the
course of my distinguished friend
from Vermont, eminent as leader Of
his party, as he is also eminent
for public and private worth, upon his
motion the present chief clerk, distinctly
appointed as democrat, was unani-
mously made acting secretary. That
graceful deed is q cheering sign, which
affords me pleasure, (applsuse) because
this is the first place where an example
should be set against the common scrsm-
bling for Office that disfgures our politi-
cal life. The country was almost equally
divided between the two great parties at
the presidential election. The msjority
in the House of Representatives is small
and in this chamber republicans and
democrats confront each other with like
numbers. The committees are now held
by the other party. From my standpoint
it would be unWise to disturb this coudi-
ton Of things, and do not propose to
engage in any struggle that looks to that
object. As our parties are organized the
public man who steps outside party lines
is always exposed 10 marsh criticism, no
matter how proper his motives may be-
The machinery both enferces rigid dis
cipline and denounces revolt as treason.
For the last tea years my political posi-
ton has been entirely independent of any
organization. l have accepted good wher-
ever it was found and l have voted for the
D6eG Iu6u WUGLH0T LuoJ were CHIl6Q re-
publicsns or democrats. Consistency is
not virtue if it means dogmstic aohe-
sion TO given idea.When change would
be meritorious. The greatest statesmen
Of modern times have been coursgeously
inconsistent and have become public
benefsctors by abandoning mistaken pol
icy. If conviction satisfied me that opin-
ions formed long ago and followed sin ce
then were erroneous it would not cost me
q moma0t's thought to cast them off like q
. worn out garment. believe them to
be sound, and, so believing, / shall stand
by them as moderator between ex-
trsmes. It plesses the majority of the
Senate to confer upon me the highest
distinction in their gilt Priced as that
honor is and ought % be, it is doubly val
liable ia my estimation because it came
wholly uDsOught and without the ex-
change of q single word, directly or ind
rectly, that could by possibility impose
an obligation. This is the only answer
I shall ever make 10 the unworthy DIS
that would measure the integrity 81
others by their own low STANDARD ef per
sonal honor. The day is drawing n5sr
when shall retire from this chamber.
Ny only ambition while here lie to be
instrumental in bringing about perfect
peace between the north and south, az the
best means for promoting the permanent
prosperity OF the whole union. When