Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-02-23
lanraster fntellsgenrer.
WEDNESDAY EVENING. FEB. %, 1881.
The New Senator.

The New Senator.
Speaking of the choice of Mitchell for
senator, the Philadelphia Times says
that " the boilers are the discounted
party in this BATTLE" and that they
have finally surrendered every vital issue
with which they confronted Cameron"
The Times is Influenced to this cOnclu-
sion by the fact of its persistent proph-
ecy that Cameron would be the ultimate
victor in this prolonged senatorial con-
test. There is certainly little to justify
its opinion Of the effect of Mitchell's
election, as there is certainly very little
in it of comfort to Senator Cameron.
He has the satisfaction of securing
colleague who may not outshine him in
the Senate and appropriate to himself
the recognition of the country as the
senator from Pennsylvania, and it is
altogether likely that this very small
and very selfish reason was the one which
brought him to favor Mitche!l'S elect1bn.
There is no question that Mitchell is
elected with his assent: but it is the eiec-
ton of a man taken from the ranks of
his opponents by him simply because he
Was the least Objectionable of them to
him. He has not secured the choice OF
an ally. lie has not controlled the cleo
tion. 1t is not the fact that in this case
all senatorial roads led to Cameron as
all roads lead to Rome; as the Times puts
it. 1t is only true that Senator Cameron
held barricade Oh the senatorial road
just as his opponents held one, and no
one could pass without his consent, as
none could pass the other without the
assent of the defenders. The result is as
much of Il defeat of Senator Cameron us
was ut any time in the contest possible.
With the force he was conceded to hold
no ono has ever assumed that he was
without the power to dictate the cleo
ton of any man from the ranks of his
opponents whom he would choose to
name.
Certainly it is among the body Of the
class of men who are recognized in the
state as his opponents that Mr.. Mitchell
stands. lie may he rs the Times de-
clarcs, - an :imi;ble, well-meaning, in.
dOlent gentleman, WHO has never sufli.
ciently asserted himself in any position
to offend the aims orambitiOn of others,
and he will but bring the mediocrity
to the Senate which has made
him thus far unknown TO fame and
unfelr in the great battles of men,
And SO Senator Cameron mag have
cause 10 fear his rivalry neither in the
Senate chamber nor in the manipulation
of his party in the state. Though i'll
view of his record and his comparative
youth it will I've unsafe to assume that
Senator Cameron is destined to derive
even this much satisfaction from the
choice of Il colleague who has been thus
mpl,atically forced upon him. lie has
had experience in the lower houses OF
both the state and national legislatures.
and occupied 4 crc'litable position il
both, although il is true that he did moi
make himself especially prominent be
fore the country. But it is moi
the strongest men always wlit
thrust themselves into public notice
Modes;y in public man does not al
ways mean mediccrity. There ;irt
hares and there are tortOiseS there
are lively Geis and less active elephants
Mr.. Mitchell is translated now to Z
cr,lil n,nrit will! chow ,ny
when not accompanied by irrepressiblt
Self-aSsurlnce. He demonstrated his
good SENSE by declining Il reelection tC
Congress because of his desire to estab
lish his law practice, which was his de
pendence for livelihood. The same
condition of things probably will MAX,
his present elevation not al unmiXet
boon to him, though doubtless thu
greatness of the honor will secure hi:
acceptance OF it.
Mr.. Mitchell is now in Congress, where
he represents the Sixteenth district, which
includes Mckeai county. that is now tilt
seat of a great oil production. He ha:
advocated in Congress legislation in
tended 10 protect producers and mer
chants against tie eNHction of tranSpOr
tatiOE comp"Mics, and will rank in Tx
Senate as an ;inti-moGCpoi:St: which il
a very great qualification III these day:
when the places of power are being 81
eagerly grasped to serve corporation III
terests. lin this great question of tht
future it is 4 grand victcry for the pcO
pie that Pennsylvania voice in the
Senate will he raised for them and their,
vindicates the choice OF Mr.. Mitchell
1t is one good result of the entirely per.
sOnal REASONS which caused Senator Cam
eron to assent to this choice that the
other interests which he has represented
have been entirely sacrificed. To get an
agreeable colleague. and one who repre-
sented the western section of the state
so leaving Cameron to contend for his
reelection against only eastern competi-
tors, he has permitted the choice of Il
man who was against! him in the issue
he raised in his party in the state upon
Grant and the unit rule ut Chicago, and
who moreover is the opponent of the
corporation interest with which Senator
Cameron has always been closely allied.
Surely this draught he has taken is from
a quassia cup, and the Jumps of sugar in
the dose can at best but make it sweetly
bitter.
To us Democrats the result is pleasing,
in that man is chosen of at least re-