Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-10-19
Prom our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, Dot. 70, 1881


The election of Senator Bayard TO
the Presidency Of the senate was very
dis,astciul to the Republicans, Not
that the Delaware Senator, bearing II
name distinguished and honorcd in our
national politics for three generations
Is personally Objectionable, because he
j. very popular. Mr.. l'ayard is a
man Of fine ability high personal char
acicr and n fair sample Of the digniiied
cultivated gentleman who paccl the
chair OF the Senate US he would that Of
the Chief Executive of the country.
But during the war he was earnestly
opposed to the domincnt party and
some of its measures, and Is in consc-
qucnce to this day bitterly denounced
as u "rebcl." 1t is pretty hard work
for those who do not yet acknowledge
that the war is over, to reconcile
themselves to the elevation of one of
that class whom they were pleased to
call "coppcr-hcads' to position in
the direct line of succession to the
Presidency. When these things are
understood the desperate opposition to
Mr.. Bayard is explained. lie was
the candidate of his party last spring
before the Senate adjourned, but Vice
President Arthur refused TO yacatc the
chair to give nm opportunity for his
election, though he would not have
done so had Senator llurris. OF
Tennessee, an cx-Contcderatc, been
the nominee.
Senator Edmunds is doing all the
talking on the Republican side of the
Senate so far, and is giving fresh evil
dence Of his aptness at special pleading.
1t was amusing to hear his emotional
tone of voice as he stood up and argued
against the Acknowledgement Of New
York and Rhode Island in the vote
for presiding officer. And when this
failed to produce the desired effect he
sneeringly tainted the Democrats with
taking advantage of assassination to
obtain power. But smart as he is all
his efforts lost in effect when it was
remembered that he would have been
Just as cute and earnest on the very
opposite side of the question had the
interests of his party required it. Sen
ator Vest reminded Edmunds that four
of the states had at one time been ca
tirely DISTINGUISHED and their repre-
sentatives kept outside the chamber for
days and days at his own motion and
the act of his own party that the
Democrats were not taking advantage
of assassination because their ma jorty
dated back to the foolish action of two
Republican Senators from New York,
when the same candidate they now
presented was nominated, and would
have been elected and this extra session
rendered unnecessary but for the
course of Republican Vice President.
When he concluded this thrust with a
reference to Mr.. Conkling's speech
about the rights of the constitutional
majority" there did not seem to be
much left of the other side of the
argument and Edmunds rather gave up
the sponge. The scheme to Gust
Senator Bayard from the chair, by the
elections of David Davis, was last
resort of the Republicans, not so much
for the good Davis might do them in
the chair as for the purpose of obtain
ing his indirect aid in securing the rest
of the organization. By placing him
in the chair and thereby rendering it
probable that. he would withhold his
vote the tic is broken in favor of that
side. Many Democrats have held
that Davis should have been captured
by making him the candidate.
TO illustrate how unforeseen events
change personal fortunes, as well as to
show what the Grant influence is likely
to be with the new Administration, |
will mention one of the changes said to