New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-14
TILE SEN1IE.

The election of Judge David Davis Presi-
dent pro TEN of the Senate is deserved re-
buke of the indecent usurpatOn by which Mr.
Bayar6 was placed in the chair, while three
duly elected Senators were excluded in order
to give his party friends temporary power
When that piece of injustice and indecency was
penetrated it was predicted that the Demo-
Gratis would soon find that they had done
supremely foolish thing. They displayed a
spirit Of partisanship as mean as it was reck
less aroused a strong feeling of hostility to
their party: placed themselves in the position
of plotting to profit by the possible assassina-
tion of President Arthur and did all tins for
the very fral and shadowy advantage OF hay
ing a President of the Senate for a few days
1t might have been fOreseen that the Rcpub-
lcans, if they could not elect one OF their own
number, as they would have done at the out
set if three members had not been wrOngfully
excluded from seats, would take the carli-
est opportunity to deprive the Demo-
cratic party of all power in the organi-
cation of the Senate. 1t was not difficult
70 foresce that Mr.. Davis, who had openly Gc.
clared his belief that the Republicans were
iustlv entitled to the organization, and who
was therefore ignored by the Democrats in
their consultations, would be prompted to act
with the Republicans. If he does so in other
matters the full control Of the Senate will now
BASS to them, and it will be long before the
| Democrats will have another opportunity to
! Glch control Of that body.
Senator Davis has never been recognized as
Democrat In his cndcavOr to be an indie
pendent, he voted with the Democrats often
to Rnf,YtI 4 mir ln
oupbt TO have voted otherwise but he has
never classed himself as a member of that
marty. nor has he been so recognized by the
| Democrats themselves. He came into public
| life as a Republican, being the personal friend
| of President Lincoln, who placed him on the
| bench. His election as Senator was accom-
plished in part by Republican votes, and tor
| purposes which the Republicans at that time
! heartily approved. Though he has been
| favored as possible candidate for the Prcsi-
| dency in several Democratic Conventions, he
! has at no time been sufficiently trusted by that
| marty to make him a formidable candidate,
! even against a man so little qualified by civil
experience as General Hancock. The fact that
he has strongly dissented from the Republic
cans on some points does not make him the
! less a Republican as respects the issues arts
| ing from tho Rebellion. With him in the
chair, it is at least certain that unreconshucted
rebelism will not have a chance to grasp exc
cutive power 10y shooting the President Nor
would any hope of partisan advantage prompt
reckless creatures of the Democratic party to
perpetrate such a crime The election, there
fore, removes serious peril TO the country.
The vote of Judge Davis to continue the
standing committees as now organized, with
| Republican majorities was given before his
own election. 1t cannot be misconstrued be-
cause he voted to the same effect at the last
session, when these committees were framed
| His theory has been, ever since the last Presl-
dental election, that he ought to respect the
will of the people, who bad decided to place
the Government in the hands OF Republicans