Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-12
Senator Jones. Of Florida.

Senator Jones, of Florida.
The Legislature of Florida, now in
session in Tallahassee, viii have before
it duty second in Importance to none
which State Legislature can be called
upon to perform, and that is the selee-
ton Of an United States Senator as sue
cessor to Senator Charles W. Jones.
No doubt the Legislature understands
fully the wishes of their fellow citizens in
this respect. Nevertheless. not only on
account of the general interest which we
feel in the personnel of the National
Legislature, but because of the special
interest which we feel in the affairs of
our sister State, we take the liberty, even
at the risk of appearing somewhat offici-
Gus. to express the hope that Senator
Jones will be his own successor. We
have carefully watched the course of
that gentleman since his entrance into
Congress, and, without exaggerstion, we
can safely say that he has made record
for himself worthy of the envy Of any
member of even SO distinguished body
as the Senate of this Great Republic.
AS our Washington correspondent stated
in one of his letters from the national
capital about two weeks since, he enter
ed Congress six years ago nationally an
unknown. Hardly had he taken his
seat, however, when he began to emerge
from his obscurity and rapidly to advance
to the front rank, until, by the force of
his intellect and energy alone. he now
commands the respect and admiration of
political friends and foes alike, even
forcing such a man as E lmunds, of Yer
mont, to declare that he ''had more real
head on him than any man the South
had sent to the Senate.
While Senator Jones has thus com
manded general respect, and has adj
vsnced from position as an unknown to
that of man of national reputation, he
has always been conspicuous for never
losing sight of the welfare of his State
and the people who have honored him.
Every measure before the Senate tending
to promote the interests of Florida or of
the South, has received from him the
most earnest, jealous and effective sup
port During the extra session Of the
present Congress none commended harder,
or more effectively than he for the re-
peal of the outrageous Jurors test oath,
and for the reform in the selection of
jurors in United States Courts,
which now prevents partisan
Judges from packing juries
in these tribunals for partisan pur-
poses. His speeches on all national sub
jects have been clear, forcible and elo
quent, and his views, while conservative,
have ever been firm and decided
Appropriations for the improvement OF
Florida rivers and harbors he has per
sistentlY labored to secure, and, but
few weeks ago, he succeeded in getting
before the Senate his bill to appropriate
$3.50, 900 for the erection of public
building at Pensacola, and, through his
indomitable energy and perseverance,
the measure was pushed through that
body.
The eminent success Of Senator Jones
in public life is to be attributed to the
same characteristics which have
secured him distinction as a man.
Starting life in an humble capacity, he
had poverty and the lack of social infiu-
ence to obstruct his advancement. By
the force OF his own native, innate
strength he gained position among his
fellow citizens. just as he has in six
years gained high rank in the estimation
OF his fellow Senators, and now, popular
with all parties, and with an influence
securely established, he is in better posi-
ton to serve his constituents than ever
before.
We do not desire to appear as the
psnegyrist of Senator Jones, nor do we,
as we said at the outset, intend in the
slightest degree to unduly interfere with
the affairs Of our neighbors, still we are
constrained from a sense Of justice TO
accord to that gentleman the honor
which is his simple due. We feel that
his reelection to the position he has fill
ed so worthily would reflect credit upon
his State and rebound to the honor and
the interest of the South and the country.