Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1883-11-09
UNITED STATES SENATE IN 1886

UNITED STATES SENATE IN 1886.
In point of length of service, demon
strated ability and individual eminence, it
is conceded that the Democratic representa-
ton in the United States Senate, as at pres
ent constituted, has greatly the advantage of
their Republican opponents. But in point
Of numbers the case is different. At present
the Senate consists of rs members, of whom
3S are Republicans, SO Democrats and 2
Mahoneites who vote with the Republicans.
While, therefore, the Democratic minority
by its superiority in debate and the greater
individual weight of the Senators who COM
pose it will probably be able during the
coming session of Congress to administer
any number of moral defeats to its oppo-
nents, 1t will be unable, Notwithstanding
the fact that the lower House is Democratic,
to carry any legislation not wholly agree
able to the Republicans. Even should a
Democratic measure by any accident pass
both houses, it would incur the veto of a
Republican President. 1t is of interest,
therefore, to consider whether the situation
as regards the Senate is assured, even should
the elections of November, 1884, give the
country Democratic President, and, as a
natural concomitant, Democratic House
OF Representatives. An impartial survey of
the whole field discloses the fact that Demo.
cratic preponderance in the United States
Senate after March 4, 1886, is not so certain
as is commonly assumed, but depends large
ly upon the results of the State elections to be
held tomorrow. To tie the Senate and give
Democratic Vice-President the casting vote
the Democrats will need to gain two Sena-
tors by March A, 1885. TO gain majority
they will need to win three OF the TWEEN
ty-five Senators whose terms expire in
March, 1885, fourteen are Democrats, rep
resenting Alabama, Arkansas, California,
Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louis.
lana, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina,
Ohio, Oregon and South Carolina. OF these
Indiana and Oregon are doubtful, and per.
haps California. There are some arthmeti.
clans also who base their calculations on
the assumption that even Maryland is in
doubt. The eleven Republican Senators
whose terms expire at the same date are
from Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa
Kansas, Nevada, New Hampshire, New
York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Wiscon.
sin. New York and Wisconsin have al
present Democratic Legislatures, but their
Legislatures to elect United States Senators
are yet TO be elected. While it is doubtful
whether New York will next Tuesday elect
Legislature which will be Democratic on
joint ballot, little doubt can attach to the
probable action of Wisconsin when the time
Tor the election of her next Legislature ar
rives. 1t is safe TO assume that the Wiscon.
sin Legislature charged with the duty OF
electing u United States Senator will be
Republican. OF the States, then, which are
now represented by Republicans who GO
out on March a, 1886, New York is the only
one at present controlled by Democrats
which promises chance to gain a Demo.
cratic Senator. The most favorable out.
look promises, ii would seem, nothing more
satisfactory than a tie of the United States
Senate in 1885, with the casting vote in the
power of Democratic Vice. President
Bdtto. Sun, Noo. 5h.