The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1886-07-10
SENATOR EUSrlS.

WASHINGTON BUREAU OF THI
New YORK STAR, June y, lsS6:-C
Med. Puckette, Esq, Editor Of ,ths
Times-Sir: find in the States OF 4
recent date quotation from you,
esteemed journal relati We to Senator
Eustis, as follows: ,...
To say that he has not awakened antago-
nism would be II poor compliment indeed
ality has evoked more bitter haired o.
! moro warm and devoted friendship. A
| political leader Of intense conviction, he
exercises but little policy III declaring his
at those whose convictions arc tho oppo-
| site of his own.
disposition in the United States Senate
thinker and a dcbater is fully recognized
and he commands the attention of the
highest body III the land when he cares so
to do. but an unaccountable Incidence or
negligence has thus far prevented his leav-
ing that impress upon the legislation of
tho country that his people had hoped and
expected him to do. That he has the
statesmanship his bitterest enemy will mot
deny; yet it is equally true that upon
many Of the most import ant and broadest
| national issues he is now and has always
If this impediment were reno ved,
James B. Eustis, the junier senator from
Louisiana, would prove one of the greatest
American statesmen.
If l am correct in drawing from
these remarks the inference that you
are willing, if not anxious, to do Sem
ator Eustis justice. then you will be
glad to get this letter and to give it
the benefit of publicity through your
columns. am not unknown in
Shreveport and vicinity, and I believe
that those who know me best will be-
lieve my assertion that, in speaking
of Senator Eustis, do so without the
very smallest desire 10 ipjure aud be-
little anyone else either by innuendo or
by contrast. For some years past !
have been connected with newspapers
that were in hostility to the faction
opposed to Senator Eustis, bat I do
not concede that that circumstance
commits me personally to any parts
sanship whatsoever. As a matter OF
fact, I belong to neither faction. r
have my friends in both, and there
are in both persons who desire aud
have at various times received the as
surance of my heartfelt contempt.
But l am absolutely without preju.
dice as between the two, and I want
it understood that speak of Senator
Eustis in his individual capacity and
from my own individual observation
and knowledge.
The view you take of Eustis is the
generally accepted one, Two years
ago should not have challenged it,
because although convinced of its In
justice, I could not have disproved it.
Now do so, and 1 am prepared to
sustain by irrefutable evidence every
statement shall make. I assert, in
the first place, that Senator Eustis, so
far from being indolent or negligent !
as you imagine, is one of the most |
active and vigilant of senators. IT is |
not expected of senators that they
shall maintain tempcstuous violence
Of physical exertion.. A statesman's |
value is not measured by the energy
of his legs, nor does he achieve wis
dom and usefulness id Legislation by
the sweat Of his brow. But the record |
will develop these very significant
facts:
l. That Senator Eustis has never
missed single roll call throughout
this long and tiresome session.
9. That his has been an unfailing
presence at com mmittee.
3. That there has not been one dis
cussion of an important national ques-
lion in which Senator Eustis has not
taken an intelligent and Influential
part.
OF course it is not TO be expected
that Democrat can become in any
sense the master of the situation in a
body, but make the as
sertion, and it is flagrantly notorious
here, that Senator iEustis has won
most signal recognition in the fnrty-
ninth Congress. He invariably Sc
cures the attention and rcspecltul az.
Hence of the Senate and it is worthy
Of note that neither the sardonc In
CALLS nor the powerful Edmunds, nor
in fact, any of the champion polcmic-
of the Republican side has yet maui
tested desire TO encourtcr him in
serious contest. l"' ..'
You assert that in many OF the
broadest and most important national
issues, he has been silent. What are |
they: His speech on the currency
question was everywhere accepted as
The most lucid and comprehensive
statement that has been made of that !
aspect of the question. His arguments |
in favor of bona fde settlers on |
land grants, and in favor
of extending and maintaining our
foreign commerce were couched in the !
lnftiasf yoip of SfufpSn anahin n aud ,varn