Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-26

The inexperience of Gen. Grant hao NOT,
therefore, hindered his election. and left NO
ground for apprehension as to the successful
conduct of his administration.
SENATOR CARPENTER.
His service in the Senate may rather be
termed brilliant than useful. The truth Is
that Mr. Carpenter attempted to do what no
man can accomplish he tried to maintain his
full practice at the bar, and discharge his full
duties as Senator at the same time. bis
strength was not equal to the d)uble load. he
was endowed with high order of ability. II
he had given all his time to the Senate, or all
to the Bar, he would have found few peers IN
either field of intellectual combat. Aside
from the weight of his argument, his manner
of speech was attractive. He had an agreea-
BILE voice, precisely adapted in volume and
tone to the Senate Chamber. He was affluent
in language, graceful in manner, and, beyond
ALL was gifted with that quality-rare, indie
Unable. but recognized by everyone-which
constitutes the orator.
SECRETARY FISH.
The surprises in connection with General
Grants Cabinet were not yet ended. week
after the Inauguration Secretary Washburn
resigned, and few days later was appointed
Minister to France. He was succeeded in
the Stdte bcpdEtmcHt w AAo'A'e"" - ASiA
of New York Mr. Fish was a member of
one of the old Knickerbocker families. He
had inherited wealth, was of the highest social
rank, and enjoyed in marked degree the
confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens
| He was breC to the law, and as young man
took deep interest in political affairs, earnestly
attaching himself to the fortunes of Mr. Clay
in his contest with Gen. Jackson, and having
the great advantage of Mr.. Webster's personal
friendship He had served in both branches
| of the New York Legislature, was a repre-
sentative from New York City in
the XVIII Congress, was chosen Gov.
ernor of his State in 1913, and in 1851 sue
ceeded Daniel S. Dickinson in the United
States Senate, where he served for full
term as the colleague of Mr.. Seward At
the close of his senatorial service he was but
| forty eight years of age, and by his own wish
| retired from all participation in political af-
fairs, though he heartily united with his fell
low-republicans of New York in the effort to
| nominate Mr.. Seward for the Presidency in
| 1860. 1t was, therefore, an almost equal
surprise to the country that Gen. Grant should
call MIR. Fish from his retirement, and that
Mr.. Fish, at sixty years of age. should again
be willing to enter the political field. His
| career as Secretary of State was fruitful in
good works. He was throughout the eight
years of bis service devoted to his official du-
ties, and it was his good fortune to be con-
nected with public events of exceptional i'm
portance. He brought great strength to the
| Cabinet of Gen. Grant, and added in many
ways to the prestige and power of the admin
istration.
CARL SCHURz.
! For these party associations, to whose in
| fuence, under the just restraint of intelligent
patriotism, the wisest legislation is due, Mr..
Schurz has neither appreciation nor apprecia-
ton. He aspires to the title of "Independent,"
and has described his own position as that of
man sitting on fence, with clean boots,
watching carefully which way he may leap to
keep out of the mud. A critic might with
out carping, suggest that it is the duty of an
earnest man to disregard the bespattering
which fidelity TO principle often incurs. and
that beaten path to safe place for ones self
is not an inspiring or worthy object of states
manship Nor is Mr. Schurz's independence
of party more pronounced or more complete
than his independence of true American feel
ing. He has taken no pride in appearing I'M
der the simple but lofty title of citizen of
the United States. He stands rather as
representative G rman American. He has
made his native nationality a political re-
source, and has thereby fallen short of the
| full honor due to his adopted nationality
| The large body of American citizens of Ger
man birth are intensely attached to their new
home, and seek the most complete identified
| ton of themselves and their descendants
with the development and destiny or the
Great Republic. This is wise, and is in ac-
cordance with the best traditions and best as
pirations of the Teutonic race. But to Mr..
Schurz the Republic is not great "This
country" said he, in his Centennial lecture,
lis materially great, but morally small"
SENATOR BAYARD.
Thomas F. Bavard, who entered the Senate
at the opening of the Forty-frst Congress,
was little known to the public except as a
member of family which had been for a
considerable period prominent in the political
affairs of Delaware. His service in the Sen
ate has been remarkable for one leading
| characteristic, the power, or the accidental
fortune, to create public impression as to
his career, precisely the reverse of its actual
history The illustrations are many:
In financial circles Mr.. Bayard has been
held as fair and conservative exponent of
sound views, jealous guardian of the public
credit As matter of fact he joined in a po-
litical crusade to enforce the payment of the
national debt in deprecated paper money,
Senate was against the bill declaring the
national debt to be payable in coin. He vot-
ed to except specifically the fifteen hundred
millions of $50 bonds from coin payment, ar
gued earnestly in favor of taxing the bonds of
the government, refused to support the bill
for the resumption of specie payments, and
| united with others in a national movement to
repeal the act after it had been for a consid-
cradle period in operation. On the Southern
question, in all its phases, Mr.. Bayard has
been proclaimed by his supporters as calm,
considerate and just. In truth, he has gone
AS far as the most rancorous rebel leader of
the South, touching the Reconstruction laws
and the suffrage Of the negro. The common
apprehension assigns to Mr. Bayard high
standing at the bar and positive rank as
man of culture. As a lawyer Mr.. Bayard
has doubtless cherished no ambition, as he
has attained no prominence. while in point of
education he never enjoyed facilities beyond
those of the common school or the private
academy. Originally destined for mercantile
life, he did not receive in his early years the
benefit of liberal training; nor did his tastes
lead him to any special personal pursuit of
literature or science, or even into a close,
careful study of the history of his own coun-
try-a study which would have exempted his
public career from some of his more notable
mistakes.
IL year-old boy AIMED Evans was called