Daily Republican., 1886-06-29

Tie death of ex-United States So
preme Jddg9, and ex-United States
Sens tor, David Davis, on Saturday
morning at his late home, Bloomington,
Illinois, removes from the country one
OF its leading characters and we may
Justly say farther, statesman and
iuriht of more than the average ability
and sincere honesty OF purpose. Being
q native of Cecil County, Md, within
but o few miles OF Wilmington, he may
be said to have been 20 the manor
born" aud hence to us his history has
to q certain extent had q greater local
interest IN that account. 1t can hardly
be said Of him that he was ever q
Thorough Republican even in the most
trying times of the war, and though
President Lincoln made him Supreme
Judge Of the United States, it was done
more through the personal friendship
of that great man than with any politi-
cal purposes In view. Judge Davis,
however, was q man OF broad views,
brilliant intellect, q well-read and &C.
complished jurist, thoroughly honest
but entirely without any deep.seated
political convictions. To this latter
cause is due the small influence that he
exerted In public affairs, because the
American people have a greater re-
spect for positive man. no matter
what his conviction, than for man
that they do not know what side he is
on in political or any other kind of
crisis. The great respect the people
had for Judge Davis waned when he
permitted the Presidential bee TO buzz
under HIS bonnet He had floating
dream in his mind that he would be-
carried into the Presidency on the ele-
ments of discomfort in the Republican
party In 1872, but he was defeated in
the 80 called liberal Republican Con-
vention by Horace Greeley whose par
tisanship had become by-word. Still
maintaining his independent position
the Legislature Of Illinois in 1877,
which contained 10l Republicans, SO
Democrats and Independents, elected
him United States Senator. The Demo.
Gratis could not elect one of their own
number and more willing to elect an
Independent than a Republican, went
over in body to the five Independents
Ahu OlOObOo hAuhs Elhu IuO D0AOSEdbb
have had the power of political fore
sight and have toreseen that there was
to be Presidential commission that
was 30 soon after to determine who was
President they would have left Davis
on the Supreme bench, for in that case
he would no doubt have been chosen
the thirteenth member of the Electoral
Commission and the Presidency would
have been given to Tilden instead of
Hayes. In the Senate he was chosen
presiding officer of that body, the Re-
publicans making him their candidate
TO displace Senator BAyard, and by
this action he became by virtue of his
Office, Vice President of the nation, and
this was as near as he ever got to the
Presidency. When the Republicans
grew stronger In the Senate, they threw
Senator Davis overheard and elected
Eimunds to his position. Even after
this act OF apparent injustice Senator
Davis preserved his independent posi-.
ton, but with stronger leaning to the
Republican side than before. The
Bench was the proper sphere for Judge
Davis, and when he laid aside the err
mine to plunge into politics the country
lost good judge and got rather in
different politician.