The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-29
What Judge Davis said.


Davis, rs our readers will remember,
was the old partner and life long friend
of Pres. Lincoln, and was continually
in public life in high positions for forty
years, and was familiarly acquainted
with all our prominent public men, His
east of mind and temperament eminent
" qualified him TO Judge dispaSsiontc-
" and with judicial fairness; and hence
his opinions of cotcmpormcous men
and things have Il peculiar value, cspe-
cially when uttered, rs these were, af-
ter his final retirement from all active
participation in public affairs. In the
conversation above referred TO Judge
Davis speaks with entire freedom about
our public men, under pledge that
what he said should not be published,
which pledge was kept until after his
death He began his remarks about the
Senate with hearty mention of our
own great Senator:
the Senate, lie is man of vast culture, and great
repository OF information. Conking, too, il an cN,
traOrdinary man. He il hrimful of information on
all subjects, and though he has not the popular man
ncr, he is in very many RESPECTS, admirable Matt
Carpenter was "a man OF great ability. lie was al
ways staly wing aud he never touched subject with
out eNhmsting it, lie was not Ouly great debAtcr,
bu, he Was a great advocate. Blaine, now, is good
dcbatcr, and b. is great talkcr, but his place sno,
with those that have mentioned.
"When | was in the Senate Thurman WAS the
ab'cst democrat in that body, he Is SOW the =
blest man in his party. lie in the truest sense
OF the word great dchater because his arguments
always made upon principle. lie never in.
dulgCd in personalities-thut would be beneath him
and every one loved him. Hendricks was large
man, aprofound lawyer who always kept up with
his profession, and II dcbater great enough 10 com
mand the respect of the most formidable opponent
John Sherman is also very good debater but Of
another rank
Judge Davis, it will be seen, unhesi-
tatingly places Senator Edmunds at the
head of the United States Senate, and
so, practically, pronouncing him the a.
blest man in public life. In this he but
voices the opinion of all candid men in
Washington who have been in posi-
ton to know and judge intelligently.
In the face of this, it is one of the un-
explained and uneXplainable anomalies
of American politics that men should
be found in Vermont who would, if
they could, displace Mr.. Edmunds from
his well earned and well filled position
of national leadership, to make room
for new man to whom craftsmanship
is yet sealed book. lie spoke highly
of Conklin and Matt Carpenter Ga Ver-
monter by birth and cducatiom, and
appreciatingly of Blaine; but assigns
him a place among lower grade of
statesmen than that to which Edmunds,
Conklin, Carpenter and Thurman be-
long. lie also places Hendricks and
John Sherman among the great men,
though not in in the first rank. 70 Ed
munds and Thurman he unhesitatingly
assigns the highest ability, usefulness
and natural Leadership i'll their respcc-
tive parties, and it is an interesting fact
that these two great men are warm per-
sonal friends, and were almost insepcr-
able in their companionship so long as
Mr.. Thurman remained in the Senate.
In regard to civil cervicc reform
Judge Davis said this was, and would
continue to be, a living issue between
the parties. "NOW the democratic Pres
ident is honest in his desire for civil
service reform, but his party is not
with him, and presidents who succeed
in defiance of their party are rare"
But it would be great blessing to the
country, he said, if the service was on
the same basis as in England and
France, where changes i'll the admins
tration make no difference with Off ce
holders. A Washington clerk is not to
be envied, because he ends as he begins,
and has no chance to get beyond a fixed
salary; and almost any man on the gov
crnment payroll could do better for
himself by using same amount of abil-
ity in business. But he thinks il will
be a long time before civil service will
be firmly established on right basis,
because the great middle class, upon
whom the development and prosperity
of the country depends, cares nothing
about who holds the offices, so long as
affairs go on smoothly. Only a small
per cent of the people are office seekers.
Judge Davis said Congress ought
to pass Senator Hoar's bill to regulate
the succession to the presidency in the
event of the president dying in office
because under the provisions of this
bill the wishes of the people, as cx.
pressed in the election of the deceased
president, would be more likely to be
carried out than by any other plan that
had been proposed. Inregard to secre
executive sessions of the Senate. Judo,
Davis said it would be a mistake in hi.
judgement to abolish them, and that til,
opposition to them is based largely OF
a popular misconception of the pur
poses and value and necessity for them.
In conclusion, in response to the inqui
quiry whether he would continue t,
take an active part in public affairs
Judge Davis said:
| am out of public life forever. The turmoil an
triumphs of the future shall leave to younger mer
have had more than ! deserved. | was in tn
legislature from 1910 to H. in the state Senate froi
As to ~, a member of the constitutional CONVEX
ton in rs, judge for 10 years, then Senator
the United States for six years. That is enough
Now, it only remains for me to 90 as gracefully
, can to the end, and am on my way contente
happy, patient, and without a grievance against
soul
The Democratic convention held ;
t Montpelier last Thuraday, in view G
| the large number of Federal offic,
} holders present and participating in i