New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-05
Mr.. ET1RTS IND Mr.. LANAI.

If all the predictions regarding the action
of Republican Senators upon the nomination OF
Mr.. Lamar are no better founded than those
about Senator Evarts, Mr.. Lamar will not be
confirmed. The Lamar newspapers have been
steadily claiming Mr.. Evarts. but he now puts
himsCf on record against the nomination in
letter so positive that it must disconccrt tho
Mississppians supporters. When one OF the
greatest lawyers of the country as Mr.. Evarts
unouestionaby is, says he is not surprised that
people "opcned their eyes at the Presidents
selection for tho Supreme Court" 1t is clear
that there never could have been the slightest
foundation for the rumor. The TRIBUNE
steadily refused to accept it, and is now JUS
tilted. Mr.. Evarts has done service to the
country and his party, because the mere mem,
ton of his name, even in the way it has been
used. has been n source OF strength to Mr..
Lamar II was cmlncntly proper to make
known his position. and it would be well II
other Republican Senators who have been in
correctly counted for confirmation would fol-
low his example.
So far the only Republican Senator who has
allowed it to be publicly understood that he
intends to vote for confirmation is Mr.. Sawyer,
of Wisconsin, Mr.. Sawyer is said to be acting
under the stress Of promise hastily gwen
and presumably without careful consideration
of all the circumstances. His was not the only
case of the kind. The general impression OF
Mr.. Lamar's personal amiability and integrity
led some Republicans and some Republican
newspapers, at the outset, rather unthlnkntiy
TO approve the nomination. Most of them
have since had the courage to change their
minds, an ability to do which for good reasons
Is a quality of greatness. Mr.. Sawyer knows
how far he is bound, and no one. of course will
dictate to him upon question which his con-
science must decide. But he must be blind
if he cannot see that the Republican party is,
almost to a man, opposed to Mr.. l.amars con-
frmation, although it was ready to see any
good Democrat appointed. We believe "The
Independent did not 60 far enough when it
said that not five intelligent Republicans in a
hundred, tho country over, would favor con-
frmation. The proportion is apparently too
high. Only one member Of the Republican
Assembly caucus at Albany deprecated the
passage of the resolution against confirmation,
and he did it solely because he thought the
caucus should not presume to advise the Scna
tors. Since then the Republican County Com
mttee of NewYork unanimously, and the Re-
publican Club with only three dissenting votes,
have condemned the nomination. One Of the
negative votes in the Republican Club was cast
by member whose only objection was that
the resolutions were not strong enough to suit
him, and one other by member who did not
believe the club had right TO advise Senators.
There can be no question that the Republican
party is solidly against Mr.. Tamars confrma-
| ton, not because he is n Democrat, not even be-
cause he was a rebel though they don't like
| to think of rebels on the Supreme Court bench,
but because he is still blatant defender of
jefferson Davis, who was his patron saint in
politics; because he has never admitted that
his acts and those of his associates were treason
able; because he owes his place to- day to gross
| political crimes because he is professionally
unqualified
| Times have changed. When Caleb Cushing
was nominated for Chief Justice, the discovery
| that he had written letter merely recommend
ing friend for a clcrkship under the Confcd-
crato Government killed the nomination so
| completely that no one dared to lift a voice in
| its favor. Now it is proposed to put into the
| court a man who conspired to bring about
secession. fought for it, and is still so far from
| repentlng that he flew into a passion in the
| Senate two years ago when some one yentured
TO intimate that Jefferson Davis was a traitor.
| The Supreme Court is the citadel of our Gov
cnment. DO We want TO garrison it with such
men?