The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-22

Great Senators Of the United States
Forty Years Ago. BY Oliver Dyer.
Robert Bonner's Sons. through West,
Johnston * Co., New York.
The question with every generation
is whether those who have been ac-
counted great in past days are really SO
far ahead of their successors. Certain
it * that every age looks back to the
time when there were giants and re-
fuses to admit that any subse luent Pc
Rod can compare with 1t.
The splendOrs Of the empire are still
reflected in the eyes of the Old but un-,
repubicanizsd French madame; the
glories of the old regime are ever upon
the lips of those who have survived
them, and the memories Of the past al
ways threaten the security Ct the pres
ent.
What our fathers have told Us always
impress. and naturally should, but
when we come 10 weigh the questions
by the positive standards, We are often
forced to The conclusion that even the
reverence for our tatAers cannot make
Us accept as accurate their opinion uIon
many OF the issues If the day.
AK an old.line Wing about Calhoun.
and the air at once becomes redoent Of
"L0cOfocoism.n Suggest To Jackso-
man Demo Graf that Mr.. Clay was the
greatest man of his day, and at once he
will be made the text Of an harangue
such as has not been heard, except upon
this subject. since the great commoner
of the West. died.
lie is the greatest painter who can
bring before the miuds Of men the best
representation Of that which he has
pictured. The duty Of the biographer
differs but little in this respect from
che highest work OF the artist.
la many paintings one sees that there
ale certain great outlines which have
made the work recognizable; but &C
cording to the way the Flushing touches
are applied will be the judgment OF
those worth speaking. For this reason
a sketch il often much better than the
fully wrought design. giving US more
Just idea, and leaving the Imagination
TO fill in accurately whatever the work
er : hand might fail TO effect.
Such we conceive 10 be the value OF
the little hook before US. The writer
tells us OF what he himself saw aud
heard, putting usat once upon the most
easy terms with those whose names for
gene rations have been in the mouths of
oar people.
1t Is hard for some of US to realize
that the Southern leader, whose recent
death has just iilled our Southern land
with mourning, was upon the floor OF
the Senate Of the United States with
Clay, Webster. BfDtOn and Calhoun
But this is not so remarkable as that a
Northern man, an ultra abolitionlst.
should have said in his book.
published several months ago. MY
acquaintance at the age when my
character was in process OF develop
ment and formation. with John G.. Cal
houn and Jefferson Davis was of incom-
parable benefit to me. The fact that OF
all the distinguished men ! saw IN
Washington, the two whose political
course was the most obnoxious 10 me
were the very two | most liked person
ally, had o powerful effect upon my
mind, my heart and life,
He SAYS; Mr.. Davis was handsome
man, with symmetrical figure well
up to medium size. piercing but
kindly eye, and gamy. chivalric
bearing" Having mentioned the fact
that Mr.. Davis and Hannibal Hamlln
were the last two of the Senator'S OF
1913, Mr. Dyer says Il mud only
friendly feelings in my heart towards
jefferson Davis. and would gladly re-
cipro cate, if opportunity should offer,
The kindness which all those years ago
he showed me, an Obucure young
man. when lie was distinguished Seu-
ator of the United States. y
The writer was a reporter in the Ser :
ate for the National INTEL sencsr. aud
81, he has kept the materials for this
yolrme by hiu ~ photographic short
hand notes as long as Moses Kept sheep
for his fatherin-law in Aidlan-fprty
years.
In this book the older generation will
lind many recollections revived. and
ice youoger much information collected
ia convenient shape.
There is most interesting account
OF the way the convention of 1913 came
10 nomin tie old General Taylor. when
Il ere was such a strong feeling for Mc.
! Cay o;er the country, and the part