The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-01-29
G. 5. Brice.

The intention of the Constitution in
creating the Senate was to provide a select
body of men which should serve rs de-
Lucrative check upon the larger body OF
Representatives, thus securing ample con
sideration of all measures of national leg
islation. 1t was of course assumed that
as but two Senators were to be chosen
from each State, they would be men OF
signal distinction for public ability, expe.
rience, and intelligence, Such man, for
instance, is Senator Sherman, of Ohio. No
intelligent American would deny that he
is the kind of man of whom the trainers
of the Constitution supposed the Senate
would be composed, and OF whom his
State NAV be justly proud, whatever differ.
ences of political opinion may exist among
his constituents
His State, however, has just given him a
singular colleague. 1t was fair to suppose
that Mr.. Sherman's political opponents,
controlling the Legislature of the State,
and desirous of elevating the prestige of q
party long discredited, would select col
league for Senator Sherman who by public
character, ability, and service like his, or
as nearly as might be, would have helped
the effort OF patriotic Democrats to regain
for their party the confidence of the coun-
try. II Mr.. Brice, the Senator selected by
the Democrats, has any especial qualifca-
tion for the Senate, it has not been made
public. He is resident of New York,
ana If Ohio preferred to select Senator
from this city, II would seem that there
must be some plain and decisive reason
for so unusual course, which would at
once answer the wondering question which
the selection of Mr.. Brice instantly ex-
cites.
No such reason, however, has been sug-
gested Yet II is the universal belief that
had he been poor man, Democratic Ohio
would not have come to New York TO
take him for Senator. In the same pa
pers iu which his nomination by the eau
Gus was announced, II was stated that the
late Republican Governor Of Massachu.
sets, If he should wish to do so, might
contest successfully at the next election
the seat OF one of her Representatives II
he would pay $4,000. There was no hint
that his character, ability, and public SER
vice without $4,000 would be Of any avail
in the contest for this public trust II Is
not by such facts that the happy progress
Of popular institutions is illustrated or that
high anticipations are justified. The de-
Tense Of the Ohio Democrats which is
offered by sensitive friends, and which
consists in the assertion that nobody can
prove corruption against The new Senator,
is merely an insult to him. Why is corrup-
toned mentioned Was II ever charged
In the election of Sumner, Of Fessenden,
Of Chase, Of Seward, Of Thurman? Let
Il be conceded that the new Senator Is a
skiliul party manager like Senator Qnay.
Does any intelligent man believe that II Is
even substantial party advantage to select
such Senators, instead Of such as we have
named, or that any party can long main
tain itself by management Of the addition,
division, and silence school'-Harper's
Weekly
The Constitution provides that an eleclor
in oroer to be eligible TO the position of
United States Senator shall be Il citizen Of
the State from which he is elected The
Weekly CLAIMS Mr.. Biice an actual resi-
dent of New York. Now, II this be true,
how can the Senate OF the United States
admit him! Charges are made Of money
being used TO elect Mr.. Brice, but we
make no such charges, as we know moth
ing about IL; but our opinion has been
from the beginning that the party has
made grave error in even recognizing
the gentleman for the position. Even II
he was citizen Of this State his entire un-
fitness for the position would have been
sufficient cause for the General Assem-
bly, TO turn deaf ear to his wants 1t
now looks very much as II Mr.. Brice
would yet fail to reach the Senate cham
Der in the position of representative
from The Buckeye State