Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-01-11
The Fashionable Senator.

The Philadelphia Telegraph thinks
that the selection Of Mr.. Brice for the
United States Senate is depressing"
Depressing is hardly the word. There
cannot be much depression when you
are already at the bottom. There is not
much chance to feel additional deprcs-
sion on account of the material sent to
the United States Senate, because Mr..
Brice Is added to it. There are too many
men there of worse clay than Brice to
enable him to lower the average. Brice
has q certificate Of his fitness for the
Senate from Judge Thurman. We un-
derstand the judge TO mean that he is as
fit as the average senator; which we
have no reason to doubt. But what re-
spectacle authority will give such GER
tificate to the senators from Pennsyl-
vania?
The Republicans of Pennsylvania are
barred from casting stones anywhere
In the matter of senatorial selec-
tion. Ever since the party has had
existence II has sent TO the Senate
from this state men who have been
wholly and notoriously unfit for the
station. There has been plenty
Of opportunity for Pennsylvania "de-
preston over the choice the state has
made ef United Gtutes senators there is
absolutely no room left for any greater
depression in the Pennsylvania bosom
because of any choice any other state
may make. We are quite down at the
bottom and in splendid condition
fpr nl i'm aII to
the respectability and talent of the
Senate. Mr.. Brice's selection does not
suffice to create any elation, we con-
cede. He Is quite too much in the
fashionable style Of senators TO make
anyone happy who likes the old style.
The new style senator bounds in upon
his wealth and his liberality in spend
Ing it for the party or his skill in
handling cash for his party. Money in
some shape is the main spring of the
choice. The fashionable senator is fash
ioned upon cash. The old time senator
was fashioned with brains, and elected
because it was believed that he was the
best exponent of the principles of his
party, and would be among the wisest
In shaping the course of the govern
ment.
Mr.. Brice is said TO be clever as well
as rich man. He has popular man
ners and can make good speech. He
may make good senator, and there is
chance that he may make great one.
What we object to in his selection is
that this Is only chance and that
II should rather be an assurance.
When man seeks TO be senator
he should have proofs of statesmanship
and wisdom to point to as inviting
his election, and it should be made
very clear that his money is not
IN influence in his choice. Mr.. Book
walter withdrew from the candidacy for
this Ohio senatorial place declaring that
ne believed the popular sentiment to be
against the choice of very wealthy men
to the Senate; and SO il certainly is TO
the extent that the wealth must not he
credited with the choice.
There Is no ineligibility in wealth
itself, in the:popular judgment but GER
tainly very wealthy man needs TO be
more richly endorsed with the true sena-
torial qualifications TO be deemed TO have
been fifty chosen for the seat. Mr.. Brice
is q man of millions easily won, who
has not yet achieved repute for senator
iAl qualities; and his choice to the Sem
sse by Ohio is consequently oppressive,
Il not Oppressive, 10 the sensibilities of
the country.