The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-08-20
This paper IS democratic In principles
and is Independent in its UtcaUs on al
local questions.
Mr.. McAdoo,s Position.

MIEs HACEAuOO OSAbIOus
If Congressman McAdoo is absolute
ly ingenious in his statement of his
position regarding the coming cleo
ton, it amounts to THISTLE is in the
hands of the Democratic party. If
that party insists upon his being the
standard bearer of another campaign,
he will not hang back, though he
will do violence to his own desires in
becoming a candidate. On the other
hand, if the party thinks it can get
along without him, he will consult his
own inclinations and will turn his at
tention to making money through
his law practice.
This is as it should be. The be-
stowal of a fourth Congressional term
on any one man is a serious matter,
and it is proper that the movement
should come from the people, not
from the candidate. A man is justi-
fed in working for a first term in
Congress; it is an honest ambition.
He is pardonable for seeking a second
as an endorsement of his conduct in
the former one. When he scrambles,
and intrigues for a third, people be-
gin to think he sets a very high value
on his public services, and they COM
pare it somewhat critically with their
own estimate of his work.
But they will not for a moment toll
crate an effort on the part of anyone
toforce his own nominotion for the
fourth time. When a man has been
six years in Congress, one of two
things has happened. Either he has
been there quite long enough, or else
he has so demonstrated his transcen-
dent fitness for the post that renomi-
nation comes to him naturally, as a
matter of course. Such was the posi-
ton which Abram S. Hewitt once oc-
cupied; such was the position of Sam
uel S. Randall; such is the position of
Mills, of Breckenridge, and some few
others whose presence in the House is
a National necessity felt in every state
from Maine to Texas. The question
then that the Democracy Of New Jer-
sey's Seventh Congressional District
is to decide is whether Mr.. McAdoo's
Congressional career has been of a
character to place him in that rank of
statesmen whose aid in National leg
islation cannot be dispensed with.
1t is true that Mr.. McAdoo has
made himself considerable name. His
speeches are favorably spoken of in
the papers in all parts of the country,
and from time to time he is invited to
address gatherings in other states than
his own. In short he has consider
able national reputation as a talker.
OF course, the first point to be settled
is whether this oratorical success is
exactly the sort of thing which makes
a man indispensable to the party oil
to the country. We do not assume to
pass on the point. We suggest it to
the voters for their consideration. Is
MFR. McAdoo's standing before the
people of just the same kind as
Hewitt's or Carlisle's? Is he generally
regarded as a deep thinker and pains
taking worker whose knowledge Of
affairs, and insight into the future
make him leader of legislation? Or is
he rather regarded as an oratorical
knight Grant, a brilliant champion
of controversial tourneys2 These are
the questions which the democracy
must first of all resolve unto itself be-
fore it determines to send Mr.. Nc
Adoo again to the National Legisla-
ture.
For after all, if MI. McAdoo is to go
back to Congress it must be on the
strength of his national and not his
alocatsHervices Of reputation. He has