The Portland daily press., 1891-11-25

do serious harm to the Republican party
not merely in Ohio, but all over the coun
try. But the question Of Sherman's sue
cessor is not the only one under discussion
There has been developed what appears to
be on its face determined movement 70
contest the right of Senator Brice Ito the
seat to which the last legislature elected
him. The ground upon which this move
ment Is based is that Brice was not an In
babitant of the State when he was chosen.
The constitution provides.that
No person shall be a Senator who shall not
have attained to the age of thirty wears and
eeen 1ae sSa not When os sae United states
| tant of that State from which he shall be
chosen.
An inhabitant is permanent resident.
and therefore IL Mr.. Brice was not per-
manent resident of Ohio at the time of his
election he is disqualified by the above
paragraph from representing that State in
the Senate. When Mr.. Brice was elected
this objection was raised against him. but
he either succeeded In convincing the
Democrats that there was nothing In 1t, or
else they concluded to ignore 1t and run
the risk. 1t is not until recently, however,
that any formal movement has been begun
to raise this objection in the Senate of the
United States, which is the final arbiter of
the question of the qualifications of its own
members.
The movement appears to have been be-
gun by the friends of ex-Gov. Foraker and
they seem to be its principal sponsors. Mr..
Sherman himself and his supporters an
pear to be giving it little countenance. The
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette which ia
the chief newspaper advocate of the move
ment Is also the chief organ of Gov. For
aker. Ii the movement is begun under the
sincere belief that Brice has no right to
seat and with sincere purpose of pushing
II on that ground there can be no objection
to 1t. A man who does not possess the
qualifications of the constitution should
not be allowed to get into the Senate, and to
call attention to such lack of qualifications
Is not only right but a duty. I'm.
fortunately, however, there is room
Tor suspicion that the real pur-
pose of the movement Is not so
much to purge the Senate of a disqualified
member as to throw obstacles In the way
Of Mr.. Sherman's election. Mr.. Sherman
as we have said. has given the movement
little counteDance. Indeed he has fatty
declared that it would be folly for him to
rise In the Senate and object to Mr.. Brice's
credentials. Now If strong sentiment
can be created among Republicans against
allowing Brice to take his seat it is evident
that such sentiment will work to Mr..
Sherman's disadvantage in the face of his
declaration in regard to the matter, and
may change enough votes to secure his de.
feat. 1t is further evident that If Brice
should be unseated the present legislature
would have chance to elect two Senators
instead of one, and one of them would no
no doubt be ex-Gov. Foraker. If the move
ment is simply an attempt Ito borrow slang
phrase) to put Mr.. Sherman in hole it Is
an unworthy one and is entitled to no coun-
tenance from Republicans. lift is a sin
cere movement to purge the Senate of a
man who is disqualified, as we said before.
there is no objection to it. Sooner or later
Its real animus will undoubtedly be made
manifest.