New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-06
THE NEXT STATE SENATE.

In November new Senate as well as new
Assembly is to be chosen. The present SEN
alto contains nineteen Republicans and thirteen
Democrats. It's successor is likely to contain
Republican majority fully as large The time
has not come yet to begin the campaign Tor the
control of the Legislature OF 1872, but IL Is not
too early to make an important suggestion to our
Republican friends who will have the shaping OF
the Senatorial conventions at which Candidates
will ne selected. Senators FaSsett and hendricks
have already announced in unqualified terms that
they will not accept denomination. Assuming
that they do not change their mlnds' the senate
of 1S92-'93 will be deprived OF TWO Oh inc IioSU
capable, experienced and trustworthy members
of the existing body. But If current rumor
proves correct the Republican majority III inc
coming Senate will contain several othef new
men,
Now while TIE TRIBUNE has no desire 10 take
4 hand in the Senatorial contests OF the INTERIOR
it does claim the right 20 urge upon Us 1Hehus
throughout the State not to supersede al oiu
member who has faithfully served his consult
ucnts and whose general record IS satisfactory
with new and untred man, unless they nave
good reason to believe that they are gong TO
reap decided benefit by the change. Here Is
"The Oneida Dispatch" published IN Madison
County, deprecating the denomination OF sen
ator Sheard. Why does it oppose HIM simply
because he lives in Herkimer County and the
Senatorship is supposed to &" belong" to Madison
this wear. The district which Senator Sheard
represents consists of Herkimer, Madison and
Otseeo. In the last Senate, 1889, it was
represented by an Otsego man, in the present
Senate it is represented by Herklmer man. ana
hence if the one-term principle which has long
prevailed in the district is not to be aDrogated'
MIR. Sheard is bound to give way to Aadl-
sonian. But we submit that the principle is
more honored in the breach than in the pbsery-
ance. A district obviously stands in its own nght
which vigorously enforces 1t. BY so doing 1t
commits itself to the senseless policy OF turning
q trained public servant out of Office every two
years and giving his place to green hand Is
that the way for a district to conserve It's own
interests Is that the way for district to be
influential in shaping local or general leglSla-
ton? "The one-term principle" says "Ihe
Dispatch" has prevailed in this district after
foo many struggles to be cast aside now. Madl-
son will cling as tenaciously for her rights this
fall as Herkimer did for hers last" But what
are the "rlghts'' of the Republican electors OF
any given Senatorial district, so far as SEN
atorial nomination is concerned? They are
bound by every consideration OF loyalty to the
people and to their party to select as their candl
date their best man, their strongest and most
popular man, no matter in which Of the counties
of the district he resides. Their candidate II
elected is not to legislate simply for county or
simply for a district, but for the entire state,
There is much good Senatorial timber in Madl-
son County, and if the Madison Republicans can
show that the application of the rule of the sur
vival of the fittest will give her the nomination,
then we hope she may get it by reclamation.
But this talk about the "rightS" OF Madison or
of any other county growing out OF the one-term
principle does not impress leyel-headed citizens.
The Democrats, having succeeded in carrying
the Assembly last fall will naturally make an
unusually vigorous effort to capture the Senate
this fall. 1t is only necessary for the Republl-
cans to stand together and do their best to defeat
them. We believe, as we have already said,
that the control of the Senate during the next
two years will remain where it is to-day. But
in order that the assurance of victory may be
doubly sure, let no mistake be made in the
nominating conventions-let no county selishly
insist upon its rights at the expense OF the
general party welfare.