The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-01-03

OWt~ -
local questions.
Leon Albeit and the United States
Senatorship.
The defeat of Leon Albeit in the
contest tor the United States Senator
ship this year would be disaster, not
only TO the Democratic party, but also
to the whole people of the State. No
matter who might be chosen in his
stead, the meaning of the event would
be the same. 1t would mean that a
life of devotion to the public service,
a long series of benefits bestowed upon
the public, counted for nothing, that
the representation of the State in the
Senate was a mere private commod-
ity, owned in partnership by two or
three politicians. and that its periodic
bestowal was simply an occasion for
wreaking personal revenges and graft
flying private ambitions.
Put aside all issues of factional poll
tics and all questions of personal
favoritism. Just consider these ques-
tions: Who has the most extensive
experience in public affairs in the
State Of New Jersey? Who has the
most exalted record as a statesman
and a public officer? Who will make
the most brilliant and forceful repre-
sentative of the State upon the floor
of the Senate? Who will win the
most attention and respect for the
State among the sister States of the
Union?
There can only be one answer.
New Jersey is not without many bril-
liant sons The Democracy of the
state can find men to shine in every
psf that the public service calls one
But there is one man who pre-
iRsnkly unites in himself all the
eristics that are needed to
AXE a great and influential Senator.
con Albeit has, and has had for
hany years, a national reputation of
he highest rank. He is the man
whom the whole country expects to
bee sent to Washington to fight the
battles of the Democracy. His i'm
pregnable democracy of principle and
feeling gives him the full confidence of
the people and commands the COM
J pletest popular support for him. If
the question were put to the vote, not
only would he be the unanimous
choice of the people of this State, hut
the Democracy of every neighboring
State would endorse the selection. A
bold and original political thinker. a
forceful speaker, a mastery contro-
yersialist, a man of naturally com
bative spirit in behalf of the cause he
believes in. a strong, earnest, aggres-
sive character in every phase, he
would soon be the leader of the forces
of Democracy in the Senate. The
Republican party, which has so long
held the mastery in that body, both
by numbers and fighting mettle,
would be broken and routed by the
vigor of his attacks.
All this is incontrovert ible. The
State has aps6Sthe political leaders
of anything like Senatorial seniority
no other man who Is $ % much of a
fighter, so much of a vkasesman. SO
great a name and so llerful as
Leon Albeit. By his n I'D his
personality, he stands Blately
without competitor for the post which
the Legislature is now about to give
away.
1t is undeniable that there are
many elements of opposition to Cover
nor Albeit in the present crisis, and
it is true that some of them are
formidable. There is not one which
is based on any principle of truth,
Justice or propriety. Of course, there
is the bitterest opposition on the part
of the Republican party. The Re-
publican newspapers storm and rage
at the prospect of his election. Why?
Plainly, because they are panic
stricken at the thought of his thunder
ing denunciation of their party record
La the Senate, his untiring oppositionto
the tendencies Of their party's policy.
Second in order comes the crank or
mugwump element. ably represented
by the New York Times, the Herald
and the Newark EoenSng NeWs. For
papers and people of this stamp,
Leon Albeit is altogether too strong
and robust. Politicians of the Mandy
pamby Sunday School Order are their
delight, and the man who has the
force to create ideas and carry them
put, regardless of finicky criticism, is
IN abomination in their eyes.
Finally, within the Democratic
party, proper, there are the politicians
who have not been able to use Gov
srnor Albeit as their instrument, to
y "A his help and support for all their
nsasures or to dictate his distribution
II the State patronage. The grounds