Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1893-12-16
Thomas s. Martin, Senator.

1t seems that Mr.. Thomas S. Mar
tin, of Albemarle, is to fill the long
term in the United States Senate
from the State of Virginia.
We have not the slightest idea of
what sort of senator Mr.. Martin will
make. Some of his friends, whom
we esteem highly, say there is no
greater man in the State of Virginia.
and that none would better represent
the people of Virginia. We credit
them with sincerity in the matter,
and hope for their sake as we'll as the
sake of Virginia, that their estimate
of his character and his ability may
not prove incorrect. If he proves
thathe is preventative of the peo-
Pile, we shall give him all the encour-
agement we can, and uphold his
hands in every way possible to us.
Whatever may be said of Mr.. Mar
tin, there can be no doubt that he is
the shrewdest and ablest politician
in the State of Virginia. He has
obtained the senatorship, not from
the people, but from the politicians.
whom he has dwarfed and moulded
to his will as if they were wax or put
ty. We do not conscentiously do him
an injustice when we say that he
could not have carried county in
the State on the popular vote, unless
it be Albemarle county The people
know him not, and the State repre-
sentatives and senators who have
elected him by their votes, will need
to explain to their constituents who
the successful man is.
We do not hesitate to say that the
method of his selection is in the ex-
IRENE distasteful to us. We believe
in the masses of the people, and in
consulting their wishes on all great
occasions and in all great undertake
ings. We believe in electing United
States senators by the direct vote of
the people. So far as we can Judge.
Martin seems to have been Indifferent
to the people, and was satisfied to
capture their representatives
We do not know what foundation
there may be for the talk of railroad
support and railroad contributions
in behalf of delegates elected in his
interest, and we do not feel disposed
to do him injustice in the matter by
making any such charges. If it turns
out to be a fact that he is elected bv
such influences. and the Democratic
party and the Democratic Legislature
pass over these things without re-
pudiating them in toto. it will pro-
badly be some time before another
Democratic Legislature in Virginia
has an opportunity to elect United
States senator. There will be such
shaking up of political dry bones
as has never occurred before in the
State. 1t is not denied that certain
railroads contributed largely to De-
mocratic support in the recent cam
paign. Very few of the Democratic
papers are saying anything about it,
but if they or the Democratic leaders
think by sticking their heads in the
sand and not seeing, the danger will
pass, they are badly deceiving them
selves. They may refuse to talk
about it and to characterize it as it
should be characterized, but others
will not fail to do so to the discomfi-
ture, if not the disgrace, of the party
in the State.
For the sake of Mr.. Martin, of his
friends, and of the.State, we trust
that these railroad influences, if ex-
ercised in his behalf. have been exer.
cised by indiscreet friends. and that
he in no way countenanced or ap-
proved the same. Unless such be the
fact, Mr.. Martin will be long time
in winning the confidence of the
masses of Virginia, notwhithstand
ing the fact that he may represent
the State in the United States Sen.
ate Staunton News