New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-01
ISH4N e.. UfEHiN.

Jsbam G. Harris Of Tennessee. has been III
nublic life foriy-six years He was elected 10
the LEGISLATURE in 1917. and since that time
has been pretty constantly either in ONCE or Il
candidate for official position. He was Gov
crnor Of the State from 1851 10 1Sbl. In the
latter year. after a reasonable attempt 10 draw
the State into rebellion and dishonest SEIZURE
Of the property Of the United States. he joined
the rebel army and served against the GOVERN
mcnt till the end Of the war and suppression oil
the rebellion when he fed the country. Re
turning two years later lie was permitted I"
take ND his political career ut The point where
he had dropped it and resume political activity
with his views unchanged and the same party
associations The Democrats OF Tennessee
elected him 10 the United States Senate IN
1877. and have reelected him twice Ihey
ought TO know him; his qualifications, his nj
ness. In forty six years of public service they
could not have failed TO become pretty thor
oughly acquainted with his character ana MS
habits In sixteen consecutive years OF service
in the United States Senate his Democratic as
sociates in that body must have learned what
manner Of man he is. Knowing him ~ they
did the first thing they did when they came
into control in the Senate was 10 select him
ont Of all their number for their highest office.
They made him President pro tempore OF the
Senate.
Not long ago he made disclosure Of himself
in an interview with well known and trust
worthy correspondent Of n Democratic news
paper in this city, in the course Of which he
said with impressive gravity" In answer Ia
a question whether the ViccPrcsident could
not in compliance with the will Of "A majority
Of the Senate put the question on the Repeal
bill TO vote: =" don't believe he would live 10
accomplish IT, Certainly he would not be per
mittcd to do such Il thing" The threat reused
such public Indignation that he felt called upon
to deny 1t and repudiate the interview. The
correspondent met the question Of vcracity
raised by the Senator, offered testimony III
proof of his statement, and beyond question
was sustained by public opinion. 1t was not a
crcdtable showing for the President pro tenn
pore of the Senate 1t was such an experience
as one would suppose might teach the Senator
discretion and keep him, for Il while at least
from innicting himself upon public oh
seryation and imposing upon the good nature
of the Senate. 1t did not. He WAS again In
evidence on Monday in the closing moments OF
the debate on repeal. Very much in evidence
1.-THE New-York Sun" correspondent describes
it as ian excitable, incohercnt, but amusing
exhibition" 1.-THE New-York Herald " CORE
spondent says: He hurled anathcmas right
and left with that right hand Of his while his
brother Senators looked on with mingled
amusement and humiliation. At times he fair
" yelled and shook his fist like a mailman
1.-THE New-YOrk World correspondent de
scrbcs him as "cutting long gashes In the at
mospherc with his right ARM" and saying in
reply to Senator Voorhees,, who called him tc
order 1.-The Senator from Tennessee is IN
order now and at all times. The Senator from
Tennessee Is never out Of order" 1.-THE New
York Times correspondent says: Some OF
Mr. Harris's neighbors studied his manner and
listened to his words with anxiety, and the
gallery showed an inclination 10 litter as he
went on in his very peculiar manner, with
fingers extended here and there about the
chamber"
Forty-slx years in public life. Sixteen years
in the United States Senate! Chosen by the
Democratic majority In that body-thelr first
act on assuming contro-to their highest office:
TO fill the chair in the absence Of the Vicc.Prcsi
dent; TO preserve order and maintain the dig.
nifty and dccOi1lm OF the highest legislative
body in the land! And this is the picture OF