Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-19

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NEW YORK. FEB. 1s.-The World says
editorially regarding Mr.. Peckhams re-
lection by the senate:
This is triumph for Senator Hill, but
it is triumph won At heavy cost to the
good repute Of the body OF which he is .
member For the first time in the history
of the country nomination to one OF the
most exalted positions under our govern
ment has been dealt with, not on the
ground OF character, competency or fit
ness, but on grounds too petty to be pub
licly avowed, and never contemplated by
the constitution when the senate was
given power to confirm.
No broad national or party question en-
tered into the rejection Of either Mr..
Hornblower or Mr.. Peckham. In The lat
ter case personal fitness and professional
qualifications were alike ignored. The
United States senate simply permitted
itself to become the arena in which was
fought out quarrel between factions OF
one party in single state.
The battle has been fought. and Sena-
tor Hill has won. Notifying though this
may be to Mr.. Cleveland, it is to be hoped
that he will accept defeat with ms good
grace as he can muster. and end the de
moralizing strife. He can do so by nonli-
nlting as Justice Blatchford's successor
some man against whom the Maynard
test cannot be urged
The Sun says: The senate yesterday re-
iected the nomination of Wheeler II. Peck
ham by vote of Al to 49, The act was wise
v,di Aata M fit
for the place. It is very wholesome
event
The Recorder says: 1t is humiliating
defeat of the administration. but, putting
all that aside. it is great victory for the
underlying principles on which our insti-
buttons rest. 1t means that autocracy can
not obtain in this country; that we shall
have no car. even though in the distribu-
ton of offices the president may hold in
the hollow of his hand offices and gifts as
great rs the autocrat of all the Russias
has at his disposal.
President Cleveland will have to try
again. And again he will fail if he does
not come down to the basis upon which
this government rests-namely, that not
only the will of man, but the will of the
people must be carried out How many
lessons of this kind has he to learn?
The Tribune says: We sincerely hope
that the presidents Policy of using this
high office to humiliate personal and polit-
ical opponents in his own party in this
state by making nominations especially
offensive to them will now come to an
end. The supreme court of the United
States ought not to be made a football for
this sort Of fractional fighting. Before the
president sends in another nomination he
should take some pains to satisfy himself
that there are no valid objections to the
confirm alton of his candidate.
The Times says: The course for the
president in the immediate future as to
the vacancy on the supreme court bench
is perfectly plain. 1t is to pursue the lire
he has already adopted, to send again to
the senate the name of a candidate fitted
by ability and character. and by that un-
bending and open opposition to Hill and
Hillism which is the invariable character
istic of honest democrats and to continue
to present such names until the senate
confirms one. To yield to him
now, directly or indirectly, would be to
sanction his monstrous pretences and to
encourage the senators of the coalition in
their unworthy purpose.
The Herald says: 1t is to be hoped that
the country has seen the end of the un-
seemly wrangle which has been kept up
for months over the appointment of an as
sociate justice of the United States SUI
preme court.
That this high judicial office should be
dragged down into fractional politics is
creditable, neither to the executive nor
the senate and is little less than scandal
lous to the country. The vacancy on the
supreme bench has continued since the
court began its session last October. This
has been serious detriment to that
august tribunal rs well as the public in
terests. 1t is full time to fiji the vacancy.
To this end the president should make
another nomination without delay, and
one which cannot fail of prompt confirma-
ton. There has been enough of this petty
warfare. The vacancy on the supreme
bench should be filled at once