Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1894-07-18
Looking Backward.


prominent among whom were our own rep
resentatives, refused to go into caucus, and
by this means prevented the choice of a
Senator for an entire session. For present
purposes we may accept their own version
of the whole affair. The ayowed object of
their action was to raise and purify the tone
of politics in this State-to rescue its man.
agement aud administration from the un
worthy hands into which it seemed likely
to fall and the immediate means-whether
adequate and proper or not-which they
chose to effect this end, was the defeat of
operated with them to certain extent;
but he besieged them with constant de-
mands and entreaties TO champion his can
didacy for the contested seat. This they
steadily refused to do; for it is obvious that
in order to justify their course in so bitter
ly opposing the will of the majority of their
party, they must be able to pointto record
untanted by even a suspicion Of self-inter-
est or of subserviency to any rival candi-
date; they had begun the fight upon the
highest plane, and to that level they must
keep it or fail of accomplishing their true
purpose.
Strange to say, one Of their number-aud
he leader among them-failed to appreciate
this feature of the situation. As the session
progressed one of the delegates from Jefferson
might have been found in frequent consul
tation with the Governor, conferences to
which his colleagues were not invited, and
of whose subject and results they were not
informed. The existence and object of the
plot were made plain when at the close of
the session this gentleman was rendered
and accepted the appointment as Senator
until the meeting of the Legislature. Did
he and the Governor fail to see that they
thus discredited the whole movement, and
made catspaws Of the men who counted up
on them as allies in great cause? Or we're
their loyalty and sense of duty too weak
to wthitand the ambition of the one to fill
the brief vacancy, and the vain belief of the
other that here was a sure and easy way to
keep the place warm for himself? How the
people at large regarded the appointment
was soon made manifest. At an extra ses-
sion of the Legislature shortly after
though its authority to choose Senator
was then doubtful-the deadlock was bro
ken and an election made, which was con-
firmed the by United States Senate. To this
combination, then, we owe the blessings OF
the existing regime.
The passing years have found the ex-
Governor engaged in the same eager pur-
suit of Senatorial honors. To his chief
lieutenant they have brought the dignity OF
position on the Supreme bench OF the
State-a position in which his talents en-
tirely fitted him to honor himself and his
State; but he put aside the ermine to chase
the will-o.the wisp of foreign appoint
ment 1t has come about that Mr.. Cam
den's seat in the Senate is again to be filled.
The movement which resulted i'll his former
defeat is at an end, is perhaps dead past
resurrection. But all signs point to a revi-
val of the combination which grew out OF
that movement and which went so far to
discredit it and to disgust its authors The
additional strength supposed to arise from
combination makes this subject of greater
interest even than q single candidacy for
the Senate What is to be said of it, its
elements and its aims?
We dislike to apply to these gentlemen,
but lately incumbents of the most dignifed
offices in the State, the undignifed term Of
hungry seekers after Office. But their past
records, especially at such times as their &C.
centric orbits have brought them in con-
junction, warrant the assumption that their
present alliance is based upon the advan-
tages expected to accrue to each in respect
to Senatorial and diplomatic honors. How
far are such expectations likely to be full.
filled?
The ex-Judge, by virtue Of ancestral as
sociations, native ability and liberal culture
is entitled to aspire to the most brilliant
positions in the gift of the people. But in
addition to these he possesses a quality-or
defect of qualities-which betrayed him in
to accepting the appointment above men,
toned upon the terms which are reasonably
inferred from the circumstances which
afterwards led him to explain his desire for
foreign appointment by the statement
that he had DO confidence in the admins
tration, whose official family he sought to
enter, and so wished TO escape the disaster
which it would doubtless bring upon the
country and which, more recently, has led
him to advocate protective duty on coal
and iron-in strange contrast to the declar-
ations of his running-mate. Whatever
name be given to this defect, We believe il
is this which has hitherto prevented the
attainment of his dearest ambitions, by
destroying that popular confidence which
must be Joined with even the highest ad-
miration for talent and ability, before the
latter can command success. And in this
respect we think his prospects have scarcely
changed for the better.
As for the Ex-Governor, his ambition is a
legitimate one and we are not inclined to
reflect unkindly upon his incessant and al
most frantic efforts to compass it. But in
view of his Incorporate denunciations of
capital and capitalists, can it be said that
he is a safe man to be thrust into place and
nover at this time when the relations he