Middletown transcript., 1896-02-01
PARTISAN BIAS.


"The attorneys who are engaged BY
DUPONT TO present his case before the
u. s. Senate must be in sorry plight
to have to resort to facts that havt
been misstated to help establish his
case. They would have it that he
never voted in the State Senate after
he assumed the duties of governor after
the death of Governor Marvil. This
Gov. Watson denies, and says he voted
on one if not on more bills before the
Senate. The brief in opposition to the
seating of Mr.. DUPONT iscomplete, log
ical and unanswerable; and if that
gentleman is allowed to take his seat
in the Senate he will occupy position
to which he as never legally elected.
But partisanship, not good sense nor
statemanship, will dominate in the
matter. Mr.. DUPONT will likely be
seated by a strictly party vote. So
much to the disgrace of the Republic
can Senate. o-SusseT Journal.
Whata shame that partisanship is
carried to such extremes! Here is a
paper that 10 many respects is an -ex-
cellent representation of the best senti-
ment of its section, sitting with parti-
san bias upon constitutional question,
and we have not doubt that the
writer of the clipping has not read the
complete, logical and unansW erable"
brief of the counsel opposed to the
seating of Col. dupont, and yet the
editor denounces the able attorneys
representing Col. DUPONT, decides the
case for the United States Senate, and
prtjudges the Senators before they
vote condt mnirg men of national rep
utation as having disgraced themselves.
Is not the editor ashamed of such rank
partisanship? Cannot he conceive that
there may be an honest difference
of opinion, and that such men as John
Sherman, Justin S. Morrill,, William
B. Allison, Joseph r. Hawley, Nelson
w. Aldrich and a score~ of others are
capable Of weighing the evidence and
of casting an honest votes Z If one of
these men were to die in thirty days
after he had voted for the seating of
Col. DUPONT, the Democratic press of
the country would praise him as an
honorable and honest man. Then why,
in the name of decency, this partisan
bias! 1t is unworthy any fair,minded
man. We know that such criticism on
our part makes US no friends but we
would have the young men who are
editing a paper in which we shall al
ways feel a great personal interest be-
cause of the work we put upon it at
one period, stop and consider where
their partisan zeal carries them.
Pefhapsthey can tell why. if Cover
nor Watson voted in the Senate on the
9th day of May, his name does not ap-
pear in the journal; why it is not re-,
corded with the others who voted? It
does not so appear and why not2
1t was this same partisan bias that
threw stones at Nathaniel B. Smithers
in 1860 at Smyrna and over-ripe hen
fruit at him the same year when in
this town he spoke out his political
1t was the manhood of
the man that asserted itself over the
rabid partisan bias, that faced afrown-
ing mob, that led him to discharge
what he conceived to be his duty. He
was as radical then as any Republican
is to-day and yet when Mr.. Smithers
dies nothing is too good to be said of
him. We say amen to all the good
words spoken of such man, but we pity
the smallness of the souls that acknow-
ledge the good qualities in a political
opponent only after he is dead. There
are those who will not take the TRAN
SCRIPT, though they borrow it, because
we believe in the principles Of the Re
publican Party, the principles Of Abra-
ham Lincoln and Nathaniel B. Smith |
srs, and yet We defy them to prove US |
guilty of making single misstatement. |
fhe man who cannot stand the truth
deserves not pity but contempt. The
Eggs and stones thrown at Mr.. SIN ith-
RS made Republicans. Mr.. Alex. NJ. |
Vail, friend and admirer of Mr..
Sm ithers stood beside him that night in
Middletown, nearly 36 years ago, a
Democrat. He left that meeting a
We believe that the in
the partisan bias, of to-day
yill do its advocates more harm than
,ood.
Referring to the meetings at Middle
own and Smyrna at which Mr.. Smith
rs spoke the Smyrna Times says:
For man of the retiring temper
nent of Mr.. Smithers nothing but
convictions could impel
i'm 10 take the leadership when it was
irtually to meet mob violence. He
lid it as did others. WHEN hopelessly in
he minority, and nothing to gain save
he right of freedom of speech and to
spouse whatever cause they believed
rould be the best for their nation,
here are still those of the 99 Repub-
can voters of Duck Greek hundred
rho remember his first speech in
myrna in the Lincoln campaign, just
efore the election. The little band
ad been warned of a p ,ssible attack.
he chairman half pronounced his
anne and dropped out Of sight. Mr..
stepped upon the box that
,as placed in the porch Of the Smyrna
louise Tor him to speak from and COM
lenced his address 18th the nervy SER
ence in commanding voice, "Abra-
am Lincoln is virtually elected" The
entence had hardly escaped his lips
hen 'Lipo went a s'oDe against the :
he wall at the side of his bead, another
reaking the lamp hanging above him.
'rawing himself up at his full statue
'ithout moving peg, he called out G
18th an equally firm voice, ''you may ]
url your missiles. but you cannot in Q
midate me-" Instantly the cry of
outragen was raised by friend and
,e alike, the miscreants hurried away
nd he went on, and finished his sDeech | n