The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1896-06-13
SWEET AND DUBOIS.

| 1'NSSAD Obh AdAuly 10 OOuSlucEtu db d
political potentiality; and should Judge
Sweet take notion to withdraw his
support, or turn it to his own account,
the Senator would fail hopelessly. So
long as Dubois had Shoup's backing in
the south and Sweets support in the
north, he was practically invincible,
but the withdrawal of Shoups
strength leaves him with only three or
four southern counties, and such sup
| port asJudge Sweet may see lit to give
him in the north. While Sweet and
Dubois have always been, nominally,
political friends, yet events are trans
piring which may radically change
their relations and make them pro-
nounced rivals. In fact, it is common
ly understood that there is consider.
able absence of confidence between
them, growing out things which hap
pened during the first senatorial con-
test. However this may be, there is no
escape from the fact that Judge Sweet
is much more popular and powerful to-
day than is Senator Dubois, and, as
political friendships are proyerbially
preearious, it is barely possible that
Sweets attachment may succumb to
bis ambition, or, at least, yield to force
OF circumstance, in which event Sena-
tor Dubois chances of succeeding him
self will be utterly destroyed. The rea-
son fer this change of position by these
eminent gentlemen is not difficult to
find. Either by accident or design,
Senator Dubois political fortune has
been built up largely on popular preiu-
dice. The strong prejudice which ex-
listed some years ago against the Nor
mons, made Mr.. Dubois a delegate to
congress. The prejudice of outside
counties against the alleged Boise ring
materially assisted and sustained him.
with the gradual dissipation of these
prejudices, Dubois naturally loses
strength, while his former antagonists
gain proportiOnately. Besides, Sena-
ator Dubois Possesses few of the attri.
butes which endear men to the popular
heart. He is reserved aud dignified, of
decidedly aristocratic bearing, and
wholly lacking in personal magnetism
and social graces. AS public speaker
he is awkward and unattraCtive, pos
sessed of no eloquence and little force;
therefore, as the prejudices which fed
the flame of bis success die out, his
sole resource and future hope rest on
political manipulation and the dubious
integrity of political friends who ex.
pect to benefit themselves by his contin-
ued prosperity. Senator Dubois knows
as well as any man the value and pur-
pose of political friendships; he knows
that in the main they are only express
slons of selishness; he knows that they
grow and flourish midst the sunshine
of success and decay beneath the
clouds of adversely. But the Senator
is full of resources. He is trained and
experienced in political manipulation
and yet retains few able lieutenants
who are bound to him by the only ties
which make politicians faithful mu-
tual interests and common, inevita-
BILE destiny But, unhappily for Sena-
Dubois, his most powerful friend of
this day is not in this category. Judge
Sweet can i'll afford to adventure his all
on the success of Senator Dubois, He
knows that the Senator would never
make such sacrifice for him, and poll
tical ethics demand it of no man under
any circumstance. Besides, Judge
Sweet can not be ignorant of the fact
that his is not only the greater power
but the more enduring. The support |
given him grows almost entirely out of |
warm personal regard and an appreci-
alton of his many brilliant attachments
and admirable qualities. Sweet has
lost nothing by defeat, Dubois mas gain.
ed nothing in victory; Sweet is strong
without Dubois, Dubois is powerless
without Sweet. No candid observer
can be insensible to these facts, and
Notwithstanding the apparent warmth
Of friendship which now exists between
.hese gentleman, conditions will event,
lally force them into rivalry, provided
hey both continue to be active factors
N the politics of this stat. There is
The rub. Senator Dubois has taken
himself out of the Republican party
md launched his political craft on I'M
Known seas whore he is label to tioun-
Ter around short season and then 90
lnder, Judge Sweet has made the
mistake of plunging into the same
waters and unless he make haste to re-
urn to shore, he, too, may sink. But,
lfter thorough soaking, Judge Sweet
will probably rise again to thh surface.
! may require considerable dredging
o recover Dubois.