The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-30
DECLINE OF THE SENATE.
Attributable to the Boss in Polities-The
House Equal in Ability.

House Equal in Ability.
Noah Brooks in New York Times
When al old-timer visits Washington he
finds 1t interesting to sit awhile in the
galleries of the senate or the house ana
recall the men and the scenes with y hich
he was familiar dufIng the years, let US
say, beginning with Gincoln's first presi-
Dental term and ending with the a. ces-
sion of Andrew johnson to the office o
president. Those We're the ''old days Of
the war; and to an elderly person Ike
myself the drama then passing SO swiftly
now seems like a far-off dream. Any O lie
who can recall the men and the measures
of that day must be impressed with the
fact that very few of the actors III that
mighty drama are now living. Young peo-
pie, hearing the name of some statesman
once prominent, some military or naval
hero, and asking about him, have but one
answer: HE is Dead
But the feeling of depression that comes
over one who remembers with pride aid
pleasure the senate of lS6l-5, as he loo ks
over the senate of to-day, is not wholly
due to sentimental musings on the m ta-
tons of time, the shortness of human life
Not only does one miss the great men of
the older time, but lie sees almost n u
who adequately fill the places vacated
by the passing of the mighty men u cd.
1t is one of the commonest traits a hui
man nature to overTate the past and UNI
derrate the present; and more than one
and laments that there were giants in
those days" was probably just as eeI tain
in those days" that weakness and COR
ruption characterized the men whose
greatness he now regards with so much
regretful veneraton. Then, again, the age
in which Lincoln. Seward. Chase, Sumner
and men like them won their fame dew, l.
oped race of statesmen which in these
piping times of peace the country does
not so strenuously need, perhaps, and err
tainly does not develop. This is The vi w
commonly taken by the cheerful opt mist
who believes that b. nevoent row :
dence watches over the fortunes of the re-
public as we'll as over fools, children and
drunken men.
Let us look over the rolls Of the SEN
ate as it was constituted in the years
which | have just mentioned But fl ST.
let me be understood as disclaiminE anv
sympathy with those who nslnuate, II
they do not openly charge thar Ihere is
corruption among congresSmen Of lie
present generation. II should be frankly
said that the senators and repfesen g3t.ves
of the present lay are. an honest and
well-meaning body If men. that corrupt
measures stand 20 chau.s whatever IN
either branch of congress, and that the
men who would be willing TO barter their
votes for any consideration are so lev
that they cut no figure whatever in any
careful scrutiny of congress Again.
whatever may have been true of the rela-
tive estimates placed upon the pltliot-
ism and mental abilities of senators and
representatives, say 35 years ago, an :
the senators and representatives of the
present day, 1t cannot be justly said tina
the character of the house of repres en-
tatives shows any marked deterioration.
Having in mind such members of the low
er house as Thaddeus Stevens of Ptnnsyl-
vania. Henry Winter Davis Of Marylan
Elihu b. washburne of Illinois. Clement
l.. Nallandigham and John ). Z NJ am
of Ohio. and other notable men On both
sides Of the house in their day / aver
that the present house. as regards h gin
abilities. faithfulness and industry will