Harper's Weekly Editorials on Carl Schurz/Changes in the Senate

by Harper's Weekly

CHANGES IN THE SENATE.

The recent Senatorial elections have placed in the Senate, upon the Democratic side, General Cockerell, of Missouri, Mr. Wallace, of Pennsylvania, Mr. M‘Donald, of Indiana, Mr. Kernan, of New York, and Mr. Bayard, of Delaware; and upon the Republican side Mr. Dawes, of Massachusetts, Mr. Hamlin, of Maine, and Mr. Christiancy, of Michigan. The elections in Rhode Island, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Minnesota are pending as we write. The elections withdraw from the Senate Mr. Washburn, of Massachusetts, Mr. Schurz, of Missouri, Mr. Scott, of Pennsylvania, Mr. Pratt, of Indiana, Mr. Fenton, of New York, and Mr. Chandler, of Michigan.

Of the new Senators the best known to the country is Mr. Dawes, whose long service and conspicuous position in Congress have made his name very familiar. He has great public experience and knowledge of public affairs, but his strong partisanship has sometimes persuaded him to conduct which weakened the confidence of the best men in the party, and was the ground of the resolute Republican opposition to his election. Mr. Sumner and Mr. Wilson lost nothing by pronouncing against General Butler, and Mr. Dawes would have had more influence in his State had he taken the same ground. There is, however, no doubt that he is a valuable acquisition to the Senate, where he can not forget whom he succeeds — a recollection which will inspire and strengthen him to abjure all fatal alliances.

New York sends a Democratic Senator for the first time in nearly thirty years. Mr. Kernan is a Democrat of the straightest sect, a man of irreproachable character, and a lawyer of ability and distinction. His election, virtually uncontested in his party, is evidence of the final supremacy of Tammany Hall over the “Canal” Democracy. Mr. Kelly, Mr. Tilden, Mr. Seymour, and Mr. Kernan are now the absolute masters of their party, and that “great statesman,” Judge Church, of whom we heard so much a few months since, has disappeared.

The increase in the number of Democrats does not change the political character of the Senate, but it will have the effect of all vigilant oppositions, in putting the majority upon their guard, and saving them from the kind of recklessness which undisputed power promotes. The retirement of Mr. Schurz will be universally regretted as that of a man of great ability, perfect integrity, and chivalric independence.