Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-01-16
ARTICLES.
From tie Eastern Argus-RvvIved.
THE DECLINE OF POWER.

Political power oftentimes, like a wheel separa
ted from lis axel, will maintain something ike il,
regular motion for a season beyond the continuance
Of those causes which frs, gave Il being and impe
tus. But. with the decline of principle, pohtica
power soon begins 10 feel its impetus weakened. and
/ of a certainty comes TO a dead stand in due time.
There Is a morai-an ominous moral to be read
in The past history of the party now holding the adj.
ministrstion of the FEDERAL government in their
hands, as developed in their past control over the
House Of representatives, and compared with the
present probable strength of that body.
In 1929, when the 2lst Congress was convened.
the strength OF the Jackson party in the House was
4 SO overwhelming, that the opposition CO lid scarce
ly rally to support any man for Speaker against
Mr.. Stevenson, the administration candidate. OF
1914 ballots, he had l54-ar but 40!
In 1881, at the organization of The next succeed
ing House, the administration were so strong as to
run several candidates for Speaker, having only to
contend among themselves. But Mr.. Stevenson
was re elected without any party opposition.
Al the opening of the esd Congress, in 1888, the
Opposition began TO rally again; but of the total of
Votes thrown, 2l3, Mr.. Stevenson. the administers.
[tion candidate, received lac, being a majority of
80 over all candidates..
In 1885, at The opening of the Gath Congress, of
3225 votes, MIR. Polk had 1872, being 10 majority.
In 1887, at the opening OF the extra Session, so
krapid had been the decline of political strength of
the party in the popular branch of Congress.
that OF 224 votes, Mr.. Polk had but l16-and 1I3
being necessary To a choice, IL made him but 3 ma
&jority! And in this election. all the Conservative
Republicans of the House voted for him, or the ad-
ministration could not have elected a Speaker a,
hli.
In 1889, the actual majority returned by the Peo-
pie is from a to 6 streng against the administration
Is there not, in this decline of party strength, an
obvious d ference between Jacksonisnl as il was in
500 and up 10 1896. and Van Burenism, as it has
been from 1886 to 1897
Has not the one most obviously lost that strong
pessessedf Is not the hand writing upon the wall
ecis,atory OF the approaching downfall of The poll.
'cal dynasty that now bears sway at Washington?
The above is the production of one who was, less
han three years ago. a finn and steady supporter
y MARTIN VAN buren,. In one sense. the anrici
pat'on OF The Argus IN reference TO the elections of
by, have been erroneous. but we believe had the
people themselves now the opportunity to express
heir opinion, Independent of faithiess representa-
lives, they would fully express that opinion far diff
erent from What has been divulged by their repre-
kematlves, The meeting Of the present session Of
Congress has exhibited the expiring throes of The
dministra'ion-,hey have done their best to sus.
lain it. That they feel themselves sadly " pu, to
/, = needs not Our calling to show. The " decline
bf power" will now be greater than it las ever been,
nd we hail with the most conf lent anticiparions
he day, shortly to break, which will give to the
country a safe deliverance from the political ills
- hich now so heavily beset US.