The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-05-18
AS illustrative Of the tremor Of the LIE.

As illustrative Of the tremor of the Le-
comptonites, and the certainty, to their
minds, that coming events cast their
shadows BEFORE" give the following:
While quietly reading the news in the
reading room of the National last evening,
three prominent Lecomptons, who sat near
me, were discussing the passage of the
English bill
at is glorious triumph" remarked
the first speaker.
~ hardly know whether to regard it as
a triumph or defeat; it will create ter
rible feeling all over the country, North
and South; the democratic party has a
bigger fight ahead than any it has ever
had in Congress; and to maintain itself
will require great sacrifices and immense
effort. While / have done all I could to
secure the passage of the bill, and shall do
all can to defend it and sustain the par
ty, I tell you frankly, gentlemen, it will
be no boys play TO fight the battle out
successfully" replied the second person.
To this the thirdresponded:
"That's true, Sir. The next House of
Representatives will be overwhelmingly
Republican. There is only this left for
us: we must get every member we can
possibly, and make extraordinary efforts,
especially for the return of as many of the
old members and experienced parliamenta-
rians as we can; and then 90 in and make
the Republicans use Themselves up. The
South will send all old members as she has
always done. Our friends must put in
nomination picked men for just this kind
of fight; for unless zoe can beat them in
that way and thus use them up in the nert
tsco sessions, zoe shall not stand ghost of
a chance in l88Ow
General assent was given to the views
of the third person, and the trio separated.
There is much point and great force in the
tactics suggested. 1t is the most efficient,
as it is often the most successful, mode of
warfare ever practiced by a minority. Over
inexperienced members, such as usually
come here every two years from the North,
well drilled experienced minority have
great advantages, not only in parliamen-
tary tactics but in the more important gen.
eral acquaintance with public affairs and
the public offices, past and present, all
which has taught them how to do it, and
in a contest with whom new members can
not cope successfully. The New York
Evening Post has an excellent article on
this subject which l enclose. B.
From the New York Evening Post.
The system of "rotating" representa-
tives who are faithful to their trusts, must
be abandoned, or there can be no success
ful resistance to the Oligarchy. Expert
ence in Congress is as indispensable as
talent and integrity. In point Of learning,
ability and courage, the representatives OF
the opposition in Congress greatly surpass
the advocates of the administration. But
Ia ao~.--~-.. -.--~s~-,ont, tboy moro
children in the haDds of their veteran ..d-
versaries. Nothing but experience can en-
able our representatives to understand and
defeat the chcanery which is employed a
gainst them; and our friends who are in
earnest in maintaining the great truths for
which an organization is based, should dis
countenance, in every way, the petty sys-
tenn of alternating between aspiring men
in the different counties of district. The
system is ruinous in withdrawing faithful
men from Congress, just when they begin
to be educated in the business for which
they were sent there.
We should not so often sec our repre-
sentatives looking to rewards elsewhere fol
their votes and speeches, if we had not in
vented system which precludes then
from reelection at home, whether faith
full or not, and thus deprives them of the
proper and just reward for fidelity.