New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-30

election Of an Old Southern Wing, especially if he
were man Of the stripe Of Clay or Manguw, OF
Thompson Of Kentucky or Hunt Of Louisiana
or the gentlemen we have elready named, or tina,
might be named, would by no means be such 8
great disaster 10 itself, or an act even that Repub
cans might not themselves participate in, under some
circumstances, to thwart greater evil But wher
such man, if Mr.. Smith indeed be snch is forced
upon the unwilling shoulders Of protesting and
hostile party, and by them elevated to position and
pewer over one Of their own friends and represent
atiyes, the act manifests such submissive and hui
inflated spirit, such enforced contrition and re-
pentance, that great antagonis.ic party like the
Republican can hardly afford to lose the moral
effect of the spectacle.
If there ever was anything to excite contempt
and derision among the opponents of the bogus
Democracy, it was the yalOrous and lofty declar
atoms Of Messrs. COchrane and Morris, and others
Of that party while the ballot for Speaker was pend
ing Friday, when they declared that never, under
any circumstances, or for any consideration, would
they vote for Mr.. Smith, because of his being an
Old Wing and member of tho American party;
and them before that ballot was over, turning their
backs upon their own declarations, while their
echoes yet fingered in the hall where they were ut
tered, eating their own words allowing themselves
to be whipped in to his support and actually
changing their votes and giving them to this same
Mr. Smith,
We have long enough, and often enough, had &C.
casion to expose, and ridicule, and deDounce what
we have always considered an inimitable and I'M
apprOachable facility in changing positions and
turning coats, on the part Of the members and
leaders of the bogus Democracy; but we never be-
held such prodigious illustrations of it as were
hbited on Friday by Messrs. COcbrane, Morris, d
Co., in the case referred to. On that occasion,
they ecpsed all former efforts in political evOlu-
tons.
Seeing that the Southern Americans are even
more deeply committed, if possible, against the
extrayagances and corruptons of the present Ad-
minstration than the Republicans themselves, it
would be curious to witness the antics Of the cor
ruptonists and Dispnionsts under the applications
OF the lash Of an overseer, who was appointed to
his place and furnished with the instrument of
tOTluTe Dy tutT OWL NllHug HdHus CldNcs art
sometimes compelled TO endure the humiliation aud
agony of scourgDg their own confederates and
friends. But the introduction of this practice of
the plantation into Congress has never before been
undertaken. The fact of the Northern bogus De-
mocracy having been long used TO the stripes of
their Southern Oyerseers, eases the introduction of
the process into Congress wonderfully 50 far as
they are concerned. The slayehOding Democracy
submit to the humiliation, we presume, on the
ground that they must take basting from some
body, and they prefer to take it from one of their
own section to having the just inhiction admins
tered by Republican. Besides, they prefer
single dose to great variety of doses, which they
know would otherwise be their portion. But these
considerations, while they may account for the
humiliation in no wise relieve it of its ignOminious
features. The broken spirit the selfnhicted cbas-
tisement, the humble kissing of the rod, remain.
Compared with such a success as that, the defeat
of the Republicans, while standing by their flag and
their guns, erect, uncOmprOmsing, unfiinching, and
unintimidated would be glory and honor unspeak-
able.