The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-03-14

European combination against this great re.
public The confederation project did not
seem to take, as we observed, and there were
signs of abandoning 1t; but the Fenian fright,
or pretended fright, has given new life to it.
Tho government eagerly seizes hold Of this to
push the project, arguing that selfdefence
against the Fenians demand such unity among
the colonies Thus, we see, that while the
British government has no fear Of an Irish re-
public or successful revolution in Canada, 1t is
using the Fenian agitation for other ends. But
it is dangerous experimental is playing
with fire. The Fenian movement, If tempered
with for political purposes, may 60 further than
expected, and it may ignite revolutionary fires
in England itself and throughout the continent
of Europe. We may be thankful, however, If
it be the means of stimulating prompt settle
ment OF England's difficulty with ourselves.
sotan and sancho Panxa Combined I'm
Congress. 4
The absurd speech Of Mr.. Thad Slovenian
Congress last Saturday reads like a chapter
from the famous novel of Cervante's Mr.. Ste
vens is the Sancho Panza of the radical faction,
as Senator Sumner is its Don Quixote. Although
these two representatives travel the same road
in company, their characters and their pecul-
arilies are essentially different Sumner is the
knight; Stevens is the esquire. Sumner looks
upon the negro race as colored Dulcinea to
be relieved. while Stevens trudges along
with an eye to fun and frolic, and mouth ever
open for the loavcs and fishes. Sumner is
rather moody and melancholy; much
study of old books has made him
mad; he renders himself ridiculous by
attempting to carry out impracticable
theories in this practical worksday age. Ste
vens has studied nothing but men, and only
falls in with his masters chivalric notions when
they promise to lead to good fare and fat
Offices. Sumner is ambitious Of becoming the
champion of the most ultra interpretations Of
the great principles of liberty, fraternity and
equality. Stevens sighs only for creature
comforts and remunerative patronage, and
cares more for the next election than for any
abstract principle ever enunciated. The one
Is lunatic philosopher, and we pity him while
we laugh at him. The other is shrewd, un-
scrupulous politician, full Of broad humor and
fond Of rough jokes, and we are equally ready
to roar at him whether he is drpbbing SOME
body or being soundly thrashed:
The Congressional Don Quixote and Sancho
Panza might jog along together in appropriate
companionship, causing mirth in all observers
and happening upon all sorts Of ludicrous ad-
ventures, without the slightest objection from
any quarter, il IL were not for the fact that
Stevens, unlike his great original, has q spice
of Satan in his composition. Don Quixote
Sumner is safe enough in the Senate. Dixon,
Doolittle, Cowan and SCORE of other sensible
men are there watching him, and they will pre-
vent him from doing any harm to the country
by his fantastic performances. Then, II the
worst comes TO the worst, President Johnson
can interfere and unhorse this theoretical knight,
this incarnated anschronism, with veto mes
sage that sends him sprawling in the mud even
while he is shouting the battle cry negro equal
ity. But Sancho Panza Stevens. with majority
of the House Of Representatives obedient to
all his whims is not altogether laughable.
There Is streak Of deviltry in some Of his
proceedings which merits decided rebuke.
His speech last Saturday, for ex mple, is CAPT
tai as mere piece of humor but when we
consider that through the subservient good
nature Of Congress he was allowed 10 put upon
Official record the vilest copperhead ISLANDERS
against the President, and when we Also re-
member that all his arrant falsehoods, humor-
Gus as they were when delivered in the House,
are calculated and designed to deceive the
Pennsylvania Dutch voters when translated
into German and circulated rs a campaign doc
ument, we at once see the forked tail of Satan
emerging from the rear OF Ssncho Panza's
doublct. Nor are the marks of the Satanic
presence less evident in the new scheme for
subjugating the Southern States recently
adopted by Stevens and his friends. The
theory Of Don Quixotc Sumner in regard to
dead States and territorial governments seems
to be abandoned by Sancho Panxa as fat, stale
and Improbable; and II Is now proposed to
hold negro conventions ct the South, elect
negro delegates TO Congress-, and admit them
In defiance Of the President and Of public sem
timent The idea OF negro representatives,
first satirically preached in these columns, Is
quite seriously adopted by the radicals. They
are determined 10 act as the French Conven-
ton did in relation to St. Domingo and their
course can produce only similar results. or
course the whites Of the South will not submit
10 be thus ousted from their rights; a negro in
surrcction will ensue, and the President will
have to interfere to prevent general massacre.
This latest scheme OF our Sancho Panza Is,
therefore, by no means funny, and Is not
in keeping with the character which he
otherwise assumes very well. Fortunately,
however, the South Ii still under martial law,
and any movements towards negro conventions
may be promptly suppressed The President
proved by his speech on the 22d Of February
| which was no Joke, all assertions 10 the con-