The Portland daily press., 1871-03-22

ated many of those who were formerly friend
ly to it, while they have confirmed the posi-
ton of its opponents"
@
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 10th, 1871.
THE TWO R.'s.
l am not a special admirer of either Mr..
Blaine or Gen. Butler. But whether this be
treason or not, can't help the fact, for SO it
is Mr.. Blaine, however, is a strong man; of
that there can be no doubt, and even Ben.
Butler must acknowledge this. At any rate
he looked it the other day, though am in
clined to believe it would have been better
for "Mr. Speaker" if he had not taken the
floor. 1t is probable that he lost his temper,
too, for that is the only palliaton for the un
merciful verbal castigation he gave the Massa-
chusetts representative. For the second time
in the past four months Butler has received
severe defeats-one from Farnsworth, and
this last from Blaine. The Illinois assault
was most deliberate and ma licious affair;
one long-planned, distilled from very venom,
while every word was surcharged with its poi
son. Mr. Blaine's attack, however, was cred
hot;" there was anger, even passion in it, but
no malice. We all laughed next day mean
eve" of the reporters eyrie-however, at
seeing Butler standing on the marble steps of
the Speakers place, engaged in apparently
amicable conversation with his formidable an
tagonist. Dawes complains good naturally
that he has to bear the brunt CT all anger
Butler lays up wrath against him, while he
doesn't seem to care about Blaine. Perhaps
this last is on the principle that one can't
help admiring or fearing land that's akin to
the first feeling) the man who thrashes or
outwits you completely. Mr.. Blaine would
do well TO repeat the experiment He has
twice proved himself a master of legislative
billingseatp,-t first time being in his rem
c,ntre with Conkling, and the second, the one
under consideration. see that he sottens in
the Globe report one expression which fell with
passionate vebemence from his lips. Butler
inter- uptlng said interrogatiyely, "Pardon
me?" "Ask God to pardon you, never will"
was the stern aud vehement retort In the
Globe it looses this general heat, and is SIM
mered down to the pale shadow of the thing
of-"Ask God for pardon you ought not to
ask me-"
Seriously, the whole quarrel was as grave
blunder as the removal of Mr.. Sumner.
Neither of the combatants are to be excused
though perhaps as to anger, Buffers might
be most readily palliated; he had been the
victim of so complete defeat-one which
appeared to be the result OF deliberate treach-
cry.
THE RIGHT OF IT.
This Ku Klux bill of Butler is very seri-
GUS affair. There can pa no doubt that Mr.
Blaine in common with many other Republi-
cans would honestly regard this passage of
such measure as attocious-an act probably
justifying the division OF the party by whose
representatives alone it could pass. Those
Republicans who stood by Buffers denunca
ton of the action under which the caucus
programme was defeated say that the caucus
never found any one to vote for the bill, only
to allow OF its introduction. On the other
hand the conservative Republicans believed
that to allow the introduction of the bill was
to saddle the party with all the odium of the
measure, without the slightest hope of either
pinning it do VII to the Shellabarger or some
as reasonable proposition, or OF passing any
bill at all. Butler and friends would unite
with the Democrats 10 prevent amendment
or the Offering OF substitute, while when the
final vote came would have voted with the
moderate Republicans to defeat it altogether.
Hence the hostility of such Republicans as
Messrs. Peters, Dawes and other to even the
printing OF the bill
give their defence, but recognize that be-
hind this, plausible as it is, there exists the
desire to evade the responsibility OF action
they do not admire. Like Hon. SAM Hoop.
er in financial matters these gentlemen are
chiefly renowned as wheel horses-the quality
to hold back load. The condition of the
south is theme of which they have grown
tired. 1t disturbs their slumbers, upsets their
placid equanimity, and as result has a bad
effect on their digestive organs. They are
gentlemen to be pited. They would like to
cry 'Out damned spot" but the spot they are
troubled about won't disappear without the |
application of remedies they dread to apply.
This KuKluxsm is mortal disease, and |
requires heroic remedies.
WHAT OUGHT AND WHAT MAY BE DONE. |
The Senate can do much to heal the breach |
now existing. Republicans in the House will |
accepta Ku Klux bill from the Senate, seeing |
that it will probably be some simple permits |
sive bill giving the President power to employ |
troops, &C., should he deem it necessary 10 |
enforce the law and protect the people against
the 'new Rebellion" Whether any bill can
pass the House is questionable, as it is quite
certain that the Democrats will fight it to the
utmost, and their vote IS so large that on the
question of filibustering they may succeed in
blocking the wheels. But at any rate tie at.
empt ought TO be made, and the responsible
ty would then rest on the Democracy.
SPECTATOR.
THE MURDERED GENERAL.-Gen. Clement
Thomas, enc of the French generals murdered
It is SAID, by Ricciotti Garibald, was born in |
1872, and entered the army as volunteer. He