Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-04-21
The Political Situation.

political power gradually but surely depart
ing from them, they are determined to
force success, if possible, at the point of
the bayonet. While legislation upon
finance. so far as there has been any, has
shown the influence of late elections, yet
| in matters relating to the South the same
spirit, moro hostile if possible, is exbib-
tied.
| The present Congress assemblies under
conditions materially changed FROM those
under which their predecessors met. The
eighty six majority of the Radicals IN the
last House, being o-thirds, has been cut
down to barely thirty in the present.
General Schenck, the acknowledged leader
of the dominant party. was provided for'
| rather than force himself into position by
partisan votes. for which the people had
defeated him. Senator Morton, who
would like to have represented his country
at the Court of st. James. was forced to
decline, to prevent the reaction in Indiana
being felt in the United States Senate
Senators Conkling and Fenton's quarrels,
and President Grants influence, has des-
troyed the remnant Of Radical organiza-
ton in New York, which the triumphant
Democracy had left, thus knocking down
the ladder by which these officials climbed
into power, leaving them suspended by
their senatorial terms alone. A full Dem
ocratic delegation in the House from New
Hampshire, and Democratic majority in
the Legislature of that State, are signii-
cant warnings to Senators Paterson and
Cragin while repeated Democratic victo-
ries in California and Oregon tell with GER
tainty the fate the two Radical Senators
who remain to misrep4esent those people.
These are the echoes of Grants policy
in the Halls of Congress, which he has at
tempted to enforce against the will Of the
people. These are the immediate results
of his audacious meddliag in the Missouri
election, the sending of bayonets to the
polls at Philadelphia and New York, the
revival Of the San Domingo speculation.
the war upon Senators Sumner and Schurz
These were all bids for more power. and
were coinsges of the Presidential brain for
the purpose Of securing his own Tenoni
nation. These were the " my policy" of
Grant, compared to which President John
| sons was feeble aud timid.
And Grants "policy =" has left its i'm
preston upon the country at large. His
own party is divided and disorgamzed.
The war which Senator Sumner - making
upon him for usurping IS Kingly preroga
tives," aided by Senator Sehurz, the great
German leader, is re echoed from one end
of the North to the other. late member
of his Cabinet. and one of the most inhu-
entail Republicans in Ohio, ex Governor
Cox, with other leading members of that
party, are following in the wake OF the
Missouri Reform movement. In Illinois. !
the leading Radical paper, and thousands
of the party are sustaining Senator Trum-
bull in his opposition to the vital measures
of the Administ ration,
Seeing the people are determined that
the taxes shall be lightened that definite |
steps shall be taken for the return of specie !
payment that the civil service shall be |
reorganized, and being condemned upon |
all these counts, the President and his
party are forced to reopen the war upon
the South in order to save their failing for
tunes. oUb uu4V0EShL dn0SSty WALL OO |
found to be as strong as any other of the
demands which have been made. After
six years of trial the people are weary OF
reconstruction. They want peace and rest
from the turmoil of sectional strife. They
have had enough of the sword. They de-
sire 10 try the Constitution as the govern
ing power. The impossible attempts of
Congress to give character and durability
to negro domination in the South will
strike death-blow to the party at the
North. Like all political make-shifts, re-
construction has been exhausted. It has
served it's purpose well. but must now give
place to something else, or it will rise up
as a torment to its authors.
The prisoner condemned to die OF thirst
when his small supply of water is exhaust
ed. amusing himself by counting the drops
as they strike upon the floor of his cell
which he heedlesslz pours out, does not