The Portland daily press., 1872-02-07
THE PRESS,
MORNING. FEB. 7,1s7s.


Good sometimes comes out of the boyish
ssfooling'' in which Congressman like so well
to indulge. In the course OF the maneuver-
ing for seats in the national House, Monday,
the result of one of the filibustering move
ments was noteworthy. The country ought
not to lose the benefit of two most significant
votes. OF the ninety-seven Democrats in
that body, a number of whom were doubtless
absent or did not vote on that day, Gty-one
voted against the resolution offered by Mr..
Peters of this State, affirming the validity of
the 18th, 18th and 18th amendments to the
constitution of the United States and of the
legislation necessary to make them operative.
That is, good deal more than one-half of all
the Conservative members of the House are
hostile to the practical enforcement of the
amendments that have passed Congress by a
two-thirds vote, been ratified by three
fourths of the States and afterwards solemnly
proclaimed as part of the national constltu-
ton. But the day was not 10 pass without
revealing still more plainly the real attitude
of the Conservative party toward the reforms
that have been attained at so immense cost
olution in which all mention of the legislation
in support of the amendments was omitted,
supposing no doubt, that his Democratic as
sociates would shrink from putting them
selves on record against the organic law,
whatever their feeling on the subject might
be. But to the surprise of the country, and
no doubt to the CONSERVATION of Mr.. Brooks
himself, tauenty-two Democrats voted against
the second resolution, thus declaring that
they regard three of the most important arti-
cles in the constitution as Revolutionary and
void" By this means they affirm that the
ballot ought to be taken from the negro, that
the civil rights conferred on the freedmen by the
public debt may be repudiated, that the Rebel
18th amendment may be subverted, that the
debt may be assumed, that no ex-Confederate
is lawfully subject to any political disabilities,
and finally that slavery still exists
Very often the opposition party, in its ftl-
tile struggle to regain political power, almost
makes itself believe that it has honestly and
sincerely abandoned its obnoxious doctrines,
and has really placed itself in accord with
modern civilization. Republicans sometimes
make themselves believe that their warfare
with their traditional foes is at length ended.
The talk of new departures, of nominating
eminent Republicans for the Presidency, of
accepting the situation in good faith and of
turning the back on dead issues often comes
near convincing men of the greatest sagacity
that the war for civil and political equality is
at an end. But no sooner has some progress
been made in converting the people to this
belef-to faith which they most gladly ac-
cept as an evidence that all which is valuable
in the results of their ten years struggle is fl
nally secured to them beyond the danger of
loss,-than some significant act or vote rude
ly surprises and grieves the too credulous pat
riots. To their horror it appears, as on Mon
day, that the peni6ents are at heart just where
they were in 1861. The vote on Mr.. Peters
resolution shows that the Republican party
still has vast work before it, ..,5.f4s 81