Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1874-10-22

the Democratic KccOrd In Congress.

hani, n. 1.l
Perhaps YOU are Inclined to ask ME bt fore
closing my account to present to you the record
made by the minority during the session. All,
gentleman, there is a wonderful pauclty of ma
terials from which to construc; that record AT
the commencement of the session they voted
for Hon. Fernando Wood, their caucus cand-
date, for Speaker. There were some
thoughtless people Who remembering the pub
lie utlerances of Mayor Wood during the war,
and the ASSURANCES OF the Democratic Party that
they had entered upon a new departure during
the Greeley campaign, expressed surprise at his
selection, instead of the selection of known
war Democrat. But it was q very natui al event.
Fifty-two members oil the House We're either
observation-disclosures Army officers or gentlemen
whose course during tie war was snch that they
were obliged to fake the modified oath pre-
sciibed for rebels before they could occupy
their seats as members of the Congress. II
wonll be Il work of supeIerogation to ask whether
they were Democrats Fifty-two votes const-
tute majority of the Democratic representa-
lives, and sureiy the maiority could not be ex-
pected TO choose war Democrat for Speaker, or
any other Democrat whose selection could re-
fleet any implied cGnsure upon themselS es or
their action during the war; And these men CON
stitute a fair sample of the material composing
the present Democratic Party in Congress.
On the floor of the House the Democrats
seemed to be like sheep without shepherd To
be sure, there was my witty friend Cox, ever
ready 10 make fun, and to play the role of the
flying artillery of the Democratic Party There
was my able friend Beck, always ready to do the
heavy grumhliug for the party There, too, were
very many able and accomplished Democratic
representatives, gentlemen who would adurn any
political party. But the action of the members
as a whole seemed more like the skirmishlng of
guerrilla soldiers than the movements of regular
/ troops. They lacked the ancient discipline which
once distinguished the party. They seemed to
! he without a policy On platform, cohesion OF
! cuusistency, aud to be drifting along withou,
/ map, chart or compass, or waiting, like Wilkins
Micuwber, for something to turn up. intent
] no disrespect to any of my esteemed Democratic
| colleagues, nor would be irreverent when | sa,
! that they seemed to act very much as ] shoult
expect men would act who were dancing horn
pipe to the tunes of every man for himself, anG
tue devil take the hindormost.
. Democratic prlIclples are equally loose ant
uncertain, as expressed in their State Conven
tons. Thus in Maine they resolve in favor o
free trade. In Pennsylvania they are for a pro
tective tarif. In Indiana they are for payini
the national debt IN greeubachs. In New lnrl
| they are for honesty aud sound currency. O,
one subject ouly did they present an nndivide,
front. On the Civil Rights bill and any othe
measure affecting the negro they were a unit
The Republicans at an early stage of the sessiO
passed with unanimity. measure for universe
amnesty. hoping that their generosity might h
reciprocatea by like generosity toward th
blacks; but not Que vote was given by the c
rebels or the Democrats in favor of the African
How inyincible arc their ancient prejudices
How true II is that ''the ruling passion IL stFon
even in DEATH