New-York tribune., 1875-02-23
A POLITICAL CRISIS.
BLINDNESS OF REPUBLICAN LEADERS.

BLINDNESS OF REPUBLICAN LEADERS.
VIOLENT MEASURES IN THE SENATE AND THE HoUsH
-GEN. GRANT ANXIOUS TO HAVE THE LOUISIANA
QUESTION KEPT oPRN-HIs SOUTHERN POLICY
EUPHEMIsM FOR THIRD TERM.
tYRoM OCCASIONAL coKREsPoSDESLoF TIE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON Feb. 1o.-Tho violent action OF
Congress, manifested on several occasions during
this Winter by protTaoted and heated night sessions
questionable measures indicates the throes of
great political crisis The Senate has Just been fol-
lowing the example OF the House and sat two days
and one night con tnuousy for the purpose Of seat
ing Pnchback. Bat the majority broke, and the
body had to adjourn without accomplishing the
object
OUjeos.
The curious thing about it is the want OF sense ex
hibited in forcing such violent 1t may be
contended that once embarked on policy, whether
right wrong. there is sort of fatal necessity for
going on. The whole Louisiana business has been q
shocking fraud from the beginning. rs admira-
bly, shown a little iifteen-mnute speech of sena-
tor Ferry of Connecticut on Wednesday. He made
it manifest enough, however, that it was only to
make bad matter worse to seat Pinchback as Sena-
tor. The Administration has assumed an alarming
responsibility in what it has done and approved
already. For the Senate to add voluntarily to that
weight seemed a superfuous act of folly and not
withstanding the heavy Republican majority IN the
body it is TO their credit to be said that If vote
could be got it Is still doubtful if it would carry 1t
has been intimated that the Vice-Presidents voice
might be needed on the decision If it should,
am quite sure that it will bo on the right side
Mr. Wilson has too much sense and too much con-
science to have any hand III adding to the long
record of crimnality.
And now it comes ont incidentally. can only
infer with what truth, that Gen. Grant himself
stands in the way of settling the main difficulties
in Louisiana. 1t is said be win not agree to com
promise that the parties at home would be willing
to make. If he cannot have the question settled
his way, he prefers to have it kept open.
The statement is a damaging one, but considering
his thirdterm aims and his acts and intimations in
regard to other Southern States it is not unlikely it
is well founded. 1t is not to be disguised that the
whole conduct of the Southern question by Gen.
Grant and the Administration, has been based on
party and personal grounds solely. and that this Is
tho present fountain of all tho troubles down there.
from first to last. The question has mover been
treated from q judicial stGtesmanhke point OF
view The inquiry has always BEEN what wouif
benefit certain individuals, and what would
benoht the party. The Administration has
been party TO quarres where every
dictate Of patriotism and every suggestion OF WIS
dom demanded it should be an umpire. In this way
it has lost it's moral control over ths situation.
This IS bad government wicked government, and is
the source of the disorders and ills now prevailing
The reason for such conduct is now intensified in
consequence of Gen. Grants purpose to obtain a
third nomination Ii is for his interest to become
partisan in ordor to enlist the support Of the men
who are trying to rule by force aud fraud. IL IS
every way discreitabe state of things, and the
wonder is that more leading Republicans do not set
- z.N~f afHa n hat
consideration, 1t is the worst political policy imagi
nable. For every electoral vote that can be gained
at the South by violence and fraud there Will be
two lost at the North from disapproyal and dis
gust at the proceeding. 1t would seem as
If the world never grew wiser from it's
experences The scheme OF Grant and
the men who support him, is just that attempted IN
Nebraska and Kansas by the Democrats under
Douglas and Buchanan. They thoaght If force and
fraud could be made successful. it would be all
just as well in the end. But the difficulty was that
the end thus achieved proved their ruin. Ii pro-
voked the storm of public condemn alton that over
whelmed them. 1t the old story thousand
times repeated in the worlds history. Fhppant
men, dull men. base men. think they can repeat 1t
with impInity now.
JJp t. q certain point Grants plans may prove
successful They can run their train up to the
UIEClplCtt
by the aid of his Southern allies. force
denomination. As far we can see at
this distance Of time it seems likely he will do it.
But what then; His nomination will CONS from
States which have electoral votes 10 confer upon
apy Republican candidate. Will tho States which
have Republican votes to give In the election be-
stow them on a candidate forced upon them against
their wills Will they not rather throw them away
Massachusetts, for instance, Would that be any
more strange than her sending majority of Demo
Gratis to COngrcss'at the last electOn' 10 those
who take tho trouble to think the whole future lies
open like map.
Yet there are numbers Of very vivid and active
Republicans who refus, to see what IS directly be-
fore US in the third term operations. SO hostile are
they to the idea of such violation OF the traditions
of the Republic and so anxious are they for the re-
viyal and rejuyenatOn Of tho Republican party
under some fresh and intelligcn and impossible
lead that they cannot stomach full revelation Of
the simple facts They have, however. only lin
lied show of reasons for their faith. They ara Ike
the venerable Democrat of Gen Taylors time, who
when told that that parsonage would be nominated
and elected President, said that he had too much
confidence III the Almighty to believe he would per-
nit such dire catastrophe to occur. Those who
argue against third term nomination are similarly
situated as to of argument and rely rather
upon supernatural forces than f1esl1y weapons,
whether of logic or of votes 10 forbid that expecta-
tcu. They simply won't believe In what IL night
before their noses; that is all. j. D. r.
THE ARKANSAS COUP D'ETAT.
RypuBIIcANs STUNNED BY THE PRESIDENTS suG-
GEsT1oSs-GgS. BUTLER HIS MAIN ADVISER
C-N-a T,p