New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-11-30
Prospects, of Congress.
George Alfred Townsend writes fl
WashingtOn to the New York Grnnhic.

Washington to the New York Graphic:
There are few members of Congress
here; next week many are expected Prob
ably twice as many Senators and Repre-
sentstives stop over in New York as take
up their quarters at the present in the CAPT.
tai. The speakership and the offices are in
more confusion at the Democratic accession
than the Republicans have ever had. Blaine
and Dawes had brief struggle four years
ago. but it was kept within doors and not
ventilated in the newspapers. When Blaine
peat Dawes he gave the latter the best
committee, to the disgust of Garfield, Kel.
ley and other aspiraDts. Kelley, by the
way, is played out, having had brief no.
toriety equal to lgnatius Donnolly's or
Corporal Bates, but he is now buried in
the ash barrel of Democratic defeat. He is
the reductio ad absurd,,m Of high protec-
tioD, and ought to be stuffed and preserved
IN the Smithsonian. Twenty odd years ago
he was Democratic judge in Philadelphia
The Democracy has cohesveness without
agreement. like parcel eff wasps in q
swarm. The make a campaign like a tum-
ble.bug. rolling up hill a bal O oa e and
ends which does not crush th,n ION it
rolls back because they have So J, vi
tality. 1t is remarked of cockroaci that
he never disappears, but never carries off
any plunder; the worst he can do is to get
into our hash. By night he files out of his
ward like determined party with sure
thing; next morning our water pipes are
stopped up with roach or two, and the
menage of the country continues as before.
The reason the Democratic party is de-
cayed is that the only honest part OF it is
the old people who have brought their old
notions over to new country. The young
Democracy is without any great he artedpess
in the traditions of the party. chiefly
drawn to it by some local opportunity to get
position, or at best accepting the dictum of
their parents, old as aforesaid. The real
Democratic element has been all the while
in the Republican ranks, free-seeing young Q
men who resent any undue interferenves
with liberty and discipline but poorly. The
ebb and flow of this element as il is repelled
or attracted by the Republican party or
personnel deceives the old Democratic lead.
ers that at last they are in the majority.
Instantly they fell out among themselves
on merely prospective spoils, and, as in the
present speakership, pursue each other
with personal and sectional hate that is
dlsgraceful already. What is to be expected
OF such an ill hammered iunta when it gets
into power next month in Congressl Where
do we see commanding presence in ita
Passing our eyes rapidly over the roll we
light upon the name of II. B, Payne, whom
nobody has mentioned for the speakership,
but who is the leading person in fortune
and character in the party. We see, also,
the name of Erasmus Wells, of St. Louis. a
self-impelleu, capable man, but he las not
been canvassed. There is Mr.. Kerr. who
appears to be objectioDa Die to his colleagues
on account of his good character He is
simply disliked among the party despera-
does of the Ohio valley because he carries
high. unsullied character. This fact stands
apparent to the coustry. As Governor
Tilden was abused for Furnishing political
crime, contrary to the notions of his party. 90
Mr. Kerr is deliberately assailed, not for do
ing or saying anything, but because he keeps
good company, and thinks in the line of
such Democrats as Silas Wright and Robert
Walker, instead bumming around like Il an
dali, or appealing to dishonesty like Sam
Cary. Is it not plain to all that repelling
such men silently drives thousands OF peo-
pie out OF the Democracy, and keeps up a
recruiting station in their midst for the
great composite party of the period2 Re
publcans are not much attached to their
party; its strength lies in their noseless
promptitude. They come out like the
watch.dogs from a thousand farms at the
noise of an incursion. But the Democracy
is aroused like the Cossacks they will
not move unless they are provided for,
man and horse, and they require their
master to be Gar. One year ago the
majority OF the States and Congress
passed over to the Democracy. They were
hou 90 W uC III buc mdIDFlIV, DuI must
needs go skirmishing like Samson for FIRE
brands and foxes When they had set these
on through the fields, 1t astonished them to
lind they had burned their own grain. And
now they will meet, like Samson and the
Philistines, at the capital to pull down the
house. Two years ago, when they put in
nomination a Speaker for the honor of
complimentary vote, they -quarreled like
pigs over q picked bone. The salary grab
Democrats were IN a majority, and nomi-
mated Wood. At this little Holman, the
Tom Thumb of demagogues, went of on q
drunk, and Sam Cox wept all over the
capital. This year l anticipate at least
brace of suicides among the defeated.
The newspaper press has been of assis.-
ance to the Democracy of late, but this
winter they will feel its tooth. They rely
wholly upon Investigations to advance their
fortunes, and not upon original policy or
patriotic prudence. Every editor who has
9 bit OF revenge to accomplish, every lob
byist or bogus claimant who wants to make
q dust to conceal his own felony, can use
the pending Congress to take his private
chestnuts out of the fire. They forget that
the investigators character is first to be de.
termined by ais own behavior. Investiga-
tions by Congress which will elect salary
grabbers or people of disreputable record
are more apt to turn out in the bribery of
the committee than to injury to the accused.
The last great investigation in Congress
was piece of blackmail by the Jay Gould
party, and it stopped when it struck Con-
gresham Schumacher and Bill King. Our
efficient district attorney, like Bristow or
Peddrick, with the powers of the courts be
hind him, is better investigator than
twenty demsgogues backed up by pack of
newspaper reporters. Bayard, Thurman,
Allison, Holman-they have all been inves.
tigatOrs. But when a court of Justice of the
United States prOsecutes, with the turnkey
behind the bench, there is very little time
for prevaricatiOn.