The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-23


democrats win have majority Of at least
sixty-fve votes.
2. In the Senate the vote will stand thirty
five republicans, thirty-one democrats and
eight doubtful, Of whom at least six will
probably vote against ''strong Southern
measures" and will, on other questions, hold
balance of power in the Senate
8. For practical purposes and on the most
important questions of the day, therefore, the
democrats, if they should prove wise and con-
sentative, may be fortunate enough to control
both houses
4. In the country, at large the democrats
have not gained since the fall elections. The
failure to re-elect Schurz; the refusal OF some
other democratic legislatures to select first
class men as Senators; the evident lack OF
harmony among the party leaders on the cur
rency and tariff questions, and the feeling
that the party has no policy except opposi-
ton to the republicans, and is not ready to
welcome recruits from even the liberal repub-
lican ranks combine with the general distrust
of democratic politicians to make the country
slow to give them its confidence. If, in the
next Congress, where they will rule, they
should act with extraordinary prudence and
wisdom, this would undoubtedly help them.
But the next House contains good many new
members and leading democrats have quietly
opposed the call for an extra session, because
they fear that their people will be more zeal
Gus than discreet and will attempt to commit
follies disgusting to the country.
5. The republican party in Congress is at
present composed of two factions-one adher-
ing blindly to the administration, ready and
eager to do General Grant's bidding and de-
termined on bitter and relentless policy to-
ward the Southern States. The administra-
ton republicans are made up in part Of South
ern carpe.-baggers, whose political existence
depends upon continue nee of federal inter-
ference in the South in part of Northern
demagogues, who will do anything to ''keep
the party in" and who fear to lose the South
ern electoral vote, and in part of men who do
not know that the war is over, who believe the
Southern democrat to be a monster of wicked
ness, and who even dream Of q new rebellion.
These men, from different motives, agree upon
proscriptive and interfering: policy, regard
less of constitutional limitations and needless
of the lessons of history, of which most of
them know nothing. They are ready to carry
centralizaton to the furthest extreme, and on
them General Grant can safely count as sup
porters of his third term project. Those Of
them who have ambitions of their own would
sacrifice them to Grant rather than see the
republican party lose power.
6. The other republican faction, less nu-
merous in the House and imperceptible in the
Senate, has not yet the courage Of its opin-
IONS 1t believes that we have gone far
enough, and even too far, in Southern inter-
ference it views the Presidents attitude with
repugnance and alarm; it strongly disap-
proved of the New Orleans affair and the
vicksburg interference and the recent
Arkansas Message undoubtedly strengthened
its determination to resist and brought it re-
cruits. This faction actually contains most
of the brains Of the House indeed, nearly
every republican Of pronounced ability be-
longs to this side.
T. Timidlty has been the vice of this faction,
and this is not unnatural The country has
come slowly up to their views, though it is
now in advance of them. Accustomed to act
within party lines, and conscious that a mere
protest would only sacrifice them without
benefting the country, they have been slow to
act. and their policy has been rather to OBJ
struct The President has dealt with them
gingerly and maintained friendly relations
with them, and it is only since Congress met
that they have discovered that though he in
stantly gratifies their personal wishes he will
have none of their advice. To-day no. one of
these men has the least Influence at the White
House, and all are conscious of this. They
see even Shepherd preferred before them.
s. As one of the most important elements in
the political situation comes the third term
The President has slowly thrown off the mask
of moderation in the last three months, and of
late he no longer conceals his partisan pur-
poses. The motive Of his policy is, at all
hazards, to keep the Southern States in re-
publican hands or else to nullify their vote,
and it is his firm intention, as he once said,
to 'drag the party through" 1t would be
difficult to find dozen persons in Washing
ton connected with public affairs, and capable
of forming an intelligent opinion, who would
say that they did not believe General Grant
means to achieve third term. The convic-
ton is universal, it is not denied by his
closest adherents. and it is everywhere taken
for granted.
8. Finally, public sentiment The opinion
of the country is anxiously studied by mem
bers of Congress, and those who wish to
know it have abundant means of informing
themselves. It is believed, first, that the
country does not trust the democrats, and
would not, at present like to see them in
power. II does not know what they would
do; and it believes that they would be Ca
pable Of mischief and folly Second, that
the people are opposed to a third term, and
uill under ordinary circumstances prefer d