Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-30

idsnep an.ttha many States far West, outside Of
New England are waiting with their hats in their
hands to hurish for the man who certainly viii
make the strongest and best Centennial candidate
The democratic House Of Representatives did
one iudicous acs when it adjourned over the holi-
days without lcgslating at all. 1t Is better for
the democrat party and certainly as well for the
country. that it should spend four weeks in bring
ing forth q list of officers and al committees that
can do no harm, since any important action from
such body must Of necessity be unwise and in
judicious. Speaker Blaine's committees always
were made up and presented almost before the
members were ready for business, and the com
nittees always were strong and efficient, from the
fact that he selected men for their known knowl
edge Of the affairs about which they were to
port. Speaker Kerr took nearly three weeks to
form committees, the most Of whose Chairmen
seem to have been selected for their peculiar un-
fitness. lie has rejected all the strong leaders for
the actual leadership Of the House. and selected
a man who has been subordinate to mary others
in revenue discussions, as Chairman of the Com
mittee on Ways and Means, Morrison of Illinois
He appoints Cox on the Banking and Currency
Committee and he is about as well fitted for it as
democrats from Massachusetts,, New York and
New Jersey who arc conversant with commercial
affairs, he goes to West Virginia for the Chairman
Of the Commerce Committee. And, generally, 1t
may be SAID that where it is possible he has sought
his Chairmcn among the ex-Conlederatc military
officers.
This is as it should be, because it shows that to
confer general amnesty upon the leaders OF the
"late unpleesantncss" was to restore the brain
power to the democratic party. Its best hold and
tina; which has developed its greatest ability has
been in fighting the country after it has stolen the
Treasury dry, or in the same contingencies, in
timely flight, as per Tildep's late Boss Tweed
And this naturally leads to the conclusion
reached by many observing people that the action
of the ex-Confederate House of Representatives
and its Speaker is a new triumph tor TaInmany
Tildcn. His henchInen were here in full force,
and they said "give all the good places to the
Western and Southern members. Sacrifice wood,
Cox, Bowman and all Eastern friends. They are
ours anyhow but scatter your favors so as to gain
new friends for Tilden for President" That Is
Taumany Tilden's way of fighting. He looks out
for number one, and you needn't stop the train
u
the value of friend compared with the impor-
lance of promoting Tammany Tilden's chances
for the Presidential nomination! To those who
knew when he was running for Governor in 1874,
that Tilden used to 60 about with his pocket full
of ready summed "pasters" containing his!own
name in consideration Of republican or doubtful,
voters using one of which he was ready to sell
all the rest of the democratic ticket, this cold.
blooded selfshness will not be surprising. Every
thing must bend to his ambition. But even with
the supple democratic party this must have an
end, and the fall Of this deputy Boss must be a
question of very brief time.
That the Bourbons will control the democratic
party and consequently the House of Representa-
tiycs there can be no doubt Already they have
voted down resolutions in favor of early resump-
tion OF specie payments, and for giving Union
soldiers in the, late war preference in selecting
subordinate officers under the government. Dur
ing the late canvass in Maine it was said that
some ex.soliiers either voted the democratic tick
ct or sad away from the polls. Their hearts
warmed towards the democrats. Now comes their
reward. Every wounded MON soldier is kicked
out of the offices within the gift Of the democrats.
And not only this, but already they threaten to
"edualize" the pensions of wounded soldiers.
widows and orphans, meaning thereby to cut them
Off entirely. or to pension the rebel soldiers equal
Il with the Union. How many Union soldiers
will vote the democratic ticket next year,
J.W.B.