Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-12-02

tIc COUtItTH DGItiOSKIlS VIII HAVE ulH-
jority. 1t is the first time they have had
majority for many years. 1t is the first
time they have had an opportunity to die
tate, blustcr and crack the whip for this
fifteen years or more. and the dictation,
clustering and whip-cracking have al
ready commenced. The bullying of the
eX-slaveholder, the bombast OF the chival-
ry and the assumption OF the Southern
gentleman against the Northern mudsill
are just as apparent now as they were in
the palmy days of slavery. Numerous
outcroppings Of this spirit have appeared
since the fall elections OF 1874, notably in
such influential papers as the New Or
leans Bulletin and Nicksburg Herald, in
the State elections this fall in the South,
in stump speeches, in college orations,
and upon numerous other occasions, show
ing that there is IA precohcerted determine
ton upon the part of the Southern De-
mocracy to take possession of the House,
to dictate who shall be Speaker and there
by capture the important committees, and
then to dictate the policy of the House.
Among those who have put in their claims
to office is Benjamin G.. Harris, of Mary
land, notorious Bourbon and fire eater.
who arrogantly demands to be made Ser
geant at Arms. He has stated very explic-
lilly the reasons why he should have the
office, and he states them with degree
of irankness and bluntness that shows
he is aware what the temper and tone OF
the new House will be. In his circular
to Democratic Congressman he sets forth
that for thirly-fiv years he has been an
uncompromlsing Democrat, and has al
ways been true TO the party, not follow
ing it Unto that mischievous line OF pol
icy' which led "to the acceptance Of
Greeleyism in 1872" nor following North
ern War Democrats in their opposition to
State rights in the war of the rebellion.
MIR. Harris occupies no uncertain ground
in this respect. He says:
For myself took sides with the division head
ed by John c. Breckenridge In defense of the
rights OF the States. For ten years before that
event the circumstances OF the country led me
10 consider The question Of the right of State 10
secede from the Union, and, after mature study
and reflection came to the conclusion that the
right clearly existed fully justify the Southern
States in seeding from the Union. The
war upon the South wns, In my opinion a most
atrocous outrage on the part of the Northern
States. displaying u cruel and whimsically tyran-
meal disposition and 1t is great regret with me
that the Democrats OF the North should ever have
given their connienance and support to snch 60
say the least of il stupendous act of folly.
When in Congress | felt II my duty to vote
against every bill for the raising OF forces. and ev-
cry bill for the appropriation Of money ta carry on
the
This is plain talk, but Mr.. Harris
would not have INDUCED in this plain
talk if it had any tendency to prejudice
his reaching the office he is so anxious 10
occupy. lie knows the temper of the
Southern Democracy, and he has indied
his demand for that office to correspond
with that temper. Mr. Harris is and
always has been shrewd politician, His
blast against the North, and his effort to
drag dead and buried issues to the light
again, and to fire the Southern heart, are
made with the knowledge that they will
be acceptable to Southern Democrats, and
that they are in accordance with the spirit
that will be rampant on the floor OF the
House during the session OF the new Con-
gress.
Mr.. Harris closes his screed with
declaration which would provoke smile
did it not verge upon the blasphemous.
He says; 9 had the glory Of receiving
the censure of the Radicals OF the House
for uttering in a speech the following
prayer: God Almighty grant you may
never subjugate the South My great
est regret is that God did not grant
my prayer This patronizing express
sion Of regret and mild criticism of God
by Mr.. Benjamin G. Harris will probably
not occasion much stir in the eternal
world. Brother Moody saws that even
President Grant might die and the
fact not be known in heaven, so it is pos
sble that Mr. Benjamin G. Harris is not
known there, and that God over
ruled the war Of the rebellion and the
destruction of slavery without any refer
ence to Mr.. Benjamin G. Harris or his
prayers, notwithstanding the regret Mr..
Benjamin G. Harris has that God did not
follow lfs advice. The declaration how
ever, is in keeping with the general as
sumptions Of The average Southern Bour-
bon, and in view Of these assumptions, it
becomes interesting to know what the
Northern Democrats are going TO do
about it-whether they will rise up and
manfuly defy the fire-eatcrs, or whether
they will bare their backs to the whip and
mcekly receive the shifting, as they have
done in years past. The Southern Bour-
bons whipped the Northern Democrats
into the defense of slavery and State
rights, and whipped them into opposition
TO the North during the war OF the re-
bellion. Win they now succeed in whip
ping them into an acknowledgment OF the
right of secession, with all that that ac.
acknowledgement implies, such as payment
of rebel debts and indemnifica,ion for the
loss OF slaves The outlook is not encour-
aging to the assumption sometimes made
that the mission OF the Republican party
is at an end There is more work to do,
and Mr. Harris may again have to regret
that God has not followed his advice
Chtca9o Tribune.