Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-14
From the Chicago Tribune.
7HE FIRST R0rYD IN CONGRESS-.

The Bourbon clement in the House OF
Representatives took the very worst OPP
por,nnity of asserting itself in the most
offensive manner. The appearance OF
an applicau, Tor Morey's seat from
Louisiana with a certificate from McEnery,
who has never been even the de facto Gov
crnor of the State, and has never had the
recognition of the Courts or of the Cen
eral Government, was OF itself piece OF
Bourbon impertincnce. But that such an
application should have received the seri-
Gus consideration of the House, the in
dorsement of the democratic leaders North
and South, like Fernando Wood and La
mar. is u striking evidence of the purpose
on the part of Il large proportion OF the
democratic majority to reopen all the old
issues and to undo what has been done to
the extent that they can prevail This is
a violation of the pledges upon which the
democrats secured majority in the House,
and a reassertion of all the Objectionable
doctrines that have kept the democratic
party out of power for sixteen years. II
they could avail themselves of SO ilimsy
pretext as the presentation of certiii-
cate from McEnerv of Louisiana, after
Kellogg had been the actual Governor OF
the State for three years, in order to open
the way for general discussion OF the
whole subject, and eventually TO violate
the Wheeler compromise, there is little
hope of conservative treatment of issues
more substantial and important II is true
that this effort to reopen the Louisiana
question WAS temporarily defeated. but
that result was due in part to the compar-
atvely insignificant pretext, and in part to
the quick and vigorous manner in which
the programme was exposed by Messrs.
Blaine and Wheeler.
There was enough in the first days de-
bate in the House to show that there is a
| formidable element in the democratic ma
joritv, with which its recognized leaders
are in sympathy, that intends to break
down wherever it can the settlement of
the most serious disputes growing out of
reconstruction in the South. The ottempt
to reopen the Louisiana question was in
nature of violation of contracts or the
breaking of treaties,-lh most serious Of
lenses that can be committed by Govern
ment. The Louisiana troubles. after two
years of bitter wrangling. which included
local rebellion and bloodshed, were set
tied by compromise which gave the re-
publicans the Governor and the democrats
the legislature. This basis of settlement
was reached after Congress had devoted
months to the consideration of the matter;
after several Congressional Committees
had visited Louisiana; after great volumes
OF evidence had been taken: after thous-
ands of dollars of the public money had
been expended. The fact that the advan-
tages the democrats gained in the compro-
mise were fully accepted by the republi.
cans was proved when Mr.. Wheeler in
dorsed it abided by it after the demo-
Gratis had secured the Louisiana legislature
| by their Interpretation of the agreement.
There was not the slightest provocation
nor the slightest excuse for the democratic
effort Mt this late day to rip open the com.
promise, and there is no other construction
to put upon this effort than that of an in
tention on the part of the democrats to
conduct their debates and frame their leg
isation with reference TO the old partisan
issues, and with no consideration for past
legislation OF past agreements. 1t seems
that even Mr.. Lamar, who was pointed at
as the shining light of the Southern con-
sentative feeling, lent himself to this
scheme, and he has thereby deprived the
country generally of any hope that he is
thoroughly in sympathy with progress and
er is Lamar SO liberal and progressive as
he would have the country believe, nor are
the other Southerners so liberal and pro-
gressivc as Lamar 1t will be well for all
these Bourbons To recall that the elections
of this last fall did not result in manner
approving of Bourbonism, nor any demo-
cratic scheme for overturning the legisla-
ton that grew out of the War and the re-
construction of the Southern States. They
are sadly in need of warning.
The Republican National Committee
will meet on Thursday, Jan. Is, at 10 A.
NJ nj The A rlin nion Hokal Wac h;nntnr,