Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-25
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AUG Us II A.
ATUaDAY MORNING.. Dec. as. 1875.
CRACKING THE WHIP.

One OF the first steps Of the democrats
iu the House was to elect committee OF
thirteen TO keep their party under con-
troll. The chairman Of that committee Is
Mr.. Lamar Of Mississippi-king LANAI
Us some Of our exchanges style him, be-
cause the position which he holds makes
him the ruler in chief of the entire demo-
cratic party. 1t was thought when this
committee was chosen and the democratic
party put in leading strings that the ex-
trene limit of party discipline had been
reached. But it appears that this was a
mistake. There was more AFFECT point
20 which the party might be driven. The
Lamar committee was step that
crushed out individual independence OF
action among the democrats, but the new
power supervises their department, their
speech, their sitting and rising. and with
whom and for what.
The first to be subjected to this new dis
culinary power, is the genial, witty, effer-
yescent Mr.. Cox of New York. 1t seems
that he expressed in small measure his
own and the general dissatisfaction at the
appointments Of Speaker Kerr. This
came 10 the knowledge ofthe editor OF the
New York World, who at once cracked
the whip around the ears OF Mr. Cox in
the following manner.
- Z. md Mr. 9 s
Cox has wide reputation - the most genial OF
Congressman. His friend and colleague, MIR.
Fernando Wood, recently described him as 80 ex'
tremely genial that he likes to cit down in the laps
Of people with whom he converses. Thislbeing
true, Mr.. Cox should be careful in whose lap be
sits. Il would be well for him to draw the line at
republican correspondents in Washington. A cor.
respondent Of the Evening Post, in whose lap he
probably sat, reported him on Monday as excess.
lively "dsgusted" with his position at the head Of
The Committee on Banking and Currency, and as
protesting that he has been deserted for new
men" by Mr.. Speaker Kerr, to whom he hat
"given strength" And yesterday . correspond
emit Of the Times reported him as declaring tina
Mr.. Ken's nominations were "those of m inva
lid" This only shows how very dangerous it il
for people to push geniality to the extravagan
point Of topping into the laps Of their political an
tagonists. If Mr.. Cox had contented himself will
the armchair provided for him by . thoughtful
country, or with disporting himself only in demo
cratic laps, these shocking misrepresentation Of
him could never have been made. "The tongue
il an unruly member" the Scripture tells Us; and
Mr.. Coz can hardly need to be reminded that
there h An immense difference between being re.
puted the voice and being reputed the tongue Of
the democratic party.
There, Mr.. Cox, If that does not stop
your talking there is no use 10 cracking
the whip over you. And this is warn
ing 10 other democratic members TO take
care with whom they talk and what they
say. No democrat may speak until he
asks and receive permission. With Lamar
holding the reins in Congress and the New
York World cracking the whip outside.
the democratic family ought to be peace
able II not happy. After all it is not
pleasant to see the manner in which the
democracy of New England and the Mid
die States are snubbed in Congress by the
Bourbons and Confederates. They must
be very meek set Of gentlemen if they
can endure the degrading and insulting
position in which they are placed