The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-12-17
From the Cincinnati Gazette.
THE ELEPHANT

Tie Democrats have evidently got
something they do not know what to do
with, viz large majority in the
House of Representatives. 1t is now
ten days since the House organized, and
the Speaker has not been able to agi ee
with himself upon his committees. He
is in a remarkable dilemma, aud not the
least remarkable Is the fact that in look
ing arornd for Chairman of the Com
mittee on Military Affairs he is compell-
ed to go outside of the Democratic party
or choose a man VINO served iii the Con
federate army Tie Democratic major
ity does not contain one prominent man
on the northern side who served in the
Union army This, in itself, is very sig
nificant Banks is spoken of for the
position, but he is not a Democrat
Banning is suggested as last resort,
but he entered the House as Liberal,
and he has not influence enough, be-
cause of his location and his loyal record
to secure the appointment of Jack Con
nelly to a subordinate position, although
assisted by Milton Saylor. 1t would toe
embarrassing. of course, to put an eX-
Confederate General at the head of the
Committee on Military Affairs, but the
Speaker will be forced to Go that or go
outside of his party. or select some one
who has had no military Experience.
Then the party is afraid to trust itself
in the House. It accordingly held
caucas, of which Lamar, exConfeder-
ate of Mississippi, was made Chairman,
and under a resolution of the caucus he
appoints a committee to decide what
measures shall be introduced in the
House, and how they shall be acted
upon. In other words, the caucus pro-
vided for the forging of a chain by
committee TO be appointed by Lamar, of
Mississippi, to bind the Democrat mehI-
bers of the House. An amendment to
authorize committee of one from each
State to be appointed by the respective
delegations was voted down, and the
appointment of the committee was vest
ed in Mr. Lamar. This is an .unpreced-
ented proceeding on the part Of a pow
erful majority, and the object oft mani
festly is to muzzle the Democratic mem
bers. It virtually restricts the Iegisla-
ton to the caucus committee, and in
submitting to this dictation, in consent
ing TO be bound by the caucus chain,
the Democratic members outside of the
committee abdicate their position, anJ
become mere tools in the hands of the
dictators
OF course this extraordinary course
would not be pursued if the leaders were
not afraid of their men. 1t amounts to
a declaration of want of confidence in
the Democratic members elected to rep
resent the Democratic party. 1t is evi-
dence that the leaders have an elephant
they do not know what to do with.
If the majority in the House should
say what they think. and do what they
feel disposed to do, it would, the leaders
fear, make bad record Ia the approach.
ing Presidential campaign. But this
rule-this bold attempt 10 bind
the majority of the House TO obey the
dictates of a commit ee-will be made
to ring through the country next year.
and doleful will be the sounds that will |
greet the ,a-s of the Democracy. Talk |
about Capitalization! This is centraIj- |
zation crystaIized 1t is virtually the /
lbdication of members of Congress.
The people are not blind They see
through this. They concluded to trust |
the Democratic party for once. This |
party is now on trial. Ii is in the ma
iority in the House of Representatives.
II is responsible for its action. 1t has
falked long and loud about bad Iegisla-
lion. IL has had much to say about cor
-uption. It is now in position to pass
Measures to remove the alleged evils
that il has attributed to Republican leg
slation, and it is also in position 20 in
Vestigate. 1t must do both. 1t must
make a positive record upon which to
20 before the country, aud that record.
u order to satisfy the people, must be
he result of the action of free men, ana
not of men who vote under the grinding
pressure of chains forged by a caucus
Furthermore, the country
will naturally desire not only to pass
upon what the Democratic majority NAV
10, but they will seek to know what
they would do if they We're not afraid:
bucause what they would do if they
iared will be a far more reliable index
As to what might be expected if they
should carry the Presidential election.
than their action under the restraint of
A committee who carry the keys to the
chains that bind the Representatives
The country, too, will be very likely
lit will be certain. indeed-to attach a
great deal of Importance to the signifi
.ant features, developed in the organi-
.ation of the House. The fact that a
majority on the Democratic side is com
,osed of men who fought in the rebel
lrmy. and thereby forfeited their lives
md property, is CONCLUSIVE evidence as