The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-01-07
Decentralization Of the Republican Leaders
in Congress.

VI UhO ASNPunAASssAA N~e-O~"
80 in Congress.
"Mac." the Washington correspondent. OF
the Boston Globe, Republican newspaper,
draws q dismal picture Of the Generalization
existing ,among the Leaders in Congress-:
-. WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 20.
A leading Republican Congressman, speak
ing of his: colleagues, said "there is nothing
On our side of the House but the dead and the
diving" This was the finishing touch to pic
ture in which he tried to portray the utter de-
moralization of the dominant party. In the
entire history of politics there is probably
nothing to equal the present condition OF the
Republican party in Congress. Here is great
organization, with the National Government
in its hands, with two-thirds majority in each
House, tand with the prestige of almost unlnter-
rupted success for fourteen years, actually cow
ering before a handful of men representing
party with record embracing all the crimes
denounced in the decalogue. There never was
such o, spectacle. The Democrats are really
running the House and the standing commit
tees. Mr.. Dawes position as chairman OF the
committee of ways and means gives him by
courtesy the right to the title OF Leader OF
the House" but the most casual observer can
see that the real s'leader" is Mr.. Beck, of Ken
LnSKY.Et UlE. SdIuclus do "a SAAS SoN-
mittee on appropriations, should rank next to
Dawes in the leadership, but everybody knows
that Sam Randall, Of Pennsylvania, holds this
place. "That which hath made them drunk
hath made me bold" exclaimed Lady Macbeth,
when she had taken the first steps towards the
murder of Duncan by throwing the Kings at.
tendants, off their guard. And so it would
seem as if the result of the November electl0ns
had infused all the life into the Democrats
that it took out of the Republicans Dawes
and Garfield never were plucky men, but they
have unquestionably lost whatever little cour-
agu they had. The most insignificant Demo-
crat is as capable of frightening them from
their propriety as if he held their lives and
their fates in his hand. But they are not
alone. The decentralization extends to the
rank and file: Not even the testy and beillge-
rent Builder shows his, wonted stomach rthe
fight. There is a very general feeling that
"the party" to quote the exact words of q
Congressman, "is going to the devil, and there
is no use in trying to save it," If its salvation
depends on the members of the Forty-third
Congress, its chances are far from fattering.
"The dead and the dying" think the best thing
for them to do is to take care of themselves,
and they are using their best endeavors in that
direction. The majority of them appear to be
convinced that there is to be new party, and
they are anxious to be in at the beginning so
as to secure the best seats. II see they are
going to read you out of the party" said
Congressman to Kelley, of Pennsylvania, who
has incurred the hostility of number OF party
papers on account of his letter to the secretary
of the Indiana new party convention. Yes,
was the reply. "Well," said the other, Just !3t
let 'ine know when you are going, and l will
keep you company" Kelley says this has, In
substance, been repeated to him by more than
twenty of his colleagues on the floor. Among
a disorganized set Of men, entertaining senti-
mepts about party allegiance like these, it is
not so difficult, after all, to create demorallza-
ton 3"
= Perhaps the most anxious man in the House
is Speaker Blaine. 1 mean anxious about the
future of the Republican party. AS matters
stand now, he has the best right to expect the
nomination for the Presidency in 1876. No
other candidate whose name has been mention
ed can begin to compete with him. But the
prospect, Just now, indicates that it will be "a
barren sceptre in his hand" Nobody, not even
the members themselves, expects this Congress
to do anything toward setting the party On its
feet. Everybody admits that to 60 into the
canvass of '76 with the country in its present
condition and upon the issues of last November
will result in certain defeat to the Republican
candidate. Nothing short of a miracle could
save him. There are few counting upon what
they call the "sober second thought of the peo-
ple." and conspicuous among them is Henry
Wilson, the yice-president. He cannot bring
himself to believe that the country is ready to
entrust its interests to the hands of the Democ-
racy. But Henry forgets that the ranks of De-
mocracy have been greatly strengthened oflate,
BY large accessions Of recruits from the Repub-
lcan party. Blaine is still hopeful, but not as
bouyant as the vice.president He is too
shrewd q politician to close his eyes upon the
existence of stubborn facts. Wilson remarked,
the other day that if he could be placed at the
head of affairs for one year, be would set the
old party on its pins and make it as powerful
as ever. "But," ssid he, with significant
shrug of the shoulders, "you see am powerless
as vice. president. cannot do anything, and
everybody accuses me of prophesying evil things
of the party because 1 tell the truth, and take
things as I find thenl." Blaine realizes the sit
uation as keenly as Wilson, but he keeps his
mouth Shut His position as Speaker is more
favorable for the exercise of that peculiar pow
er which the Vice-President terms "setting the
party on its pins" The trouble is, however,
there is no material with which to work, and
not even the ingenuity of Blaine has been able
to arrest the generalization which set in with
November long enough to attempt reorganiza-
ton for the purpose Of making start fer the
fight of 1876. There is not sufficient harmony
of purpose among ''the dead and dying, to JUS
tify the holding of an ordinary caucus for con-
Blaine has been repeatedly impor-
tuned to have caucus, and it is quite probable
he would like to be able to give the country
even SO faint a proof of the vigor of the party,
but he knows very we'll that, in the present
condition of affairs, it would be likely to break
up in row. He doubtless prefers to wait, like
Micawber, for something to turn up of a more ia
vorable character.
The Administration "organ" here has ad-
yised Blaine to move down from the chair and
take hold of the reins of leadership, but such
folly as this can hardly owe its inspiration even
to the White House, though people are no Ion
ger astonished at anything from that quarter.
Indeed, from all accounts, the administration"
is not at oil troubled about the condition of the
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