The New York herald., 1875-12-15
An Angry Leader.

Dark clouds are rapidly gathering over the
democratic sky. Only week ago and we were
proud to point out to our readers the har-
mony, the peace the enthusiasm, which at
tended the gathering of our new democratic
House. We showed, and in doing SO we
were sustained by the weird and beautiful
Washington correspondent Of the World,
that the democrats were to ''reform" the gov
ernment and show the country how to live
in peace and unity. II is true we had lit
tie trouble about the Speakership, but that
was settled. Then we had the party pass
ing into the control of q grand tri-
umvirate something unknown in our
political history This triumvirate was COM
posed of Kerr, The Man Of Honesty Wood,
The Man of Department, and Randall, The
Man of Capacity. The especial function of
Wood was that of ''Mentor" or referee; and
there was Sunset Cox, who was to be sort of
nitrous oxide in the new arrangement to keep
the House in good humor. This weird and
beautiful correspondent drew us picture
after picture of Kerr ''sitting alone in his
parlor," his eyes turned upward to the world
of peace and rest; of Cox chirping and
fitting from limb to limb of the Legislative
tree; of Wood sitting alone in his library
surrounded by his books" Wood was
pictured to US q modern Cato, who had fallen
upon evil times, and who in an age of Roman
virtue would have been elected to any Office
in the gift Of the people by general acclama-
ton.
But all these bright visions fade. The
Man of Honesty is in the Speakers chair ;
but, sad to say, he is run to death by ambi-
tious democrats eager for place. The Man of
Capacity sits on the floor, and, as he did not
take part in the Louisiana debate, his party
was routed and driven from the field by
beggarly minority. But what q change has
fallen upon The Man of Department. Our
modern Cato no longer 'sits in his library,
surrounded by his books" The correspond
ents picture him in far different attitude.
"Mr Wood" says one writer, assumed the
look of French general at a court martial,
whatever that may be, and said that "he was
not bound to give an account of his acts or
his motives" ''He was under no obligations
to any newspaper or party" God help
us Then he arose Gin q dramatic
and imposing posture" and said, Il want
the press and the public to understand that
/ shall do as I please and make no explana-
tions of my conduct" Gracious goodness ! !!
Il am not responsible for what they may say,
nor for the action of designing men," Is it
possible ]! ''These are the men who make
&c ha -
this !! ''This attack on me and my friends
is the smallest exhibition of a small mind
that this age can produce. 1t is too damned
small to laugh at" Alas !! alas !!
We cannot express the apprehension
with which we read these words of the
man who only yesterday was the Mentor"
of the democratic party, the referee" in
the great triumvirate, ''sitting alone
in his library surrounded by his
books" disdaining any interference with
politics or cabals. But our idol,
whose head was of gold, shows the
feet of clay. He actually swears, which is
not what any well bred, well conditioned
'Mentor" ever should do; and he informs
the press that he is responsible to nobody,
which no wise politician ever thought of in
his temperate moods. What could have
fallen upon the ''Mentor" to make him so
angry? What disappointment, what chagrin,
what act of mutiny has disturbed that intel
lect which yesterday sat on the heights over
looking the contending hosts like the Homeric
god on the hills of Samothrace? We fear
that these black looks, these angry words,
this French attitudinizing these dramatic
very essential commandment on the part of
our Fernando bodies evil for tire democratic
party.