The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-01-27
Bad Taste and Bad Temper.

lie IepIcHcLSlDle cOHuuct OF the MINOR
ity in the national House of Representa-
tives is calling out pointed rebukes from
all sections of the country. The Missouri
Republican expresses the average opinion
OF the people when it says that the Re-
publican members of the house have thus
tar displayed a much greater amount Of
bad taste and bad temper than even their
bitterest opponents anticipated. Fourteen
years Of unbroken and unlimited power
have evidently untitled them for the grace
fol acceptance of a minority position.
They cannot lay aside much less forget
their former arrogance. They are appar-
emily unable to realize that the voice of
the people, expressed through the ballot
box, has turned the tables on them, and
that patriotism as well as politeness re-
quires them to recognize the fact and
behave accordingly. They act precisely
as if the Democratic majority had been
obtained by fragrant usurpation, and was
utterly destitute of foundation either in
law OF justice, They could not be more
violent on more insolent if they expected
the popular verdict to be speedily set aside
by decision of the supreme court, and
their old supremacy to be restored, en-
larged and confirmed In short. these
minority Republicans conduct themselves
like spoiled children, who, having long
been petted by too indulgent parents,
resent the first exercise of parental DIS
cipllne as if it were q gross and inexcus~
| able outrage upon their inalienable rights.
III the session continues as it has begun,
| they will not only have to bear the respon-
slblllty OF embarrassing and retarding i'm
portant legislation, but they will show to
The world another example of the ease
with which long lease of power begets
a species OF tyranny dangerous to free in
situations and antagonistic to good gov
eminent. 1t is quite time that a party
having such a small share of discretion
and decency should step down ana cut
awhile.
To Mr.. Blaine and his friends also be-
longs the unenviable honor of opening the
Centennial year with sectional quarrel.
Instead Of doing what they could to pro-
mote that traternal feeling between North
and South without which the whole Cen
tennial business is but glittering sham,
! they have done what they could to stir up
those predjudices and passions which only
little while ago famed out in civil war
Instead of extending the olive-branch,
| they have tiourished the sword instead of
burying all animosties in the grave of
| charitable oblivion, and assisting the pres
emit and the future to heal the wounds of
the past, they have endeavored to resurrect
the worst memories of wretched era, and
postpone indefinitely the day of perfect
reconciliation. Ifthese Republicans really
cared to rekindie and perpetuate that spirit
OF undivided nationality which made 1916
immortal, would they have selected the
| dawn of 1876 for an assault deliberately
designed to make undivided nationality a
self-evident lie:9 If they really wished to
have our hundredth Fourth of July moral
as well as material success, an opportu-
nifty for reconciliation as we'll as glorifica-
ton, genuine national love-feast as well
as an apotheosis of Yankee Doodle
would they have flung their fire brand into
the halls OF congress now9 If Blaine and
his associates fairly represent the sent-
ments Of the Republican party toward the
South, then the Centennial celebration,
however satisfactory it may be as a show,
Is destined to prove most miserable
failure as restorer of American brother
| hood. 1t might have been a priceless
blessing; it promises to be only gorge
Gus circus,
1