The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-02-09

SN~Ss
ments of such men as Lamar that q
division was made in their ranks
The Democratic members, especially
those from the South, were peculiar
~ situated with reference to this
question, It did not look consistent
for the majority side of the House,
which had fnaugurated such radical
and sweeping measures of retrench-
ment, extending even to clerks in the
Departments, to join in voting q mil
lion and q half Of dollars to private
corporation which was really able to
take care Of itself. Those who had
looked into the matter were satisfied
that this appropriation was practi-
cally a gratuity TO an association Of
individuals who expected to make
good deal Of capital and money out
of the enterprise. It was for these
reasons, and the belief that Congress
had no constituted authority to ap-
propriate money for such q purpose,
that 1O6 Democrats voted in the
negative. But the issue Of patriot
ism had been raised, and. people all
over the country really believed that
national pride and national honor was
involved. The Republican side of
the House was almost solidly sup
porting the bill, ostensibly on these
grounds, and many Southern Demo
Gratis, anxious to give some tangible
manifestation Of their patriotism, and
to take another step in the direction
of reconciliation, supported t h e
measure against the convictions Of q
large majority of their political as
sociates.
It's success, therefore, may be cor
rectly termed a triumph of sentimen
tai patriotism over practical business
Judgment. Five of the Pennsylvania
delegation voted no, and no doubt
Mr.. Randall himself, who was it's ar
dent advocate, would have opposed
the measure but for the oyerwnelm-
ing local pressure. The amendment
secured by Mr.. Springer providing
that if any profits accrue from the
exhibition the amount of the appro-
priation should be returned to the
Government before declaring a divi-
dend to the stockholders is a good
thing, and it only remains to be seen
what method the managers will en-
ploy to evade this provision. From
present indications there can be no
doubt that the profits will be enor
nous. Since the passage Of the bill
technical error has been discovered
which may necessitate an amend
ment in the Senate, and a return to
the House for concurrence.
If this transpires / venture the
prediction that second trial results
in defeat. The powerful lobby head
ed by Ex-Governor Bigler, of Penn
sylvania and Ex-Governor Joe Haw
ley, of Connecticut, has now turned
it's attention to the Senate. Their
work in the House was well done, for
without their efforts the appropria-
ton would not have stood a ghost Of
a chance, or had there been one-hali
the work in opposition to them, all
their pressure and the $4,000 spree
would have gone for naught.
Some forty speeches were made
during the discussion, and several
more not made were printed, by leave
in the Record. Ofall the nauseatine
literature ever set before an innocent
reader the copies Of the Compression.
al daily, containing half a dozen OF
SO each Of this latter class Of
speeches are the most disgusting
Now and then an aspiring nosdle
with more brass than brains will gel
into Congress. OF course, such fel
lows could no more make a speech
than hog could climb tree, but
they take advantage of these discus
sions to get leave to "heave in a few
remarks" or, in other words, have
something printed in the Record
which they can palm of upon thei1
unsuspecting constituents as a speech
Occasionally one ofthem will displa,
uncommon shrewdness by employin,
some obscure journalist to write hin
an eloquent appeal, but the majorit,
are satisfied with anything so 1t i,
in print wit their name attached, ant
they insert under the guise Of
speech" . few paragraph Of sense
less twaddle. But such is fame.
In my next letter I car give pref