National Republican., 1877-11-24

tant questions to COalesce and act with the
opposition. This move on their part has
not taken tho Republican Senators and
Representatives in Congress entirely by
surprise, as rumor had prepared the way
for II. These rumors had been put forth by
the Democrats, who knew how far this
coalition had proceeded. No Republican
Senators save the two involved had been
let into the secrets of the arrangement,
while the Democrats were fully advised,
and were too glee(ul over the prospect to
conceal their joy, and hence had put forth
certain mysterious statements that have
been seized upon by representatives of the
press and sent broadcast over the country
in the form of rumor.
The cat is now thought to he ont of the
bag. The action Of Senators CoNovER and
PATTERSON leave hut little IL any room
for doubt that they have given themselves
away TO the Democracy for certain If not
for all future purposes in their official
capacity.
The terms of the arrangement under which
this betrayal of party faith has occurred is
left mainly to conjecture; but one thing is
very patent in the midst of all this-these
Senators have not thrown themselves into
the arms of the enemy ut this peculiar and
important crisis without some equivalent.
That will no doubt be apparent in due time,
aud the public can afford 10 wait for the
dCnoucmcnL II is left for the Democrats to
find provocation and justification for these
acts of descrtion, for no sound Republican
can side has attempted it, The Democrats
are highly gratifed because they have OBJ
tanned an advantage.
1t is said, in justification of the course of
these two Senators, that the President has
maltreated them in the bcstowal of patron
age. 1t is further urged that certain Re-
publican Senators have not treated them
with all the respect due TO them. These nl-
Legations may be true hut, so fur as the
President is concerned, he has no doubt
treated these Senators just us he has treated
all other Senators of the same political
faith. 1t is possible that some Republican
Senator has treated Senators PATTERSON
and CoNOvER with less personal and official
respect than they fanoied that they had in
herited with their elevated positions. We
are not prepared, neither do we care, TO con-
trovert these points, for they have nothing
legitimately to do with their action toward
party and principles that have magnitled
and given to them nll the consequence in
public life that they possess. If indi-
viduals, whether in the White House or
Senate Chamber, have treated their claims
cavalieTly, does that Justify them in de-
scrtion Of principle or in striking blow at
the grand old party that has yielded to
them its conlidencer We think not.
We dislike to speak unkindly Of these
Senators, with whom VIC have held pleasant
relations; but we can not forboar indulGing
what we regard to he a just criticism Of
their very singular course. We owe that
much to a fidelity to principle, to party ale
glance, and to the fidelity of history. Their
conduct challenges it. There is, to our mind,
no imaginable circumstances that will jus
tiry their conduct. If in the future they
should appeal to the Second sober thought" !"
and return to their party allegiance, they
may rescue their names from an uniortu-
nate page in the records of the present day.
"While the lamp holds out to burn" &C.,
is promise of great value to the wayward.
These Senators have pursued the game Of
"give-away" quite as ihr as is safe to the
welfare of the nation and their own good
names.