The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-11-20
REPUBLfC thfSM Am DhMOCRACY ON
THLfR LAST LEGS.

Tho Army hill passed the House OF Repre-
scniat " on Saturday. with all the important
amendments Of tn" Senate Thirteen Demo
crats voted with thu Republicans. nutw ,thstand-
ing that the purity whip wHs swung with the ut
mort fore" by Atkins. Clymcr. Hewitt. and other
Democratic leaders. Five 81 thes, thirteen were
Texans. who would even moro willingly have
vot d for n su nrg"r army.
The defeat OF the Democratic leaders Ia espe-
clally Illuminating because they have treated
this measure most drciavely ~ n party m"as-
urc. For that reason il required u great effort
for Democratic representatives. to separate
tn ms"lvos from their party associntos in this
q irar: and. while no more Of them did this
than WIS actually necessary. II Ia SAFE To assume
that greater number Of Democrats might
hav been had for the amendments. If any more
had been required
We shall certainly not bo mistaken n We con-
clude IRON the result Of the conflict over the
Army bill that the Admin 'straiion has no occa-
sion 10 fear any sort 81 chicansry from tho
democratic portion Of the House. Indecd. il
would not De too much TO assum" that a lies OK
clusively in the power Of the rroe dent to
break the bonds Of party on the Democratic
sid" To such n docrcc that the Democratic ma
| jnrty ia the House will be- entirely wiped out.
On the other hand. however. il must to- nd
miiird that the Presidents adherence to his
| own party. which he has again and again on
every occasion asserted. stan rs in the WHY of
| this. From the reports respecting the transnc-
tons oi Saturdays caucus il seems that the
President holds firmly to the pur. ose which he
conceived in entering upon his ofllee. Of build
ing mp an anti Democratic party in the South.
which in national elections will 20 with the Re-
puhlicans In this he does not appear to have
| rt-rd himself above the level OF tho ordinary
compromised politician; in fact. he regards pat
| rona4c ms chief instrument of success. We
| fear also. that in this business Internal i'm
provcmrnis viii appear and play their part
The President gives the Republican Senators
n hard nut to crack. II they oppose his South
ern nominations. he throws upon them the re-
sponsihilty for the continuance OF solid
| South II would not hc surprising II he should
succeed even in the question of the admission
| Of Senators from Louisiana and South Carolina
| In controlling the majority Of the Senate II
| the Republicans must admit that in the South
their party il utterly dead. they certainly could
do nothing better than to lend their aid in
| building up new party there. II il true this is
| "A dangerous experiment. for this third party
| might also make its appearance in the North
| tut at any rate. the Republican Senators are
| not happy about the experiments Of Ia" Prcsi
dent and Congress will probably adjourn be-
fore they come to any dctrrminat on.
In his annual message the President will
! hay" an opportunity to express himself NOR,
! fully r"spe ting his views and plans. and their
! exposition will NO lonrrr hc confined To IN,
caucus Tho regular session will Ice rich in
ga II eypositiuns and the financial question
Will then stand forth AZ very dangerous T., both
! pariies Hardmoney Democrats and hard.
Nancy Repabucdns stand much nearer To-
| gethtT Mln hdri -rHOr,Y Democrats and soft