The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-04-19
VOL. VI.
THE LEADERS OF THE NEW
CONGRESS AND THEIR POLICY.

South, will hardly be forgotten while
we celebrate centennials of American
Independence. We remember what a
picture Garfield drew of the conduct OF
Lee and of his mental struggles when
forced to ally his fortunes either with
those Of VIrginia or of theUnited States.
Lee loved his State, the land of his
birth, and of his forefathers whose his
tory was that of the grand old common
wealth. Well might he hesitate. But
Ohio and the Union stood side by side,
and even then poor Long, a son of
Ohio, proposed to stand aloof when
neither the "nation" uor the State hes.
itated. Longs picture when he shrank
from view while Garfield pityingly
pointed at "his littleness" was en-
graved on the pages of congressional
history. Mr.. Garfield is strong and
vigorous of body as of intellect, and,
save that he is hardly such colloquist
in debate as Butler, has no superior in
the clearness of his simple, logical,
effective eloquence. He inherited pov
erty, but has become learned as we'll as
eloquent, and many passages from his
choicest speeches must become part of
the country's permanent literature. Of
Ben Buffers genius it is needless to tell.
His v.llainous face and god-like intellect
are everywhere recognized. HIS fea-
lures are so strongly marked that he is
a favorite subject among artists en-
ploYed by the pictorial press. He has
been pronounced thief so often and
bitterly and constantly that the allega-
ton, whe ther true or false, has lost ef-
fectiveness, and he Is deemed, at least
practically in social life everywhere, q
gentleman. Very certainly we should
either abandon the assertion of his per-
sonal vlllainy or send him to the State
prison instead of the country's capital
as its foremost lawgiver. Mr.. Butler
employed youth for some years to
Gull from the newspapers every origi-
nal denunciation pronounced against
himself. II is stated that originality
became at last so rare that the boy con-
fessed his Office sinecure and he is
''spooney" for the illustrious Ben no
more. Butler was Democrat as long
as it was profitable to be Democrat.
Under series of Democratic admins
trations, he. being the foremost Demo
crat of New England, distributed all
the spoils in those States, but when he
saw Democracy cutting its throat and
Republican gathering in every re-
source of power, he became, like all new
converts, the most Jealous of Radicals
seeking even to outvie Thad Stevens
in detestation of his old associates in
the secession business at Charleston
and Baltimore 1t was of Butler, when
making a violent, radical ro-Southern
speech in Washington in 1S60-1, that
Andrew johnson said, while listening
intently to the clear, ringing sentences
of the rotund New Highlander.
81 always distrust a man who
is a better friend to me than
1 am to myself" Butler was
then more devout friend
of the South than the truest, wisest
Southerner. But whatever the degree
of Ben Buffers moral obliquity even if
as infinite as that of his physical vision,
he commands the attention, if not the
confidence, of the country, and by
some strange force or incident of his
genius represents one of the best and
most intelligent constituencies of the
Union, and however we may abhor the
fact, he will do moro to make or un-
make the administration of Mr.. Hayes
than any living man. The South,
therefore, is profoundly interested in
the conduct and purposes of the vigcr-
Gus and remorseless Mephistopheles
from Massachusetts,. If his ironical,
bitter and yet seemingly jocular decla-
rations of purpose, printed yesterday,
constitute an earnest definition of his
purposes, Packard and the Register and
Mr.. Mills will find in the incompatible
Mr.. Butler their choicest ally and con-
Servatism and right and the South
their most terrible enemy. Most men
quote Scripture when serious; Ben But
Ter, therefore, would only quote it
when he jests. He drew his insplra-
tion, when damning the President,
from the Bible, and only sought, per-
haps, through the Herald, to make the
continent smile.
Me-. Randall is distinguished for
strength rather than suppleness, and for
his personal worth. His practical good
sense and quickness of apprehension
are IauIttcss, anu uv 10 PTVpS.,y r.
nounced q statesman. In Randall Mr..
Garfield will find confessed equal while
Butler in each fierce conflict and run
ming debate will encounter the gibes
and wit and fascinating oratory of the
brilliant Sunset Cox. The coming ses-
sion of Congress cannot fail, having
four such representatives of the genius
and learning of the two existing par
ties to lead in Its discussions, to COM
mand public attention to sn extra
ordinary extent. The people will
watch with unprecedented eager
ness developments of party policy.
Butler and Garfield in the House,
and Blaine aud Morton in the Sen
ate, may undertake to destroy the
President even as they stripped Andrew
johnson of power. Success is hardly
possible. Hayes, fortunately, is a
stcadfast Republican, as Andrew John
son had been q lifelong Democrat.
Hayes has the confidence Of the North
while poor Johnson's adherents were of
the South. Butler and Garfield and
Blaine and Morton, when the Intelli-
gent journals of the South and North
alike and the best elements alike OF
Republicanism and Of Democracy ad