The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-04-14
g 4gl9 Political Notes.

izing the House of Representatives in III,
interest OF the Administration never had an,
real foundation to build upon. They rested
solely upon the efforts Of few Southern mel
to rescue Louisiana and South Carolina frou
the hands of the spoilers. The length, ant
breadth, and depth of those negotiations ar,
now fully known TO the country. Doubtless
some of the parties concerned on both side
looked beyond the avowed object, aud MAJ
have supposed that a new combination wa
possible, by which selfish aspirations might b,
gratihed II any such idea was seriously en-
tcrtainod the turn Of events has utterly ex.
tingushed it, A little reflection should hav,
shown it to be wholly impracticable, even i
Hayes had promptly carried out his part o
the programme, by Withdrawing the troops.
His hesitation, trimming and weakness, have
demonstrated that he cannot be relied upon
to take responsibility promptly, and therefore
| is not dangerous as an adversary who chnl
lengts admiration by effective action.
The fact that the Democratic majority in the
next House is small, attracts attention to
every vote, and especially to those votes
which, in consequence of the recent discus.
sions, have been prominently in view, and TO
some degree under suspicion, though unjust.
\ ly, as we believe, 1t would be impossible to
elect an Administration candidate for Speak
er like Garfield, Foster, or any of that set,
without a bargain and sale which would ruin
and disgrace all connected with II. On the
other hand, a combination Of the Republicans
upon Il southern Democrat, supposing he
could detach sufficient support from his own
side to make it successful, would be attended
by equally fatal consequences.
In either aspect, therefore, when tested
practically, the suggestion Of this scheme is
absurd In the Twenty'eighth Congress,
| William j. Brown, then Democratic mem
Der from Indiana, made a secret bargain to
defeat the regular nominee by combination
with what was then known as the abolition
element ia the House. correspondence
took place, which was dragged TO light, and
the project was exploded on the day of its
proposed consummaton. Allexperience has
| shown that when parties are closely balanced,
the contest for Speaker has been decided
mainly by independent votes.
So far from there being any detection on
the Democratic side, when Congress shall
meet, the probability is that the organization
will be more compact and better disciplined
than in the last House, when the majority
was far too large for efficiency, and the intu-
sion of an unexpected number Of new mem
| bcrs by the tidal wave of 1874 contributed to
confusion and the creation of irregular fac.
| tons, led by selt-asserting chiefs with more
ambition than brains.
! 1t may be assumed with entire confidence,
| that the new House will be organized without
| the least trouble. There is no schism to heal,
and no detection to expect. One vote may
be lost by the illness of Mr.. Stephens OF
Georgia, but even he has expressed the de-
termination, il at all able, to be taken to the
House for the discharge Of n great duty. Nor
is there likely to be any serious struggle for
! the Speakership. Public opinion has pretty
well decided the matter already, and 1t will
| crystalize more firmly as the tune approaches
for the choice, (Randall.l
At best, aud when all the contested cases
are determined, the Democratic majority Will
range probably between fifteen and twenty,
which, considering the usual number of alb
senlees, is barely large enough for working
force when q line Of policy is to be carried
out. 1t is, therefore, of the first Importance
! that the Speaker chair should be filled by a
man familiar with parliamentary law, deci'
| sive in character, and entirely in sympathy
with the programme of reform and retrench
mcnt to which the party is pledged. Exper'
iments will not answer, and merely local con
siderations have no claim when the public
| interests are at stake Economy in expendi-
lures must go on until hard pan is reached
and the basis of condition of actual peace
/ is established There is great deal to be
done, which cannot be achieved without firm
ness and capacity to work out the problem us
| IL IS now presented.
TRIALS AND PERIIs OF THE president. -
| The Philadelphia Times says The signs
are unmistakable that President Hayes is to
encounter an organized opposition in his own
party, that has resolved to force him to aban.
| don his policy of national pacihcation or be
driven outside the pale Of Repubcanism.
| The evidences Of this purpose are multiplied
| on every side, and it can no longer be doubt.
| ed that the President must be iaithless to his
repeatedly expressed convictions of public
duty and to his solemn pledges to the nation,
or accept death struggle with the desperate
reyolutionsts of his party. 1t is as we feared
after the first three days Of the new admins
tration. Had President Hayes issued his or.
| der for the withdrawal of the troops from the
! capitOs of South Carolina and Louisiana on
the day of his inauguration, there would have
| been universal submission, and the over
whclming sentiment of the country in support
Of his act would have made opposition impos.
! siblc. The carpet. baggers would have bowed
to the inevitable; the destructionists would have
| fallen into the administration line for want OF
support elsewhere; Hampton and Nichols
would have been acknowledged by all as the
lawful Governors of their respective States,
aud the South and the whole country would
have welcomed immediate and lasting peace.
1t is manifest now that the war is to be car
red into Congress, and that the leaders who
have arrayed themselves against the admins.
tration mean to make it surrender or Tylerize
it. In this warfare Blaine and Butler are
counted as cheftaius, with the Chambers aud
| H..
Cameron and Conkling as neutrals, if not &c.
tually in the hostile ranks. At first blush the
organization of the opposition looks formida.
BILE. The struggle will be bitter, but the issue
cannot be doubtful unless the President shall
wreck himself by weakness that would be
worse than crime
Ex.Goyernor Hendricks, in response to Q
serenade in San Francisco, the other night
said he dill not think the judgment of the
American people was that Mr.. Hayes wa:
elected, but he had been placed in the Presi.
Dental chair, and for the good Of the coun
try the administration would be supported
-Four years hence it would be the business Of
the people to pass judgment upon this CUES
ton.
The United States troops were withdrawn
from the State House in Columbia, 5. c.,
on Tuesday, aud Chamberlain issued an ad.
dress Announcing his abandonment of the
contest for the Governorship. His private
secretary surrendered the executive Office Il
Governor Hampton on Wednesday.
The Boston Journal represents Mr., Hayes.
policy to be, in reference to postmasters and
like officials, that those who have served foul
years faithfully will be re.appointed, but
where the incumbents have enjoyed the Office
for two or more terms, new appointments viii
be made.
Senator Blaine has written letter to the
Boston Herald, ardently sympathizing with
Packard and Chamberlain, and declaring the
title of the former to be Us good as that OF
President Hayes,
The New York Methodist Conference, in
session at Roundout, adopted n resolution ap.
proving the policy of President Hayes.
The Washington Republican announces, as
If by authority, that there is going to be an
overhauling of the custom houses,
Twenty-three States have Democratic Gov
ernors.
The work of winding up the affairs of the
Freedmen's Bureau is reported to be making
steady, though slow progress, and the expen.
| ses of the concern are dperaaging accordinOlv