The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-04-02
DIsENTEGRATIoN OF PARTIES.


IDENTIFICATION OF PARTIES.
The signs of an approaching disentegra.
tion of parties are already apparent. The
action of southern democrats in the house
secured the completion of the count and the
inauguration of President Hayes, while
similar action in the senate secured the con.
flrmation Of the cabinet and of other ap
pointments of tho president, including tha'
of Frederick Douglass as marshal of the
District of Columbia. For some time Ii
has been apparent that the slender demo-
cratic majority could not be relied upon to
control the organization of the house. With
bare majority of only five, counting all
as opponents of the administration who
were elected as democrats, the announce
ment of the presidents policy, followed as
1t was by the selection of a national non
partisan cabinet and other appointments OF
similar character, made even this MAORI
ty uncertain and the partisan democrat saw
the control of the next congress slipping
from his grasp. Really the only question
which divided the country or parties wa
that relative to southern policy. The
south had nothing to hope from the demo.
cratic party. With the national admins
tration and the senate in the hands of the
republicans, the only thing that the democ.
racy could do IN aid of the south was in the
way of obstructing legislation-and to do
this effectively the house majority was al
together too small, and, moreover, the
country would not sustain party whost
only policy was one of obstruction. The
whole hope of the south was in the rcpub.
lican party as represented by the admins
tration of President Hayes, and 30 the
democracy of the south, particularly OF
Arkansas and Louisiana, were prepared to
give his administration a generous and
hearty support, and aid, if need be, in o.
ganizing the house in that interest. Witt
On honest roll, the votes of the democratic
representatives from either of these state.
could secure such an organization of the
house as they wished.
The partisan democrats early took alarm,
and their fret act was to induce the clerk
to so manipulate the roll of the next house
that it shall show so large democratic ma
jority that any expected possible combina-
ton could not overcome it. How far they
have succeeded in this, it is impossible to
tell; but it would seem that they are not al
together satisfied with the result to the ex-
tent of basing their hope Of success thereon.
Therefore, to make assurance doubly sure,
they have entered upon negotiations with
southern republican senators and repre-.
sentatives, of the carpet-bag element, ant
1t is reported that an arrangement has beer
made by which three senators and thirteen
representatives have agreed, hereafter, tC
act with the democracy on all politica
questions.
These carpet baggers. it is said, claim e
take this course, and justify themselves il
so doing, by some such line of argument al
this They say they have large negrt
folio wing who will act and vote as they
direct; that if the president withdraws th,
army fIom South Carolina and Louisiana
they can expect no more aid from the fed
eral government, and must, therefore, lool
out for themselves; that they must act now
for If they wait until after Hampton anc
Nichols ara recognized, the democracy vii
have no further need for them, and the,
will have no hold on the democrats-ant
so, TO save their bacon, they must act a
once. The argument, of course, narrow
itself down TO this: "We have no regart
" for the country, for the south, or eilhe
party; and so we are going to take car
Of ourselves. II looks as If the demo
Gratis would be In power in the south anC
$50, in order to get office, we are demo
crats."
We trust that the report is true. TIL
most that can be gained by it will be TEN
porary control of the senate and house b.
the .mocracy. But even that Is doub
full. The policy of President Hayes is col
stantly WANING supporters, and the prob
bihties are that he will win to the suppo
of his administration more honest souther
democrats than he will loose In dishones
self-seeking republican carpet-baggers. I'll
numerical loss and gain will be about equa
but who can calculate the vast difference
the loss and gain Of moral strength "
wish the democracy much joy in this va
accession to their forces. These carpe
bag politicians have brought the republics
party to the very brink Of ruin, and we CO
very well spare them to complete the IN
of the democratic party.
But 1t makes little difference where tbs
60, or where they stay. With the carryir
out of the presidents policy to iits legi
mate conclusion, what is there of part
left The southern question settled, ar
both parties substantially agreed upon
civil service reform and return to hone
money, what is there to divide the countr
The politicians see this, and they are has
enipg to save themselves temperate
Parties caunot exist without principles;
accession of self seeking politicians cam
benefit party; mere policy of obstru
ton cannot build up party; neither c
parties divide upon mere personal pref
ence for individuals or candidates. Pre-
dent Hayes policy Is drawing to his 81