Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-02-24
"The Democratic Party Dog Is
Dead."-A Tildcn Paper on the
House democrats.

From the Chicago Times, FEB. w.
Had the National House of Representatives, in
its controlling section, been a body of strong men
men of the force Of character and decision Of
purpose that made Winter Davis and Thad Stew
ens and Ben Butler and James G Blaine the rep
resentative men" Of their party IN spite of itself
men capable of giving the command and taking
the lead iu the execution-tbe cohorts of fraud
would have felt that organized power was NOV
ing to its aim with steady step and force that
it would be idle TO resist. 1t would not have been
re sisted. 1t was as completely in the power of
strong House of Representatives to have led the
nation to fuiflment of its decision in the sp
pointment of Mr.. Tilden as it was in the power Of
that body TO choose its own Speaker. The Senate
had not the least power TO prevent it, and would
not have ventured to do so. Seeing in an able
representative assembly Of the American people
fixed, steady aud answering purpose to carry
forth the popular decision all traitorous threaten
ing Of Grants bsyonets, all empty talk of setting
up pretcnder by the pronuuciado of Senate
chairman, would have been speedily silenced and
shsmed into obedience to the law and the national
will.
But the controlling section in the present House
of Representatives is a body of spoils-seeking pol
itcians almost beneath contempt for their feeble
ness and political aimlessness. 1t is the weakest,
most pusillanimous and contemplate representa-
tive body ever assembled at Washington. 1t Is
an aggregation of partisan odds and ends, thing
of "shreds and patches" a combination of cross
road politicians, confederate colonies, "granger"
idiots, partisan mountebanks and political charla-
tans of the lowest order. There are few very
few, men OF brains who with experience would
develop faculties of craftsmanship, but their num-
Der is so small and their expcrie nee so great that
their influence amounts TO nothing in effect.
Some of these-notablv Messrs. Hurd and Wall
ing, of Ohio, and Mr.. Thompson OF Msssacb usetts
deserve praise for the manliness of their protests
against the perfectly Infamous dit eating of the
Bourbonic Bayaid, Herman, Hewitt, Randolph
Tucker and the whole phalanx of RECONSTRUCTED"
Southern hambugs. But il Is not the less to the
mbecility and fcebleness of the House that the
reasonable conspiracy to set up ar elective mon
arch upon basis of loathsome fraud, cloaked by
the polluted robe OF jud ciai prostitute, owes its
success.
Let not those demagogues fatter themselves
that "the waiting game is theirs" They have
been playing the waiting game these many years
with results that have not been satisfactory. That
game, too, is played out.
Let them not hug to their fossil bosoms the de-
lusen that an appeal to the people" will be heard.
They have too often betrayed the confidence a too
credulous people have reposed in them. They
have too often forfeited the popular trust they
have asked for and received. As representatives
of the people, they abdiested their function when
they referred the appointment of President to
committee of parts knaves and tricksters. Let
them not hope that refusal to resume their prop
er function in time TO prevent the consummation
of colossal outrage and national disgrace will
dispose the people to listen to their appeal. 1t
certainly will not They may appeal to the peo-
pie; but the appeal will be in vain. The "demo-
cratic" party dog is dead. The last change Of the
national administration which implies a change in
the ofice holding class has been made.