The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-02-07
THEN AM, NOM

article from the New York Sun, vi the
51st ult.. relative to tho political com
plexion OF the United States Senate
after the fourth Of March next.
This article Is OF interest at this mo-
ment not only because Of the informa-
ton 1t imparts to those who do not
follow such matters very closely, but
because Of the close connection which
the intelligent student Of contempt
raneous political history can trace be-
tween the recent changes which have
taken place In the Senate and that ire
msndous revolution In public sentiment
which led to tho election OF the Demo
| cratic presidential ticket in November
last. Four years ago the Radical party
held supreme sway In all Of the depart
ments OF the government. The Demo
| cratic party. goaded by constant defeat
into the abandonment Of it's once trusted
| leaders. had very nearly committed po-
Itical suicide by tho nomination
for the presidency Of the great Hbo-
litionist. Horace Greeley. aud lay
PROSTATE at the feet Of it's great rival
writling in the agony Of it's discomiit-
ure and remorse for it's laundering self
qualification. Gen. Grant having, as
he claimed, first achieved IL triumphant
vlndication from the charges Of nepot-
ism, corruption and arbitrary violation
Of the constitution. with which he had
been AsGailed. seemed to DO confirmed
ia the belief that lib will WIS the su-
preme law Of the lan1, and did not hest
tate to tramplo under foot every guar
antee that the constitution was sup
posed to offsr for the protection OF soy
ereiGn States, and to measure tho liber-
ties of the people OF Louisiana by his
personal preference for one Of tho two
parties contendng for the possession Of
the government OF the State. at bis
back stood u bold aud defiant Republi-
can Congress, while tho Northern De-
mocrncy, destitute OF courage and lack
ing the discipline Of leadership, covered
before the ruthless sOlller whose disre-
gard OF constitutional restraints WIS
only equalled by bis contempt for the
party that had sought TO deprive him
Of what he regarded as but q meagre re-
ward for his military services. 70 such
q pass had matters come that "a Demo.
cratic Senator stated Ia all earnest ness
to tho writer OF these lines that II the
President should send to the Senate
Chamber squad OF soldiers and order
that body to dispense, no one could be
found so bold M to denounce and resist
the outrage.
The situation was gloomy indeed. and
many u sincere patriot INDUCED in sad
forebodings rs to the probable outcome
OF such departure from the cherished
usagcs Of the country; but the time had
not yet come to despair OF the Republic.
TIE darkest hour, it is said. Is that
which Immediately preoedes the dawn,
and q better fate was In store for the
American people than many Of the
most patriotic citizens dared to hope
for.
In the Congressional election OF 1874,
to the utter surprise OF the most saga-
cious politicians, there arose a tidal
wave" OF political feeling which carried
into the House Of Representative q
large number Of the best opponents Of
the purer sentiments and nobler pur-
poses Of the people, and relegated to
the obscurity OF private life many Of the
most reckless and corrupt demagogues
who had so nearly wrecke! the ship of
State through their blind craftsmanship
and desperate determination to rule or
ruin. The scales had fallen from the
eyes OF the former supporters OF these
political banditti; the spirit OF the peo-
pie was chastened, and honest patriots
breathed more freely and felt growing
within themselves a new faith in the
glorious destiny OF the Republic.
For awhile the Republican party