Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-06-28
A Democratic BackdOwn.

THE Democrats originated the Potter
Committee, and inaugurated the inves-
tigation to advance the interests of the
Democratic party. The Democrats in
Congress put themselves on record as
favoring the revolutionary programme
marked out in the Potter resolution.
The question covered by this resolution
was made a party one, and the Demo-
cratic party, as party, was committed
to the line of action marked out. The
step was taken deliberately, and the ex-
pertinent was tried. The importance
of the step as political maneuver must
be measured by the results of the vent
ure.
When the Potter resolution was pre-
sented in the House, the Republicans
desired to amend so as to have the res
olution declare that no attack on the
Presidents title was intended. They
were not allowed to do this, and all the
other amendments looking to thor
ough investigation were rejected. The
Democratic resolution was adopted as of
fered and the investigation inaugurated
on the Democratic plan. Two weeks
have passed, and in whatplight does this
Democratic programme leave the DEM
ocratic partyp
The investigation has proceeded just
as the Democratic managers insisted it
chosen their witnesses, and have had
access to all documents and records.
They have had their own way about
everything, and yet they have failed to
make a case, or any show of one. This
is the result so far as the Republican
party is concerned. AS to the Demo-
cratic party, the experience of the last
two weeks leaves it in a most pitiable
plight.
1t opened the battle as the assailant
of the Republican party, choosing its
own ground. In two weeks it has been
driven from every position, and now
stands on the defensive. Denied the
opportunity for thorough investigation
in the House, the Republicans SO man
aged as to secure the opportunity in
the Senate. Failing to secure an
amendment to the Potter resolution de-
claring that the Presidents title could
not be assailed, the Republicans struck
in another direction, and secured the
adoption of resolution much more
sweeping in its declarations.
Two weeks ago Democratic Congress
men pledged themselves to policy
that contemplated the unseating of the
President. Last Friday, outflanked
and demoralized, they voted for res
olution that declares that policy revo-
lutionary. They went further, and in
disposing of the Blair memorial de-
clared that neither Congress, nor court,
nor other tribunal has power to reverse
the declaration that the President has
been duly elected.
At the opening of this brief campaign
the Democrats had united majority in
Congress; they had taken position on
the Presidential question, in the reduc-
ton of the army, and had entertained
the Blair resolution as to the illegality
of the election of President Hayes. At
the end their majority is demoralized,
if not divided; they have abandoned
their position on the Presidential ques-
ton, have backed down from their ag-
gressive stand for army reduction, and
have repudiated the revolutionary Blair
resolution. All this has been in the ma
ture of a retreat in the face of the
enemy. Committed to one line of ac-
ton, the Democrats in Congress have
been forced to take another, by Repub-
lican strategy Vi by public opinion.
They have been out-maneuvered and
frightened, and deserve little credit for
their votes on Burchard's resolution.
Given an opportunity by their majority
in Congress to make their point, they
have abused it and have lost ground.
In the language of Gen. Grant, they
have filled the bucket and kicked il
over. They stand before the people
convicted of intent to revolutionize,
claiming credit because they were
frightened and compelled to abandon
their purpose. They come before the
country on record which proved to be
so repulsive to the people that they had
to eat their words, and repudiate their
own programme. The worst enemies
of the Democratic party could not wish
it to be in more pitiable plight than il
is now.-C Chicago Inter Ocean.