Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-03-22

| SuNh iOhoslNNs OuC may icusohhbiy app
to Greeley, with the alteration of the nam
and one other word, Pope's famous couple
on Bacon:
.'lfparts allure thee. see how Greeley shinsd.
| The greatest. wisest ,ceakesf of mankind.
| Correspondents Of the New York Times.
The Bottom Rail on Top.
| Ex-RkBELs TO TIE FRONT.
| WASHINGTON, March IL. 1873.
A year ago, just after Rutherford b
Hayes, the Republican candidate for tht
Presidency, had been installed in the White
House, two old campaigners, one Of them q
rebel general Of cavalry whose name is ia.
miliar in all parts Of the country, and the
other citizen Of New York who had won
distinction while commanding brigade in
the Union army, met in the bar-room of a
leading hotel. They have been friends since
the war, but that evening tho face of the
rebel general did not wear its usual genial
smile, and to his friends hearty greeting he
only replied; mo, not tonight, General.
L Chu IOu itllONS nave WHlpptu
us again, and I'm going into mourning. ~
Last week these two gentlemen met again,
and this time it was with a bright smile,
which hardly concealed the lurking malice,
however, that the ex-Confederate slapped
the Union man on the shoulder, excaiming,
"Hallo, old boy! Have you come over to
see your PRESIDENT" "Hardly," was the
quiet reply.
"Oh! you might as well," continued the
other, laughing. "You know the bottom
rail is on top again, and, if you like. I'll in
troduce you"
This incident aptly illustratrates not only
the political situation, but also the feeling
of public men in Washington The cid
Union soldiers, the Republican straight
outs, who fought through the heat and dust
of the day, who gave heir blood for the
cause, and who loved it as their life. are
chilled by the shadow of the White House.
Whether or not this feeling is justified BY
any action of the President need not now be
discussed, but that many prominent Repub-
licans have found. and still continue to find,
great difficulty in being admitted to his Ex-
cellency there can be no doubt. Nor is this
all. What they most complain of is that
they are excluded to make way for men
who few days ago were straining every
nerve to make shipwr ,ck Of the nation Of
which Mr.. Hayes is now the head. A few
Gays ago went to the White House with
gentleman who for years past has been
prominent in the councils of the Republican
party in New York. lie came to Washing
ton to ask no favors and to grind no axes.
lie simply wanted to see the city, and,
being one Of those who had great faith in the
good intentions Of the Administration. he
wanted to see and pay his respects to the
President. lie sent in his card, expecting
and intending to wait his turn for an inter
view. For half an hour he sat patiently
and during second half hour murmured
not when he had been seated one hour
and half in the ante-room however, and
there was still no sign that he was to be
admitted he quietly shook the dust of the
White House from of his feet and went his
way. During the time that was thus vast
ed by that stanch old Republican, man
noted for his fidelity to the Union and his
strict integrity in every walk of life,
counted sercn ex-rebels who were admitted
to the Republican President almost without
They were on familiar
terms with his Excellcncy's household, and
seemed to be thoroughly conciliated. OF
course, il Is very good thing to keep them
in that condition, ard perhaps it was very
wrong for the old Republican to be indig-
nant because he was pushed out of line
to make way for them. lie forgot.
doubtless, that the Executive Mansion is
now conducted on strictly Christian princi
pies, and that " there is more joy in Heaven
over one sinner that repenteth than over
ninety and nine just persons who need no
repentance. Or 1t may be that, like great
many other wordlyminded people, he
eoubted the professions of the gentlemen
who have recently been taken into the
fold.
Such incidents as these are Of daily occur
renee, and though slight in themselves, do
much to mold public sentiment Coupled
with the fact that John B. Gordon, of Geor-
gia /; NJ. c. Butler. of South Carolina Ben.
Hill. and other gentlemen of the same class,
are upon more familiar terms with the Pres
dent than are nine tenths of the Republican
Senators, It is, perhaps, not to be wondered
at that they give strength to the significant
statement i" The bottom rail is on top
again" 1t IS on top. Tn, Democracy rules
in Washington, and the Democracy is al
solutely under the control of men who won
distinction by plotting and fighting to de-
stroy their country. That they are
in their power must be ad |
mitted. Many of them display traits of gen.
erosity and good will which are everywhere |
admired, and it is a notorious fact that when |
a Republican Congressman has any favor to |
ask, he goes with his petition to South
ern rather than to Northern Democrat. |
Indeed, it is now generally felt. if not gen.
orally admitted, that the ex-rebels are in
almost absolute command, and their leaders |
make no secret of their intention to con-
tinue at the helm. They have even begun
to make promises of what they will do when
'the fraud" as they delight to call Presi-
lent Hayes, when they are not asking for an
office from him, has been replaced by man
Of their own kind. OF course, the rank and
Gle # the Democracy have not been slow to
catch the spirit Of their leaders. They feel
already, as they themselves express it, that
'the machine" is once more in their hands,
and that they will run it to suit themselves
there can be no doubt. A few evenings
ago ten or dozen Of these our new rulers
we're standing on Pennsylvania avenue,
within sight of the Capitol, They were
most of them characters in their way, nearly
all Southern men and all smal-fry politl
clans. Ofcourse, they were talking politics,
but af:er time the general conversation
was stopped to listen to one man. lie was
A doorkeeper at the Capitol. Speaking with
he said Further discussion
can't bring no results, gentlemen, dis here
country is goin' to be run by the Dimocra-
,y." Yes" said little one-armed man
At his side, "and by the Dimocracy south of
Mason and Dixon line." "Your amend
nent, Sir, is accepted, said the slow-speaks
ing doorkeeper. and the party separated.
Still another incident, which plainly in
iicates the direction in which the wind is
blowing, occurred few days ago ut one OF
the entrances to the hall of Representatives.
An old Federal officer who had been mem
Der and who is noted as an uncompromising
Republican, sought admission. The door
keeper did not, or pretended not to know
him, and he was refused. Just then a
friend, a member of the present House, saw
him and cried out, "Hallo. General, won't
they let you in ?" NO." replied the old
soldier, with as much bitterness as humor,
II have not had my Union disabilities re-
moved yet" How much significance there |
was in the answer can only be appreciated |
By those Republicans who live in Washing |
ton under an Administration of reconclia |
lion and non partisan good will. Ii. q.
Notes and Comments.
The beauties of the fisheries award OF
IS ,5OO,O for IL years use appear in a |
stronger light under the announcement that