The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-02-14
VOL. VII.
CONCURRENCE OF DEsEOCRATIO
AND REPUB GICAN ENEMIES OF
THE PRRSIDENT.


The struggle between the President
and those Senators who are resolved to
control offices and patronage of their
own States will be renewed. Butler
holds office in the House and
seeks to compel that body, having
strong Democratic, majority, to declare
that Hayes is not president, or that be
was Illegally invested with office. 1t
is stated that for the sake of peace,
aud that the country's interests, rather
than those of.the party, may be pro-
NOTED, and that this legislation, rather
than violent partisan and personal dis
cussIons, may occupy the attention of
the country and Congressmen, the wise
and better class Of statesmen viii vote
against any proposition designed to be,
get these unfortunate results. Dema--
goeues and the feather-weight party
leaders cannot afford to pursue this
course. They must prefer apparent
consistency to the cOdntry's good, and
having sworn that Hayes was not
the president, they must so vote when
ever Butler requires 1t. Since no con-
ceivable good can come of such voting,
and only unmixed evil to every interest
of the United States, we do not see
why apparent inconsistency may
not be prscticed in order to
promote ends Of the wisest patriotism.
There is little doubt that in the Sell
ate few Democrats would have
the President defeated by Conkling.
The day is not distant when Dem
ocrats will have absolute supremacy in
both houses, and then these Democrat
ic Senators will love power and pat
ronage as well as Conkling. Senator
Msxey discovers no reason for the ut
terance of apologies to his constitu-
ents, but seems to think that the lapse
of a few months will demonstrate the
wisdom of his action. On the contra
ry, this usurpation of the appointing
power by the Senate was unknown I'm
til the revolutionary and desperate
Congress of Andrew Johnson's time,
of which Thad. Stevens was the i'm
personation, enacted the tenure of Of
fee law and virtually vacated the Pres
ident's office. Senator Maxey, it
seems, would perpetuate in the South
those personal advantages to members |
of that body and personal power
ed by SteYens's party from John
son and never restored to Grant |
or Hayes. Whether the Presi-
dent be overthrown depends up
on Democrats, and whether the
Senate, when Democratic, will stultify |
the Democratic press and party which
has rallied out for twelve years past |
against practices that Conkllng would |
make the rule of government, depends |
now upon Democrats and not upon Re- |
publicans. 1t is terrible test to ap-
ply to Democratic senatorial honesty |
and patriotism and unselfishness. Coke |
and Msxey would be supreme masters
of Federal appointments in Texas.
Men love power and Office and these
two men might gain both if
they may be as absolute arong local
party -leaoers in Texas as Conkling has
been, for ten years past, in New York.
Will the Senate, when Dsmocratic. re-
peal the tenure of Office law, and de
clare for civil service reforml These
are questions which must soon be ,prac-
tically considered by Democratic
Senate and House, and we are sorry to
see two or three Democratic Senators
making a record to-day which will
Justify their. adoption of Conkling's
policy twelve months hence.
Meanwhile these questionings of
Hayes's title to office signify nothing
practically. We have no doubt that
Wells and the louisiana returning
board were guilty of perjury. They
we're doubtless bribed by some such
fellow as Chandler. But what does it
Hayes was privy to none of
these crimes. BY the country's |
laws and fortunately, too, for the
South he became President, and these
devices of Ben Butler in the House and
knaveries Of Wells and Csssansve and |
Kellogg in Louisiana cannot affect him
or disturb the legal validity, |
though it affect the justice of his title |
to the presidency. SO