The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-15
orr CR.iyEN POLIIICs.

WASHINGTON. April l3.-The leaders OF
both parties at Washington seem not only to
stand in dread Of each other. but 20 fear their
own shadows. The Democrats shrink back
from the Maryland resolution which simply
proposes 10 obtain judicial decision on the
questions that the Electoral Commission re-
fused % consider They now appear passivcly
disposed TO accept what they have hitherto We
hemcntly condemned and prepared to condone
the crime by which Mr.. Tilden was dcfrauded
OF HIS rights as the elected President OF the
people.
Selfish motives Of ambition and mbccility
like that exhibited 10y Mr.. Dennis in the Senate
when presenting the resolution Of his own
State. are the chief obstacles in the way Of
legislation needed TO settle the Presidential
controversy. and ~ remove /, a. "a disturbing
element from politics. without It the agitation
will continue until the false prcieuccs watch
are given n reasons for this treachery return
10 plague the inventors.
The Republicans have shown even less cour-
ago than the Democrats. and have utterly failed
70 meet tho cNre Citations OF the party ut large in
| dealing with the Fraudulent Administration.
Mr. Hayes has treated the leaders with gross
indienity. scorned their advice. d fled their hos
| tility. and deliberately thwnrtol their known
wishes. Committees appointed to confer with
| him have been rrhuilcd with studied nd!iler-
ence, and their recommendations uieeonholed
| rs unworthy Of attention. In appointments he
| has made II point to offend and 10 deceive the
foremost Republicans. aud to let them under
stand that he was master 81 the situation, and
meant to run the machine in his own way and
! in the interest of his personal faction.
At the recent Joint caucus Of the Republican
Senators and Representatives called expressly
. a.. Itt
ize for the fall campaign. especially with refer
cnce 10 the Congressional elections. Mr.. Conk-
ling and Mr.. Blaine wora conspicuous 10y their
absence. as they had hocn Mt II former confer
cncc. Fnlgy Sargent Introduced preamble
and resolution condcmnng the order forbid
ding oflic"holders to take pnri in political
| affairs. and directing the secretary 10 furnish
Mr.. Hayes with u copy of the resolution.
Mr.. Edmunds explained that the construction
given 10 that order in the case Of cN-Collcctor
Simmons 10y Mr., Dcvens deprived 1t Of the
strongest objection. and practically rendered It's
sting harmless. Therefore, he got the Sargent
resolution referred to the National COMMITTEES
which had Just been appointed by the cnucus
with suggestion that they should confer ON
| the subject with Mr. Hayes. This was an iudi-
rect but an effective mode Of strang.ing the
proposition. for Mr.. Eimunds knows 10y hit
own experience rs the head Of n committee o
Senators, chosen TO counsel with the lraudu.
lent President in regard to this very subject
and to others relating TO the harmony Of Ia,
party. what answer would be given If such d
visit should be made.
There WIS littlo manly speech in this caucus
and no bold action Of any kind. Several Sena
tors and Representatives agreed with the ~pnrrl
Of Sargent. and with the spirit Of his movement
hut they deprecated any step which might lea,
to disscnslon. Just as il there WAS no discor,
now. or the Republicans in Congress were no
separated by n wide and impossible gulf from
the White House. Nothing WAS done, and the
caucus separated with quasi victory for Hayes
from the want OF holiness to throw of the in
cubus thHt weighs down the party.
The plain people are not indifferent spccta
tors to these proceedings at Washington. They
are beginning to snap party shachlos nsundo
without much ceremony The recent town clcc
tions in Michigan are full OF admonition 10 thu
Republicans and those in Indiana serve,
notice ON Mr.. Voorhees, and Mr., Hendricks tina
cheap professions will not win many votes thu
year Tho new organization necessarily profit
by these distractions, and II tho old parties dc
not show moro wisdom and good faith thar
their leaders have lately exhibited, they ma
get swept or their feet by an undcrtow. and fin,
themselves wrecked by mysterious power
whose numbers and ideas they have yet to com