National Republican., 1878-04-09
POLK HEARD FROM.

Colonel POLK was converted into scape-
goat and sent out of the Doorkeepership
into the wilderness; but he is not dead. He
has been heard from in perfect health and
reasonably fair spirits. Loaded, as he had
been, with the sins of his party, and feeling
deeply conscious that if he had done wrong
it was because his party friends had led
him into the error, and if he was not more
guilty it was because he had resisted their
efforts to make him so, Colonel POLK has
deliberately laid down his burden of sin, sus-
pended his trip into the wilderness, and de-
family proposes to argue the point with his
seducers and betrayers whether it is not
more just that they should bear their in
EQUITIES upon their own shoulders rather
than offer him as an eXpulsive sacrifice that
they may appear perfect before the world.
We have contended throughout this sac
rificial proceeding that Colonel POLK, bad
us he may be made to appear, is no worse
than his party, and it now looks rs If he
may be much better than those who have
sacrificed him to hide their own misd eeds.
The Colonel bravely turns upon his perse-
|
man with an inventory of the sins they
have attempted to make him bear, and
which he shows circumstantially belong on
their own shoulders. We like this. 1t is
plucky, and reflects an integrity of character
and a consciousness of innocence on his part
that makes him fearless and persistent for
his rights. He has spoken his piece to his
accusers, defamers, and prosecutors now that
he has been by them relegated to private
life, and his utterances are so bold and so
pungent that they wear the semblance OF
conscious innocence under a deep sense of
wrong.
1t really appears now that Colonel PoLK's
greatest oiense is that he followed the coun,
sells of his fellow Democrats who had placed
him in position, in what he had done, and
that when he could do no more from want
of ability, or for the reason that q rebe
conscience warned him that he could trave
no further in that direction with safety tC
himself he stopped. This stopping wa,
what proved his overthrow. If he coulC
have answered the iniquitous demands o
his Democratic friends in the House to tn,
end of the chapter, there would have beer
no ripple on the surface. The Republicans
might have cried themselves hoarse with
dcnunciation of his acts and all would hav
been serene with Colonel POLK and tn
Democratic majority. He would neve
have been disturbed He would have beel
, the honored Doorkceper of the House to
day, and CARTER HARRIsoN's reported
cousin, the Egyptian officer, who is con
i, templating that plumber with prOioun,
satisfaction, would be looking to tn
Khcdivc for a new term of service and frcs
, laurels in the East, where he probably still
owes his allegiance.
p But we are doing Colonel POLK an injus
| tce by indulging so much talk withou
| giving him chance to be heard, and y
will partially dry up and allow him to spea
a for himself. The Colonel appears before tn
public in a card over his own signatur,
which wears the mark Of truth and cando
II In defending his Soldiers roll, =" and in pr,
: senting reasons why he has been sacrificed
C he says:
+ was removed from the position of boo
= keeper by the following vote: "a Republican
e and 4j Democrats against me and {
'e votes for me. If the 40 Democrats voting wit
,s the Republicans had voted for me, my majo
- ity would have been 81. Of the votes ] n
d ceivcd there were IS Democrats and icpub
cans. Eleven Southern Democrats vote
against me, every one of them on persons
grounds, with no cause but their disappOn
W memt in getting places under me-" ] can nam
. them all. | received the votes of DemOcra
y from Illinois, 3 from Ohio, 2 from California
- from Michigan, and 2 from New York Il
3 other G5 were from the South. Tho pretoxt
N these Northern gentlemen for opposing III
"" was the Soldiers roll" Ohio aud lllino
l. had on that roll four OF the fourteen, and the
# Democratic members were not frightened