The Portland daily press., 1878-04-10
Mr.. HaIe'S Rpmarks.

The following words were spoken by the
Hon. Eugene Hale 10 the House Monday dur
ing the debate over the election of Doorkeeper
An election which resulted in the choice by
the Democratic majority of the Confederate
General Fields in preference to the Union
General Shields:
i do not wonder that the gentlemen on the
other side of the house hesitate to vote on this
question. Ii is no surprise to me that points
of order have been made and the previous
question had been voted down, because the
party on the other side is confronted with a
question which shows its bias. The tracks of
the party are all one way. They are in direc-
ton about which the country is profoundly
alarmed. The domination in it is Of the old
Confederate element. The gentleman from
New York (Cox) asks why the dead past is not
allowed To bury its dead, and the answer is,
that so fast as he and his associates gain power
and have patronage to dispose of they will not
let the dead past rest; bat whenever any act can
be done offensive to Northern sentiment in the
disposition of patronage it is urged upon us
and IS crystallZsd in action. 1t was for that
that the last Congress took as its clerk to the
Committee on ways and means, Hamilton, the
man who named his child after che assassin of
President Lincoln. 1t was because of that that
the last Congress chose an ex sergeant at arms
oil the Confederate House of Representatives
as doorkeepsr of this House and had to get rid
OF him at last because he was incompetent 1t
was because of that (the tracks being in this
wsyl that this winter a Southern man was
taken as doorkeeper. and when he failed las his
letter in the Post of to-day says to do the be-
hests of the leaders In his party he was turned
out, and when the party went into caucus
again it was confronted (for take the reports
OF the newspapers as correct) with the nomina-
lions both OF Confederate soldiers and Union
soldiers General Shields, who is now sup-
ported on this side, was nominated in that eau
Gus ey Southern gentleman, and was in.
md nt.sx. H. =.
good Democrat with the gentleman whom
that cancus nominated. He was equally a
southern man. residing in Missouri, where the
Old doorkeeper came from. He was true in
every regard, IN every respect to party princi-
pie, which he had always maintained and was
as good man as General Field. But he was
overslsughed by vote of five to one, and the
Democracy chose to nominate a man whose
record is that, educated at the expense of the
government an officer of mature age. not
urged by excitement aud effervescence of youth
bat captain in the Union army, he broke the
bond OF loyalty and went into the red sea of
rebellion, carrying to the cause of ths rebel
lion the advantages he had gained in being
educated at the expense of the country, He
fought continuously during the war, and gained
rank and recognition on the side of the Con-
'federacy AT the end of it, failing in bust
ness he expatriated himself went to for
egn Cline and transferred to that foreign
country whatever of ability and education
this country had given him. Finally, on the
accession of the Democratic party to power, he
returns here, and the only place of patronage
controlling suberdinates) which the party has
got IN its control is given to him as against one
who was q Union soldier, who bears on his
body wounds received in defence of his flag,
and who is to-day before the country, and is
presented on this side of the House as caudi-
date for the office. do not expect, and no man
on this side does expect, that if General Shields
should be elected he will ever be anything but
Democrat. There is no man on this side who
expects at his hands the pttance of page or a
messenger or folder General Shields has
nothing to recommend him to this side but his
loyalty and his ability aud his services in the
war. But Mr.. Speaker, as sure as tides and
sunshine come the party on that side have got
to take this cup to their lips, and have got to
decide whether or not there are influences in it
which do not permit, in free competition, a
Y nion soldier, who was aDsmocrat, and who
lives IN the South. to gain place of this kind
as sgainst Confederate soldier who deserted
the flag, who went back on his military alma
mater, who went into the Rebellion, aud whose
only strength with the Democratic party is be-
cause OF that That issue cannot be and will
not be f1inched. The party has the RESPONSE.
bility for that issue and must take it.