The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1878-02-01
WASHINGTON. D. q, Jan. 9.

Bigor Democrat.
Gentlemen may cry peace peace I
but there is no peace" nre the words
that Patrick Henry is supposed 10 haze
spoken hundred years ago and they
seem to hnve been the epitome and
prophecy Of the history Of the United
States. Tie moment war ceases in oue
place. or in ono form, it breaks ort in
anotheI From Appomattox 70 the
war Of reconstruction there was but a
step, and, since Appomattox, we hayc
had the var on johnson, against Grant,
against Hayes-with ipnumenble d.
versions and skiimishes As tho Gen
ersl said to his reinforcement ''Fall
in anywhere You will fnd beautiful
lighting all along the line True, bal
lots have sometimes been substituted
for bullets, but there is q terrible irony
in this enumeration Of opposing votes !;
it is only another way of proving. he
fore the onslaught, that Providence IA
vors the denser bisttalions.
When Congress assembled in October
there was a prospect for e short, tame
discussion of the army bill, but the ex-
ira session, and the regular session has
been characterized by unusual excite
ment, while now, during the brief nr
mistice of the holidays. there are indi-
cations of fercer resumption Of hostil-
tiles. The vicsery that Senator Conk-
Ing was supposed to have won over the
administration proves to have been only
drawn battle. and the President viii
renew the contest in few weeks with
every prospect Of success, for it Iaay Le
said, on authority, that the Democrats
will vote in favor Of his nominations.
Then there viii be desperate struggle
between Congress and the rowerf.l mil
itary aud naval Hobbies, for there are
already numerous bills on the calendar
boxing to the reduction Of H. .vrG,lus-
sage of officers in the army. an . I'M
portant changes in the naes,i establish
msnt
The questions Of the Presidents title.
or rather of the ns;hai> hY wh.rh J c
is supposed to have sesiired the tile Of
President, will be the subject Of early
Investigation There has cen maze on
less talk of Congressional inquiry into
this matter ever since the Inauguration;
but recently the charges have assumed
more definite shape, and il IS now
said that it can be circamstantialTy
proved that the President of the United
States holds his title indirectly by
bargei a-.hat the writings OF the bar
gain are in the hands Of Democratic
Members of Congress, and thag Major
Burke, of Louisiana, has in his posses
sion copy Of the same. A discussion
of this question in Congress viii doubt
less la-,l to still greater confusion oi
stric. Political lines, and define still
more distinctly the strength of opposi-
tion within the Republican party It
is believed that some Republican Mem
bers and Senators, if not the silent in
stigators of this investigation. regard it
with great complaisance, if not with Sc
cret glee., From the day of bis inaug-
uration, when tho President announced
and emphasized his purpose TO adhere
to the strict letters of the platform in
the particulars of civil service reform
aud Southern pacilication, there began
death struggle between him and some
Of the most distinguished leaders of his
party, and each succeeding step has
made it more impossible for either to
recele without yielding principle or
immolating ambition. Tho death of
Morton has precipitated the crisis. He
was emphatically the leader of his party
in the Senate, and lis dying rallying
cry to close up the ranks ard keep n
steAly frent on the line, might have
boen heeled could he have led tho COL
umn in person; but the baton dropped
from his paralyzed grasp, Blaino and
Conkling took it up--henca We see
what we see.
1t is curious to notes the distinguish
ing and contrasted traits and msthods
of the two men who have assumed the
party leadership since the death Of Nor
ton. Senator Conkling is proud, digai-
fed, and scornful. He has TOO much
egotism, and too boundless faith in
his own star, to stoop to diplomacy or to
ask fAvors He Is much better hater
than Blaine. TheSenatorfrom Maine was
the fist to shout his defiance, and he
defined his position in words that were
not vague, almost as soon as keientered
the Senate, when he assumed that
Hayes must recognize and defend Pack
ard, or repudiate, by Implication, his
own title. notwithstanding this pub
lie hostility he did not hesitate - d ne
with the President, and the records
show that he has endorsed more appli-