The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1878-04-24
An Abortiye Effort TO Oil Up the
Old Pnrty Machine.

The Republican members OF Con-
gress held caucus last week, discuss
ed the situation and chose a commit
tee of one from each State to take ac'
ton in the interests of the party.
The "stalwarts" were boisterous to
take decided action in opposition to
Hayes but were choked of. Sargent
of California offered u resolution af-
frming, in substance, that NEARLY
ninety thousand" Republican officers
are deferred from active effort in be-
half Of the party by reason of an ord
er from the President, or belief in
the existence of snch an order, re-
straining them from such christian
labors, and appealing to him to re.
woke the order so that this grand
army can go to work and get the or
ganization in trim for a campaign.-
His resolution was referred to the
Committe, however, with a sugges.
ton that the Committee have an in
terview with Hayes upon the subject.
1t is very doubtful, to say the least,
whether this committee will be able
to induce Hayes to set his army Of
"nearly ninety thousand" men to
work ut packing caucuses and con-
ventions in the interests of such
"great moral IDEAS" He has proved
"amiably obstinate" on that subject
so far and there is little probability
of any change of front on his part.
The effect of Howe's attack on
Hayes was freelystalked oyer and its
utter failure TO awaken any popular
response in the country admitted
Putting him forward to lead the at
tack was compared to the action of a
company of men who were driving a
flock of elephants through the coun,
try and coming to u river which had
had been frozen over were in doubt
about the ice being strong enough
for the elephants to pass over safely
and finally concluded to test the ice
by driving tho "baby elephant" over
| it first, and when he broke through
and disappeared the others turned
tail to and retreated. The illustra'
ton is a very good one.
Doubtless a strong effort will be
made to galvanize the partyinto new
life, but It will be unavailing. The
bloody shirt issue is so dead that all
efforts to bring to life and awake it
to glory again" must inevitably fail.
The pacification of the South is an
accomplished fact, and with the GER
tainty of Democratic majority in
the Senate after the 4th Of March
next, there is no chance to reverse
the situation there, even if the Re
publicans were to carry the next
House. The "cohcsi"e power O. the
public plumber" which has naa such
potential influence in holding the
party together and making it active
in the past is also weakened. For
three years past u Democratic House
has stood in the way of successful
plundering, and the Senate is sure
TO do the same in the future what
ever the situation may be in the next
House. With tho South solid against
them, deprived of the bloody-shirt
issue, and the road to the treasury
for funds to carry elections with
blocked up, the prospect is anything
but fiattering for them. The Democ-
racy have only to act with prudence
and wisdom and move forward with
a firm steady step in the course they
have been pursuing to secure a re-
turn of constitutional government
and supremacy ofDernocratic princi-