The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-05-24


/ favor of the Democrats. and that it was
wrested from their hands by the superior
management of the Republican party.
But we mean to say that, with but one
necessary electoral vote to secure, and
three States to get it from. the contest
was SO uneven. the odds were so largely
against the probability Of the Republi-
cans securing all the electoral votes of
all three States, and which. if secured,
! only gave their candidate Just the one
necessary majority and no more, that I'M
der any ordinary equality of leadership
between the two parties. the result must
have been in favor of the Democrats. If
we concede to Mr. Tiden. by virtue of
his candidacy. the position of leadership
of the Democracy in the campaign of
1876, then his uncertain and hesitating
policy i'll the hour of his party's cmer-
gency. cost him and it the Presidency
While he and his associates were discuss
ing methods, his clear-headed opponents
were devising legal and effective means
to settle a contest. the choosing of which
gave them at least some assurance of sue
cess. But outside of this memorable con-
test. fraught with ST. much danger to the
peace of the country, and which. had
Samuel J. Tilden been Il courageous and
determined man, instead of cunning
and Shrewd one. would probably have
involved more serious consequences to
the nation. the proverbial and inevitable
tendency of the Democratic party to for
felt its chances of success. by laundering
leadership, has become an axicm. The
mere confidence. which the prospect of
success inspires. proves their downfall
The present situation is a case III point
At the beginning of Mr.. Hayes admin
istration the prestige of the political Situa-
ton was decidedly in favor of the Demo-
Gratis. Although the majority of Repub-
lcans recognized the Presidents title to
his Office as good and sufficient as that
by which any one of his predecessors had
held the Office. yet there was a large class
of more conservative men, who. if they
did not think his title a tainted one, at
least believed that 4 corrupt bargain I'M
derlaid it. Upon the merits of the issue
their sympathies were with the Demo-
Gratis. MIR. Hayes own acts increased this
class Of dissatisfied Republicans very
largely i'll the early part of his admins
i I
to condone with the Democrats the of
Tense of the Presidency. Thrustng aside.
with very few exceptions. trusted RepuE-
lean leaders, he seemed more anxious to
conciliatc disappointed Democrats than to
reward expectant Republicans. 4 twelve
month ago the Democratic prospects for
the Presidential contest of 1880 were far
more encouraging than now. Given the
opportunity of sufficient rope. and the
Bourbon hanging inevitably follows
The "Solid South is the platform on
which the self-intlicted execution is be-
ing accomplished SO successfully. The
prospect of :. captured President precipi-
lisgraceiul partisan acts of which. every
material interest of the country is pay-
ing a heavy tribute. The laundering
Democratic leaders. confident of their
ability to manipulate the President.
rushed recklesSly into measures upon
which. to their chagrin and mortitica-
ton, he has laid his prohibitory hand.
Every hour of the last. as well as of the
extra session, has been marked by the un-
disguised reatfirmaton of the dangerous
political heresieS that inspired the rebel
been met by the realization of Solid
North. Rcveling in the unconccaled cx-
ultation of a partial Democratic restora-
ton. the blue has been overShad"wed
i'll the Grey. and the loyal heart of the
nation has been touched to the quick
by the unwelcome spectacle. Whom the
gods would destroy they first make mad.
and no political heresy of the pro-slavery
autocratic masters of ante cbellion times
has not found expression in the insanity
of the majority. But the Republicans
leaders have well imprnyedr the oppor
tunity and thelfhour. Messrs. Conkling
Blaine <yEdmunds and Garfield have dis
I played their usual aggressive powers o
f superior leadership. On Monday last wa
, Mr.. Blaine's = field day" He made tn,
:. attack along the whole line of his Senate
, rial foes. Mr.. Eaton, of Connecticut. is tn,
Northern Democrat weak enough to max,
the opportunity. which our own Mr.. vii
. liam Pinkney Whyte readily seconded.
+ Mr.. Eaton had lately given ont, in
vague sort of way, that Webster sup
ported. to some extent. Mr. Eaton's Stat
Rights theories of the Constitution. Mr.
, Stephens had set him bad example. il
: his book on the war. The fact that tw'
. Democratic statesmen of such ability an,
e prominence had thus attempted to mis-
, represent the Great Expounder who's
, speeches formed the views of the genera
+ ton that fought against and put down
| State Rights rebellion. was certainly
, sufficient prov"cation for the most elabo
p rate attack on such an inSdiuuS and dis
| honest effort. Nothing like it has bcel
known i'll our politics. For audacity ant
| meanneSS 1t has no precedent. To at
, tempt to claim Clay as an apostle of Ere,
f Trade. or Benton as the advocate of ire
. deemable paper money, would be 40 NOR,
, absurd OF disingenuous than to Suggcs
, that WebSterever countenanced any phas,
, of the doctrines which Mr.. Eaton imbibet
from Calhoun and which to-day are ac
cepted by the ruling wing of the Demo
cratic party. 1t is time that Webster
was freely quoted i'll Congress when q
majority of both Houses are practically
supporting the diSintegrating theories
, that Webster fought with all his un,
/, equaled powers. all his life. We are not
sure that it would not be wholesome and
timely to have the whole of Webster 5
immortal reply to lIayne read in both
Houses and published in all the newspa-
pers of the land. That magnificent vim
dication of our nationality and of the
powers of the [ Mon was the great eJu-
eating force that held the North together
for four years of war. All the Republi-
cans need now do. is to turn to profitable
account the fatality to blunder so char