The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-07-15
REPUBLICAN LEADERS HAVE
BEEN TOO LONG In POWER.
A Change Needed for the Good Of
the Country.

BEEN TOO LONG In POWER.
A Change Needed for the Good of
the Country.
Mr. CHARLES NoRpHovF noted Ra-
publicsn newspaper correspondent,
writes from Wsshin. ton City to the
New York Herald as iollows:l
The course of the Republican leaders
In the Senate this week has been afro
cious. They have fought the army bill
as though they we're the rump of the
Grant movement fighting for the last
chance to secure an election ;or as though
as is commonly conjectured. there were
some secret motive in their opposition.
The Importance Of what they have said
has by no means justified their intensity
and desperation Of purpose. They have
tfanscended all regular and leg grtmate
opposition, and they have not shown any
reasons that the bill ought not to pass
Their conduct has afforded a curious
spectacle of men who have been too long
in power for their own or the couDtry's
good-who have become intolerant of
opposition from any source, either out
side of or within the party, and who
have forgotten how to submit to defeat,
and are capable of seizng on power by
any means, however violent. The dis
play which they have made is of spirit
entirely and dangerously evil, and no
thoughtful man can read the Senate de-
bates Of the last week and consider
the tone, the temper, the spirit and the
wide disparity between the subject and
the Republican treatment of it without
pe1ceiving that IL would be well for the
country II these gentlemen could be for
awhile retired from power, and that it
would be an extremely hazardous thing
to continue the lease Of it, which they
see med determined at all hazards and by
any means to seize.
1t Is the Grant movement which has
displayed itself in the Senate in these
days, and has, with extraordinary arro-
gance and intolerance, insisted on troops
at the polls. lfnothing else justified the
Democrats In insisting on their extremely
mild prohibition of the use OF troops
for election purposes, the language and
spirit of the Republican leaders in the
Senate this week would give them abun-
dant justification, and it is not too much
to say that rather than trust these Re-
publlcans--Senator Conkling, Blaine
and cthers-.with troops at the polls IT
would he far better and safer for the
country tn disband the army. In this
aspect the Senate debate of this week
may and ought to serve useful and i'm
portant purpose. The Grant movement
has its centre In that Senatorial coterie
which has aimed to control the House,
which has tried and now trying to in
timidate the President whom it hates,
and which with unerring instinct makes
its desperate stand for troops at the polls
as the true ground for the Grant move
ment to maintain. The Democratic deter.
mination to keep troops iaway from the
polls has seemed hitherto to be Inspired
by foolish and ridiculous, fears, but the
apparition Of the Grant movement in the
Senate justi6es them and ought to secure
fer their aims the support of all judici.
Gus voters The spirit of the republican
leaders In the Senate shows that it is high
time for the security and peace of the
country, to have a change of parties
Like the Democratic party in 1860, these
men have been too long in power. They
are drunk with an unpatriotic ambition
They show plainly that they do not mear
TO let 60 of the government; that they
regard the country as their possession
and political defeat as personal wrong
and robbery of themselves.
The impression which this debate hal
made upon many thoughtful attendants
upon it is that no party can be so danger
ous to the country as party led, in
spired and controlled by these men, ant
that If the Republican party appears il
the Presidential canvass under thei
/ leadership it will be the duty of ever,
man who values the eouniry's safety ant
fpeace to oppose it ana them, no matte
who is on the other side. The Republi
Ecans uttered foolish cry of revolution
early in the session, but your correspon
dent, whose duty it has been to watch al
the tedious debates of the extra session
and who has not failed to expose to yo,
the folly and weakness Of the Democrats
has seen nothing ON the Democratic sid
when among the worst element Of tina
party which at all compared for the wick
edness of purpose, for desperation an,
evil spirit, with the leading Republica
Senators during this debate.