New-York tribune., 1879-02-04
nLn.ElAuLONEn LlLK.


his fellow-Democrat, Mr.. Bragg, 0f NFcon-
SIN, III the House on Saturday. 1t was
il little of from the question, and just
tuhc personal, to bc sure, but
il was fall of the Old Democratic
doctrine and the old Democratic manner; so
full, m fact, that 1t almost seemed as if Il leaf
had b,,u taken ont of Tie congressional Gtobc,
>?y anywhere between 1876 and 1850. and
inserted in The Ecc3rd OF to-day. The pro-
vocation TO this Outburst OF sweetness
and light from Mississippi was speech on
southern claims by Mr.. Bragg several days
ago. in the course of winch that gentleman
sad III effect, with perhaps more a>pcr-
icy than was absolutely necessary under
the circumstances, that the presentation
of Southern claims and the clamor for subsi-
dies and Government aid from the Southern
states were running the prospects of the
Democratic party at the North, and thai he,
for one, would not stand il, and much
more to the same purpose closing mp with
a back-handcd hint TO the Southern Demo-
crats that they would do well TO go over to
the Republicans, If that was their game. In.
deed, Mr.. Bragg came near saying, if he did not
actually thrcatenlt, that if his Southern brethren
were not more reasonable in their demands
ne and one or two other persons who agreed
with him would fire the whole Southern De
mocracy out OF the party.
Wen. it must be confessed that such re-
marks a. these were very aggrayatng, pariic-
UlaIly when it is remembered that the South
rrn statesmen who present claims have always
ruled the Democratic panty ; that they are as
T. 1 issl IN, tl,o nj
out Of the entire 63 Northern Democrats
Mr.. Bragg could speak only for Il very small
minority. Mr.. Bragg undoubtedly meant well.
He was no doubt sincere, and he certainty
was emphatic. The trouble with his position
i. ITS lonesomencss. When he steps out from
the ranks and undertakes to tell the Southern
party leaders what to do and what
not to do, he makes the mistake OF tie tail
trying to wigcle the dog. so it was not
strange that Mcssrs. Singleton aud Chalmers
and Hooker had to be held back from pouncing
on Bragg for his impcrtInencc; nor that
when they got at him they gave HIM
an old fashioned Democratic talking To. But
Singleton was the most earnest and the most
natural Of them. He was in Congress before
the war, a.d knows how to talk to his party.
Upon the abstract question of the payment Of
Southern claims he said but little, and that
little was unlmpOTtant; what he did do, and
do eifcctualy, was 10 set the Democratic party
and the country right upon the qucs-
tions who own and have always owned
the party, and what j. the actnal relation
between the Southern Democracy and the
faction allied with it at the North. The
proposition of Mr.. Bragg, which, ii mast be
admitted. was Ridiculous in the extreme
TO read the Southern Democrats out of
,hc party--rou>rd Mr.. Nngletons indig-
nation. Ilc produced statistics 10 show that
the Southern Wing OF the Democracy had not
only always controlled the party. but the
country as well, and i'll the genuine ante
boiupH style cOntrasted the power and patriot
ism OF the South with the weakness ANA
sclfShnc-- Of the North.
Whether this old-fa-hionCd plain talk will
have any good effect on Mr.. Bragg and other
Democrats who have notions about acting
independently Of Southern leaders, we do
not know. We are quite certain, how
ever, that il will do good in disclosing
to the Northern people generally the
view, and purposes of tine South RI
Democracy. They are unchanged. Mr.. Sin
IL
dor. According to him, the South fur
nl>hrd most of the Presidents and all Of
the honesty and statcSnanship in admin
istration the country cnj0yed before the
war; fought all the battles and acquired
all the territory; ran the Government, in
short during the war they offered up their
brothers and sons, while the Federal debt
WIS incurred by the payment of boun-
Ties and hiring of substitutes and now
all that being passed, aud the era
of reconciliation set in, they have come back
10 resume control of the Democratic party aud
the administration of the Government. 1t WAS
. good fltherly, Democratic talk. and II ought
to teach MIR. Brugg and others their place in
thc party under tine Restoration.
RICHdED HEARY UtN4.