National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-12-03
A CHANGE OF ASPECT.

The Democrats have returned to Con-
gress, and their retainers are following them
with flag dropping and arms reversed 1t
is strange, indeed, what change a few
months has wrought in their spirit and con-
dition. When the extra session adjourned
the Democrats, and especially the Confeder-
ate wing of the party, were allperched upon
high horses, with waving plumes and bright
lances and shields glistening in the sun
light of hope vaunting in the strength and
defiant in their attitude and threatenings Of
future devastation to the Republican party
and its prospects, their expectations and
hopes centering strongly in Solid South.
They seemed TO hatter themselves that the
Nation was at their command, or would be
after the fall elections should transpire and
the people at the North sbould speak and
pronounce verdict which must approve of
their action in the extra session just ended
Well they went to their respective dis
tricts, north, south, east and west, to
await the popular voice. The time
came Tie elections we're held. The peo-
pie spoke, and to the Democrats their utter
ances were like the handwriting on the
wall, that brought fear aud trembling to
the stout and vnunting heart of BEI.sHAz-
zAR. Every State that gave utcc..'ila uc".,i'Ha 10
its sentiments on the situation pronounced
emphatically against the principles and
policies of the Democrats, who had made
the South solid for their party through
agencies that are at war with the laws of
right and civilization. This result found
no exceptional cases upon which they could
base even the shadow Of hope for the
future. 1t was clear and emphatic ex-
preston of public sentiment in absolu to
denunciatiOn of the Democratic measures
and methods rs developed in the extra ses-
sion-made so plain and overwhelming that
it cannot well be misunderstood even by
the most bigoted and besotted of that
party.
Under the cloud thus cast upon the Dem
ocrntic party by popular condemnation, its
members who have returned TO take part in
the opening session come with dropping
plumes and rusty armor Their Wanting
|
they are 3" so tumble" They have been set
down on, so to speak, by a Solid North, and
their opinions have been forced out of them
by the pressure. They are moody sullen
and reticent. Their heads hang in sadness
and their minds and tongues appear to be
suffering from paralysis, They have no
views or opinions to haunt in the face oI
Congress aud the country. For that mat tel
they are like the infant class of Sabbath
school; they feel their own need of knowl-
edge, views and opinions, but they must
learn them from others. They have
been misled by their former tutors ant
leaders, and they are slow to take
lessons of wisdom from that quar-.
ter. They have had enough of Stat'
sovereignty, the wiping out Of benefcent
laws and the starving out Of the Govern
ment, and hence they come here in SORT
of dazed and bewldered state, without con
ldence and without hOpe-more the object,
they are to do they know not. What they
can do they know less, and what they ought
TO do il the dire dilemma of the hour. The
minority of Congress should treat tho
majority, under existing circumstances
with the kindest consideration, and thu
gently lead them on in the path Of duty
commiserating their ignorance and sympa
thizing with their embarrassmentA in th