The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-06-21
The South in Congress.

The following excellent article we quote
IN full from late issue of the New York /
World:
In commenting upon the Presidents
veto Of the first Army bill the Pal Mall
Gazette did the Democratic majority in
Congress the justice to say that II they
pressed their front steadily to the end
without attempting coerciye or obstructive
measures Of any sort they would command
the respect Of all thoughtful men abroad
as well as home. Thoughtful men abroad
may easily be moro prompt in according
this respect to them than thoughtful men
at home, because party ties and party
passions in politics make ii as hard for
nine Republicans or Democrats out Of ten
to see the truth about political opponent
when that truth is creditable 10 him as it
is for an average Mohometan to think his
interests or his honor safe in the hands Of
Christian. But at home as well as
abroad the truth will make itself seen
sooner or later; nor can all the drums and
gongs Of an impending Presidential cleo
tion long stun sensible Americans into dis |
regarding the comfortable witness as TO
our national prospects which has been
borne by the whole history Of the great
Opposition party in this country since a
Republican Senate and Republican Ex-
ccutive nearly three years ago counted
Mr.. Tilden and Mr. Hendricks out Of the
Offices to which they had been chosen by
a majority Of the electors Of thirty-eight
States aud by majority of the voters of
those thirty eight States. This is espe-
cially true Of the voters Of that great
section Of the country which it is the
custom of our pessimists in politics to
talk about as English Tories talk about
ireland aud Russian PansMvists about
Poland. What has the situation been
since 1862 In the autumn Of 1874 the
Opposition elected for the first time in
sixteen years majority 10 the lower house
Of Congress. In the autumn Of 1876
there was an earnest struggle for the offices
Of President aud Vice. President between
the party Of the Government which had
been for sixteen years 10 power and the Op-
position which had been victorious in 1874.
The party Of the Government supporting
Mr. Hayes had at its command all the
ofice-holders Of the country, who directly
or indirectly take their cue from Wash
ington. The number Of these is legion.
Mr.. Hayes was also sustained by most Of
the corporate influences Of the country,
including the National banks. The moral
power OF the army, at all times great and
reinforced Immensely BY the prestige OF
victory over a great rebellion, was used
against MIR. Tilden and Mr.. Hendricks
with unserupulous dexterity. Quiet peo-
pie were tcrrorized with wild lies to the
effect that the Democrats if put in power
would pay the rebel debt, make valid
millions Of cotton clnims, and generally
swamp the country. In the pinch Of the
canvass Mr.. Tilden was sued by the Gov
erpment for false and fraudulent income
returns.
All manner Of attacks were made upon
his personal and his political character.
Five thousand soldiers were called away
from their duty on the Indian frontier to
guard aud supervise elections in the South,
ern States, and even the resumption ques-
tion was efectually used against those who
managed the St. Louis Convention, which
had declared the law Of 1875 to be 'san
hindrance to resumption Yet on the
morning Of the 7th Of November, 1876, it
was seen that in spite Of all this Tilden and
Hendricks had lS4 honest electoral votes,
aud that they only lacked one Of clear
majority Of the Electoral College, even il
three or four States which had really voted
for them were treated as in doubt. Then
for the first time the Republican leaders
awoke to see that the country had left
them, and with this began in earnest the
work Of force and fraud to defeat the will
Of the people. Force and fraud prevailed
and Hayes became President. But the
will of the people could still express itself
through the Legislatures Of the several
States, and III March, 1879, the opposi-
ton commanded the Senate as well as the
House. The situation thus created was
made more critical by the failcrc Of the
Army bill and the convening of an extra
session, The morihund Republican ma
jority in the Senate naturally died hard.
IL refused TO agree with the House as TO
/ the use Of the army at the polls, and thus
evoked an issue needing careful treatment
by prudent men on both sides. This led
to verbal dispute over the relative pow
ers Of the two houses, which Of course In
famed and increased the existing conees-
tion. Mr.. Blaine made irritating speeches
at Mr.. Beck, and Mr.. Beck gave prickles
for an answer. The Republican Senate
went out In passion aud on the 4th Of
March saw Democratic Congress elected
by the people and the States confronting q
Republican Executive elected neither by
the people nor the States. In what other
country in the world would such situa-
tion not have led to angry collisions OF the
most alarming sortl In this country what
evil has come Of i excepting hot words,
and Of such hot words how few and to how
little mischievous purposc2 When the
deliberate voice Of Democratic opinion
made itself heard from the country even
the suggestion to starve an usurping Ex-
ecutiye into decency disappeared, never to
be heard again. A President never clec-
ted by the States or people teasca and
nagged Congress to no effect The DEM
ocratic majority has kept steadily on lis
way and formulated is positions on reform.
The work b not yet wholly done, but
with each veto Of the Executive the repre-
seniatives Of the people have maaifested
anew their purpose 10 proceed il il BY the
usual and orderly methods Of appeal 10 the
constituencies. There has been q possi-