New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-20
rYMlIIGArED CONTEMPT

Mr.. Lamar mistakes ihc HaHlc VI HIS pas
sion. In his anger at the plain and straight
forward language with which Mr.. ConkliDg
characterized the unprecedented conduct Oh
the Democratic majority III attempting TO
stife debate and force vote on the Army
bill he may have thought that the emotion
with which he swelled was that OF contempt.
1t was by no means that. IL was rather IN
mitigated hatred for the man who SO visor-
ously and boldly arragned his party
Tor palpable breach of faith, and
so mercilesly scathed them for It, In
his passion he failed to apprehend his own
mental state, and did not properly define 1t.
Beyond question he and many others OF his
party would like to despse Mr.. Conkng and
other Republican statesmen. Perhaps they
actually delude themselves with the idea that
they do hold them in contempt; but the Tela-
tons OF the two parties and the character of
the men on either side forbid 1t. There Is as
little in the character, the abilities, and the
record of the men on one side to warrant their
feeling, or pretending 20 feel, contempt for
their opponents, as there is IN the other to be
despised.
Mir. Lamar mistakes also the temper both of
the time and the men with whom he has to deal.
No man should know better than MIR. Lamar
the readiness of Northern Republicans and
representative men Of the party, TO meet more
than half way all conciliatory advances from
the people and the representatives of the
South. He could not have failed TO see 1t IN
the warm and cordial recognition they gave
to his eulOgy of Mr. sumner, and the hearty
response TO it from all quarter, Of the North. He
must have observed the frequent manifestations
of the same spirit whenever any prominent
Southern man offered the slightest indication
of fraterna or kindly feeling. But Mr..
Lamar and his colleagues seem unable to APP
preciate or comprehend it. They construe
every demonstration of goodwill as an
apology, every friendly advance as a surren-
der of the points which have been IN such
fierce and bitter dispute. All these things
they accept as tokens of a universal desire
at the North for the return of the old times
and the old rule. They look upon the re-
action as q permanent political change, ard
upon the revolution as virtually accomplished.
In this state of affairs they are impatient
OF what they consider factiOus obstruction Of
their designs. They hold themselves masters
of the situation already, aud are bitterly III
tolerant of the opposition of Republicans in
Congress. This is the grand mistake of all,
and one they will shortly begin to see more
clearly.
Mr.. Lamar fOrgets, too, that under the
reign of a new and better civilization than
that which obtained before the war; bull
lying is not in fashion, and that Che balbar-
ism OF the Code to which he 50 loftily invited
Mr.. Conklng is not i'll vogue When lie
bristled to the front and construed Mr..
Conkling's very proper and deserved scath-
ing of his party for their breach of
faith as personal 20 himself, he exceeded the
bounds of parliamentary courtesy. When he
denounced Mr.. COnkling's statements as false,
lac played the blackguard. When lie flung out
the expression of his unmiugated contempt be
PLAYED the bully. When to this he added his
final insult, that his own language was such
as no good man deserved and no brave man
would bear. he became simply cOntempt-
bic braggart, Haunting his own disregard for
law, and challenging his opponent TO descend
10 the level of his own lAwessness. The
times have changed since that sort Of thing
silonced or cOWed Northern men, or passed
for manliness or courage. The questions upon
which Mr.. Lamar sets himself at fighting odds
with felloW-Senator have been fought over
and fought out upon larger field than that
upon which he aspires TO figure. He aud his
Democratic associates are in the Senate to-
day because of the belief that these questions
had been settled, and that the settlement was
accepted rs definite and final. If this belief
is delusive, rs it seems soon to be, the people
will shortly make it final by reformation OF
the verdict Meantime, let 1t be- understood
that the old days Of bullying have not quite
come back.