New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-05
TALKS ON POLITICAL TOPICS.
THE CONFEDERATE CONGRESS.


THE CONFEDERATE CONGRESS.
INSIDE HISTORY oP THE LAST srssiON-A CONFER
ENCE TO AVOID AN EXTRA SESSION WHICH RE-
SUITED IN NOTHING-soUTnERN ARROGANCE IN
whsHINGTON-ITs GOOD EFFECT ~ BANDING
TOGETHER THE REPUBLICANS.
Speaking Of the contest al Washington over fhe
Federal election laws, eX-COnVressman Charles
Foster of Ohio, said recently 20 TRIBUNE re-
porter: There were or two interesting features
of the struggle in the last Congress which may not
be- generally known. Toward the end Of the session,
when the question Of saving the appropriation bills
began to get exciting. Hewitt, Clymer and Atkins
invited Hale and myself TO a conference The OBJ
ject was to see If we could reach an agreement
which would secure the passage OF the bills and
avoid an extra session. A harmonious understand
ing was finally arrived at. We Republicans con-
coded he repeal OF the jury test-oaih and of the
clause allowing the of troops To keep the peace
at the polls. We went still further and agreed to
an amendment to tho Election laws limiting
the number of marshas, and providing that they
should be taken in equal numbers from the two
political parties. This was gong just as far as We
could CO. and tho Democrats appeared 10 be salts
fed. few days later they gave mp all intention
of offering the compromise plan. The explanation
they made of their course was this: Blackburn and
bis crowd were determined 10 iilbuser the session
out for the purpose of forcing extra
session, and if Hewitt and tho moderate
Democrats had brought forward the compromise
there would have been n division in the Democracy,
which would have seriously weakened the party.
They thought it policy to avoid such split and LET
the drift along to It's close with one or two
appropriation bills hung up between the two
houses"
Mr. Foster was asked if he thought the cool
headed leaders Of the Democracy, like Bayard and
Thurman. believed they could 20 TO the country on
the question of repeating the Election laws and
be sustained. or If the issue forced upon
them by the tirc-catng element which they could
not control" As 70 thurman" he replied, " ] m
derstand from his intimate friends that he believes
the best policy for the Democrats Is TO drop all
tmidity and conservatism and take extreme grounds
He thinks they now strong enough to throw OH
all reserve and strike boldly for the objects
they desire to accomplish Audacity is his
motto It's very drOli to see the old man
become all at once 50 ferOcloas. lie thihhS hls
chances for the Nomination IN 1880 better thah
those Of Ilden or ans body else. HIS prog ANNE
is 10 bring the money question prominently mo
the canvass, cut loose from The East uniic, me
West ana south, and win by carrying Onloi
Indiana Illinois and Wisconsin. Tho quarrel
between the liden AID Kelly factions IN t4lS
city has helped Thurman immensely MS
friends are now able to say 10 the southern
men 'You will be beaten # yon Join with lie East
for if Tilden succeeds III getting the nomination
John Kelly will give nm away at the election
What ia the look of the coming campaign m
Ohio T-"For more than ten years have not cen
the Republicans united and determined. Inc
spectacle of Confederate Congress sitting
in Washington has brought back to .us
thousands OF voters who duItcd OF 10 the
Democracy since 1872, or. went INTO the
Nationals Especially is this truc Of tAe
soldiers and of the Union men who came T. rs from
he Democracy during the war. As to those Repu5-
licau~ wEo like myself, favored thc experiment OF
liberal policy toward tie South, l sup
pose we might be said 20 b. mO'e sidi-
wart than tie stalwar,s now. The experiment.
failed; the South made no response 10 cur al
yanccs, and we naturally feel like Icscntug INC
failure OF Southern men 10 live mp TO their prom
iseS.V
Are the Democrats going 10 run bishop acanp
90 That's tho way II looks now. luere Is no oIgaI-
led opposition to him. The attempt % lun \. '.
Rice as "A soldiers candidate, on the strength OF hiS
supposed authorship Of thc Arrears OF Pensions ply,
Is not making much headWay. lac fact Is, The bill
as passed was not tCcs, but was moved by CUM
Minis OF Iowa. Rice's till was hung no IN Commit
tee OF the Whole. j. had q proyiNo putting ON the
pension bills all the men struck OF tor aiding the
rcbcl lion and would have paid pensions to rebels
for the yeTy four years they were lighting 10 DESTROY
The Government. Bishop will be nominated and
will be badly beaten"