The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-31


ton over disputed Presidency. All the
again, and at last it was seen that the law
ON either side was SO fairly balanced that a
hair would turn the scale one way or
the other, and the primary prejudices
of the judges supplied the equivalent
of that hair. Fifteen judges were divided
eight to seven-according to those convic-
tons which made them republicans or
but that those original tendencies of SYM
pathy or prejudice gave them their peculiar
respective views OF the application of the
law to the facts. Had the eight been DEM
ocrats the law would have come out the
other way Now they have had experiences
in France, like this in the ultimate point,
that it is the original inclination of the
functionary's mind that determines the re-
suit Consequently their earnest desire for
a change in the military commands was to
insure themselves against the calamity of
finding the conscience" Of some old i'm
perialist or royalist against the protection
of the republican constitution at some
supreme moment OF public peril.
Fortunately, the republicans have gained,
this great point at once and without a ruffie
of disturbance. They have removed the
last obstacle to the application of thelaw
as it is, and tho last great danger that
seemed to menace it. From personal rule,
from war and instruction, and from
quasi-royal form Of administration they
have passed by regular stages till they have
now q regular working machinery Of gov
eminent, all of which has. come into opera
ton under the new constitution; and for
their courage, good will, patience and sue
cess they hay4 deserved we'll Of the country
Trying TO Bulldoxe the Northern DEM
ocrats.
Our special correspondent at Washington
sends lively account Of the pent-up wrath
of the Southern. members Of the House,
which has been fermenting and efferves-
cling since the recent plain-dealing speech
of Mr.. Bragg, and which is likely either to
find vent or to explode during the morn
ing hour today. Most Of the Northern
democratic members approve of the sub
stance of Mr.. Bragg's vigorous speech, al-
though some of them think that his Ian
guage was unnecessarily aggressive and
defiant. We do not share that opinion.
Mr.. Bragg was as wise as he was
courageous in forcing this thing to a crisis.
Since the democrats have been in power in
the House they have been very commend
ably trying to establish a claim to public
confidence by retrenching the expenses of
the government. But the Southern men,
bers, majority ofwhom desire large appro-
priations for the benefit of their section,
would make all these claims to the merit of
economy ridiculous ifthey could have their
way in the matter OF Southern claims.
Such invasions of the Treasury must be
met and defeated on the frontier. The
bold attitude of Mr.. Bragg must
be supported by the Northern MEM
bers, if the democratic party is ever
. oecoae powerful outside 49,. Odd !
slave Stat1s- ,-=---etie <s----J 4
was ruined twenty years ago because Its |
Northern wing consisted of ''doughfaces."
The substance of Mr.. Bragg's manly decla-
ration was, s'No more doughfaces' The
South may again defy the general public
sentiment of the country as it Gid twenty
years ago, but the Northern democrats
must not again succumb. If the Southern
wing of the party choose to buster or
threaten or sulk they must be left to ''pad-
die their own canoe" and to see where it
will land them. They are entitled to JUS
tice, self-government and the equal protec-
ton Of the laws. but not to treat the Treas
ury as little Jack Horner did his Christmas
pie. If they fare up and threaten to
disrupt the party the Northern demo-
Gratis must accept this as a lesser evil than
the farce of pretending to be par excellence
the party of economy while squandering
great sums on Southern claims, and as
much lesser evil than q renewal of the old
reproach that they are set Of 'doughfaces,"
who meekly submit to the dictatorial AFRO
gance Of the South. The democratic party
cannot afford to be wrecked second time
by craven fear Of displeasing its former
masters.