The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-08

~ NtNdibs
Il appears from the debate In the recent
Democratic Joint caucus that Mr.. THOMAS
r. BAYARD and Mr.. ALLEN G.. THURMAN are
still the real leaders of the party In Con-
gress and have lost none Of their old power
10 sway It's counsels. Mr.. THURMAN earn
estly advised submission To tho demand Of
tho Administration, that 1t shall be left
with FREQ hands TO strike down the liberties
Of the country. He wished the appropria-
ton bills passed at once, without taking
away from the President tho statutory
authority TO use the army at the polls and
10 appoint horde OF deputy marshals and
supervisors to oversee elections, yet, also
without specific appropriations to pay for
those outrages upon tho people. Then,
cried Mr.. THURMAN with an air OF
triumph, the Radicals will be com
pelled TO maintain all this monstrous
and terrible partisan machinery out OF
their own campaign funds This certainly
h novel species Of consolation; and we can
He'll MIR. THURMAN that II the people OF this
eountry should see another President inau-
Eurated by force and fraud, and find that
The right Of self-government is actually
gone from them, It will be small comfort to
them TO DO assured that the Radicals had
boon forced TO tax themselves paltry sum
for the pleasure OF enslavlng us. They will
think then Of this brilliant conception very
much as they think now of Mr.. THURMAN's
former device OF an Electoral Commission to
enable him and his friends TO surrender with
the more grace the sacred cause Of the peo-
pie in 1867.
Mr.. THURMAN has dealt with these vital
questions, which rise infinitely above all
matters Of economy or administration, and
20 TO the very foundation OF free govern
ment not with the ardent spirit and cour-
age OF popular champion. but with the
constitutional timidity and weak cunning
OF q natural trimmer. He a candidate for
President! He bowed HAYES into office with
oficlous ceremony, and he will be found
waiting cap in hand 10 welcome the next
Fraud, though he should be the Man on
Horseback In person. Mr.. THURMAN would
turn tail TO the verlest Quaker gun that
ever peeped from parapet, and in pinch
he might even be induced TO help SIR.
EDMUNDs fix up scheme to cheat himself.
In this caucus Mr.. BAYARD Is said to have
spoken with "much feeling" Well he might.
When he looks about him and sees his coun-
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whom he helped into office; when he is
called into caucus TO devise some means OF
wrestling tho liberties Of the people from the
clutch Of this usurper; and when he secs the
same old menace to the life OF our institu-
lions In the form Of the marshals and the
army at the polls, which his beneficiary in
the White House is resolved never TO give
up, II Is proper that Mr.. BAYARD should
display feeling. He knows well that II these
dangerous powers are suffered TO remain
with tho Executive until 1880, tho result
may be the same as in 1876, and, indeed, that
that is the sole purpose OF their retention.
He and his party colleagues have reused
the land with their cry Of danger 10 liberty
They have solemnly assured the world
that their cause Is no less than tho cause OF
American freedom itself; and that the sin
gle question at issue Is whether the people
shall choose their ruler or the Adminstra
ton shall choose him for them, and crust
opposition by the army at the polls Yet
here again, BAYARD, the matchless, thu
chevalicr. appears with the historic whit
feather OF 1876 somewhat soiled an'
draggled by long use, but droopinl
gracefully, as before from his tall heaC
In the battles front. The cause Is mos
holy, most dear to every freeman's heart
most essential to the preservation OF GU
precious heritage; and Mr.. BAYARD fearful.
implores his associates to surrender It, as
was surrendered before, without striking
blow.
The Revolution OF 1776. 1t was said, wa
fought on preamble; but is there anything
these men will fight for even with theblood
less weapons OF political strife2 We hav
seen that they will not fight for free cleo
tions. for constitutional rights, for thei
country, for their candidate, or for thei
party. Is there any ground to hope tina
they can even take courage OF despair an
stand for one brief hour in manly defenc
Of the principles which they pretend to hol
as sacred as their hearts blood