The New York herald., 1879-03-17
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEMOCRATS.
The Financial Element in the Speak
ership Contest.
FEELING AMONG THE SoUTHERyERS.
Effect Of Mr. BIackbum's Bid for Green
back Support.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, March It. 1879
THE spEAKERsHIP coNTEsT-EFFEcr OF MR..
BLAcKBuRN's ED FOR GREENBAcK SUPPORT
RANDALL MEN MORE CONFIDENT.
The attempt of the Blackburn men to deprive
Mr. Cox of the greenback vote by proving
to the greenbackers that Mr.. Blackburn is
entirely with them. as shown by his letter
accepting his last Congressional nomination. was
in some quarters to-day rather boomerang 1t
has certainly proved that Mr.. Blackburn is
as good q greenbacker Mr.. Ewing Senator
Voorhees, Senator Thurman's celebrated uncle.
William Allen but he is little too much so for the
comfort of at least Of the gentlemen who
wished to support him. This letter OF acceptance
printed in the HERALD to-day, was read here with
good deal of curiosity Those who read it at the
time it was written thought it mere idle campaign
document, but its issue at this time from
the Blackburn headquarters in the shape of plat
form puts it in different light. and it has in
quarters the warning and repelling effect Of danger
signal The Speaker Of the House, by organizing tho
committees, gives more or less positive direction
to its policy. If Mr.. Blackburn were Speaker it is
said the Banking and Currency Committee would
be SO formed to favor largo issues
of legal tenders and tho abolition of the
national banks; the Ways and Means would be SO
framed as to impose income tax and Congress
would be moved to authorize silver bullion certi-
fcates
The question is whether the democratic party is
ready for all this Some time ago asserted by
your correspondent that there plan on foot to
unite the democratic and greenback organiza-
tions in the West and far possible
in the South. though in the Southern States
the greenbackers nationals have generally leaned
toward the republican party. Mr., Blackburn has
been regarded here representing the Presidential
hopes Of Senator Thurman but the publication of
this letter looks though he was inclined to make
himself the head of the coalition between democrats
and greenbackers. 1t has to-day infused energy
into the friends of Mr.. Randall who see that they
are struggling not merely for economy in expendi-
lures in the next House, but against policy which
they very plainly see would be destructive to tho
hopes Of their party next year.
DEMOCRATIC RESPONSIBILITY IN THE FORTY
SIXTH CoNGREss-THE OUTLOOK Fon THE
FUTURE.
The Presidents message to the extra session will.
his friends say be brief document and will make
no aluson to the questions OF laws which the demo-
Gratis want to repeal. II will itself
with the appropriations which failed. and
Nts most important passages will refer
to the deficiency in the revenue caused
by the lowering of the tobacco and the Of
Pensions law When it is read in the two houses the
democrats will become for the first time really
scious that they are -onco more in sole and entire
charge of the revenues and expenditures, and that
upon them rests the entire responsibility Of finding
why's and means not too dstasteful to the country
for tho support of the government. On and after
Tuesday, for session at least. the democrats
will lay tho taxes which the country will have to
pay: and some of them already regret the law de-
'creasing the tobacco tax. which causes loss of
$7.OO0,O00. to be made up by some other tax well
other of considerable deficiency. Others,
however. like Mr.. Randolph Tucker of Virginia; Mr..
Blackburn, and. in fact, good many Southern men.
talk very checrfully of an income Tux. which they
think will do moro harm than to deplete tho
bloated capitalists of the North and East
The plain truth is that good many democrats
begin to wonder how long they will retain tho
pleasing control of tho two houses OF Congress.
Their majority in the House is not great but
that very slight turn of the political wheel might
overcome it. The present House has 14s democrats,
132 republicans, greenbackers and six vacant
places; four from California, the political complex
ion of which is uncertain, and one from Texas and
'one from New York. by the deaths of democrat
lSchlcicher and republican alexander smith). It
would not as they perceive need much Of q tidal
IN the House But the is even moro
serious in the Senate Tho democrats begin their
housekeeping with a majority of seven. To
this they may be said to have drained all their
re sources They cannot reasonably hope for another
democratic Senator from State sending repub-
Aicans unless they should by the most perfect good
management, secure the entire confidence OF tho
country in the next two three years
But they may easily lose Of their
Senators in the election Of 1880. for the
legislatures then chosen will have to elect Senators
to replace Eaton in Connecticut, Herman in New
York. Randolph in New Jersey. Wallace in Pennsyl
yania, Thurman in Ohio and Mcdonald in Indiana.
1t is observed that all these are doubtful
6tatcs; all are States which II tho democratic
1arty In the present Congress kicks up its
hecls aud plays tho fool may and probably
will send republicans to replace the present
democratic Senators. The prospect il not alto
gethcr pleasing to those democrats who long
tsighted enough to look beyond the cxcitements Of
the moment.
This kind of democrat. therefore. ia disposed 20
caution He remarks in private that is not best 70
20 ahead too fast; that sbe Speaker OF the House
ought not to appotns suy committees a. this
extra session e1csp. shoss the Appropria-
lions and the yuti1ax-y. that the session
ought 10 bc short; shss deadlock ought by all
means to be avoided; that !: NOT wise 20
the repeal Of the Supsrvsors' law. and that IL the
Nrcpublicans insist retaining the Deputy Marshas
law il is better to adjourn ana appeal 70 the country
than to mako q deadlock that with the President
or the republican party. Tho dificuty is that the
prudent and conservative democrats arc just
now. to all appearance. the under dogs. They
grumblc. but they doubt very much whether
they rule. With 100 ont OF tho 14s democrats In
the House Southern men, and thirty three ont Of tho
two defnocratic Senators Southern rr,n aiso
The south is inclined TO have It's way, and there
sre democrats who think that there Ia almost too
much of tho solid South for the good Of the party.
Adding Mr.. Blackburn's declaration in favor Of
unlimited silver. legal tender imitation and
i,co,,a far To another hv Miaaiastnr,tan 1cnloncl