Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-23
I'rOltIeSS Cable.


Il is now more than five weeks since
the forty-sixth congress began its extra
session. Primarily the blame for this
attaches 10 the democratic party which
refused last winter to pass necessary ap-
preparation bills except there should be
attached TO them certain political legisla.
ton.
Since the session began this blunder has
been enlarged by democratic and republic
can speech-makers. The democrats have
worked themselves into a fury and the
republicans have loolishly troubled them
selves 10 join issue on the army and jury
test oath questions as being vital points of
difference.
All the hurrah and talk is good fol
nothing except to serve as straws showing
the way the wind blows ON each side.
When the direction of the blast is once
shown all purposes are served and the
republicans in congress would to day do
well for the country to let those two ques-
lions 20. plant themselves ON keeping the
election laws that tend to preserve the
purify of the ballot box and thus relieve
the country of the harsh voices Of quarrel.
ing that come from the capital or put the
b.ame of continuing the clamOr on the
party that shall insist on breaking down
the guards OF u legal ballot.
Proof Of the character Of the democratic
party does not depend on getting more
Blackburns to tecl.r" in favor of wiping
GU. The war legislation, and it is on the
character Of that parry that the campaign
of 1886 is to be fought. The trouble with
that party is " original sin and il will
not pay for the republicans in congress TO
keep That much taking body in session
for the sole purpose of bringing out little
surface manifestations of the real charaC-
Ter of the opposing organization. The
shotgun policy, the tissue paper frauds,
the violation of the equality of American
citizens that is resulting in the negro
exodus, are already matters of record.
Talk about revolution is folly. The south
is going to govern the country by being SOL
id and taking with it enough northern states
to win or it is going TO fail TO govern by
SO acting that the north will be sub,tan-
TALLY SOLID the other way. If the south
governs it will govern hy reason of the
possession OF the governmental machinery
and the ballot and time are the remedies,
not revolution on our side of the line. If
the south fails to get possession of the
government the republicans will have it
to go into revolution.
Other foolish talk on both sides is about
presidential candidates. 1ilIen thinks he
is necessary to democratic success; the
truth is, the country is sick of the old
spider. On the other hand many repub-
licans, not largely in this region however,
are clamorng that Grant is the only man
for our side. While he would be Il strong
candidate the party is not shut in with
him as its possible candidate. If Il military
man is to be run, William L. Sherman is
as strong or stronger; if Il congressional
leader is taken George +. Elmunds would
we believe lead the party to success; and
if Il private citizen is needed Elihu b..
Wa>hburne of Illinois would carry both
the republican and independent vote.
There is no scarcity of presidential mate
rial.