The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-03-11
Democratic CGnggarressisnai Soothing
os-i .l.i . Syrup. -5s8-se ga. ~ ! I

80 "a [ IL q .
| Congress has never been SO inactive
and stupid as during the present win
ter. The stupidity is ingram in the
Democratic majority; the inactivity is
assiduously cultivated BY, order of the
caucus. H.iRtha p0fkey 0f, thes Damo-
cratic leaders to do nothingGf6r the
present. They assume virtue, though
they have it not. 1t is the virtue oi
self-restraint. They simulate conserva-
tism for campaign purposes. The Brig.
adiers are securely muzzled and the
doughfaces are chained up. Mrs. Wins
lows soothing-syrup is as regular diet
in Congress as treacle was in Dotheboys
Hall, but it is administered in more lib
eral doses. The prevailing stupor is
similar to that which follows the opium
habit. Every restless fellow on the
Democratic side has relays of keepers
assigned, who take turns in holding
him down and keeping him quiet. The
other day one impulsive member showed
signs of speaking out in school, and the
entire Democratic cabal put their fingers
to their lips and hushed him up. He
fastened to assure his friends that he
would not break the compact of silence
which had been secretly and scarcely
agreed upon in caucus, and he was per
mitted to proceed.
The meaning of this unaccustomed
restraint is so clear that he who runs
may read. 1t is the Democratic policy
to efface, if possible, the recollection Of
the extra session and to allay the pop
ular apprehension which the reaction
lists then excited. A President is to be
elected in a few months. The South is
solid SO far as it goes, but it is not big
enough to elect a President by itself.
Fraud and violence have established
the minority rule in eyery Southern
community where the ex-Confederates
are not actually in the majority. But
the South must have Northern allies to
acquire National control. Large num-
bers of voters in New York, Connecti-
cut. New Jersey and Indiana must be
placated. Deception must be practiced
long enough to lull the suspicion of the
doubtful voters who hold the balance OF
power in certain Northern States. The
Democrats count upon the short mem
ory of the public at a time when the
succession of events is SO rapid, and
believe that few months of inaction
will wipe out the general distrust which
the revolutionary threats of the extra
session created. Hence the gag-rule
adopted in caucus; hence the anodynes,
the muzzles, the chains, the guardians
and the other expedients for enforcing
the policy of silence
Whether or not the Democratic eau
Gus shall be able to control the blatant
Bourbons throughout the session re-
mains to be seen. twill be deathto some
of their number. During nearly three
months this unnatural restraint has
been effective, but it must be main
tanned three months longer, and it is
growing more irksome and Irritating
every day. 1t will not be very surpris-
ing II some Of the fretful animals break
their chains before long, and make as
much havoc as q bull in china shop.
Greed and selfishness in dividing up the
appropriations, and the spirit Of fac
ton in the effort to agree upon Presi-
DENTAL candidate. may betray the rash
Partisans into excesses that VIII De all
the more giarlng because OF the long
sef-denial that has been practiced. But
even If the gag can be kept firmly upon
the extremists, the Democratic man.
apers are leading a fOrlorn hone in the