New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-20
SEAT STEALING IN CONGRESS.

SEAT STEALING IN CONGRESS-.
There is class Of Deputy Democrats hanging
on the edge of the Republican party, with just
enough relation to it to give them, with the
odor of responsibility, the opportunity Of
mischief. "Scratchcrs" at elections, they are
"Kickcls in the intervals of campaigns. Moth
ing that Republicans can do exactly suits them,
but they are quick to discover anything in the
acts or sayings of the opposition that can be
made TO seem to merit praise. 1t is this class
whom we have lately observed to be capplng
their hands in an cxuberance Of JOY oven the
fact that the Democratic Senator's Hampton,
PendctOn, and Butler, are opposed TO the sneak
thief business iu which the party IS engaged In
the matter of Senator KellOgg's seat Not that
they are elatcd over the fact per SC that two or
three Democratic leaders have the decency and
the sense of personal honor to refuse to take
Dalt in n shameful and dishOnOrabe transac-
ton This is not any case of high and holy joy
over the discovery of three good men III Sod0m;
either because it shows so much to the advan-
tage of righteousness in the census, or that 1t
NAV help save SOdOm. From our observation
of the habits of these people, they care as little
for the census of the saints, or, for that matter,
for their final perseverance," rs they do for
the saving of any city, or anything else beyond
Number One But this standing out of two
or three Of the party from scheme oil robbery
delights them because of its effect IN confusing
the public mind upon larger questions. They
nhrase it well, and accurately illustrate their
own attitude, when they say the position OF
these Senators prevents the Republicans from
making party capital out of the Louisiana
question.
That is to say, that two or three Democratic
Senators having-fOr reasons partly personal to
themselves, not necessary to be gone into now
put themselves III opposition to the general
drift of the party in n single inst nee, the Re
publicans are hindcred by that circumstance
from using the general drift and unmistakable
spirit and purpose of the party rs IN argument
AGAINST it. When We say, for instance, that
the party is bad i'll its disposition, wrong and
without principle in its motives, and utterly
unsrrupuous III its methods, and show it, too,
by what it has done and undertaken through
its organized action, we are stopped by these
gentlemen, who say: ooh, no, that cannot be,
g for here are these Democratic Senator's re-
preventative men, leaders in the party, who on
zone occasion stood up against their associates
q in bebalf of truth and justice, common hon
" esty and fair dealing" In this way they I'M
dertake to confuse the judgments Of men, by
Offering them the few and rare exceptions to
disprove the general rule. We say that the
course Of the Democratic party, as an organized
force I'm politics and q controlling power i'll
legislation is dishonest; that 1t disregards Its
LEGAL and moral obligations, and is ready for
the sake of success to Tepudiatc any agreement,
EXPRESSED or implied, that it has ever entered
INTO. We point to the record Of this Congress
in its unbushing attempts to steal seats in
either branch, in attcstatlOn of the fact, and
we say that for this among other reasons it
ought not to be trusted with power. And we
are answered Aby these gentlemen that the
action of two or three Senator'S or a member or
two of tho House, IN opposition to tho party,
will disprOve the charge.
This is the fgurehead business gone to seed.
There was time when it was easier to fool the
neople with it than now. When in two or
three Northern States the Democrats nomi-
mated figurehead candidates, like 1ilden i'll
New-York, who had something of Il record i'll
favor of REFORM they could say with some show
of plausiblity and reason that they were
themselves sincere rcfOrmers; for they had not
then had an opportunity to show the contrary.
III MAS JllClI 1lBnI lllCu W w JuuSCu ny
didates they put forward to represent them, and
the pcODle we're not to blame for taking their
action in this regard as evidence of change of
heart and new departure But they soon threw
off the thin disguise and disclosed their real
character. So when few Southern Democrats
came forward and avOwed with effusiOn their
love for the old flag, asserting at the same time
their determination to abide by the letter and
spirit of the Amendments, and to see to it that
there should be equal rights Mt the polls, free
elections, and an honest count, we took them
at their word and trusted them. Then behind the
respectable fgureheads came in the organized
force of the party, with shot-guns and tissue
ballots. intimidation and fraud; and we saw
once more That fgureheads were q fraud, and
that the representative men were, so far as they
were honest, not representative at all, but only
the utterers of individual opinions, to which
the masses behind them paid no moro heed
than to the wind that blows.
We have no criticism to make upon the action
of Messrs. Hampton, PendletOn and Butler.
In the Kellogg matter we believe they have
acted conscientiOusly and hOnorably. But
none the less we insist that the party of which
they are shining lights Is responsible for dis
honorable and dishonest scheme to gain par