New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-08
DEMOCRATIC BAD FATE.

DEMOCRATIC BAD FATE.
In one way, the Democratic can help the Re-
publican party materially. 1t hates Senator
Kellogg. 1t wants to make the South absO-
lutely solid in the Senate, and cares not for
Justice or decency, or the established rules of
the Senate, if it can satisfy its vindictive feel
ing. There was pledge, it is true, that Re-
publican and a Democratic Senator should be
admitted on the same ground, and not dis
turbed in their seats, and the Republicans
Loyalty and honorably kept the agreement on
their part If the Democrats see fit to break it,
if they please to establish precedent under
which, when the Senate becomes Republican, the
right of any Democratic member to his seat can
ba questioned, the Republicans may well thank
thom heartily for their folly. 1t will seem to
the people of the North that Mr.. Kellogg is il
legally Oustcd, not because he was not
duly chosen, but because nc was an effici ent
loyalist and is an active Republican. 1t will
seem to them that Democratic vindictveness
and partisan greed have once more trampled
upon legal and honorable obligations. In the
Presidential campaign this bit of indecency on
the part of the Democrats will be mentioned
often, and we leave the sensible Democrats
themselves to say whether 1t will help them.
The question at issue in the Senate has been
Ftudou,ly misreprt sented. Yet it is very sim
pie. A Republican State Government had ex-
listed in louisiana, based, as Republicans be-
icvcd and still believe, upon the real will of an
actual minority of the lawfully qualified voters.
Though the Democrats disputed the legality of
this organization, it was then and to this day
has been recognized as Mt that time thr only
lawful Government of the State. In order to con-
ciate tie Southern Democrats, and deprive
them of all excuse for n continuance of the
outragcs and frauds which had been perpCtra-
ted, the Administration thought it best to
leave the Republican State Government of
Louisiana without moral or physical support,
and it WAS overturned. But before 1t had
fallen, it had elected Senator whose title was
IN every respect rs clear rs that Of President
Hayes himself In South Carolina a similar
conflict had arisen, with a similar result The
Republicans were in majority in the Senate,
aud could have admitted both the Republicans
claiming seats but the spirit of cancellation
still prevailed. A compromise was arranged,
and the moro easily because some Republicans
were not quite clear us to the rightfulness Of the
Republican claim in South Carolina, while
of Mr.. Kcllogg's competitor. 1t was agreed
that one Republican and one Democrat should
be admitted, in order to avoid rigid OyerhaulIng
of the legal status of the revolutionary govern
mrnis newly established In the two States, and
that their admission should DC final settle
mcnt as to their rights to seats In the Senate.
In this spirit of compromise and Cancellation
both were admitted, the Democrat and tho Re-
publican and it was hoped that In this and
other features the settlement would be honor
ably respected by both parties.
The Republicans have honOrably observed
their part of the Conciliatory understanding.
The Democrats made promises and professions
by the thousand, 80 long as they thought il ne
crssary, but when they had secured IL partisan
majority in the Senate they began to move for
the expulsion of Sir. Kellogg. 1t would be a
waste OF time to refer TO the many prcteXts On
which they have sought to steal tLiS seat in
the Senate They know, and all the loyal
people OF the North know, that the seat is held
by n Republican in accordance with cOmpro-
mise by which the Democrats gained one scat
to which they never were entitled, because it
was the wish of the Administration to avoid
further excuse for irritation at the South, and
to give the Hampton and Nichols State Govern
mcnts, without further question as to their
legality, ample opportunity to redeem their
pledges of good faith and loyalty. And all
the world knows, too, how these pledges have
been broken. It IS notorious that the Republi-
cans Of those States have since cn,depriyed
of all rights by fraud and violence. A more
disgracoful election than the one which fol-
lowed in South Carolina, a more shameless re-
pudiatiOn of debts than has followed In Louis
lana, this country has never seen. Not salts
fed with robbery Of bondholdcrs, tho Demo-
Gratis of Louisiana propose to rob tho loyal
people OF this Union of their political power,
by ousting n Senator who was duly admitted
to a seat upon a clear title.
This sort Of bad faith has marked the Der
fOlmances Of the Democratic party for years.
The Republican extremists, who have insisted
that it was utter folly to trust any Southern
professions or promises, and have declared that
men who were traitors to the Union would prove
false to every other obligation, point to Demo
cratic conduct rs evidence that thcy were right.
1t will greatly strengthen their appeal to the
people this Fall if the Democrats in