Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1881-03-24
The Transfer Of Control in the Senate,
l-r TrLuuuc-

WA>HINGroN Mar. i. Two Years ago
TO-DAY the senate me, in compliance with
the proclamation Of PrcslLc4, HAYES. con
Nensug the ALNlih Congress in extra ses-
SION and the Democratic party. for the first
time IN eighteen Years, by II, newly elected
majority in the body. took formal charge Of
AFFAIR.". To-day Witnessed the last act IN the
peaceful counter-Feyoluilon By which the
Democratic party lost is hold, and. with
hardly a gasp. unsIllingly turned over the
control TO the Republicans again. The con
trast presented to the minds Of those v no
were 80 fortunate as TO witness both events,
was striking and suggestive.
The Jaunty, confident air worn by Demo
cratic Senators on the former occasion was
recalled. new lease Of political life had
been taken and the world looked bright in
deed. Great opportunities we're opening up.
IN which even the least influential men of
the party might earn coveted distinction.
They would show the country and the world
how much better they could govern than
those who had 50 long welded power. They
would do nothing which their opponents
had approved. New methods and new men
should henceforth find prominence in public
affairs. They wanted no advice and would
submit TO no interference. Self-sufficiency
reigned IN the caucus councils Of the party
as in the breasts of its individual members
To-day, with show of meek protest, but
without discussion, without even parlia-
mentary struggle, they surrendered and
went TO the rear, confessing BY their demean-
or,as previously by the mouths of Eaton and
others, that they were incompetent to gov
ern themselves, much less the country
II was from the lips Of Mr.. Salisbury that
the Republicans and the country were first
informed that the Democrats, upon their &C
cession to power two years ago, intended to
carry matters with a high hand The fol
lowing extract from his speech on that oc-
casion, delivered with rollicking air, his
tall, lank form STOPPING fors ard and his lit
tie head bobbing TO end fro, reads pleasantly
IN the light OF current proceedings:
should be very glad TO see our brethren on
the ether SIDE take their present situation a lit
tie more cheerfully. could congratulate n IN
from the experience Of Il number of years in
the minority, on the fact that il is a mach
pleassnter position than / apprehend they
found members OF the majority. They can
aid in giving proper information at the proper
time and in the proper wsy; but on this tide
OF the House. then we strike = line on our own
setiOn, it is a duty to ourselves not to permit
the other side Of the House TO shape our c0urse
Of policy in reference 10 any particular measure.
Ii had better be understood at once Ii II the
Democratic party in possession have respou 81.
biliies now upon them, and intend to pursue
their own line of policy in reference TO ques-
tions. especially ola political character. hope
our friends on the other side will reconcile
themselves TO their present position and like
Christian statesmen bear il maniuly. Laugh
ter.
Nobody laughed to-day, when the same
Senator. after the Democratic Committee
list had been laid upon the table and the
Republican list had been adopted, arose and
solemnly called the attention of ''the SEN
ate and the country" to the fact that the
Democrats had not filibustered, but had
submitted with decOrum to the inevitable