Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-04-08
RenuhIican Arrogance.

If the conservative Republicans who
express q desire to see s~ectionalism de.
stroyed in American politics, and ina
tionalism" become the main end and OBJ
iect of the American people, are in earn
est in what they say. they must deter
mine, at once and positively, to refuse
longer to affiliate with the Bour-
bons of their party. The effect OF
the war having been conducted to
a successful issue for the North under q
Republican administration, naturally
gave the Republican party a prestige
which has enabled it TO control the gov
eminent, by fraud and other influences,
for the past twenty years. And, as the
Republican party is composed of human
beings subject to human frailties, it has
come to believe that it is infallible, and
has a right to i~mperiously dictate to the
country what shall and what shall not
be done.
1t is not strange therefore that the Re
publicans in the United States Senate
should have unwittingly placed them
selves in the ridiculous attitude which
they, at present, occupy before the coun-
try. During the last session of Con-
gress that party, though in a de-
cided minority, hlibustered against
very important measures advocated
by the Democratic majority, and
defeated them. Then they arrogantly
claimed that their course was patriotic.
Now, however, when the Democratic
strength in the Senate is only made a
minority by the vote of the Vice PIesi-
dent-Wh0 is allowed no vote except in
case of a tie-and his vote is made avail
able only through the purchase of an
u~nprincipled Democrat, a Radical ma
jority of one has the impudence to de-
clare that the insisting by the Democrats
that the Senate shall engage in the work
for which it was convened by the Presi-
dent in special session is treason"
The Republicans have over estimated
their strength and gotten beyond their
depth. They must in the end abandon
their position and retire in confusion
from the field, for the simple reason that
the Democrats are in the right, and have
the sympathy Of the country. As the
Norfolk landmark well says, every
time a Democrat moves to take up the
business which the President
wishes to have dispatched. and
this is rejected because the
caucus nominees of the Republican par
ty are not accepted, the Republican ma
jority % in the Senate appears in a paltry
and unpatriOtic attitude before the coun-
try. And the absurdity of their position
is daily becoming more apparent. The
Democrats are ready and anxious to dis
patch the public business, but they are
not ready to see Mr.. Gorham, Captain
Ri~ddleberger, and other gentlemen voted
into offices which are not vacant, and
which ought not to be vacated under the
circumstances of the case"
The recent Democratic successes in
the municipal elections held in hereto
fore Radical strongholds of the West,
prove conclusively that the people are
sick and tired of this Radical arrogance,
and the conservative element of the Re-
publican party will not be slow to see it.
If, therefore, the Democrats in the Sen
ate continue firm in the position they
have taken, as they doubtless will, they
will win a victory which will be felt,
and which must result in the destruction
of s%ectionalism and stalwartism, and re-
dound to the material welfare Of their
party, and of the country.