New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-16
THE LOST dAHONE.

Our sympathy goes out toward the Demo-
cratic party. But little while ago it held n
majority in the House, majority in the
Senate and had strong hopes OF carrying the
Presidential election and gaining control of all
departments Of the Government. There was q
time when acrObats like Beebe went skylarhing
round on the tops of the desks in the House eX-
claiming they would never cOndOne, and states-
man like Blackburn swung his celebrating
sponge threatening to wipe out the legislation
of the past fifteen years, while other statesmen
like Bland threatened to wipe out the National
debr: when Senators like Salisbury announced
that the Democrats in that body would take the
responsibility OF legislation and when even the
Doorkeeper of the House introduced himself as
@biger man than old Grant" Things have
80 changed, alas, within a few months! The
Presidency has slipped out OF theft reach, they
have lost the lower House of Congress, and
now, 20 crown all, the Senate, with its patron
age, honors and emoluments, has passed ont Of
their hands This was more than they had ex-
pectcd. For after counting themselves over
several times very carefully, they had made mp
their minds that they had just a majority not
vote to spare, but enough to give them the
pickings Of patronage which they gained two
years ago and were in such q hurry to enjoy
that they forced an extra session in order to
lose no time. And they find that after all they
have not saved out Of the wreck even so much
as this.
Senator Pendleton had counted them over
and made an easy Democratic majority incud-
ing the Senators from Illinois and Virginia,
who had been elected by a combination of
Democrats and Republicans. Mr.. Bayard had
done the same thing with similar result, and
he was anxious to organize the Senate as q great
public duty in order to confirm the nomIna-
tons of Republican President Mr.. Hill of
Georgia, had made thirty niDe Democrats by
his count, which was n clear majority of one,
and was certain that all the world knew his
figures to he correct. And yet it turns ont that
when it comes to the actual pinch they can count
Oh only thirty-eight votes, leaving the Republi-
can Vice-Presidont to decide the tic by his
casting vote. It is hard to have counted so
surely and suffered such Disappointment Mr..
Hill, bowling in a shrill falsettO his stridulOus
conundrums--"W Who has been taken and car
ried away" "Who did itW "Who is that
@one9" &Do you receive him with affection ~
"Do you receive him with respect 2"
ais such a man worthy CT your association 2"
and so on and on with no end OF them, is
spectacle for COMMUNICATION. 1t evidently
came upon him suddenly and with the force Of
a revelation that the party had lost Senator.
Hence his shrieBs of anguish and his wild calls
for information as to what had become of him,
who had got him, and whether they were going
to have the assurance to try to keep him. Mr..
Hill, however, was not kept long in ignorance or
suspense. The lost Senator gave him all the
information he sought, and alittle more, within
q very few minutes after his call.
The matter concerns Republicans but very
slightly. Mr.. Malone is not their Senator, aud
Their do not claim him. He himself claims to
be Independent. 1t is Democratic weakness
TO classify oil Independents and all third party