The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-05-06
Outraged Democratic. Virtue.

The Democrats are disposed to assume
virtue though they have it not. They
are terribly wrought up just now over
what they call an outrageous political
bargain " between the Republican Sena-
tors and Malone, of Virginia. They
justify their present obstructive tactics
in tie Senate on the ground that it is
high moral duty they own the country
to resist the consummation of this bar
gain" Their virtuous Indignation
arises from two causes-frst, because
the Senator from Virginia should refuse
obedience to the Bourbon 6aucus and act
with the Republicans and, secondly,
because the Republicans should consent
to avail themselves of the cooperation of
one whom the Democrats please to call q
"repudiator." The Democratic mana
gers zee no contradiction in this state OF
Things: The Democratic caucus might
avail itself Of the vote of "repudiator, ;"
and the transaction would be all right I;
but if the Republicans entertain such a
person the spectacle is disreputable
How the Democratic politicians can
get up even the appearance OF resent,
ment at the suggestion of bargain,
is difficult to understand. There is no
kind of political trade which the Demo
Gratis have not tried within the past few
Years IN their unceaslng effort to grao
the spoils of Office. They took up Hor-
ace Greeley and agreed to make HIM
President if he could draw enough votes
from the Republicans to constitute a
majority with the Democratic votes.
| That was certainly q more serious " bar
gain" than the effort to make friend OF
Mahone's Sergeant in the Sen
| ate, The Democrats have also bar
gained with the Greenbf ckers and
pandered to the COMMUNISTS wher-
ever they thought they could
gain party advantage by such a
course. Why is Mahone's association
with the Republicans any more OF a
"bargain than his association with the
Democrats would have beenP Why is it
any more disreputable than the assOcia-
ton OF David Davis with the Demo
Gratis? Malone was elected as an indie
| pendent. During the canvass he bitter
" opposed the Bourbons, with whom,
now he is elected, he refuses to act.
The majority of those who sent him to
tie Senate are Republicans. He claimed,
however, to be free of all obligation tc
either of the existing parties In the
United States Senate. The Democrats
endeavored to persuade him to vote and
act with them. He refused. In voting
and acting with the Republicans he has
furnished 20 more evidence of venallty
than if he had gone into the Democratic
caucus, and his attitude is more consist
ent now than it would have been then
Alteration of Democratic contempt
for "repudiator" is just as transparent
as assumed indignation at a bargain. ,
If Malone is Objectionable to the Dem
ocrats on this ground it is because he /.
not enough of o repudiator. He wants
to pay two-thir Is of the old Virginia
debt and leave the other third to be pait
by West Virginia, which enjoyed itf
share of the benefits. The Bourbon'
don't want to pay any part of this debt
but merely to keep the account. On
the Democratic side there are repudiat
ors of all shades and degrees. There
are these representing constituencies
who "scaled" their State and loca
debts, and there are also those who pro
posed to repudiate the entire nationa
debt, and made a Presidential cam
paign upon that issue. An exhibition 0
Democratic resentment at any kind o.
degree of reputation is, therefore, sim
ply ridiculous. These same Democrat
would have gladly welcomed and eager
ly defended Malone if he had consented
to take his seat on the Democratic side
The Democrats will not be able t.
conceal from the country that they ar
obstructing public business for the soil
and selfish purpose of retaining Confed
crates and Bourbons in few subordi
nate places in the Senate. It may b.
that the Republican effort to gain pos
session of these same places does no
warrant suspension of executive bust
ness, but even that theory does not ex
use the Democratic policy OF obstruc
t on nor warrant the Democratic pre-
tenge of superior virtue. Chicago 1ri6