New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-31
THE EXTRA SESSION And TIRGNIA.


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THE EXTRA SESSION md VTRGLNIA.
The United States Senate has terminated its
extra session, not in blaze Of glory. IN
truth, neither party can take much credit
to itself for its part in the performances Of
tins session. The Republicans were greatly
embarrassed at the outset by the position IN
which they had been placed by the conduct Of
ex-Senatols Conllling and Platt; they re-
manned at a disadvantage to the end be-
cause of their discreditabe disinclination
to put Mr.. Gorham overheard, where he
belonged; and they wasted time In a
vain attempt to secure the confirmation
of Postmaster at Lynchburg when they
knew that the President had power 10
appoint, az lie did, as soon as the Senate adj
iourned. But they have far less to regret or
TO be ashamed Of than their opponents. The
Democratic members of the Senate deliberately
deprived three duly elected Senators of their
rights in order to thrust Mr.. Bayard into
seat to which he had no title, thereby pro-
claiming their willingness to prepare by fraud
to snatch the Presidency, if it should be va
Gated by assassination or accident. And tins
they did without taking the trouble to find
out that their discreditabe behavior would be
utterly in vain. whenever the recently elected
Senators could take their seats. From the
beginning of the session to the very end, their
behavior was of a piece with tins IN Jolly.
They began to abuse Senator Davis as soon as
he cast an Independent vote, and have done
what they could to make il impossible for him.
without loss of self-Tespect, To cooperate with
them in any matter of party consequence
They have made n great fuss about the Viz
ginia election, and thus have shown great fear
of the result in that State and of the conse-
ouences elsewhere of defeat in Virginia.
The Senate was called, at this time, to elect
a President pro TEN. and TO consider appoint
ments. These are regarded as purely per
sonal matters by many Senator'S IN
Guiding some of both parties. Hence it is
hardly strange that the Senate presented itself
i'm its least creditabe light on this OCCASION
But Senators can hardly fail TO observe that
public respect for the Senate is rapidly fading.
Since the Democratic party obtained the power
in that body it has lost greatly in dignity, in
decency and in influence over the country.
The same feeling OF pablo disgust which has
turned the Democrats out of power in the
Lower House is likely to be shown in Other
elections in the different States, until the
Senate also has been completely reformed. il is
probable that the next general election may
put an end to possibilities Of Democratic CON
troll in that body. Senators from Alabama, Ar
kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Texas ana
West Virginia are to be elected in 1888, who
will probably be Democrats. But it is not yet
certain that Democrats can then be elected in
Delaware Georgia, Mississippi, Ncw-Jcrscy,
| n
and the seats from those States then TO be-
filed are now occupied by Democrats 1t j,
evident, also, that a Republican will b. elected
| from Illinois. In New-Jcrscy, where the Sen
ators chosen this year will vote for a successor
! to Mr.. Mcpherson, and where, of the II SEN
ators now holding over 10 are Republic
cans the prospect Of Republican success is
very good Oregon now has a Republican
majority of % Oh joint ballot in the Lcgis-
| lature, and ought to terminate the public
career of Mr.. Grover next year.
| The main contest, however, will be at the
| South. If the Malone party prevails against
| Bourbonism in Virginia the Democratic Scna-
| tor from that State will lose his seat next
! year. but other and far more important results
will follow. Senators Lamar, OF Mississippi,
Harris, of Tennessee, Butler of South Carolina,
and Hill of Georgia, Know that their seats will i'll
that case be in danger. Ifthepower of the Bour-
bon Democracy can once be broken, 60 that
an honest election and fair count can be had
in the Southern States, more than five OF them
will choose Republican Senators at the earliest
opportunity.
The extreme bitterness and Obstinacy of the
Democratic Senators upon all questions affect
/ ing tie control of the machinery of elections
bv the Southern BOurbons are, therefore, easy
to understand. These men arc fighting for po-
Itical existence With free elections and
fair returns they know that they would
be overwhelmed. The last possibilities of
Democratic success would vanish If the hold Of
that party upon certain Southern States, OBJ
tanned by assassination and swindling, and
retained to this day by fraud should now be
broken. Mr.. Lamar and Mr.. Butler know that
they do not represent the people They repre-
sent only a conspiracy of criminals Other
Southern Senators are in the same position
Their Northern allies have encouraged allotted
and applauded the foul deeds by which ma
iorities have been stihed and the people have
been robbed Of their rights. But the day Of
reckoning VIII come, and that quickly, if B0ur-
hon rule in Virginia can be broken.
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