Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-05-20
The Two Parties In the Senate.

1t Is now time to compare the situation
of the Republican party with reference
to its recent .fGscO, and that of the Demo-
cratic party with regard to its failure to
accomplish all it aimed at in the extra
session. The Democrats were right in
their resistance to the election laws.
which even the Republicans, and notably
Mr.. Garfield, condemned and agreed
ought to be amended. They were wrong
in the means taken to that end, and failed
to accomplish all they undertook, and
yet did accomplish much, and, bY the
discussion, prepared for the accomplish
ment of much more. They occupied a
position where they could afford
to be beaten as to their immediate
aims and to postpone great question to
the future. To a certain extent, to the
extent that they were wrong, they backed
down. sacrificing no principle, losing no
honor, and no dignity. The Republicans
entered upon this Senate session appa-
rently strong, just victorious, arrogant,
imbued with a consciousness of assured
future power Fresh from an insolent
refusal to allow the Democratic ma
jority to organize the Senate
committees, fresh from f1libuster-
ing against a true majority, they
formed disgraceful and corrupt league
with Southern repudiators, unmindful
of their claim to be the only opponents
of reputation, and only assurance of
sound finance, and charged the Demo-
Gratis with treason to the principle of
majority rule, when they had, counting
Malone, only one half the Senate. After
maintaining this position for weeks they
have backed squarely down, abandoned
the field, tucked their tails between their
legs and fled like whipped hounds.
No great party ever made so ridiculous
a blunder, or ever appeared in an aspect
at once so pitiably ludicrous and so at
variance with all its promises aud teach
ings. For all its boastings and defiance it
must endure the laughter of friend and
foe. A party could endure even this if
it had been standing upon a right prin.
ciple, which is only postponed by tenn
pOrary defeat TO future field but
there is not even pretence that
this is the case. The conservative
people of the North have been
so unanimous in condemnation that
it is not even pretended that they will
dare appear again in direct compact, as
Oh P0lbfB Will unduOnClOus uCY
have sacrificed reputation for sound
financial principle and placed themselves
at the head of a reputation movement,
occupied position at once hypocritical,
false and ruinous, all in order to gain a
slight party advantage in Virginia, and
after this they stink, baffied and whipped,
from the field with nothing but defeat,
and that in desperate and corrupt game,
to show for the miserable labors of two
and half months. During that time
they have managed to create a sharp di
vision in their own party, to disclose its
barrenness, the absence of ideas, except
false and destructive ideas, to expose the
candidate they have just installed as a
bargainer, trader man who was will
ing to sell the places he had not for
bare chance to obtain them for distribu-
ton, and who has moreover violated
every pledge made to those who trusted
him. They have also shown that if one
side was willing to bargain for influence
the other was willing to be bought. If
Garfield sold, Conkling bought. They
have shown that the entire leadership and
machinery of the party is corrupt and
used wholly for corrupt ends and the
distribution and enjoyment of place in
stead of discharge of public duties. They
have had it brought out from Republican
source that, while Garfield was bargain
ing away the places for the influence of
the Grant and Conkling wing, the Demo
cratic candidate was saying to those of
his party who sought promises of place
from him: Gentlemen, if enter upon
the administration of this high office, |
must do so untrammelled and unpledg-
ed, free to select such advisers as may
seem to me, when they are selected, best |
suited for the discharge of public duties.
By this comparison, by the two re-
cords and the verdict of the American |
people, we are willing for the Democracy
to be tried. The elections of next year
will show what the people think of the
disgraceful page here exposed, of the
record made by the party of Brady, |
Dorsey and the star route ring, of COnk- |
ling and resistance to the executive in the |
exercise of his constitutional preroga-
tlves, of the party IN league with repu.
diation, of the President engaged in the |
barter and sale Of offices not yet in hand,
of the party in it's final and most ridicu-
lous exit with its mighty tail betwixt It's
legs, fleeing like whipped cur with a
tin Kettle attachment.