New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-09
TIE pEMOcRAIIC BLCNDER.

The deadlock in the Senate, aud the course
of the Democrats in peTsisfiDg m the policy
of obstruction and delay, only furnish another
illustration Of the capacity of that party for
laundering. Here was situation IN which
there could hardly have been n question as to
which was the most polite course, in which
il hardly seemed possible for a party OF ordi-
nary intelligence TO GO wrong. The only thing
TO be gained under any circumstances by the
course they have adopted is the possession for
short tine of few petty Offices, which are
of no value In q party s-nse and only an i'd
vantage to two or three individuals. To re
tain those men iB place the party 10 the sen
ate has put itself in tho attitude OF Obstructing
the public business and interposing fact,ous
delays TO the regular proceedings Ii was al
ready loaded with the dhcredlt IN public esti-
nation Of having the spells OF office its chief
and almost only aim and now. instead of doing
something to redeem itself by gracefully yielding
the places tn which II had no further just
claim, it takes just the course 10 increase
popular suspicion and distrust. Suppose the
olstructionists are successful In staving Of
the pending question and continuing the Sen
ate subordinate officials a lsle longer in
any stronger or in any better position 7 by
no means II is weakened by the odium in
cured by their unusual tactics. while by en-
phaslzng the fact that the Republican margin,
of majority is small and prseaIious they de-
Drive themselves of the advantage of holding
their opponents TO a strict responsibility.
Had they been possessed of ordinary shrewd-
ness and sagacity, instead of antagOniziDR the
Republican nominations with this vicious stub
bornness. they would have oontented them
selves with the usual forms of opposition
and allowed the new officers 70 be installed
without unnecessary delay. They would
then have lost nothing but q few paltry
Offices. but would have had the advan-
tage of putting their opponents in q
position where their action required exDlana-
ton and defence. 1t would have seemed on
the face of it az though the Republicans had
bargsined with Malone on the simple basis Of
O division OF spOils. and saddled themselves
with Gorham, Riddleberger and the other hnan-
cial beretics as part of the trade. The bust
ness having been permitted to slip through
unquestioned. the country. suddenly made
aware that a Republican Senate had elevated
that sort of politicians TO Office. and know
ing nothing of the real motives of
the transaction. would have been easily
imposed upon by the assertion which could
have been sent out Immediately. that it was
a simple case OF bargain and sale in which
the Offices were the only consideration. SO
plausible an accusation might have been
widely credited. The Republicans. put upon
the defensive before the country instead of in
the Senate, and forced 20 offer some explana-
ton. might have found it difficult 20 prove TO
the people that it was an Anti Bourbon al
lance Instead of a coalition for spoils, and
that il looked to tie accomplishment Of
great and important political purpose instead
Of a mere parcelling out of Offices.
Thanks to the proverbial Democratic ca
pscty for laundering, the minority in the Sen
ate have saved all this risk. The true motive
of the alliunce with the Anti BOurbons has
been brought ont by the Bourbon Democrats
In the Senate themselves They have 50 illu-
minated the transaction by the bitterness Of
their hostility that 1t has hardly been neces-
sary for tie Republicans to prefer any addi-
tional explanation. The long debate has
relieved the Republicans from the danger of
having their action misunderstood by
the people. or their motives misconstrued. So
much has Been gained already. The Senators
who have psraded their insncerity in mean
ingless talk about the effect OF an alliance be-
tween Republicans ard Regulators have only
succeeded in exposing the real ground Of
their bitterness and demonstrating 10 the