The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-11-02
Poor Barardf

ocrat3c party make biunders- When
the late President was stricken down by
the hand of an assassin and his life
trembled in the balance, some Demo
cratic Senators said; :. Oh, no; we shall
not take political, partisan advantage,
In the organization of the Senate inEthe
event of his death. The Presidential
pie sought to place tin the hands Of
the Republican party But the Presi-
dent died, and these same Democratic
Senators said: "Oh, no; we cannot
consent to the admission Of the Sena-
tors-elect from New York and Rhode
Island previous TO the organization of
the Senate; and we are bound to iuse
the partisan advantage we hold. while
these Senators-elect remain outside the
Senate Hall. in the choice Of O Demo
crat for the Presidential succession"
But Democratic Senators were very
dignifed in their change Of front They
didn't smile when they executed the
right -about-face movement; they looked
wise and patriotic. They expressed
deep feeling OF anxiety on the
subject of the lapse Of the Govern
mens through the possible death OF
President Arthur. They felt strong
pressure of duty to provide at the ear
llcSL pO6SIOle uOm6ub 6&dln6b Inc Qtu-
ger Of such q contingency. Not that
ocrat in the line of the Presidential sue
cession-oh, no, indeedl They desired
to provide against possible danger to
the structure of our institutions. They
felt very tender on the subject of the
I Constitution They did not object to
the immediate admission of the waiting
Senators-elect, but such 3 step would
be irregular, unprecedented, and hence
dangerous to sour institutions" They
were very mild in the expressions Of
these opinions, they were so very mod
est about it all that they appeared sor-
rowful and down-hearted in view of ac-
cepting partisan advantage under the
rude compulsion of unfortunate circum-
stances, as IL were. s.'e
s But when the Senate was called to
order they conquered their modesty and
diffidence sufficiently to vote solidly for
the most pronounced Bourbon of them
all as President pro tenapore-the man
who had been most outspoken in favor
of seizing the place made vacant by as
sassination, the man who had elutched
at the place eagerly, the man who
had declared that the Democratic ma
jority of the Senate "would have been
derelict in duty" not to have kept out
the waiting Senators-elect until the
Presidential succession could be Sc
cured. And when the thing was done
the Democratic Senators breathed more
| freely. grew quite cheerful, and rubbed
their hands and exchanged.glances OF
satisfaction. The little game OF sharp
practice had been played out. the farce
| was over to all except Bayard.r he had
1 -etsh - ,,,aI~o h,o 1;f&1a k1
had prepared 1t in strict consonance
with che hypocritical character of the
conspiracy TO seize partisan advantage
under color of a high pretense of duty
| and devotion to the country and Consti-
| tuition. Hence he spoke of ..the Ma
tional bereavement which had caused
the special session." but omitted to re-
fer to the fact that In his own person
and place he represented the Demo
/ cratic trick to secure partisan advan-
1 tage through that bereavement. He
chopped for spirit of concession and
harmony, and q general consideration
| for mutual differences OF opinion, and =
softening of partisan asperities," in thf
very act of acknowledging his obliga-
| tions to Democratic Senators for the
4 place he occupied through violation
| Of "the spirit of concession q disre
gard for all - consideration of mutua
differences Of opinion, aud q refusa
to abate one jot or little of the partisan
nsperity in the shadow OF great Ma
tional calamity and q great Nationa
bereavement.
This episode in the history of th'
Democratic party win subject it to rid
iculs forever. With heads bowed il
simulated grief. with feigned tears il
their eyes, with voices clicked by pre-
tended emotion, with false words of de
votion to the, country and the Constitu
ton on their tongues, the Democrat,
Senators, to q man. conspired to seize
and did seize, the Presidential succession
seized the place made vacant by an ac
of assassination which shocked mankind
seized it only to have it wrenched from
their hands In q day! What fiasco
What prompt and what righteous retri
button for an act of moral turpitude
What swift punishment for an act of pc
litical hypocrisy and meanness! Ala
4 for Bayard! He is, and must remai
for the rest of his political life. inseps
1 rably associated with the most conspie
nous and meanest blunder-of the Demo
cratic party Chicago Tribune.
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