Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-05-12
A Monopoly of Blundering.

/ for at least quarter of century, omit
ting no opportunity to do the foolish
thing, even when the prudent and ssnsi
BILE was easier. Wherever their ways
have forked in all this time, they have
Invariably hurried to take the one that
led into cart path, narrowed to squir
rel track, and ran up a tree. 1t is large
/ ly due to this obdurate perverseness on
their part that their opponents have SC
llong retained the confidence of the peo.
pie and control of the Government. Un.
interrupted success for term of years
did have upon the Republicans its in
variable effect in relaxing their vigil.
ance, begetting loose habits and engen-
dering extravagance and wilfulness. An
opposition wisely led, or one even that
did not inevitably grayitate of its own
fatal fatuoUsness to the most suicidal
policy. might easily have taken advan-
tage of this state of affairs and the dis
satisfaction it created in the public
mind to ride into power. 1t could not
Prise to the golden opportunity that cir
cumstances placed within its reach. If
it barely grazed great and triumphant
success, for the consummation of which
it had only to bide its time in patience
| it set at work at once with what seems
almost natural instinct to defeat its
own most cherished plans, while the
Republicans, wise enough to profit by
the narrowness of their escape, began
Immediately to redeem their mistakes
and regain forfeited confidence and lost
prestige. The animal creation furnishes
but one parallel for the Democracy, in
the. brute that when placed with its
nose to the trough never fails to put its
foot in it.
And these people who pretend to lead
the party seem not content even to stop
here. They not only blunder with per-
sistent energy themselves, but, as if the
game of politics were competition in
pigheadedness, they never catch their
opponents blundering but that they at
once set about overtopping them. They
seem actually to claim monopoly of the
business. They have been giving US a
magnificent illustration of this during
the past two months. To see this one
need only read the speeches of the Bour-
hn 20
they have made to delay action on the
election of the officers of the Senate.
Out of their own mouths comes the
proof For the whole burden of their
song during this time has been that the
Republican Senators were bringing dis
grace upon their party by the choice of
such men as Gorham and Riddleberger.
According to their own showing the
nomination of these two men was a
great political blunder, which must re-
dound to the disadvantage of the Repub-
ican party. Gorham's record, they said,
was too heavy load for the Republi-
cans to carry, while Riddleberger's repu-
tation as an advocate of reputation
must necessarily infict stain upon the
escutcheon of a party that claimed to
be par excellence the champion of pnb-
lie faith and honest money. For almost
two months these sagacious party lead
ers have maintained the attitude Of fac
tious obstructionists, delaying the pub
lie business ond indulging in long and
fruitless discussions to their own dam
age, with the avowed object of prevent
ing their opponents from doing them
selves an injury by the election of unfit
candidates. "Give US any other candi-
dates" they say, anybody whose cleo
ton will not dishonor the party respon-
sible for it, and we will cease factious
opposition and interpose no fnrther OBJ
stacle to proceeding to business" Upon
their own reasoning, could greater stu
pidity be conceived? They will not even
let the Republicans do themselves harm
by their own blundering.
AS Republicans we have had little to
say of the wisdom or unwisdom of these
nominations. Having been made, and
the minority in the Senate having delib-
erately undertaken to obstruct the
course of business by factious proceed
ings, there was no question as to the
duty of Republican Senators to adhere
to them and insist upon their rights as
the majority in that body, at any rate
until the majority should have clearly
defined their factious purpose or some
superior emergency should arise. But
there can be no question as to what was
the best policy under the circumstances
for the Democrats. If the election of
Gorham and Riddleberger was so certain
to damage the Republicans, they had
only to put themselves on record in op-
position to them, and then gracefully
submit, letting their opponents handicap
themselves. They couldnet see it. They
have made themselves odious by OBJ
structing business with apparently no
motive but the retention of few paltry
offices, and have saved the Republicans
from saddling themselves with Gorham
and Riddlebergsr. The Republicans, if
they do not now persist in the blunder
from which their opponents have saved
them, owe debt of gratitude to the
Bourbon Democracy. These latter in
sist upon their monopoly. Let them
enjoy it.-[N. Y. Tribune.
Down, in Arkansas they call an or
dinary man, who drinks but little, Cap
tain" A Colonel is one who can "stand
the racket pretty well, and General is
the title given to a man who must have
"suthin'" once in so often or perish;
l. Al I'll I1I a. III IaI