The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-03-31
The Struggle Against Bourbenism.

uuucT tue icducISnip Oi Dcu I1iii, Vi
Georgia, sought to whip the independ-
ent Malone, of Virginia, Into the ranks
of the Demo Confederate party. II had
q significance far beyond the sensa-
tional display of a forensic tournament,
or even the temporary advantage of
organizing the present Senate. 1t
seems to have been the last desperate
struggle of the Bourbons to assert their
strength by the old methods of coer-
ciop. menace and exclusion. Ben Hill
was the representative and spokesman
for the stone-wall kind of Bourbons
who bave been accustomed to brook no
opposition to their mandates, and who
have resorted variously to so-called
chivalry, to avowed intimidation and
violence, and to poorly-concealed de-
ception and fraud to compel submission
from the disafiected, and to overcome
the resistance even of majorities. Ma
hone stood for the new spirit at the
South which is disposed torebel against
the overbearing domination of the
Bourbon leaders and assert the right of
indivi iual opinion. 1t was q struggle
of giants. The elements back of the
two men in the arena give q National
gle. The victory was with Malone.
The alliance ne found in the Republic
an party was in the direct line of Re-
publican progress. The Rebellion was
conquered by the sword. The senti-
ment of Nationalism must be encour-
aged by supporting the men who lead
revolts against Bourbonism, sectional
ism, intim .dation, ostracism and oil
garchy in Southern politics.
Hill occupied the underground in
the opening of the struggle. He pro-
ceeded upon q well-trodden and famil-
lar path. He had enjo, ed abundant ex-
perience in elevating party, section and
State above patriotism and the Nation.
He had engaged often in aggressive as
saults upon those who dared to question
the supremacy of Bourbon dictation,
and he was surrounded and backed by
men who had been accustomed to the
triumph of the bulldozer. Up to the
very last he was apparently unwilling to
believe that the Bourbon whip would
fail when applied to man represent
ing a Southern constituency. Hence
his GOODNESS and confidence. But be-
fore the struggle had ended, Ben Hill
was exposed in light which was dis
graceful to him both politically and
personally. While asssulting a new
Senator by indirection and insinuation
ency, Hill himself was in the attitude of
to his country, but had dragged an un-
willing constituency into treason by
misrepresenting it, and betraying a
trust which had been confded to him.
The only treason which is odious to men
like Hill is q remuneration of sectional
ism and q protest against Bourbonism.
A man may take up arms against his
Government, and even prove recreant
to his friends and neighbors for that
purpose, and still be as pure as an an
gel, according to the school of ethics to
which Hill belongs; but let him lead q
revolt against class-rule and feudal
methods in behalf of free thought,
individual rights, and National sem
timent, and that man becomes in
his ewes as periidious as hell. Every
covert insult and every guarded epithet
which he directed against Malone was
turned back upon him with keener
edge and redoubled force. Nor was
Hill able to withdraw from the contest
which he imposed upon Malone without
demonstrating that the latter was the
stancher Southron according to the CHI
valric gauge. as he was the reader to
resent personally any affront put upon
him and 10 make good by trial of battle
any issue between the two.
Malone occupied trying position in
the struggle which Ben Hill forced. He
was new to the Senate. He could not
help feeling the restraint which the at
mosphere of the Senate Chamber i'm
poses upon q young member. He was
prepared to follow his convictions, but
naturally inclined to postpone the con-
faot xyhioh fha soartiOn of orch onnu II
tions was pretty sure to bring on sooner
or later. When he coud no longer
with self-respect remain silent under
the taunts and goading of the Georgia
Senator, his hot Irish blood rushed to
his head, and to that extent placed him
at disadvantage with his cooler ad-
versary. But he made up in earnest
ness, frankness and a sense of right and
personal courage for his lack of skill in
debate and practice in satire. Hill
found him to be q fighter, and the strug-
gle left no doubt that there was one
man in the Senate from the South who
had become an uncompromising foe of
Bourbon intimidation. AL Of Hills
GOODNESS, deliberation and skill did not
protect him against making the breach
between Malone and the BOurbons per-
manent and impossible.
Malone is not man without follow
ing. His election to the Senate was the
result of personal canvass against the
very class of men for whom Hill spoke.
His vindication of his independence
will increase his strength at home and
encourage the development OF similar
independence in every community in
the South where free men are fretting
under the dictation of Bourbon "bosses"
and have become disguised with bull
doing methods.
Senator Hoar's appearance In the
debate was like that of Judge deliver
ing the verdict of the country. 1t came
at time when q judicial opinion was in
order. His words were clean-cut and
incisive, and his venerable look, the
universal respect he commands, his un-
impeachable character and precise
manner must have added to. the judicial
force of his utterances. The few words
Republican fellowship and support TO
those men of the South who seek escape
from the political thralldom of the
Bourbons, and they can hardly fail to
be accepted among the independent
thinkers of the South as a promise of
unfailing encouragement to all phases
of independent political action which
break away from the past and point to
veritable unity under a common flag
and with free Institutions that shall be
open to all alike. This is the ulterior
aim of the movement to which Malone
has given impulse and direction by the
attitude he has taken in the Senate.
The constitution of the Committees and
the disposition of the patronage are
small matters when contrasted with the
spread and determination of Southern
revolt against Southern Bourbonism. -
Chicago Tribune.
It seems that Senator Hill. taking ad-
vantage of the fact that Senator Malone
had voted with the Republicans to go
into executive session, indulged in q
l.