New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-31
THE LAMENT OF THE BOURBONs.

ANGRY AT THE PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE OF S1E-
purNs. spnER AND FELL oN-PARTY RANKS BRO
KgN BY TIE BOTrLE-COMPiIMgNTS TO THE RI
PUBLICAN MINORITY IN THE HOUSE
lBY TELEGRAPH TO IHE TRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.-The complaints of Speaker
Randall and other Bourbon leaders in the House OF
Representatives on account of the lack OF interest
which some of their followers cvince in the passage
# the Electoral Count resolutions and some other
PARTISAN measures, have hitherto been confined
nainly to curs,ngs in private conferences and 10
private letters, written by Mr.. Randall and by Mr.
House, of Tennessee, chairman of the Democratic
Caucus Committee, to the absentees. Some hints OF
;hs strenuous efforts made by those gentlemen to
procure the presence Of Democratic quorum to
rote on the Electoral resolutions have appeared In
rHE TRIBUNE. The Democratic official organ at
The National Capital publishes to-day vigorous
editorial on Certain Democratic Biunders," and
iaudies the Democratic independents and absentees
without gloves In regard to the treatment of the in
dependents by their party associates 1t is well known
n Washington that Representatives FELTON,, Sreer
md Alexander Fl. Stephens have been subjected to
very strain which coaxing, persuasion, threats
and political budOZing short OF violence could sng-
gest 10 order to bring them back into the Bourbon
traces. The same methods have been used with
better success upon some other Democratic Repre-
,entatives who have betrayed disposition to resist
lie dictation of the BourboDs i'll regard &c the
Electoral resolutions.
There are few Democrats who, while thcv are
oot willing to stand out in open rebellion 10 caucus
,ue, rs Messrs. Stephens, Speer and FELTON, have
.hus lar done. and as they will continue to do on
Ibis question, have no sympathy with the iCoi,sh
portssn attempt that Randall and other leaders
making. They tind 1T convenient TO b. absent
whenever this particular question is brought for
ward There are others, it appears, who prefer the
bottle TO the battle. paragraph III the editorial
already mentioned states One-balf OF great truth.
The Post says that tie Democratic party is a5ont
10 occupy the minority side of the House, and that
The cause. which more than any other has con-
,ribu ed 10 its reduction has been proven incapac-
Hy to dominate Republican minority. II Tie
Post had been frank enough to mention the inca
,acity" Of the Democratic majority to deal iai'iy
md intelligently with any public measure it would
,ave described the whole situation. The Post pays
ts RESPECTS to the independents and the Democratic
,bsentees in the following vigorous language;
In almost all the party contests of the Ii"uss few
members Of the maT party har have NM Pa,sd S nS sn9
hoy airs They have been proud OF the comlDehdatlon
q their opponents VINO nave esea Jae ana mSv
oIafrudes about their obligations to their own sense OF
nave tiapped their rhetorical wings aud scared above
party" beir silly souls have been delighted WIN the
ESo we're elected by Demccrats-c!ected Demors-
men who had begged Democratic votes from county 10
ounty and who had prated long ami loud U their zeal
or RE success OF Democratic principles. AT tue
nrst possible opportunity they betrayed their
constituents betrayed their pr1ncpeS betrayed thclr
narty and gave easy victory TO the eneniy-aD enemy
ba caioes and such creatures while chershng
oiust contempt for them ami their ways Democratic
bsepteeisn another and very fruitful source OF
Democratic discontinue. The alleged Democratic ma
ority mas been an actual minority for weeks III success
son Victory upon victory has been glvcu 10 tne
Rnnublicaps by few Democrats who have cared more
Tor rsona convenience than for public duty or the
int,ests of their party Scores OF tunes quorum has
hesn brokan and the passage OF Democratic me tsure
aefeoted bv the absence OF a few men who at that
,noment could have bt found in a barIOOn!!
party If in a sad predicame eDt when its success or
whose appeiite for stimulans VII! not give 20 any
bigher sense. And to ths complexion bas come with
fhe Democratic party the House on more tan one uc
casion of the tmportance such men are uht
Tor any public position T1ey are Disgrace TO their
const uents. reproach tO the House. an afhictOn 10
the country man who will risk the success OF his
party n "a crisis, rather than walt for drink is Just
about as contemplate as the holy fellow VINO
rises above party " in order t0 be pattcd ON
the back by the Republican press If the minority In
the XLviIth Congress shall show itself as compact
sseacous alert and guardedy aggressive as mas the
MINORITY in the present Congress- there will be change
two wears hence 1t is the strength OF Republican
principles half much as the weakness Of Democratic
that has transferred the sceptre hs tne
Meantime few Democratic districts VIII do well 10
arop into oscur,ty the whose egOiis. weakness,
neglect and and appeutes have enabled minority vi
Rrnubicans practically TO dominate a Democratic
House. aud finally retire the Democracy 10 the minority
Nde.