The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-05-31
THE LATE EXTRA SESSION.

The extra session of the United States
Senate that was convened shortly after Presi-
dent Gariield's Inauguration, and that adj.
journed sine die only a few days ago. will
pass into history as one of the most ~extraor-
binary ones that has taken place since the
formation of the Republic. AS Is well
known, it was called for the purpose of con-
firning the nominations of certain parties TO
positions within the gift of the Execu tive,
and to ratify the treaties made with China,
Japan and other foreign powers. The demo-
cratic senators were willing to proceed with
the legitimate objects Of the session and ad-
journ. A few days only would have sufliced
to compass those ends. But the republican
senators, unfortunately for themselves and
their party, conceived the idea of not only
reorganizing the committees of the senate,
thus placing the chairmanshipS and a major
ity Of each committee in the bands of-their
own members, but of electing republican Of
ticers for that body. To obtain the power to
enable them to carry out the above named
objects, they entered into an arrangement
with Malone, of unsavory memory, by which
the Virginia readjuster, or, more properly
speaking, repudiator, was to give them his
vote III consideration OF their supporting his
friend Riddleberger, a brother .repudiator, for
sergeant-at-arms. To this too hare-faced
bargain the democratic senators, to use a
homely but expressive phrase, ''kicked."
Then epsued the late ever memorable dead
lock out Of which has sprung the discOrd in
the ranks Of the republican party that will
disrupt it beyond the hope of permanent re-
Cancellation.
Mahone's entry into the republican party
and tie endorsement Of his nominee-Rid-
dleberger-by the "Halfbreed" administra-
tion have immeasureablY weakened the ties
that bound the better CT ass of republicans to
its support. The arguments of its Edmunds,
the reasOnings Of its Hoars, the sopllistiv of
its Dawes cannot uproot trou the minds of
the people the belief that a disgraceful and
unrighteou bargain was enter Ell into be-
tween the leaders Of the party and e rene
9ade democrat that compromises and humil-
iates republicans in the eyes Of the world.
IN oitl Ia tiC l"iauS VI ttC patty lchu-
ers is destroyed. Following this unholy
compact, and indirectly proceeding from il,
or at least as an outerowth Of the spirit Of
corruption that prompted it, comes the resig-
nation of Senators Conkling and Plat. This
act of the great leader Of the stalwarts crys-
tallizes that element Of The republican party
into a distinct faction of rreconcilables
They constitute the "Old Guard" Of the
party, without which it has not for years won,
nor cannot in the future win a political vic
tory over the democratic hosts. Unless the
operations of the DarWinian theory of the
Survival Of the tittest' be reversed, it will
never be merged into and be swallowed up
by the "Half Breeds but will stand with its
Chief, and with him survive Or perish. The
entry of Mahune into the republican ranks
during the extra session the withdrawal of
Conkling and Platt from its deliberations,
and the inevitable division OF the once united
and powerful party as the result OF these two
events, will distinguish the session as one III
which the republican party received its death
blow.