The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-02-04

OK THH HKTHoDs or CERTAIN DEMOCRATIC
COEGR RREsNEF.

The Washington Post publishes vigorous
editoria: on " Certain Democratic Blunders,'
srd handles the Democratic Congressional
Independents and absentees without gloves.
BY independents it refers to Stephens, Speer
and FELTON,, of Georgia The Post says:
In almost all the party contests Of the
House a few members OF the ma jOrity party
have played into the hands of the opposition.
They have put on high and holy airs. They
have been proud Of the cOmmendation OF
their opponents, who have used them and
despised them for being thus used. They
have mouthed mOuldy platitudes about their
obligations to their own sense OF duty rath-
Ell than the dictates of q caucus" When
they have happed their rhetorical wiBSs and
scared above party" their silly souls have
been delighted with the incense OF Repubi-
can praise. This is the record of men who
/ were elected by Democrats-elected as Dem
ocrats-men who had begged Democratic
/ votes from county to county, and who have
( pTated long and loud OF their zeal for the
/ success of Democratic principles. At the
( first possible opportunity they betrayed their
constituents, betrayed their principles, be-
/ trayed their party, and gave easy victory to
/ the enemy-an enemy that caJoios anc nat
/ tiers such creatures while cheTishing robust
contempt for them and their ways Demo
| cratic absentceism has been another and
I very fruitful source of Democratic discom-
I hture. The alleged Democratic majority
! has been an actual minority for weeks in
+ succession. Victory upon victory has been
( given to the Republicans BY a few Democrats
/ who have cared more for personal cOnve-
nence than for public duty or the interests
( OF their party. Scores of times a quorum
/ has been broken and the passage ola Demo
+ cratic measure defeated DY the absence OF p
few men who, al that moment, could be
7 found in a baTTOOm
A party is in a sad pTediesment WGen its
! success or defeat depends on three or four OF
half a dozen men whose appetite for stimu-
/ lautS will not give way to any higher sense.
And to this complexion has it come with the
/ Democratic party in the House on more than
one occasion of the greatest Importance.
/ Such men are UNFIT for any public position.
/ They are a disgrace to their constituents, q
/ reproach to the House, an affection to the
/ country. A man who will risk the success OF
: his party in crisis, rather than wait for a
( drink, Is Just about as c0ntemptible as the
holy fellow who rises above party in order
to be patted on the back by the Repuoiiean
I press. If the minority in the ALNlttA SEai!
show itself of compact sagacious, aud guard
edly aggressive as has the minority II the pre-
sent Congress, there viii De = change two
years hence. Ii is not tie strength OF Re
publican principles half 50 much as the weak
ness OF Democratic management that has
transferred the scePtre this time. Aeau-
time 2 few Democratic districts vii. do well
to drop into ObScuTity the men whose egotiSuI,
weakness, neglect, and appetites have en
abled minority of Republicans practically
20 dominate q Democratic House, aud lHal!y :
retire the Democracy 10 the minority side.