National Republican., 1882-07-29
Snmn Mistakes Cnrrnntnh

h'OiitS LhtStuiNCS NOFECCNcu.
There are few Republicans left of the kind
VINO managed affairs in Congress during the re-
construction period. These show themselves con-
spicuously in the work of Attempting to put Demo-
crats out ofthe House and Republicans IN.
lts chief promoters arc not in Congress. That
body, so FAR as we can form an opinion from the
reports of proceedings, is dsincinod to go further
In the matter. Under q pretcnse Of desiring an
early adjournment, Of the necessity for passing
appropriation bills &c, 1t has sought TO defer
action on contested House cases. majority OF
Republican Representatives do not wish to cast
partisan votes on the question Of mans right to
scat in the House. They would rather be hone st.
But fow INSCRIPTIONS men, or men in whom
party dominates everything else insist upon
action, and we shall probably see during the
session two or three more outragcs like the seating
ofMackey rs Representative from South Carolina.
The noblest of these leaders of Republicans IS
George G. Gorham, editor Of THE NATIONAL RE-
PUBLICAN To him more than to any ono else is
due tho intensely partisan stand taken on this
subject by an unwilling Republican majority in
the House. Mr.. Gorham's bold and able defense
OF the coalition in Virginia at o time when
Readjuserism here was denounced rs dis
honorable by nearly every prominent Re-
publican In tho North, and the hope which
he holds out that other Southern States will
| follow Virginia in strengthening Repubcanlsm
huence among politicians who would otherwise
look with suspicion upon any suggestion of his
That the Republican party will eventually lose
strength by tailing in after him is plain for there
is already revolt in many sections, but that the
party, ns an organization will follow for the pres
ent is equally plain. He is its one leader in the
only purely partisan struggle now going on in
Congress. - Pecsbttr5 (ld.) Lider. Appsal July 81.
Which, being translated, is to say:
!. That to decide in favor of Repub-
lican or Liberal in contested election
case is " Haunting the bloody shirt"
2. That the Republicans and Liberals
in Congress didn't want to be so wicked,
and did their best to dodge and shirk
under q pretense which was false.
8. That unscrupulous men" "not in
Congress" prodded them and exposed
their efforts to dodge, and that, although
they would rather be honest" they
could not afford to crafty that desire
after public attention had been called to
them.
4. That the editor of THE NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN was the great magician who
had, by wave of his pen, voted the
unwilling Republican land Liberal)
majority" and that to him is to be as
signed that bad eminence" of being the
one leader, &c, &C., &c.
To which we thus responds
l. The right of the House of Repre-
sentatives to judge of the qualification,
election, and return of its own members
cannot be impaired or belittled or its ex-
ercise be made the subject of Just CEN
sure by referring to it in connection with
the entirely different subject of "ali,airs
in Congress during the reconstruction
period"
2. The statement that the Republicans
and Liberals in the House were averse
to the consideration and determination
of the contested cases is overthrown by
the record. The REPUBLICAN, did at one
time complain of the delays, but, upon
to an orderly hearing, and candidly with.
drew its complaint.
5. The Inder.Appedl editor will see that
he has given his cause away by asserting
that "a few unscrupulous men" outside
of Congress could compel the majority OF
Republican members to decide against
sitting Bourbon members merely by
| publicly insisting upon it. 1t is equiva
lent to saying that the public judgment
only needed to be appealed to to secure
its condemnation of the Bourbon side
The hder-Appeal virtually charges that
the public wanted the Republican mem.
bers to be dishonest, but that the mem.
bers were trying to be honest on the
sly-in which laudable purpose they
were defeated by "a few unscrupulous
men" who would speak out in meeting.
This does not wash. Let us drop it.
4. The charge that awriter for this paper
is the head devil, as it were, of the out
rage" of having members admitted to
their seats upon proof of their election,
might pass unnoticed but for the necessity
itimposes ofa disavowal. Several paper;
have given us q prominence in this con,
nection which we have not sought, and
credited us with an influence upon the
action of the House as impossible as il
WOO unnecessary lhSiS lis1o AONCl DcOll
n time when the rights of contestants
were imperiled in the present House.
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, has urged
promptness of action when it seemed
that matters of less vital consequence
were given the precedence. When we
| found that the order Of business was
adopted to give the subcommittee OF
the Elections Committee time to do theil
work, we said so, and time proved the
correctness of the statement.
TO what the hder-Appeal says of the
position we have taken in regard to the
coalition in Virginia, we say that it was
honestly taken, and persisted in when il
was less popular than at present; and ii
is a satisfaction to be able to assure the
Inder-Appeal that other Southern States
,gW follow Virginia." beginning with
her neighbor next to the South. Shet
no tears for us or our cause. 1t is Bour
bonism that has already been weighed il
the balance and found wanting.
| THE anti Dourborn movement, of which sucl
tremendous things have so long been predicted, /,
thus fur almost entirely confined TO Malone and O
few associates Washington Post.
oh tba Rnurbnno 1on,t oora fnr Mo