The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-07-22

n. May Return to Plague Them.
A case against sitting Democratic
member of Congress from the South
which viii fully justify his ejectment
from his seat by the Republican major
ity in the present House of Representa-
tives is very simple. The necessary
conditions are that there shall have been
some one in the district not a Democrat
not regular Democrat at all events
voted for; that in estimating the
strength of parties there is q possible
majority against the Democracy; orthat
there are a majority of negroes in the
district, and, finally, that the person
voted for in opposition to the Democrat
shall come up to Washington and ask to
be seated. The case is substantially
settled when these conditions are found.
Every fact will be determined in favor
of the contestant. As sort of blind to
their constituents the majority win 60
through some forms and make perfume
tory reports, but will never even for a
moment raise an impression in the minds
of those who witness their action that
they are really trying the case. Decis-
ions in the contests lately settled were
reached by Robson and his confreres
on the Radical newspaper showing when
the returns of elections came in. They
would have acted earlier but waited to
tie on their duped Greenback allies.
They needed their votes to start with.
They need them no longer, and these
poor tools viii be dropped and despised
as such tools are always despised after
they have been used. Jones, of Texas,
got the first instalment of the contempt
he deserves when he tried to stay the
action in the Flint case.
There has not been in fifteen years so
reckless majority as is now marshaled
under Secor Robson, the unsavory ma
rine of New Jersey. There has scarce
" been one with so little ability and
character for craftsmanship. The cali
Der of the party was forshadowed in the
choice of Keller for Speaker. He is SO
conspicuously wanting in every quality,
moral and intellectual, which are re-
quired in his place that he is a source
OF modification to many even of the
majority which sits round him. This is
putting his status in q strong light. In
the long line of his predecessors his like
in any material respect is looked for in
vain. He seems to understand nothing
but that he is to decide for his prompt
ers- He escapes best from consequent
ces of his mental imbecility when he
offers no reasons for his action.
The House of Representatives passed
out of the control of the Republican
partyin 1875 by the overwhelming voice
Of the people. The present majority if it
had had hold then, would have seen to
it that that expression effected no change
in the possession of power. They would
never have admitted to their seats a
majority of Democrats. If they have
any doubts or their present Clerk they
will not adjourn this Congress without
putting Keifer in his place.
This is grave aspect of our current
history. Once let it be settled that
what was intended to be and must be-
flour institutions are not to tumble to
pieces-the popular branch of Congress
is mere self-perpetuating body, and
one of the longest steps towards despot-
ism or something else will have been
taken. The very things which have
been done in the past fortnight at
Washington with so much arrogance
and in the midst of so much passion are
among the most vital and difficult
which can ever be presented for deter
mination under our Constitution. The
unseating Of Members of the House of
Representatives at any time is an exer-
else of power which that body should
approach in a judicial spirit and with
all the solemnity that becomes the iu-
dicial Office. The cases Just passed on
were of peculiarly pregnant character.
They invoyed the control of the house.
They were pivotal Yet we witness the
majority rushing on over all obstacles,
establishing new precedents, not heed
ing, but refusing to even record the pro-
tests OF those whom they were over
riding. Apart from the immediate
consequences, which may be estimated
according to the views of those affected,
the example is one of broadcast evil and
the situation one of great gravity.
When such powers were used just subse-
quent to the war the fact was attributed
to the unsettled state of the country.
and the passions and exigencies of an
era bordering on revolution. Events
then did not constitute precedents. The
condition of the States Is now supposed
TO be normal. There is nothing to just
ify doubtful action. These considera-
tons lend q peculiarly sinister scoloring
to the late proceedings of the House of
Representatives-Sk. Louis Republican,.
Feeble (ylimnses of n Graof Trufh