The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1884-02-28
A Paralyzed Party.
DEMOCRATIC WEAKNESS on THE FLOOR OF
THE HOUSE.

DEMOCRATIC WEAKNESS on THE FLOOR OF
THE HOUSE.
There is perfect paralysis of the
Democratic party on the floor of the
House Of Representatives writes Wash
lngton correspondent of the Philadelphia
Press 1t has not been so weak since
the tidal wave Of 1874 gave the Democ-
racy new start and fresh leadership
alter more than decade of unintcrestng
and purposeless existence. 1t is simply
amazing to listen TO a debate like that
over the new rules a day or two ago and
see how near a party in control Of the
House can come to losing it. Randall
alone seemed to have his wits about him,
and looked in vain for assistance Nor
rison, whose position at the head of the
Ways and Means Committee entities him
to claim leadership, is simply impotent
In debate, and sat silent, worth nothing
more than his vote.
Blackburn, fiery speaker and good
parliamentarian, was not in his seat.
During the first part Of the session he
was crippled by his candidacy for the
Senate, and hereafter he will be crippled
by bis election to the Senate Reagan
and Mills, of Texas, saw in the Republi-
can amendment an opportunity to i'm
prove the chances of their Inter state
Commerce bill, and Buckner and Bland.
with an eye to their wildcat financial
schemes, went over to the enemy. Phil.
Thompson piped feeble and scarcely
audible second to Randall and Herbert,
Of Alabama, a brainy, but ineffective,
man, contributed his mite Of support
but beyond these well-neant efforts,
Randall bore the brunt OF lhe fight, and
won it 10y hairs breadth when he should
have had a wide margin OF votes Even
Tucker was lazly indifferent. The same
scene will, no doubt, be repeated many
times during this session Of Congress,
and it will be strange if the Republicans,
with the ability and vigilance of Reed,
liscnck, Kelley. Calkjns, Bingham, and
even kelter, opposed to such weak and
ncoherent majority, do not steal more
than one march in legislation before the
adjournment comes.
AT THE OTHER END.
In the Senate, too, the Democrats are
weak. Thurman Is gone PendietOn's
days are numbered and, repudiated 10y
his own party in his own state, has no
incentive to work Bayard seems to be
in comatose state. Ben Hill and Me
Donald have no successors Voorhees,
never was Of much account in the Senate,
ANY way. Lamar has become listless in
national affairs. Joe Brown is active
only behind the scenes. Precedent re-
quires that Colquitt shall hold himself in
for awhile. Vance is not regarded ser
iously Vest is pop-gun; Morgan and
Garland are good lawyers. but poor
senators; Gibson is not the figure in the
Senate that he was in the House and 50
You may 90 over the whole list of Demo-
cratic senators without finding any men
who have any vivitying power. AS a
rule, goodfellowship is their most striking
characteristic, and the best of the bunch
for working purposes are Beck and Me
Pherson neither of whom display any
capacity for party leadership Neither
Edmunds. with his mastery Of the law
and eNpertness i'll parliamentary fencing,
Logan, with his strong personality and
sledge- hammer oratory, Warner Miller,
with bis organizing ability, Frye and
Hale, with their ability as debaters, nor
sherman, with his thorough equipment
for all kinds Of senatorial work, finds his
match ON the Democratic side, while
llawley, Aldrich, Harrison, Sabn and
two or three others are contessedly more
promising than any Of the presumably
rising men Of the opposition.