The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-03-06
Congressional Crusades.

Nothing could better Illustrate the
present weakness of the Republican
position than just the attempt now be-
ing seriously made of beginning anew
the investigation of sO-called Southern
outrages. That such movement is
again seriously recommended by Re-
publican party leaders seems to indi-
cate that all questions of practical
craftsmanship are of no account when
a National campaign is pending, and
that the party must now, as in the past,
pm its faith and hope to the capital
that may be made BY rowing commit
tees OF investigation. 1t is putting but
a small estimate upon the Judgment
and intelligence of the American peo-
pie to imagine that they can be con-
tinually moved and influenced by man
ufactured tales of Congressional COM
mitteeS, sent South to gather up cam
paign rubbish for Northern stump
speakers TO retail and distribute. If
there were no living questions at issue,
questions of vital concern TO all sec
tions alike, involving matters of pub
lie and individual interest; topics upon
which the farmer of the West and the
mechanic of the East are both inter-
ested, and which have to do with their
material welfare, it might even then be
foolish to hunt up simply partisan and
political issues for people to quarrel
tons and the people are anx-
ious to hear them discussed and
debated. to make political pilgrim
ages South for no other purpose except
to iutlame the public m nd with manu-
featured stories of election riots and pO-
litical quarrels. seems too intolerably
foolish and absurd for men of sense to
venture upon. Yet such pilgrimages
are soberly counseled and made. Wise
statesmen who are thought worthy of
great official trusts have worked them
selves up into a white heat of patriotic
fervor, and have solemnly warned the
country against the wickednesI CT the
Southern Democrats, and urged the
necessity of investigating the charges
and rumors sent from the South by Re
publican politicians and Republican
newspapers. The great danger which
menaced the peace of the Union from
the acts of these wicked Democrats was
feelingly dwelt upon. and Senator
Sherman, whose heart always bleeds
for the defenselesS Southern Republic
ans, made one of his most impaSsioned
appeals for Congressional investigation.
Senator Malone, whose heart is al O
heavy with grief from the result of the
recent election in Virginia, and the
action of the Legislature in asking him
to resign his Senatorial seat, also con-
trbated startling chapter of Demo
cratic outrageS, and between these two
the Southern outrage-mill was set in
violent motion.
But just at the threshold of this
supposedly fiattering crusade the
champions are met with a very cruel
rebuff in the shape of letter from a
Mississippi Republican, vouched for as
politically straight and personally reli-
able, to the New York Herald, protest
ing in strong terms against the Con-
gressional tour. The correspondent
complains that when Mississippi Repub-
licans wanted help in 1875. and when
Governor Ames asked for troops, the
Administration did not dare TO act he-
cause of 4 prejudice which existed in
Ohio against military interference in
the Southern States, yet the very next
winter the Boutwell, Committee. with a
full complement of Senators, clerks and
stenographers came down upon them
and took back two thousand pages OF
printed testimony, and all the benefit
the committee were to the Republicans
could have been put in the eye of the
energetic chairman This correspond
ent even goes so far as to say that not
only was this whole committee demon
stfation an empty delusion. but two of
the men implicated by the committee
in the lynching of a cOlOred man, were
afterwards rewarded by their appoint
ment to lucrative clerkships under the
Administration of which Mr.. Sherman
was so important part. This sort OF
talk must be very unpleasant to the
Senator at the present iuncture, and 1t
must make his heart bleed afresh to see
the objects of his patriotic regard 50
stiff-necked and obdurate lust when he
is upon the point of doing them SO
much good.
The whole truth is these Congress
sional tours upon the eve of Presidential
campaigns are the work OF performing
demagogues, who seize upon the time
and the occasion to make capital for
themselves and their party. They we'll
know how empty and fruitless all such
missions are, but, trusting to the cred
ulity of some and the igno; ance of
others, hope to do little toward the
cons immation of the object in hand.
The Democratic Senators, with rare
Judgment and wisdom, allowed Senators
Sherman and Malone to unburden
themselves of their load without inter
ference, and the Republican Senators
as body were not as enthusiastic and
excited as might have been expected.
The demonstration was not grandly
success ul. and if now the poor down
troddep are themselves Indifferent, and
would rather have the procession stay
at home, the benevolent Senators may
perhaps, alter all, find it more advan-
tageous to fold up their bloody shirts
end M nd their own business.-Amer-
icGn Register.
GaId Facts