Year: 1875

a manly independence is an element tnat is 100
scarce in all communities of to-day. True, gen.
uine manhood is the salt Of the earth. A COM
mendable Independence goes far in any commu-
nitv or under anv circumstances tnwards ear""
ting the prejudlced out OF their biased opinions
and does much in the direction of shaping correct
conclusions Though it is possible to have ones
independence exerted upon the wrong side. But
the man who is net controlled or influenced by
the opinions or wishes Of another, simply because
that other entertans them,i obliged 10 strike out
upon path of his own. That man is destined
to be right oftener than if he is led by the opin-
ions of another. He is seeker after truth and
he is likely to find it. He is positive character,
an unquesti0ned force in the world. The other
man who looks to his next neighbor to see what
that neighbor does under given circumstances
and then does the same thing because that neigh
Dor does it, without knowing the reason for it,
is simply blank-a mere machine-a naught
that counts only when it has something beside it.


Congress and President Grant have recently
given examples of laudable independence and
courageous manhood. President Grant, in veto
ing the Imitation Bill last April, displayed no less
of heroic mould than he did in his capturing
Vicksburg or pressing through the Wilderness.
And his refusal to place his signature TO the bill
to equalize the soldiers bounty was, if possible
a more heroic action tsan vetoing the Initiation
Bill 1t is true the Senate indicated its objection
to the passage of the bill by tabling the report of
the committee of conference. But it seems that
everybody but the President displayed an evident
disposition to shift the responsibility of defeating
the bill to some other hands.


The proceedings of Congress exhibited con-
siderable degree of independence in one way or
another. The last session witnessed less of par
tisan zeal than is usual. There are noteworthy
instances recorded on both sides ia this particu-
lar. Mr.. Speaker Blaine, in caucus, and Gen. j.
R. Hawley, Mr.. Frey and other Republicans on
the aoor offered a determined opposition to the
Force Bill, which was proposed for the purpose
of extending more complete protection to voters
in the lately reconstructed States. But the bill
got through the House on majority vote, though
it failed in the Senate The alteration of the
rules after the fortysx hours fllibustering about
the middle Of the session was decided upon. But
the proposed new rules would have been more
stringent and less considerate of the rights
of the majority had Mr.. Blaine not taken
the floor and tempered them down to suit the
views of all, Mr.. Blaine stating that he was un-
willing to dictate rules for others that be would
not be willing they should place upon him. A
number of Republicans voted against the Civil
Rights Bill, because they chose to follow their
own opinions rather than the dictation of party
caucus or party leaders. Among these was Hon.
Lloyd Lowndes. Mr.. Carpenter voted against it
in the Senate, taking the ground that the bill
was unconstitutional. VIM. Walter Phelps as
sumed sort of leadership on the Republican side
in opposition to both the Force Bill and the Civil
Rights Bill. Judge Poland, who excited the ire
Of the Democratic and Republican press to such
an alarming extent in consequence of his so-called
''gsg-law," redeemed himself from that false i'm
putation by his Independent recommendation that
the Democratic Governor of Arkansas be not dis
turbed in the free exercise Of the functions of his
Office. And Senators Thurman and Stevenson
both Democrats-placed their signatures 10 the
report of the Senate committee on Judge Peland's
law, stating that it was necessary and proper"
which is a complete yindicaiion of Judge Poland
and very severe cut upon all the press that went
crazy in condemning the law. The settlement of
the Louisiana turmoil, which relieves her from
her anarchical wrangles and the country from a
feverish excitement over it, was due entirely to
the manly independence of Hon. Alexander Il.
Stephens. The report of the Wheeler committee
could not be considered except by wothirds
vote, but majority could adopt or reject it,
The Democrats did not desire the settlement OF
the affair, which is proved by their voting against
its consideration. Just before the vote was taken
Mr.. Stephens had an interview with Mr.. Hoar,
the member OF the committee from Massachusetts,
and told him he should vote for consideration of
the report Mr.. Stephens vote was Just enough
to make the requisite two-thirds. He has been
branded with the charge of party treachery be-
cause he had the heroism to vote against the par
tisan dictation of his associate Democrats. He
voted for seating the Conservative members of the
Legislature, but against the recognition of Kel-
logg as Governor. Senators Christiancy, of
Michigan, Cameron, of Wisconsin, McMillin, of
Minnesota, Johnson, of Tennessee, were all elect
ed upon an independent basis and because of their
independence. Senator johnson and Senator
Booth, of California, decline to participate in the
caucus of either party.


These things give evidence of healthy return
TO reason and manliness in our public actions
There has been too much of blind adhesion to the
dictate of party caucus. This is in many in
stances entirely in unison with the full discharge
of ones public duties But it sometimes hap
pens that it drives one to commission of acts
which would not be performed if one were left
to his better judgment. The signs of the times
wear healthier aspect.