Year: 1879

ried out ia the passage Of the army ap-
preparation bill with its political rider.
Three or four weeks Of useless discus
sion have been INDUCED in merely for
a show of fairness by the majority. 1t
was never intended that the army bill,
with its rider, should be amended from
the time it came from the Democratic
committee room, and it was sure that
solid Democratic vote could be procur-
ed upon it. The caucuses OF the rebel
brigadiers fixed all that. With ma
jority of these ex-rebel officers in each
House of Congress, the pliable dough-
faces of the North were easily moulded
into whatever shape was needed, and
took their humble pie with most sur
prising meekness. This solidity secur-
e4 there was but majority of three or
four in the House for the measure, too
small entirely to be depended upon,
considering the brittleness OF some OF
the dough. In this emergency the
Green hackers, who had been waiting
Micawber like for something to turn
up, were approached, and bargain
and sale resulted in the Greenbackers
becoming the left wing Of the Demo-
cratic party. The price of the surrender
was the opening of Congress to the in
PRODUCTION of matters of legislation for


eign to the appropriation bills, which
will prolong the session of Congress
through the summer months and keep
the business interests of the country in
a state of feverish anxiety and unrest.
Thus reinforced, the passage of the bill
was reassured, and all attempts to
amend 1t were voted down by party
vote in either House, even those not
strictly of a political character stood
not a particle of chance for adoption.
The behests of the ex-rebels had to be
carried out. In declaring the intentions
of the majority to vote down all amend


ments, no matter what their merits
might be, there was no Senator so suit
able for the task as Salisbury, who
imperiously rules with a rod OF iron
wherever he has little lease of power.
Well, what next The army bill has
gone to the President with its rider.
Will he sign it, or will he send it back
with his veto This question may be
decided one way or the other before
this paper reaches its readers. II sign


ed, farewell to any semblance of free
and fair elections in the South and in
the Northern cities where the Demo
Gratis have majority hereafter. II
vetoed, and the army is forced to starve
to death, then let the responsibility
rest with the party to which such re-
sponsibility belongs, The people fully
understand the question. TAey know
what the cry Oh "free elections mean
in a Democratic sense. They know
lat it means fraud and violence, and
a Democratic President in 1850. They
know the terrible army so much talked
about is but the excuse, the cover nm
der which the rebels expect to upset
the power OF tho government to pro-
tect itself from fraud and dishon-
esty. There has never been question
so thoroughly and well debated. The
eyes of the people are fully open, veto
or no veto, to the false arguments of
the rebels in Congress. They know
very we'll that the Union was never in
any danger except from these rebels
who have now par excellence all at
once become the savers of the Union.
The constitution of the nation was
never in any peril except as these same
men who are. so fearful of its violation
are trying to wipe it out, and the only
Interference with free and honest cleo


tions has been made by this same party
that wants to debauch the elections in
the Northern cities as they have al
ready done in the South. The people
see it all and will take care of it in due
time. This sudden awakening OF the
Democracy to the danger of the nation
on accc unit of the election laws is an
old dodge that has been pl'yod too
often to work well this time.