Year: 1875

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.


EFrom the N. Y. HcraId.l


1. In the next House of Representa-
tives the Democrats will have a majority
of at least sixty-fvc votes.


2. In the Senate the vote will stand
thirty-five Republicans, thirty-one
Democrats and eight doubtful, of whom
at least six will probably vote against
ssstrong Southern measures" and will,
on other questions, hold Il balance o!
power in the Senate.


3. For practical purposes and on the
most important questions Of the. day,
therefore, the Democrats, if they should
prove wise and Conservative, may be
fortunate enough to control both
houses.


4. In the country at large the Demo-
Gratis have not gained since the fall
elections. The failure to re-elect Schurz;
the refusal of some other Democratic
legislatures to select first class men as
Senators; the evident lack OF harmony
among the party leaders on the currency
and tariff questions, and the feeling
that the party has no policy except
opposition to the Republicans, and is
not ready to welcome recruits from
even the Liberal Republican ranks,
combine with the general distrust OF
Democratic politicians to make the
country slow to give them its confidence.
If, in the next Congress, where they
will rule, they should act with extraor-
dinary prudence and wisdom, this
would undoubtedly help them. But
the next House contains a good many
new members, and leading Democrats
have quietly opposed the call of an
extra session, because they fear that
their people will be more Jealous than
discreet and will attempt to commit
follies disgusting to the country.


5. The Republican party in Congress
is at present composed of two factions -
one adhering blirdly to the Admins
tration, ready and eager to do General
Grants bidding and determined on a
bitter and relentless policy toward the
Southern States. The Administration
Republicans are made up in part of
Southern carpet-baggers, whose politi-
cal existence depends upon a continu-
ance of Federal interference in the
South in part of n orthern denagogues,
who will do anything to "keep the
party in," and who fear to lose the
Southern electoral vote, and in part Of
men who do not know that the war is
over, who believe the Southern Demo
crat to be a monster of wiclledness, and
who even dream of a new rebellion.
These men, from different motives,
agree upon a proscriptive and interfer-
ing policy, regardless of constitutional
limitations and needless of the lesson
of history, of which most of them know
nothing. They are ready to carry
Capitalization to the furthcst extreme,
and on them General Grant can safely
count as supporters of his third term
project. Those of them who have am
bitions of their own would sacrifice
them to Grant rather than sec the Re
publican party lose power.


6. The Republican, faction, less nu-
merOuS i'll the House and impcrceptible
in theSenate, has not yet the courage OF
its opinions. 1t believes that we have
gone far enough, and even too far, in
Southern interference; it views the
Presidents attitude with repugnancc
and alarm; it stornglyss ssdisapproved of
the New Orleans affair and the NicHS-
burg Interference; and the recent AZ
kansas Message undoubtedly strength
ened its determination to resist and
brought it recruits. This faction act
ually contains most of the brains of the
House; indeed NEARLY every Republican
of pronounced ability belongs to this
side.


Z. Timidity has been the vice Of this
faction, and this is not unnatural. The
country has come slowly up to their
views, though it is now i'll advance of
them. Accustomed to act within party
lines, and conscious that Il mere protest
would only sacrifice them without ben
citing the country, they have been
slow to act, and their policy has been
rather to obstruct. The President has
dealt with them gingcrly and main
tained friendly relations with them,
and it is only since Congress met tha:
they have discovered that though lie
instantly gratities their personal wishes
he will have none of their advice. To-
day not one of these men has tho least
influence at the White House, and ali
are conscious of this. They see even
Sheppard preferred before them.


S. AS one of the most important clc-
ments i'll the political situation comes
the third term. Tho President has
slowly thrown off the mask of moGera-
ton in the last three months, and of