Year: 1875

The very suggestive stetement ~


made that eighty 1--WE members Of a.
next, or Forty-fourth, Congress eth
er served in the rebel army or held
civil positions under the rebel row.


ernment. We suppose this number
embraces those in the Senate. We
do not know the exact number, but


an examination Of the list shows shat


it probably does not exceed Eve at


the most. The remainder are in the
House.


What does this statement mean?--


It means that the control of the next
House Of Representatives Is in tho
hands of those who were personally,
officially and actively engaged in car
rying on the rebellion and seeking to
destroy the Governments. II means
that the mastery of Legislation and Of
the purse of the nation has been &C.
quired by those who we're lately seek
ing to break up the Union. For con-
slider the facts: The Democrats have
l63 members Of the next House--be-
ing . majority Of 60 over the Repub-
licars. OF this whole Democratic
strength, s3 is clear majority. OF
this 50, the actual fighters or officers
under the rebel flag have at least 80,
possibly the full S2-cer,ainly enough
with the help of one or two Northern
dough-faces where a score could
easily be had, to give them an un-
questioned majority on the Democrat
ic side.


Now what follows? The House Of
Representatives, with its power over
legislation and oil the appropriations,
is under the control Of the Dem
ocrats; the Democratic menu
bers are under the control of the
caucus which determines the pol
icy Of the party; the caucus is under
the control Of the majority IF, it,
members, and that majority, ~ We
have seen, is made up Of those who
served in the rebel army or under the
rebel Government. Thus it comes
to pass that those who were only tho
other day fighting to destroy the Gov
ernment have now, through the Dem
ocratic party, secured possession Of
the popular branch Of Congress, and
have the power to say what it shall
and what il shall not do.


This is certainly significant and
startling result. 1t shows first of oil
that the Government whose legisla-
ton permits such a possibility has
been anything but Oppressive" and
''tyrannical" in its treatment Of the
defeated rebel foe. It shows in the
mere practicability Of such a result .
magnanimity unparalleled in the history
of the world. But il also raises 9th.
er questions Of the most suggestive
character. Whether the appropria-
tions for carrying on the Government
to be made will depend upon those
who are just fresh from the attempt
to overthrow the Government.--
Whether the principal and interest
of the debt incurred in saving the
Union shall be paid will depend upon
those who fought to break up the
Union. Whether the pensions Of the
MANNED and crippled Union soldiers
shall be continued will depend upon
those who struck the wicked blow
Whether the true and loyal men Of
the South shall have any protection
will depend upon their bitter foes.-
Already the threat has been made
that the appropriations for the army
aud for other vital national purposes
shall be cut off. And whether they
shall or not is for those who fought
under the rebel flag to say.


Isn't this a most extraordinary state
OF things? Isn't it an astonishing re-
suit? 1t seems but the other day
that after four years Of bloody war,
costing million lives aud billions of
treasure, the rebellion was finally
subdued. Had any one, on that great
day of Appomattox Court House, pre-
dicted that in less than ten years the
American people would put the con.
troll of the House Of Representatives
III tHe Hdlds ol EeUcls IncTe ucicAt0Us
would he not have been pronounced
madnan: And yet that is precise
ly the result we now see, as the fruit
OF the Democratic success. Many
who shared in bringing it about
doubtless had no thought of such .
conclusion. And how do they like
their work?