The Farmer And Mechanic

The loss of the United States Senate may have been creditable to the Virtue, and Decency of the Democrats, but does not speak highly of their adroitness as party leaders. They have known for nearly a year past that their days were numbered unless they should adopt some measure of self-defence; yet they did not unseat Kellogg, as they had every excuse for doing, nor did they arrange to defeat Mahone, nor to "take care of him," after he was elected. Either of these three things would have secured control of the Senate; and without any direct injustice, or impropriety. Imagine, if you can, such a lapse on the part of the Republican leaders! Why it is only four or five years since they were whipped out of their boots in nearly every State in the Union; and were supposed to have lost control in Congress for the next generation! Whereas, by skillful maneuvering they have healed their party discords, captured the entire North, captured the White House, and both Houses of Congress; and, worse still, have managed by filibustering to postpone, or defeat, or neutralize, nearly all the work attempted by the Democrats when they were in power!