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Show A GLOOMY SAY. Thu is a gloomy day for the repub- j lie. The news yesterday from Waah-;iugton Waah-;iugton confirmed the worst fears we have entertained, that after the first , burnt of popular indignation the leaders lead-ers of the republican party composing com-posing tho majority of the members of congre&a would f ill into line be-j hind Sheridan'ri bayonets, determined to endorse the president's recognition j of the illegal Kellogg government in Louisiana, and the military inter- j furence with the legislature of that j state on the 4th ol January. This leaotution, if carriud out, means dimply the overthrow of the constitution consti-tution and the sub version of free government. The Herald is not surprised at this action on the part of the republican repub-lican leaders. It was the only courso left to them except the alternative of dissolution. The elections oflast fall had sealed their fate. The people had declared against then career of mUgoverumeut and ruin with a unanimity which hag seldom besn equalled in American history. The stauncheat republican states wheeled into the democratic line, ignoring partisan prejudices, and in view of tiie dangers menacing the country, shook bauds with their old enemies and fought side by side with them in behalf ol the constitution, the union and popular liberty. The political issued of a campaign wore never more clearly presented, and prominent among them was tho reconstruction policy of the republican party in the south, including the recognition ol the Kellogg government in Louis; ana, tho democrats arraigning President Pres-ident Grant as guilty of an outrageous outra-geous illegality In his action in maintaining main-taining by force a government which had no pretence of legitimacy. A third presidential term was also a question which entered largely into tho campaign of last fall, and undoubtedly un-doubtedly had an influence upon thu result. It was believed to a greater or less extent 4that Grant would be a candidate for re-election. The idea was evidently somewhat unpopular among republicans, and several state conventions joined resolutions against tho policy of a third term. Some office-holding politicians, however, were bold enough to advocate the idea. But Grant did not open his mouth either to approve or disapprove. He neither denied the ambitious views attributed to him nor intimated his willingness '.o be considered a candidate candi-date for the succession. Judging from the elections, the popular opinion was expressed warmly against Grantism in all of its features and phases, past, present and prospective. Since the elections congress has ieen apparently in a fog, from which it has now emerged into clear day. Grant has taken the reins in his hand and shown his disposition and ability to be tho leader of the republican party. He haB demonstrated by his action in Louisiana the only tpracii-cal tpracii-cal method of maintaining thatjparty. It cannot bo done by the force of public opinion, which has so distinct ly, through tiie independent press and great public assemblages, denounced de-nounced the late Louisiana usurpationit usurpa-tionit can only be saved by the army and navy, under the command of Phil Sheridan, Bullets, not ballots, bal-lots, is now the republican watchword, watch-word, and in overthrowing the principle prin-ciple of self-government in Louisiana, that party virtually confesses the death of free government in the United States. . If that outrage shall be sanctioned by congress, as it now appears likely to be, and the states and people shall permit it to become a precedent, farewell fare-well to our liberties. The prosident can as legally and as justifiably inter-fore inter-fore in the organization of tho next democratic national house of representatives repre-sentatives as he did in the organization organiza-tion of tho legislature "at Louisiana. But wo will not yet believe that the ciuzens of the United States will tamely submit to this degradation. Patience, it is true, is one of our national virtues, but recent events hare shown that there is a spirit among the masse that cannot be de fied with impunity. If the bold utter-ances utter-ances of the democraUc sUtes are indications in-dications of the feelings of the people, Grant and his partisans in congress will find that thoy have ventured too fast and too far in thoir conspiracy against the popular liberties. The contest may be a prolonged one, but if the people are thoroughly aroused i to its importance there can be no doubt of its result. The army and navy would prove a mere plaything in the hands of an indignant and determined de-termined populace. It is the duty ol the people to watch and wait; to use every effort to avert revolution and to maintain peace and liberty; but to be prepared to meet in a manner worUiy the descendants of a revolutionary revolu-tionary ancestry all attempts at usurpation usur-pation and the establishment of a military despotism. Asd now the lauh is on the sheriffs officers, who have charge of the county prisoners. They will have four less to provide breakfast for this morning .than .they furnished with supper last evening. Some time early last night four prisoners in the county jail, having cut the iron gratings grat-ings of the cell window, bid adieu to : their prison pen and skedaddled. Tntre was a ball in an uppej-room uppej-room af the court houso at tho Urue, but tho dancers heard jnothing of the jail breaking till after it was all over, and the birds had flown. Our reporter could not learn the names of the runaways, but we understand un-derstand they are all men of general bad character, and some of them ore charged with serious crime. What does putting a man in jail amount to, anyhow ? It appears that no one remains in durance vile i only so long as he desires to. I |