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Show . COMIHtJ HOME TO BOOST. During tho last campaign tbo republicans re-publicans iound many stumbling blocks in tbeir way, placed there by their own bauds when they considered consid-ered tbo party as everlastingly fixed in power. They Beemcd to have forgotten for-gotten that it has always been the babit of chickens to coma homo In roost, a fact which was brought vividly to their understandings many times since November. Now another of these domestic fowls has appeared, to the great consternation of its proprietors. pro-prietors. The republicans, when they bad full sway in both houses of congress, con-gress, a few years ago, feared that a time might coma when the membership member-ship would be cloio, and they thought to provide for the contingency by enacting a bulldozing partisan bill which would still leave it in their power to control the organization of the house, and perpetuate tbeir power even against odds in numbers. The bill gave to the clerk of tho house absolute control of all disputed seats pending the election ef speaker, and in contested cases of courss the republican clerk was expected ex-pected to construe evory point in favor of party. The occasion lor using the law never arose, for when the tidal wave sot in it swept 10 many of the republicans out of tho way that there was no possibility of steal ing me control, even with tbo dangerous dan-gerous party enactment to assist tliem. But now tho occasion has arisen when those who were to bo tho victims vic-tims of the. scheme, may reap the benefits designed by their enemies for themselves. The democrats hove lost one member from New Hampshire, leaving only an actual majority of three for the party in the house. If all of the seats wore filled, and the democrats should go together, they could elect a speaker; but it can hardly be expected that at the organization thero will be a full at tendance. Alexander Stephens is prostrated on a sick bed, with little hope of ever again taking hi) seat in the hall of representatives. Then, again, there are two or three disaffected dis-affected southern members who show signs of going over to the euomy. In any event tho contest is too close to be comfortable, were it not for the republic u law which comes just in time to tcx and defeat its f ram era. The itako is too great, aud the honor of politicians so low, to prevent any party taking every available advantage to gain control ot the houso, especially when its opponents taught it how to aceomplisb the work. It has never been a difficult matter to have plenty of contested republican seats, ajid the democratic clwli will, of course, if necessary, observe the practice of bis republican predecessor, and leave ofl the roll to b called -in the election Of speaker all of the disputed seats, and thus if it is dwirablo swell the democratic majority from two or threo to a dozeD, and by this means overcome over-come the votes of the two or threo administration democrats. This will be an eight to seven game, but this is an eight to seven administration, and eight to seven politics is the oider of the day. The course indicated may not be followed, bjt the republicans have already shown signs of fear in the matter; and it is more than probable pro-bable that if the democrats see that the application of the law referred to hould be necessary, they will not hesitate to apply it, and thus hold possession of the house of represent, tire for two years longer, at feast. , |