The New York herald., 1874-12-04
The Coming OF Congress.

York of Congressman on their way to the capi-
tai The politicians in New York are holding
what We may call o preliminary session in New
York city to counsel what is best to be dome
by the republicans to retrieve the late defeat,
by the democrats to consolidate their victory.
The President is said to have finished his Mes
sage. We are told that it will be more elab-
crate than his previous Messages. There
are a good many things that the
President can say it he only chooses to say
them. We can well understand why he should
be anxious to unburden his mind to the
country But all is dark as to the purport of
the Message There are the usual number Of
rumors; some, that he win indirectly favor
imitation; others, that he will recommend
more stringent measures of contraction. There
are hints also of @large' policy in reference
to public improvements, and 'bold" policy
as to foreign affairs There is also posi-
bility. but only dim one. that the President
will surprise the country by az amazing act
of craftsmanship.
All these rumors only indicate that we are
at the beginning of the session. We give
them for what they are worth, which is not
very much, we fear. The President will most
likely give US a Message of the old fashion,
and not make any daring ventures into un-
known realms of policy, for Congress meets
under peculiar circumstances. This body
came into power with the second election of
Grant, and represents, perhaps, the largest
popular majority we have ever given to rep
resentative body. It came flushed with tri-
umph, and it ends its career in disaster. The.
country which, two years ago, called this
Congress into being with such unexampled
approval now dismisses it as altogether un-
worthy of con fdence and in no sense repre-
sentative of the wishes and aims Of the peo-
pie. Many public men long prominent in
national affairs 60 out with it some with
honor, but more in dishonor and disgrace. 1t
is the last year of the old order of things, and
of necessity it is in some degree preparatory
to the new order which is coming It must
work under disheartening influences, and
it is not possible that it will be
able to regain in the few weeks Of
the short session what it deliberately
threw away in the many months OF its pre-
vious deliberations. The handshakings of
the leaders will be sorrowful, for they have
only met to separate, and they will never
come together again. The year 1875, like 1850,
is to be ON epoch of new men, and the men Of
the war, like the champions and the foes Of
the Missouri Compromise. give place to new
class of statesmen, who, it is to be hoped,
will bring to their duties sounder ideas and
fresher thoughts.
There will be two temptations to this Con-
gress at this the final session of the House.
We of course refer to the republican party,
which is the majority. One wing Of that party
will represent the recklessness of despair-the
feeling that the party has been irretrisvably
defeated, that it is about to pass forever from
public life, that upon it has fallen peculiar
condemnation. The members have but o few
more hours for work and they must labor
while it is day. From this party we expect
all manner of schemes; jobs for this railroad
and for that railroad subsidies for water
routes and for land routes, vigorous assaults
upon the revenues, appropriations for river
and harbor improvements and all manner of
desperate attempts upon the Treasury. They
will feel that now is their only opportunity,
and, unless they improve it. the time will
swiftly come when they can work no longer.
There is another section of conservative,
cautious men who still believe in the higher
purposes of republicanism. They cannot feel
that this long dominant and illustrious party
has really fallen into disgrace. They regard
the lessons of the canvass as an admonition
and not condemnation. They feel that evil
counsels have led their party into evil ways,
into folly and disaster. They fear that the
lowed unholy ambitions to generate around
him, that he has permitted violations of the
constitution at variance with the spirit of true
democracy. They fear that Congress has
failed to comprehend the true wants of the
country, that instead Of legisating for the
welfare of the nation it has simply pandered
to the ambition Of desperate leaders Re-
construction in the South has been aban-
doned to adventurers of the worst class.
Financial questions have been avoided, and
the country has been driven, as it were, step
by step into depression, business anxiety
bankruptcy, stagnation in commerce and
labor, and general hardship in all classes
They feel that all this can be remedied, that
the country will be willing to trust q reformed
republican party rather than take the chances
of sending to Washington the representatives
of democracy which was once an ally Of Sc
cession, and may again be controlled by the
friends of disunion and reputation.
These are the two influences that are acting
upon the present Congress. Which is the
stronger? With which will the President act?
If he feels that the elections are simply re-
buke to Congress and not to himself, in his
stubborn, obstinate way that his Cabinet is
not sinplv a prorp of staff officers that his