New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-16
MT//LES.


ceives the necessity of wearing muzzle
Hence it appoints committee, whose powers
are said to be purely advisory, it is true, but
which is clearly expected to exercise whole
some controlling influence by its advice. 10
nut the thing into plain Saxon, this body is to
tell the House what TO do. The majority sees
that it is very likely to do unwise things. and
if il did not know that fact before might have
discovered it from the result of Mr.. Woods
demonstration Under these circumstances,
prudent majority, which really desires to do
as few foolish things as possible, resorts to the
only available remedy, creates committee
with large advisory powers, and thus gets
mrzzle for itself.
This course seems to us unwise. The DEM
ocratic majority probably understands ITS own
temper very well, and knows its own constlt-
uent clements. The inexperence of many
members, the disposition of some to urge ex-
IRENE or vindictiyc measures, and, above all,
the general lack of settled policy and
wsll-defned purpose, based upon strong
convictions moving all Democratic MEM
bers in common, render it quite natural
and proper that some advisory committee
composed of experienced and prudent men,
should be chosen to consult regarding all
measures affecting the prospects of the party
The public interest, no doubt will be much
safer in The hands of such committee than
at the mercy Of an undsciplined, ill-assorted,
and rather hot-tcmpered majority of members,
whether acting in the open House or in party
caucus. The country will be in less danger
if the Democratic majority conducts itself
dcccntly and sensibly. For example, it would
be a good thing for that party and for the
country if 10y some means bills like the
one introduced on Monday by Senator
Merrmon could be bottled up in embryo, and
put where the country would never be troubled
with them. This Senator proposes to repeal
Section 4,716, Revised Statutes. Any advisory
committee would have discovered that Mr..
Merrimon was trying to repeal that portion OF
the Pension act which prohibits the payment
of pensions to those who aided the Rebellion,
their widows, children, or heirs. 1t would
have advised Mr.. Merrm0n that the passage
of such bill would make Democratic defeat
inevitable and that its mere Introduction
would give IA new weapon to their adver'arleS.
The citizen who cares more for the public
welfare than for any party must rejoice, quite
as sincerely a. any Democrat can, that the
majority has had the good sense to invite re-
straint. But the question will occur to a great
many who are not mere voting machines of
any party, whether the Democracy will he
equally careful to wear its muzzle if it gains
complete power VIII it then be as anxious as
now to silence gentlemen of explosive
notions, like Mr.. MerrimOn! VIII it then
be able to place its President and its
Senate, as well as its House, under the
guardianship Of an experienced directory !?
II there is just shade of doubt about it, may
not the average voter hesitate before intrust-
ing unrestrained power to party which at
present perceives its need of restraint In
short, may not the voter conclude that it
would be well not to place unlimited conf
dence in Democracy either9 If that party
wisely distIusts itself, why should not the cOun-
try dist1ust it? If that party feels that the
tendencies of its majority little too re-
dictionary, and cannot safely be left mre-
strained, may not the country conclude that
unlimited power ought not to be intrusted
either to Republican or to Democratic parti-
SANS