New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-11-22
THE OPPOSITION HOUSE.
WHAT THE DEMOCRATS WILL DO.

OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTaENTs STRENGTHEN
THE PARTYf
IFRox THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRibuN-'I
WASHINGTON, Nov. Gothic increased power anu
Influence which a strong majority IN the next HOUSE
Of Representatives will bring to the Demoeiauc
party will be attended with many new duties ana
rreatlv Increased RESPONSIBILITIES. As long as the
Opposition comprised only few members, occupy
ing one or two sections of seats on the night OF the
Speaker, nobody expected that it would originate
now measures, exercise very much influence III
sbapinq important egislation il lacked the power,
even il il had the will Its usual policy was one OF
observation and protest-to watch closely thc
responsible majority, scrutini2e carefully every
measure proposed, and TO expose promptly Whatever
wac dishonest extrayagant, OF unwise. How faith
fully or how ably this policy was carried out, or how
otter, il was forgotten at the very time when urn
ness in opposition to jobs most needed IT i not
my present purpose to inquire.
And even when the Democratic strength IN the
Honse rose above par" as it did in the last Con-
Qress ard more than 100 Opposition Representatives
mossed themselves on the west side of She Chamber
although their presence there had tendency to
make the Republicans more circumspcct, IT dld not
in eoual degree increase the feeling Of responsibility
on the part of the Dcmocrats-they were sun Only
minority on the floor and III the committees, ana
they could not be held accountable, except as lno
yidual members for the success or defeat OF any
bill: the most that they could do, except in rare
eases, where there was division among the Nepup-
Ncans was 10 place themselves ON record
In the coming Congress all this viii be changed
The Democrats will still lack the power to make
laws-a Republican Senate and President VIII stand
between them and that-but they will he able to
saw that bad bills sh all not pass and to throw upon
the Senate and the President the responsibility for
the defeat of needed legislation / have heard 1t
c,niectred that the policy of the Democrats IN
Couness during the coming Winter viii not be ma
torally different from what it has been Tor the LAST
two years. that the Democratic party IN the House.
knowing that all-importaut measures tie passage OF
which would strengthen them with the people VIII
be sttangled in the Senate, will content themselves
with simply dsposnc of such legislation as is aDso-
u.cy necessary and viii then devote their time and
energies 70 Investigations which shall lay bare the
extravaganza and corruptions OF the Adminlstra-
ton.
This is The policy which find that many in1uen-
tial Democrats favor iii regard TO the most impor
tant political questions now before the people of
this country-that Of the currency. | have seen
none If the Ohio Democrats recently, but Rcpub-
hcans who have lately from that State, and
Others who in constant correspondence with wei
informed people there say that the leaders OF the
party which in October staked its fortunes on Allen
Cary, and rag money, are as unreasonable as ever,
and are more thoroughly convinced than they were
before the November elections that imitation is TO be
the winning card in the next Presidential contest.
From this ] should judge that the Democratic repre-
sentatives from Ohio every one # whom, believe,
committed himself during the Fan canvass 10 lnila-
ton OF some kind or degree VIII feel bound 70 raise
the question in the HoGse after it's OrganI-
cation the first point Of attack naturally being
the Currency act of last session. If they
do not do this they viii stultfy themselves IN the
eyes of their constituents and of the whole country
and show themselves up unprincipled domagognes
who raised the cry for more paper money simply az
an electIoneeriDg dodge, and failed 20 lift their
fingers the first time thoy had an opportunity TO
give their doctrines practical force. How great
number Of tie Democratic Representatives. from
other States would follow their lead it Is now in-
possible TO conjecture. But the leading Democrats
have seen from other parts OF tie country, and
especially from the South will oppose the introduce
ton o. the currency question all during the next
eossiop If Congress and viii do all in their power
10 prevent il from becoming prominent issue in
the next Presidential canvass. They say-and /
refer now to some who voted with the inlatiomsts
last Winter "a well a. 10 those who the side
Of honest cuTrency-th3t, divided as the Democratic
marty now is on this question, it can hope 10 gain
nothing by discussing it, They regret its introduce
ton in Ohio and Pennsylvania during the past FAN
and propose 10 turn the question TO the people
70 be settled in their several Congressional Districts
rs the tariff question remanded they say, 10 the
yOter1 in 1872.
These men who talk 50 lightly about leaving the
currency question out Of the next canvass seem 10
forget that it may not be as easy as they imagine.
political convention may by its action introduce
new question into canvass, and force its opponents
to meet it the Republicans year ago shook the
bloody shirt in the faces Of the Democrats, who met
them On that aud other issues and by the aid Of in
dependent voters defeated them. But when the
Ohio Republicans, year later, resolved 10 ignore
the currency question and make their bght for
Hayes on the school question they found themselves
losing ground, and would have been beaten bad
they not changed front, and encouraged by the and
OF Messrs. Sehur2, Woodord, GrosyenoT, and others
from other states met the Democrats fairly and
squaIely on their own ground. So II may be that
the party which will control the House in the com
ing Congress may NOT be able 10 ignore the currency
question either in Congress in the National can
vass next year, and it therefore becomes question
Of the most serions moment what ground they viii
take upon it when forced TO meet it. No one now in
Washington, il indeed in the country, can answer
this question.
Another subject on which il viii he important for
the Democratic majority in the House to have pro-
nouncod policy the wisdom of granting any fur
Their aid TO railroad corporations. II Is reported here
that the Texas Pacific Company will come to Wash
ingtOn this Winter with a stronger lobby than over
snd that with the united vote of the Southern
Representatives, those from Pennsylvania and such
aid De picked up in other States, 1t will Sc
cure tie passage of bill authorizing The Govern
.ta 10, I.fr.l