Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-01-22
From the New York Tribuu.
COERTING DEFEAT.

COER7ING DEFEAT.
The democratic party has taken pains to
analvze itself. Its vote in the House makes
it no longer possible to pretend that the
party means to defend solemn pledges OF
the public faith. or to restore the currency
to specie basis. A minority OF the DEM
ocratic members, it appears from the vote.
will refuse to repeal the Resumption act
of 1875 unless in connection with new
measures which they deem effective to Sc
cure resumption. But large majority of
them vote to repudiate the pledge of re-
sumption without any conditions whatever.
Precisely what the republicans have
claimed-that the democratic party could
not be trusted to restore an honest curren-
cy or maintain the public faith-Mr. Hol-
man aud his supporters have taken the
pains thus early to prove.
On Monday Mr.. Holman moved to sus-
pend the rules and adopt resolution de-
claring it "unwise and inexpedient at this
"time that specific and arbitrary period
for resumption should be fixed, and there
fore instructing the Committee to report
bill repeating that act. This resolution
divided the democrats of the House into
two distinct factions. and l03 of them vot
ed for the resolution, thereby avowing
their desire to repudiate the pledge OF re-
sumption Internationally. Only SO of
A. toI fhA n1pyin n nj
some of these, like Mr. Wood. did so only
because they desired the passage of other
measures hostile to the policy of resump
tion some, no doubt. because they did
not wish to instruct the Committee; and
others, like Messrs. Payne and Morrison.
because they want TO secure, in connec-
ton with the repeal of the Resumption
act, some measure which they can repre-
sent to hard money constituents as a meas
ure of resumption. Nearly two-thirds of
the democratic members voting, however.
placed themselves on record for initiation
and unconditional repeal Of a formal
pledge of the Government.
Only six republicans and three indie
pendents voted with the democratic repu-
diationists. Six independents and ninety
three republicans voted against the reso
luton. Do the democrats fancy that this
contrast will help them next fall Less
than 40 per cent. of the democratic men,
beers, appear from this vote to be disposed
to defend and maintain formal pledges of
the United States. If the statement is to
democrats an unpleasant one, it is the one
which their own representatives have cho-
sen to make.
Now let US consider the predicament of
the hard money democrats. They are in
minority in their own party. But with
the republicans and Independents they
probably form majority of the House
If they yield to their party associates,
they have sense enough to see that the re-
suit will be overwhelming defeat next No
vember. Democracy cannot carry any
bill for repeal of the Resumption act; il
for no other reason. because the republ-
can majority in the Senate, or the vote of
republican President and the votes of
the republicans in the Senate and House,
will block the way. The most and the
worst they can do Is to make that issue
between the two parties still more sharp
and distinct, and then go before the coun-
try to he whipped by an adverse majority
of one hundred thousand in the State of
New York ir November. Without the
vote OF New York the election of demo-
cratic President is an impossibility. If the
hard money democrats do nothing, the re-
suit is still fatal. Their party has made
its record. In the absence of any other,
that record will determine the action OF
voters, and as 1t stands no man who cares
for the public honor can feel that it is safe
in the hands of the democratic party.
This distrust, springing no longer from
mere partisan dislike, resting no longer
upon the action of the party in few
States, but justified by the formal votes of
nearly two thirds of the democratic Rep
rescntatives. will suffice to insure the de-
feat of the democrats unless the repubi.
cans throw away their opportunity.
One thing remains, and one thing only
can extricate the hard money democrats
from their predicament. We pointed it
out to them Immediately after the cleo
ton last November. Perhaps some of
them now see that the advice then Civ
en- was wise. They may be able to settle
this financial QUESTION by joining with the
Republicans and Independents. and pass
ing measure embodying the plan of re-
sumption recommended by Secretary Bris-
tow and approved by the President. With
the support of the hard-money democrats.
and with the power over the floor which
control of the important committees gives
them, such bill might possibly be passed.
There is no other escape for the hard
money democrat; he is compelled to Join
with the republicans in putting this ques-
ton out of the way, or he will get beaten
by it. We have not much expectation
that he will do anything so sensible But
there is only this avenue of escape.
For the ,Jonrnu1