Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-08
The Six Weeks Record.

Having now had six weeks OF the new
democratic House. in which we have had
reasonable opportunities for Judging of the
capacity OF the party for carrying on the
government, we may perhaps, be able to
form an adequate idea of what they would
do if they had the President and Senate
Called together in special session to meet
an emergency caused by their own parti-
sanship in the last Congress, they frittered
away the greater part of the session in
impatient efforts to do something to injure
the credit OF the country, neglecting at
last to pass the Paris Exposition Bill, and
only passing the Appropriation bills after
protracted delays and proftless discussions
OF the most tiresome character. The one
thing that has characterized the session, so
far as the House is Observation-Disclosures
out prominently in all the proceedings -
has been the anxiety of the democratic
leaders to repeal the Resumption Act and
pass the Silver Bill. For these two OBJ
jects they have shown a willingness 10
sacrifice everything besides. 1t mattered
not 10 them whether the army and navy
were paid OF not, or whether provision
should be made for respectable exhibit
ton of our industrial, agricultural, me-
chancal and mining products at the Paris
Exposition. They sought chiefly and only
TO enact two laws, one of which was to
postpone indefinitely the payment of debts,
and the other to provide for payment, If
that should ever be necessary, in deterior-
ated coin. The record they have made
for their party relates almost solely to the
financial question. Upon this they must
20 to the country whenever the time
comes, and upon that be judged.
Now, we have no idea that the intelli-
gent democrats OF New York have any
sympathy with the wild imitation schemes
of the Western leaders; nor do we suppose
that many of them favor the Silver Bill of
Mr.. Bland, which "scales down" debts in.
stead OF repudiating them entirely. The
New York democracy. under the dlrec.
ton OF hard money leaders, have, hereto
fore, expressed their hostility to such
schemes. But it must be borne in mind
that there is no democrat of prominence
and influence in this or any other State
who maintains the right to differ with the
majority OF the party upon any question
OF principle or policy, aud the majority of
the party unquestionably oppose resump-
ton and favor initiation. We have ALWAYS
seen the minority yield in such cases with
out either a contest or bolt. and we shall
see it now again. Mr.. Tilden did in ac-
cepting the St. Louis platform. which be
did not believe in, and all his supporters
fell into line with him. Ii is no more diff
ficult now than then. Party discipline re-
quires it. aud that puts an end to discus
sion. The democratic party has nothing
left as a national issue to fall back on ex
cept the money question, and upon thai
the present Congress has, in the specia
session just ended. made distinct ant
unequivocal record. II Mr.. Tilden re.
mains in the party he must fall in unde,
the leadership of Mr.. Hendricks. Mr.
Abram Hewitt must follow Mr.. Cox. ant
Mr.. Herman take his place after Mr.. Ewing
or Mr.. Bland
The policy of the administration hai
eliminated the Southern question; upoi
Civil Service Reform the democrats will
hardly have the assurance to make an is