New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-06


ton. Four months and half were speh'
upon silver bill, which ought not TO nave
been passed at all, but. if passed at all, should
have been passed quickly. Some small acts OF
the private Sort and some public acts OF
minor importance, have slipped through the
blockade of political discussion and personal
wrangle. but the country will be puzzled 10
recall any act of considerable consequence
save those named. On the other hand, tne
number of bills of some Importance winch
still wait for consideration, to the great Jet
riment of all public interests, Is very iarge'
When this Congress assembled, 1t was every
where remarked that it ought to let partisan
notifies alone, and devote itself to the Dusl-
ness interests of the country. The session De
fore Presidential election is always bad
one for business, and the session after the
election. usually spent in attending TO puohc
duties neglected during year OF pol'icai
strife, was in this case made worse tiah u'o
less by the wrangle about the electoral count,
For two years the country was thus compeleu
to see all its material interests suffer- pcoau'o
party strife left no room IN Congress III, ""!
thing else. This, it was hoped, might oe
"business Congress" And IL has wrahgieo
nearly six months and the net result Is mis-
chief.
II apv one thinks otherwise, let him look
hool, When Congress met, there was new
hone. with reviving activity III business
throughout the country. Great crops were De-
ginning to move, earnings OF railways were
increasing. streets were blocked with mer-
cbondise going TO consumers, factories were
starting anew, and the fires cleaned again
from furnaces long dark and silent. There
was real beginning of that improvement for
which the country has waited so long and
YEARLY. Nor has there been any change In
material conditions to arrest this improve
ment. No disappointment as to the magni-
tude of crops, or as to the demand from
Europe, or as to the soundness of banking in
stitutions, or as to the steady progress of the
country toward a sound basis, has brought
disaster. And yet the last five months have
been dreary and disastrous almost beyond
parallel Hesitation parayzed us as soon as
Congress began to talk. Less of doubt and
disbursement, fewer failures, and less indls-
position to invest or purchase, resulted from
the great struggle over the Presidency, which
lasted from the indeCisive October elections oi
1876 until the Inauguration, in March, 1877.
There is no room for dispute as to the cause.
At the very outset, this Congress lifted club
to strike down every important interest in the
country. Some threatened a silver bill; some,
a repeal of the Resumption Act; some, aboh-
ton of National banks some, change OF the
whiskey tax some, meddling legislation as to
railways and telegraphs; very many were
menaced by q Wholesale change OF the
tariff, and all were threatened with national
bankruptcy when the vast multitude of South
ern claims and jobs appeared. This has been
a marvellous Congress for threatening every
body and everything. 1t would be difficult to
name a device for disturbing, deranging and
disorganizing industry and blocking commerce,
which is not matched or surpassed in the
record of bills proposed since last October.
But, worst of all, after the club had been
upllfted, and while it still was poised over the
defenceess head Congress spent five months
in chatter, and had not even the mercy to strike.
Now, we beg of this body to stop talking
and go home. Let it do all the mischief it
can, without delay, and the country may stand
it. Whether the country can stand four or
five months more of uncertainty and dispute,
is not clear. In mercy, 90 home.