The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-05-19
BUILDING a Parry rLATFoRlI.
The Misfortune orIIayInE no Principles
"A Week Passed In Trying 10 Get
Somewhat the Democrats are Going
Before the Country ON.

The Misfortune OfIIavlng no Principle
"A Week Passed In Trying 10 Ge
Somewhat the Democrats are GoInl
Before the Country On.
WAsHtNoroN, May 16.-Iia Legislature
Is happy whose annals are tedious, Con.
gress should Just now be in the utmos
felicity. But the epigram does not seen
toapply. hemaiority are very unhappy
nor are the minority In a much more Joy
fdl frame Of mind. The week has beer
stupid beyond endurance. 1t promised
well on Monday when the veto came in
but this document was SO etFectual that
instead Of a succession Of spicy caucuses
and party fireworks, we have had
nothing moro sensational than cloal;
room and hotel conferences to record,
and are even yet unable to give de.
hnite decisions Us the fruit Of those
buttonhole debates. It IL pretty well un.
derstood, indeed, that the appropriation
bills will ultimately be passed, or that q
temporary provision will be made, but the
public are not yet acquainted with the ex.
act terms Of the capitulation. 1t looks
now as II some very eminent Democratic
gentlemen were about TO utilize them.
selves according to the New York Suns
ideas, as warnings and scarecrows" for
the edifcation OF their party followers by
yielding to the 'fnsolent wretch" in the
White House so TAR as 10 pass such sup
ply bills as he can consistently sign.
There may be persons who think that
certain OF the Democrats who favor this
Constitutional course, like Judge Atkins
and Mr.. Stephens, for instance, would Gil
the bill as scarecrows with natural grace
and propriety In any case we may hope
that Democratic scarecrows may be found.
A sCarecrow Is useful II not ornamental
ethgy. He guards the grain from thieves
who would starve the farmer TO death.
OF the two, patriot would prefer to be
the scarecrow rather than the crow.
In the absence, then, OF a definite and
published policy by the majority the days
have passed on very tediously. The chief
events have been the attempts OF the
Democrats to get some principles. Having
denounced an income tax, for instance,
for many years as the height OF political
crime and folly, 1t put itself solldly on
record last MondaytO re.enact one. Hav.
ing CRASHED its teeth at the issue OF paper
money by the government at a time OF
need, it has made the main business
OF the week the advancement OF an
initiation measure OF the most violent de.
scription. And to-day, for lack OF any new
inconsistency to advocate, it has fallen
back on its historic friendship for the
liquor interest. Members on the Demo-
cratic side grew sensitive OF sudden
about the Constitution. Ex-Coniederate
Reagan admired it in particular, and allud-
ed to it in terms OF the most affectionate
eulogy. ! doubt il the old slaveholding
aristoCrats OF the South ever grew more
enthusiastic over that instrument, which
guaranteed to each State its peculiar in
stitutions," than did Democrats to-day
over the same shield to their spirit-distilI-
ing and spirit-consuming constituencies.
The Senate meanwhile has been arguing
without mitigation or remorse" on the
Legislative Appropriation bill. There are
several members yet who have not spoken,
and so 1t isstill uncertain when debate may
close in that garrulous chamber. Incl.
dentally to the main discussion here ithas
appeared that among the Democratic
principles Of the future is 10 be the un-
adulterated State right heresy Of the dad
dies. According 10 these ex Founders the
war settled nothing; in fact, historical
doubts begin to arise whether We had any
war. There was q certain exciting
campaign in 1915, with pref.
ty free use ota"troops at the polls"-
a kind Of Irish discussion with stick-but
that is gone and forgotten now. We have
had centennial celebration since that un.
fortunate dispute, and the dead have
buried the dead and all they fought for.
Surely, for stupid week, good deal
has happened after all. The Democrats
have found three principles, half one
day, for the next campaign; State sover.
eighty, an income tax and scaling down
the National debt. Now, let them adjourn
and see what the country thinks OF this
Cerberus.