The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-12-11
THE NATIONAL DEMoCRATIC STILL
urAE

The situation nj ihe End Of tho First
week-SIRnenverInE for POsltlOn-A |
Tanning Process for Ihe UnFuIy Brath'
rem.
WAsnIxGToN, December 0.-1he fact
that neither House nor Senate has ven.
tured to remain in session for business,
except to listen to the message and receive
the annual reports, furnishes clear indi-
cation OF what the Democratic Gtnation
Is. As yet the managers have not dared
10 trust their associates through an ordi.
nary days session. Instead Of providing
for caucus, a caucus has been carefully
provided against. The leading spirits In
the attempt 10 maintain silence have
each day heaved signs Of relief over
the announcement that the motions
10 adjourn were carried. For once
even the Bourbons Of the party have
learned something. The lessons Of the
late elections were so plain that, contrary
to oil their traditions, they have laid them
to heart, openly acknowledge their force.
Men who are recognized by all to be the
lights in this faction OF the Democratic
party, say without hesitation that 1t is now
settled, that no man tainted with rebellion,
and above all no Northern man who gave
rebellion the least support, can be elected
President. They admit that the extra
session has made q solid North almost in
evitable. The fac. that some, whose utter
ances at the last session proved u serious
damage to their party during the cam.
paign, are now the most earnest in advis-
ing silence, shows how deep is their cOnviC.
ton that the threats OF wiping out the war
legislation andstRfViHg the Executive into
submission have brought the Democratic
party to the verge OF defeat, even
in advance Of the national campaign.
The declarations that the Democracy has
come into power in the Capitol, aud come
to stay, and intends 10 do this, ID that,
and the other, are nowhere heard, as In
the early days and weeks OF the extra
session. Everywhere on the surface there
is discreet silence. The managers, for
once, are allowed 10 have their way. But
under the surface these leaders are busy
studying the situation, and the temper OF
the more maynard members Of the party,
and carefully arranging for orderly times
and sober discussion when the time for
caucus comes, or when it can be no longer
delayed.
But this quiet is only apparent. Under
the surface there is unCeasing Consults.
ton. The problemls not SO much what
shall be done at this session, as how to do
what will best aid in securing the PreSi.
deucy. So far as il is possible TO control
aud restrain individual men with sole re.
ference to making a record for the
national campaign it will be done. AL
measures will be sCrutinized in advance OF
presentation, SO far US this is possible, in
order TO estimate their effect upon the
record. II anything deemed injUdiciouB
is brought forward, it will receive its
quietus in the committee. The appropria-
ton bills will 90 over the holidays, in
order 10 give all the time possible to
reaching an understanding in regard 10 a
revival OF any Of the political riders which
were vetoed at the extra session.
\ certain class OF sUbjecLs are receiving
the closest attention, mostly those which
bear in any degree upon the election Of
President, and the counting OF the EleC.
tOral vote. There are Democrats who be.
lieve III maintaining perfect quiet on all
disputed questions, and simply passing
liberal appropriation bills and adjourning.
They declare this tn be the wisest, for two
reasOns-frst, because by so doing they
would in part regain what they lost in
public favor through the blunders OF that
extra session; and, second, because they
can well afford TO wait for final triumph
till the joint convention OF the two Demo-
cratic houses meets 10 count the Electoral
vote. Some Of the shrewdest among the
leaders are urging postponement Of all
that would excite the country until then.
Prominent among this class OF subjects are
the contested election cases. One in
Indiana aud one in Minnesota will, BY a
decision for the Democratic contestants,
change the votes OF those States from Re.
publican to. Democratic in the conven-
ton to count the Electoral vote. And
this would enable the Democrats to elect
n President in case the election was
thrown into the House. While bill for
for regulating the count Of the Electoral
votes will in all probability be reported, ii
is not likely 10 be one that the President
can sign, even ii il passes. But veto can
not inlcrpose between the Democrats and
any plan of counting they may decide up.
on, since joint rule is all that is neces.
sary to provide the means Of receiving or
rejecting the vote Of any contested State.
10 sum up the situation in word: The
Democrats are engaged in a still hunt for
the best positions in which to establish
their lines for move on the Presidency,
and in this is the significance of the I'M
usual quiet which wells the opening ses.