New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-03-07
OEGtyJzJNG THE NEW HOUSE.


ORGANIZING The NEW house.
Doubt as to the organization of the House
is not unnatural. The leading Democrats
have now discovered that the President had
excellent reason for calling the session
without delay. The public reasons were
sufficient, for it was plain that II
long struggle was likely to occur
over the disputed legislation, and the apprO-
prIatiOn bills for the next fiscal year were to
be held waiting the result OF that struggle,
it was desirable to begin the session as early as
possible. Moreover, If it should become neces-
sary, on account Of the failure of appropriations,
to close any department of the Government,
or restrict OF stop its operations In any re-
spect, it would be extremely important for
the public interests that some fair warn
ing of the change should be given. But
the party aspects OF the matter chiefly
affect the Democratic leaders. They
perceive that while they are much dis
organized and divided into warning fac
tions, the Grecnback element stands obst-
natcly between the two parties, and the
Republicans arc more thoroughly united
than they have been for many years.
Will be vacant when Congress assemblies,
by reason of death or sickness. and are APP
prehpnslye that others may become vacant
by reason of the enforcement of the evil
laws. 1t would he somewhat interesting
case of poetic justice if the wholesale viola
ton OF the election laws by Demo-
cratic candidates, and by repeatcrs, bal
lot-box suffers and rioters in their interest,
should cause the arrest of u sufficient number
of Democratic members to leIve that party
without the majority which it had stolen.
Under these circumstances the position
of the Grecnback members becomes de-
cidedly interesting, especially to the hard
money Democrats. In that phrase we
here include ali who are not willing to
take part in an open surrender of the Demo
cratic party to the grocnback doctrines or Il
formal fusion of the two elements The dis
tinction is rendered sharper by the personal an
tagonisms within the party. Candidates like
Thurman for President and Blackburn for
Speaker rely almost wholly upon the influence
of those Democrats who are resolved to effect
an open alliance with the GrCenback
men. Other candidates in the same party.
on The other hand, know that such
an alliance would be certain defeat
TO them, and rely upon some sort of indie
pendent action on the part of the Dem
ocrats In the fcrceness of this personal
struggle 1t has come to pass that
men like Mr.. Blackburn declare that
if they cannot succeed, the organization
of the House shall be controlled by Republi-
cans. 1t would be well to put little confidence in
these threats, or in any prospect of Democratic
g.,
power which it claims it will hold out of the
Democratic caucus enough members to prevent
an organization of the House by the Demo-
Gratis In that event, sooner or later, enough
Democrats will 20 over to the soft money fac
ton to give 1t success, unless meanwhile the
Democrats who believe In sound currency,
and are willing to defend the public faith,
find a ground of union with the Republicans.
The duty of Republicans Is very clear. They
cannot afford to propose or encourage any
alliance with those who assail the public
credit. 1t is not possible for them to take
any step looking to the organization of the
House in hostility to the Resumption Act, or
under control of men who seek TO assail the
public faith. The report that any Republican
leaders contemplate such an alliance is
not to be believed. If they are sufficiently
shlewd to be leaders, they know the Re
publican forces well enough TO real
ize that larger number OF Republican
votes will be lost by any such compIo-
mise or alliance than could anywhere he
gained thereby. They know, too, that
the moral force of the party throughout the
country would be irrctnevably impaired. 1t
may be considered certain that if the Repub-
leans seek or receive support from any quar-
ter, it will be from Democrats whose convic-
tons in respect to the public faith and the
currency accord with their own. Whether
there are such Democrats, who have
the courage or patriotism to dis
regard party names or party ties, re-
mains TO be seen. If not, IN one form or
another, the Democratic party as whole is
destined to he swallowed up. The nOmina-
ton by a Democratic caucus of a man salts
factory to the Greenback element would be n
surrender not less clearly than the acceptance
by Democrats Of the nominee of the Green
back caucus. In either case the issue would
be joined before the country, and the Repub-