New-York tribune., 1879-03-27
TIE DEMOCRATIC DILEMMA.

Now that our Democratic friends have ac-
complished their purpose of forcing an extra
session, and have begun the division Of the
official spOils falling to them with the control
of the Senate, and have come squarely up to the
actual business for which they have been called
together, they find that all is not smooth
sailing, even though they be in majority IN
both branches of the Legislative department.
1t is not absolutely certain that they have
escaped scandal in their choice OF officers of
the Senate, and in the House they find them
selves in the midst of serious embarrass-
ments. The division of spOils is a task that
requires the most delicate handling and
the shrewfest management. and 1t Is
almost impossible to accomplish it without
creating jealousies, heart-burnings and enmi-
ties innumerable But these gentlemen were
so hungry and impatient that they could not
wait the regular course of events they must
force an extra session of Congress upon q
flimsy pretext so as to lose no time in getting
at the Senate pickings. We have seen part
of the consequences. The division, so far as
it has proceeded. has given satisfaction only
to those whom it was not necessary to pla-
cate. and disgusted and repelled those upon
whom the party must depend for the strength
to insure continued success and final victory.
And the chances are as hundred to one that
this dissatisfaction will be increased with
every succeeding step in the process.
But beyond this there is another and
greater difficulty. They have got to dem
onstrate the necessity Cor an extra session,
and show that their action IN forcing it can
be justified. To do this they are reduced TO
a single line of argument and single course
of action They have INDUCED in consider
able loose talk about their determination to
repeal the test oath for jurors and to fOrbic the
use of United States troops at the polls being
at the bottom of the business OF course,
they know better, and what is more, the peo-
pie know better. The truth concerning those
two provisions is so well known that they
will scarcely have the hardihoOd seriously to
put forward any such pretence Their de-
mands upon these points, as everybody
now knows, would have been conceded
had they been willing to yield their
opposition TO the provisions of the
election laws concerning the appointment of
supervisors, etc. The whole question turned
upon that and that only. So that the Demo-
Gratis in Congress have only this pretext for
forcing the extra session, that the Republ-
cans would not consent to the repeal of
the laws for the protection of the ballot-bOx,
and to secure honest elections, They find
themselves accordingly in the dilemma OF
being obliged to yield that point, and so max
ing confession that their factious course was
unjustifable, or of insisting upon it and show
ing that the operation of these Objectionable
provisions is so unjust. tyrannical and costly
as to warrant revolutionary proceedings to
effect their repeal.
1t is slowly dawning upon them that
perhaps they were too hasty and incon-
sderate. The call of the Democratic Sen
ate upon the Secretary of the Treas
ury for statement of the expenses in
Cured under the Federal election laws last
November has been answered, and the answer
somewhat surprises them. 1t appears from
this statement that the bitter complaints OF
our down-trodden Democratic brethren at
the South. that the money of the Govern
ment has been used TO Cypress them
In the employment of supervisors of elections,
are almost groundless. The Treasury state
ment shows that it has cost but an insignif
cant sum to watch their methods of conduct
ing elections, and it has been learned
from an abundance of other sources
that the money was uncOmmOnly well
invested. But the bulk of the expense