New-York tribune., 1879-04-15
DIrERT1NG THE DISCUSSION.

Mr. Randall's apparent Willingness to give
the Greenback people in Congress an Oppor-
tlnity to air their theories and present their
bills and have them voted on, is really an
indication not so much of the strength and
influence of that faction as of the weakness
and fright of the Democrats. We say his
willingness to give them rein, because,
although he NAV for a time continue to keep up
an appearance of opposition to their schemes
it is quite clear from his committee appoint
mcnts and his evident disposition not to place
any obstacles IN their way, that he considers
them of sufficient account to be treated with
great kindness and wOoed by mdirection If
not OPENLY The secret of this is, as we have
said not so much in their strength or iorml-
dableness as in the bad plight to which the
Democrats have brought themselves, and
the desperate efforts they feel compelled
to make 10 turn the current OF discus
sion. The weakness of the party on the
financial question is obvious enough. They
are fatally divided upon 1T. They open 1t Ut
their peril. and this the leaders, at least the
clea1-hcadcd leaders like 3lr. Randall, very
well know. But they know as well that they
are between the devil and the deep sea; that
! while the financial question contains so many
elements Of danger to the party, the other
and only other practical question Of great pub
lie importance to wit, the one involved in
the present discussion Of the political, or, II
You please, sectional, issues contained Ill the
repeal of the election laws is vastly more
dangerous. The drift of this discussion is
beyond all manner of question fatally dam
aging to the party. If Mr.. Randall per-
,1r,,.- TO ola ha
may-to debate on the financial question. 1t
is simply because he believes it to be less
mischievous in its effects upon the
party than the one now in progress
on the appropriation bills An out
break of financial discussion at this
iuncture will illustrate two things-Mr. Ran
dalls shreWdness as a political manager and
his party's desperate condition.
The debate upon the political legislation
sought to be attached to the appropriation
bills has thus far brought out with striking
clearness the spirit and purpose of the Dem
ocratic party as directed by "a Solid South. If
continued twill only give them more thorough
Developments There is no denying the fact
that the effect of it has been to open the
ewes of thousands of unattached voters "
who have been supporting the Democratic
ticket for the past few years under mis-
taken notions, and who, under the new
light, must inevitably go back to the Republl-
cans. The disclosures made by the repre-
sentatlyes of the Solid South have COM
PEELED Solid North. and with a Solid
North the hopes of Democratic success
in the future fade. The prOlOngatiOn
of the debate serves only to intensity
the feeling of opposition 10 the Democratic
scheme, while it widens its extent. To coun-
tcract the influence thus exerted it is neces
sary to start new issue, or revive an old
one, or do something which will distract
public attention. The financial question is
the only feasible alternative. To the practical
mind of Mr. Randall, and perhaps few other
of the shrewder leaders, the question that
presents itself in this emergency Is whether
to take the chances of defeat growing out
of division upon the financial question, or let
tho present debate run on toward what seems
certain and irretrievable disaster. Upon the
questions Of the war, brought forward again
by the fatal laundering of the Democrats in
tine last Congress, the party will be hope
| lessly defeated. Upon the financial issue
there is bare possibility that with
ducking aud dipping, and turning and
twisting, they may save enough ut the
West to give them, with tho Solid South, the
next election Eyes less keen than Mr. Ran
dalps have seen for somo time that this is
their only hope. II is not strange that they
should be tired of the debate, which is cost
ing them thousands of votes with each day of
its continuance nor strange that they should
be gropIng about for some other opening OF a
Loco dcsnaratp character,
We may expect, then, to sec from this time
preuy earnest effort on the part Of the
shrewder men from the North to suppress en-
tirely or moderate materially the discussion
of such Questions as raise the old issues, and
to turn the current toward topics of finance,
upon which 1t is believed they can be as
foolish and as highty as they please
without the certainty of political sui
eide. The Confederate Brigadiers will be
set at work as far as possible upon
themes connected with political economy and
finance and their attention diverted from the
merits of Jefferson Davis and the beauties of
the Lost Cause and the ingenuity of the party
leaders Will be taxed to the utmost to bring
about an agreement with De La Matyr,
Murch and the rest, involving the capture Of
| these statesmen and their following. There
are two or three things In the way Of this con-
summation. In the first place, It will be by
no means easy to switch of the Confederate
| gentlemen from the topics for which they
| have such a fatal fondneSs In tho second
place, granting that the movement to put
financial questions at the front should be sue