The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-22

Republicans since they passed into a minor
ity in the House. because they tenacously
cling to the pust and regard repeal as q re-
Election on the wisdom or justice OF this
bigotod form Of legislation. They have yet
TO discover that the world moves, and that
the people Of the United States differ from
the fanatics who followed CROMWELL and
who originated this intolerant and proscrip-
tive sort OF policy
Therefore, when the Democrats proposed
TO repeal Mr.. DAvENPoRTs law, in the very
manner that tho Republicans had passed it,
Mr.. HALE, DE GoLYER GARFIELD, and other
patriots OF that brand, who had carried the
job through originally, were virtuously in
dIgnant that their example should be imi-
tatcd, and threatened things terrible, mean
ing an extra session and the like, rather
than surrender their supervisors and UNI
limited stock OF deputy marshals at five
dollars q day, TO work as electioneering
agents.
This menace stirred the resentment OF the
Democrats and compacted their column,
which had been previously somewhat
wavering, from the known opposition Of
Mr.. BAYARD, Mr.. HILL, and others in the
Senate, to this movement. What the out
come may be depends now very much on
the backbone OF the conflicting sides and
the future action OF conference committees.
A way out of such dilemmas can always be
found when there is will to discover IT,.
Tho party whips are very active in plying
their vocation, but after the first explosion
there is usually calm, when the second
thought comes in very inconveniently for
the designs OF intriguers with an eye to the
main chance. An extra session does not
necessarily follow from the passionate ut
terances in the House, and IL can easily be
prevented at the critical moment by wise
counsels. IL the leaders are disposed to that
course, as most Of them are known to be in
the Senate.
division between the Democratic chiefs
in the House and the older party heads at
the other end OF the Capitol does not look
well for harmony inside the party, especially
on question which might be supposed to
be bond OF union between them. Although
Mr.. THURMAN, in the joint caucus, took
the lead OF the repealcrs and antagonized
the position taken by Mr.. BAYARD, still he
has always been outspokcn against an extra
session as impolitic and attended with seri-
Gus risks. But he may have to surrender TO
the demands Of the youngsters, who have a
number OF enterprises on hand. such as the
election OF Speaker by a snap judgment, an
early distribution OF all the Congressional
patronage, law to give out tho public
printing by contract to a favored combina-
ton, and other interesting jobs which have
been concocted for some time past bya Ring
OF managers anxious to serve the country
and themselves.
In the regular routine OF legislation the
House is far ahead OF the Senate. and can
easily finish it's work and have time to spare
before the bell tolls the departure OF the
Forty-fifth Congress. The appropriation
bills draw their length along slowly in the
Senate. One of them would have been COM
pleted fortnight ago but for the manage
ment required TO get the Roach subsidy on
the Post Office bill by n diplomatic conven-
ton with Mr.. WINDOWS Committee on APP
preparations. or course, Mr. WINDOW is
very much opposed to subsidies, for he has
recently said so In the Senate, and he is
| both an honorable and a rich senator, who
| understands the art Of economy, as illus
trated by JOHN SHERMAN in saving a mill
ion or so from his Congressional pay. Not.
withstanding his conscientious convictions
against the ROACH job. Mr.. WINDOW let il
get a place, which could never have been
obtained by direct test on an independent
bill. He knew what he was about, and his
vote is just as well understood as was KEEL.
LoGG's when at the end Of the roll call and
after the figures had been counted, he re.
corded himself Justify against the conhrma-
ton OF MERRITT.