New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-02
EXTRA SESSION RESULTS.

The extra session of Congress fails to be a
crime only because it proves to be a blunder.
That the Democratic orlglnatOrs of this fruit
less and costly session meant mischief there
is no room to doubt. They have placed on
record the conclusive proof Of their intentions.
But it turns out that they have not succeeded
in a single particular. The behavior OF the
Democrats has not been revolutionary, only
because it has been suicidal.
We are not left IN doubt as to the intention
of those who caused the extra session. They
meant mischief, and fully believed that they
could do mischief. But they find, as the
session closes, that the President retains all
the power over the Army which he ever had
and all the power which he has at any time
desired to exercise, and yet full appropria-
tons for the Army have been voted. They
find that the election laws have not been re-
pealed nor crippled, and yet the full appro-
priatIons for the Legislative, Executive and
Judicial expenses of the Government have
been voted, with the exception of 100000
for the pay of MarShals. The Supervisors Ie-
main, and will discharge their duties. The
Marshals Also notwithstanding the failure OF
Congress to make immediate provision for
their payment, will continue to enforce the
laws, and the next Congress will he COM
PEELED to provide for their compensation. The
moonshiners will still live in fear of the law,
though a Democratic Congress has tried to
starve ont the officials who hunt them down.
In short the extra session has utterly failed
to do any of the things threatened.
1t is not for any lack of vicious purpose
that the Democrats fail. All honor is due
70 q resolute, united and disciplined RepGb-
lican phaanx, which has met every onset
without waverng, and exposed every trick
without hesitation. All honor is due to a
conscientious and determined President, whose
yet0es have made powerful impression upon
the pubic mind, and whose unyielding att-
tude in the presence of desperate revolution
lists has commanded the admiration of his
foes. The men who called President Hayes
q weak man have had abundant reason to
revise their opinions. The Democrats have
been ably and sturdily resisted, or their auda-
cious attempt would have ended differently.
By their declared intention they will be
Judged. 1t is of record that they have
seriously and persistently attempted four
grave crimes. % They have tried to break
down the barriers which prevent the carrying
of elections by violence and fraud. (2) They
have tried to strip the Executive of his con-
stitutional power as COmmander-in-C Chief of
the Army. 81 They have tried, by cOercive
legislation, to make one branch of Congress
the supreme and sole power in the Govern
ment, and to deprive the President OF that
right To appeal to the sober second thought
of the country which the Constitution gives
him. And (D They have tried, all else
having failed, to cripple the Government in
the enforcement of laws against criminals, in
order to shield those who break the election
laws and the revenue laws.
Either of these, in any other party, would be
deemed a crime so grave AS to leave that party
without hope of power for all time to come.
Why is IT that, TO Democratic leaders, these
crimes against self-government seem insig-
niicant? Why is it that, III spite OF Them, they
cling TO the hope of success 1t is because
crimes even greater have been half forgotten
by the people 1t IS because men who We're
guilty OF treason and murder, a few years ago,
now sit in seats of honor and power. 1t is be-
cause the Nation has tried to forget the crime
of slavery, and the crime of secession, and the
crime of aiding an infamous rebellion, and has
mdulgod the hope that men VINO were rebels
might have become patriots 1t is because the
Democratic party, in spite of crimes greater
than had ever been committed under free
Government by any set Of men before, has
been encouraged to believe that 1t may soon be
intrusted with absolute power in this land
The extra session has not been wasted. il
has stripped the mask from Democrats, and
disclosed their revolutionary aims. No party