New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-20
UTyGEY AyD Iup4IIENT

The Democrats i'm Congress hesitate over
the an. sion Of an extra session. i Is whether
they viii pass the regular appropriation bills
without attempting to tastcn partisan icsisa-
tion mon them. and wait patiently for
the patronage which VIII fall to th"m IN
dine time Guon The reorganization OF The sen
ate. or VIII insist upon lacking then p1Itl'm
amendments to the appropriations, winch viii
insure their defeat and make an extra session
necessary. There are two reasons OF SPECIAL
weight advanced by those who urge that the
proon.Cd measures be pressed at all hazards.
First. il is frankly said that unless something
he done 10 take out Of the hands of the Fed
erol Courts the prosecution OF offence. against
tbe ballot. there is danger that tie Democratic
majority i'll the next Congress VII disappear,
in CONSEQUENCE Of the prosecution and con-
viction of several Itcmhcrs-elcct who are
charged with a variety OF offences under tnc
Federal election laws. a great deal Is
made of this possibly impending calamity
and the souls Of Democratic members OF the
present Congress are narrowed up with con-
slant appeals on tins score that the party
should take no ri J, in 50 important matter,
but hasten 10 pluck the opportunity and en-
iov the >pols. Then It is urged that, aside
from the necessity for protecting the Southern
members threatened with prosecution IN
Federal Courts, an extra session Is
in itself desirable. in order that the
Senate patronage may the sooner fall into
Democratic hands, and the hunger OF the
waiting patriots be appeascdj and III order,
TOO. that the party which - 50 soon to con-
+r,., no,a branches Of lie legislative depart
mcut OF the Government may the sooner enter
mon aud accustom itself to its new duties
and responsibilities. These are the principal
reasons urged 10y the advocates Of the scheme.
They nav be more briefly stated thus: The
pal1v is veiy hungry and very impatient.
On the other hand, there are not wanting
those who see the unwisdom of the plan
who prudenly set of the advantages hoped
90 be gained against the udoubtcd rl+hs to
be incurred, and stIcnuously insist that the
game will be losing one. These prefer
TO take the chances of losing control Of
the House and to postpone for few months
the distribution Of Congressional patron
agc. rather than assume the responsibility
Of forcing AN extra session and incur the Iisk
Of fatal fooli>hncsS aud mIsbchayior by the
new Congress 1t is a question yet whether
hunger and impotence or prudence and ST.
pacitv will carry the day. For oGr own part
we have such confidence in the capacity of
this party for committing bundcI-, such ahso-
lute faith in the inspired ldiocy which
directs its coun.cls, that We shall be
greatly Disappointed II it does not at
last decide to force an extra session 10y
obstinate adherence to the proposed partisan
amendments 20 the appropriations. For We
have invariably observed that wherever two
courses are open to their choice, they adopt
the less sagaciOus. Their famished condition
ob.cures their mental vision; they are too
ravcnous for the spoils. of Office to give
much thought to the effect of their i'm
patience upon the public mind. And
vet they must knOw-the more prudent
of them certainly dO-that upon general prin-
ciples, the party responsible for legislation is
safer and stronger when Congress i not in
session, and it is consequently in no danger
of making mistakes For in ordinary times,
and unless there Is some great and unInls-
taxable popular demand for special action on
the part of Congress, the chances rs Il
hundred 10 one that the dominant party will
do nothing to gain, but many things to for
felt popular favor while Congress is in
session. II has almost come to be pTOYcrb
that the only rest for the country Is during