New-York tribune., 1879-05-05
4 pEuoCRA1rC HALF DISCOVERY.


Our Democratic friends in Congress are
really growing wise. They have just half
discovered something which, if they will fol-
low up and profit by, will save them here
after "a heap of trouble. They have half dis
covered the cause of their growing unpOpu-
larity and their constantly weakening hold
upon the confidence of the people. To party
In the desperate straits In which they have
placed themselves by their recent action, 1t is
great thing to have even only bah discOv-
cred the secret of their difficulties, for it
shows that they are on the right track.
But they need to keep on i'll the line of
the present investigation and round out their
discovery into completeness before they can cx-
pect to do anything to save themselves from
irretrievable disaster. Their half discovery
is shown by the anxiety they have begun to
manifest to keep the proceedings of their
caucuses secret. They have found out that
the publicity which has been given to their
caucus proceedings damages them IN the esti-
nation of the public. This is a good deal for
them to find out but 1t is only half dis
covery they have more to learn. 1t is only
within few days that the fact has fully
dawned upon them that they are and have
been for some time losing ground with the
people Since this has become patent they have
been securing about for the causes, and seem
at last to have settled down upon the notion
that it Is due to the indiscretiOn of such
leaders as Senator Beck and others, who either
In open session or in conversations with
newspaper correspondents made all the eau
Gus plans public. This publicity being the
fountain of their woes, they proceeded to dam
it.
Hence when they held their recent caucuses,
they took extraordinary precautions to keep
the proceedings secret. They cleared the hall
In the first place, then searched all the corners
and closets and desks, explored the commit
tee rooms, rammed sticks up the chimneys
and ventilators, sent committees through the
building from sub-cellar to roof, shook their
hats out of the windows and turned their
pockets inside ont, put their most trusted
doorkeepers on guard after suitably solemnzing
them with extra oaths, and then we presume
massed themselves and whispered. What has
happened in these gatherings no man outside
of them absolutely knows. The persons who
took part ia them have never disclosed syl-
liable of the dreadful dongs. When approached
upon the subject by the prOfane news -gatherers,
to whom nothing is sacred, they have turned
pale, put their fingers in their ears and fled in
alright. Some have said with outstanding hair
that they would give thousands of dollars
rather than dlyulge a word of what hap
pened. Meantime the correspondents, some of
whom have seen Congresses before, and none
Of whom were born yesterday, have invented
so many and such plausible reports Of what
was done that tho participants are kept busy
denying that they said or did any such thing
as they are credited with, and it bids fair to
happen shortly that we shall know precisely
what did take place from everything else be-
ing denied At present, however, it must be
confessed that the policy OF secrecy is sue
cess. The Democratic party in Congress,
which has done nothing publicly a. yet that
has not seriously damaged it In the public es-
Gmadon, has at last held caucus which
from present appearances 1t is not the worse
of for holding 1t may turn out dihere' -ly,
of course, if any member should happen here
after to loso his grip on his chin, but at pres
ent the caucus proceedings are secret We
hasten to congratulate tho party on its first
success
But this, as we have before remarked, is
only halfway work. Their performances in
Congress in open session are still reported In
full, and the publicity given them has q
blighdng and fatal effect upon the fortunes OF
the party. Could there be any method de-
yised by which the public should be kept
from any knowledge of the antics Of these
statesmen Oh the floors of the Senate and
House, hope might revive. But these, alas,
are public, aud there seems at present no
way of escape from the consequences. So