Smyrna times., 1879-03-19
The Party Struggle for Power.

The Party Struggle for Power.
The particular measures of the late Con-
gress, which have been commented on from
time to time by the Eecning Post, sustain
general conclusion which may be presented
in a few words, now that Congress has adj
journcd. 1t is this: So far rs radical diff
ferences of opinion on fundamental doc
trines are concerned party lines are etfaced;
while at the same time the struggle for
power by party organizations has seldom
been more energetic and determined than
it now is.
1t is not hard to show by the votes Of
either branch of Congress that there are, in
the broad sense, no conflicting parties
Take the three great questions in respect
to which we would naturally look to see
opinion divided.
/. The appropriation Of public money to
private uses, either directly in the shape of
subsidies, or indirectly in the form of in
ternal improvement schemes. If there are |
parties on this question the proof Of their
existence is not furnished by the division |
lists Of the Senate or the House Of Repre-. !
spntatiycs. Both Democrats and Repubi !
cans have voted for such grants, and we
are glad TO know that both Republicans
and Democrats have voted against them.
II an independent voter should resolve one
fine morning to join party inHeXibly op-
To Cf l,ay 4 L.,
obliged to organize one for himself. No
party now in existence would serve lis
purpose. 1t is true, indeed, that the Roach
subsidy was passed by the Senate III which
there was Republican majority, and was
rejected by the House of Representatives.
! in which there was q Democratic ma
jority. and so there seemed to be
party difference on the question; but the
difference was apparent rather than real
Not only does an analysis of the vote show
that members Of either party voted either
way, out it is we'll known that, while Re
publicans, such as Representative Kelley of
Pennsylvania, were in favor Of the gift to
Mr.. Roach, Democrats, southern Demo
|
as the most rigid of strict constructionists,
and who were such while slavery was to be
protected, depart from the teaching Of
their political fathers so far as to support
railroad and river subsidies of all sorts. In
view Of these facts, will anybody venture to
say that this year or next the two existing
parties will confront each other, one on one
side of the question of the appropriation Of
public money to private uses, and the other
on the other side?
| .. A revenue tariff or tariff for protec-
ton. This is one OF the questions on which
! it would have been confidently predicted
: that parties would divide after the war and
, reconstruction. Have they so divided ?
There were no votes during the late session
8 to throw light on the inquiry; but Con
: gressional silence is significant enough.
a Not voice, Democratic or Republican, was
D raised in behalf Of the liberation of trade
e The House of Representatives, with its
Democratic majority and its Democratic
chairman Of Ways and. Means, could not be
brought to vote on the abolition of the
miserable quinine monopoly-although the
Democratic party has proclaimed itself the
especial foe of monopolies While there
are both Republicans and Democrats
: friendly to the removal of commercial re
! strictions, it would be rash to say that this
:. year or next the two parties will be clearly
at issue on this question.
3. The financial question. There was
. prospect of party division on this not
great while ago, but lately even these sign
have failed. The force of circumstance
seems to have silenced the opposition +
the restoration Of honest money. Th
~ House Of Representatives, which last yea
Vi passed by a large majority bill to repea
III the Resumption act, this year could sun
Il mon only beggarly array Of votes for tn
rs same purpose. The disposition of men
ne bers of Congress is accounted for by tn
IN disposition of their constituents.
ne What substantial questions are ther
he other than these which we have mention
n. ed? In view Of late legislation it would
en- absurd for either party to pretend to be tn
party OF ecohomy anu retrehchilehI' ID
side, all parties have a stock of gener
he phrases on this subject with which the
&C. try to dust the public eye; but the matte
ty il one of appropriation laws and executi'
he management rather than of doctrine an
ne platforms. There are indeed so.callo
en- sham questions on which the party lin
to are sharply drawn by Congress. WhC
10 the name Of Jefferson Davis is mentione
Mr.. Chandler and all the Republican