New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-05
4 P0LJTJC4L STR1ITJ4CKET

The question ia to be seriously tested, II
seems. whether the people If this country on
tbe whole prefer to sustain Do nothing
party. The Democrats in Congress, having
control of both houses. have had ample OPP
pOrtunlty to show what they mean to dol
they mean to do anything. They have been
in session three months. Not n single polltl-
cal measure of consequence has enAiosseu
| their attention. There has been no sustained
and exciting debate to occupy time. But the
party has spent three months in violent cXeT-
tons to hold itself down, and to prevent any
thing being done, good or bad. Its success
too, has been commensurate with It's efforts.
1t has done nothing in the most able-bodled
manner.
On the whole perhaps this is well. If a
party is so vicious IN character and danger
GUS in purpose that it cannot safely be trusted
out Of close confinement, all decent men may
rejoice if it gets confined. If it is 50 wild and
crazy that it is liable to ruin the country and
destroy itself. if let loose. political strait
Jacket becomes a necessity. The men who know
the Democratic party best, love 1t most,
have seen fit to put it into a straltiacket, and
to keep it locked up. Other people may rea-
sonaby believe that they have good cause, in
their intimate knowledge Of the creature with
which they have to deal. Indeed. there has
been a great deal to prove that those who
have tried hardest TO keep the Democratic
party under lock and key know best what Is
to be expected from it if it gets loose. Sew
eral times it has seemed about to break ont
of confinement and then its conduct has been
20 malignant, so sonseess and wicked, That
the country has been alarmed.
Until after the Presidential election, the
Democratic party ia not to be let loose. OBJ
vlOuslv, there is q reason. 1t Is the conylc-
ton of it's best friends that the Democratic
marty would destroy itself, if 1t should begin
TO do its own sweet will before the election.
What its spirit is, they know, and they know
that the country would never trust 1t If the
country should have full knowledge OF that
shirt They know that its behavior would
arouse against It an irresistible storm OF in
dignation. Consequently, they prefer to run all
the risks OF keeping tie party II duTance vile
until the votes have been cast In November.
Il is rs if the people were asked to elect as
tbeir ruler or representative a confirmed Iu-
matte. whom his friends keep close in a strait
Jacket and a private mad-house until after the
election.
This plan has some Inconvenience. The
marty is compelled to refuse attention TO all
! imnortant questions. The business interests
Of the country must suffer, its industries must
ask IN vain for needed legislation, its COM
MERGE must remain subject to many and need
less impediments its credit must be lmpenl-
led. and its citizens must be left without pro-
lection in their rights, in order that the Dem
ocratic party may not show Itself, and, by
| showing, disgrace and defeat Itself. IL mat
ters not what legislation is demanded, Con-
eress must refuse until after the Presidential
election, because ANY attempt to net upon
that subject would hurt the party" In this
shirt three months of time has been killed
at great public expense Gradually the coun-
try is beginning to inquire whether 1t Is best
to trust the Democratic party, If the very best
that party can do is to do nothing.
The Committee on Ways and Means has
voted not to rectify the absurd aud mischiev-
OILS laws respecting the classification of sugars,
because if that subject is touched the whole
question of the tariff will be opened.
and the party may Kill itself" The same
Committee has resolved not to touch the du-
ties on steel rails, or on Quinlne, Tor the same
| reason. If it is desirable to reduce duties or
! to raise them, to impose duties or to abolish
them, in either case the country must wait,
| for the Democratic party is not to be let
loose to do anything until next Winter. There
| is urgent necessity for the passage of bill
| TO provide for refunding. The United States
may be in default when some Of its bonds
mature next year, or may be compelled to pay
an extrayagant rate of interest in order to
sell bonds for refundng unless 1t makes pro-
vision at once. But the Democratic House
| does not dare to trust itself to take any action
Con that question. Evidently, it fears that its
regulators may show their purposes too
| plainly.
The result is that we have Do-nOthing
| Congress. Moreover, we are asked to trust
executive as well as legislative power to a
marty which, in order to keep itself from do
| lug mischief, is obliged to keep itself from
doing anything. Sober citizens may conclude
! that it would be cheaper, better and decid-
edly safer to intrust power to some other