The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-01-24
"wATCHING EACH OTHERS,

1t begins to look, says washington DIS
patch of the 10th inst, as though the Forty
sixth Congress would accomplish little or
nothing in its present session. Nothing of
importance has been done yet, and there is
no indication ofany intention to do anything
Of importance in either branch. The fact Of
the matter is that both parties are afraid to
act, and are watching each other. Mean
while Congress is simply drifting. Senator
Bayard is the only man in the Democratic
party who has dared to advance an idea,and
has the courage to urge action upon it. He
is still determined to make sturdy fight
for his legal-tender resolution, and is earnest
and honest in his desire TO bring the Demo-
cratic party to its old doctrines on the money
question. But the Democratic leaders are
more afraid to face the music on Bayard's
proposition than on almost any other that
could be named. They know that 1t has al
ways been Democratic doctrine that the
Government had no power to issue legal
tenders. They know that the Democratic
party opposed the passage of the legal tender
act, and they know that the Democratic
party have always and invariably held that
this act was unconstitutional, and that the
Government had no constitutional right to
issue legal tenders especially in time Of peace.
Nevertheless, fully one-half of the Demo-
Gratis in both branches are nervous and ap-
prehensiye and exceedingly anxious to have
the financial question let alone. Senator
Bayard has said that he does not contem-
plate in his resolution any attack upon the
greenback circulation, but contends, with
reason, that the greenbacks will be better
currency if his resolution shall become law
than they are now, and the Democrats who
have managed to climb into public life with
the aid of the financial agitation, and think
they can keep in by pretending great love
for the greenbacks, have already begun to
shout in chorus that Senator Bayard's reso-
luton is blow aimed at the greenbacks and
in favor Of the money power. In reality, it
is nothing of the sort, but is a sound Demo-
cratic proposition but the outlook at this
writing is that there is no probability Of his
resolution being adopted by the Senate. The
Republicans will vote against it solidly, be-
cause they have already pledged themselves
in caucus to oppose any and all financial
legislation, with the single exception of Nor
rill, who voted for the resolution in Com
mittee, and will vote for it in the Senate,
and there are at least dozen Democratic
Senators who will vote against the resolu-
ton, or will dodge the vote. The outlook
is no better in the House, either for any need
ed financial legislation or for any reform in
the tariff, or for the passage ofany bill which
dali has given out his fiat that nothing is to
be done except the passage Of the appropri-
alton bills. This is Tilden's policy, and
Randall is using the entire power of his posi-
tion as Speaker to carry it out. The Speak
er and his Gramercy Park master have put
their heads together and decided that it is
| best for their interests to have Congress dc
nothing, and Congress will not be permitted
to do anything if they can help it. Some
of Randall's intimates are talking very con,
tidentially of an adjournment by the lst o
March. 1t is utterly impossible for Con,
gress to get away at any such time if il
makes any pretense of attending to the
business on hand, but the Randall Grove
say that it will be done, and that as soon al
the appropriation bills are out of the way
an adjournment resolution will be sprung
| and passed in short order.