New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-13
OBSTPUCTIXG PUBLIC BUSINESS.

ODSIEC C1ING ICDLIC DCSINLoo.
A week ago there was prospect of an abate-
ment Of partisan bitterness. Intelligent and
progressive Southern men were disposed TO
regard the election of General Garfield as a
good thing for that section and for the coun-
try. Respectable and conservative Democrats
were glad that the Infamous means resOrted
to by their party managers had not pre-
vailed. Business men OF all shades
of political opinion hoped that some
attention would now be paid to the
long neglected public interests. There
was prospect of au era of good feeling and
earnest effort for the good OF the country.
But to-day we find Congress engaged IN
another bitter political contest, which
threatens to arouse intense feeling in all
parts of the country, and to crowd out OF
consideration all those measures which the
business interests Of the country require.
Whose fault is it Sensible Southern men,
conservative Democrats, practical business
men, will not find it hard TO determine
The Democrats proposed and now insist
upon the resolution regarding the electoral
count The question whether That resolution
| ought to be passed has been considered al
ready. The object now is to call attention to
the evils which viii result from Che Demo-
cratic course in this matter. Whether the
resolution in itself was wise or unwise prop
CT or improper. it WIS the duty of Democrats
in Congress to consider that they had
no bushes 20 cause delay OF pub.
business and revival Of partisan feeling by
RAISING such resolution, admitted
TO be unnecessary, prior to the counting Of
the electoral votes. That step, in the judg-
! nent of reasonable men Of both parties, makes
them responsible Tor whatever evils may flow
from their causcless and obstinate persistence.
They must have known that 1t would raise
strong suspicion and intense feeling to press
a new rule on that subject prior to the declara-
ton OF the election of General Garfield.
Knowing this, they have chosen to make a
prolonged and bitter struggle about matter
which, they say, Is at this time of 10 practi-
cal consequence whatever.
This course if persisted in, will cause an
extra session. The cost, which must be con-
siderable, is but Il minor evil. Persistence
VIII involve delay in the passage of any fund
ing bill, ard probable heavy loss to the
United states il noic of refuudlng cannot
be given prior to March l. Ii Will involve
delay or ldiluL to act upon many important
business questions, which ought to be attended
TO immediately A host Of these topics
were discussed and earnestly recommended
20 the attention of Congress in the
Message OF the President and in the reports
from the different departments. Some affect
the p,osperity of our foreign commerce ; some,
the development of great industries; some,
the treatment of Indian tribes; some, the
adjustment Of the currency system to the
needs of the country. All these things Con-
eress refuses to consider, until it has wasted
DAYS or weeks or months in stirring up bad
blood about rule which is confessedly of no
present use. VIII PRACTICAL men of either
party consider this craftsmanship
The best men of the South feel keerly that
antaeonisrn between the North and South has
been kept u too long. They know that it
has injured the South incidentally. Whether
the blame has hitherto belonged to one
party or the other, it is certain that the
Democratic party had at this time 10 real
reason and not even decent pretext for stir
ring up bad feeling Rightly or wrongly, the
Democratic party is regarded by the Northern
people as under the control Of the South.
Its purposes are supposed to be those of Che
South Its methods could not have been
adopted and cannot for day be
persisted in without the support of the South.
If the Southern members in Congress act with
the Democratic party in a desperate effort
which can have no other rational object than
the defeat of an election which has been made
by the almost solid vote of the North, can
there be any doubt that the previous antago-
nism of feeling will be intensifcd7 Will that
help the Southern people in the years that are
coming? Will it not, on the contrary, make
IT UNNECESSARILY more difficult TO bring about
the adoption OF measures which the better
men of the South earnestly deslref
Once more the men who claim that the
South has been misrepreserted and miscOn-
strued have the matter in their own hands
| A few of them have power 10 put an end tC
| this mischievOus wrangle at any hour. Let
| them move To postpone consideration OF the
pending resolution until after the result OF
! the recent election has been declared, and
| east votes enough for that motion to insure
its success, and the North wall begin to see
that the bulies and tricbsters, the extrem-
lists and revoutionists do not represent the
| South