New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-21
NO CONFIDENCE IN CONGRESS.

Having placed partisansbip before patri-
otism in dealing with the public credit, the
Democratic party seems to be prepared to do
the same in some other matters of importance.
Except for purely partisan reasons, and those
of the most discreditable sort, the contested
election case of Brisbin agt. Hull, of Florida,
would have been decided long ago against the
usurping person falsely called member. This
person Hull never had any right whatever to
a seat, and knew it perfectly well. But Con-
gress also knew it. The facts in the case,
long ago made known, are so clear and con-
elusive that ever the Democratic Committee
on Elections though shameless enough to re-
fuse action on the case for more than a year,
thus virtually defraudiDg a district OF it's right
to be represented by a man of its choice, was
not shameless enough to deny, when report
finally had to be made. that the contestant
was legally elected. At this late day it re-
ports, what the Committee and all the world
have known for a long time, th at Hull was not
elected and never had any right to a seat
But it is to be expected that the majority in
the House, instead of acting promptly upon
a question so closely affecting the honor of
every member, and making haste to right
a gross wrong as soon as official information
of the facts has been given, will palter, and
daily, and evade action for weeks, 50 that the
robbery of the contestant and of his cOnstitu-
ents may be as complete as possible. Does
anybody expect a speedy decision Z Yet it is
a dishOnor to the maiOrity--a dishonor which
ought to be felt as keenly as a blow in the
face by every member-that the country takes
it for granted that an honest decision, if
int ~ W. Mill he al
as long as possible. The vote Of the usurper
is wanted on partisan resolution. Therefore
it is expected that the members of the major
ity will continue deliberately to rob the real
member and his constituents, in order to
force through party measure by an illegal
and stolen vote.
That measure itseif-the joint resolution re-
gardpg the counting of electoral vOtes-w0uld
not be brought up again at this session if the
majority had not wholly disregarded its duty
to the country. What party end can be,
served by this suspicious and ill omened
measure, pushed with such blind passion or
revolutionary desperation at time when it's
passage can settle nothing and do no
good. is still a mystery. Republicans
do not profess to know. They can see no
way in which the Democratic party can help
itself, by adopting resolution which can be
repealed by the next Congress before it has
been in session a week. If there is any base
design behind the resolution, any wicked in
tention to defeat the will Of the people as ex-
pressed at the last election, Republicans can
not see how it can succeed. They know, as
Senator Edmunds recently observed, that the
declaration of the result and the formal in
auguration Of the next President, will take
place at the cOnstitutionally appointed 6me,
whether either branch of Congress refuses to
perform its constitutional duty or not. What
the Democrats mean, by making so persistent a
struggle for resolution which, it is pretended
will have no present effect, no .one can tell
The presumption is a perfectly just one that
the motive is so discreditable that the leaders
of the party dare not avow it. All that Re-
publicans can properly do is to resist to the
utmost measure which may mean mischief,
which IL contrary to their convictions, and for
the passage of which, at this time, not even
the shadow of decent pretext can be given.
Congress ought to recognize the fact that
the people have declared their want of
confidence in it. SO far as they could,
the people have recalled and revoked their
trust of power. II is not decent for the mem
bers Of party which has been thus turned
out of trust 10 spend what little time there
is left in striving to grasp some partisan adj
vantage. The proper business Of these dis