New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-28

do it, The resolution under consideration gives
them more power to Obstruct the count anu
hinder the declaration of the result than the
Republicans in Congress who have sum
mered and winteredr them dare trust
them with. The terms of the resolution
are such as TO awaken suspicion. 1t was
monifealy drawn to serve q partisan purpose,
and. though the exigency of close and dis
puted result which it was framed 20 meet mas
happily not arisen. there are still possibilities
in it, if passed, of disturbing pubic tranquil
ity and making mischief There Is no COM
pensation for the risk it involves, III any goou
end it can accomplish. AT the best II Is I'M
necessary and superfiuous; at the worst IL
contains possibilities of obstruction and delay,
and consequent disturbance.
The uncommon anxiety OF certain Demo-
cratic leaders for it's passage, as SHOWN Dy
their willingness to postpone necessary leg'S-
lation 10 advance it, furnishes another good
ground for suspecting the motives at the
bottom. If it is intended merely &c regulate
the formalities attending the declaration OF
the result and not to affect the result, why this
unusual zeal3 Why make 1T party meas
ure. and sacrifice great public interests 10
carry il through under the party whip ana
snurP Is it pretended that the Democratic
majority in this Congress are actuated solely
nv solcitu1e for the public welfare in this
business, and that partisanship Is not the con-
trolling motive? No one Will believe IL VINO
has watched their course since they have been
in power. The record gives tho lie to any such
profession. For there is not single instance
of their drawing party lines upon question
before them in which it has not been per-
fectly obvious that partisan advantage was
soneht. And this is q case III which they nave
no hope or expectation OF establishing per-
manent rule they know Wy well that II
passed it will never surv sc till another
Presidential election and all that they claim
for it now is that 1t Will establish
for This occasion formal course
of procedure without affecting IN
any way the result l. it conceivable that
these gentlemen are making all tins fuss for
nothing; for mere fOrm2 That party
which has so distinguished itself while in
mower for suborlliuating everything to partl-
sanship that has so often sacllticeu necessary
LEGISLATION to schemes for party advantage;
and that has never been united On any meas
ures that were mt Of n strictly partisan c'ar-
acteI-thut such party has at tins late day
united in the support of measure INTENDED
to benefit the public and not itseiff 1t VIII
NOT be believed.
1t is difficult to see how, with or without
this resolution, they can change the result OF
cheat the Republican candidates ont OF thelr
election. But it is true, nevertheless, that
this resolution gives them opportunities for
obstructing that result, and that they can
have 10 other possible motive i'll urging It,
The Republicans il Congress are justified by
all the circumstances of the situation i'll r-
sisting the passage of the resolution to the
very last, aud in using for that purpose all
the resources of parliamentary law.