Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-03-21
1arlcaster ft,telllgemrer.
MONDAY EVENING. MARCH q, 1881
A Hating Administration,

A Hating Administration.
The president cannot make up his
mind about that extra session, although
he has all the facts in his possession
bearing upon the question of its advis-
ability. When man vino fills an exec
utive Office is unable to speedily decide
upon his action, though all the attainable
information is in his hands, he displays
conspicuously his incompetency for his
post. Mr.. Garfield is reported to be
man of indecision, or rather Of variable
decision, and of course knows his weak
hess. He shows disposition to escape
its Ill effects by postponing his declara-
tons of purpose until he can lie
sure that he will not want to
change them. The motto is that
of Davy Crockett, to be sure you're right
before you go ahead and no principle
of action is more worthy of observance.
But people who cannot quickly make
up their minds that they are right are
not the ones to charge with important
executive duties. The president was
firmly of the opinion, when Congress ad-
iOurned, that he did not want to he
troubled with its presence before
next December. A new president
Is very 10th to summon Congress in extra
session. But it WAS soon shown to MIR.
Garfield that a sad necessity was upon
him to call it, and lie is reported to have
Slccumbcd to its logic, although he yet
hesitates to make the open confession.
IL he had only the good of the country to
consider lie would without difficulty de-
eide that a congressional session was
necessary to oprovile for the rcfunding OF
the national debt at lower rate of in
tercs:. But the good of the Republican
party. which is The main element i'll the
question in his judgment, is not SC
clearly indicated. 1t is true that the
party runs great risk of being damned by
the p opic if il permits the loss Of man,
millions of interest unnecessarily paid
out 10 the bOndhol!crs, but it runs like
risk in being thrust at the next scs
sion into the position into which
it was led by its indiscrcct leaders
in the last. The Republican majority is
so very narrow in the new Congress :ha,
it is sure to have very great trouble tt
execute its purposes after it has formed
them. On the funding measure it can
not avoid appearing before the country
as the creature Of the national banks
which is no: a strong popular position t'
occupy and if il is, also, beaten i'll iis
efforts to M.rienL them at The people:
expense, it will have riskcd its popular.
ity without strengthening the banks
which it has adopted as the props of lis
existence. Unques,ionably the Rcpul
lic:,n party is in a had way. But it will
only postpone, not escape, its dillicultic:
by avoiding IN extra session and SD il
would seem to he Mr.. G:lrlield'S best
policy 10 act boldly, and TO summon Con
gress in pursuance of the manifest
demand of the good of the country
If he could he wise enough to see that
the only salvation OF his party was il
HlctllIS tiIC vi " INV u
interests demand, he would recommend
to the new Congress to abolish the ma
chnery of line national banks will
which to supply the country with tho
nccdful paper money, since that ma,
chinery has clearly proved itself to b,
dis:idvantaSr"us. But the Republican,
party, being indebted to the banks f"l
the material aid that secured its success
in the election, must now stand hy them
and leave 10 us the advocacy Of tile sub
Stituiion OF government notes for tili
a;iolGll bank .rtes: thereby saving tho
interest which iSl,aid 10 the banks upoI
the bonds which will bc retired by tn,
roi. interest hearing notes.
L: is safe 10 assume that under an cx-
ecutive who heSitateS rs Mr.. Garfield
does the Republican party is not likely to
be saved from the dangers that tiickly
beset il. Undera man of Baine'S prompt
ness and resources il might have :,
chance for its life but this alministra
tiOn is not to lr ruled 10y Blanc's drci-
sion and bo.dness. lie strongly advises IN
extra session, but still the question hangs
fire. Garfield is too strong man to he
Bl;limeS dummy and not strong enough.
in essential executive qualifications. to
make his independence of the secretary
OF state valuable TO his party. 1t is to be
"pull Dick, pull DEVIL" administra-
tion, I'LL the time in hot water. backing,
and iiliing, advancing and rece,ling,
hesitating until lost With ha!tinS
cOunselS lis action will not be
brilliant Or successful.
Al Uncomfortable Ally.