New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-29
THE OBJECTIONABLE DEMOCRATIC SIN.

THE UNPARDONABLE DEMOCRATIC SIM
Senator Beck has committed an indiscretion
which no true Democrat can ever forgive. He
has declared that he considers the peace and
prosperity of the country of moro Importance
than the success of the Democratic party. He
has placed patriotism above partisanship, and
the inevitable consequence is the wrath of his
party is descending upon him. few days
ago he said frankly that he had no
sympathy with the Democratic scheme for
stealing control of the United States Senate
by refusing to allow the Ncw-YOrk Senators
to take their seats until President pro
TEN. and Secretary had been elected
Those Senators had prima facie right
to their seats, and he saw no ground for
refusing to admit them. With them in their
seats the Senate would be tie and in case
the President should die and Mr.. Arthur be
called to the Presidency, there would be
deadlock. Mr.. Beck, with a patriotism which
does him infinite honor, thus defines the course
which he would follow in this great emergen-
cy: at would be time when love of country
" should rise above all party questions. AS to
"my own course, | should be in favor of the
ELECTION of some conservative Republican, say
"Henry b. Anthony, of Rhode Island, to the
position of President pro ten. of the Senate,
"and thus avoid any inducement for any in
"sane person or political fanatic to desire the
death of Mr.. Arthur In such a contingency
THAT would be a graceful recognition of the
"fact that under the great calamity which has
"befallen the Nation the intensity of party
spirit and the eagerness for spoils were for
"the time forgotten
Nothing could be more admirable in spirit than
that utterance, yet the Democratic press has
given Mr.. Beck no peace since he made it.
One journal declares that Mr.. Beck "has his
opinion now for expression, but when the Sem
ate meets, his opinion will be merged into that
of the caucus" Another condemns Mr.. Beck for
saying that the election of Republican to
any Office under any circumstances would be
anything less than a public calamity, and sug-
gests that David Davis would be more suit
able candidate for the party to support
This is even a less credtable way of
meeting the emergency than that sug-
gested by tho first critic, for it is based
on the exploded notion that David Davis
is an Independent. He IS Democrat in the Ques-
ton of Senate organization, for he voted with
that party steadily during the long deadlock of
last Spring. Furthermore, he could not be
elected unless he was struggled into the chair
before the New York Senators were admitted.
him. His organization of the Senate would be
an organization in the interest of the Democratic
party, and we should have the unfortunate sit
uation of Republican President, a Democratic
Senate and a Republican House, with all the
wrangling and hindrances to the public business
which such a situation implies.
Aside from these two critics of Mr.. Beck.
there is another class which affect to believe
he did not use the words attributed to him.
They have prepared, as it were, an extremely
small aperture for him to crawl out of. but he
shows no disposition to avail himself of their
kindness. The patriots of this class unan-
imousy sustain the scheme to steal possession
OF the Senate, and they put it on the
ground OF public welfare. Z" If We do not steal
It," they argue, "the Republicans will claim il
| and will cause deadlock. We ought to take
possession of it in the interest of good order.r
Let us contrast the two plans. Mr. Bcck's is
based on the facts that the Vice Presidency be-
longs by right to the Republican party that with
| full and legal Senate the Democrats cannot
elect him that with n Republican Vice-Presi-
dent and q Republican organization, Mr.. Ar
| thur, if called to the Presidency, will be sus
tanned by a Congress Republican in both branches
| and will begin his Administration greatly
| strengthened thereby; that with Democratic
| Vice President there will be only one life
between the Democratic party and their full
possession of the Government, and the election
of Democratic Vice-President will be an in
ducement for Mr.. Arthurs assassination. ANY,
body can see the force of that reasoning
Now look at the other plan. Its success de-
ponds entirely upon theft. There is no other
word for it. Senators Lapham and Miller
have an unquestioned right to their seats.
The men who are advocating scheme to
keep them out are advocating theft of the
| second highest Office in the gift of the
| people. What assurance have we that
| they would be any more scrupulous about
| advocating more nefarious scheme for
| promoting the occupant of their stolen seat
to the one above him7 There is no possible
justification for their course Its success would
mean anarchy. Mr.. Beck's fearless opposition
to 1t is as admirable as the support of the
Democratic press is disgraceful. 1t is almost
incredible that greed for office can make
even Democrat forget that he is an American.
THE BRITISH FARMER