New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-18
THEN TIE CONTEST HILL END.

One of the fav0rite rules of the new Admin
istratiOn seems to I've, "The more haste, the
less speed" There uncomfortable I'M
patience. as all remember, when Secretary
Window was considering what to do about the
public debt Certain spectators in bonds, es-
pecialy were inclined to think that an Adj
ministration must be very weak which could
not make up its mind more quickly. Now
that the policy of the Administration has been
announced, everybody sees that nothing was
lost hy delay.
Probably those impCtuous friends may also
possess their souls in patience, who fancy that
something dreadful is going to happen because
the President does not Immediately break the
deadlock in the Senate. and cause the con-
iirmation of his appointments. Grant that 1t
is not the business of the President 10 inilu-
"cncc the action of the Senate" they say !;
"still an expression of the Presidents desire
would surely be- enough with several Rcpub-
| lican Senators, and the votes OF very lew
| "of them would suffice To cause an executive
session and the confirmation of disputed
| appointmcnts." There Is no foundation
for the assumption. Since the last Rcpub-
lican caucus determined upon line of action,
there is no evidence that "A single Republican
Senator would wish to change, or that the
President himself would desire change, until
the results of that course have been secured.
There were reasons for the decision of the
caucus which commended themselves to the
majority of Republican Senators, and which
certainly influenced. and do to this day IN
flucnce the action of not a few Senators who
are hearty and earnest friends Of the Admins
tration. How long before the desired results
will be satisfactorily attained, under what con-
dtions the reasons which have thus far pre-
vailed will cease to influence Republican Sena-
tors, the Democrats would doubtless like to
know Certain it is that many of them do not
like the outcome of tie contest, and begin
dimly to see that they are making fools of
themselves again.
Meanwhile, the CollectOrship is not running
away because Senator Robertson has not beer
confirmed. Nor is the Office in bad hands.
The Administration has no occasion to worry
because there is delay in this particular mat
ter for that delay is not adding To the
strength of its opponents. On the contrary,
the Presidents nomination IL altogether
stronger now, because better understood, than
il was when first made. Inquiry and discussion
have not revealed any respectable reason for
,hc opposition to it, and the country ia be-
ginning TO understand that the real question at
| issue is whether the man whom the people
| elected shall be President, or somebody else.
As to many other appointments, there is
| real need of speedy action. The responsibility
| for preventing that action rests entirely with
the minority of che Senate, which persists in a
revolutionary course in order TO deprive the
m,iority of it's right to choose the officers
| who in executive or other sessions, shall be
| Trusted bv the Senate. The reasons of the
| majority for wishing to change lis officers may
have been insufficient as to that they would
have TO answer if they should make the
change. The selection Of candidates may have
been unwise; as to that, again, the majority
would be responsible, if it had cxcr-
ciscd its rightful power. But there
can ne no question in the minds OF
reasonable and candid men that the majority
has the full and absolute right, before going
into executive session or doing any other husi-
ness. TO make such n change of officers as they
deem expcdent. When the minority resists
the exercise of that right, by extreme and rev
oIutionary measures, it takes upon itself all
the responsibility OF delaying the public bust
ness and sacrificing the public interest.
Some observers, whose lack of political
knowledge and judgment is surprisingly great
sum up their conception of the situation by
| saving: alt has become n race between the
"tyyo parties to see which shall gain the tao.
| &" teal advantage 10y being the first to sur.
"rcndcr.r A thoroughly beaten and decidedly
shallow Democrat must have prompted thai
observation. The Democrats cannot gain ar
advantage, but they can stop further harm tC
themselves, by backing out of an indefensiblC
position. The Republicans will gain if tho
| Democrats surrender and back out, and vii
gain still more il the Democrats do not sur
render and back out 1t rests with the Rcpub
licans to say when legitimate public ends have
been attained. Whenever that end has beer
reached. they ought to have the wisdom Il
terminate the contest entirely to their own al
vantage Until that time, the contest will hell
item AS long as it continues.