New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-21
" sJyJyGp FOR THEIR SUCCESSORS

A keeny observant England youth,
being questioned as to the grounds for his
assertion that his "folks were going to move
"pretty soon," promptly answered. Because
we commenced cmptyin' slops into the cellar
"last week. The lad had noticed that so sOon
"a the family received the landlords warning
they Immediately began to make it pleasant
for their successors and on that practice he
based his generalization. case in which re-
sentiment at being warned out" proceeded
to greater lengths was that where the tenant
with great ingenuity " fixed " the water pipes
so that the first time his successors should
build fire in the kitchen they would blow
I'D the range. This person, it seems to us,
was the fOrerunner and prototype of the Dem
Ocratic majority in the present Congress-
who have lately been "warned out" by the
people, and are just now not only "emDtyin'
Stops in the cellar" but trying hard to tinker
the financial water pipes with a Reminding
bill which they amiably hope will blow up
their successors.
The purpose of the Refunding bill which
has just passed the House by an almost
strictly party vote, is manifestly a partisan
one. In this as in every other measure prO-
Congress upon which they have thrown the
strength of the party, the only object sought
is to weaken the opposition. And in every
case the dominant party iii Congress has sought
to carry its own ends and cripple its oppo-
nents at the sacrifice Of great public interests.
Anything to cripple the enemy" has been
their motto and their policy. There has not
been time during the past four years when q
financial panic, or a failure in the crops. or
the retardation Of the National progress from
any cause, would not have been hailed with
delight by the Democratic party as a coptri-
button to their political capital, an argument
in their favor md against their opponents.
Individual Democrats, no doubt, rejoiced at
the material prosperity of the country, at tho
abundant crops, the success of resump-
ton, the enhancement of the National
credit, and all the circumstances that
contributed to make people prosperous, con-
tented and happy. But the party, as a party.
never believed in prosperity. 1t has INSTRUCTED
every measure calculated to promote it, and
proposed none that did not intend mischief.
1t can only fish in troubled waters.
The prOtestations of Mr.. Fernando Wood.
Mr.. Randall and other Democrats, that tbev
are actuated by sincere regard for economy
in the unusual zeal they have displayed in urg-
ing the present bill, fall upon the ears Of peo-
pie to whom they are not by any means new.
The record of these gentlemen and of their
party upon economic questions is not unfa-
miliar to- public upon which for four years
past they have been endeavoring to impose
cheap jugRlery and shameless demagogy
as financial wisdom and high statesmanshIp.
Not one of the hypocritical attempts to save
dollar to the Treasury or in taxes-about
which so much Boosting has been done-was
ever made, except for the sole and single
purpose of making party capital. And in
most cases the motive has been confessed
openly or disclosed in the partisan appeals
or caucus orders which brought tile strength
of the party to then support. The present