National Republican., 1882-12-08
The Situation,


the wayfaring man farthcst from home and
most consummate in foolishness cannot fail in
understanding it. II reads: Take off all in
tcrnal taxes except that on whisky, revise
the tariff, reducing to tho needs of govern
ment and having due regard to home indu'-
tries, cut down appropriations for collecting
aud for rivers and harbors, reduce postage,
look out for tho great highway of the Missis-
sippi, enact civil service, pass the usual ap-
preparation bills, and go home.
The road to the congressional hotel bar Is
not clearer than the path here marked out
and were it illuminated with million cleo
trio lights it could not be more easily trav-
eled. 1t is true the refreshment to be
found at the end of it is not quito as
near as the temptation set before the pedcs-
/ tlian who passes from the capitol to the con-
gressiona, but il is substantial and well worth
a strong effort to reach.
Tho appearance of complexity arises from
the fact that before a start is made there is
disposition to staggcr manifest-we refer not
to those on tho road, but on the path Several
members have been seen--that is interviewed
''oIup vi 'hCll are utlnUCIHlS, anu lUt Ttsull VI
the interviews showeth that the democratic
mind is not yet settled A judge in an assault
case instructed the jury that if the defendant
used more force than was necessary to eject
the plaintiff from tho premises he must be
found guilty, and if he did not use more than
necessary he must be acquitted The jury
wrestled with this all night, and next day, on
&c -. 1
the judge that further instruction was
needed - they had agreed on everything
but the amount of force required to kick the
complainant out of the back yard if the judge
could determine that they could come to
verdict The democratic congressional mind
is like that jury. 1t wants to do something.
1t has been instructed by the court of the
people on the points in full 1t has promised
with terrific oath that it will do something,
and it has tremendous faith that it is going
to do something; but it wants instruction on
the point what it is that the democratic con-
gressional mind intends or ought to do
How the mind got into this particular frame
it is easy to tell, The President has made an
excellent message. This was unexpected by
the democrats. 1t was supposed by them that
really good messages could not come from
that quarter. 1t develops the fact that
the republicans have brains. 1t was sup
posed that the President had been so busy
tipping out of office the bosom friends
of' President GARFIELD that he could not
be posted on general affairs, and perhaps
was thinking the tariff a local issue, and would
be wholly unable to treat inteligently the
topics of national moment The surprise was
disconcerting, and allowance must be made
for it.
Another confusing thing about the business
is that the President is sincere and
means business. Were it only certain that
the message was meant for ordinary plati-
tude, like a democratic platform, to catch
votes, the case would be different; but should
the President proceed and bring his party up
to the work, and succeed in his recommen-
dations, then the awful question comes up
What will become of the democratic party?
And the obvious answer to this question is
more awful than the question itself-there
will be no more democratic party, and the
craftsmanship of VOORHEES, and Cox and
SPRINGER will no longer find market.
How to prevent the recommendations of
President ARTHUR from being carried out
greatly unsettles the democratic congressional
mind, and the great doctors will be called in
for consultation. No doubt there is a way
Fiibustering might do it, but that is dan
gerous. 1t has upset some valuable pro-
grammes of democracy in the past by being
carried too far, and when once started it has
such propensity to go too far that it is per-
picking and unsafe so something else must
be tried.
When the great doctors, HEWITT, RANDALL,
CARLISLE and RAYARD, have sat on the case
it will come to be seen that the best course
will be to entice some republican members
away from the Presidents well-considered
and admirable recommendations. The plan of
division worked in the late election to charm
When few crotchety republicans can be
made to think that silly forgery of some
obscure scoundrel must he magniiied into an
issue, and the forger rebuked at the cost of
the loss of the majority in the house of rep
resGntatives, and the sacrifice of confessedly
some of the best men of the party, the work
of division becomes inviting. The effort then
will be to get up disagreements. 1t won't be
safe to do this-it won't be just to do that-it
won't be wise to go quite so far this way-it
will be monstrous not to go farther the other
way Such will be democratic oracular opin-
ion. Something can be done in this line, and
should this not be enough, then induce the
republican dissenters to talk, and talk the
thing to death, so that everything shall go
over to the next congress to be fixed by the
dcmocrats-that will do the business.
To the republicans we say, your opportunity
is now The President has given you the
true keynote. The press Of the country of
all parties has responded to his reoommenda-
tions with wonderful unanimity withoutw wait
ing TO hear from the Vaccinations Of the
democratic caucus. The duty is to unite.
Tho necessity is 10 come up TO the full, even
limo Of the Presidents platform, and not
stumble at the insidiOus half way of com
promise, leaving just enough for artlul enc
mics to magnify and howl over. Put on
courage and determination not to be whcedled
ur scared and the thing is done and the demo-
cratic mind will remain in the fog.
Street-Car Travel.
If THE REPUBLICANS correspondent, who
signs himself Improvement" were better