New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-10
THERE CONGRESS DID YELL.

A review of the work done by Congress, dur
ing the session now ended, does not justify ex-
travagant Democratic censures. Congress has
done some things that were altogether blame
worthy, but in each and every one of these
acts Democrats had larger part than Repub-
hcaps. On the other hand, it has done excel
lent public service in some respects. 1t is
right that this should be said, and said repeat
edly: and Justice requires that it should be
added that in nearly every piece of honest
public work performed the Republicans have
had to overcome Democratic opposition.
1t is not the purpose to refer exclusively or
especially to measures affecting partisan
strength In respect to the ALportonment
bill, and the decision of contested elections, IL
was to have been expected that the Democrats
would stubbOrnly resist any just thing. 1hey
held an altogether disprOportlonate share oil
power because they were perniltted 10 repre-
sent vast number OF cOlOred citizens whom
they had robbed, by fraud and force, OF all
share in the Government. The Republicans
decided contested cases with conspicuous JUS
tice. Those who have censured the action OF
Congress most strongly in other respects have
not found occasion, in single instance, to
attribute to the majority any uniairHesS IN the
decision of contests. The apportionment also'
was unjust only to the majority Itself. 1t con-
coded too much to the representatives OF pull
dozers and tissue ballots at the South. In fact
the same majority would have acted less gen
erouslv and more Justly had the question been
decided after Democrats had exposed their
shameless indecency by flibustering to keep
men in seats to which they were never elected.
On all questions of that character the Repub-
lican majority deserves the greater praise be-
cause, having hardly any votes to spare, it was
forced to make unusual exertions and sacri-
fees to overcome an INSCRIPTIONS opposition.
But the same party cohesion and courage we're
requisite, ALSO to carry the act extending bank
charters, the act against poly gamy, and the act
creating Tariff Commission. The Bank Dill
was defaced by some foolish provisions placed
i'm it by Democratic votes but contained much
that was meritOriOus, and would not have
passed at all if the Republicans had not acted
with much patience and resolution. The Anti
Polygamy bill, being aimed at the other " twin
relic of barbarsm," was naturally resisted by
Democrats who had defended slavery in its
day The tariff question, after a weary debate
which the Democratic members prolonged most
unreasonably by speeches not at all pertinent
TO the question before the House or the
Senate, was finally met in a sensible way by
the appointment of Commission to report at
the next session, but this measure was passed in
both Houses 10y nearly strict party VOTE and
it was resisted with great obstinacy 10y nearly
all the Democrats These were altogether the
most important measures Of a business char
acter that Congress adopted, and the time OF
the session was largely occupied with mere
clap trap speeches Oh these subjects by Demo
Gratis, who sought only to prevent any practical
action.
Congress would deserve some credit, and not g
little, if it had done nothing else beyond these
things. But it also passed some proper meas
ures as to immigration, as TO the public lands
and the life-savng service, as TO eXtradItiOD
of criminals, the education of Indians, the rail-
way mail service, the tonnage measurement of
American vessels, and the improvement OF the
organization in the Army aud the Navy.
Differences of opinion arose as 10 most OF these,
but the responsibility for the acts passed rests
with the Republican majority, and 1t entities
the members of that majority to some credit
that these subjects were intelligently treated.
The trGth is that the majority, IN what 1t did
alone or against Democratic opposition, did
very well Its offences were in the adoption OF
measures altogether III the Line OF Democratic