New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-06
A VERY aOFFr YEAR.

There are signs that the current pOntlcal year
will not only be an of" but an uncommonly
"oli wear. The "ofl" year. as it has come to
be understood since Mr.. Greeley gave that
name to the year following the Presidential
election, is one in which public interest in po-
litical questions languishes, partly because
there are no members OF Congress to be
elected, consequently no National issues under
discussion, and partly because the people nave
only Just gone through the strain OF Preslden-
tial campaign, are tired of the din and uproar
of notifies and have'a sort of longing for rest.
Moreover. they like to indulge the belief that
q Presidential election does settle something
for a little while at least. The present is not
strictly speaking an "of" year, because we
have in addition to State officers in the bien-
NAL States full Congress to elect, and in sew
eral States Legislatures which will choose
United States Senators. But in the sense of
there being very little in politics upon which
the great parties can squarely draw their lines
and make a party fight of the old-fashioned
sort. the year is, as has been said, uncOmmonly
"on" There are local divisions in both parties
in several States, and there is on the part OF
the Democracy notable lack of an issue upon
which they can present united front against
their opponents-always excepting, OF course,
the Omnipresent issue of the spoils.
The "Otl" year is always at the expense OF
the Republicans. 1t is when men are fairly
contented with the rule of the party in power,
but not sufficiently interested to come out and
vote to keep it in, that the party out OF power,
eager for the spOils of office and always lurking
in ambush for such opportunities, SEXES its
chance. Dull politics are the hope OF the
Democracy. And it may be said also as set
off, that temporary Democratic success is the
hope of Republicans; since the use the Demo-
Gratis make of power is always sure to arouse
the whole country to the necessity of putting
them out as soon as possible. SO If it should
happen at the approaching fall elections that
the Democrats should, taking their usual ad-
vantage of political lull. secure majority in
the next Congress- there would be nothing dis
heartening in it for Republicans. Indeed
though we are very far from advising any such
heroic treatment, we are not clear but that the
surest way to put Republican success III 1884
beyond question would be TO let the country
have a taste of Democratic rule in the next
Congress Democratic majority, with all It's
liabilities to do mischevous things, can always
be trusted to accomplish one good end, and
that is so to expose and disclose itself that the
people will not Immediately trust it again.
The one good thing n Democratic majority in
variably does is to diminish itself and disap-
pear.
Ii is too early of course, at this moment TO
venture a prediction upon the course OF poll
tics for the present year. The most that can
be said is that the lack of any definite issue,
and consequent public apathy, are to the adj
vantage of the Democrats. Republican dvi-
sion in Pennsylvania, and-if the Administra
zion continues the course it seems to have
marked Out-simar inharmoniOus conditions
in this State, will serve to aid them still more.
But it may be said, on the other hand, that the
Democrats themselves are torn by dissenson5
in this State that just now seem irrecOncilable
that the fusion movement in Maine by which
alone they could hope for any success in that
State, has been seriously weakened by the
action of the Independent GTeenbackers and
that tie union of the Democrats and Green
hackers elsewhere, particularly throughout the
South, seems on the point of dissolution. TO
this may be added that they have no burning
issue" upon which they can keep up the form
of union among themselves, unless indeed it
be the one presented by the Southern con-
tested election cases, upon whichever though
it keeps alive the animosties engendered bv
the war" which our Democratic friends so
deprecate-the Republicans will be very glad
to meet them. They have split upon the tariff
and upon the National banks. There is no
practical question upon which they can make
the semblance of Ii fight, and they do not dare
make an arraignment of the present Congress
-slipshod and stumbling as it has shown it.
self in many particulars--upon the record of
the session. Still, it is an off year, q very
of year, and that gives them hope. For
our own part we look upon the situation with
great comp.acency.
RAILWAY BUILDING.