National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-08-23

hbuiy utSlTaDlo tnhb hll uetuOCTuts Mno
beloved In protection should quit tho
party, for 1t was the intention TO make
tho democratic party solid FREQ trade
organization. Carlisle was elected speaker
by an overwhelming majority, and al
most his first act was to mako Mr.. Norri-
son tho chairman of tho ways aud means
committee, and so the leader Of his party
in the house.
If the whole story of tho internal dis.
sensions, chickering's, hard feelings, and
almost complete Generalization that fol-
lowed Immediately upon tho organization
of tho house and continued through tho
session were to DO told, IL would be easy
to SEQ why the party, when It mot by its
delegates In Chicago was in bad shape.
The differences in many cases became
personal. Several of the New York
delegation refused to speak to ono another.
And Mr.. Randall was the victim OF tho
personal hostility of n number of NOM
bers. Mr., Morrison, whether intention
all ~ or not, lost the friendship OF men
who would have boon of service to him.
Complaints were made that he would
listen to no advice, and receive no sug-
gestions respecting tho tariff reform bill
that no intended to report to tho house.
Meanwhile the business Of tho house
came to standstill. For weeks and
weeks no business Of consequence was
done. A fog seemed TO onvolop tho house.
Business mon, whose interests aud prop
erty were here to be affected by changes
in tho tariff and by the possibility of
change, waited in the city for weeks to
CLEAN some information about Mr.. Nor
rison's purposes. The republican senate
cleared its calendars, and then waited
for business TO come TO II from tho house.
Now and then a democratic statesman
would inveigh against the tyranny and
abuse that characterized tho officers in
the internal revenue department Of the
government, but whom Mr.. Randall
promptly offered speedy way TO got rid
of these evils by abolishing the whole
internal revenue tax, ho found tho mos,
strenuous objection camo from those who
complained tho most bitterly.
The house had committed itself carly
in the session TO the Holman resolution
favoring the forfeiture of all unearnod
land grants, yet so benumbed and indif-
ferent were tho maj GRITTY by reason of thit
false issue that was being forced on the
party that the committee on public lands
could scarcely get a hearing. Mr. Randall
determined that whatever. damage might
come to tho democratic party from tn,
attempt to commit il to this idea, non,
should DO suffered by the business inter
ests of the country. How we'll he carried
out that determination Ia we'll known
Tho Morrison bill was docapitated by foui
votes, but while the dangers of tariff
tinkering were thus averted, tho defea
of the bill increased rather than heslet
the trouble. 1t was impossible to get tn,
party to act unitedly on any importan
measure; in fact, to act at all. The ap
preparation bills woro passed because 1
was impossible to adjourn unless the,
were; but Mr.. Randall received n,
substantial support from his party il
his attempt ITO cut down the mon
strous appropriations of the preceding
congress. The session was ended the da,
before tho Chicago convention met, blu
the bright promises of last fall weI,
found to be ashe,. Nothing but the hop,
Of the nomination of a candidate who's
ability and pre-eminence as democra
would give promise of bringing order an,
proper discipline out of the demoraliza
tion that every well informed democra
knew existed seemed to BIO left to avor
impending defeat.
Many democrats thought that Cleve-
land was not such q candidate, and som
Of the others, who gave him an unwilling
support, trusted that he was. But tn
national committee now finds itself con
frontod with tho suspicion that tho NOM
nation may have been the final and wors
mistake of the year, and with tho fea
that uncomfortable Generalization will
seize the party in some sections lon
before election day unless active, intelli
gent, and untiring measures arc taken a
once to prevent 1t.