New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-11
4 CONSPICUOUS FAILURE.

The Democratic party was unquestlonably III
good spirits when Congress assembled. More
than six months were TO elapse before the
Presidential nominations would be made, and
by that time, with the aid of large majority
ia the House Of Representatives, the party
hoped to occupy a commanding position in the
campaign. 1t was believed that such ground
would be taken Oh the tariff as would unite the
party, and that such revelations would be made
by investigating committees as would put the
Republican party upon the defensive In the
campaign.
We are now we'll into the fourth month of the
session, and nothing has been accomplished
towards making good these promises. Begin
ming the session with the election of a free
trade Speaker, it has taken the Ways and
Means Committee more than three months in
which to frame bill with which both elements
of the party are dissatisfied, and which, whether
defeated or not, will certainly be opposed by
considerable number of Democrats, leaving the
party divided and disconnected on the very eve
of a great National Canvass In the direction
of investigation. the party has accomplished
almost nothing. 1t remembers, and wisely no
doubt, the fearful and wonderful work its
boomerang did some years ago, and it can
hardly muster up the courage to begin. About
all that has been discovered now is that Prcsi-
dent Garfield was earnestly i'll favor "f pushing
the Star Route prosecutions forward, no matter
who might be hurt. The American people
hardly needed assurances on this point but they
are not unwilling at the same time TO get them
through the mediation of a Democratic House.
The World keeps on, in piteOus doublo-leads,
demanding that the party shall investigate
but no heed is paid to the advice
The situation of the party is not improved
when tho general condition OF legislative
business is considered. The delay in acting
upon the Appropriation bills has been remark
able. They are practically untouched in the
House, except for some dcsultory work in the
committee. A comparison with the last long
session, that of the spring of 1882, will show
how far behind its work the present House is.
A little more than month later than this time
eight appropriation bills had passed the House
in 1882, and all the others were in forward
state of preparation. by this time in 1882 the
House had passed the Post Office, Indian, Con-
sular and Diplomatic, and Notifications Appro-
priations bills, and the Census, Urgent
Deficiency, Agricultural Department and
Military Academy were among the eight which
three weeks later could be counted as passed.
The Army bill had also been reported. BY
contrast with this, the present House has passed
only the West Point Appropriation bill, which
the Senate has promptly disposed Of and with
that petty achievement the record ends. The
number of measures of real public importance
which the House has disposed of is exceedingly
small. The majority is distracted, without
leadership, and incompetent II party is to
be judged by its works, there is nothing i'll the
achievements of the Democrats of the House to
induce any impartial citizen to vote TO put
them in control of the Government. Thus far,
the Democratic House is II conspicuous failure.