The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-10-15
The Flrat Duty of De.mocrncy.

The First Duty of Democracy.
The present Republican majority in
the Senate, including the vacancy to
be filled from Oregon, is eight, which
will stand until the 4th OF March, 1887.
In all matters Of public policy and of
important appointments made and to
be made needing confirmation, the
new Administration is practically at
the mercy Of its opponents for half OF
Mr.. Cleveland's term of office,
For two years at least, the measures
to be recommended by the President
will be confronted with Il determined
opposition in one branch Of Congress,
made fierce by the defeat of Blaine
and by the desire to recover posses
sion of the Government in 1889.
This prospect, in a political point OF
view, is to serious to be sighted with
Indifferent attention, because if the
existing condition of Congress should
be prolonged for four years, the Adj
ministration would be powerless for
needed legislation throughout Mr..
Cleveland's term.
It's easy to foresee from the utter
ances of Senators like Edmunds, Sher-
man, Logan, Wilson, Conger Allison,
and others, that the Republicans in
tend to resist and to reject many of
the principle appointments. To justi-
fly this hostility, they propose to use
the circular letter of the Postmaster
General, which assumed to define the
meaning and the application Of "offen-
sive partisanship."
The Republicans in the Senate will
fall into line behind these leaders by a
natural law, even if there should be
no concerted action at the outset. A
caucus is not needed to organize an
opposition against a Democratic Ad-
ministration. The first object of the
Republicans will be to break it down,
and they will take any means to at
tain that end.
Will the Senate be Republican un-
til 1889? That question must be an
swered by the election in Ohio, New
4 York, and Virginia this month and
next, and by other elections in 1886.
The terms of twenty-five Senators will
expire on the 3rd of March, 1887. OF
these nine seats are held by the follow
ing Democrats Gray of Delaware,
Jones OF Florida, German of Mary
land, George of Mississippi, Cockrell
of Missouri, Fair Of Nevada, Jackson
Of Tennessee, Maxey Of Texas, and
Camden of West Virginia. The seat
in Nevada is the only doubtful one OF
the nine, and that is controlled by the
longest purse. If Mr.. Fair desires a
reelection he will probably get it.
The sixteen Republicans to retire
are Miller Of California, Hawley Of
Connecticut, Harrison of Indiana
Conger Of Michigan, Hale Of Maine
Dawes OF Massachusetts, Mcmillan ol
: Minnesota, Van Wyck Of Nebraska
| Sewell of New Jersey, Miller of New
. York, Sherman Of Ohio, Mitchell o.
Pennsylvania, Aldrich OF Rhode Island
t Edmunds of Vermont, Malone of Vir
: ginia, and Sawyer Of Wisconsin.
Democrats think the have good
. fighting chances in Connecticut. In
l diana, Michigan, New Jersey, New
York, Ohio, and Virginia. Five o
1 these seven Senators would give thu
d Democrats majority of two. Foul
t Of them would tie the Senate, anC
e this event Vice-President Hendricks
t would become power through hi
casting vote.
Q If tile Senate is to be redeemed
y from republican ascendancy, and th'
e Administration is to be sustained b,
d that body during the latter half of MI
Cleveland's term, the Democrats hav
no time to lose in harmonizing thei
differences. Nor can the Administra
Il ton stand passive spectator Of con
tests upon the results of which tn
s future Of the party 50 largely depends
IN. Y. Sun.