New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-07
CONGRESS-.

CONGRESS-
Mr.. Carlisle takes his seat as presiding
officer at one end of the Capitol to-day, ana
Senator Sherman at the other. For the hrst
time in quarter of a century, those whom MI
Carlisle represents have a National Admins
tration in sympathy with them. But it depends
altogether on themselves whether the fact VIII
be of any advantage to them as party The
Senate will not be factious, but it is Repub-
lican The choice of such a president as
Senator Sherman speaks for itself and for the
Senate If the President and his friends Ill the
House propose reasonable measures, which
promise to help the country, the Senate Will not
stand in the way SO it will assent without oblec-
ton to all reasonable and proper appointments,
where the Presidents pledges have not been
violated and the letter or spirit of the laws
disregarded in order to make vacancies. But 1t
is a Republican Senate, and will take jealous
care that the spirit of the laws shall not be
disre garded without protest; that the removal
of competent, honest and trained puDhc
servants and the appointment of political
strikers or jail-birds, shall not be allowed to
pass for @reform"; and that measures dan
gerous to the credit, the prosperity, and
especially to the industry of the country, shall
not be enacted because of Democratic
incapacity or prejudice.
1t will soon be seen that prejudice and
ignorance are what the country has most to
fear. The choice of presiding officers illus
trates a radical difference. Senator Sherman
is known to the world as the resOlute and able
Secretary under whom the Republic resumed
specie payments, triumph which no other
Nation has ever achieved. Speaker Carlisle Is
best known for the bank bill and the resulting
panic which bear his name. No doubt the mau
meant well. But his prejudice and ignorance
caused what would have been financial
earthquake if a Republican President had not
possessed the power and the sense TO interpose
and arrest the ruin. Mr.. Carlisle is what he
WIS them a Rnnrbon in sOwncss to learn and
Democrat in wrong headed ana mistaken ~" al.
He and his party would wreck and ruin the
country if they could, and it is fortunate that
they are to be stopped during the coming
session by Senate which the experienced and
sagacous Senator from Ohio fifty heads.
Two DomUsucns nave Decu nieu mtO the
Democratic camp already. The first came from
Mr.. Tiden-his letter advocating the cxpcnd-
ture of the surplus revenue in restoring sea
coast defcnces, which have been long neglected
because of the mulish Obstinacy and Ignorance
of Democratic lawmakers. The other comes
from the President in form, but perhaps from
Mr. Randall in fact-the disclosure that the
estimates of the departments exceed the
probable revenues by $24, 100000. While the
Sage of Greystonc urges that an imaginary
great surplus ought to be spent for the defence
of the country, as Democrats have stubbOrnly
refused to have it spent when there was II
surplus, the more practical politician quietly
shows that there is no surplus to be spent in
any way, but great deficit, which will take all
the wisdom Of Congress to fill up. These
estimates, be it remembered, are not those of a
RECKLESS wanton and pronigate" Republican
Administration. They are the latest and rpest
fruit of the marvellous faculty for economy
that a Reform Administration has developed,
even in its first year, when n new broom
sweeDs clean. The last estimate of a Rcpubli-
can Administration called for expenditures
amounting to 1928, 1894 3j, when the
expected revenue was %33O,OOO,OOO. The
very first estimates Of Reform Administration
call for the expenditure of $3.50, 800, 5J2 81,
when the expected revenues are only
$31 100000. Congress will have a pleasant
task to revise and cut down these estimates,
and possibly may not have time left to spend
in revising and cutting down the tariff.
1t is to be hoped that this may be a session of
business. 1t rests with the House, for the
Senate is never behind. More work and less
talk, gentlemen of the House, if you please.
The country has listened to Democratic windy
promises for twenty years. Now let us see
whether there is in you any faculty for work.
-~----------------------