New-York tribune., 1886-08-04
TIE F1JLURE OF CONGRESS.


Il is August, and Congress is still in session.
Every one knows the reason; the most ncces-
sMy bills were held back so long that it has
been found impossible TO consider them Ill both
houses and come to any agreement upon them
sooner The delay of appropriation bills WaN
rot for the purpose of leaving the House ilec
to consider other measures. Several months
ot the session passed without the serious cOnsld-
GRAFTON of any other measure whatever III 'il''
body. The other measures OF importance nave
either been set aside altogether or arc stu
hanging between the two houses There W.T.
gl,,lt expectation Of some action on the IIih'
but after about six months OF delay the liouSc
finally voted not IA take mp the subject. There
was hope at tie outset that silver coinage would
in some way be stopped, and later III the ~eNS,"h
the silver snen hoped for the passage ol the
small notes bill, the furpus resolution or some
other measure which would bling the country
tc silver payment. Bar measures oi tIIt nature
lave either been defeated OF so changed by
amendments that they are regarded as harmless
by their opponents. some people pclcN'd
that the regulation of Interstate conPnc'cc Vi
the one thing neejful; others held the forfeit
IRE OF land grants the most Necessary thlng'
and Others still were ANXIOUS about coast de-
fences and navy reorganization. After eight
months of sO-callc,l session, II Is still doubtful
whether Congress will get anything done on any
of these matters.
The friends of the majority in the House Ad-
nit that the session has been di>crcdtcblc
failure. But they do not agree at all III their
explanation of it. Part pile mountains OF blame
on Nj. Randall, who kept back appropriation
bills, they sly, III order 10 rt.nn the power oi
defeating other legislation which he feared
Others h ap indignation upon Mr.. Morrison ioI
his mi>mlnac,sncnt. and say that the session
would have resulted in great coed had hc not
been determined To bully ,hc party into accepting
IL, notions on the tariff, and aftlwa'd governed
ra.hcr bv desire To PIT" the President into
hole than by any n.l for the puDhc good
When such rcciimination is hcald, there i
apt to be some truth on both sides. III tins ca~
both are partly ght those who blame Nj. Nor
lisop and those who bl me NJ. Randall and yc'
beth men acted with fidelity and zeal according
to their convictions. Mr.. Randall wanted Ia
prcyent disturbance of the tarif question, hold
ing that the majority. il it acted at all, would
So act as to harm the county and defeat Ii"cli.
He was certainly right in that opinion, ana iii'
rmcthots have been ohIewd and successful. Mt
Morrison wanted 10 force a direct issue On the
tariff and the money question, holding t'd'
the party could not hope to succeed unlc~s Il
could yet rid of the charge of dishonest double
dealing, and place Itself iii Ia mony with the
opinion OF Democrats i'll the W,~t and South
He. too has done his duty according To Ills con
Niction-.
What have the people to say In this stifc
Of factions, then interests lave been Sicrlhcrd.
Never WAS there greater need of wl-c legislation
respecting the business Interests OF the county
than there WIS when Congress assembled, and
after long and costly Session snb,tinuallY
nothing hts been done Never WIS there molo
splendid opportunity for party To distinguish
itself by wise Il, ton ior the good of the country.
The Democratic party, returning to powc. aitci
twenty iour years Of defeat, has spent clghi
months in proving that it wis wisely defeated
and excluded from powcI-tlLlt The grand pr"--
pcity which the county hts enjoyed would
never have been realized lad that party been
iptIu>ted with the Government
The session mus, have conv inccd many Dem
ocIas that their party is not Yet fit ioI the
responsibilities OF gOvclhmrnt Putting arldc
all other reason, II L. fatal objection That the
party is not of one mind on vital Questions. II
is split into factions, which wa with each Othci
so pasrionatcly and Increasingly that the country
can get nothing done. If it l. claimed that the
factions are composed Of sincere and patriotic
men, all anxious 10 do their duty. 80 much the
worse. The disigicC mcnt l. IN that ca-e hope
less and Lasting. Men who want free trade ana
men who want protection con lind no conEnon
ground. Men vino hold il duty TO force public
creditors to accept silver in payment of debts.
and men who consider that population. cannot
act together. Men who believe in lnithlul de-
( nee Of vested and corporate Interests, and m,al
who want to regulate railroads by the II on
hand Oi a central Government, can never make
a harmonious party. The difficulty it. ineladic,blc
The party, So-c:Llcd, is unit for power alto
gcthcr, because il il not i'll ii true scIle a party
it has not common aims and conviction, which
make it possible for It's members TO work to-
gethcr for the common good No good c.uI
comc out Of a wIangliDg oi Demo, ratio faction,
when those factions are lnt1lstd with the c.llc
Of all public business.