New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-26
PROSPECTS FOR TIE SESSION or CON
CHESS

| In few DAYS another session OF Congress
will begin. Of the members Of the majority an
| almost unprecedented proportion have been
| retired by the pODular verdict, while the MEM
bers composing the minority have been gen.
orally sustained and reelected. want of
personal responsibility 10 constituents Is likely
to render MANY Of the Democratic members
unusually reckless in their action, ard the
bitter strife of factions will tend TO deprive
the majority OF the benefits of whatever
prudent leadership it has. On the other hand,
the Democratic party usually behaves best
after defeat, and the strong popular reaction
against that party will make its shrewder
members anxious with regard to the course to
be adopted this winter.
One observer, often among the shrewdest,
has said that the Democratic party may refuse
or fail to define any policy for itself this
winter and in that case the Republicans will
be obliged to submit a policy by which they
will be judged in the election two years hence.
This statement Of the case is singulary mac
cnraie. The Democratic party may OF uay not
sufficiently agree to mark out new policy.
But if it does not, the policy which the party
has prosecuted thus far will necessarily remain
its latest manifestation Of purpose. and by that
1t mus be judged. For illustration, its position
on the tariff question may be taken. The
belief that nothing can be accomplished this
veal may prevent any effort to revise the tariff
at the coming session. But that would not
after the fact that fOnr- ffths Of the Demo-
era ic members supported the Morrison bill at
the last session, with the President and his
Cabinet. By that bill and the policy it en-
bodies, the party must be iu lged if it presents
no other. The only conclusion possible will
then be that the mistaken purpose OF an over
wheming majority of its members is TO over
throw the protective system AS soon as they
Can get power to do so, though they refrain
from efforts " hen notiing can be accom-
pishcd. In other matters the situation is the
same The Democratic party has made IA
record and disclosed policy by which it mnst
stand and will be judged, unless by definite and
positive action it succeeds in making known a |
change of purpose. This being the fact, the
Republicans have occasion to seek for any
new definition of party lines. They can be
content if the Democrats are, and the elections
indicate that the policy which the Democratic
party has thus far pursued will not be sus-
tanned by the people. Whether that party can
agree upon a better is question of special
interest TO Democrats. On new questions that |
may arise, the Republicans are not clothed |
with the responsibility of administration or
Legislation. and they are not oh iged to take |
any position unless as indiy iduals they choose to
do so.
1t is announced from Washington that the |
President and Secretary of the Treasury will |
strongly recommend in the message and report |
a radical change of the tariff. Data for srgu-
ments on that subject, it is said, have been
collected, and the recommendations are ex-
pected to be much more distinct and emphatic
than those made last year. In the present
temper of the Western and Southern Demo-
Gratis, these recommendations will not make
change of tariff more probable. This Admins
tratiOn, it is frequently said, has betrayed the
party and caused it's defeat, and it has no
business to expect that its leadership will be
accepted by faithful nembers If Mr.. Morrison
shonld move again for tariff revision, it would
not be because but in spite of the urgent
adv ice of the President. The attempt of tho
President to gain the confidence of Western
and Southern Democrats by assuming the lead
On this question will be resented, and no pains
" i'll be spared by his opponents to force him to
antagonze Western and Southern wishes on
other issues. The currency and coinage can be
thrust into the foreground easily, and by
assaults on the policy of the Administration
which will leave it few Democratic supporters.
Tins it would not be strange if urgent recon-
of tariff revision by the President
md Secretary should tend to prevent any
serious discussion of that question at the
coming session, and should be followed by
ugly attack upon the financial
of the Administration, and by
strong effort for unlimited silver coinage.