St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-11-24
THE NEXT CoNGREss.

It is a conceded public benefit to have
the two leading political parties equally
balanced, each strong enough at least
to keep the other we'll in cheek. But it
is also recognized calamity to have a
close election, for then the temptation
is open to both parties to indulge in
fraudulent practices to gain OF maintain
supremacy. We remember the evil re-
suits of the close presidential election in
1876, and the everlasting disgrace that
was brought upon the nation by seating
president who was not elected. For
tunately, the late presidential election
was so decisive as to give no
opportunity for squabble so far
as the presidency is concerned;
but unfortunately, the lower house OF
congress is so near tie as to give room
for an immense amount of skulldHggery.
Everything now indicates that the coun-
try i. to witness disgraceful struggle
between the leaders of the two parties
for control of the house of representa-
tives. On the face of the returns it
seems that the Democrats will have
small majority. Anticipating this re-
suit, the Republican managers some
days ago raised the cry of fraud, and
have been induStriously working
UP sentiment in this direction
ever since. 1t is curious fact
that there has never been congress
sional election in which there were SO
many closely contested districts as this
year. Nearly one-half of the members
elected to the next congress have gone
in by maiorities of less than $40, one
fourth of them squeezed through with
300 and less, and nearly fifty members
go in on majoritieS OF pluralities less
than 100. This necessarily will give
rise to a great many contests, no mat
ter which side wins the organization OF
the house.
AS a rule, all congressional contests
are decided more upon the partisan
complexion of the house than upon the
merits of the contest. Once, when Ben
BUTLER was Republican leader in
congress. he was asked by member of
the election committee what he thought
about the merits of a certain contest
then pending before congress. 81 never
investigate the merits of case like
this" CURLY replied the cock-eyed
statesman. Il simply find out which is
our man and then vote to seat him. :"
Unhappily, this is a rule which too fire.
Quently governs these cases; hence
both parties realize the advantage of
organizing the house. If the Democrats
have the returns in their favor they
will simply take the same advantage
of it that the Republicans would
do under similar circumstances. and
proceed to organize the lower house
of congress by the election of a
Democrat for speaker; so there is no
necessity for the great howl which the
Republican managers are sending up.
1t woul, probably be better for all in
terests. and the Democratic party in
particular, if the Republicans had con.
troll of both branches of congress. They
would then have to bear the full re-
sponsibility for all legislation the next
two years; and assthere is likely to be a
good deal of an unsatisfactory nature.
the Democrats would be benefited in
the end by having no share in the re-
sponsbiity. Still, If on the face of the
returns the Democrats have a majority
of thenext house, there will be nothing
else for them to do but to go ahead and
organize it upon Democratic basis.