New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-12

TILE REYNLnTIONIHTS.

It is q revolutionary party, the Democratic,
as has been so often said. In other ages and
in other lands the revolutionary party has gen.
orally been inspired by great aims or grand
ideas, even when most dangerous or de-
structive in methods. But the Democratic
reyolutionists in these United States have no
patriotic aims TO inspire their present strug-
giles, nor lofty ideas nor measures Of vital I'M
portance. They are simply fighting for the
power to get and TO hold office. In essence
they are bread-aEd-butter revolutionists.
II this conception seems TO any one unjust,
he should first consider that the Democratic
party, though II has been in power four years,
has not been able TO propose a single measure
Of public policy upon which its members could
agree, unless they can be said TO agree on
tariff bill which was not in accord with the
avowed aims OF most Of those who supported IL,
and which was earnestly advocated by them
on the ground that it was not. This, they
said. was only compromise, and they berated
Republicans for refusing to accept what Dem
ocrats called virtual surrender OF Democratic
theories. Yet minority of the party refused
TO unite upon that measure. But when il
comes to fighting for party power and the
chances Of office. then each Democrat takes his
place with the rest, and the whole party, IL
grows more evident daily, can cordially unite
In flibustering and in blocking tho wheels Of
government, il in nothing else.
Then II 1t be doubted whether the perform
ances in the House are essentially revolutionary
in character, 1t must DO remembered that this
is still Democratic House; that the Demo-
10 l..stA
thing else, would have no occasion to filibuster
in order to prevent the passage Of measure,
and that the party consents to this waste OF
public time and money because in no other way
can few Democrats be prevented from voting
with the Republicans and passing some meas
ures of Importance. 1t does not matter what
the particular measure may be which the revo-
lutionists seek to defeat whether Ii be a tariff
bill which Mr.. Randall and few others would
feel forced to support, or bill for the admis-
sion of Territories which have been too long
robbed of their rights already; In any case
the object is to defeat majority In the present
House, because ON that measure the Democrats
themselves do not agree Certainly there has
never been, and can hardly be. more dis
creditable display at once Of the incapacity and
Of the recklessness Of q party than that now
afforded.
1t is not always or necessarily revolutionary
process for minority to resist by all parlia-
mentary devices a measure which majority
favors. 1t may be that a popular decision,
more recent than the election OF members, has
demonstrated that the measure proposed is
against the public will. 1t may be that rights
of debate and of proposing amendments have
been so unjustly denied that a minority has no
other recourse but to arrest public attention
and appeal to the public Judgment But here
there is not even the pretence of any such ex-
cuse. Men who confess by their acts that they
are in q minority, men who admit that FREQ
vote OF the House would 90 against their wishes,
block all public business day after day because
the majority will not surrender its power and
right to legisIate.
1t is this same party which prevents free
elections at the South, which defends fraud in
Northern cities, which resists measures TO se-
cure the freedom and honesty OF the ballot In
this State. Is il not about time for Democrats
who care for free institutions to ask whittier
their party managers are leading them? II
tho object were TO destroy public confidence In
and respect for the Government of these United
States to block its wheels and to make II i'm
possible for.the Government to serve the wishes
or needs of the people, could Democratic MEM