New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-25
THE SILENT PARTNER.


uho s,og;nc hours of Congress illustrate Mr..
Dene1v,s speech before the Downtown Busi-
Moss Mems Republican Club on Saturday after
neon Said the orator: Cuisines men are
learning that in every firm there Is one siiens
partner. the Government but the power u
that silent partner to impede OF WICK 'no
business is immense. They are learnins
that they are neglecting their inO'V
vital business interests unless they see 10
it that the silent partner in all their nrlnS
so behaves as to help and not to nJue
thenl.D To call talkatve Democratic HOUSE
a silent partner in anything was perhaps
strong figure of speech. But 1t is worth "hiio
to consider what a vast power for good or e'n
used principally for eyil-this Congress haS
had over all the business of the eoantry.
By neglecting practical business Legislation,
for which merchants and bankers farmers ana
manufacturers have earnestly prayed for years
Congress has literally taken many millions from
the assets of business firms throughOuo tne
country. BY getting UP tariff agitation IN 1ho
interests Of foreign importers the House mas
literally taken many millions more from inc
assets of business firms, from the pronts OF
canitalists and the earnings of American work
inomen Now. as the session draws near Its
close, this same House is wasting puonc uiie
and money, and defeating legislation necessary
to the public welfare, in desperate Struggle
by minority to prevent reduction OF revenue
upon which everybody is agreed, unless that
minority can get other changes against winch
the people have decided at the late election
Walking away from the meeting at which
Mr.. Depew spoke, a prominent business man
said 1.-The one thing which strikes me h'sU
foYcibly is that the Democratic party has proved
its absolute incapacity to carry on the business
of the Government" Not many men quite
realize how true that is. To look no further
back than last December, it was taken Tor
granted by business men before the session
began that there would be some attention PAD
to practical needs which had long been neg
lected. The foreign trade of the Nation had
been choked by failure TO provide adequate
foreign mail facilities. IL was supposed thab
something would of course be done. Business
organizations in every part of the country had
PRAYED for National bankrupt law. Shippers
and farmers. and Interstate Commissioners
themselves, had shown that amendments of
the Interstate Act were necessary, at least to
prevent damaging competition by foreign
transporters. A judicial decision regarding
duties on ribbons demanded immediate legis-
lation to remove question as to the meaning Of
the law Another as to worsted and woollen
goods threatened the very existence of one Of
the great industries, unless the plain intent Of
the law cosld be promptly made its express
requirement. Especially revenue vastly eN-
ceeding the needs of Government was threat
ening financial peril, and Democratic business
men reckoned with the utmost confidence that
the House, having failed to carry the people
for its plan, would at last consent to vote for
something which coulI be passed in the Senate.
These are only samples. II would take more
than one column merely to enumerate the long
neglected and urgent business interests which
required legislation. Democrats treated with
contempt the suggestion that a Democratic
House would still fail to do anything. For
past neglect there was the excuse Of absorbing
political excitement, but the people having do
cided, Democrats In the House would certainly
attend to the necessary business Of the country
before laying down the power. Yet nothing
has been done, and the end Of the session is
at hand. BY the Democratic majority nothing
has been done, for even the admission Of four
new States was accomplished only by the Re
publicans with a small minority Of Democrats.
Absolutely not one thing has been done by the
Democratic majority to meet the just expecta-
tons Of business men. Even necessary appro-
priation bills for carrying ON the Government
are now endangered, because that majority re-
fuses to reduce the revenue unless it can at
the same time cripple industries by cutting
off protection. The Government in Demo
cratic hands is simply peril to all business.
The silent partner at present is drunk, and
capable only Of smashing things