The sun., 1890-08-19
Practical Politics.

The Senators who hold with Mr.. QUAY that
It is necessary to pass Tariff bill this ses-
sion and not necessary to pass the Force
bill are being threatened by some Of the
radical Republican organs with dire punish
ment, but there is no way Of shaking their
resolution. In fact. the threats are absurd.
These men want to satisfy their Republican
constituents, and. as long as they do, they
will not care plugged Newfoundland penny
for the combinations poured forth by our
esteemed contemporaries the NetO York
Tribune and the Philadelphia Press. There
Is no doubt that business men and working
men are interested In the passage OF q Tariff
bill. Whether the present Congress can pass
one that will be satisfactory to Pennsylvania
and New England and the Northwest re-
mains to be seen. But 1t will be good busi-
ness and good politics to settle the matter
as speedily as possible. SO that manufactur-
ers and importers may know what to depend
upon. 1t is safe to presume that the Sena-
tors who are in favor Of postponing the
Force bill and putting the Tariff bill upon Its
passage have heard from their constituents
and are obeying their wishes
There has never been any evidence OF any
demand for the Force bill. There has been
evidence OF attempts to create an artificial
feeling or appearance OF feeling In favor Of
It, but the attempts have failed. The South
ern Republicans know that 1t means the
end Of any hopes they may still cherish Of
reviving that party in the South. The North
ern Republicans have shown no interest in
the matter. The opinion of business men
is, Of course, unfavorable to the bill. That
mi haa NJ TNla IN
sion, simply because there was a general be-
Lief when the bill was driven through the
House that 1t would not become q law.
Moreover, the North has come to take q
cynical view OF the Republican talk about
elections in the South. and regards 1t as
sheer buncombe, the display OF an old septi:
mental grievance which was once useful at
election time. Not even the appearance Of
Mr.. REED as the master Of the Republican
party has convinced tho North that the Re-
publicans at last meant business.
The Republican Senators who are not, like
the venerable MIR. HoAR, given up to senti-
mental oaterwauling discovered that nobody
In particular cared about the Force bill,
while various and numerous persons wanted
the Tariff bill passed at once. 1t was In the
power Of the Democratic Senators, under
the rules, which certain conservative Re-
publican Senators shrGnk from changing.
toblock the passage Of the Tariff bill; and
they were known to be resolved to do 1t
II the Force bill could not be kept back
otherwise. There was only one course left
to the moderate mon among the Republicans.
They decided to- take the Tariff bill and let
the Force bill go, for the present, at least.
1t is good common sense and good politics
to lot the Force bill slide. There was no
probability that the Republicans could have
passed 1t II they wanted to; and some OF
them don't want 1t passed. Politicians like
Mr. QUAY may not be able to make windy,
rhetorical speeches attacking the South. but
they are able TO know what is likely 10 be
good for their party and which way public
opinion is headed. Mr.. QUAY is not great
statesman or orator or economist. but he Is
hrBtclass opportunist. We presume that
he would chOerfully vote for the most out
Ta9Oo0S kind OF FOFoe bin II he thought that
the Republican party would be helped there