New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-25
AERlIn OF THENSELH YES.

There is something most amusing III the
anxiety OF Democratic papers lest the Con-
oressn,en OF their party should somehow be
called upon to meet in extra session immedl-
ateIy after the 4th OF March next. There is
smposed TO be a dark and dreadful Republican
plot to call the next Congress to assemble as
early as possible, SO that its misconduct and
it's inoapacity may speedily bring the country
tn realize what il has done in electing such a
bodv. So sure are these editors that the Dem
ocratic majority will disgrace itself and disgust
the voters that the supposed plot of Repub-
lioans is denounced as something almost revO-
lutionary in its wickednesS. Yet why should
not the Congress just elected by the people
be summoned as soon as possible to show what
it can do for the people? Its members have
protested that they could and would do some-
thing great, and why should the millennium be
deferred? If they can do good every member
ought to be in haste to get at it. II they can
not, every honest member should be willing TO
have the fact discovered at the earliest pos
sibe moment. The people have listened to the
promises of these men, and have intlq,sted them
with responsibility. The sooner they show
whether they are willing or able to do what
eide what to do next.
There are reasons much higher and broader
than any that concern partiSanshlp for wish
ing that the best or the worst might be known
as soon as possible. The industries OF the
whole nation are at present to some extent In
state of unavoidable be-puzzlement They
have and can have no idea what is coming.
The lender does not know what dollar Will
be year or two hence. The farmer does not
know whether to slaughter his sheep or to raise
them The manufacturer does not know
whether the home market is to be opened to
foreigners shortly or not and hesitates about
putting great sums into works which the next
Congress may render worthless. The grower
of cotton or wheat, if he is to have National
warehouse to lend him so per cent of the value
of his crop, or a National Treasury 10 take
mortgage on his farm at one per cent year,
wants to know il soOn 1t b0undless blessings
are knocking at the door, it is not wise to keep
them waiting in the cold. But Democratic
House, with all conceivable blessings under its
srm. is backward in coming forward" 1t
suspects some horrid design OF the Republicans
who rise to open the door at the first knock.
"These men mean to get us into fatal trap, y
say Democrats. Is it fatal to Democracy, then,
to have chance to show what it really is and
what it actually can do?
An unfeeling world mocks a little at this
anxiety IL is tOlerably well aware that a
Democratic House would be likely to find some
difficulty in keeping its numerous promises.
For instance, it would have to cut down the
appropriations by many millions, and at the
e., a., and tbar
people. 1t would have to vote for all that the
farmers want, or else to tell them fatty that
it would not 1t would have to make silver
coinage free and risk the consequences. 1t
would have to repea the Mckinley bill, or else
explain why that intOleiable' measure should
stand At the very threshold it would have
10 adopt Speaker Reeds rules. and confess that
it had been lying about him shamelessly, OF
else to adopt others giving snmli minority
power to block all public business.
II is much easier to look on and find fault
than to decide what to do. When the Demo
Gratis had no responsibility they could profess
all sorts of things confident that the lapse OF
a whole year would blot from the minds of the
voters all their promises. But this dire anf
dreadful plot of Republicans would actually
thrust upon the Democratic majority, while al
its promises are fresh ip mind, unlimited power
in the House to perftin them. Mr.. Randall
is dead, and there is no other Democrat able
to hold his party back by the tail, SO to speak
Who can tell what superative idiOcy the coun
try might witness within six months, or how
anxiously it might pray 10 have such House
effectualiy restrained by Republican Presi
dent anu Senate? That is where the shO'
pinches.