The sun., 1890-07-10
Lecturing the Senate.

The petitions remonstrances, and suppli-
cations which the stralghtest sect OF Repub-
ucan organs are addressing at the Senate
In regard to the Tariff bill are funny
enough even in this weather. The tunes OF
the organs vary, and sometimes the same
organ has a whole set of tunes. One day
Senate is undoubtedly aware Of the neces-
sity Of passing the Tariff bill. and will soon
confound tho predictions Of the Democrats
by doing 1t. The next day there seems to
be a sort OF pathetic surprise in the tariff
essay. The conviction seems to be trick
ling through the writer's gangla that the
Senate fs inclined to be little slow about
the Tariff bill. Therefore the Republican
Senators are politely prodded and reminded
that Ton REED and the eyes OF millions are
upon them. The Senate still continuing
Its easy, slouching gait, and showing not
the faintest tendency to hurry, the spur is
driven in a little deeper. The people, the
dilatory Republican Senators are told, are
getting impatient with the slow coach, con-
servative, arIstocratic methods OF the SEN
ate. The movement in favor OF electing
Senators by popular vote will be powerfully
propelled and accelerated II the Senate re-
fuses to respond to the popular villa neat
alias for Mr.. REED-and pass the Tariff bill.
We venerate the Senate, cry the faithful Re-
publican editors, and therefore we hope that
It will not injure its own prestige and
weaken its hold upon public confidence by
dawdlinR over the MCKINLEY bill.
This is what may be called the Kick Re-
spectful. The Kick Indignant and the Kick
Sulky are close at hand. But the Senate
doesn't profit by the reproof and the in
structon. Mr.. PLUMB and Mr.. TELLER and
their brethren in iniquity join with the
Democrats to take up the Silver bill and
turn the Tariff bill down. Awful doubt be-
gins to gnaw the bosom OF the ingenious
Republicans who really believe that the Nc
KNLEY bill is an honest bill. and not a
thing OF bran and sawdust. Can 1t be that
this bill. to pass which through the House
Mr.. REED throttled the minority and bull
dozed the weakened in his own party, is
not regarded with proper reverence in the
Senate? What is the country coming to,
and where can the Hon. PRESTON B. PLUMB
be going to?
The Republican Senators have a right to
be little vexed at the part which has been
given them to play. Mr.. REED and Mr..
hUilNLE1 are W ReI Llo PloTy Ol pdSSlnR
Tariff bill, and the onus OF smothering it, IL
the party convenience can be consulted and
It can be smothered, Is to be upon the Senate.
Tho fact Is that the Republican chiefs have
played too fine game. 1t Is obviously for
the interest Of the Republican party not to
pass Tariff bill, but to try and warm over
the issue OF 1888 In 1892. Having, for pur-
poses OF buncombe, passed q Tariff bill
through one branch Of Congress, they find
powerful interests in the East demanding
that 1t become a law, At the same time,
Republicans in Kansas and the North
west do not seem to want that sort OF bill.
1t Is a rather unpleasant situation. The
easiest way out OF the difficulty seems to be
to discuss and amend and take things easy
in the Senate, and throw upon the Demo-
Gratis the responsibility OF preventing the
passage Of the bill. That is the programme.
The Democrats are to talk the Tariff bill to
death so as to prevent the Federal Election
bill from passing. II the programme sue
ceeds two bills, good for use on the stump
but on exceedingly tlcklish subjects. will be
killed, to the relief OF conservative Repub-
licans.
II, however tho Tariff bill should become
law, Republican fluctuations upon the re-
suit OF the session would TO colder than at
present. Politically it sometimes pays for
n party 10 get the credit OF wanting to do
more than it does.