New-York tribune., 1890-08-30
THE REFORM TO COME.

Democratic leaders begin 10 perceive lhdo
the Election bill is not dead, as they had
imagined, but very much alive and likely TO
become law. By kind of opposition when
has caused its postponemcnt beyond the eiec,
tions this fall they have immensely increased
the probability that it will be passed before
the wear ends. They have convinced muit-
tude of Republicans that change OF the rules
for the limitation of debate in the senate mas
become an absolute necessity. They nave
broken down public opposition to the pleVeh-
tion of fraud by some legislation, so that lew
Rcpublicans now question its necessity. lhey
have made it exceedingly clear that Democrats
of all sections. and particularly of the SOUTH
have some extraordinary reason for fearing
honest and free elections.
Their latest discovery is that President liar-
rison can call an extra session of Congress 10
act on this question. If there is reason 10
doubt whether necessary measure can be
nasscd in the months of January and Febru-
ary. in addition to all the regular appiopia-
tion bills. the President can convene Congress
to meet earlier than December l, 50 'hal 'her9
moy be fully six weeks prior to the Christmas
holidays in which to overcome Deihocra"c
f,ibustcrinc. This would be an assurance,
Democrats say. of the sincerity ana deterhlha
tion of the President and his party to d@l'
fcarlessly ard effectively with the question
OF honest elections. and 40 would tend 10 re-
move the dissatisfaction which might other
wise be caused by failure to pass the bill at
this sossion. But this reasoning i an ad-
mission of the fact that there is strong anu
earnest popular demand for an enactment OF
this character.
Democrats perceive, too, that the condud
of their party workers in many districts thlS
fall is likely to broaden and greatly intensity
the desire for free and fair elections. Moth
ing can restrain the crazy anxiety OF theSe
men for a victory which. they know only 100
we'll a pure and honestly returned election
would not give them. They cannot afford to
have il proved. by defeat in this or that as
trict, that their previous victories were 1iand,
ulent Crimes of every sort will be preferred
10 a confession that the people distrust and
detest the Democratic party. Public indIg-
nation at these offences is sure to weaken an
opposition which will then plainly appear 10
he in the interests Of those who dcbauch the
suffrage and rob the people OF their dearest
rights.
Whether President Harrison will consider
! an extra session necessary he does not seem
N have informed anybody as yet, unless the
| correspondents of Democratic newspapers are
| chosen to give the public a hint. \ more
likely suppostion is that conscience doth
make cowards' Of those who dread honest
elections But there is nothing improbable
| in the suggestion that the demonstration OF
| Democratic ability to waste time under tho
present rules may make an extra session seem
| essential to the President. If speeches ana
amendments, evidently designed only to stave
off y vote. and delay or defeat the people :
will for the benefit Of importers and foreign
manufacturers, continue much longer, Presi-
dent Harrison may decide with good reason
J that the usual short session would be TOO snort
for the work 70 be done. If the opposition
| does not want longer session 1t can easily
remove the need for one by cOnsenting TO a
change of the rules before the senate ad-
iourns.
The Democratic minority is not yet in con-
troll of public affairs II counts confidently
non Carrying the House next fall by we'll
known methods, because it supposes that
eleven members have been stolen by the out
rageous apportionment in Ohio. But 1t is yet
IN he seen whether honest voters will not de-
feat in many close districts the party which
resorts for success to such methods, and to
the crimes which the Election bill is designed
| IN nreypnt