Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-24

President Harrison sign such bill? Prob
ably not Their you'll see what howl will
go up against Ben Harrison from one sec
ton, and praise for his sound craftsmanship
from another section. But suppose the
measure does not become law, and thereby
Harrison is .'put in a hole"-then where is
the Democratic party? 1t must take up
free coinage in turn or climb into the same
hole next winter. The responsibility for
free coinage or not free coinage must then
be shared by the Democratic party, for the
Democratic House of Representatives must
either 80 with the Senate or with the Presi-
dent
Would Greatly Help Grover.
The silver question disposed OF by the
present Congress would remove that issue
from national politics and substitute its
evil results, if such results should follow
this method of initiation. The elimination
OF silver would greatly enhance Mr.. Cleve-
lands chances for denomination. For that
matter, If the pro-silver policy turned out
badly Mr.. Cleveland would shine still bet
ter In its reflected light. since he has officially
warned the people against what he deems a
delusion.
On the other hand, should Congress leave
the matter unsettled by reason of the Presi-
dental veto, Mr.. Cleveland would be
antagonized by the very States and identical
people from whom he now expects his princi-
pal support. These "ifs" enter into the
political situation, and they are ifs with a
big 81" Were l political prophet, with
a reputation worth preserving, 1 should un-
hesitatingly pronounce Cleveland. with the
silver issue pending, Presidential impossl-
bility. Not being a prophet or the son of
prophet, 1 merely set down these points,
leaving the intelligent reader to draw his
own conclusions.
When the Washington row over the force
bill is taken into consideration it is remark
able how little that important question IS
talked about in political circles here. Com
paratlvely few people seem prepared to be-
lieve that 1t will ever become law, and
still fewer conceive that it means all that its
Congressional opponents claim for it.
The Rock They Cling to.
There are people of a certain radical set,
nearly or actually allied with Federal Office
holding, who are looking solely to the force
bill and its rigid enforcement for the perpet-
uation of the party power. 1t is somewhat
surprising when you soberly think OF it that
a considerable number of men representing
Federal law and order strongly favor arbi-
trary arrests, the suspension of the writ of
habeas corpus, the use of the central mill
tary power. in general elections-in
short the revolutionizing of our whole
system of government-for the sake
of a somewhat doubtful. certainly temporary
political advantage. Yet there are good
many such partisans and to please them the
force bill is again being pushed. If any
body presumes that such an extreme au-
thority granted would not be used and
vigorously used for the perpetuation of the
power OF the party that originated the
scheme, he must be verdant person and
one who has either not studied the political
history of his own country, or a wiliully
stupid person who has studied it to no ad-
vantage.
BUT have confidence in the intelligence
and patriotism OF the great body of the peo-
pie and believe in their general verdict on
extraordinary political methods. When
they are no longer to be depended upon in
this matter, shall doubtless be satisfied to
accept this political economy with its bso-
lutte President, life Senate, supreme mill
tary authority and all the other comcomi-
tants of empire.
CHARLES T. MURRAY.